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Academic Honesty Policy

Preamble

Marquette University is committed to developing the whole person, spiritually, mentally, physically, socially, and ethically. As an institution of higher education, love of truth is at the center of the university’s enterprise, and academic honesty, in all its forms, is an explicit value of the university. The development and practice of academic honesty and integrity, both inside and outside the classroom, are expectations for all members of the university community. In order to cultivate academic honesty in its students, instructors take every opportunity to help students appreciate both the process and the principles of academic integrity.

Academic honesty can be best understood by academic ethical standards guiding faculty in their work. That is to say, an individual’s contributions, in terms of words and scholarly findings, belong to him or her alone. Furthermore, the integrity of that which one claims to be scholarly knowledge rests on the accurate demonstration of the assumptions and reasoning that produced it. These standards are used as the implicit basis for teaching and learning in the university.

In order for instructors to fairly assess the quality and quantity of a student’s learning as determined by work that students represent as their own, a relationship of trust between instructor and student is essential. Because violations of academic integrity most often involve, but are not limited to, efforts to deceive instructors, they represent a breach of the trust relationship between instructor and student, and undermine the core values of the university.

Responsibility for Academic Honesty

This policy applies to all undergraduate programs and to students and faculty in programs under the auspices of the Graduate School. Graduate School generically refers to all graduate and professional schools and students, and terms such as associate vice provost or associate/assistant dean will refer to the appropriate official in the other colleges/schools. Graduate School students should appeal to the Graduate School while professional students should appeal to the appropriate person in their college or school, i.e., Graduate School of Management or College of Health Sciences. School of Dentistry and Law School students must follow the appeal processes put forth by their respective schools.

ACADEMIC HONESTY consists of truth telling and truthful representations in all academic contexts. All members of the academic community have a responsibility to ensure that academic honesty is maintained. In what follows the wording “chair” refers to either a department chair or an equivalent official, “associate dean” refers to either an associate dean or an equivalent official, or in the case of the Graduate School it will refer to the assistant vice provost for graduate programs, the word “college” refers to a college, school, or other academic unit, and the words “assigned college” refers to the degree granting college or school (i.e. for graduate students the assigned college is the Graduate School).

Faculty have primary responsibility for:

Upholding and enforcing university-wide principles of academic honesty and integrity and informing students of these principles including any qualifications that may be operative in the classes they are teaching.
Minimizing opportunities for academic dishonesty in their courses.
Confronting students suspected of academic dishonesty in a way that respects student privacy.
Affording students accused of academic dishonesty the right to appeal any resulting disputes to disinterested parties for hearing and resolution.
Assigning an appropriate grade to a student who engages in academic dishonesty.
Reporting all instances of academic dishonesty to the associate dean of the college offering the course.
Protecting the anonymity of any student reporting an incident of academic dishonesty to the extent permitted by due process required for the accused and other legal requirements.

Students have responsibility for:

Refraining from cheating and plagiarism.
Refusing to aid or abet any form of academic dishonesty.
Notifying professors and/or their adviser about observed incidents of academic misconduct. The anonymity of a student reporting an incident of academic dishonesty will be protected to the extent permitted by law.

Definitions of Academic Dishonesty

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY applies equally to electronic media and print, and involves text, images, and ideas. It includes but is not limited to the following examples:

Cheating

Copying from others during an examination.
Communicating exam answers with other students during an examination.
Offering another person’s work as one’s own.
Taking an examination for another student or having someone take an examination for oneself.
Sharing answers for a take home examination or assignment unless specifically authorized by the instructor.
Tampering with an examination after it has been corrected, and then returning it for more credit.
Using unauthorized materials during an examination.
Allowing others to do the research and writing of an assigned paper (including use of the services of a commercial term paper company).

Dishonest Conduct

Stealing or attempting to steal an examination or answer key from the instructor.
Changing or attempting to change academic records without proper sanction.
Submitting substantial portions of the same work for credit in more than one course without consulting all instructors involved.
Intentionally disrupting the educational process in any manner.
Allowing another student to copy off one’s own work during a test.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is intellectual theft. It means use of the intellectual creations of another without proper attribution. Plagiarism may take two main forms, which are clearly related: 1. To steal or pass off as one’s own the ideas or words, images, or other creative works of another and 2.To use a creative production without crediting the source, even if only minimal information is available to identify it for citation.

Credit must be given for every direct quotation, for paraphrasing or summarizing a work (in whole, or in part, in one’s own words), and for information that is not common knowledge.

Collusion

Any student who knowingly or intentionally helps another student perform any of the above acts of cheating, dishonest conduct, or plagiarism is subject to discipline for academic dishonesty.

Research Misconduct

Marquette University has a duty to ensure the integrity of research and will respond to any allegation of research misconduct in a thorough, competent, timely, objective, and fair manner. Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. The research misconduct policy applies to faculty, students, and others who are employed by or affiliated with Marquette University. Students who are accused of misconduct related to grant-funded research shall be governed by the procedures of the research misconduct policy. Students who are accused of misconduct related to research that is not grant-funded and is a part of a student’s academic program will be governed by the University Policy on Academic Honesty, found at Marquette Central. Any uncertainty related to which policy will govern a given situations will be decided by the research integrity officer.

Consequences of Academic Dishonesty

Regardless of how alleged acts of academic dishonesty are brought to light, faculty and instructors retain the responsibility and the authority to investigate all allegations, although, as outlined below, university administrators may lead these investigations. Because the consequences for academic dishonesty can be severe, the decision to penalize a student for such infractions must be the result of a thorough review. The procedures to be used for adjudicating suspected acts of academic dishonesty are determined by the nature of the misconduct and the seriousness of the offense.

Procedures for Incidents of Academic Dishonesty

Students found committing acts of academic dishonesty will be subject to the Marquette University procedures for incidents of academic dishonesty. In what follows the wording “chair” refers to either a department chair or an equivalent official, “associate dean” refers to either an associate dean or an equivalent official, or in the case of the Graduate School it shall refer to the assistant vice provost, the word “college” refers to a college, school, or other academic unit, and the words “assigned college” refers to the college granting the degree (i.e. for graduate students the assigned college is the Graduate School).

First Offenses

Many, perhaps most, incidents of academic dishonesty involve accusations which are based on clear evidence and which are not contested by the accused student. In such cases, if the infraction is relatively minor and there is no indication that the accused student has previously been involved in such incidents, it is most appropriate that the matter be resolved between the student, the faculty member, and the chair of the department offering the course.

When a faculty member has evidence of a student’s academic dishonesty, the faculty member must initiate communication with the student within 15 calendar days of discovering evidence of academic dishonesty. The faculty member must then present the evidence to the student in a private meeting, always with a facilitator present (e.g., department chair or designee). This meeting should take place within 15 calendar days of the student being notified of the allegation or as soon thereafter as possible. If, after this meeting, it is decided that the student did participate in academic dishonesty the faculty member may follow up with one or more of the following actions:

Issue a reprimand to the student
Require repetition of the questionable work or examination
Reduce the grade on the questionable work or examination (faculty can reduce the grade down to and including an F or zero)
Recommend that the student be administratively withdrawn from the course
Recommend that the student be given a final grade of F for the course

The faculty must maintain careful documentation of the incident.

It is essential that any disciplinary action be reported in writing to the student in a letter from the faculty member. The faculty member is strongly encouraged to consult with his or her associate dean for questions about appropriate discipline and the form and content of the letter sent to the student. Reference to the “Marquette University Policies on Academic Honesty” should be included in the letter. The letter to the student must be sent out within 15 calendar days of the meeting and may be sent by e-mail with settings for “notify sender of receipt and of opening”. At the same time the letter is sent to the student, a copy must be sent to the department chair and associate dean of the college offering the course. In turn, within 5 working days, the associate dean of the college offering the course will communicate in writing details of the incident to the associate dean of the student’s assigned college, to ensure that penalties assessed are commensurate with the offense and that repeated infractions can be detected and dealt with appropriately. The associate dean of each college is responsible for maintaining confidential records concerning academic dishonesty of students enrolled in that college. All letters reporting faculty imposed academic penalties for academic misconduct will be included in these files.

In most incidents the disciplinary response and procedure for incidents of academic dishonesty concludes at this step.

