Academic Regulations

Academic regulations of the University safeguard the fairness and integrity of the graduate programs.

Course Numbering

Graduate level courses are numbered 500 and above.

Leave of Absence

Students who wish to interrupt their education may petition the appropriate graduate program director. The petition should contain the reasons for requesting a leave of absence and an estimate of its duration, which can be no longer than two calendar years (one year for MSN and DNP). For additional clarification, consult the appropriate graduate program section of this catalog.

Time Limit

The maximum time for completion of a master’s degree is seven years from the date of enrollment in the first course (including any leaves of absence).

Graduate students who do not take a course within a 12-month period will have their status changed from active to inactive. Students who wish to return after 12 months are required to submit a new application along with official transcripts from any other college(s) attended during their period of non-enrollment at DeSales. All other application checklist items are waived unless otherwise requested by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Students interested in reactivating their enrollment status are encouraged to contact the Office of Graduate Admissions as a first step.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The GPA is the sum of all course quality points divided by the number of credit hours they require. Courses that have grades other than A - F are excluded from the GPA.

Grading System

The following system of grades is used unless individual programs have established alternate grading scales in their specific literature:

Retention, Probation, and Dismissal

A GPA of 3.0 or above is required for graduation. A degree candidate must maintain a GPA of 3.0 for acceptable academic standing in his or her graduate program. Students who fail to maintain a GPA of 3.0 are subject to the regulations of their individual programs.

A student has the right to appeal an academic dismissal in writing to his or her admissions and academic policies committee. The words “Academic Dismissal” appear on the official transcript of a student who is dismissed for academic reasons.

Academic Schedule

Academic schedule is organized to meet specific program objectives and are described in the appropriate program section.

• Semester refers to instruction within a 14-15 week period. The calendar year for a semester is divided into Fall and Spring. Term refers to instruction within an 11-13 week period. The calendar year for a term is divided into Fall, Winter, and Spring. Summer semesters and terms refer to instruction offered between the Spring and Fall semesters or terms respectively.

Full-time and Half-time Graduate Student Status

• Graduate students who are enrolled in semester-based programs as defined above must register for a minimum of 10 credits to be considered full-time and 5-9 credits to be considered half-time. DPT students in their final semester register for 7 credits and are considered full-time. SLP students in their final semester register for a minimum of 6 credits and are considered full-time.
• Graduate students who are enrolled in term-based programs as defined above must register for a minimum of 6 credits to be considered full-time and 3-5 credits to be considered half-time.

Course Drop and Add

A student may drop or add a course by the date noted on the academic calendar of his or her graduate program. The dropped course is not listed on the student’s permanent record. Dropping or adding a course requires the approval of the student’s advisor.

Course Withdrawal

A student may withdraw from a course up to the date listed on the graduate academic calendar for that program. A faculty member may assign the grade of W, WP, or WF depending on the completion of course requirements to the date of withdrawal. Such withdrawal requires the approval of the student’s advisor (when appropriate) and the graduate program director. Exceptions to this policy require the permission of the Dean of Graduate Education, who acts upon recommendation of the graduate program director.

Course Withdrawal Refund Amount (does not apply to residency-based courses)

Withdrawal during the add/drop period: 100% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal after the 1st class after the close of the add drop period: 80% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal after the 2nd class after the close of the add drop period: 65% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 3rd class after the close of the add drop period: 50% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 4th class after the close of the add drop period: 25% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 5th class after the close of the add drop period: No refund

Course Repetition

With the permission of the program director, a student may repeat a course. Both the original and the repeated course will be recorded on the transcript but only the higher grade will be used in the calculation of GPA.

Auditing

Permission to audit selected courses may be granted to qualified applicants. Such applicants must fill out the graduate application form, pay the non-refundable application fee, and pay the full tuition. The auditing student does not take examinations, receive grades, or earn credits. An audited course may not be used for credit. The approval of the appropriate program director is needed for a student to audit any course. The instructor may request, through the appropriate program director, that an auditor be officially withdrawn whenever it is clear that he or she is not profiting from the course, or that the auditor’s presence in the class interferes with the learning process of the other students. A student may not change from audit to credit once the add/drop period has ended.

