Anyone taking graduate courses will be charged graduate fees for those courses. Anyone taking undergraduate courses will be charged undergraduate fees for those courses. Graduate classes do not count toward the undergraduate plateau (12-18 credits), and undergraduate classes do not count toward the graduate plateau (9-12 credits).
Students must follow the rules, regulations and academic requirements of both the university and the college in which they are enrolled as described in the catalog of initial enrollment. At a later time, however, students may elect to follow the rules, regulations and academic requirements specified in subsequent catalogs. If progress toward a degree is interrupted by withdrawing from the university and students re-enroll at a later date, they must abide by the catalog in effect at the time they re-enroll.
Class attendance is taken very seriously at UW-Platteville, for education is much more than a matter of tests, readings, examinations and papers. Through lectures and discussions, the subject of a particular course is investigated in depth and explored in its many ramifications; through interaction in the classroom (and outside of it) the many aspects of a given course come together and are synthesized into a coherent whole. Such an educational experience demands reciprocal commitments from faculty to students and from students to faculty.
The administration and faculty assume students will attend classes regularly, and teachers are expected to keep records of attendance in their classes. Those instructors who set limits on unexcused absences will inform students of their absence policies in writing and orally at the beginning of the semester. Students are responsible for all work missed through unexcused absence. Instructors are not obligated to seek out or counsel students concerning absenteeism or to allow such students any special consideration.
When students wish to participate in field trips or other extracurricular or cocurricular activities, prior approval must be obtained from the instructors of classes that will be missed. Students should contact the instructors when they return to classes, and of course, they are expected to make up any missed work.
A student who is absent from class should notify instructors as soon as possible (either by phone, e-mail or in person). Notifying instructors and arranging make-up work is the responsibility of the student. If contact with instructors cannot be made directly, the student should call the academic department involved. This information is available in the Campus Directory.
If an absence is medical related and requires treatment from Student Health Services, they may be reached at 608.342.1891.
In serious situations where the student is incapacitated and temporarily unable to contact instructors, family members may contact the Office of Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs at 608.342.1854 for assistance with these matters. The Office of Student Affairs would then provide notification (not verification) of the absence to the instructors involved. However, arrangements for make-up work, make-up exams, etc., are the responsibility of the student.
Note: Neither Student Health Services nor the Office of Student Affairs provides excuses for absences from class.
If students have questions or need consultation regarding specific situations, they are encouraged to contact their instructor or the academic department involved.
The grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credits attempted at UW-Platteville.
Grade points for a class are calculated by multiplying the points associated with the letter grade earned and the class credits. All credits are recorded as semester hours. The grading system effective fall 2011 is:
| Grade | Definition | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.70 | |
| B+ | 3.30 | |
| B | Good | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.70 | |
| C+ | 2.30 | |
| C | Fair | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.70 | |
| D+ | 1.30 | |
| D | Poor | 1.00 |
| F | Fail | 0.00 |
| I | Incomplete | |
| P | Pass | Equivalent to “D” or higher |
| W | Withdrawn | |
| AUD | Audit | Satisfactory |
Sometimes it is appropriate, because of student illness or other unusual circumstances, to give a grade of incomplete. A student who begins a term on final probation may not receive a grade of incomplete in a course during that term without consent of the dean of the college in which the course was taken. Any incomplete grade submitted which has not been approved will be recorded as an "F."
After a student receives an incomplete, it is the student's responsibility to complete all work and assignments necessary to complete the class requirements prior to the ninth week of the ensuing semester. Unless a grade of incomplete is changed to some other grade before the end of the ninth week of the ensuing semester, the incomplete is changed to an "F."
Grading mistakes should be rectified before the end of the ninth week of the ensuing semester. It is the student's responsibility to call the instructor's attention to any error in grading as soon as possible after grades are reported. It is the instructor's responsibility to correct grading errors.
When students repeat courses, only the most recent grade is counted in calculating the grade point average. The most recent grade is used regardless of whether it is higher or lower than the previous grade. If the repeat results in the grade of "F" and the student had previously earned a grade higher than "F," the "F" replaces the grade in the calculation of the grade point average, and the student loses the credits since no credits are granted when a grade of "F" is earned. A course that has a number change needs a repeat card submitted to the Registrar's Office. Co-ops, internships and independent study courses need a repeat card. Courses coded as repeatable in the online catalog also need a repeat card filed with the Registrar's Office.
