Category: Undergraduate Academic Regulations
Academic Grievance
Academic Grievance Procedures |
Students who have academic grievances are entitled to have their dispute reviewed by a formal and systematic process. The student must initiate the grievance process by obtaining a form in the Office of the Registrar that outlines the steps to be taken for this review. The deadline for students to initiate an academic grievance is the middle of the next regular semester. For purposes of this policy, “middle of the next regular semester” will be interpreted to mean the date that mid-semester grades are due.
The Academic Grievance Policy should begin with a good faith effort for resolution between the student and the professor. In the event the issue cannot be resolved between the student and professor, the student may subsequently take up the review with the Department Chair and then Associate Dean and Dean of the respective college. If the issue cannot be resolved by the aforementioned steps, the student may request a hearing with the Undergraduate Academic Grievance Committee. The Undergraduate Academic Grievance Committee will hold hearings on academic grievances asserted by undergraduate students. The Committee shall meet only when the student has not been able to resolve the grievance through the faculty member, the Department Chair, and the Dean’s level review. The Committee shall have the authority to make recommendations for disposition of grievances to the Provost, the Provost shall consider the recommendation but will not be bound by the recommendation; and his/her decision on the grievance will be final. At each stage in the grievance process a written record that summarizes each party’s understanding and disposition is expected. |
Academic Honesty
Academic Behavior |
Fundamental to the dissemination of knowledge is an environment imbued with honor and integrity. Honesty at all times on the part of all community members is essential if the University is to achieve its goal of academic excellence in preparation for business leadership. A student’s education is the result of his or her initiative and industry. A high standard of conduct in his or her academic experiences is expected. The academic community has a right to expect that students will conduct themselves in ways that are consistent with the highest standards of academic honesty. The academic community, therefore, does not tolerate any form of “cheating,” – the dishonest use of assistance in the preparation of outside or in-class assignments. Such violations, which include forms of plagiarism, are subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to:
Lack of knowledge of the above is unacceptable as an excuse for dishonest efforts. PROCEDURES AND PENALTIES A student must be informed of any accusations of alleged academic dishonesty made by a member of the Bryant community. The procedure for handling cases is as follows: 1. If the case occurs with respect to an individual professor and course, the case should be dealt with by the professor. The student may be penalized up to and including failure in the course and expulsion from the class. The professor must file a report with the Department Chair. In the event an issue cannot be resolved between the student and professor, the student may subsequently take up the review with the appropriate Department Chair and then the Associate Dean and Dean of the respective college. If the issue cannot be resolved by the aforementioned steps, the student may request a hearing with one of the following committees:
The appropriate committee will report its findings to the Provost for final disposition. 2. Any member of the Bryant University community may bring an alleged violation of this academic code directly to the Dean of the respective college. |
Academic Performance
President’s List |
Academic Program Declaration of Major/Concentration
All undergraduate students are required to officially declare a major/concentration by the end of the second semester of their sophomore year. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences must declare their major. In addition to the concentration declaration, students in the College of Business must also declare their required liberal arts minor.
To officially declare a major/concentration or minor, students must complete a “Major/Concentration Declaration Form” or “Minor Declaration Form”. Forms are available from either the Office of the Registrar website or the Undergraduate Advising website. These forms must be completed and signed by your academic advisor and the Department Chair/Coordinator for your major/concentration or required minor. Submit the signed forms to the Office of the Registrar.
Students that do not complete the official process of declaring their major/concentration or required minor will have a registration hold placed on their Banner account in the fall of the junior year. The hold prevents registration for spring semester courses.
Add/Drop
Undergraduate Add/Drop |
The Add Process
During the fall and spring terms, students may add courses for (1) week after the first day of classes. Students have two weeks to drop classes after the first day of classes. Students much complete an add/drop form with appropriate faculty signatures and return to the Office of the Registrar. Refer to the Office of the Registrar web page for add and drop deadlines for the winter and summer terms. |
Attendance Make-up Policy
The academic experience takes priority over all other activities. Accordingly, full attendance and participation in classes are expected of all students and is the responsibility of all students. Because of the unique nature of each course, teaching style, course objectives, and student situation and performance needs, the class professor is in the best position to determine fair and reasonable attendance and make-up policies for his/her course. Guidance on developing attendance and make-up policies can be provided by the Department Chair. The professor’s attendance and make-up policies shall be clearly defined in the course syllabus.