Note: Once a class has been audited, that class cannot be taken for credit at a later time.

Credit by Examination (CBE)

Depending on the program, graduate credits may be earned without attending formal instruction by verifying previously acquired knowledge through an examination process. The following conditions must be satisfied

• The student who desires to receive credit by examination must have been admitted to one of the graduate programs and be in acceptable academic standing.
• The subject of the examination must be compatible with and regularly covered by one of the courses offered in the student’s graduate program.
• The student must register for the course and pay the applicable graduate tuition.
• Mastery of the subject must be demonstrated by a final examination as well as other evidence normally required from students who earn their credit by attending formal classroom instruction.
• Ordinarily, the time and place of the examination coincide with the final examination of the regularly offered class and is administered by the course instructor.
• No course in which the student has been previously registered for graduate credit may be completed under the CBE.
• A student attempting CBE will not be entitled to formal instruction in the subject matter of the course.
• Ordinarily, a student may attempt one CBE in a given session or semester.
• No more than 12 credits may be obtained through CBE.
• The student may accept or decline the grade earned through CBE. In case of acceptance, the grade will be included in the student’s GPA. If the student does not accept the grade, it will not be recorded, no tuition will be refunded, and all further examination opportunities in the subject matter will be forfeited.

Interested candidates should consult their program director about the courses open for CBE.

Withdrawal from the Graduate Program

In order to withdraw from the graduate program, the student must:

• resolve all financial indebtedness to the University, and
• complete a program withdrawal form available from the program director. The last date of attendance is considered to be the date of withdrawal in all cases.

Graduation and Conferment

Candidates have the option to graduate in May, September, or January. A commencement ceremony is held in May. It is the student’s responsibility to apply via Self Service/WebAdvisor by March 1 for the May graduation, June 1 for the September conferral of degrees and October 15 for the January conferral of degrees. A graduation fee will be assessed following application. A student whose degree is conferred on September 1 or January may participate in the commencement exercises during the following May by informing the Registrar. No fee is assessed for students who participate in a separate commencement following conferral on September 1 or in January. Students who earn an additional degree at a later time must apply for graduation as specified above and pay a separate graduation fee following application of that degree.

Transcripts

Official transcripts for all work completed at DeSales University must be ordered online. Current students should order through their MyDSU account under “applications: eTranscripts.” Alumni or past students should order at www.desales.edu/transcripts. Transcripts will not be issued unless all financial obligations have been satisfied.

Undergraduate Students in Graduate Courses

Ordinarily full-time undergraduate students who have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and have senior status (87 credits) may enroll in graduate courses while fulfilling the requirements for an undergraduate degree. They may register for no more than two graduate courses at a time and may accumulate no more than nine graduate credits unless specifically required by the program. The students must have the permission of their division head (or his/her delegate), the appropriate graduate program director, the dean of undergraduate education, and the dean of graduate education.

Departments that sponsor accelerated programs may establish criteria which are more stringent than those delineated above.

Ordinarily students may not carry an overload course during a semester or session in which they are enrolled in a graduate course. Students may not take the graduate course(s) for a Pass/Fail grade. Registration is on a space-available basis. All prescribed course sequences and all prerequisites must be followed. Full-time undergraduate traditional day students who register for both undergraduate and graduate courses as part of their five course load pay no additional tuition.

ACCESS students and other undergraduate students who pay tuition on a per-credit basis, have senior status, and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 may enroll in graduate courses while fulfilling the requirements for an undergraduate degree. Ordinarily, they may register for no more than two graduate courses at a time and may accumulate no more than nine graduate credits unless specifically required by the program. Registration is on a space-available basis. Students must have the permission of the appropriate division head (or his/her delegate), the Dean of Lifelong Learning for ACCESS students, the Dean of Undergraduate Education for traditional students who pay tuition on a per-credit basis, the appropriate graduate program director, and the Dean of Graduate Education. All prescribed course sequences and all necessary prerequisites must be followed. These students must pay applicable graduate tuition. These policies do not apply to the accelerated Medical Studies/Physician Assistant Program (3+2).  See the Program Director for details. 