Note: At the time of publication, a new repeat policy was under review by campus governance groups. Any change in policy will be noted on the Registrar Office website.
Failing grades and deficiencies in grade point averages may be replaced only by taking work in residence at UW-Platteville. Grades earned in transfer coursework are not included in the UW-Platteville G.P.A.
Scholastic honors are the recognition given by the university to students who have achieved high grade point averages. Recognition for scholastic honors may be given at various times during a student’s academic program by inclusion on the Chancellor’s and Dean’s Honor Rolls.
To qualify for Chancellor’s or Dean’s Honors, students must complete at least 12 credits during the semester and meet the following grade point average requirements:
Chancellor's Honors 4.00 GPA
Dean's Honors, by college:
At commencement, students who have earned 48. or more credits at UW-Platteville and have earned high cumulative grade point averages during their undergraduate years, graduate in two categories: honors (3.5.0-3.74), and high honors (3.75.-4.00) with the designations of magna cum laude (honors) and summa cum laude (high honors).
Students may declare an intended major immediately upon entering the university, or remain undecided. In either case, they will be assigned an advisor. When students choose a major, they should report to the Registrar’s Office to receive instructions and complete a change of major form (on which they change from “deciding” to a specific major). They will then be assigned a new advisor in their declared field of study.
Students wishing to change majors and/or colleges should contact the Registrar’s Office for complete instructions and a change of major form. Upon changing majors, students will be assigned a new academic advisor and encouraged to request a major checksheet showing the new requirements they must fulfill. Students who change majors and wish to have their record adjusted under academic bankruptcy guidelines should read the following section.
Students who change from one major to another at UW-Platteville may be granted the option to have their prior academic record adjusted as follows if they have a grade point average of 2.00 or higher.
Note: Students who have less than 2.00 may also qualify, but the credits in which a “D” was earned will not count toward graduation.
Students who wish to file academic bankruptcy must do so within one semester of the change of major. Students who declare academic bankruptcy are not eligible to pursue their previous major without express permission from the dean of that college, and the student’s cumulative grade point average will be re-calculated. Students should contact the Registrar’s Office for specific instructions.
The student will normally meet graduation requirements for a degree in one of the major curricula. It is permissible for a student to be granted a bachelor’s degree with two majors if the complete requirements of both major curricula are satisfied at the same time.
No more than one diploma or degree will be granted to the same student at one commencement. In the event that a student has completed the requirements for two different degrees, such as a B.A. and a B.S., the student will be required to choose which degree is to be recognized during the commencement ceremony. Both degrees will be posted to student transcripts upon completion. A graduation fee will be assessed for each diploma/degree.
An official transcript of a student’s educational record may be obtained by submitting a signed request to the Office of the Registrar. The following fees apply:
Fax service includes rush processing of an unofficial transcript delivered to a designated fax number and an official copy of the facsimile sent in the mail. Official transcripts may not be faxed.
Only students may request their transcripts, except as prescribed in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Further information, including a transcript request form, may be found on the Registrar website
All off-campus courses offered by other accredited colleges and universities will be accepted by UW-Platteville provided a grade of “C” or higher is earned and they are approved by the department housing the major. UW-Platteville does not offer correspondence courses, but UW-Extension does. Permission must be obtained from the registrar prior to registering for correspondence work.
Students enrolling in off-campus or correspondence courses are responsible for making certain such courses meet the requirements of the curriculum in which they are enrolled. In case of doubt, students should contact the registrar, academic advisor or the chairperson of the department in which they intend to major.
UW-Platteville is not able to provide enrollment verification to third parties (e.g., lending institutions) for coursework taken at another institution.
Students whose academic records do not meet the minimum achievement standards of the university are placed on academic probation or suspension.
For students enrolled in seven or more credits in any semester, the minimum acceptable standards for retention are as follows (Note: Although G.P.A. does not include transfer coursework, the number of semesters does include semesters completed at another institution):
Students on final probation will not be allowed more than two consecutive semesters to regain acceptable academic standing. If during the probationary period students do not meet the minimum acceptable standards defined above, they will be dismissed.