Student’s Appeal

Students have the right of appeal of the allegations of academic dishonesty and the disciplinary actions of the instructor if the student believes the alleged incident of academic dishonesty and/or resultant academic discipline to be unfounded, biased, or capricious. In this case the student should submit a formal written appeal stating the grounds for appeal and available documentation to the associate dean of the college offering the course within 15 calendar days of the notification of the instructor’s decision. Upon receipt of the appeal the associate dean may convene a review of the student’s actions by a college panel. The associate dean and/or panel reviews the details of the student’s actions and may ask to speak to the student, the instructor, the chair of the department offering the course, associate deans, and others. The associate dean of the college offering the course will determine the appropriate disciplinary action and, within 15 calendar days of receipt of the appeal, will provide a written statement to all parties concerned.

Disciplinary Recommendations by Faculty of ADW or F

If the faculty member recommends that the student be administratively withdrawn from the course and assigned a final grade of ADW or that a final grade of F be assigned, the associate dean of the student’s assigned college (the assistant vice provost for graduate programs) will review the details of the incident and make the final decision within 5 working days of receipt of the request, and provide a written statement to all parties concerned.

Students have the right to appeal the decision of the associate dean to issue grades of ADW or F to the dean of the student’s assigned college (the dean of the Graduate School in the case of graduate students). This appeal must be made within 15 calendar days of the notification of the grade change. The final decision to uphold or modify the action of the associate dean will be provided to the student and associate dean within 15 calendar days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the dean is final.

Repeat or More Serious Offenses

When the associate dean (in the case of graduate students to the assistant vice provost for graduate programs) of the student’s assigned college is aware of or determines that the student has engaged in multiple incidents of academic dishonesty or the incident in question is of a more serious nature he/she will convene a review of the student’s actions by a college panel within 15 calendar days of learning of the most recent incident. In the case of graduate students, such a panel will be composed of a sub-committee of the University Board of Graduate Studies. More serious incidents may involve repeat offenses, cause injury or harm to others outside the academic community, or other actions deemed to warrant additional consideration. These incidents of academic dishonesty call for more serious disciplinary action up to and including campus wide sanctions of suspension or expulsion. Where incidents involve possible violations of the University Code of Conduct, in addition to the alleged academic dishonesty, consultation with the Office of Student Development is recommended.

Each college will have guidelines for the composition and selection of the college panel to assure a review by experienced faculty and/or administrators not directly involved in the incident(s). The panel reviews all aspects of the student’s record, the details of the student’s behavior and may ask the student, instructor(s), and others to speak with the panel. Within 15 calendar days of being given the charge, the panel will forward its recommendations for appropriate and just disciplinary action to the associate dean (in the case of graduate students to the assistant vice provost for graduate programs) of the student’s assigned college with a copy to the dean. All disciplinary decisions that involve a campus wide sanction, such as suspension or expulsion, will be made by the dean of the student’s assigned college with all other actions being taken by the associate dean.

Within 15 calendar days of receiving the panel’s recommendation, the associate dean or dean, as appropriate, makes the decision known to the student via written documentation that includes a description of the academic dishonesty, the process the decision went through, the resulting decision and appeal procedures. A copy of the decision is placed in the student’s academic file with a copy provided to the Office of the Provost.

Students have the right of appeal of the allegation of academic dishonesty and the disciplinary actions of the associate dean or the dean of the student’s assigned college. Such appeals must be made within 15 calendar days of receipt of the letter. Actions taken by the associate dean should be appealed to the dean of the student’s assigned college. The final decision to uphold or modify the action of the associate dean will be provided to the student and associate dean within 15 calendar days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the dean is final.

For actions of the dean involving campuswide sanctions, such as suspension or expulsion, students have the right of appeal to the Office of the Provost. A formal written appeal stating the grounds for appeal and available documentation is to be submitted to the Office of the Provost within 15 calendar days of the notification of the decision of the dean. The provost or designee will conduct a review of the appeal materials, may seek additional information, and may consult with the student, faculty, chair(s), associate dean(s), deans, and others. The final decision to uphold or modify the action of the dean will be provided to the student and to the dean and associate dean of the student’s assigned college within 15 calendar days of receipt of the appeal. A copy of the provost’s decision will be placed in the student academic file. The decision of the provost is final.

Other Considerations

The associate dean may exclude students who have on file recorded acts of academic dishonesty, as defined by this policy, from consideration for academic honors at graduation. Exclusion from consideration for honors is not for the purposes of this policy to be considered a campuswide sanction.

Maintenance of Disciplinary Records

Records relating to academic dishonesty will be maintained by the associate dean of the student’s assigned college to promote consistency of penalties for academic dishonesty and to ensure appropriate action against repeat offenders. In order to ensure that minor and nonrecurring infractions do not negatively impact a student’s career beyond Marquette University, a student may petition to the associate dean of his or her academic college to have relevant academic disciplinary records expunged after the student graduates or leaves the university. The associate dean has sole authority to consider and to grant or deny such petitions. The university will release a student’s disciplinary records to potential employers, governmental agencies, other educational institutions, or other organizations or individuals only if authorized to do so by the student in question or if compelled by law.

Professional Ethics and Standards

These procedures do not supersede or take the place of procedures established for students who violate professional standards applicable to a particular program or college. Separate procedures and/or outcomes may be invoked when students are found in violation of professional standards or codes of ethics related to special programs, licensure, or certification as determined by the program’s external or internal professional requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to know and follow these standards/codes of ethics, which are part of the student’s academic program. These special expectations and procedures, including the appeals process, will be provided to the student upon enrollment in the program, and are available in published form in the administrative offices overseeing these programs.

This policy evolved from a collaborative effort that included members of the Marquette University Committee on Academic Procedures, Marquette University Board of Undergraduate Studies, and the Marquette University Board of Graduate Studies. These groups would like to express their gratitude to the University of California–Irvine whose UCI Academic Senate Policy on Academic Honesty provided the framework for the resulting document.

Academic Performance

Academic Review

Every academic unit evaluates the academic performance of its graduate students, adhering to the standards of Marquette University, the Graduate School and any additional standards promulgated by each academic unit. Students must earn acceptable grades as well as adhere to the requirements of academic honesty, professional integrity, and appropriate performance in professional, laboratory, and clinical settings set forth earlier in the Graduate Bulletin (see Policies of Marquette University).

Clinical Courses

By virtue of the special nature of clinical courses, particularly those courses in which students are working directly with patients or clients, students may be held to clinical and professional standards in addition to academic standards. If, in the opinion of the supervising faculty member, the student is falling short of expected levels of performance or professional behavior, the student may be removed immediately from the class. In most cases, the student shall be counseled regarding the deficiency, and will be given an opportunity to retake the class. However, depending on the type and severity of the deficiency, the student may be considered for dismissal from the program and the Graduate School.

Satisfactory Progress

Satisfactory academic work is not determined exclusively by course grades. All degree graduate students must also make substantial and visible progress toward their degrees. This includes successful completion of such program requirements as a language examination, a comprehensive or qualifying examination, a thesis or dissertation outline, the thesis or the dissertation.

Academic Standing

Non-degree and degree seeking graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.000 to satisfy university requirements. These are minimum standards for graduate courses; individual programs may specify higher standards to which students will be held by the programs. Students are responsible for awareness of these standards, which are listed in the program sections of the Graduate Bulletin and in handbooks or web pages provided by the programs. Students enrolled in the professional programs of dentistry, law, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, and the Graduate School of Management are not subject to these policies but are subject to the standards stated within their programs.

In addition to meeting requirements for academic and professional integrity and conduct, graduate students must also maintain both a cumulative and term grade point average of at least 3.000 in all course work, including prerequisites and other course work that does not apply to the degree. Failure to meet the required levels of academic performance may result in the following actions:

Warning

Whenever the grade point average for any enrollment period is less than 3.000, but the cumulative grade point average is 3.000 or above, the student will be notified in writing of failure to meet academic standard requirements.

Academic Probation

If a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.000, or if the student receives a grade of F or U, the student may be considered for disenrollment, depending on the nature and seriousness of the reasons for the grades received. If, however, the student is continued, the student will be placed on academic probation for the next enrollment period. A student who fails to achieve a 3.000 grade point average during an enrollment period while on academic probation may, at the discretion of the academic unit and with the approval of the Graduate School, be granted an additional term on probation. A student who fails to achieve a cumulative 3.000 grade point average after the second probationary period will be reviewed by their department and the Graduate School and will normally be dismissed from the university.

Academic Probation Removed

When a student’s cumulative grade point average returns to above 3.000, and the prior term’s GPA is a 3.000 or higher with no grades of F or U, academic probation will be removed.

