Continuous Enrollment
Elizabethtown School of Graduate and Professional Studies utilizes a “continuous enrollment” concept for students enrolled in our school. Continuous Enrollment assumes that once enrolled, a student will continue their education until graduation. Students will be considered enrolled for each subsequent academic semester provided they participate in course registration, participate in accordance with the school’s attendance policy, and meet academic standards for continuous enrollment.
Change of Enrollment
A student has not discontinued their enrollment status simply because they are no longer in attendance or by notifying the course instructor. The notification responsibility rests with the student, not the faculty member, nor their advisor.
Students may elect to Step-In/Step-Out of continuous enrollment for a semester by notifying the Office of Advising, GPSAdvising@etown.edu. Any student that has not returned after one year of separation will be automatically withdrawn from the College. A student absence of one year or more requires the submission of the Readmission Application.
Leave of Absence
Students in good academic standing may take a leave of absence from the college for a period not to extend beyond the academic year in which the leave is taken. Leaves of absence must be approved by the SGPS Academic Advising Office.
Students are encouraged to speak with a member of Financial Aid to ensure that there are no implications associated with the planned decision to discontinue enrollment. Students follow the Readmission/ Re-Entry policy for steps on how to return after a separation from the college.
Definition of a Credit
Elizabethtown College utilizes an outcome-based curriculum and assessment in accordance with our accreditor, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and other discipline-based accrediting associations. The College complies with the academic practices and provisions defined in Pennsylvania Department of Education 22 Pa. Code § 31.21.
A semester credit hour represents a unit of curriculum material that normally can be taught in a minimum of 15 hours of classroom instruction plus a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately 15 weeks (or a total of 15 hours of instruction and a minimum of 30 hours of out-of-class student work, per credit, over the length of the term), including final examination or equivalent activity as determined by the faculty. An equivalent amount of work is required in courses and academic instructional activities where direct instruction is not the primary mode of learning, such as online, hybrid, and remote courses; laboratory work; directed study; independent study; internships; practicum; field work; etc. Credits are awarded based on documented learning objectives, learning outcomes, and expectations within a specified period of academically engaged time.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has developed the following parameters for developing curriculum content equivalent to classroom-based instruction. Each of the following four requirements must be met for any equivalent learning experience activity:
- Be directly related to the objectives of the course/program,
- Be measurable for grading purposes,
- Have the direct oversight or supervision of the faculty member teaching the course, and
- In some form be the equivalent of an activity conducted in the classroom.
The equivalent does not include:
- Homework Assignments
- “Time Spent” – a calculation of the time a student spends accomplishing a task.
Middle Sates: https://www.msche.org/2022/06/29/msche-policy-update-effective-july-1-2022/
Full-time/Part-time Status
An undergraduate student taking 12 or more credits per semester at Elizabethtown College is considered a full-time student and pays full tuition and fees.
An undergraduate student taking fewer than 12 credits per semester is considered part time. Part-time students pay the regular semester credit rate plus applicable fees and receive a library card and full use of the library facilities.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations stipulate that a student must carry a minimum of 12 credits per semester to be eligible for intercollegiate athletic competition.
Change of Personal Information
Any change of name, address, telephone number, or marital status must be reported to the Office of Registration and Records immediately either as a request through the College Web system or in written form. E-mailed and telephoned changes cannot be accepted. This information must be kept current so that there will be no delay in receipt of information from the College. Changes of name, gender, social security number, etc., require legal documentation.
Official Electronic Correspondence
All students are provided with a college e-mail account (@etown.edu). These accounts are considered the college’s official method of electronic correspondence. Students will be provided with their account information (username and password) after matriculation. This address is used for official correspondence, so students should check their email regularly at http://mail.etown.edu.
Verification of Student Identity in Distance Education Policy
All credit-bearing courses and programs delivered through distance courses at Elizabethtown College must verify that a student registered is the student academically engaged in the course. Methods used by the college to verify student identification must protect the privacy of student information by complying with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Any associated fees to students with the student verification procedure must be articulated in writing and shared with students.
Students must provide complete and true information to comply with the Student Code of Conduct. Use of any disguise or technology to conceal identity or IP addresses while accessing and/or using college resources is forbidden and considered a violation of this policy, the Acceptable Use Policy, and Academic Dishonesty. Users are responsible for any use and activity of their accounts. Behavior or acts that violate the Student Verification Identification policy will be addressed and adjudicated by the appropriate College judicial or administrative body and could result in the loss of privileges up to dismissal.
Elizabethtown College always strives to provide the highest quality of service and the best student experience possible. If you have a serious complaint against the College, we wish to make you aware ofthe appropriate processes to follow.
The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions offering distance education to provide enrolled and prospective students with contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary institutions offering distance learning within that state. Many of the outside agencies will require that all institutional procedures be followed before the concern will be considered. Before contacting one of these agencies, Elizabethtown College encourages students to inform the College of their complaint first. We are eager to listen to you and resolve the issues. Students should first consult the college catalog to resolve student grievances, complaints and concerns in an expeditious, fair, and amicable manner and in accordance to written college policy. Students with concerns relating to grades or academic decisions should follow the Grade Appeal Policy. For concerns or complaints not addressed or unresolved in the catalog, please contact Academic Affairs.
If the complaint cannot be resolved at any level within the College, the student may contact one of the following agencies:
Elizabethtown College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000) The Middle States Commission on HigherEducation is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Students can review documents of accreditation bycontacting the Registration and Records Office at 717-361-1409. Students wishing to file a formal complaint against an institution of higher education in Pennsylvania can visit Middle States Commission on Higher Educations Complaint page for more information.
Withdrawal Policy
Students who withdraw from the College during the active semester will also be withdrawn from all their courses for the duration of the semester, including any future sub-term/sub-session registrations. Students electing to withdraw from the College are required to submit the online ‘College Withdrawal Form” located in JayWeb.
Students who withdraw from the College without notification (not enrolled in at least one course in the subsequent semester – fall, spring, summer) will be recorded as voluntarily withdrawn from the college, and the associated exit date will be based on the students last date of attendance. The student receives no refunds and may incur the full cost of enrollment. Failure to comply with the withdrawal procedures may result in loss of the privilege of readmission/re-entry to the College and the right to the release of transcript of credits earned. See the Institutional Refund Policy for more information about pro-rated refunds.
Elizabethtown College models the federal financial aid definition of academically related activities to determine last date of attendance. For more information about the voluntary withdrawal process, contact your academic advising coordinator.
Students who were on academic contract and/or probation who wish to return to Elizabethtown College must petition Academic Standing Committee for return approval.
A medical withdrawal for a physical health or mental health reason is defined as a withdrawal from the College for at least the remainder of the semester in which it is initiated. The withdrawal may extend through subsequent semesters (and all course sessions in those semesters) depending on the nature and course of the health concerns. The transcript will indicate “W” for all current courses.
A medical withdrawal for physical or mental health reasons is requested voluntarily by the student or the identified individual on the students FERPA release form and may be approved if, in the judgment of a licensed medical or mental health provider, it is determined to be in the best interest of the student. A Medical Withdrawal Documentation Form must be signed by the student and completed by the student’s treatment provider.
During a medical withdrawal, the College expects the student to participate in professional healthcare treatment with a licensed medical or mental health provider as the primary method of resolving or managing the health concerns which led to the medical withdrawal.
Prior to being considered for readmission by the College, the student must have his/her treatment provider submit the Medical Withdrawal Re-Entry Documentation Form to his/her academic advisor.
Students must also complete the Online Application for Readmission or Re-Entry available on the Office of Registration and Records webpage.
Students are also encouraged to consult with Financial Aid and the Business Office regarding implications for individual financial aid and the Institutional Refund Policy.
The Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies may impose an Involuntary Withdrawal when a student exhibits behavior that has not been appropriately resolved through the grievance process or is threatening to the safety and well-being of the college community.
Each situation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis through an individualized assessment of the student’s ability to safely participate in college programs. The school Dean will consult with
other college stakeholders as necessary to fully consider available medical knowledge and the observed, documented behavior which prompted the review to determine if a reasonable accommodation can be made or if a withdrawal is recommended.
If a withdrawal is recommended, the Dean will confer with the student to explain the advantages of a voluntary withdrawal or voluntary medical withdrawal and the conditions for re-entry which may include a medical clearance from a licensed physician or psychologist. If the student declines to take a voluntary withdrawal or voluntary medical withdrawal, the Dean may impose an involuntary withdrawal. The Dean will explain the implications for the student including the conditions for re-entry which may include a medical clearance from a licensed physician or psychologist.
During an Involuntary Withdrawal, the student is immediately administratively withdrawn from all classes. The transcript will indicate “W” for all currently enrolled courses. The student may be eligible for a refund according to the course withdrawal policy institutional refund policy.
In an emergency, the College will take immediate steps to protect the health, safety, and welfare of students, employees, and the campus community including the imposition of an Interim Separation by the Dean. The subsequent individual assessment may result in an Involuntary Withdrawal.
