Academic Policies

Academic policies are designed to ensure orderly, organized, fair and focused progress through academic programs. Students are required to be familiar and compliant with UWS policies and procedures. The policies and expectations listed in this catalog are not all-inclusive. Students are directed to the UWS website to review all policies.

UWS seeks to maintain the highest academic standards for students enrolled in its academic programs and recognizes the need to identify students who are unable to achieve or maintain satisfactory academic standing. Students must pass all program requirements and conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the expectations of the university to qualify for graduation.

Academic Standing

UWS recognizes the need for students enrolled in its academic programs to achieve or maintain satisfactory academic standing. Academic standing statuses and criteria for achieving satisfactory academic progress are articulated in Policy 1218 Academic Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students not meeting the criteria articulated in the policy are placed on the appropriate level of academic sanction. A student who is academically dismissed may apply for readmission in accordance with Policy 2006 Readmission.

Academic Integrity

University of Western States (UWS) is committed to academic excellence and thrives on honesty, respect and integrity. UWS adheres to standards of academic integrity displayed through ethical conduct. Violation of the university’s academic integrity standards may result in disciplinary actions. For a detailed list of academic integrity standards, refer to Policy 1230 Academic Integrity.

UWS prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty or cheating. Furthermore, UWS prohibits actions that promote cheating or actions that create the appearance of cheating on an assessment of student learning (examination, test, quiz), assignments or other coursework. Cheating includes any act or support mechanism employed after, during, or prior to an assessment that provides unfair or unauthorized advantage to a student, fellow test takers, or future students in the course, which includes attempted or unauthorized receipt, use, or provision of information, notes, learning aids, devices or communication during an assessment.

Students are expected to be mindful of their behavior in preparing for and taking an assessment, and following completion of an assessment, to avoid all forms of inappropriate test-taking behavior. Accusations of all forms of inappropriate test-taking behavior will be investigated and appropriate remediation or disciplinary actions taken in circumstances where the accused is responsible for conduct that does not remain above the appearance of impropriety. Cheating is grounds for dismissal or other sanctions.

Online Exam Security

UWS may use tools such as lockdown browsers to protect exam security. Students will be directed to complete online exams through the learning management system where lockdown browser settings may be utilized by the course instructor.

Similarity and Plagiarism Software

Students agree that by taking a UWS course, written work (e.g., essays, online discussions, papers, capstone projects, etc.) may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to an electronic plagiarism detector. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the plagiarism detector reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. More detail on expected student conduct as it relates to plagiarism is available in Policy 1230 Academic Integrity.

Enrollment Status

Enrollment status is based on the following credit hour requirements for each term based on the term structure for the relevant program. Refer to Policy 1203 Enrollment Status.

Attendance, Tardiness and Course Participation

Conscientious engagement in all program coursework enables students to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors needed to complete their program of study. Students are expected to meet requirements established in course syllabi. For complete policy information, see Policy 1204 Attendance, Tardiness and Course Participation.

UWS students and faculty are required to demonstrate regular and substantive interaction in their online and hybrid courses. For more information, see the UWS Statement on Regular and Substantive Interaction.

Temporary Withdrawal on an Involuntary Basis

Under certain circumstances, UWS may change a student’s enrollment status to temporary withdrawal on an involuntary basis. A temporary withdrawal on an involuntary basis may be initiated if, based on an individualized assessment, it is determined that the student meets one or more of the criteria established in Policy 1239 Continuous Enrollment, Withdrawal, Dismissal and Expulsion. When safety is an immediate concern, the university may remove a student from the campus environment pending final decision on temporary withdrawal on an involuntary basis. Refer to Policy 1239 Continuous Enrollment, Withdrawal, Dismissal and Expulsion.

Transfer Credit

UWS recognizes that students may have completed courses at other accredited universities that are comparable to courses taught in the curriculum at UWS. Information related to transfer credits is located in the specific college sections of this catalog. Refer to Policy 2007 Transfer Credit for additional information.