Dismissal

Students placed on academic probation who fail to earn at least a 3.000 grade point average in the subsequent enrollment period, or who fail to achieve a 3.000 cumulative grade point average while on a second academic probationary period, may be dismissed from the university. Within 10 days after the date of the notice of dismissal based upon academic grades, a student may appeal the decision to the dean of the Graduate School. A student who does not appeal will be disenrolled 11 days after the date of the notice of dismissal. In the case of an appeal, the dean of the Graduate School will decide whether to hear the appeal alone or to convene a meeting of a subcommittee of the University Board of Graduate Studies to weigh the appeal materials and to obtain testimony delivered live to the subcommittee by the student and academic unit representatives. Typically, situations dealing only with substandard academic performance will be considered by the dean, and issues dealing with an alleged violation of rights or procedures will be referred to a subcommittee of the UBGS. If referred to a subcommittee of the UBGS, the recommendation of the subcommittee as well as all materials delivered to the subcommittee by the student and the academic unit will be considered by the dean of the Graduate School, whose decision on the appeal is final. If dismissal is upheld, then disenrollment is made at that time.

Dismissed students may apply for readmission by following the readmission procedures found in the Admission and Readmission section of this bulletin.

The student’s transcript will not indicate the semesters the student has been on academic probation but will indicate dismissal if such should occur. If the student is subsequently granted readmission, the grade point average will continue from the previous calculation and the student must obtain a 3.000 grade point average after a new sequence of academic probation.

Advising

In the admission letter, the Graduate School notifies each student to contact his/her department for identification of the assigned adviser and for advising prior to registration. A student is required to meet or talk with the adviser before registering for classes. The Graduate School strongly recommends that students meet regularly with their advisers; an adviser plays an important role in the graduate student’s course of study. An adviser’s signature is required on most forms submitted to the Graduate School and a student’s program of study is not valid until it has been approved by both the adviser and the Graduate School. Students who want to change advisers should check with their department for additional information and instructions.

Non-degree and temporary graduate students are normally not assigned academic advisers. Students in these categories who need assistance should contact the department in which they will focus their course of study.

Appeals

Students have the right to appeal the imposition of any sanctions due to unsatisfactory academic performance, findings of academic dishonesty, unsatisfactory professional integrity or performance, or student misconduct. The point of appeal is dependent upon who has the responsibility for imposing the sanction. For example, cases of academic dishonesty are governed by Marquette University’s Academic Honesty Policy, as applicable to graduate students. Sanctions due to unsatisfactory academic or professional performance are governed by the Graduate Bulletin.

Assistantships, Fellowships And Scholarships

All graduate students that receive merit-based financial aid, which include graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships, must be full-time students in the term in which they receive the aid. Full-time status can be achieved by taking six credits of course work plus Graduate Assistant Teaching, Graduate Assistant Research or Graduate Fellowship, depending on the award received. These zero-credit courses will carry the status of full-time when combined with six credits of course work.

The following course numbers will be used in conjunction with the department acronym:

Graduate Fellowship (full-time, FT) = 9974

Graduate Assistant Teaching (full-time, FT) = 9975

Graduate Assistant Research (full-time, FT) = 9976

Students may use their scholarships to pay for Graduate Assistant Teaching, Graduate Assistant Research or Graduate Fellowship course fees. It is not required that all TAs and RAs be registered for one of these continuation courses. If a student already meets full-time status based on course work, then these continuation courses need not be used to obtain full-time status.

Registration Procedures

Teaching and research assistants, and recipients of scholarships or fellowships, must register for the appropriate course, which will be graded on an SNC/UNC basis. Registration will require the consent of the student’s adviser and department, which must be secured prior to registering.

Registration requires the following procedures:

The student and his/her adviser meet and complete the registration form.
The student will be given a permission number to be used during the registration process.
The student registers via CheckMarq for the appropriate course, using the permission number received.
The completed and approved form shall be delivered to the Graduate School.

Background Checks, Drug Testing

Some degrees, majors and/or courses may require a student to submit to a criminal background check and/or drug testing. The results of those checks and/or tests may affect the student’s eligibility to continue in that degree and/or course.

Commencement

Commencement at Marquette is a symbolic ceremony provided for students, faculty and families in celebration of our students’ accomplishments. Following is the policy on when a student may participate in the spring or winter Commencement.

Students may participate in only one university Commencement per degree, and their names will only be published in the Commencement program in which they participated.
Spring Commencement:
- Students who are in good academic standing, have met the appropriate graduation application deadline and will complete their degree requirements, including the official recording of any transfer work, by the end of the spring term will participate in spring Commencement.
- Master’s students, who are in good academic standing, have met the appropriate graduation application deadline and will complete their degree requirements, including the official recording of any transfer work, by the end of the summer term and are pre-registered for those final requirements may participate in spring Commencement. This paragraph does not apply to doctoral candidates since they are not eligible to participate in Commencement until they have completed all degree requirements.
Winter Commencement:
- Students who are in good academic standing, have met the appropriate graduation application deadline and will complete their degree requirements, including the official recording of any transfer work by the end of the fall term will participate in winter Commencement.
- Students who completed their degree requirements in August and did not participate in spring Commencement will participate in winter Commencement.
Ph.D. Candidates:
To participate in spring or winter Commencement, doctoral candidates must have met the appropriate graduation application deadline, successfully defended their dissertation, received approval by their dissertation committee for any required revisions, submitted their dissertation to the Graduate School, and received approval of the dissertation format by the Graduate School before the published Academic Calendar deadline for the respective Commencement.
Students who participate in Commencement without completion of their degree requirements will have their names published in the Commencement program with a notation indicating the expected term of completion; however, these students will not have any graduation honors noted. This paragraph does not apply to doctoral candidates since they are not eligible to participate in Commencement until they have completed all degree requirements.
Degree conferral is certified by the official Marquette transcript noting the degree completion. Receipt of a diploma or the participation in Commencement does not constitute certification of degree conferral.
Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the provost.

Conduct

Professional Integrity

To function properly and maintain high standards, academic and professional disciplines expect members to adhere to standards of conduct and professionalism. Marquette expects its graduate students, from the beginning of their work at Marquette, to demonstrate the utmost personal integrity and the highest standards of professionalism, including adherence to any commonly recognized codes of conduct or professional standards in the graduate student’s discipline. In dealing with the public or campus community, in clinics, practica, internships, classrooms or elsewhere, graduate students must adhere to these standards. Violations of these standards may be grounds for dismissal or other penalties.

Professional Performance

All students in professional, laboratory, or clinical settings must maintain fully professional behavior at all times. If, in the judgment of the academic unit, a student is not living up to the non-academic standards, and that deficiency is a first offense or an offense deemed to be less serious in nature, a warning letter may be issued by the department to the student. If, however, the unsatisfactory behavior is a repeat offense or is more serious in nature, a recommendation will be made to the dean of the Graduate School or the Graduate School of Management, as applicable, that the student be dropped from the graduate program.

Student Conduct Code and Procedures

Graduate students are responsible for complying with the regulations and/or procedures of the Graduate School or the Graduate School of Management, as applicable, as well as those set forth in the At Marquette student handbook. Violations of regulations found in the student handbook will be administered by the Office of Student Development. Copies of At Marquette are available at the Office of Student Development or online at mu.edu/osd/policies/doc/Student_Handbook.pdf. If there is a conflict between the two applicable regulations or procedures, the Graduate School’s or the Graduate School of Management’s, as applicable, will govern. If there are multiple components to the case, they may be separated and reviewed independently by the appropriate authorities.

Confidentiality of Proprietary Information

The university recognizes that the primary purpose of research and scholarship is to train future scholars and disseminate new knowledge for the benefit of humankind. However, commercially valuable inventions and discoveries also may result. Graduate students, during the course of their studies and work at the university, may receive access to confidential or proprietary information from the university, its faculty and employees, and/or private companies. A student, both while a student and thereafter, is expected to respect and maintain the confidentiality of such information. In certain unusual cases, a student may be asked to sign an additional confidentiality agreement. Unauthorized use or dissemination of another’s confidential or proprietary information is subject to appropriate legal recourse and/or academic discipline, including termination from the program.

Intellectual Property

Students will acquaint themselves with the university's Intellectual Property Policy, found at marquette.edu/orsp/documents/IntellectualPropertyPolicy.pdf. Marquette University students are subject to the policy when, working for pay or for academic credit, they participate in faculty research programs.

