Incompletes are given only under rare circumstances. These circumstances do not include being "tied up," "getting behind," etc. The grade of I is normally given only when the participant has completed three-fourths of the course work. The grade of I will be removed from the student's record once the required course work has been satisfactorily completed. The student is expected to make up the incompleted course work by the end of the next regular semester, or earlier if stipulated. Incompletes not removed within the time specified by the instructor of the course automatically change to an F one calendar year after the Incomplete was given.

Pass/Fail Option
Participants who are working toward a bachelor's degree and are in good standing (not on academic probation) may take up to eight elective courses on a Pass/Fail basis (no letter grade assigned). A Pass/Fail course may not be used to satisfy any of the area requirements, nor may it be counted as a part of the participant's course requirements. Pass/Fail courses may, however, be used to meet the 300- to 400-level course requirement.

Decisions to take courses Pass/Fail must be made no later than the seventh week of classes for regular sessions and no later than midway through any summer session. A grade of P is not counted when computing grade point averages. A grade of F is computed. A grade of P cannot be changed later to a grade of A, B, C, or D.

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Academic Standing and Progress

1. Grades of D+ or lower may apply only as elective credit. Courses in which such a grade is received may not be used to fulfill Division of Labor Studies or major areas of learning course requirements.
2. A participant who fails to maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 over any successive 12 credit hour sequence is placed on academic probation.
3. If the academic deficiency resulting in probation is not made up in the subsequent 12 credit hours in which the participant is enrolled, the participant is subject to dismissal from the university.
4. Students admitted on a provisional basis may be dismissed if they fail to achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 during the first 12 credit hours of course work completed.
5. Participants who fail to execute timely withdrawals from classes jeopardize their academic standing and run the risk of receiving failing grades. Students who do not properly add courses to their schedules risk not receiving credit for course work completed.
6. The completion of 0 to 25 credit hours signifies freshman class standing; 26 to 55 credit hours, sophomore; 56 to 85 credit hours, junior; and 86 or more credit hours, senior class standing.

Academic Probation

Participants are automatically placed on academic probation when their cumulative grade point average for a full-time semester or a 12 credit hour unit of work falls below 2.0. Their course work (and that of participants who have been admitted on probation) will be evaluated upon completion of an additional 12 credit hours at Indiana University. Participants are removed from probationary status if their grade point average of these 12 credit hours increases to at least 2.0 and if their cumulative grade point average increases to at least 2.0. If the cumulative grade point average remains below 2.0, probationary status continues for another 12 credit hour unit of work, during which time the cumulative grade point average must be raised to at least 2.0.

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Dismissal

Students are dismissed from the university when they have ceased to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Students are dismissed whenever their grade point average for a full-time semester or a 12 credit hour unit of course work falls below 1.0 and their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0. Probationary students are dismissed if their grade point average for the additional 12 credit hours of course work falls below 2.0. Students whose probationary status has been continued for a second 12 credit hour unit of course work and who fail to achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 after completing this unit are also dismissed.

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Retaking Courses Previously Failed-FX Policy

Undergraduates who have retaken a course previously failed may, upon requesting implementation of the FX policy, have only the second grade in that course counted in the determination of their grade point average. The student's transcript records both grades; the original grade is marked FX.

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Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating on examinations or other course work, alteration of records, or illegal use of examinations is considered dishonesty. Anyone who permits or helps others to cheat is as guilty as the persons assisted.

Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one's own. Honesty requires that ideas or materials taken from another source be fully acknowledged. The language or ideas taken from another may range from isolated formulas, sentences, or paragraphs to entire articles copied from books or from the writing of other students. The work of others should be clearly identified, generally through the use of quotation marks and footnotes.

A faculty member who suspects cheating or plagiarism initiates the process of determining guilt or innocence. No action is taken before the student has been informed of the charges and has had an opportunity to reply. This process may result in disciplinary action and dismissal from the university.

