Policies

AP test credits will be accepted for BI 151 (AP score of 4 or 5), PS 109 (AP score of 4 or 5), and MA 121 (AP score of 4 or 5 on Calculus test AB or 3 or higher on Calculus test BC) in accordance with guidelines as stated in Academic Regulations , under the heading of Advanced Placement.

Transfer credits will be evaluated in accordance with DeSales University policy.

Credit for Prior Learning Change of Major Attendance Policy Refund Schedule Course Withdrawal Policy Tuition/Fees Tuition, Fees, and Deferred Payment In 1977, the Adult Studies Program (formerly ACCESS) was established to serve the educational and career needs of working adults. Credit for experiential learning may also be awarded through prior learning assessment. Each student must provide proof of high school completion or GED before matriculating.An official transfer credit evaluation is conducted by the Office of Adult Studies upon receipt of all official transcripts.

Confidentiality of Student Records Rights, Responsibilities, and Freedoms of Students Grading System Grade Change The Pass-Fail Option Auditing Final Exams Attendance Policy No-Show Policy Grade Reports Grade Point Average (GPA) Dean’s List Commencement Request to Participate in Commencement as a Non-Graduate Commencement Honors Honorary Societies Acceptable Academic Standing Academic Probation for Traditional Day Students Academic Probation for Adult Studies Students Overload Course Withdrawal Policy Repeat Course Policy Make-up of Failures Academic Forgiveness Transfer Credit and Residency Requirement for Graduation Transfer Course Approval Change of Major Credit by Examination The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Advanced Placement Separation from DeSales University Traditional Day Students in Online Courses Traditional Day Students in Summer/Winter Adult Studies Courses Traditional Day Students in Graduate Courses Adult Studies Students in Traditional Day Courses Adult Studies Students in Graduate Courses Course Computing/Technical Requirements Cancellation of Courses and Elimination of Programs Academic Honesty Policy Academic Grievance Petition Classification of Students A regular student is one who is matriculated in a degree program on either a full-time or part-time basis. Once students are accepted into Adult Studies, they are ordinarily not permitted to take courses at other colleges for transfer purposes except as noted in the policy on Supplemental LVAIC Cross Registration or unless special circumstances are noted and approved in writing by the executive director of Adult Studies.

Credit by Examination Undergraduate students who have acquired substantial knowledge in certain subject areas may apply for permission to verify this knowledge by examination, and consequently receive credit. Credit by examination may be earned for any course unless specifically excluded by the offering department (e.g., EN - 100 An Introduction to Academic Writing ; MA - 107 Mathematics for Teachers I , MA - 109 Survey of Mathematics , MA - 110 Finite Mathematics , and MA - 111 Probability and Statistics ; and the 101-102 level of a foreign language). Students should verify with individual departments concerning other courses not open to credit by examination. An examination is always required, but other forms of evaluation may also be required by a department and/or college/school, e.g., written, laboratory, studio, or other type of evidence as is normally required by students who are regularly enrolled in the course. Interested students may obtain from the department and/or college/school titles of books normally listed in the course syllabus or other information as to course content. Students who believe they have the necessary knowledge, preparation, or background to establish credit by examination shall make application to the appropriate department chair and/or academic dean no later than the end of the third week of the term. If, in the opinion of the appropriate department chair and/or academic dean, the student has a reasonable chance of establishing credit, the student, by no later than the close of the term, shall arrange for the examination together with satisfactory completion of all course assignments and requirements demanded by the department. The nature of the examination given shall be entirely the decision of the department chair and/or academic dean in consultation with members of the department. No course in which the student has at any time previously been registered for either credit, auditing, or enrichment purposes may be challenged under this program. A student attempting credit by examination shall not be entitled to formal instruction in the subject matter of the course. Ordinarily, a student may attempt only one challenge examination per semester. Before the examination the student will choose one of two methods of evaluation: The student may request that the examination be assigned a specific letter grade. In this case the student may accept or decline the grade made. If the student accepts, the grade will be placed on the student’s permanent record. If the student declines, the grade will not be recorded, but the student will forfeit any further credit by examination opportunity in the course and receive no credit. The examination may be evaluated as Pass or Fail and recorded on the permanent record if passed. Failures will not be recorded on the student’s permanent record, but the student will forfeit any further credit by examination opportunity in the course and receive no credit. A $75 administrative fee is required of all full-time traditional students. All other students, including Adult Studies students, are required to pay 30% of the course tuition to sit for the exam.