For students enrolled in six credits or less in any semester: Part-time students enrolled for six credits or less in the given semester who previously have been in good standing (no probations) with the university who are enrolled in a total of six or fewer credits at the beginning of a semester and who obtain a semester G.P.A. of less than 1.0, or 0.75. in the case of first semester students, will not be dismissed from the university, but will be placed on academic probation.
Part-time students enrolled for six credits or less in the given semester and who have earned at least 12 cumulative credits with UW-Platteville and who have a cumulative G.P.A. below 2.0 will be placed on university probation.
The student can be removed from probation by raising their cumulative G.P.A. to 2.0 (or above) within the next 12 credits of their enrollment. If after the additional 12 credits the cumulative G.P.A. is still below 2.0, the student is dismissed from the university.
The Veterans Administration requires that students receiving educational entitlement from the VA must be reported to the VA if they continue in school for a second probationary semester. Educational entitlement may be terminated by the VA until such students have been counseled by VA personnel.
Students are suspended (dismissed) from the university for one semester under the following conditions.
All other students on final probation who earn a semester grade point average of 2.00 or higher and have a cumulative grade point average of 1.9.9. or lower at the end of a semester will remain on final probation.
Students who have been suspended (dismissed), readmitted or reinstated, and again fail to earn the required grade point average, are not eligible to apply for readmission until a period of two years has elapsed.
Students who have three or more suspensions from the university must appeal their reinstatement/readmission to the Admission and Academic Appeals Committee after another period of two years has elapsed.
The Veterans Administration requires that students receiving educational entitlement from the VA must be reported to the VA if they continue in school for a second probationary semester. Educational entitlement may be terminated by the VA until such students have been counseled by VA personnel.
Students achieving cumulative grade point averages of 2.00 or higher are reinstated to good standing.
Students are, of course, expected to make diligent progress in the pursuit of a degree. The standards outlined in the Financial Aid section of this bulletin are the stipulated guidelines for satisfactory academic progress for UW-Platteville students.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include: The right to inspect and review the student’s education records; 2) the right to request the amendment of the student’s education records; 3) the right to provide written consent before the university discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent; and 4) the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the university to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-5901.
UW-Platteville school officials with a legitimate educational need to know may access a student’s education records without consent. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the university. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position.
Examples of situations where education records may be disclosed without the student’s written consent include, but are not limited to:
Directory information may be released to any inquirer unless students choose to exercise their right to withhold information. The university publishes a student directory which includes students’ names, local addresses and telephone numbers, home addresses and telephone numbers, and university assigned e-mail addresses. The online University Phonebook includes student’s names, addresses, telephone numbers and majors. For questions about withholding directory information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 608.342.1321.
Further information regarding FERPA, including a current list of what information the university has designated as directory information, may be found online: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
In any community, including that of scholars and professors, differences of opinion and misunderstandings arise, and provisions must be made for resolution of grievances.
Concerning any decision, there is, with few exceptions, a higher authority to whom appeal may be made should the individual feel that the decision is unjust. The route to follow in seeking redress of a grievance will depend upon the type of grievance and the area of the university concerned. This section will discuss a few of those authorities.
Students with admission, readmission or reinstatement difficulties may appeal in writing to the Admission and Academic Appeals Committee. If the written appeal is denied, personal appeals may be made by appointment through the Registrar’s Office. The committee will study the case and advise the director of Admission and Enrollment Services, registrar or provost as to the proper solutions.
Students with grievances about grades may appeal, in writing, to the Admission and Academic Appeals Committee after first having tried to resolve the issue by conferences with the instructor and department chairperson. If the instructor is the department chairperson, the conference should be with the instructor and college dean. The committee will hear both sides of the issue, examine the records and advise the provost and all parties concerned as to a recommended disposition.
The assistant chancellor for student affairs (as delegated to the dean of students) handles matters involving students’ rights and responsibilities. The assistant chancellor’s responsibility regarding discipline is two-fold: assuring that students are treated fairly, and seeing that students meet university policies and regulations. The assistant chancellor is guided in this responsibility by Chapters 17 and 18. of the Wisconsin Administrative Code and by those regulations specific to UW-Platteville. For details, see Policies Governing Student Life.