While professors have wide latitude in determining to what degree attendance and/or class participation may count toward the course grade, they are expected to make reasonable accommodations for students to make-up missed exams or assignments under the following documented circumstances:
- The student is away from campus attending an official University function or is representing the University in an official capacity (e.g. professional meeting, conference, as a member of a judging team, academic or athletic competitions, etc.);
- Required military duty as certified by the student’s commanding officer;
- Jury duty;
- Illness or injury sufficient to prevent class attendance;
- Death or serious illnesses in the family.
Students are to contact the Office of the Registrar in the event of situations requiring prolonged absences. In turn, the Office of the Registrar will provide initial notification of the student’s absence to her/his professors for the current term. However, this will not preclude or replace the necessary communication between student and the professor regarding the absence.
Withdrawing from Bryant
Students are considered active and responsible both academically and financially unless they withdraw formally from the University. All undergraduate students who plan to withdraw from Bryant University are required to notify and complete an official withdrawal form in the Office of the Registrar. At that time, the student will complete an exit interview and be advised about his/her obligations to the University. After the tenth week of the term, students will be graded according to the University Grading Policy. The withdrawal form can be processed immediately or at the end of the semester, and the student’s intent to withdraw will be communicated to the appropriate offices. Additional future registrations and housing will be canceled.
Return from Withdrawal
Students who have been withdrawn for more than two consecutive semesters must reapply through the Admission Office and meet all course, distribution, and quality requirements in effect at the time of reentry.
Class Cancellation Policy
During inclement weather, the President may cancel or delay classes. Notifications of delays or cancellations will be announced over local radio and television stations.
A detailed message will also be available by calling the University’s Weather Line at (401) 232-6002. The decision to cancel or delay classes will also be available on the University website at www.bryant.edu.
Faculty absence and class session cancellation:
If a professor decides to cancel a class, s/he must notify three parties of that decision: the Department Chair, the respective Dean, and his/her Suite Coordinator. In turn, Suite Coordinators will request that the Office of the Registrar (ext 6080) have the professor’s cancelled classes listed on the AXIS TV system: notification of a class session cancellation via the classroom blackboard or classroom door is not acceptable.
If a specific Suite Coordinator is not available, it is not acceptable to request student assistants to notify others of the class cancellation; they may assist the professor in contacting another Coordinator, but ultimately it is the professor’s responsibility to contact a Suite Coordinator regarding the cancellation of a class session.
Residency Requirement
All matriculating students at Bryant must complete the last 30 credits (10 courses) of their degree requirements at Bryant. If a student lives a considerable distance from the University so as to preclude commuting, he/she may petition the Director of Undergraduate Advising to complete no more than the last six credit hours at an approved institution. None of this work may be in the student’s area of concentration, and only one of the two courses may be in the business area. The petition will be considered for approval provided that the student has matriculated for at least 30 credit hours, and has no more than six credits remaining to meet the distributive requirements, and otherwise meets the standards of academic progress. The University is prepared to accept up to 92 semester hours credit in transfer from a four-year institution and up to 62 semester hours credit from a two-year community college or institution. Courses that are transferred are for credit only and are not calculated into the grade point average (GPA). Students who have reached junior standing (62 credits passed) may not transfer credits from a junior college.
Limitation Period for Degree Candidates
Degree requirements are normally to be completed within four years, although students may take up to five years. Additional time, up to 10 years from the date of matriculation, may be granted upon formal request to the Director of Undergraduate Advising. Students who have been withdrawn for more than two consecutive regular terms are designated as former students. Former students must reapply through the Admission Office and must meet all course, distribution, and quality requirements in effect at the time of reentry.