Student Status and Progress

Academic Credit and Class Standing

Academic credit is expressed in terms of semester hours. The number of credit hours completed toward graduation determines a student’s classification. The minimum number for each classification is as follows: sophomore-28, junior-60, and senior-92.

Academic Dishonesty, and Plagiarism

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses at Muskingum University, and the instructores have the prerogative of invoking the severest penalty for an initial offense. Each department is responsible for developing its definition of plagiarism, but in general, plagiarism is the verbal, written, graphic, or three-dimensional presentation of borrowed material without citing its source. Students must cite all quotations, paraphrases, borrowed ideas, models, information, or organization of material. Students who are uncertain about the need for citation should consult the instructor for whom the work is being prepared. For a first offense, the minimum penalty for plagiarism and/or cheating is a failing grade on the assignment, paper, or examination; the maximum penalty is a failing grade in the course. In either case, the instructor should submit a written report of the offense to either the Office of the Provost or the Office of the Vice President for Graduate and Continuing Studies as appropriate. The student guilty a second time may be suspended or expelled from the University. Plagiarized work is filed in the office of the Provost or the Office of the Vice President for Graduate and Continuing Studies as appropriate. A grade given for academic dishonesty shall supersede any withdrawal. See additional information under “Order of Appeal.”

*Adult undergraduate degree completers should refer to the MAP Guidebook.

Academic Honors

At the end of each semester, the University publishes an honor roll, consisting of three different levels of recognition; President’s List, Dean’s List, and Academic Merit. 

• The President’s List contains the names of undergraduate degree-seeking students who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or above on a minimum load of 12 completed semester hours of A-F graded coursework. 
• The Dean’s List contains the names of undergraduate degree-seeking students who earned a term GPA of 3.60 or above on a minimum load of 12 completed semester hours of A-F graded coursework. 
• The Academic Merit list contains the names of undergraduate degree-seeking students who started the semester as a part time student (minimum load of 6 completed hours) and earned a term GPA of 3.60 or above on A-F graded coursework.

Students are awarded the highest recognition level for which they are eligible in a given semester. The recognition level is marked on the student’s transcript for the term in which the recognition occurs. 

Each spring, traditional degree-seeking students who have distinguished themselves academically are honored at the Celebration of Excellence program.

Three classes of honors are conferred at graduation: cum laude, to those with cumulative minimum grade point averages of 3.4; magna cum laude, minimum 3.6; and summa cum laude, minimum 3.8. All post-secondary work must meet these standards, with the exception of approved off-campus study as a Muskingum student (such as Washington Semester and study abroad). A Latin Honors GPA cannot be higher than the GPA earned at Muskingum. With the exception of approved off-campus study as a Muskingum student, grades earned elsewhere will lower but not raise the Latin Honors GPA, even if the courses for which the grades were earned were not applied by transfer to the Muskingum record. To be eligible for honors designation, students must have completed all degree requirements. Students completing second baccalaureate degrees are also governed by this policy.

The student with the highest cumulative GPA who qualifies for summa cum laude recognition will be designated valedictorian. The student with the second highest GPA who qualifies for summa cum laude recognition will be designated salutatorian.

Academic Standards Policy

Academic Warning

Students who meet the criteria for Academic Warning are on notice that academic performance must improve to ensure successful progress toward graduation.  Students will also be placed on Academic Warning for earning a term GPA below 2.0, even if the cumulative GPA remains above this threshold.  Students on academic warning are expected to take advantage of campus support resources to improve academic performance.   

Academic Probation

Students who meet the criteria for Academic Probation are not progressing towards graduation due to failure to meet academic expectations.  Students on academic probation are required, as a condition of their continued enrollment, to meet with an academic coach to create a Success Plan which will detail a personalized plan to improve academic performance.  Academic probation is noted on the transcript.  

Academic Suspension

Academic Suspension is a separation from the university for one semester as the result of academic performance that is significantly below expectations for progress towards graduation.  Academic suspension may be enforced or deferred at the discretion of the Provost and the Academic Standards Committee following consideration of student response to interventions.  Students placed on Academic Suspension may appeal this decision.   Suspended students may apply for reenrollment following completion of remediation activities during the period of suspension.  

Academic Dismissal

Academic Dismissal is a separation from the university for a minimum of two semesters as the result of academic performance that is significantly below expectations for progress towards graduation.  Academic Dismissal is reserved for students who have previously served an academic suspension and, upon return, are still not making satisfactory progress towards graduation despite continued intervention.  Students placed on Academic Dismissal may appeal this decision.   Dismissed students may reapply for admission after the minimum period of separation and upon demonstration of academic and/or professional success during the separation period. 

Leave of Absence/Withdrawal from the University

Leave of Absence 

A leave of absence may be granted to a student who wishes/needs to interrupt, but not permanently discontinue, enrollment at Muskingum University. A student may take a leave of absence for up to two consecutive semesters. Students must complete the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Form with a representative of the Provost Office. The leave of absence begins on the day the form is completed. Students who begin a leave of absence after the start of an academic term are entitled to a refund of charges according to the Withdraw Refund Policy. All suspensions and dismissals take precedence over any leave of absence or withdrawal.