Students who leave the College in good academic standing gain readmission by written request to the Office of Registration and Records. Students who leave the College in academic difficulty must petition The Academic Standing Committee. The academic program must have the capacity to accept additional students.
Students seeking to return after less than one year of continuous enrollment
Students seeking to return after less than one year should contact the GPS Advising Office (GPSAdvisor@etown.edu ) prior to the published semester/sub-term begin date for which re-enrollment is being sought. For more information, please visit the Office of Registration and Records Readmission or Re-entry webpage.
Students seeking to return after more than one year of continuous enrollment
Students seeking to return after more than one year, but less than five years, must complete the School of Graduate and Professional Studies Application for Readmission.
Students may not normally use a College Catalog dated more than four years prior to graduation to determine requirements for a degree. The only exception to this is for students who have been continuously enrolled for more than four years.
Additional Considerations
If students applying for re-enrollment/re-entry have earned credits at another institution since their most recent enrollment at Elizabethtown College, they must submit official transcripts from each institution attended if they want the credits to be considered for transfer credit and/or for enrollment decisions.
Fresh Start Policy/Academic Forgiveness Policy
Undergraduate, associate and baccalaureate, degree seeking students who re-enroll at Elizabethtown College following an absence of five successive calendar years (60 consecutive months) may apply for academic forgiveness under the Fresh Start Policy. The school Dean, and Registrar, will review prior and intervening factors for evidence of potential for improved academic success under the Fresh Start Policy.
Academic Standards
A student reenrolled (approved for readmission) under this policy must meet current degree requirements and will be reviewed under current academic standards requirements applicable at the time of readmission.
Transcript Effects
All previously transcribed courses will remain on the student’s academic record and transcript, no exceptions.
Courses previously used to satisfy a prior degreed credential are not eligible for forgiveness. These credits and grades will remain permanently locked on the student’s academic record and transcript. They will continue to be used in calculating the cumulative GPA.
All other courses with grades below C- are eligible for academic forgiveness. Students must request specific courses for forgiveness. When courses are approved for forgiveness, they are given the notation of “#FG” (Forgiven Grade). There is no limit on the number of courses/credits below a C- that can be given the “#FG” notation on the transcript.
Financial Aid Effects
Students reenrolled under the Fresh Start Program must still meet the financial aid qualitative and quantitative student academic progress, SAP, requirements (using all previously enrolled semester data). Federal regulations do not permit the Financial Aid Office staff to remove or ignore any academic statistics.
Constraints
This policy may be applied only once. Academic forgiveness, excluded courses, and GPA recalculation once enacted cannot be reversed.
- For a first bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 30 credits must be completed at Elizabethtown after a student return under this policy.
- For a first associate degree, a minimum of 15 credits must be completed at Elizabethtown after a student return under this policy.
- For a first embedded certificate, a minimum of 6 credits must be completed at Elizabethtown after a student return under this policy. Please note, undergraduate certificates do not stand alone. They are only transcribed upon completion of a degreed program (associate or baccalaureate).
Student Classifications
Student classifications are based on completed, earned credits.
Undergraduate Student Classification
- First-Year 0 to 29 completed credits
- Sophomre 30 to 59 completed credits
- Junior 60 to 89 completed credits
- Senior 90 or more credits
Graduate Student Classification
Academic Program
Each student enrolled in a degree program is required to complete a major. In addition, students have the option of pursuing a minor outside their major discipline. Students also complete course work to fulfill the requirements of the Core Program, which provides a broad and liberal education.
Advisors are assigned for majors, second majors, and minors. Non-degree students also are assigned advisors.
One of the unique features of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies’ programs is its emphasis on individualized academic advising. The advisor will work with the student to provide assistance and guidance through the college experience through graduation.
Academic Load and Progress
Since the completion of at least 125 credits is required for a bachelor’s degree, a student who plans to graduate in four years must satisfactorily complete an average of 16 credits in each of eight semesters. However, some students wisely elect to take a lighter academic load in order to do better work and choose to complete one or more summer courses or attend a partial fifth year. Some programs require a highly sequenced set of courses and any deviations from the sequence may delay program completion. Students should review the requirements for any intended major or minor programs to ensure full understanding of program expectations. Students completing courses through accelerated subterms can expect to complete 6-12 credits each semester, and required to meet the 125 minimum credits for graduation.
Academic Progress Survey System
Mid-term grade reports are not issued. However, during the fifth week of each semester, faculty are asked to complete the Starfish academic progress survey (for all 100- and 200- level courses, with 300- and 400-level courses strongly encouraged).
Students may receive flags for areas of academic concern or kudos for areas of academic strength. Students receiving flags are encouraged to consult with their instructors to discuss options for improving their performance. All students receiving a flag will receive an email from the Center for Student Success inviting the student to take advantage of the Center’s supports and resources.
Student Responsibilities
Students are required to consult with their major advisor as to course selection, course sequences, graduation requirements, etc. Consultation with the second major or minor advisor is an expectation, but not a requirement. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all graduation requirements have been met and that other requirements, regulations and deadlines have been observed.
Degree Planners and Degree Audits
Degree Planners for academic majors and minors list the requirements for each program and can be used by students to track their progress.
In addition, electronic degree audits (aka, Grad Reports) are available 24/7 to students and their academic advisors through the College Web system, Jayweb. The degree audit matches the student’s course work against the requirements for a degree and notes which requirements are met and which still are required. The degree audit is not the same as the transcript. The degree audit is an advising tool and as such, is an unofficial document, whereas the transcript is the official record of course history and degree completion. Students are encouraged to review their degree audits and transcripts at the start/end of every semester. While the degree audit is usually accurate, at times the complicated nature of a program or the unique circumstances of a student’s course completions may lead to inaccuracies. If there are inaccuracies, students are responsible for reporting these to the Office of Registration and Records. An error in the degree audit does not change the actual requirements for graduation; in particular, unfulfilled requirements are not waived because of degree audit errors. The responsibility for understanding and meeting degree requirements rests with the student.
Declarations and changes of majors and minors are initiated by the student and facilitated by the Registration and Records Office. When a change of major or minor occurs, a student’s advising record is transferred from one Academic program to another when applicable.
Information is provided in the course syllabus explaining how various elements are weighted and how the grading scale is used. In consideration of FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act), students agree, by registration in a course, to the electronic exchange of course assignments and/or grades with the faculty.
Grades are due at 10:00am on the Tuesday following the last day of the course. Once grades are recorded, matriculated students may view their grade through JayWeb. Electronic copies of the grades are available to print via JayWeb.
Students who need an official transcript of their coursework may request one through the office of Registration & Records. No transcripts will be issued to students who have an outstanding balance on their account. Information about transcript requests can be found on the Registration & Records website.
Grading Standards
The grading standards established for undergraduate courses are:
|
Grade
|
A
|
A-
|
B+
|
B
|
B-
|
C+
|
C
|
C-
|
D+
|
D
|
D-
|
F
|
|
Percentage
|
94-100
|
90-93
|
87-89
|
84-86
|
80-83
|
77-79
|
74-76
|
70-73
|
67-69
|
64-66
|
60-63
|
<60
|
The grading standards established for graduate courses are:
|
Grade
|
A
|
A-
|
B+
|
B
|
B-
|
C+
|
C
|
F
|
|
Percentage
|
94-100
|
90-93
|
87-89
|
84-86
|
80-83
|
77-79
|
73-76
|
<73
|
Quality Points and Grade Point Average Requirements
A 4.0 quality point system and plus/minus grading is used.
Undergraduate quality points are assigned as follows. Students in undergraduate degree programs must have a grade point average of 2.0 overall and 2.0 in the major, and 2.00 in any declared minors
Grading Standards for Undergraduate Courses
|
Grade
|
A
|
A-
|
B+
|
B
|
B-
|
C+
|
C
|
C-
|
D+
|
D
|
D-
|
F
|
|
Percentage
|
4.0
|
3.7
|
3.3
|
3.0
|
2.7
|
2.3
|
2.0
|
1.7
|
1.3
|
1.0
|
0.7
|
0.0
|
Graduate quality points are assigned as follows. Students in graduate degree programs must have a grade point average of 3.0 overall and 3.0 in the major to receive their diploma.
Grading Standards for Graduate Courses
|
Grade
|
A
|
A-
|
B+
|
B
|
B-
|
C+
|
C
|
F
|
|
Percentage
|
4.0
|
3.7
|
3.3
|
3.0
|
2.7
|
2.3
|
2.0
|
0.0
|
Incomplete Grades
A student grade of incomplete may be assigned, in consultation with the course instructor, when the student is unable to complete coursework for extraordinary reasons such as illness, emergency, or other reasonable cause. An Incomplete is not simply to allow additional time to complete course work and is not an alternative to a failing grade. It is a privilege granted by the instructor because of a unique set of circumstances, not a right or expectation of the student. The revised policy provides students the opportunity to address emergencies and establishes a reasonable deadline to discourage procrastination in the completion of course requirements.
