Policies and Procedures

Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded to students who complete the 120 credit hour curriculum in the disciplines with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. In addition, students must pass the Sophomore Examination and the Senior Comprehensive Examination. Students may take the Sophomore Examination when they have completed 30 hours including one math course and two courses numbered 1300 in each of the three basic disciplines. Students must take the Sophomore Examination when they have completed 45 hours. The Senior Comprehensive must be passed before graduation.

Transcripts
All transcripts and student records are confidential and remain part of a studentís permanent file at the College.  Confidentiality is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.  Transcripts will only be released after a formal request in writing has been made of the Registrarís Office and payment of a $3 fee.  No transcripts will be released until all financial obligations are met.  No information will be released without the written consent of the student.

Please mail transcript request with the $3 to
3020 Lubbock Ave.
Fort Worth, Texas 76109
Attn: Registrar

Family Education Rights and the Privacy Act of 1974
In keeping with government policies, information about students of the College may not be released without their consent.  Upon registration, students may complete a form authorizing the College to publish the studentís name, address, and telephone number in a student directory.  No other information about students is released by the College.
 

Probation
Students who fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 shall be placed on probation for one semester.  If the student achieves a semester GPA of 2.0 or better during the probationary semester but has not achieved the required cumulative GPA of 2.0, the student may be continued on probation for a second semester at the discretion of the Fellows.

Unsatisfactory Progress of V.A. Students
Students receiving Veteranís Administration benefits who are on academic probation and fail to achieve a GPA of 2.0 at the end of the first probationary semester will be reported to the Veterans Affairs Regional Office as making unsatisfactory progress.

Students receiving VA benefits who fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of the second consecutive probationary semester will be reported to the Veterans Affairs Regional Office as making unsatisfactory progress.
 

Suspension
If the student achieves a semester GPA of 2.0 or better during the probationary semester but has not achieved the required cumulative GPA of 2.0 he or she may be suspended at the discretion of the Fellows.  Students suspended from studies for failure to meet minimum requirements for scholarship may reapply for admission to the College after a semester has passed.  The student may be re-admitted with the approval of the Dean, who will determine standards of scholarship acceptable for An Audit will appear on the grade report of those students who audit a class.  No final grade will be assigned.  Students may audit a course only with the permission of the Dean.
 

Grade Reports
Reports of final grades are made to the student and are placed in his permanent record.  No transcripts will be released until all financial obligations are met.
 

Academic Advising
Before enrolling for the semester, students should take advantage of the academic counseling services offered by the College by discussing their degree plan with their Tutor and the Dean.
 

Academic Integrity
Students are required to honor the norms of good scholarship and learning and may in cases of plagiarism, cheating, or dishonesty be suspended or dismissed from studies.  When presented with evidence of dishonesty, the Dean will convene a committee composed of College scholars to review allegations of wrongdoing and recommend appropriate action.  The recommendation of the review committee is presented to the Dean who, in consultation with the Provost, will make a final decision concerning disciplinary action.  The decision of the Dean and the Provost may be appealed to the Board of Visitors.
 

Student Discipline
By joining the College, a student agrees to conduct his or her life in a manner befitting the purpose of the College and consonant with the principles of courtesy and ethics upon which the College is founded.

The College reserves the right to suspend or dismiss a student for behavior that violates these principles.  In such cases, the Dean of Students will convene a committee of College scholars to review allegations of wrongdoing and recommend an appropriate penalty.  The recommendation of the Committee is forwarded to the Provost, who reaches a decision concerning disciplinary action.  A student may appeal the Provostís decision to the Board of Visitors.
 

Attendance and Class Absences
Academic courtesy and the acceptance by every member of the College of the responsibilities of the academic vocation govern class attendance.  Since many courses are conducted as seminars, absence from any seminar seriously weakens the studentís opportunity to learn and impairs the scholarly conversation through which learning proceeds.

Students are reminded that academic courtesy requires that they notify their instructors if they will be absent from class.

Two unexcused/unannounced absences will result in a Withdraw/failing grade being given to the student.  Three absences of any kind will result in an academic review of the student by the tutor and Dean of the College.
 

Add, Drop, and Withdrawal Policy
Students may add classes during the first week of the semester.

Students may drop classes until the end of the second week of the semester.  A class that is dropped does not appear on the student transcript.  Following the end of the second week of the semester, all classes in which the student has enrolled appear on the transcript.  From the end of the second week of the semester until the end of the sixth week, a student may withdraw from a class with the grade of W (Withdrawal) shown on the transcript.  Following the end of the sixth week of the semester, the professor of the class from which a student withdraws must assign either a WP (Withdrawal, Passing) or WF (Withdrawal, Failing) which will be recorded on the studentís transcript.  A student may not withdraw from any class after the end of the ninth week of the semester.  Students are responsible for filling out drop and or withdrawal forms, obtaining the appropriate signatures, and submitting them to the Registrar.  For information on refunds, see Tuition and Fees.
 

Academic Formality
In their dress and behavior as members of the College, students are expected to honor the norms of courtesy and civility appropriate to scholarship and learning.  Students are expected to participate in and encourage the formal discourse that takes place in the seminars and to allow principles of fairness and respect for the thought of others to shape their conversations.  Fellows recognize the dignity that belongs to academic discourse by dressing appropriately, and students are invited to honor this custom (coats and ties for men and blouses and skirts for women).

Matriculated students are invited to wear the appropriate academic gown in the Chapel, in the refectory, and in classes.
 

College Requirements Policy
As an academic institution having as its principal purpose intellectual goals, the common conversation promoted by the Student Seminars are an important characteristic activity.

During the period of their studies, attendance at the Student Seminars each semester is required.  Academic courtesy requires that students notify the Dean of Students if they will be absent.  Other requirements for students who miss a seminar session are listed in the Seminarís course syllabus.

 Students may take the Sophomore Examination when they have completed 30 hours including one math course and two courses numbered 1300 in each of the three basic disciplines.  Matriculated students must pass the Sophomore Examination in the semester next following accrual of 45 hours.  Upon completion of course requirements, matriculated students must pass the Senior Comprehensive Examination prior to graduation.

Matriculated students are asked to contribute eight hours each semester to College service projects directed by the Steward as a sign of their understanding that the College exists because of the generosity of many benefactors.  This obligation is in addition to work-study arrangements.

Students must demonstrate computer literacy by passing the computer literacy examination before taking the Sophomore Examination.