Academic Policies and Procedures
RIT’s educational mission is to prepare men and women for living and working in a democratic and technological society by offering curricula that meet those needs, within an educational community that supports and encourages individual achievement in an atmosphere of pluralism and diversity. Moreover,
it sets high standards that challenge students to develop values that will enhance their lives professionally and enable them to contribute constructively to society.
Academic advising
Academic advising is an integral part of a student’s education at RIT. Advising is provided through the student’s home department. Please consult the individual college sections of this bulletin for more specific information.
Confidentiality of records
In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (commonly known as the Buckley Amendment), RIT students have the right to inspect, review and challenge the accuracy of their official educational records. Students are also accorded the right to receive a formal hearing if dissatisfied with responses to questions regarding the content of the record.
RIT policy ensures that only proper use is made of such records. Therefore, with the exception of copies made for internal use (those provided to faculty and staff who have a legitimate need to know their contents), in most cases no copy of a student’s academic record (transcript) or other nonpublic information from student records will be released to anyone without the student’s written authorization. The determination of those who have a “legitimate need to know” (e.g., academic advisers, government officials with lawful subpoenas, etc.) will be made by the person responsible for the maintenance of the record. This determination will be made carefully, in order to respect the student whose record is involved. If an employer, for example, requests a transcript, he or she will have to obtain a written request from the student or former student.
The Buckley Amendment allows RIT to declare certain pieces of information as “directory” and therefore releasable without the specific permission of a student. Such “directory information” could include a student’s name, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation records in official RIT activities and sports, weight and height of a member of an athletic team, dates of attendance at RIT, and degrees and awards received. Students may make written request of the Office of the Registrar that such directory information not be released. Because requests for nondisclosure will be honored by RIT for only one year, requests to withhold such information must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar annually.
Copies of the full act and RIT’s written policies relating to compliance with the law are on file in the Office of the Registrar. Also available is information regarding a student’s right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education concerning the alleged failure of RIT to comply with the requirements for this act.
Transcripts
A student’s official academic record is maintained by the RIT Office of the Registrar and is normally reflected through a transcript. All requests for transcripts must be in writing and should include the student’s full name (or name used while at RIT), student identification number, dates of attendance, and signature to assure proper identification of the record requested. Transcripts are usually prepared and available within one week after the request is received.
Under no circumstances will a partial transcript be issued, nor will a transcript be issued to a student who is indebted to RIT. Transcripts issued directly to a student will be stamped with the following: “This official transcript issued directly to the student.” Transcripts from high schools and universities that have been received in support of admission applications and/or transfer credit evaluation will not be reissued by RIT.
The grading system
RIT uses a single-letter grading system. All grades are determined and issued by the faculty in accordance with the RIT Institute Policies and Procedures Manual and the particular standards of the attempted courses. Individual instructors have an obligation to carefully describe the standards and grading practices of each course. The accepted RIT letter grades are as follows:
| A Excellent | I Incomplete* |
| B Good | R Registered† |
| C Satisfactory | S Satisfactory† |
| D Minimum Passing | W Withdrawn |
| E Conditional Failure* | X Credit by Exam |
| F Failure | Z Audit |
* E and I grades are considered “temporary” and will revert to a grade F unless changed by the faculty within a prescribed period of time.
† R and S grades are restricted to specific types of courses.
For more specific descriptions and procedures concerning the above, see Section D5.0, Institute Policies and Procedures Manual, available in the Office of Student Affairs or on reserve at Wallace Library. The manual is available online: www.rit.edu/~620www/manual/.
Course registration
To be officially registered at RIT, a student must be academically eligible, have been properly enrolled in a course, and have made the appropriate financial commitment. The registration process is uncomplicated and can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Typically, students start selecting courses six to eight weeks before the academic term begins and can use a touch-tone telephone, the World Wide Web, fax machine, or mail, or register in person at their home department or the Office of the Registrar. The registration period ends with the first six weekdays of the term, also called the add/drop period. Specific dates and procedures can be found in the quarterly Schedule of Courses booklet. RIT reserves the right to alter any of its courses at any time.
Students at RIT are free to choose their own courses and course loads. Colleges offering the courses are equally free to restrict enrollment to particular groups of students (for example, students in specific year groups or students who have already satisfied course prerequisites). Most courses also are restricted in class size. Students are strongly encouraged to seek out academic advice and plan their academic careers carefully.
Failure to make appropriate financial commitment, satisfy New York State Health Immunization requirements, or fulfill course prerequisites can result in the loss of courses for which a student has registered and/or prohibition of future registrations.
Auditing courses
Courses that are taken on an audit basis will not count toward a student’s residency requirement. They may not be used to repeat a course taken previously and do not satisfy degree requirements. Permission to audit a course is granted only by the college offering that course. Any changes in registration between credit and audit must be completed prior to the end of the add/drop period.
Withdrawal from courses
A student may withdraw from a course up to the end of the sixth week of the quarter. A grade of “W” will be assigned and the course retained on the student’s permanent academic record. Under exceptional situations, a dean may approve a course withdrawal following the sixth week. For policies pertaining to withdrawal from the university and tuition refund.