For further regulations, refer to the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, which can be obtained from the School of Continuing Studies.

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Academic Forgiveness Policy for Former IU Students

Participants with academic deficiencies (a cumulative grade point average that has fallen below 2.0 [C]) in course work done at Indiana University may be admitted to the Labor Studies Program on probation. The participant must achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all courses taken at Indiana University before and after admission to the program in order to obtain a degree. Participants who have been dismissed from another academic unit of Indiana University may not be admitted to the Labor Studies Program until at least one calendar year has passed from the date of dismissal.

A participant prevented from attaining a cumulative 2.0 grade point average because of poor performance in an IU semester that was completed five or more years before enrollment in the Labor Studies Program may ask the Division of Labor Studies to strike the records. All credit earned during this one semester is also removed from the grade point average by the Division of Labor Studies under this forgiveness policy. In general, such a request is granted automatically, particularly when the student would fail to graduate because of one poor semester.

A similar request may be made for the forgiveness of a poor semester completed at Indiana University within five years prior to admission to the Labor Studies Program. Approval of such requests is usually dependent, however, on the successful completion of 12 credit hours in the Labor Studies Program. Because all credit earned during the forgiven semester is removed from the grade point average, students are advised to consult with their counselor concerning the advisability of this procedure.

This policy is designed to avoid placing an excessive burden on students who, in the past, have made a poor start at Indiana University. It is not intended to permit students with chronically poor performance in the university to stay in school, nor to raise false hopes for students who are not making progress toward a degree.

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Academic Forgiveness Policy for Students Dismissed from Other Institutions

Students who have been dismissed from another postsecondary institution may not be admitted to the Labor Studies Program until at least one calendar year has passed since the date of the dismissal.

University regulations require that the admissions office indicate any deficiencies in grade point average (average grade below 2.0 on a 4.0 scale) at another institution on the credit transfer report. Indiana University's policy is to calculate a student's grade based only on course work done at Indiana University. These grades must be at least average, or C, quality (2.0 on 4.0 scale) in order to earn a degree. If the cumulative grade point average from another institution is below 2.0, however, the student is admitted on probation.

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Graduation

All schools and colleges establish certain academic requirements that must be met before a degree is granted. Advisors, directors, and deans will help a student meet these requirements, but the student is responsible for fulfilling them. At the end of the course of study, the faculty and the Board of Trustees vote on the conferring of the degree. If requirements have not been satisfied, the degree will be withheld pending adequate fulfillment. For this reason, it is important that students become acquainted with all regulations, remain currently informed, and keep track of their own progress.

Degrees are awarded every December, May, June, and August. Participants expecting to graduate must file written notice of intent, citing the degree and expected date of graduation, with the appropriate Division of Labor Studies office at least three months prior to graduation.

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Graduation with Honors

Participants who complete a minimum of 30 credit hours for the Associate of Science in Labor Studies or 60 credit hours for the Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies at Indiana University graduate with honors if they attain the appropriate grade point averages: 3.90, highest distinction; 3.75, high distinction; 3.50, distinction.

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Confidentiality of Student Records

Indiana University, in compliance with the General Education Provisions Act, Section 438, titled Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, provides that all student records are confidential and available only to the student and to the student's parents, if the student is under 21 and dependent as defined by IRS standards. Students may review their records upon request and may ask for deletions or corrections of the record in a hearing process described in detail in the Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. References, recommendations, and other similar documents may carry a voluntary waiver relinquishing the student's right to review this specific material. The student may also release the record to others by signing a written release available in the offices that maintain records. Further details regarding the provisions of the Privacy Act and a list of offices where student records are kept may be found in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.

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Withdrawal from Courses

Since periods and deadlines for withdrawal from courses may vary by campus and/or school, students should check with the current campus Schedule of Classes to verify deadlines and procedures. Correspondence students should follow the deadlines and procedures in the current edition of Independent Study University Courses.

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