English Competency

International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores as part of their application. 

Please note that graduate admissions requires the following minimum scores on the TOEFL, IELTS, or the C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)):

Language skills assessment and other exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis by the admissions committee.  An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034.

Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Web site at www.ets.org/toefl
• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  https://www.ielts.org/
• The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE): http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/proficiency/

International Students

An international student (F1 visa) may pursue graduate studies upon satisfying the following requirements:

•  Submission of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts from foreign institutions evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES); sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034
•  Submission of English proficiency scores; meet the conditions described in the English competency section
•  Submission of all other graduate admissions supplemental items
•  Acceptance into a graduate program

Upon acceptance into the program, the student must satisfy the following requirements:

• Meet with the Designated School Official (DSO) upon receiving acceptance into a graduate program.
• Provide proof of sufficient resources to cover educational and personal expenses while staying in the United States to the Director of Graduate Admissions/DSO.  No scholarship or financial aid is available. 
• Obtain an F-1 Student Visa or transfer existing Form I-20 from another institution, under the advisement of the Director of Graduate Admissions/DSO.
• Maintain F-1 student status, including registering for a full-time course load each regular semester; online courses are limited to three credits per session toward a full course of study in each academic term
• Attend class on a regular basis with academic progression throughout the course
• The Director of Graduate Admissions/DSO will provide a detailed list of the requirements upon student initially arriving on-campus. 

Conduct and Integrity

In accordance with the University Mission Statement, Core Values, Notice of Non-Discrimination, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement, and Indigenous Land Acknowledgement Statement, the University expects that all students will conduct themselves in accordance with the highest level of administrative, legal, professional, ethical, and scholarly standards. Behavior that violates the letter or spirit of such standards including violations of the intolerance policy or sexual harassment policy may result in disciplinary action, ranging from a warning to dismissal. Cases involving such violations will be reviewed and acted upon in accordance with the Academic Due Process policy (explained below).

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of copying the ideas, and/or speculations, and/or language of any other person or persons and presenting this material as one’s own original work in order to satisfy any academic requirement or complete any academic project. Plagiarism takes place when a person makes any use of another person’s unique and distinctive terminology, whether it is a single word or phrase or extended passage, without acknowledgement. This need not be verbatim use; it is considered plagiarism when a person uses his or her own language to alter the original expression of the ideas or speculations of another person or persons. Plagiarism also takes place when a person disguises the language of another person or persons by altering the formal elements of the original (e.g., diction, syntax, grammar, punctuation) and submitting it as his or her own, to satisfy any academic requirement or complete an academic project.

Plagiarism will be considered to have occurred regardless of the person’s intent to deceive.

The following acts will be deemed acts of plagiarism, though the list is not exhaustive:

1. Presenting published or unpublished work prepared by others, or dictated by others, as your own, including papers purchased or borrowed from any person or organization.
2. Presenting, as your own, a lab report or exercise copied from or dictated by others.
3. Presenting, as your own, homework assignments of any kind copied from or dictated by others.
4. Presenting, as your own, oral reports copied from or dictated by others.
5. Incorporating formal lecture notes and presenting them as your own work.
6. Incorporating any materials from any source on the internet without citations.
7. Presenting, as your own, a computer solution developed by someone else.
8. Copying the ideas, and/or speculations, and/or language of any other person or persons, without acknowledgement, and presenting this as your own original work.

Graduate students in need of writing assistance are encouraged to contact the DSU Writing Center at writing@desales.edu. 

Cheating

Cheating violates the deepest convictions of the University community.