Continuous Enrollment

All graduate students in degree status must enroll in either: adviser-approved course work; thesis, professional project, or dissertation credits; one of the continuation courses; or a combination of these every fall and spring term until graduation to maintain their graduate student status. Graduate students who intend to graduate in August must enroll in one of the above courses during the summer term prior to their graduation. Students who fail to register for one of these terms will automatically be discontinued and must apply for readmission. Readmission requires departmental consent and the payment of all fees in arrears. Continuation courses allow those graduate students who have completed their degree requirements but are still working on their thesis, project or dissertation to be considered full-, half-, or less than half-time students.

Every graduate student, except those with non-degree status, must be enrolled as a full-time, half-time, or less than half-time student each fall and spring term to maintain his or her status. Registration in the summer is only required if the student intends to graduate in August. A full-time load consists of 7 or more academic credits; half-time consists of 4-6.99 academic credits; and less than half-time consists of less than 4 academic credits. All degree graduate students must enroll in adviser-approved academic course work; independent study; field placement; graduate assistant teaching or research; thesis, professional project, or dissertation credits; comprehensive exam preparation; or graduate standing continuation credits. Degree students who fail to enroll for a fall or spring term will be discontinued and must apply for readmission to the Graduate School.

Thesis, Dissertation, or Professional Project Continuation

Students who have completed all credit requirements for their degree but need to continue work on their thesis, dissertation or professional project may retain graduate status by enrolling in Master’s Thesis Continuation (9994/9995/9996), Doctoral Dissertation Continuation (9997/9998/9999), or Professional Project Continuation (9991/9992/9993). Each of these non-credit courses will allow students to be considered full-time, half-time, or less than half-time depending on the amount of work being completed on their project each term. Registration for Master’s Thesis Continuation, Doctoral Dissertation Continuation, or Professional Project Continuation requires completion of a registration form, identification of the type and amount of work to be done, and the approval of the student’s adviser or thesis/dissertation director (and director of graduate studies or chair if required by departmental policy).

Field Placement Continuation

Students who have completed all credit requirements for their degree but still must participate in a practicum or internship experience may retain graduate status by enrolling in Field Placement Continuation (9977/9978/9979). This non-credit offering will allow students to be considered full-time, half-time, or less than half-time depending on the amount of work being devoted to their placement each term. Registration for Field Placement Continuation will require the consent of the student’s adviser or thesis/dissertation director (and director of graduate studies or chair if required by departmental policy) and completion of a registration form outlining the number of hours a student will devote to the Field Placement Continuation.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistants who enroll in 6 academic credits in a term may earn full-time status by enrolling in a non-credit Graduate Assistant Teaching (9975) or Graduate Assistant Research (9976) course. Graduate fellows may enroll in six academic credit hours plus a non-credit Graduate Fellowship course (9974) to maintain full-time status.

Comprehensive Exam Preparation

Students who are preparing for comprehensive exams may retain graduate status by enrolling in the appropriate Master’s Comprehensive Exam Preparation course (9984/9985/9986) or Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Preparation course (9987/9988/9989). These zero-credit courses are graded on an S/U basis, and they may be taken alone or in conjunction with for-credit courses.

The Comprehensive Exam Preparation course will normally be taken during the term in which the student anticipates taking the exam, and it may be taken only once. If the student either fails the exam or for some reason does not take the exam, the student should register for Graduate Standing Continuation (9970) for less than half-time status for the following term to retake or complete the exam.

Graduate Standing Continuation

Students who are not able to take academic courses in a particular session, but need to maintain active academic status, may take a non-credit course entitled Graduate Standing Continuation (9970). This offering is designed to allow graduate students to engage in such activities as completing preparation for comprehensive examinations or participating in other projects. This option is designated as less than half-time, cannot be used in conjunction with other courses, and will not qualify an individual for financial aid.

Continuation Course Registration Procedures

All continuation courses shall be graded Satisfactory (SNC) or Unsatisfactory (UNC) and charged at the stated fee by the Office of the Bursar as listed in the Tuition, Fees and Housing section of this bulletin. Any needed registration forms can be found on the Graduate School’s forms website at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml. Registration is as follows:

The appropriate registration form must be approved by the student’s adviser and director of graduate studies/chairperson, and the student must have registered for the course on or before the last day of registration.

Enrollment information may not be accurate for students who are not registered by the close of registration and may affect requests for information provided through the Office of the Registrar (such as enrollment verification requests from lending institutions, insurance companies, etc.).

Students enrolling in one of these courses must register to activate their desired status. Registration will require the consent of the student’s adviser and department, which must be secured prior to registering.

Registration requires the following procedures:

The student and his/her adviser meet and complete the registration form. An explanation of the student’s involvement in non-credit academic work is required.
The student will be given a permission number to be used during the registration process.
The student registers via CheckMarq for the appropriate course, using the permission number received.
The completed and approved form shall be delivered to the Graduate School.

Courses and Prerequisites

The prerequisites for any graduate program include an undergraduate major which has qualified the student for either research or academic work at advanced levels.
The courses described for each program are graduate offerings. These are numbered 6000-9999. Courses numbered 5000-5999 are courses that are taken for graduate credit, cross-listed with 4000-level undergraduate courses. The last three digits and titles of the 4000-level and the 5000-level cross-listed courses are identical. Prerequisites for undergraduate 4000-level courses, found in the Undergraduate Bulletin, may also be required for the 5000-level cross-listed courses. Undergraduates who anticipate eventual graduate academic work are eligible to take 5000-level courses.
All 5000-level courses are based on upper-division undergraduate courses that have been approved for graduate credit. With the approval of their department and the Graduate School, students may take a limited number of 5000-level courses and count them toward their degree requirements. When a 5000-level course is taken, the student must complete a Graduate Credits Requested for Undergraduate Course form, found at marquette.edu/grad/documents/GradCreditsforUGCourse.pdf, to detail the additional work that will justify the granting of graduate credit.
Some courses are listed with a variable number of credits (e.g., 1-3 credit hours). Usually the department or college determines the specific number of credits for these courses each term. This information is published on CheckMarq at marquette.edu/mucentral/registrar/snapshot prior to each registration. For a few variable credit courses, (e.g., master's thesis, doctoral dissertation) the bulletin indicates the possible number of credits which might be taken during a given term. Students should consult with their adviser before registering for these types of classes to determine the appropriate number of credits for which to enroll.
The specific courses offered during any given term will be listed on CheckMarq for that term.

Course Load

The maximum academic course load for a graduate student is thirteen semester hours of course work for fall or spring term. Residents in the graduate dental programs have higher limits. Seven hours are the maximum permitted for each of the summer sessions but no more than 13 credits for the entire summer term. Teaching or research assistants may register for a maximum of ten semester hours each fall or spring term and seven hours for each of the summer sessions. Overloads must have the approval of the Graduate School on the Credit Overload Request form, available on the Office of the Registrar’s website at marquette.edu/mucentral/registrar/reg_maximum.shtml.

Deadlines

All graduate students are responsible for ascertaining and meeting all deadlines listed in the Academic Calendar. This includes, but is not limited to: deadlines for registration, withdrawing from courses, graduation applications, comprehensive exams, theses, essays, projects and dissertations.

Diplomas

Diplomas are typically distributed at the May Commencement ceremonies. Any special arrangements for the mailing of May diplomas, etc., must be made directly with the Office of the Registrar. August and December diplomas are available for pick up or can be requested by mail from the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the President sends announcements to the names indicated on the Graduation Application each graduating student submits online to the Graduate School or the Graduate School of Management, as applicable. However, there is no limit to the number of family members and friends who may attend the university-wide Commencement exercises; tickets are not needed. Department Commencement exercises, if occurring, may require tickets. For further information contact University Special Events at (414) 288-7431 or visit the Commencement website at marquette.edu/graduation/index.shtml.

Enrollment Changes

Changes in a graduate student’s enrollment are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Most enrollment changes, i.e., adding and withdrawing from courses, can be done using the online registration system (CheckMarq) prior to the close of registration (typically the second Tuesday of the term). Instructions for adding or withdrawing from courses are available at marquette.edu/mucentral/registrar/reg_index.shtml. Instructions for using CheckMarq are available at marquette.edu/mucentral/registrar/reg_studentselfservice.shtml.