If a student applies for a leave of absence after the add/drop period but prior to the last regular day of classes, a grade of “W” will be recorded for each course in which the student was registered (with the exception of partial semester courses in which a final letter grade was already entered). A student may be granted an Incomplete (I) when they have completed the majority of the course but, for reasons beyond their control, have to take a leave of absence. The Incomplete must be completed by the end of the subsequent semester of enrollment. Official transcripts will not be released until all outstanding financial obligations have been met and final grades have been entered. A student who applies for a leave of absence during the final examination period will receive final letter grades for their classes and will have their leave of absence begin at the start of the subsequent semester.

A student on an approved Leave of Absence can return without going through the reapplication process. To re-enroll, students should contact the Provost Office. Students must be cleared by the Assistant Dean of Students, Title IX Coordinator, Business Office, and Financial Aid Office before re-enrollment. In the semester preceding their return to the University, students on a leave of absence will be eligible to participate in registration for classes and residence selection. The student returns to Muskingum under the same catalog requirements for which they originally entered. If the student was on academic probation when they began the leave of absence, they will continue with that status upon their return. If a student does not return after the specified Leave of Absence period without requesting an extension, they will be administratively withdrawn.

Withdrawal 

A student who wishes/needs to leave Muskingum University and does not plan to return must apply for withdrawal. Students must complete the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Form with a representative of the Provost Office. The withdrawal begins on the day the form is completed. Students who withdraw from the university after the start of an academic term are entitled to a refund of charges according to the Withdraw Refund Policy. All suspensions and dismissals take precedence over any withdrawal.

If a student withdraws after the add/drop period but prior to the last regular day of classes, a grade of “W” will be recorded for each course in which a student was registered (with the exception of partial-semester courses in which a final grade was already entered). A student cannot withdraw with a grade of Incomplete (I) or Work in Progress (WIP) on their transcript and must have a final letter grade recorded. Official transcripts will not be released until all outstanding financial obligations have been met and final grades have been entered. A student who withdraws during the final examination period will receive final letter grades for their classes; their withdrawal will begin at the start of the subsequent semester.

A student who has withdrawn and later wishes to return to Muskingum must go through a re-application process. To re-apply, students should contact the Admission Office. Students must be cleared by the Assistant Dean of Students, Provost Office, Title IX Coordinator, Business Office, and Financial Aid Office before re-admission. A withdrawn student returns to Muskingum under the catalog requirements for the semester in which they are re-admitted. If the student was not in good academic standing when they withdrew, they will be required to participate in academic interventions, as prescribed by the Provost Office, upon their return. 

Administrative Withdrawal

A student will be administratively withdrawn from the University when they do not have a schedule by the end of the add/drop period, or when they have a schedule but do not attend any classes during the add/drop period with no communication to the University. 

A student may also be administratively withdrawn from the University if, after the seventh week of the semester, they have failed to attend all seated classes and/or participate in all online courses for three consecutive weeks with no prior approval and/or no communication to the University.

Students should be aware that an administrative withdrawal may affect their current and future financial aid eligibility and account balance. The withdrawal date will be determined by the University. Administrative withdrawal may be appealed to the Provost Office. Students who have been administratively withdrawn must reapply for admission. 

Order of Appeal

Instructors are responsible for outlining grading policies to students at the beginning of each course. If students believe they have received a wrong grade on an assessment or for a course, the initial step is to discuss the grade directly with the instructor teaching the course. If that step does not result in a satisfactory explanation or resolution of the perceived problem, the student may bring the matter to the attention of the department chair. The next person in the line of appeal, should the student continue to contest the grade and wish to pursue an appeal, is the division chair. Should the person to whom the student brings the appeal in this process is also the instructor of the course in question, that person has no jurisdiction over the appeal. In the latter case, the Provost or the Vice President for Graduate and Continuing Studies, as appropriate, will call on an appropriate instructor from the department or related department in the division to review the circumstances and make a recommendation to the Provost, who will be the final arbitrator in any such appeal.

The same process detailed above applies to disputes over alleged plagiarism or other cases of academic dishonesty, although the student may appeal the decision of the Provost to the President. The maximum penalty for the first instance of academic dishonesty is failure of the course; for a second, expulsion from the University.

Students judged guilty of violating library regulations may appeal to the Director of the Library and to the campus Judicial Board.

A student who believes that an instructor has acted in an unprofessional manner may bring a charge of unprofessional conduct to the Professional Relations Committee. The committee, which functions to protect the full rights of all parties concerned, determines the validity of the charges. The hearing is private; both parties have the opportunity to be heard in their own cause, and the instructor personally selects advisors. A full stenographic record of the hearing is taken and made available to both parties. Either party may request the testimony of other instructors or students when it can be shown that these persons have access to facts that bear on the case. At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee renders its judgments and recommendations in writing to the parties concerned. Written copies of the Committee’s judgment and recommendation shall be placed in the files of both parties in the office of the Provost.