The academic honesty policies remain in effect for both in-person and remote instruction and/or assessment. The following acts are examples of cheating, though the list is not exhaustive:

1. Using prepared materials not specifically allowed by the instructor during the taking of an examination, test or quiz regardless of the testing environment, e.g.
   1. Use of material written by another student during the taking of an examination, test, or quiz,
   2. Use of crib note, no matter by whom prepared,
   3. Use of unauthorized texts and/or supplementary marginal notations in texts,
   4. Use of notes written on the surface of the desk or on your person at which examination is taken,
   5. Use of unauthorized aids such as calculators, cell phones, digital watches, headphones, or any other electronic communication devices.
   6. The presence of any material within the vicinity of the examination site that could be information pertinent to the content of the test.
2. Collaborating during an in-class test, examination, or quiz, either in the giving or receiving of information or improper collaboration on a take-home examination or laboratory report.
3. Sharing, stealing, using, or transmitting in any way graded assignments, examinations, assessments, tests, quizzes or portions thereof, or other likewise confidential information before, during, or after the time of the examination.
4. Submitting for a grade in one class any material previously or simultaneously submitted for a grade in another class without documented authorization from both instructors.
5. Taking an examination by proxy (e.g. - taking the exam for someone else or having someone take the exam for you)
6. Falsifying laboratory or research data or results or falsifying or inventing bibliographical entries for research papers.
7. Sharing login credentials for any university system associated with graded assignments that could allow someone to submit materials by proxy.
8. Attempting to bypass any plagiarism or cheating online prevention system.
9. Willfully aiding or abetting any act of cheating.
10. Willfully aiding and abetting any act of plagiarism.

Other Inappropriate Behaviors

A number of improper behaviors cannot properly be termed either plagiarism or cheating, yet they are also unacceptable. The following are considered acts of inappropriate behavior, though this is not an exhaustive list. Any student who engages in any one of the following acts will be subject to the same sanctions that apply in cases of cheating or plagiarism.

1. Any behaviors in a social media platform that would violate any of the following policies:
   • HIPAA, FERPA
   • Intellectual Property and Copyright
   • Classroom materials related to tests, grades
2. Misrepresenting your affiliation and/or identity with the university
3. Misuse of your student ID card
4. Misrepresenting your academic and/or professional credentials
5. Copying right-protected print or non-print materials beyond accepted norms.
6. Falsifying the reason for an absence from class.
7. Possessing or using an unauthorized copy of an examination, test, or quiz.
8. Any behavior contrary to the standards established in the University’s Computer Use Policy.
9. Any violation of library policies including, but not limited to, the following:
   • Unauthorized removal of library resources
   • Hiding Trexler Library resource materials of any kind within the library
   • Lending or using another person’s ID for library privileges
   • Defacement or mutilation of Trexler Library resources, such as underlining, highlighting, or removing paragraphs or pages
   • inappropriate use of computer systems
10. Violation of classroom use policy.
11. Violation of Computing use and internet policy (embed hyperlink)
12. The above policies are not intended to supersede the ethical and professional guidelines of your academic program or professional discipline.  Failure to comply with the policies and standards within your academic program may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. 

Procedures Dealing with Inappropriate Behavior

1. The faculty member or, when appropriate, college professional staff member who discovers or is made aware of a case of plagiarism, cheating, or improper behavior will, on his/her own initiative and in a manner he or she deems appropriate, normally resolve the situation with the student in a private, one-on-one setting. The faculty/staff member may alternatively choose to resolve matters in consultation with the Dean of Graduate Education.
2. When a faculty/staff member and student meet to resolve a case of plagiarism, cheating or improper behavior, the faculty/staff member, having previously determined that the case before him/her is beyond question a proven and unmistakable offense, will present his/her position, hear the student’s position, and in the end, may determine that ignorance on the part of the student warrants only a warning to the student. If, however, she/he determines a degree of guilt on the part of the student, she/he is empowered to levy any one of the following sanctions:
   1. grade penalty for the individual assignment,
   2. grade penalty for the course,
   3. failure in the course.

3. In the case of library or computing violations, the following sanctions may be levied:

   1. temporary suspensions of library and/or computing privileges,

   2. permanent loss of library and/or computing privileges.