After the close of registration each term, the student must notify the Graduate School office directly and must complete appropriate forms before any enrollment change will become effective. It is not sufficient for a student to notify the course instructor or someone in the department office; changes must be made manually.

Adding Courses

Students who wish to add one or more courses after the close of registration must submit a Request to Add a Course form, available online at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml. New courses will not be added to a student’s enrollment until a completed Request to Add a Course form, with the signature of the course instructor, is returned to the Graduate School office.

Dropping Courses

Students who, after the close of registration, decide to withdraw from one or more, but not all courses in a particular term or summer session must notify the Graduate School office by obtaining a Request to Drop a Course(s) form online at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml. It is extremely important that the student contact the Graduate School office as soon as the decision to withdraw is made. Changes will not be processed or be considered official until the appropriate forms, with all required signatures, are returned to the Graduate School office. Forms may be mailed, dropped off in person, or faxed to (414) 288-1902. Tuition refunds and W (Withdrawal) grades will be based on the date that the form is submitted to the Graduate School office, not on the date that the student last attended classes.

A student who wishes to withdraw from a course with a W (Withdrawal) grade must do so before the deadline date listed in the Academic Calendar. Due to excessive absences or other reasons, including failure to formally withdraw before the deadline, a student may be administratively withdrawn from a course and incur a grade of either ADW (Administrative Withdrawal), UW (Unexcused Withdrawal), WA (Withdrawn-Excessive Absences) or F (Failure).

When withdrawing from any portion of a course load, students must carefully consider the ability of their remaining enrollment to satisfy any enrollment requirements to which they might be subject due to applications for student loans, loan repayment deferments, visas, etc.

Withdrawing From All Courses for a Term

Students enrolled for one or more classes who, after the close of registration, decide to discontinue study for the term must notify the Graduate School office and complete a Request to Drop a Course(s) form. The same rules, procedures, and cautions for partial withdrawals also apply to complete withdrawals. (Refer to Dropping Courses, above.) Withdrawing from all courses will not automatically withdraw a student from a graduate program, but it might affect the student’s eligibility to register in subsequent terms.

Enrollment Status

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Marquette University notifies its students each term of their rights to inspect, amend and prevent disclosure of their education records. In addition, Marquette’s policy regarding education records is printed in the At Marquette student handbook and copies may be obtained from the Office of Student Development in the Alumni Memorial Union, 329, or online on at marquette.edu/mucentral/registrar/policy_ferpa.shtml.

Grade Appeals

All grade appeals shall be heard for the Graduate School by the school or college that teaches the course, following the rules of that school or college. Their decision is final, and no further appeal is available. In schools or colleges with a departmental structure, the appeal procedure usually begins with the department chairperson.

Grading System

The following letter grades and their achievement equivalents are used by instructors in the Graduate School to evaluate a student’s performance in a course. Grade points corresponding to each letter grade determine a student’s academic average and eligibility to graduate. Each grade, A through F, has a specific grade point value. The grade points earned in any course equal the grade point value of the grade multiplied by the number of semester hours credited. The grade point average (GPA) is found by dividing the total grade points earned by the total number of semester hours credited in those courses for which grade points have been assigned. Determination of the cumulative GPA will be based on all courses taken during the student's graduate career, including prerequisite and repeated courses, if any. Note: Credits that are accepted for a Marquette degree, if transferred from another university, will not be included when calculating the student’s grade point average.

All graduate students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.000 to graduate. (For the effect of F and U grades, refer to Academic Review.) Graduate students may not be assigned a CD or a D grade in any course whatsoever, including undergraduate courses.

Grade	Achievement	Grade Points
A	Superior	4.000
AB		3.500
B	Good	3.000
BC		2.500
C	Minimally acceptable on a limited basis for graduate credit	2.000
CD	Not approved for graduate students
D	Not approved for graduate students
F	Failure	0

Grade points are not affected by the following grades:

Grade	Circumstance
ADW	Administrative Withdrawal; student was withdrawn from the course for administrative reasons, as determined by the university via a dean’s decision, a formal hearing and/or appeal process; takes precedence over W, WA or UW grades.
AU*	Audit.
CR	Credit; equivalent of C work or better.
I	Incomplete; assigned on a pre-arranged basis, to allow completion of course assignments other than the final examination; the student’s performance in the course must merit this exception otherwise, the instructor will assign either a grade of F, or a passing grade that reflects both the quality of the work completed and the significance of the work which has not been completed.
IC	Course Incomplete; assigned to all students enrolled in a course, clinical, independent study/research, capstone, etc. that will not be completed by the grading deadline for the term in which the course is scheduled; changed to a letter grade by the faculty at the time of completion (no initiation needed by the student).
IE	Incomplete Extension; assigned by the college office to those students who are granted an extension to the deadline for removal of an I, IX or X grade.
IX	Incomplete course work and final exam not taken; assigned to a student who has incomplete course work and is absent from the final examination; must meet the criteria for both the I grade and the X grade; a student not qualifying for the IX will be assigned the grade of F.
NC	No Credit; equivalent of less than C work.
PI	A permanent grade assigned to those graduate students who do not have the temporary grades of I, IX, or X removed by the published deadline.
SNC	Satisfactory completion in a course bearing no credit; mandatory grade for all zero credit bearing courses.
UNC	Unsatisfactory completion in a course bearing no credit; mandatory grade for all zero credit bearing courses.
S	Satisfactory completion in a credit bearing competency-based course; equivalent of C work or better.
SY	A permanent grade indicating satisfactory work completed in the first term of a series of year-long courses, where grades are assigned only in the final course in the series.
U	Unsatisfactory completion of a credit bearing, competency-based course; equivalent of less than C work.
UW	Unexcused withdrawal; withdrawal initiated by the faculty or college office when a student registered for a course, never attended and failed to officially withdraw.
UY	A permanent grade indicating unsatisfactory work completed in the first term of a series of year-long courses, where grades are assigned only in the final course in the series.
W**	Official withdrawal; withdrawal initiated by the student, with approval of the college office.
WA	Withdrawn-Excessive Absences; withdrawal initiated by the faculty or college office due to excessive absences in the course.
X	Completed course work and final exam not taken; assigned to a student who is absent from the final examination and who might earn a passing grade in the course were he/she to take a delayed examination; both conditions must exist, or the student is assigned the grade of F; student receiving the grade of X must file a written explanation for the absence with his/her college office.

*	Carries no graduate credit. Refer to Audit, below.
**	Signifies an official withdrawal with the approval of the vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School.

Note that grades of CD and D are not approved for graduate students, including those in undergraduate courses.

ADW Grade

This grade is assigned by the college office offering the course, and will take precedence over the W, WA or UW grade, should the student withdraw or be withdrawn from a course after the faculty or other university personnel initiated the administrative action which ultimately results in this grade.

Audit

Students must first register for a course via CheckMarq, then request the audit option from the Graduate School. The Audit Request Form on the Graduate School’s website marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml is used for this request. The deadline to request the audit option for each session is listed on the University Academic Calendar. Classes being audited are not charged at the normal tuition rate. Refer to the Tuition, Fees and Housing section of this bulletin for information on tuition rates.

CR/NC Grading

Under no circumstances may the undergraduate CR/NC option be exercised by a graduate student taking an undergraduate course for graduate credit.

S/U Grading

Graduate students required to take undergraduate courses as prerequisites or to remedy deficiencies may not take those courses for S/U grades, as this option is not available.

However, a few select graduate courses are offered for S/U grades only. Courses of this type usually are limited to practica, department colloquia, or special seminar courses. Students should check the individual course descriptions in this bulletin and the grading basis when conducting a class search in CheckMarq to determine whether a course is offered on this basis.

For the effect of U grades, refer to Academic Review.

Grade Changes

There are two types of grade adjustments: changing a temporary grade (I, IC, IE, IX or X) to a permanent grade, and correcting a permanent grade.

Temporary Grades — I, IC, IE, IX or X

Graduate students who do not complete course requirements during the term in which the class is offered may be given one of the following temporary grades after consultation with their instructor: X, when the final examination is missed; I, when the course work has not been completed; IE, when an I grade extension has been approved via student request (Request for Extension of I Grade Deadline form, found at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml; or IX, a combination of missed final examination and incomplete course work. The temporary grade of IC is issued when the course extends beyond the grading period.