Criteria for an Incomplete grade
- Student requests for an Incomplete will only be considered if the student has:
- Completed at least 50% of course work,
- A current passing grade in the course.
- The ability to complete the work without attending additional classes.
- A well-defined plan at the time of the request.
Incomplete contracts must be emailed to the course instructor PRIOR to the last day of class. An incomplete grade must be resolved by the agreed upon contract timelines, but no later than the default incomplete contract timelines.
Contract Default Timelines
- Sub-Term (less than 6 weeks)
Incomplete grades must be replaced by a final grade by no more than the length of the accelerated sub-term in which the incomplete grade was granted.
- Sub-Term (greater than 5 weeks, but less than 14 weeks)
Incomplete grades must be replaced by a final grade by no more than the length of the accelerated sub-term in which the incomplete grade was granted.
- Semester (14 – 16 weeks)
Incomplete grades must be replaced by a final grade by no more than the following:
- Fall Incomplete Deadline: March 1st
- Spring Incomplete Deadline: August 1st
- Summer Incomplete Deadline: November 1st
Student Responsibilities:
- The student presents a valid appeal and request to his/her instructor before the last day of class.
- The student is responsible for circulating the Incomplete Contract for signature. The signed form must be submitted to the Office of Registration and Records.
- The Center for Student Success will circulate an Emergency Incomplete on behalf of the student in collaboration with the Office of Registration and Records when an emergency warrants in support of the student and their family.
- If the student fails to complete the work by the extended and/or default deadline, the instructor will enter a grade based only on work completed during the semester and the Incomplete contractual agreement.
- The student’s grade point average calculation will be updated to include the awarded grade, or failing grade if work is not completed.
Faculty Responsibilities:
- The instructor will establish an appropriate completion date with the student. This date may not exceed the identified default timelines.
- The instructor will initially report a grade of “I” in JayWeb. The incomplete grade will appear on the student’s Grad Report/Academic Record as an “I”.
- The instructor is expected to communicate with the student prior to the submission of the final grade.
- The instructor will submit a final grade for the course, on or before the contracted and/or default completion date, through JayWeb Incomplete to letter-grade change process.
Additional Considerations
An incomplete grade issued to a student on academic probation will not prevent or delay academic action of dismissal.
Receiving an “I” grade in a course means the course will not satisfy prerequisites for subsequent course registrations.
Students will not be permitted to graduate with an incomplete grade on their record because their grade point average is not final. Any candidate for graduation earning an unresolved incomplete will automatically be moved to the subsequent date of graduation. The degree and/or post-graduate certificate is not conferred until all requirements for graduation are satisfied.
Students register for classes on those days designated on the College calendar. No registrations are accepted after the first week of a semester or subterm. Students register for the fall semester in April. Spring semester registration takes place in November. Winter and Summer registration opens in November with Spring. A student may register either as a degree or a non-degree student and as a full-time or part-time student. Degree-seeking candidates must have a major declaration.
Many courses have prerequisites, and students are reminded of their responsibility for meeting all prerequisites and for taking courses in proper sequence.
To register for the next semester, a student must have met all financial obligations. Students who do not register during the registration period cannot be guaranteed space in the residence facilities or classes. Students must meet with their advisor prior to registration, and the advisor must remove the “registration clearance” before students can register online through JayWeb.
Students will be responsible for obtaining their materials of instruction. The required course material(s) of instruction and course assignments can be found in the syllabus.
Students should check with their academic advising coordinator with questions about whether a course is appropriate for the degree program. The student’s account must be paid in full before they may register for the next semester. This includes library fines, parking tickets, etc.
Due to the accelerated nature of SGPS courses, it is recommended that students discuss course planning with their academic advising coordinator.
Course Modality
- EC Online (ONLN), the class is offered exclusively asynchronously and fully online;
- EC Remote (RMTE), the class is offered virtually but with one or more scheduled synchronous sessions (as specific days and times);
- EC Hybrid (HYBR), the class has a blended modality which is a combination of face-to-face and distance learning for all students; and
- By Arrangement, this modality is reserved for alternative study options (internships, practicums, fieldwork, directed studies, etc.).
Registration Holds
A student’s registration may be delayed as a result of unpaid account balances, incomplete academic records, disciplinary sanctions, failure to meet with the advisor, failure to provide current off-campus address information, or incomplete health records. For full-time students, the Student Health Record must include a recent physical and evidence that all required immunizations are complete.
Schedule Changes
Enrolled students may make course schedule changes via JayWeb, on a space-available basis. A student is not dropped or withdrawn from a course by notifying the professor. The completion of any course registration addition or change is the responsibility of the student, not the faculty member. Students can review their registration status in JayWeb 24/7. Students should keep in mind that dropping or withdrawing from a course could delay their anticipated date of graduation.
Course Cancellations
Although the college will make every effort to run all scheduled courses, it reserves the right to cancel courses at its discretion. In such cases, every attempt will be made to contact students enrolled in the cancelled course in time to allow rescheduling.
Students may add a course to their schedule from the first day of open registration for the term and in accordance with the term definitions.
Semester (14-16 weeks)
Students may add courses to their schedule through the fifth day of the semester using Jayweb.
Sub-Term (greater than 5 weeks, but less than 14 weeks)
Students may add a course through the fifth day of the published sub-term/session using JayWeb.
Sub-Term (less than 6 weeks)
Students may add a course through the second day of the published sub-term/session using JayWeb. SGPS students participating in a weekend seminar may add a course (register by advisor) until 8:00am EST on the first day of the course.
Enrolled students may make course schedule changes via Jayweb, on a space-available basis, in accordance with the Course Add Period policy. If a course is full, students may waitlist. If a seat becomes available, a member of the Office of Registration and Records will email the student using their etown.edu email account. Please be sure you are monitoring your email; Registration and Records will hold the seat for up to three days, or the conclusion of the course add policy once the semester begins. The Office of Registration and Records reserves the right to return the student to the waitlist and the seat given to the subsequent student if the stated timeline concludes.
Students may DROP a course without permanent record from the first day of open registration for the term and in accordance with the term definitions.
Semester (14 - 16 weeks)
- Week One. Students may elect to DROP a course through the fifth day of the semester using JayWeb.
- Week Two – Week Four. Course DROP(s) between the second and fourth week of the semester require the completion of an official course DROP from located in the Office of Registration and Records, and in JayWeb. A course DROP requires the signature of the student’s academic advisor.
Sub-terms (greater than 5 weeks, but less than 14 weeks)
- Week One. Students may elect to DROP a course through the fifth day of the sub-term/session using JayWeb.
- Week Two. Course DROP(s) between the sixth day of the sub-term/session and the end of the second week of the sub-term/session require the completion of an official course DROP form located in the Office of Registration and Records, and in JayWeb. A course DROP requires the signature of the student’s academic advisor.
Sub-terms (less than 6 weeks)
- Week One. Students may elect to DROP a course through the third day of the sub-term/session using JayWeb. SGPS students participating in a weekend seminar may DROP a class until 8:00am EST on the first day of the course.
- Day Four - Week Two. Course DROP(s) between the fourth day of the sub-term/session and the end of the second week fo the sub-term/session require the completion of an official course DROP form located in the Office of Registration and Records, and in JayWeb. A course DROP requires the signature of the student’s academic advisor.
At the conclusion of the course DROP period, a student has the option of exercising a course withdrawal. The decision to withdraw from a course is part of a student’s academic record and transcribed based on the date of the form submission to the Office of Registration and Records.
Semester (14-16 Weeks)
From the fifth week to the end of the eleventh week, a course withdrawal will result in a grade of “W”, which will appear on the student’s permanent record, but it will not affect the student’s grade point average.
All course withdrawals after the end of the eleventh week of the semester will result in a grade of “WF”, which is calculated into the student’s grade point average as an earned “F”.
Sub-terms (greater than 5 weeks, but less than 14 weeks)
From the third week to the end of the fifth week, a course withdrawal will result in a grade of “W”, which will appear on the student’s permanent record, but it will not affect the student’s grade point average.
All course withdrawals after the end of the fifth week of the sub-term/session will result in a grade of “WF”, which is calculated into the student’s grade point average as an earned “F”.
Sub-terms (less than 6 weeks)
From the fourth day to the end of the third week, a course withdrawal will result in a grade of “W”, which will appear on the student’s permanent record, but it will not affect the student’s grade point average. SGPS students participating in a weekend seminar who withdraw from a class on the first day will receive a “W,” which will appear on the student’s permanent record, but it will not affect the student’s grade point average.
All course withdrawals after the end of the third week of the sub-term/session will result in a grade of “WF”, which is calculated into the student’s grade point average as an earned “F”. SGPS students participating in a weekend seminar who withdraw from a class after the first day will receive a “WF,” which is calculated into the student’s grade point average as an earned “F.”
A few courses are designated as repeatable for credit in the Catalog because the course content is not duplicated. The repeatable for credit designation appears in the course description in the Catalog. Courses eligible for repeat must be taken at Elizabethtown College and not at another institution.