4. The faculty member will compose a letter stating the nature of the offense as well as the sanction imposed. The faculty/staff member will send the letter to the student and will send a copy to the Dean of Graduate Education to be placed in the student’s file. Should there be an appeal, the Dean of Graduate Education will duly record any subsequent actions in regard to the incident.
5. Should it be determined that this is a second offense involving this student, the incident will then be resolved by the Dean of Graduate Education in conjunction with the faculty/staff member. In such cases the Dean of Graduate Education’s decision for resolution may supersede the original decision of the faculty/staff member, when made without knowledge of the first offense.
6. The Dean of Graduate Education will solicit written statements from the faculty/staff member and the student in question. She/he may then meet with the student and/or faculty/staff member for any needed clarification.
7. On occasion of a second offense, the Provost may impose the penalty of dismissal from the University.
8. In the event a faculty/staff member and the Dean of Graduate Education working in consultation determine an egregious breach of academic ethics has been committed, the student may be liable for dismissal from the University, even on the first offense.
9. After reaching the decision, the Dean of Graduate Education will inform the student in writing. Both the student and the faculty/staff member have the right to appeal the decision before the Academic Affairs Committee-Graduate Studies.
10. The words “academic dismissal” appear on the official transcript of a student who is dismissed for academic reasons.

Academic Due Process

The graduate student who has an academic grievance should first discuss the problem with the faculty/staff member. If, following discussion, the student is not satisfied and continues to believe that he/she has not been dealt with fairly, he/she should discuss the grievance with his/her graduate program director or follow the procedure identified for each graduate program. If the matter is not resolved at that level, the student has recourse to the Dean of Graduate Education, who receives appeal requests in writing and ordinarily does not meet with the student. Such written appeals should include evidence of all previous decisions rendered in this case and should also include all pertinent documentation. If submitted electronically, all prior documents should be sent in PDF format.   

As a final appeal, the student may request the Academic Affairs Committee - Graduate Education to evaluate the situation and make a recommendation to the Provost. This request should be presented in writing and include all pertinent information. Any request should be submitted 7 days before the next committee meeting. The Academic Affairs Committee - Graduate Education will normally act upon such an appeal within one month of its next meeting. During the summer, the committee may meet less frequently, and the schedule of meetings is subject to faculty availability. The decision of the Provost is final.  

Notification of Rights

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records.

• The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records within 45 days after the University receives the request for access. Such request should be submitted in writing to the Registrar identifying the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Registrar will notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
• The right to request the amendment of the education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. The student should write the Registrar identifying the record and specifying why it is inaccurate or misleading. The student will be advised of his/her right to a hearing if the University decides not to amend the record.
• The right to consent to disclosures of information contained in the student’s education records. FERPA authorizes the disclosure of information with written consent.
• Disclosure without consent may be available to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the University has a contract; a person serving on the Board of Trustees; a student serving on an official committee or assisting another school official in performing his/her professional responsibilities.
• The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA:

Family Policy Compliance Office
US Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Directory Information

The University may use its discretion to disclose directory information upon request unless specifically requested by the student in writing not to do so. Directory information includes:

• student name
• address and telephone number (local and permanent)
• major of study
• sports and activities participation
• school attended previously
• height and weight of athletic team members
• photographs
• birth date
• e-mail address
• dates of attendance, degrees and awards
• high school attended

Written requests to withhold directory information must be submitted to the Registrar no later than September 15. Written notice must be received annually to renew the request.

Student Identity Verification in Distance and Correspondence Education

DeSales University is compliant with federal regulations-see www.desales.edu/policies.

Assignment of Instructional Hours

All DeSales University courses must adhere to the ratio of a minimum of 15 hours of instruction for each academic credit hour.

For hybrid and online courses, equivalency rates of time for asynchronous activities are based on an estimate of the time students have historically taken to interact with the course content in a classroom-based course. This equivalency ratio of 15 instructional hours to 1 credit hour does not include the amount of time spent by the student accomplishing assignments, conducting research, writing papers, studying for examinations, and using DeSales instructional support services.

The DeSales Department of Distance Education and Instructional Technology (DEIT) prescribes and monitors online and hybrid course design requirements.

DeSales University is compliant with federal regulations-see www.desales.edu/policies.