The faculty member must submit a grade change form, found in CheckMarq, to change an I, IC, IE, IX or X to a permanent grade. The grade change deadline listed in the Academic Calendar pertains to I, IX, and X grades. For these grades, the student is obligated to submit all missing work to the instructor by the deadline, or to issue an extension request to the Graduate School by the deadline.

It is the responsibility of the faculty member to initiate the grade change procedure for the I, IX, and X grades by the deadline listed in the Academic Calendar. Grades of I, IE, or IX or X that are not resolved by the deadline will become permanent grades of PI on the student’s record. Change of the IC grade is faculty initiated, once the class is completed.

Correcting a Permanent Grade

Changing a permanent grade, because of miscalculation on the part of the instructor or a misunderstanding between the instructor and the student, may be initiated by either the student or the instructor. Changing a permanent grade should be done within six months of the end of the term.

Graduate Credit

A graduate student who has been officially accepted into the Graduate School can earn graduate credit for a course if the course is a 6000-level course or higher, or the course is a 5000-level course that is cross-listed with a 4000-level undergraduate course. In the case of a 5000-level course, the student must document the additional academic work that is required to justify graduate credit by completing the Graduate Credits Requested for Undergraduate Course form, available online at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml. This form must be submitted by undergraduate or graduate students who wish to receive graduate credit for a 5000-level course. (Undergraduate students see section on Undergraduate Students in Graduate Courses.)

Graduate students taking courses while in a non-degree status may request subsequent transfer of credits to their degree program, once formally admitted to a degree program, by submitting a Master’s Degree Transfer of Credit Request Form, available online at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml.

Graduation

All students must apply for graduation by the deadline specified in the Academic Calendar. Application forms for Graduate School students are available online at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml. Graduation deadlines are scheduled well in advance of the date of Commencement to allow time for student academic audits and for printing diplomas, graduation invitations and program booklets.

The awarding of a degree or certificate is contingent upon the student’s successful completion of all program requirements prior to the date of graduation. A cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or above is also required to graduate. Any exceptions to the total credits and minimum grade point average requirements for any degree and/or certificate must be approved by the provost. If a student fails to graduate at the time originally anticipated, he or she must reapply online for the next graduation before the appropriate deadline stated in the Academic Calendar.

Students who have completed all of their degree or certificate requirements prior to a specific graduation date, but who have missed the graduation application deadline, may request a letter from the Graduate School certifying the completion of their program. The student must still apply for graduation and the diploma will reflect the next graduation date.

Policy Governing Graduation Dates

Marquette University offers graduation on a weekly basis during the summer months and on a monthly basis during the academic year. However, each college may develop a policy that will guide the implementation of this process for students in that college. This statement addresses the policy as implemented by the Graduate School.

It is the policy of the Graduate School that only specific additional graduation dates will be implemented, and then only for students in specific academic disciplines. The additional graduation dates will be used to accommodate students who will be or have earned a professional certificate issued by an agency other than Marquette University. This will include Wisconsin teaching licensure, the licensure in clinical psychology, and the specialty certificates in orthodontics, endodontics, and prosthodontics issued by the American Dental Association.

All graduate students other than those listed in the paragraph above will be restricted to graduating in May, August, or December of each year according to the Academic Calendar. In addition to these three regular graduations, the following additional graduation cycles will be implemented for the groups of students specified:

Last working day of June – This will be utilized specifically for students in educational policy and leadership who are completing their student teaching, where the student teaching requirement is the final requirement necessary for graduation. This applies to master’s degree and certificate students. Additionally, graduate dental students earning their master’s degree and specialty certificate in orthodontics, endodontics, or prosthodontics may be eligible for this graduation date on an exception basis if they fail to meet the May graduation deadline for approval of the thesis.
- In the case of both education and graduate dental students, applications for June graduation must be submitted by the deadline for May graduation.
- Graduate dental students must submit an approved thesis and all other graduation requirements no later than June 1.
Last working day of September – This option will be available for clinical psychology doctoral students who complete their pre-doctoral internship and/or their dissertation defense and dissertation submission after the deadlines established for the August graduation, but before the September graduation deadline. Students shall be responsible for applying for September graduation, and for completing all graduation requirements, no later than the last working day of August.
Last working day of October - This option will be available for clinical psychology doctoral students who complete their pre-doctoral internship and/or their dissertation defense and dissertation submission after the deadlines established for the September graduation, but before the October graduation deadline. Students shall be responsible for applying for October graduation, and for completing all graduation requirements, no later than the last working day of September.
Last working day of January – This option will be available for clinical psychology doctoral students who complete their pre-doctoral internship and/or their dissertation defense and dissertation submission after the deadlines established for the December graduation, but before the January graduation deadline. In addition, this deadline will be available for students in educational policy and leadership who are completing their student teaching, where the student teaching requirement is the final requirement necessary for graduation. This will apply to master’s degree and certificate students.
- Students in clinical psychology shall be responsible for applying for January graduation and for completing all graduation requirements no later than the last working day of December.
- Students in educational policy and leadership shall be responsible for applying for January graduation no later than the last working day of December.
Last working day of February - This option will be available for clinical psychology doctoral students who complete their pre-doctoral internship and/or their dissertation defense and dissertation submission after the deadlines established for the January graduation, but before the February graduation deadline. Students shall be responsible for applying for February graduation, and for completing all graduation requirements, no later than the last working day of January.

Students who miss the deadlines for October or February graduation must wait until the following December or May to graduate, and in such cases will be responsible for meeting the established deadlines for those graduation cycles.

In exceptional cases, students enrolled in other graduate programs not explicitly covered in the above policy may also be permitted to graduate during the additional graduation cycles providing that the student applies to graduate, has the support of their department, and the Graduate School approves of their inclusion in the alternate cycle.

Immunization and Tuberculosis Screening Requirements

All newly admitted and readmitted undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are required to provide proof of certain immunizations and complete a TB Screening questionnaire for tuberculosis. Prior to arrival on campus all new and readmitted students will supply this information to the Student Health Service. Proof of immunization and/or prior disease for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Varicella (chicken pox), Tetanus/Diphtheria and completion of a tuberculosis screening questionnaire is required. Immunization and tuberculosis screening forms must be completed electronically. The forms and directions can be found on the Student Health Service website at marquette.edu/shs/forms/. Failure to submit the required immunization documentation and TB screening questionnaire within 30 days of the start of the student’s first term or the readmitted term at Marquette will result in the placement of a registration “hold” on future registrations. The hold will be removed once the immunization and screening requirements have been met. Health Sciences, Nursing and Dental students may be required by their departments or colleges to receive additional immunizations. Contact your department or college for specific requirements.

Independent Study

Independent Study (6995 and 8995) courses provide students the opportunity to study and investigate areas of interest not available through normal course offerings. A 6995/8995 course is taken on the recommendation of the student’s adviser and with the approval of the department chairperson. An approval form, which must be completed for each 6995/8995 course, is available on the Office of the Registrar’s website at marquette.edu/mucentral/registrar/policy_forms.shtml. Normally, no more than six credits of 6995/8995 course work can be included in a master’s degree program, no more than nine credits in a doctoral program.

Medical Withdrawal

Purpose

An official medical withdrawal may be needed when, in extraordinary cases, a student’s physical and/or psychological condition interferes with that student’s ability to participate in campus life, including the ability to complete or make satisfactory progress toward academic goals. Upon request, an official medical withdrawal may be granted, or in some cases, required by the university, as referenced in the Student Handbook, or other university, college or school policies. Note: a student may withdraw from a term for various reasons, including medical; however, if the student wishes to be verified by the university as having withdrawn with an official medical withdrawal, this policy and the processes outlined below then applies.

Process

A student who chooses to withdraw and requires documentation of the withdrawal for health insurance or other purposes, must complete the appropriate Medical Withdrawal form found here: mu.edu/mucentral/registrar/policy_forms.shtml. This form must be submitted before or within the term of illness/injury and by the deadline to withdraw from the session/term, as published in the University Academic Calendars (mu.edu/mucentral/registrar/cal_index.shtml). If the student is unable to participate in the medical withdrawal process and an official medical withdrawal is needed, the student’s college/school office, parent, spouse, partner, or other designee may do so on behalf of the student, once the incapacitation of the student is documented or power of attorney is provided. The Office of Student Affairs may, at times, require a student’s medical withdrawal on an involuntary basis. In this case, that office will process the Medical Withdrawal form on behalf of the student. In either case, voluntary or involuntary withdrawal, the university will not grant retroactive official medical withdrawals of any kind for previous terms/sessions. In addition, all previously graded courses at the time of the request will remain on the student’s record, regardless of the term/session in which the courses were taken.