The university may discipline a student for academic dishonesty, including any of the following or similar examples of false representation of a student’s performance: cheating on an examination; collaborating with others on work to be presented unless specifically allowed by the instructor; plagiarizing, including submitting the work of others as one’s own (whether purchased, borrowed or otherwise obtained); stealing examinations; falsifying records or data; submitting work previously presented in another course, unless specifically allowed by the instructor; or participating in an arrangement whereby work, classroom activity or an examination is done by another person.
Instances of student misconduct may be adjudicated through the Office of the Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs (as delegated to the dean of students) or through the Student Faculty Discipline Committee described in the Student Handbook. In addition, students may appeal decisions rendered by the Student Faculty Discipline Committee to an appeal tribunal. The appeal tribunal recommends to the chancellor its decision on the appeal.
Withdrawal from the university refers to a complete withdrawal from the university, including withdrawal from all classes for the term. This procedure is not to be confused with dropping a single course or several courses (see the explanation for dropping courses).
Students may withdraw from the university through the published deadline (the eighth week of a fall or spring semester). A late withdrawal from the university may be requested through the last day of classes but prior to final exams.
A late withdrawal from the university is permitted once during the student’s academic career. Any subsequent requests for a complete withdrawal from the university made after the published deadlines or a student requesting a late withdrawal from the university within one year of being reinstated or readmitted through the Admission and Academic Appeals Committee must obtain approval for the late withdrawal from a special faculty committee.
Students considering withdrawal from the university are encouraged to consult with a staff member at Counseling Services. To be official, any withdrawal from the university must be cleared with the Registrar’s Office, Counseling Services, the student’s academic advisor, Student Housing Office, Financial Aid Office, Karrmann Library, Textbook Center and Cashier’s Office. All fees and assessments must be paid on all books returned to the library before an official clearance to withdraw can be given. Specific directions concerning complete withdrawal from the university may be obtained by contacting the Registrar’s Office.
If a student is prevented from a timely withdrawal from the university because of accident, injury, major physical or mental health problems, military duty or other extraordinary circumstances, an extraordinary withdrawal from the university may be permitted. Please consult with the university registrar regarding procedures and be prepared to provide documentation to justify the request.
Students may apply for and be granted an Associate Degree from UW-Platteville providing they have:
Contact the Registrar’s Office for specific details.
In order to graduate with Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees, students must earn a minimum of 120 college or university credits (some programs require more than 120 credits), and they must (a) satisfy all the requirements for the particular university degree and for the college in which they are enrolled, (b) satisfy all requirements for a major and (c) earn a minimum of 39. credits in upper division courses (courses numbered 3000 or above). NOTE: Students with majors in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science must earn a minimum of 40 credits in upper division courses. All students are expected to earn cumulative grade point averages of at least 2.00 in all subjects and within a major field, but must meet any higher minimum academic standards set for particular majors, minors or colleges. All students must earn 32 credits in residence at UW-Platteville and also 23 of their last 32 credits in residence. Of course, students will not be granted a degree until they have met all their financial obligations to UW-Platteville.
According to the University Undergraduate Curriculum Commission, April 8, 1987:
All general education requirements are satisfied by the first baccalaureate degree.
A separate diploma will be awarded only when the new major leads to a degree different from the first degree granted. Fulfillment of requirements for a second major of the same degree type will not lead to a second degree, but rather credit for a second major will be entered on the recipient’s transcript.
All general education requirements are satisfied by the first baccalaureate degree.
Please see the section entitled Excess Credit Policy regarding questions.
Students approaching completion of their program should:
The Registrar’s Office will produce a final evaluation of a student’s credits when the Intent to Graduate card is submitted. This evaluation will formally review all credits taken, transferred or substituted/ waived and detail which coursework remains or has not yet been taken. From this evaluation, students will recognize which credits or courses are to be completed in their last term of attendance. Cautious advising is very important during the senior year. Students who still have degree requirements that are not completed within 60 days following the end of the semester they intend to graduate will be removed from the graduation list. A new Intent to Graduate card must be filed for a future semester.
Commencements are held twice each year – at the end of the fall and spring semesters. All coursework (including co-ops, internships and student teaching) must be completed before a degree will be awarded and attendance at a Commencement ceremony permitted. Candidates for graduation at the end of a summer session must inform the registrar if they wish to attend the May or December Commencement. Although attendance is optional, we strongly encourage all graduates and their families to attend this important ceremony and celebrate the achievements of our new graduates.