Credit for Prior Learning DeSales University recognizes that many adults acquire college level learning in non-collegiate settings such as work, the military, community organizations, and independent study. The Adult Studies program provides the adult learner with a variety of methods to demonstrate that they have acquired college level learning. Students who desire to earn college credit for their prior learning may choose from one or a combination of the following options:

Prior approval to take any course for transfer credit at another institution must be obtained from the associate dean of academic life, in accordance with the transfer course approval policy below.

The process involves the collection of evidence and documentation to support a formal credit request for specific courses and is considered transfer credit.

DeSales University offers students the possibility of receiving credit by examination through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Credits earned through CLEP are considered transfer credits (See the Undergraduate Transfer Policy heading under Admissions ). By recognizing college-level achievement earned through employment experiences, purposeful private study, military-industrial-business training, or advanced work in high school, this program gives the student an opportunity to reduce the cost of a degree at DeSales University in terms of time and money. A student is eligible to take any or all of the General Examinations if he or she has not taken or transferred more than one course in the specific areas covered by the exam or exams.

For matriculated students, a maximum of nine (9) transfer credits may be applied toward degree requirement. The director of the academic success center will consult with a department chair or academic dean for approval only in cases where a course is required for the major and has not been evaluated for transfer credit previously by the department chair or dean. Individual courses will be evaluated in accordance with the undergraduate transfer policy, which can be found in the Admissions section of this catalog. Transfer of grades is allowed only if a student takes an approved course through the Council of Independent Colleges Online Course Sharing Consortium, or cross registers at one of the LVAIC institutions (Cedar Crest, Lafayette, Moravian, Muhlenberg, and Lehigh).

Transfer Credit and Residency Requirement for Graduation For matriculated students, a maximum of nine (9) transfer credits may be applied toward degree requirements. In addition, matriculated students must satisfy the University’s residency requirement by completing at least 24 of the final 30 credits toward the degree through DeSales.

The following regulations govern the transfer of credits into DeSales University. Department of Education (namely, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) are eligible for transfer consideration at DeSales if the courses are meant to be transferable, are completed with a grade of C- or higher, and are consistent with DeSales’ mission, philosophy, and liberal arts tradition. The acceptance or denial of transfer credit is not determined exclusively on the basis of the accreditation of the sending institution or the mode of delivery, but, rather, considers course equivalencies, including expected student learning outcomes and comparison with DeSales’ curricula and standards. Courses that are accepted for transfer must be substantially equal in quantity and quality to the DeSales work for which they are offered as a substitute. No course in which a grade below C- was earned is accepted for transfer credit, except in the case that the student has completed an A.A. All credits earned through courses completed at the institution granting that associate’s degree and meant to be transferable will be transferred to DeSales, provided that the student achieved (a) a minimum cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) of 2.0 for all courses presented for the DeSales degree and (b) a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for courses required in and offered by the major at DSU. If the student has not satisfied both (a) and (b), the student’s courses will be evaluated individually, and only courses in which a C- or higher has been earned will transfer into DeSales. For matriculated students, a maximum of nine (9) transfer credits may be applied toward degree requirement. Only credit is transferred. Courses not using traditional letter grades (A-F) will be considered for transfer only if additional documentation detailing successful completion of the courses is provided. The determination of the acceptance or denial of transfer credit is made by the director of academic success, in consultation with the relevant academic department. Traditional day and Adult Studies students are required to fulfill (either at DeSales or through equivalent courses taken at another institution) the remaining Connections Curriculum requirements. Each agreement lists courses that have been pre-approved for transfer and courses that will not be accepted for transfer.