A student who withdraws, or is withdrawn, for medical reasons prior to the end of late registration will have no courses reflected on the academic record for the term of the withdrawal. A student who withdraws, or is withdrawn, for medical reasons after the end of late registration will receive final grades of ‘W’ in all courses for the term of the withdrawal, except when courses have already been graded, or when grades of ‘ADW’ (administrative withdrawal) are warranted.

The completed ‘Medical Withdrawal Request’ form is to be submitted in person to Marquette Central or mailed to the Office of the Registrar by the student, the student’s designee, the student’s college/school office, or the Office of Student Affairs, and must include all relevant documentation as described on the form. The form and all documentation will be confidentially forwarded to the Medical Withdrawal Committee (MWC) for action.

The Medical Withdrawal Committee is comprised of four to five members. Permanent members include representatives from the Counseling Center, the Office of Student Financial Aid and the Office of the Registrar. Additional representatives will be included as follows: a designated representative from the Committee on Academic Procedures (for undergraduate student requests); a designated representative from the Graduate School (for graduate student requests); a designated representative from the Graduate School of Management (for GSM student requests); designated representative from the College of Health Sciences (for Health Sciences Professional or pre-professional student requests). The Medical Withdrawal Committee reserves the right to consult with individuals from the student’s college/school office, Counseling Center and/or Student Health Services on a case-by-case basis. The Medical Withdrawal Committee will carefully review each request for medical withdrawal and determine the action to be taken, including any refund, if appropriate. A medical withdrawal determination will result in a registration hold placed on the student’s record.

A student has the right to appeal the Medical Withdrawal Committee’s determination by writing to the Office of Student Affairs within five business days of the Committee’s decision. The refund decision, if any, may not be appealed on its own, but will be considered as part of an appeal of the withdrawal decision. The Office of Student Affairs will, in turn, consult with the student’s college/school office, or other university offices if appropriate, and reply to the student within five business days. The determination of the Office of Student Affairs is final.

Once a final determination has been made, the form will be signed by the chair of the committee and forwarded to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar will then notify the student’s college/school office and other offices, as appropriate; process the withdrawal; add the registration hold; and apply any refund, if granted. The original signed form will be retained by the Office of the Registrar as part of the permanent academic record.

Because a medical withdrawal can affect so many aspects of academic progress at Marquette, the student is encouraged to first consider other options that might enable the student to remain enrolled. Before requesting a medical withdrawal, a discussion with the student’s college/school office, the Office of Student Financial Aid (if applicable), the Office of International Education (if applicable) and other offices, as appropriate, is highly encouraged (e.g., Veterans, ROTC). It is also recommended that each student discuss the ramifications of a withdrawal with his/her health insurance or other service providers.

Readmission after Medical Withdrawal: Immediate Subsequent Term

A student who withdraws prior to the end of registration, such that no courses appear on the academic record for the term of withdrawal, must apply for readmission to the university in order to attend any subsequent term.
A student who withdraws after the end of late registration and has already earned grades, or receives grades of ‘W’ and/or ‘ADW’ in the term of withdrawal, is not required to apply for readmission to the university for the immediate subsequent term.

Approval to return to the university following a medical withdrawal is not guaranteed. The review process will follow all of the regulations outlined in the university readmission policy, in addition to any additional requirements imposed at the time of the medical withdrawal. The Medical Withdrawal Committee must approve a student’s return to the university and the student’s college/school must subsequently approve readmission to the college/school (if applicable). The registration hold imposed at the time of the medical withdrawal will not be removed from the record until the student is readmitted by the college/school (as applicable) and/or approved to return to the university by the Medical Withdrawal Committee.

Because of the documentation required, and the various decisions that must be made by university officials, it is necessary that the process to return, as outlined above, begin well in advance of the term/session in which the student wishes to re-enroll. At a minimum, the completed readmission application (if applicable), the ‘Request to Return After a Medical Withdrawal’ form and all required documentation must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the start of the session/term in which the student desires to return to the university. Failure to meet the two-week deadline may result in deferment of readmission to the following term/session.

Readmission after Medical Withdrawal: Future Terms

A student who withdraws prior to the end of registration, such that no courses appear on the academic record for the term of withdrawal, must apply for readmission to the university in order to attend any subsequent term.
A student who withdraws after the end of late registration, has already earned grades or receives grades of ‘W’ and/or ‘ADW’ in the term of withdrawal and who does not enroll in the immediate subsequent term, must apply for readmission to the university.

Approval to return to the university following a medical withdrawal is not guaranteed. The review process will follow all of the regulations outlined in the university readmission policy, in addition to any additional requirements imposed at the time of the medical withdrawal. The Medical Withdrawal Committee must approve a student’s return to the university and the student’s college/school must subsequently approve readmission to the college/school. The registration hold imposed at the time of the medical withdrawal will not be removed from the record until the student is readmitted by the college/school, and/or approved to return to the university by the Medical Withdrawal Committee.

Because of the documentation required, and the various decisions that must be made by university officials, it is necessary that the process to return, as outlined above, begin well in advance of the term/session in which the student wishes to re-enroll. At a minimum, the completed readmission application, the ‘Request to Return After a Medical Withdrawal’ form and all required documentation must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the start of the session/term in which the student desires to return to the university. Failure to meet the two-week deadline may result in deferment of the readmission decision to the following term/session.

Repeated Courses

Graduate students who repeat a course, may do so under certain conditions:

The repeated course is taken at Marquette.
The repeated course is identical to the original course in subject, catalog number, title, subtitle and credits.
The repeated course is graded with the same grading options as the original, i.e., students may not exercise a different grading option for a repeated course, unless it is now a required grading scheme.
A course in which a failing grade is earned may be repeated only once.
A failing grade is defined as any grade that is unacceptable to be counted towards degree completion. Thus, while the Graduate School’s definition of a minimally acceptable grade is C, some departments will not accept a grade below a B or BC. In those cases, the department-defined minimally acceptable grade will be used to define a passing grade for students in those programs.
Once a passing grade is earned in a course, the course may not be repeated.
There are certain courses that may be repeated and are exempt from this policy. Examples are thesis and dissertation courses, independent study courses, topics courses, internship and clinical courses, UWM and MCW exchange courses, and most continuation courses.
If a student repeats a course that was transferred to Marquette, only the Marquette course/grade will be reflected in the total credits earned.

Should a student need to take a course more than once, other than those referenced in item #6 above, a request to repeat must be filed using the ‘Request Permission to Repeat a Course’ form found online at mu.edu/mucentral/registrar/policy_forms.shtml. This request will only be approved if the student has not earned a passing grade in the course per Graduate School standards.

Additionally, the following policy defines the calculation of cumulative GPA and credit totals:

All courses taken while a student is in a graduate career and pursuing a specific degree/program combination will be included in the calculation of a student’s cumulative GPA.
When a course is repeated in an effort to earn a passing grade, both grades will be included in the calculation of the student’s cumulative GPA.
An “F” grade will have a strong negative effect on a student’s term and cumulative GPAs. Nothing in this policy will alter the normal end-of-term academic review process, which may result in the student being placed on probation or being considered for disenrollment.

Temporary Withdrawal from Graduate Program

Marquette University supports a temporary withdrawal from graduate program policy to assist graduate students who are temporarily unable to continue their programs. The temporary withdrawal may extend for up to one academic year. Under unusual circumstances, a second year of absence may be requested. Reasons for requiring a temporary withdrawal may include: bereavement, illness, injury, care giving, military service, maternity, and paternity. Students requesting a temporary withdrawal from their graduate program must submit a formal request to the Graduate School via their department/school/unit chairperson or director. Students granted a temporary withdrawal will not have the right to use university facilities during the time of their temporary withdrawal. This includes the library, the recreation center, and any other resources normally granted to enrolled students. The temporary withdrawal must be requested prior to the start of a term and will not be approved retroactively.

