Policies

A midshipman is considered eligible to return with advanced standing if he or she completed at least one full year of academic studies and were academically proficient at the time of resignation Proficiency is defined in the Tables presented earlier in this document. A midshipman who leaves the Academy for more than two years is not eligible to return with advanced standing unless she or he was engaged in activities relevant to the Academy program during the period of absence. No returning midshipman will be eligible for advanced standing after an absence of more than three years.

Advanced Standing Federal law requires that a Midshipman complete a four-year course of study at the Academy. Under exceptional circumstances, a Midshipman who has finished at least one full year of the program is proficient under the academic standards prescribed in the Academic Policies Handbook , and who resigns and later reapplies for admission, may be granted advanced standing. In such cases, the coursework done at the Academy prior to resignation and subsequently at other colleges and universities will be considered in assigning a returning Midshipman to an appropriate year group. Upon reentry, the Midshipman is bound by the curriculum, catalog, and regulation in effect at the time of return.

B. Placement with Advanced Standing Subject to the provisions in section B, above, the record established by the midshipman in his or her first enrollment will stand and will be considered in assigning a midshipman to a class year group. Course exemptions through transfer credits from other academic institutions and any credit received through departmental examinations will also be considered. Coursework presented for exemption is subject to the policies previously outlined in this instruction, and must be presented to the Registrar within two weeks of return to the Academy.

The Academy does not normally award transfer credits for courses taken elsewhere.

A maximum of 12 credit hours required for graduation may be applied to a midshipman’s record as a result of course exemptions satisfied by Advanced Placement examination, International Baccalaureate examination, departmental examination, or transfer from another accredited institution of higher education. Credit for Courses Completed at other Educational Institutions (Exemptions) College level work may be accepted for transfer and substituted for a required course as an Exemption. Courses taken prior to attending the Academy and successfully completed with a grade > “C” will be considered for exemption if the course is equivalent to a required course in the Academy’s curriculum. For college courses taken elsewhere, the proposal must be supported by copies of the catalog description of the course, the course syllabus and outline obtained from the college or university, and a listing of the texts/references that are used in the course.

POSSIBLE ADVANCED STANDING FOR RETURNING FORMER MIDSHIPMEN Under certain circumstances, a midshipman who resigns and is later readmitted to the Academy may receive credit for the time spent at the Academy in the first enrollment. This section contains the policies of the Academy in determining whether a former midshipman who returns is eligible for advanced standing. Advanced standing recognizes previous attendance as creditable towards the statutory requirement that a midshipman be enrolled for four years.