Electives

Each academic program, through the university curriculum development process, has the authority to develop and offer elective courses as part of its offerings. Enrolling in elective courses may require paying additional tuition and fees. It is the student’s responsibility to consult with the Office of Financial Aid to determine if an elective course is covered by financial aid. Elective courses completed are reflected on the student’s transcript with the name of the course and the grade received.

Make-Up Examinations

Make-up exams are available to students who miss a test due to verifiable and legitimate circumstances in accordance with Policy 1223 Make-up Examinations. Faculty, program deans or program directors will determine available times and dates for make-up tests. Students who need to request a make-up exam must first communicate with the lead instructor of the affected course(s).

Independent Study

Independent study is a one-on-one learning experience that meets the learning outcomes for a specific course in the program. Independent study may be available to students at the discretion of the program dean when appropriate due to curriculum changes or other unusual circumstances (e.g., illness or transfer). Refer to Policy 1236 Independent Study for additional information.

Temporary Withdrawal

A student who wishes to interrupt their studies for a period of time with the specific intention of returning to complete the program must request a temporary withdrawal by submitting the request through the Withdrawal Request page or by contacting their student success advisor to discuss their options for withdrawal and return to their program. Students may also contact the Registrar’s Office to request a temporary withdrawal. Refer to Policy 1239 Continuous Enrollment, Withdrawal Dismissal and Expulsion.

Religious Observance

Any student who, due to religious beliefs, is unable to attend classes on a particular day will be excused from attendance requirements and from any examination or other assignment on that day. Refer to Policy 1204 Attendance, Tardiness and Course Participation. In accordance with Policy 1223 Make-Up Examinations, prior to the religious observance the student is required to coordinate with the instructor a time for the make-up exam or assignment. Any such make-up examination or assignment will not create an unreasonable burden upon the university. No adverse or prejudicial effects will occur as a result of a student’s inability to participate in the program during such observances.

Permanent Withdrawal

By permanently withdrawing from a program, a student terminates their association with the program and affirms they have no intention to return. A student who wishes to withdraw must submit the request through the Withdrawal Request page. Students may also inform the Office of Student Success or the Registrar’s Office that they are withdrawing from UWS. A student who withdraws and later wishes to return to that program is required to apply for readmission. Refer to Policy 1239 Continuous Enrollment, Withdrawal, Dismissal and Expulsion and Policy 2006 Readmission.

Account Holds

If one or more obligations to the university have not been met, a hold may be placed on a variety of university privileges, including but not limited to: registration, access to resources (such as library catalog), campus facilities, graduation attendance/participation, or diplomas. Program course sequencing is available within the individual program sections of this catalog.

Time to Completion

Legal, academic, medical, financial and other institutional requirements exist related to student completion of academic programs in a timely manner. Students who have been enrolled in any program for 7 years may be held to the requirements of the current catalog rather than the original catalog of entry and may be subject to other sanctions.

Grading System

Under Policy 1207 Grading System, the UWS grading scale is as follows:

A request to extend or alter any deadline or condition above must be approved by the college dean. Documentation to support such a request will be required. Only grades assigned for UWS courses will be used in computation of term and cumulative grade point averages. Students must repeat courses for which unsatisfactory grades are earned. A grade of IP, NP, P or R may be assigned only in courses for which those grades are permitted. A list of such courses is available in the Office of the Registrar.

Grade Appeal

Policy 1211 Grade Appeal describes the circumstances under which a final grade may be appealed.

An appeal of a final course grade or other final comprehensive evaluation grade must be based upon grounds that one or more of the following influenced the grade assignment to the student’s disadvantage:

• Mathematical calculation or clerical error
• Capricious or arbitrary method of grading
• Probable discrimination based upon race, color, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, national citizenship, religion, age, disability or veteran status of the student
• Personal malice
• Evidence of personal bias or other partiality
• Retaliation

Dean’s List and Completion Honors

In accordance with Policy 1242 Dean’s List and Completion Honors, students who excel in their academic programs are recognized as follows.