Dean’s List eligibility
Matriculated students who earn at least 12 credit hours in an academic term, have a quarterly grade point average of 3.40 or better, have not been placed on probation due to a low cumulative grade point average, and do not have any grades of I, D, E, or F in that term are eligible for selection to the Dean’s List of their college. Students who are pursuing their degree on a part-time basis are assessed for Dean’s List consideration based upon course work over a three-quarter period. Criteria for part-time students are essentially the same as those for full-time students. However, at least 18 credit hours must be earned during the three-quarter period and each student must have accumulated at least 24 credit hours in his or her RIT career.
Academic probation and suspension
All matriculated students at RIT are expected to meet or exceed certain minimal academic standards. Failure to do so will result in being placed on academic probation or suspension. All such actions are taken by college deans at the end of each quarter; once the action is made, it may be changed or revoked only by a dean. The RIT educational policy governing probation and suspension is specific (see the RIT Institute Policies and Procedures, Section D5.0, page 6). Three grade point averages (GPAs) are calculated and used in probation/suspension decisions:
Program Quarterly GPA = grade average of all courses taken in a term that are applicable to a student’s degree requirements.
Principal Field of Study GPA = grade average of all courses a student has taken within his or her specialized field (usually from the student’s home college).
Institute Cumulative GPA = grade average of all course work taken as either an undergraduate or graduate student at RIT.
Academic probation
A student will be placed on probation if his or her program quarterly grade point average falls below 2.0* (a C average) or if his or her grade point average in the principal field of study (based upon at least 20 credit hours attempted in the principal field at RIT) falls below 2.0.* To be removed from probation, the student must raise both averages to at least a 2.0.
Academic suspension
1. Any student who is on probation, as given above, and who is not removed from probation in the two succeeding periods of study in which credit is earned will be suspended.
2. Any student who has been placed on probation after having been removed from probation and whose program cumulative grade point average is below 2.0* will be suspended. Any student who has been placed on probation after having been removed from probation and whose program cumulative grade point average is 2.0* or above will be granted one quarter to be removed from probation before suspension.
3. Any student whose program quarterly grade point average falls below 1.00 will be suspended.
4. Students who have been readmitted to the original program after having been suspended and then go on probation will be suspended.
Suspended students generally must wait at least one year before reapplying for admission into an RIT degree program. While suspended, a student may not enroll in any RIT course work, unless the suspension is waived by an academic dean, then he or she may be limited to taking courses on a nonmatriculated basis.
*The physician assistant program requires a 2.8 grade point average.
Class attendance
Students are expected to fulfill the attendance requirements of their individual classes. Absences, for whatever reason, do not relieve students from responsibility for the normal requirements of the course. In particular, it is the student’s responsibility to make individual arrangements prior to missing class. Attendance at class meetings on Saturdays or at times other than those regularly scheduled may be required.
Student retention
Based on an average of the three most recent cohort survival statistics, RIT’s student graduation rate is 63 percent for students entering at the first-year level and graduating from a four- or five-year program.
Excluding part-time and non-degree students, 89 percent of first-year, full-time day students register for their second year. The statistics reported herein have been computed in a manner consistent with data reported to the New York State Department of Education through the university’s Office of Institutional Research and Policy Studies.
Transfer credit
Transfer Credit
Transfer credit at the undergraduate level will usually be granted for those courses completed with a grade of "C" or better in other regionally accredited colleges or universities and specific armed services course work which parallel courses in the program (including options, if any) for which the student is applying or is currently registered. However, if the program (or option) which the student finally chooses to pursue does not include any or all of the courses evaluated, they will not be credited toward requirements for a degree. RIT students who wish to take courses at other accredited institutions and receive transfer credit towards their RIT degree need to secure the prior written approval of the dean(s) of the RIT college(s) concerned in order to assure appropriateness of the course content and course level for those courses.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing students may transfer into an NTID program, or they may qualify for transfer directly into a program in another RIT college with NTID sponsorship. Deaf students accepted to NTID’s Summer Vestibule Program will have their transfer credit evaluated in the fall when they are accepted into a specific program.
Credit by Exam
RIT grants credit for satisfactory scores on examinations covering objectives and contents parallel to the RIT courses for which students seek credit. Usually these are Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), New York State proficiency examinations or RIT-prepared examinations.
Advanced Placement
RIT recognizes that many students earn advanced standing through Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. The minimum required score and the manner in which credits are applied depend upon a student’s exam score and choice of academic program. No credit is awarded for scores of 1 or 2 on AP Exams. Advanced Placement credits may be applied in fulfillment of general education, program requirements, and/or minor requirements. Students may need to complete additional coursework in order to fulfill all specific program requirements. Students should consult with their adviser for additional details. The policy covering the awarding of credit for Advanced Placement Examinations is reviewed annually and may be subject to change.
International Baccalaureate
RIT recognizes that many students earn advanced standing through International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations. The minimum required score and the manner in which credits are applied depend upon a student’s exam score and choice of academic program. International Baccalaureate (IB) credits may be applied in fulfillment of general education, program requirements, and/or minor requirements. Students may need to complete additional coursework in order to fulfill all specific program requirements. Students should consult with their adviser for additional details. The policy covering the awarding of credit for International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations is reviewed annually and may be subject to change.
College Level Examination Program
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a nation wide system of credit by examination offered by the College Board. Any person entering college, presently attending college or out of college may take CLEP examinations and seek credit by submitting the test results to RIT for evaluation. Credit recommendations for CLEP vary depending on the subject and examination results. CLEP examinations are offered through the RIT Counseling Center.