Repeating a course graded F or NP.
Students may repeat any course in which they earned an F or NP and may attempt failed courses as many times as needed until the course is passed. A student can self-register through JayWeb under this circumstance, without the submission of a Course Repeat Form through the Office of Registration and Records.
Repeating a course letter-graded as a C, C-, or in the D range
Under certain conditions, students may be eligible to repeat a course to improve an earned letter-grade. Only an alternative study registration (e.g., independent studies, internships, directed studies, and tutorials) may be repeated as an alternative study registration. All other course formats (e.g. traditional classroom, hybrid, and fully online) may be repeated interchangeably. The student must file a course repeat form in the Office of Registration and Records.
When repeating a course to earn a different grade, the original grade remains on the transcript but is removed from calculation of the grade point average, course credits are counted only once toward degree and program requirements, and only the last (i.e., most recent, better, or worse) grade earned for the course is counted in the grade point average.
Conditions for an eligible letter-graded course repeat:
- The course is a requirement in their major/minor/certificate.
- The course is a prerequisite to a Core Program requirement.
- The course repeat is approved by their advisor and the major/minor/certificate Program Director.
- The student cannot register for a repeat as a directed study unless it was originally registered as a directed study.
Federal Financial Aid Considerations
Under federal financial aid (Title IV) guidelines, a previously passed course that meets these conditions may be repeated only one time. This includes courses in which a program requires a minimum grade in the course (i.e., students who have previously passed a course have one opportunity to repeat the course for a better grade).
The Pass/No Pass grading option is intended to encourage students to explore areas of study beyond those of their major or minor. Courses registered on Pass/No Pass basis earn credits (for grades of P) but are not included in the calculation of the grade point average. Students may select one course per semester to be graded in this manner under these conditions:
- A student currently must have junior or senior standing (60 or more credits).
- The student must have a cumulative average of 2.75 or higher.
- The selected course may carry no more than four credits and must be a free elective. It may not satisfy a Core Program requirement (no Core courses can be taken Pass/No Pass) and maynot be a course that could fulfill a requirement for the student’s major or minor. However, if major/minor requirements are already met (i.e., completed, not in progress), then an additional course in the major/minor Program can be taken Pass/No Pass.
- No more than four courses in total (excluding Physical Education activity courses) may be taken under this grading option.
All students may elect to take Physical Education courses Pass/No Pass. Pass/No Pass registration opens at the end of the second week of classes and must be completed by the end of the fourth week of the semester. For subterms 8 weeks or less, Pass/No Pass must be established by the end of the first week. Forms are available on JayWeb and in the Office of Registration and Records. Once a course is registered under the Pass/No Pass option, it may not be changed. Grades of D- or higher are recorded Pass; grades of F are recorded No Pass. Students should be aware that courses taken Pass/No Pass may not be transferrable to other institutions.
Undergraduate students may carry up to 18 credits in the Fall or Spring semester, 12 credits in a combination of course work across all summer sessions (term or sub terms), and 4 credits in the Winter term. A student who achieves a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or above, or who has the approval of the Registrar, may carry up to 20 credits in the Fall or Spring semester. An additional tuition fee is charged for credits in excess of 18 credits in a semester. A petition form for overload credit is available in the Office of Registration and Records or on the office’s website.
Graduate students may carry up to 16 credits (Fall, Spring, Summer) without paying a credit overload fee.
Auditing Courses
Undergraduate degree-seeking and/or certificate-seeking students in good academic standing (2.00 GPA or better) may elect to audit courses provided they do not preempt regularly enrolled students and they have the permission of the professor teaching the course.
The requirements for the audit are determined by the instructor. Upon completion of all such requirements, the audit is posted on the student’s permanent record card. Audit courses carry neither academic credit nor grade.
Audit credits are included in the total credits to determine full-time status and overload charges. A fee is charged on a per-credit basis for part-time students who wish to audit courses. Auditors – both full-time and part-time – also must pay any additional fees for labs, studio supplies and other direct costs. Students may add a course for audit or change a course registration from audit to credit during the first week of class only. Change of course registration from credit to audit cannot be made after completion of the fourth week of the semester. Once a course has been audited, it may not be taken for credit. Likewise, a course that has been completed for credit may not be repeated and recorded as an audit course.
Discontinuance of Courses
The College reserves the right to withdraw or discontinue any course in the Catalog. The School Dean reserves the right to identify and offer a course exception for any program impacted by the discontinuance of a course in their curriculum.
Students may seek approval to cross-register between the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and the Schools of Arts and Humanities, Business, Engineering and Computer Science, Public Service, Sciences and Health.
Cross-Registrations are approved on a space-available basis with the approval of the student’s academic advisor and the student’s School Dean, or designee, governing their primary major declaration. The Request to Register Across Schools form is in JayWeb with a quick link to the form on the Office of Registration and Records Forms and Petitions webpage.
Students are advised to review the Concurrent and Subsequent Credentials Policy to understand how cross-registrations function as a pathway for a student interested in accelerating their entry into their graduate studies here at Elizabethtown College.
Guidelines for Cross-Registration across Academic Schools:
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A student must be in good academic standing.
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Undergraduate students currently seeking a bachelor’s degree must have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credits.
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Undergraduate students currently seeking an associate degree must have successfully completed a minimum of 15 credits.
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Undergraduate students seeking to take graduate level courses must have a 3.0 career GPA
Guidelines for Cross-Registration across Divisions (Undergraduate and Graduate):
An undergraduate student cannot “register” for a graduate course at the graduate level (and have it transcribed on a graduate transcript) unless (1) they have earned their bachelor’s degree or (2) they can demonstrate through their degree audit or graduate acceptance through GPS, that their bachelor’s degree is obtainable at the time the request is submitted.
All students are encouraged to speak with their financial aid advisor to understand how to maintain federal financial aid and academic progress across two divisions.
Once a course is reserved for graduate credit, the course classification cannot revert to undergraduate degree.
Course Modifications for Non-native English Speakers
Elizabethtown College is committed to providing equitable access to all courses, programs, and services for non-native (international and domestic) English speakers. Students may request tutoring, learning resources, course modifications, and learning opportunities.
Students interested in seeking a course modification should contact Ms. Maria Petty (pettym@etown.edu), International Student Programs Advisor, at (717) 361-1594.
Time Zone Policy
The School of Graduate and Professional Studies runs courses on Eastern Standard Time (EST). Courses begin at 12:00 am EST of the first day of the session and end at 11:59 pm EST on the last day of the session. To maintain equity among all students, assignment due dates and web conferences will be set according the Eastern Standard Time. Students who do not complete any academically-inclined work by 11:59 pm EST of Sunday the first week of the session will be marked as non-attending for financial aid purposes. Students who are unable to participate in web conferences due to their scheduled time will have the opportunity to complete an equivalent activity, through viewing a recording of the web conference and/or completing an alternate assignment.
Academic programs offered through the School are in an accelerated format; therefore, it is expected that students attend all scheduled classes, regardless of the mode of course delivery. Students may experience face-to-face class via a synchronous, remote delivery method at the instructor’s discretion. Students must complete all online requirements for the entire session in order to achieve the course outcomes.
For face-to-face or blended classes, students are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions for the full class time. Arriving late or leaving early could have an impact on the student’s grade. If absence or lateness is unavoidable, students must notify the faculty member as soon as possible, prior to the class meeting. The result may be missed points or make-up work assigned by the faculty member; this is at the faculty member’s discretion. If a student is aware of a conflict at the time of registration, he/she are encouraged to contact the faculty member immediately to discuss the scheduled absence. Depending on the class session affected, it may be prudent to select a different course that is not impacted by the scheduled absence.
For online or blended classes, students are expected to fully participate in online activities, discussion boards, and assignments throughout the course. If lateness of an assignment or absence from a scheduled on-line session is unavoidable, students must notify the faculty member as soon as possible, prior to the assigned activity. The result may be missed points or make-up work assigned by the faculty member; this is at the faculty member’s discretion.
In consideration of the learning experiences that occur in the classroom and the value of those interactions for all students enrolled in the class, students are not permitted to bring any additional persons to class who are not enrolled in that class. This includes any family members (spouses, children, siblings, etc.), friends and co-workers.
Due to the accelerated nature of the courses, students who do not complete coursework in the first week may be administratively withdrawn if they do not show their intent to complete the course by participating academically in the second week.
Students who determine they are unable to complete a course in which they have participated must contact their academic advisor immediately to discuss options. For most situations, students should refer to the SGPS Withdrawal and Refund Policy. Medical Withdrawals or Incomplete Requests are for extraordinary circumstances and require additional documentation.
Failure to properly withdraw from a course or request a medical withdrawal or incomplete within the appropriate timeframe may result in a student earning a failing grade.
Course Attendance
Fall and Spring: Prior to the start of the semester every enrolled student must self-certify their enrollment and their intent to attend all registered courses through the Preliminary Check-In process and in compliance with Federal Financial Aid regulation ( 34 CFR 668.22 ). Subsequently, any student registering for a course after the Preliminary Check-In deadline has passed will have their attendance certified/recertified through the Academic Progress Survey. Faculty are encouraged to utilize Starfish throughout the semester/sub-term to alert administration of a student of lack of attendance.
