Undergraduates will be placed on academic probation if their cumulative grade-point averages fall below 2.0. Students completing one semester should have a grade-point average of at least 1.9. If the cumulative grade-point average falls below 1.9, the student must increase it to 1.9 in the next term of enrollment, or must earn at least a 2.0 each term until the cumulative grade-point average reaches 1.9. Otherwise, the student will be subject to academic dismissal.

Students on academic probation may be required to repeat courses, enroll in no more than 15 credits, take courses in reading and study skills, attend academic progress meetings sponsored by the Office of Registration and Academic Progress, attend workshops and seminars on academic success, obtain advisor's approval to make schedule changes, and enroll in class sections that offer supplemental instruction. Students who are informed by the registrar that they have been placed on academic probation should immediately meet with an academic advisor to discuss plans for improvement.

Students who have completed 30 credits (including transfer and other earned credit) must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0. If the cumulative grade-point average falls below 2.0, it must increase to 2.0 in the next term of enrollment, or a grade-point average of at least a 2.1 each term must be earned until the cumulative grade-point average reaches 2.0. Otherwise, the student will be subject to academic dismissal.

Transferred credits from other colleges and universities will be included in determining the number of completed credits. The grades from those institutions will not be used in figuring the cumulative grade-point average. Transfer students who fail to earn a grade-point average of at least 1.0 during the first semester of attendance may be dismissed from the university.

Students dismissed from Ball State for academic reasons cannot be reinstated for at least two semesters (summer is considered a semester). To be reinstated, students must complete an application form available from the Office of the Registrar and submit it to the Office of the Registrar for review by the Committee on Admissions and Credits by the appropriate date established by the Registrar's Office. The request cannot be presented to the Committee on Admissions and Credits if a "university hold" has been placed on all student records or if the university has not received official transcripts of grades from all other schools attended since the last semester of attendance at Ball State. Reinstatement to the university does not ensure admission to a particular college or program.

Ball State is not obligated to reinstate students who have been dismissed. Students granted reinstatement must show that they have sufficient aptitude to pursue their intended program of study. They must also show signs of increased maturity, increased commitment to education, and adequate financial resources to attend Ball State without excessive employment. Students may not apply for reinstatement more than once in a twelve-month period. Normally, students who have been disqualified will not be reinstated more than once in a three-year period.

All degree programs require that students earn a grade-point average of at least 2.0 overall and in each area of concentration. Some programs--for example, teacher education--have higher minimum requirements.

Academic Clemency. Undergraduate students who were not enrolled at Ball State University for a five-year period may petition the Committee on Admissions and Credits to have grades and credits earned before that period removed from the calculation of their cumulative grade-point averages. Students participating in the program are specifically required to comply with the following provisions:

Call the Office of the Registrar, 765-285-1725, for more information on the deadlines for applications for reinstatement or academic clemency.

Students enrolled in distance education courses are entitled to the support services of University Libraries and University Computing Services. Access to other services and facilities is only available to students who have paid all necessary fees.

Ball State students enrolled in any extended education course will only receive residence credit for those courses that originate at Ball State University.

Independent learning enrollments after January 13, 1997, earn residence credit. For students pursuing a degree at Ball State University, there may be a limit to the number of independent learning credit hours that will count toward a major or minor. To inquire about the limitations governing degree programs, contact the academic department responsible for the major or minor.

Incomplete Policy for Independent Learning Courses
The course period for independent learning courses will not exceed ten weeks or nine months, depending on the time frame selected upon enrollment. Final grades for independent learning courses are posted at the end of each semester. If an independent learning course is not completed by the end of the semester for which a student enrolls, an I (incomplete grade) will be recorded for the course. Once the course has been completed, the instructor will replace the I with the final grade. Students who do not complete or officially withdraw from the independent learning course by the end of the specified time frame will receive a failing grade. Students should not re-register in the same course with a pending I grade.

Class Attendance
A student's official course program is regarded as a contract with the university. Since full performance requires, in part, regular and punctual class attendance, students are expected to attend all classes for which they are registered. Faculty will establish attendance policies for their courses and communicate those policies through course syllabi or outlines.

Students who know they must be absent from a class should notify the instructor or departmental office. Courtesy requires that students speak to the instructor and preferably present a signed and dated memo briefly stating the reasons for absence.

Faculty members are responsible for keeping records of attendance of all students registered in each class. Students are responsible for completing any work they have missed. The faculty member is not required to do extra teaching to help students "catch up."

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Right to Bereavement Leave
Students will be excused from class in the event of the death of a member of the student's immediate family or household, including: father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, grandfather, grandmother, grandchild, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, and stepdaughter. The number of excused absences allowed is determined by the distance of funeral services from Muncie, Indiana, as follows:
Three work days-150 mile radius of Muncie;
Four work days-Between 150-300 mile radius of Muncie;
Five work days-Beyond 300 mile radius of Muncie;
Seven work days-Outside of North America.

In the event of the death of a student's brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, and niece, students will be allowed one work day.

A student may contact the Office of Student Rights and Community Standards to request that an informational notice (without verification) be sent to the student's instructor(s). The student will provide documentation to each instructor. Given proper documentation, the instructor will excuse the student from class and provide the opportunity to earn equivalent credit for assignments missed. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome, he or she may appeal as outlined in the Ball State University's Procedure for Student Bereavement Appeals.

Field Trips
Field trips consistent with the purpose of the course should be planned at the beginning of the semester. Absence caused by field trips in a course or by official university responsibilities will be announced in advance to the instructors of the
course(s) in which the student is enrolled. Students obtain these notices through the department chairperson's office and take them to their instructors at least three days in advance of the absence. No field trips, travel, or other special events involving students are scheduled during the first week or the last two weeks of a semester. Exceptions will be granted only after consultation with and approval by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Student Affairs. Whenever possible, trips should be scheduled for weekends.

Field trips are voluntary, but a course grade may be lowered if students do not go on a field trip and do not complete adequate make-up work as assigned.

Internships and Practica
The university encourages student internships and practica. Internships and practica are defined as supervised practical experience in a student's field of study. In order to be recorded on the student's academic transcript, the internship or practicum must have an academic component. Academic supervision must be conducted by faculty in the student's major or minor course of study in collaboration with a supervisor at the internship or practicum site. Academic internships and practica must be approved by the department chairperson or a designated representative of the student's major or minor course of study.

Students must apply for graduation. Application forms are available in the advising centers or online and must be submitted early in the appropriate school year, before the deadline printed on the back of the application form.

Graduation with Honors
Students completing all university requirements for graduation with a grade-point average of 3.9 or higher will graduate summa cum laude. If the grade-point average is between 3.8 and 3.899, students will graduate magna cum laude. If the grade-point average is between 3.6 and 3.799, students will graduate cum laude.

The grade-point average upon which graduation honors are determined includes all work at Ball State University completed for graduation. In addition, transfer students must have earned a minimum of 63 semester credits at Ball State University to be eligible for honors.

Associate Degrees with Academic Distinction
Students graduating with associate degrees who maintain at least a 3.6 grade-point average will receive a designation of Associate of Arts/Science with Academic Distinction on their academic transcripts. Transfer students must have earned a minimum of 30 semester credits at Ball State University to be eligible for Academic Distinction.