Preparing the Application for Temporary Withdrawal from Graduate Program

In consultation with the supervising faculty member, the Request for Temporary Withdrawal from Graduate Program form found at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml is to be completed by the student, and signed by both the student and the adviser or supervising faculty member. The application is to be submitted to the chairperson/director for review and signature before being forwarded to the dean of the Graduate School for consideration on a case-by-case basis. The application should be made in advance of the anticipated temporary withdrawal, and the termination of the withdrawal should coincide with the end of a semester or session. In situations where it is necessary for a student to leave during a term, the student should seek a late withdrawal for that term rather than a temporary withdrawal from their graduate program. Temporary withdrawals will not be granted retroactively, i.e., for previous terms, unless the Temporary Withdrawal from Graduate Program approval process was initiated at the beginning of a term and the decision of the university was delayed.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the proposed temporary withdrawal is compatible with the regulations of any granting agency from which funding would normally be received during the temporary withdrawal period, and that such agencies are informed of the proposed temporary withdrawal. Students on student loan programs are responsible for determining the consequences that such a temporary withdrawal may have on their repayment status prior to applying for a temporary withdrawal from their graduate program. International students are advised to consult with the Office of International Education regarding their immigration status prior to applying for a temporary withdrawal from their graduate program.

Students granted a temporary withdrawal from their graduate program will have their time-to-completion of degree extended by the amount of time granted by their temporary withdrawal. The continuous enrollment policy will also be held in abeyance during this time. Students granted a temporary withdrawal are not held to the readmission process unless they do not enroll in the term indicated on the Request for Temporary Withdrawal from Graduate Program form.

Students should make every effort to resolve any grades of incomplete prior to beginning a temporary withdrawal. However, students who begin a temporary withdrawal with one or more unresolved grades of incomplete must negotiate with the course instructor(s) a time line for completion of the academic work leading to the incomplete, and must submit the time line to the Graduate School.

Graduate student assistants who are granted a temporary withdrawal from their graduate program will have their salary and stipend suspended during the period of their withdrawal.

Time Limitations

Students are expected to complete all requirements for their degrees in the time allowed: six years for master’s degrees and eight years for doctoral (Ph.D. and D.N.P.) degrees. The time period begins with the date of admission to degree status, or with the date of admission to non-degree or temporary status in the same or closely-related program. The start of the time period is not affected by transfer credit that may have been taken prior to admission to Marquette.

Students who are unable to complete their degrees within the the allowable time may petition the Graduate School for an extension; Request for Extension of Time forms are available online at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml. To ensure timely consideration, the Request for Extension of Time form should be filed early in the term in which the time limit expires. If the extension is approved, the student is notified of the expectations for progress toward completion of the degree. If the extension is denied, the student is terminated from the graduate program at the end of the term during which the time limit will expire.

Failure to complete the program or to obtain an approved extension of time may result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the program. In such cases, students must follow the guidelines for readmission in order to be considered for readmission to their program of study.

Transfer of Credit

In order to protect the academic integrity and rigor of a Marquette graduate degree, limits are placed on the number of credit hours that may be transferred from other institutions, from Marquette in a different program, or from Marquette in the same program but in a different status (temporary or non-degree). Only credits directly applicable to a student’s Marquette degree program will be considered for transfer, and there is no guarantee that a transfer request will be approved. Credits to be considered for transfer must be graduate-level credits or upper-level undergraduate credits that are acceptable for graduate credit at the institution offering the course.

Credits that are accepted for a Marquette degree, if transferred from another university, will not be included when calculating the student’s GPA However, credits taken at Marquette in another program or in the same program but in a different status (temporary or non-degree), if accepted for transfer into a degree program, will be included in the student’s GPA Only courses in which a grade of B or above has been earned may be transferred for credit into a master’s program or used on a Doctoral Program Planning Form.

Credits approved for transfer from a school using a quarter-system will transfer as two-thirds credit each when converted to Marquette’s term system. Transfers from schools using a trimester system will vary by school and must be evaluated individually.

Students are strongly urged to consult their advisers before submitting a transfer request and before taking any course for which they intend to request transfer credit.

Courses should not be taken at another university during a student’s final term if those credits will be necessary to meet graduation requirements. If a course or courses are taken at another university during a student’s final term at Marquette, his/her graduation will be delayed until the following graduation cycle due to the time necessary to receive an official transcript and process the transfer credit.

Master's Programs

Upon recommendation of the department and concurrence by the vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School, 9-15 credit hours of the program’s requirement for course work (exclusive of thesis) may be accepted for transfer depending on the total number of credits needed for the degree. The following limits apply:

9 credits into a degree program requiring 36 or fewer course credits

12 credits into a degree program requiring 37-48 course credits

15 credits into a degree program requiring 49 or more course credits

Credits approved for transfer will normally have been earned within the six year period prior to admission to the Graduate School at Marquette. If the credits to be transferred are older than six years at the time of admission, the academic department to which the student is being admitted is expected to require evidence of proficiency with the material in the course(s) being considered for transfer. The six-year period that a master’s student has to complete his/her degree will begin with admission to the Graduate School at Marquette and is not affected by prior transfer credit. There is no Graduate School requirement that a student must have completed a certain number of credits at Marquette prior to requesting transfer, but individual departments may have such a requirement. Students should consult their department adviser, director of graduate studies, or department graduate student handbook.

Only credit for courses directly comparable in content to the requirements of the current degree program, or comparable to elective courses available at Marquette, will be considered for transfer. No credits will be officially transferred into a degree program until the student has completed and submitted the Master’s Degree Transfer of Credit Request form, found online at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml, and it has been approved by the Graduate School.

Graduate-level credits earned at Marquette, whether as a degree student in a different graduate program or as a non-degree or temporary student, may transfer following the same request and approval procedures outlined above. Students are responsible for initiating this process. Credits transferred between Marquette programs or statuses are included as part of the 9-15 credit transfer limit.

Master’s thesis credits taken at another institution are not transferable to Marquette. The six thesis credits required for a thesis-option master’s degree must be taken at Marquette.

Doctoral Programs

Graduate credits both from other institutions and from Marquette are accepted for a doctoral program when a Doctoral Program Planning Form is approved. Credits taken as part of an earned master’s degree at another institution or at Marquette will normally be accepted and applied to the Marquette doctoral program up to a maximum of 30 credits. These credits must be specified on the Doctoral Program Planning Form. There is not normally an age limit for accepting credits from an earned master’s degree.

Prior graduate-level credits taken, whether at another institution or at Marquette, that are not part of an earned master’s degree are considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the student’s adviser, the department, and the Graduate School. These credits must be specified on the Doctoral Program Planning Form. The number of credits that may be applied toward the doctorate are limited. Students should consult the Academic Programs Overview-Doctoral Degree Credit Requirements section of this bulletin. Such credits will normally have been earned within six years of admission to the Marquette doctoral degree. In cases in which the age of the credits exceeds six years at the time of admission, the academic department shall require evidence of proficiency of the content contained in the courses to be accepted.

Doctoral dissertation credits taken at another university are not transferable to Marquette. All twelve dissertation credits required for completion of a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree must be taken at Marquette.

Undergraduate Students in Graduate Courses

An undergraduate student may, with the permission of his or her home college and the department offering the course, register for a 6000-level or higher graduate course if the student has a B (3.000) or above grade point average. To register for a graduate credit bearing course, the undergraduate student must complete the Permission to Enroll in a Graduate Course form, available online at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml. Once all signatures of approval have been obtained and the student has received the permission number from the department offering the course, a copy of the completed form must be forwarded to the Graduate School. The student must then register for the course online through CheckMarq.

An undergraduate student who enrolls in a 5000-level course with the intention of earning graduate credit that might, subsequently, be transferred to a graduate program, must complete the Permission to Enroll in a Graduate Course form following the above instructions. The Graduate Credits Requested for Undergraduate Course form, found online at marquette.edu/grad/forms_index.shtml, must also be submitted in order to receive graduate credit for a 5000-level course. On the form, the instructor of the course indicates the additional academic work that will elevate the course to graduate level. The course cannot be taken under the CR/NC option.

Withdrawals

See Enrollment Changes, above.

Working With Minors

Effective July 1, 2009, University Policy and Procedure 4-26 was established to provide a safe environment to those under the age of 18 years old participating in programs and activities at Marquette University. Unless an exception applies, programs that involve adults working with minors in university-sponsored programs and other programs held on campus must register with the Department of Risk Management. In addition, adults, before directly participating with minors in such programs and activities, must complete a criminal history background check; observe specific behavioral requirements; report all allegations of inappropriate conduct; and participate in mandatory training on protecting minors and on the behavioral and reporting requirements of the policy. The Department of Risk Management's website on this topic, found at marquette.edu/riskunit/riskmanagement/working_with_minors.shtml, provides additional information and all required forms.