Winter and Summer: SGPS students and Residential students electing to enroll in the winter and summer sessions will be certified as attending by the course instructor through Starfish.
Academic Calendar and Important Dates
Once registered, students are considered enrolled and attending. Students are responsible for adherence to the Academic Calendar and Important Dates associated with enrollment and course registration. If a circumstance arises where a student needs to discontinue with a course registration, they must submit the appropriate registration form to change their scheduled registration status. Any student with a need to execute a college withdrawal should contact the Center for Student Success. School of Graduate and Professional Studies students must contact their academic advisor about college withdrawal.
Please visit the Office of Registration and Records Academic Calendar and Important Dates
Student Attendance Responsibilities
Self-Certification of Enrollment through completion of the Preliminary Check-In
Students self-certify their intent to enroll and participate in all courses listed on their schedules each semester through the completion of the preliminary check-in. Students who fail to complete the preliminary check-in will be prohibited from future registrations until completed.
Class Attendance
Class attendance expectations are determined individually by the course instructor and outlined in the course syllabus. Each instructor announces their attendance policy at the start of each semester. A course instructor and/or the College may dismiss a student from a course for excessive absences.
Students are responsible for the completion of course related activities regularly and punctually, regardless of modality (face-to-face, hybrid, remote, or online). Attendance is defined as active participation by the enrolled student in accordance with the course syllabus and learning objectives.
Academic programs and courses may be offered in an accelerated format or a modality other than face-to-face. Regardless of modality, students are expected to participate in all course activities. Active participation includes attending all scheduled in person or synchronous sessions, online activities, discussion boards, and assignments throughout the course.
Online courses typically have weekly activities for students to participate in throughout the course, where attendance is monitored by access of the LMS, Canvas, submission of assignments, live session attendance, and/or communication with the course instructor.
Academically Inclined Work for Enrollment and Attendance
Elizabethtown College models federal financial aid’s definition of Academic Attendance and Attendance at an Academically-Related Activity .
Academic Related Activities include, but are not limited to:
- Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students;
- submitting an academic assignment;
- taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction;
- attending or participating in a study group that is assigned by the instructor/institution;
- participating in an online discussion about academic matters; and
- initiating contact with a faculty member/instructor to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.
Academically Related Activities do not include activities where a student may be present online (logging into view Canvas content) but not academically engaged, such as:
- logging into an online class without active participation
- participating in academic counseling or advisement
Faculty Attendance Responsibilities
Elizabethtown College manages attendance through Starfish and Academic Performance Surveys.
Starfish Documentation
Starfish Documentation is maintained by the Center for Student Success. Any questions relating to Starfish should be directed to the appropriate Starfish Coordinator.
Starfish Coordinators
Starfish Coordinators are located in
- the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, SGPS, Academic Advising Office.
- the Center for Student Success for on-campus residential programs.
Faculty may consult with either coordinator through starfish@etown.edu.
The Academic Progress Survey
Faculty are responsible for the completion of the Academic Progress Survey coordinated through the Center for Student Success and GPS Academic Advising. Additionally, faculty may report “lack of attendance” or an “academic flag” of concern for any enrolled student using Starfish throughout the sub-term/semester.
Attendance and Academic Progress Survey Reporting
Course Instructors:
- Starfish Attendance Notifications are circulated on the second Monday in each semester, or sub-term, in compliance with Federal Financial Aid regulation ( 34 CFR 668.22 ). Faculty will receive subsequent email reminders until they comply with the attendance survey. Instructors will receive an email confirmation upon completion.
- Participate in the Academic Progress Survey for all registrants in all their course(s) each semester.
- Submit a Starfish flag(s) or kudos for any student academic performance concern or achievement, this includes lack or discontinuance and/or attendance in their course.
- Enter the students’ last date of attendance for failing or incomplete grade during grade entry.
Illness or Personal Circumstance
Students are responsible for knowing the attendance policy for each course and consulting with the course instructor in the case of absences due to illness or other personal circumstances. A medical withdrawal for physical or mental health reasons is requested voluntarily by the student or his/her parent or guardian. Refer to the Medical Withdrawal Policy for more information on this process.
Dismissal for Class Nonattendance
Any student dismissed by a faculty for nonattendance will receive a withdrawal failing, “WF”. The grade is assigned when a student registers for a course, completes academically related work, and they cease participation without adherence to the published course drop and/or withdrawal deadlines for the semester/sub-term. Administrative actions (enrollment status, tuition, and fees) are based onthe student’s official last date of attendance in the course. The “WF” grade results in zero credit and zero quality points. Grades of “WF” are calculated into your grade point average, GPA, as an “F”.
Grades earned for Nonattendance may affect your academic standing and financial assistance (federal financial aid or veteran benefits). Students may register for the course again without completing a course repeat form. All applicable tuition and fees apply when the student elects to retake the course.
Semester (14-16 Weeks)
Students dismissed for nonattendance in the first through fourth weeks of the semester results in removal of the course from the student’s academic record. A student’s last date of attendance, assessed through the completion of academically related activities, will be determined by the course instructor and any resulting grade and/or refund will be based on that date.
Sub-Term (greater than 5 weeks, but less than 14 weeks)
Students dismissed for nonattendance prior to the end of the second week of the sub-term results in removal of the course from the student’s record. A student’s last date of attendance, assessed through the completion of academically related activities, will be determined by the course instructor and any resulting grade and/or refund will be based on that date.
Sub-term (less than 6 weeks)
Such a dismissal prior to the end of the second week of the sub-term results in removal of the course from the student’s record. A student’s last date of attendance, assessed through the completionof academically related activities, will be determined by the course instructor and any resulting grade and/or refund will be based on that date.
Right to Appeal for Reinstatement
A student may appeal to the Academic Standing Committee for reinstatement into the course.
Long-Term Absences
A long-term absence from classes may result in mandatory withdrawal from the College. After 15 consecutive class days of absence from all classes, a student is considered to have withdrawn from the College. Students absent for verified medical reasons will be granted a Medical Withdrawal.
Tuition Refunds
Please contact the Elizabethtown College Business Office at 717-361-1417 or businessoffice@etown.edu regarding questions about tuition refunds. Additional information can be found here.
Long-Term Absences
A long-term absence from classes or from campus may result in mandatory withdrawal from the College. After 15 consecutive class days of absence from all classes, a student is considered to have withdrawn from the College. Students absent for verified medical reasons will be granted a Medical Withdrawal.
Pass/No Pass Grading
The Pass/No Pass grading option is intended to encourage students to explore areas of study beyond those of their major or minor. Courses registered on Pass/No Pass basis earn credits (for grades of P) but are not included in the calculation of the grade point average. Students may select one course per semester to be graded in this manner under these conditions:
A student currently must have junior or senior standing (60 or more credits).
The student must have a cumulative average of 2.75 or higher.
The selected course may carry no more than four credits and must be a free elective. It may not satisfy a Core Program requirement (no Core courses can be taken Pass/No Pass) and may not be a course that could fulfill a requirement for the student’s major or minor. However, if major/minor requirements are already met (i.e., completed, not in progress), then an additional course in the major/minor Program can be taken Pass/No Pass.
No more than four courses in total (excluding Physical Education activity courses) may be taken under this grading option.
All students may elect to take Physical Education courses Pass/No Pass. Pass/No Pass registration opens at the end of the second week of classes and must be completed by the end of the fourth week of the semester. Forms are available on JayWeb and in the Office of Registration and Records. Once a course is registered under the Pass/No Pass option, it may not be changed. Grades of D- or higher are recorded Pass; grades of F are recorded No Pass. Students should be aware that courses taken Pass/No Pass may not be transferrable to other institutions.
Final Examination/Project Policy
All academic courses are expected to conclude with a final examination administered during the assigned time of the examination period. Within the last three meeting days for classes (not for any individual course) prior to final examinations, no in-class assessment, counting more than 2/3 of a letter grade toward the final course grade may be administered, lab examinations/practica are exempt.
The following may or may not have final examinations, depending upon the judgment of the instructor:
- laboratory sections
- advanced seminar in which an assigned paper or project is the major activity
- a performance class in which a recital or similar artistic performance is required
- an internship
- a practicum
Any faculty member seeking an exception to the final examination rule for an academic course shall secure the approval of the Dean.
Online courses may or may not have an associated final paper, exam, or project, regardless of term length. For those taking on-campus courses, students with three exams in one day may directly request of a professor that one exam be rescheduled during exam week. There is no obligation on the part of the faculty member to reschedule the exam. All requests for rescheduling an exam must be made at least five class days before the start of the final exam week. Students with four exams in one day may request that one or two of the exams be rescheduled following the same procedure. When a scheduling conflict cannot be resolved between professor(s) and student, the student may take her/his case to the Dean of their School.
