Two New Proposals From the Academic Policies Committee

For consideration at the May 4, 1999 meeting of Faculty Senate:

Proposal from the Academic Policies Committee

Minimum credit requirements; for two-year college transfers.

G.M. 11/97, p. 53: Bacccalaureate Degree Requirements, item 4, delete the last sentence:

"Satisfy the minimum residence requirement of one year, including 30 semester hours of coursework (in addition to student teaching for education students). The minimum requirement for transfers from a two year college is 60 semester hours at Millersville University."

Rationale: There are sufficient regulations in that section to protect the University from awarding a degree to a student who attends a transferring institution by maintaining the f ive regulations listed within the degree requirement regulation. All students will be expected to complete the general education requirements. They will be expected to complete 120 semester hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.00. They will complete a major field of study with a 2.00 average. All students will be required to have a residency enrollment of one year, including 30 semester hours of coursework in addition to student teaching for education students. These students must also complete 50% of their major at Millersville.

For consideration at the May 4, 1999 meeting of Faculty Senate:

Proposal from the Academic Policies Committee

Limits on the number of courses/credits for students on academic probation.

Current language in the Governance Manual, Section 3, Academic Standards, Probation and Dismissal, paragraph 2, 2nd sentence:

"Academic Probation

While on probation, students are not allowed to pre-register (register) for winter and /or presummer sessions, unless they have permission of Academic Support Services."

The Academic Policies Committee recommends the following addition:

"Additionally, such students are not allowed to pre-register (register) for more than 4 courses or 13 credits, whichever is less, in any term, session, or semester."

Rationale: Currently about 300 students are on academic probation with about 120 dismissed each semester. Restricting courses/credits should facilitate the progress of such students. While some may argue that our students are capable of making such judgments, the fact of their probation casts doubt on that capability. The choice of 4 courses/13 credits was selected to maintain full-time status, but a lighter that normal load to assist the student in raising his or her grade point average to an acceptable level.