Experimental/Special Topics Courses
Experimental courses are intended to provide a platform for faculty to introduce a relatively new topic, to address a timely issue (e.g., an election), or simply to try out new course ideas before submitting the course for formal approval and publication in the undergraduate catalog with a unique number. The Core Committee welcomes faculty to exercise flexibility and creativity in designing experimental courses as part of the Core Program.
Experimental courses are formal courses in the program curricula and may be repeatable for credit. An experimental course may be offered for a maximum of three semesters before the program must seek formal approval through the faculty governance process for inclusion in the College Catalog.
Credits by Examination and Prior Learning
Once the SGPS has accepted a student into a degree program, that student may request approval to take courses at another accredited institution and transfer credits to the School, assuming the request meets all transfer and residency policies. Students are required to complete the Off Campus Approval form in JayWeb for each course prior to enrolling.
When considering transferring credits, it is recommended that students consult with their academic advising coordinator. The student is responsible for not duplicating any credit already earned. Credit(s) will be granted upon receipt of an official transcript verifying completion of the course(s) with a grade of C- or higher for undergraduate students and a B or higher for graduate students.
Etown Edge Courses
Edge courses may apply toward your Elizabethtown College undergraduate degree program. The course is subject to all existing transfer polices and an Off Campus Approval Form must be submitted prior to enrollment in the Edge course. Registration and Records will review the request and confirm available transfer credit, pending official ACE transcripts.
Credit by Examination
Students, accepted for enrollment through our Admissions Office, may receive academic credit or advanced placement through examination. Credits earned through examination are transcribed, but not the grade, thus credits earned through examination are not calculated into the students grade point average (GPA). Students can earn up to a maximum of 32 credits through examination. A student will not receive duplicate credit through examination, or any other college courses taken before or after enrolling at Elizabethtown College.
College Board’s Advanced Placement Examinations
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program created by College Board, which offers nationally recognized college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Students who perform satisfactorily on a College Board AP Examination, earning a score of four or better, earn academic credit. Departmentally approved AP Examinations and their Elizabethtown College equivalent are outlined on the Office of Registration and Records’ website.
CLEP Examinations
Elizabethtown College participates in the CLEP program of the College Board accepting a score of 50 or higher in subject areas upon matriculation to the college.
All CLEP examinations must be completed prior to the achievement of sophomore status (30 or more completed credits). In addition, any currently enrolled student must receive written approval from the Registrar, and their academic advisor, before completing the examination. Any student with advanced knowledge in the CLEP subject, earned at Elizabethtown College or another credit-granting institution, will be prohibited from earning transfer credit through CLEP examination.
A complete list of CLEP Examinations and the Elizabethtown equivalent is available on the Office of Registration and Records’ website.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Elizabethtown College recognizes International Baccalaureate (IB) for the purpose of admission, course credit, advanced standing or placement. Students do not have to earn an IB Diploma to receive academic credit. The college does not award credit for standard level (SL) examinations.
IB Diploma recipients, earning a total score of 30 or higher, will earn 32 credits (equivalent to sophomore status).
IB Certificate recipients receive credit (depending on the subject) for scores of five or better on higher level (HL) examinations.
Other course credits from institutions outside of the United States are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For example, Cambridge International (Advanced Level or A-Level) examinations.
Students are required to request the organization to submit official transcripts and/or scores directly to the Office of Registration and Records. For precise placement determinations, we may request a review of the course syllabus or examples of written work. If an accurate evaluation of foreign credentials is not possible, the student may be requested to secure, at their expense, a professional evaluation from a nationally recognized organization like World Education Services (WES), www.wes.org.
DSST Examination
DSST, formally Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES), exams are college subject tests taken to earn college credit for knowledge acquired outside of a traditional classroom. In accordance with the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations, students taking DANTES - DSST exams earn credit by earning the ACE recommended minimum score of 400, or higher as determined by the department governing the course discipline.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
Prior Learning Assessment, PLA, is a process by which learning mastered outside of a formal classroom is reviewed for college-level equivalency. Credit for PLA may be granted for learning acquired from work and life experiences; civic, community, or volunteer work; individual study; and in-service training sponsored by associations, business, government, and industry, including the military. PLA is a rigorous process in which a student must demonstrate that he or she has college-level learning, which entails knowledge, skills, and competencies obtained as a result of prior experiences in a particular area. PLA is awarded based on learning, not experience. PLA provides students the opportunity to validate their relevant learning.
PLA creates a pathway for our non-traditional students to accelerate their academic progress toward earning an Elizabethtown College degree. Any Elizabethtown College program approved to award credit through PLA will have it clearly published on their school’s webpage. Credit for PLA will only be awarded when:
- A student is an actively enrolled, degree-seeking student at Elizabethtown College and has completed a minimum of 6 Elizabethtown College credits prior to applying for PLA.
- Students interested in pursuing PLA credit should check with their academic advisor to ensure that they do not enroll into a course for which they may later be seeking to earn PLA equivalent credit.
- Students must be in good academic standing with Elizabethtown College.
- Students must be in good financial standing with Elizabethtown College.
- A student has not previously attempted, completed, or transferred in the equivalent course for which PLA credit is being sought.
- The PLA credit must apply to the student’s major or program of study.
There is a $450 fee charged for the assessment of a PLA portfolio, due upon submission and regardless of the outcome.
To obtain PLA credit for the types of learning listed above, the student may:
- Contact an approved prior learning assessment service. Once the assessment is complete and a transcript is available, the student may submit an official copy to the Registration and Records Office for evaluation of transfer credits into their Elizabethtown College degree program. Approved providers include: The American Council for Education (ACE), The National College Credit Recommendation Service (National CCRS) and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL).
- Complete a one credit course, PL 1500 - SGPS Experiential Learning Portfolio, which will prepare the applicant to submit a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Application and Portfolio. The portfolio must demonstrate college-level competencies and writing skills and include a narrative explaining how their specific experience aligns with the student learning outcomes of a course(s) in the Elizabethtown Catalog. Each statement must be accompanied by tangible evidence and support documentation.
The instructor for PL 1500 will be a trained PLA coordinator who will assess the student’s portfolio and recommend PLA credits to the Record and Registration office.
The PLA coordinator will consult with an appropriate subject matter expert (Dean, Chair, Director, Professor) before finalizing their analysis and recommendation.
A maximum of 32 credits may be earned through PLA and Transfer Credit through Examination policies. PLA credits do not count toward residency or the students’ academic grade point average. Students are responsible for understanding the impact of PLA credits transcribed by Elizabethtown College and future plans for transfer, and or additional degrees.
Transfer Credit
Transfer Credit Policies – Graduate Degree Programs
Students enrolled in a graduate degree may transfer up to three courses of graduate level work. Courses transferred must be related to the intended field of study.
Transfer Credit Policies – Graduate Certificate Programs
While not generally accepted in the Graduate Certificate Programs, the School will consider the transfer of one course, evaluated on an individual student basis.
Transfer Credit Policies-Undergraduate Accelerated Degree Programs
During the application process, admissions staff, in consultation with the Office of Registration and Records, will work with students to maximize the number of credits from previous college work that they can transfer into their Elizabethtown College program. Students will be required to provide official transcripts in order to have transfer credit posted to their Elizabethtown College transcript.
Elizabethtown College will accept the transfer of credits up to a maximum of sixty-four applicable semester credit hours from a two-year institution. Students may earn up to a maximum of 32 credits earned through examination (i.e., AP, IB, CLEP, etc.). Exam credits do not count toward residency or GPA calculation. Official certification of exam scores and official college transcripts are required for credit transfer. Transfer credit will not exceed the maximum of 95 total credits. Students must meet all residency requirements.
Foundations for Accelerated Learning (FS1500) and Core Program Capstone (IDC4900) will be waived for students that have already earned a bachelor’s degree.
Credits taken at other institutions of higher learning must carry a grade of at least C- to transfer into an undergraduate program.
Such institution should normally be accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies like the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). However, credits from a non-regionally accredited institution will be evaluated on an individual basis; such credits, when combined with relevant work experience and other factors may transfer. For more information, see the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) policy.
By standard academic practice, quarter credit hour courses are evaluated at a reduced number of full semester credit hours. The College cannot accept Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in transfer.
Credits considered for transfer are normally not “aged” or rejected because the student completed them too long ago. However, the College may request that the student retake certain major credits rather than transfer due to changes in the field of study.
When considering transfer courses, please keep in mind that in order to graduate with Latin honors, students must complete a minimum of 60 credits at Elizabethtown College and earn a grade point average of 3.60 or better for cum laude, 3.75 for magna cum laude, or 3.90 or better for summa cum laude.
Transfer Students with Earned Associate Degrees
Students admitted to Elizabethtown College through the Office of Admissions with an earned associate degree, consisting of at least 40 corresponding general education credits, will be recognized as meeting all of the requirements of the Elizabethtown College Core Curriculum, including upper-level core requirements, with full junior standing. The foregoing provision does not supersede curricular prerequisites or departmental program requirements established in the College catalog. Nor does it exclude the student from completing the Foundations for Accelerated Learning (FS1500) and the Core Program Capstone (IDC4900) requirement, or residency requirements, for completion of a bachelor’s degree.
Military Credit Evaluation
Students who were formerly able to access and request a transcript through the AARTS or SMARTS web sites must now use the Joint Services Transcript (JST) website. The Joint Services Transcript (JST) is a function of the Department of Defense and is not associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs.To have your transcript evaluated, request an official copy of your transcript through JST to be sent to Elizabethtown College, Registration and Records Office for evaluation.
Elizabethtown College will evaluate credits from military transcripts for transfer into degree programs as long as the military education and experience received a credit recommendation from the American Council on Education. The School of Graduate and Professional Studies will consider the transfer of credit for military education and experience upon receipt of notarized appropriate documentation such as DD Form 295 (Application for the Evaluation of Education Experience During Military Service) and/or Form DD‐214 (Service Separation Certificate).
Transcript requests must be sent to the Office of Registration and Records and should be received at least one week prior to the date needed. Federal law requires that all requests be made in writing by the student. Telephone requests and e-mail requests cannot be honored. Transcripts also cannot be requested by parents, friends, spouses or potential employers.
No transcripts of record are furnished to students whose account is not paid in full. There is no charge for transcripts.
Transcript request forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records or by printing a copy from the office’s website. Letters are accepted instead of the form. The following information must be included in all requests: 1) name(s) and address(es) to whom the transcript should be sent, include specific names/ offices when possible; 2) dates of Elizabethtown College attendance; 3) student’s full name, including maiden name if applicable; and 4) student’s signature.
Students may print unofficial transcripts via the College web system. Unofficial transcripts might not be acceptable to other institutions or potential employers. Elizabethtown College does not send or accept facsimile copies of transcripts.
Good Standing
Undergraduate students in academic good standing maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 overall and a 2.0 in their major.
Graduate students in academic good standing maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 overall and 3.0 in their major.
Students on academic probation and/or contract should normally limit their academic load to three courses - or a maximum of 13 or 14 credits - in any semester in which the probation exists. The summer maximum should be two courses or eight credits. Students taking courses exclusively through accelerated subterms should work closely with their academic advisor to review their degree requirements, develop a course plan for upcoming semesters, and identify resources that can aid in their success.
The status of Academic Probation does not prevent a student from registering for courses in upcoming sessions. However, financial aid eligibility may be impacted, in accordance with the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. Eligibility for use of VA education benefits may also be impacted, as the School is required to report a change in academic status for any student using such benefits.
Undergraduate students falling into the following categories at the end of each academic semester are placed on academic probation:
Semester Hours with Cumulative Grade
Attempted (Local) Point Average below:
1-18 1.7
19-34 1.9
35 or more 2.0
Graduate students falling into the following categories at the end of each academic semester are placed on academic probation:
Semester Hours with Cumulative Grade
Attempted (Local) Point Average below:
1-8 2.7
9 or more 3.0
The College, upon recommendation of the Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, may dismiss a student who continues to experience difficulty on academic probation and/or is not making progress toward degree completion.
Individual Program Adjustments
Academic Schools reserve the right to counsel any student out of a major or minor for academically related reasons. A student has the right to appeal such School action to the Chair of Academic Standing Committee, who will direct warranted appeals to the Academic Standing Committee.
Readmission for Academically Dismissed Students
A student who is dismissed from the College due to academic difficulty or probation must petition the admission’s review panel for readmission. Consult with an academic advisor or an admission’s representative for information on the readmission process.
Students are also encouraged to reach out to the Financial Aid Office to ensure understanding of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards that must be met to be eligible for financial aid.
A student who is readmitted to the College after an absence of five successive years may, upon completion of 15 consecutive credits at Elizabethtown College and earning a grade of C or better in each class, have previous grades of F removed from the cumulative grade point average.
Academic Judicial System
Responsibility for judicial matters of an academic nature is assumed by the SGPS Academic Standing Committee. The SGPS Academic Standing Committee handles matters pertaining to academic dishonesty, grade appeals, academic probation, academic dismissal, readmission and deviations from the academic curriculum of the College.
Academic Due Process
At Elizabethtown College, academic due process is understood to include the following student rights:
Regarding Grading:
- To receive a specific explanation of how a course grade was determined.
- To appeal a course grade if the student believes that a grade was influenced by matters other than academic performance, class attendance and punctuality in submitting assignments.
Regarding Academic Dishonesty:
- When penalized for academic dishonesty, to receive a written notification specifying the nature of the infraction and the recommended penalty.
- To request a hearing before the SGPS Academic Standing Committee when found by a faculty member to be in violation of the standards of academic integrity and to receive a written statement from that committee summarizing the findings of the committee and its disposition on the matter.
- To request a hearing before the SGPS Academic Standing Committee when recommended for academic dismissal due to cheating, plagiarism or other violations of the standards of academic integrity.
- To inspect any information on file in the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (or its proxy) dealing with incidents of academic dishonesty attributed to that student.
Elizabethtown College assumes that students will act honorably. Students are expected to adhere to the Pledge of Integrity adopted by both the students and the faculty in 1995 and revised in 2014:
I pledge to respect all members of the Elizabethtown College community, and to act as a responsible member of the College community. I pledge to respect the free exchange of ideas both inside and outside the classroom. I pledge to represent as my work only that which is indeed my own, refraining from all forms of lying, plagiarizing, cheating, and academic dishonesty.
As members of the Elizabethtown College community, we hold each other responsible in the maintaining of these values.
Reflecting commitment to the pledge, new students are expected to sign a pledge stating, “I pledge to be honest and to uphold integrity.”
Academic dishonesty – including cheating and plagiarism – constitutes a serious breach of academic integrity. Academic work is expected unequivocally to be the honest product of the student’s own endeavor.
Cheating is defined as the giving or receiving of unauthorized information as part of an examination or other academic exercise. What constitutes “unauthorized information” may vary depending upon the type of examination or assessment involved, and the student must be careful to understand in advance what a particular instructor considers to be “unauthorized information.” Faculty members are encouraged to make this definition clear to their students through statements on the syllabi.
Plagiarism is defined as taking and using the writings or ideas of another without acknowledging the source and/or without rephrasing the information into their own words. Plagiarism occurs most frequently in the preparation of a paper but is found in other types of course assignments as well. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) (i.e. ChatGPT) has provided both appropriate and inappropriate uses of such tools in assignments. Faculty members are highly encouraged to provide guidance on how AI may be used (if any) for a given assignment. If guidance is not provided, it is the student’s responsibility to seek approval before using AI to complete any part of an assignment. Inappropriate use of AI to complete assignments is an academic integrity violation.
Other forms of academic dishonesty include (but are not limited to) fabrication, falsification, or invention of information when such information is not appropriate. To knowingly help or attempt to help another student to commit an act of academic dishonesty is an equivalent breach of academic integrity and is treated as such.
Cases of academic dishonesty are reviewed individually and according to the circumstances of the violation; however, students who violate the standards of academic integrity can normally expect a grade of F in the course and/or possible dismissal from the College.
A student may not withdraw “W” from a course in which an integrity violation has occurred unless the course instructor, academic advisor and Chair of SGPS Academic Standing Committee agree to the withdrawal. Withdrawal from a course in which an integrity violation has occurred will most often result in a grade of “WF”.
Procedures for Dealing with Cases of Academic Dishonesty
Instances Involving Course Work. The following steps are to be followed when dealing with instances of academic dishonesty involving course work:
- Initial Conference. When an instructor discovers evidence of academic dishonesty, an initial conference is scheduled promptly with the student or students involved. If a face-to-face meeting is not possible, this conference can take place by video conferencing (i.e. Zoom) or via e-mail. If an instructor is unable to schedule a conference before grades are due, a grade of Incomplete for the course should be assigned in the interim. If the student confirms his or her academic dishonesty in the initial conference, then the procedure continues with the Written Notification step below.
- Second Conference. If, in the initial conference, the student denies academic dishonesty, but the instructor is satisfied that there is evidence of academic dishonesty, a second conference is scheduled with the student involved. In cases involving more than one student, either individual or group conferences may be appropriate depending on the circumstances of the case. The second conference should include the School Dean. If the School Dean commenced the integrity violation a second faculty member from the School should be included. The student also has the right to have a faculty member, another student, or an academic advisor present as a silent observer. Due to the nature of this second conference, it should be scheduled as a face-to-face meeting. If a face-to-face meeting is not possible, this conference can take place by video conferencing (i.e. Zoom)
- Written Notification. If, following either the initial or second conference, the initiating faculty member is satisfied that there is proof of academic dishonesty, the faculty member will give the accused student(s) written notification specifying the infraction and the recommended penalty. Copies of this notification are sent to the School Dean (or equivalent) and the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee. Should the School Dean (or equivalent) not agree with the faculty member’s recommended penalty, both the faculty member and the School Dean (or equivalent) will give written notification with rationale to the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee. The Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee will review the matter and recommend action and will inform the student and instructor in writing of the recommended action.
- Reported Cases. Cases of alleged academic dishonesty reported by a student or students or College staff are managed as described above.
- SGPS Academic Standing Committee. Following the second conference, the accused student(s) will have the alternative of (1) accepting the penalty recommended by the faculty member or the Chair of SGPS Academic Standing Committee [in the case of a difference between the faculty member and the Chair of SGPS Academic Standing Committee], or (2) requesting a hearing before the SGPS Academic Standing Committee. The request for a hearing must be presented through the SGPS Academic Standing Committee Petition Form within five business days of receipt of the notice of recommended action. In no case may the SGPS Academic Standing Committee impose a penalty more severe than the one imposed by the faculty member, or the Chair of SGPS Academic Standing Committee.
- Dismissal. Beyond the penalty imposed for the individual course, the Chair of SGPS Academic Standing Committee will review each case of academic dishonesty and exercise judgment as to whether a student found to be in violation of the standards of academic integrity should be recommended for dismissal from the College. If it is the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee’s judgment that academic dismissal is appropriate, the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee will notify in writing both the student and the SGPS Academic Standing Committee of their decision and the factors that influenced that decision.
- SGPS Academic Standing Committee. In the event of dismissal, the student will have the option of (1) accepting the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee’s decision, or (2) requesting a hearing before the SGPS Academic Standing Committee. The request for a hearing must be presented through the SGPS Academic Standing Committee Petition Form within five business days of receipt of the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee’s decision. The SGPS Academic Standing Committee’s decision is final.
Note: If the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee initiates an integrity violation, then the Associate Provost for Student Learning or Provost will participate in the processes, as described, in replace of the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee.
Other Instances
All forms of dishonesty in academic matters are violations of the Standards of Academic Integrity and are the concern of the SGPS Academic Review Committee. Inappropriate actions – for example, lying to College officials or forgery of an advisor’s signature – are violations equivalent to cheating and plagiarism in course work. Such dishonesty will be dealt with following the general procedures set forth above. Cases are reviewed individually and according to the circumstances of the violation; possible penalties include suspension or dismissal from the College.
Grades are considered official at the time they are submitted by the faculty. Questions concerning grades must be called to the attention of the instructor immediately after the official grade report is received. Formal grade appeals must be submitted within 30 working days of the date on which the grade was issued from the Office of Registration and Records. An exception to the 30-day time limit requires formal petition to and approval of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee.
If a student believes that a final grade has been influenced by matters other than academic performance, class attendance and punctuality in submitting assignments, then the following steps are to be followed.
- Initial Conference. The student may request an initial conference with the instructor to discuss the matter. If a face-to-face meeting is not possible, this conference can take place by video conferencing (i.e. Zoom) or via e-mail. If the student and the faculty member reach consensus on a grade change, then the procedure continues with the Written Notification step below.
- Second Conference. If the student is unsatisfied with the outcomes of the initial conference, then the student may submit a request in writing for a second conference on the matter to the School Dean. If the School Dean assigned the final grade, a second faculty member from the School should be included. For the meeting, the student will prepare a written statement outlining the basis for the appeal. The student also has the right to have a faculty member, another student, or a member of the Center for Student Success present as a silent observer. Due to the nature of this second conference, it should be scheduled as a face-to-face meeting. If a face-to-face meeting is not possible, this conference can take place video conferencing (i.e. Zoom). The decision regarding the course grade in question will be made by the faculty member in consultation with the Dean (or equivalent).
- Written Notification. Following either the initial conference or second conference, as appropriate, the faculty member will provide the student written notification of the decision. A copy of this notification is sent to the School Dean (or equivalent) and the Associate Provost for Student Learning. Should the faculty member and the School Dean (or equivalent) not be in agreement following the second conference, both the faculty member and the School Dean (or equivalent) will give written statements to the Chair of SGPS Academic Standing Committee explaining the reasons for upholding or altering the grade. The Chair of SGPS Academic Standing Committee will then review the matter, recommend action, and will inform the student, academic advisor, Dean, and Associate Provost for Student Learning in writing of the recommended action.
- SGPS Academic Standing Committee. The student will have the alternative of (1) accepting the grade recommended by the faculty member or the School Dean [in the case of a difference between the faculty member and the School Dean (or equivalent)], or (2) requesting a hearing before the SGPS Academic Standing Committee. The request for a hearing must be presented through the SGPS Academic Standing Committee Petition Form to the Chair of SGPS Academic Standing Committee within ten business days of receipt of the notice of information. In no case may the SGPS Academic Standing Committee impose a grade lower than the one originally determined by the faculty member or the School Dean, as the case may be. The SGPS Academic Standing Committee’s decision is final.
Note: If the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee assigned the grade in question, then the Associate Provost for Student Learning or Provost will participate in the processes, as described, in replace of the Chair of the SGPS Academic Standing Committee.
Students have the right to appeal to the SGPS Academic Standing Committee if they believe they have a unique set of circumstances that warrants an exception of written policy established by Faculty for Elizabethtown College. Petition forms may be found online or for pickup in the Office of Registration and Records. It is the student’s responsibility to provide sufficient information on why their unique situation warrants an exception to College policy.
Academic Honors
Degree Conferrals and Commencement
lizabethtown College celebrates the achievement of its graduates through an annual commencement ceremony, held in May. The ceremony is typically held on the morning of the second or third Saturday in May, outdoors in The Dell, except in cases of severely inclement weather when the ceremony is held in an alternate location.
Students earning their degrees in the previous summer or fall are invited to participate and be recognized at this ceremony. Prior graduates, August, and December, in the prior calendar year must notify the college of their interest in Commencement Participation via the College’s Commencement website for the May Ceremony of the current academic year.
Candidates for Participation in Commencement
Students earning a degree in the current academic year will be invited to participate in the Commencement ceremony held annually each May. Students are approved to participate in Commencement with their class, have their name listed in the official program, and are called to the platform for recognition as members of the graduating class. They are not graduates and do not receive a diploma until they have successfully completed all requirements.
Following participation approval, students have two years from when they participate in Commencement to complete remaining graduation requirements and earn their degree. During this grace period, students may not change their major declaration(s). Students not completing their degree within the designated two years from date of participation will need to follow the Catalog requirements in effect during the year they complete their degree.
At any time, a student may alter their graduation plans by submitting a subsequent graduation application to alert us of their change in plans for graduation.
Application of Degree/Certificate Completion
Students will be required to submit applications to formally apply for graduation and to participate in Commencement in May. August and December graduates who were not previously approved to participate in a prior graduation ceremony in May will be invited to participate in the May ceremony after degree completion.
Students anticipating completion of all degree requirements, including summer study, must submit an Application for Graduation during their final semester by deadlines outlined below.
Application Deadlines:
- Deadline for May Graduation: April 11
- Deadline for August Graduation and Early Participation* in May Commencement: April 11
- Deadline for August Graduation and not participating early in Commencement: June 1
- Deadline for December Graduation: October 1
Application for May Commencement Participation:
The application for participation is managed by the Commencement Committee. In the spring, prior to commencement all students will be invited to submit their interest in participating in the graduation ceremony. For more information, please visit https://www.etown.edu/commencement.
Undergraduate
Any student registered and completing all remaining degree requirements in the spring and subsequent summer of the current academic year, regardless of total number of credits completed, will be eligible to participate in Commencement. Students who have completed all undergraduate course work, except their zero-credit professional internship may participate in the Commencement ceremony, but do not receive their diplomas until their internship is successfully completed. Any student approved to complete final graduation requirements off-campus, through the off-campus approval process, will be required to submit documentation to support their application for participation approval.
Latin honors and Honors in the Discipline are not reflected in the Commencement program. Honors designations will be transcribed on the student’s diploma and official transcript after final graduation clearances are completed. Diplomas are mailed to the student’s legal home permanent address, or available for pick-up, within two weeks following degree completion.
To be eligible to participate, students must:
- At the time of the ceremony, undergraduate students must have a 2.00 grade point average in their major(s), minor(s), and overall, to be eligible to participate.
- Submit a Graduation Application to the Office of Registration and Records on or before April 1 of the academic year they plan to graduate.
- Notify the college of their interest in Commencement Participation via the College’s Commencement website.
Graduate and Doctoral
Students registered and completing all remaining degree requirements in the spring and subsequent summer of the current academic year, regardless of total number of credits completed, may be eligible to participate in Commencement. Some graduate programs have accreditation requirements prohibiting early participation. Physician Assistant Studies candidates have a dedicated ceremony each August.
Any student approved to complete final graduation requirements off-campus, through the off-campus approval process, will be required to submit documentation to support their application for participation approval.
Graduate and Doctoral students are not recipients of Latin or Honors in the Discipline honors.
To be eligible to participate, students must:
- At the time of the ceremony, graduate students must have a 3.00 grade point average in their major(s), minor(s), and overall, to be eligible to participate.
- Submit a Graduation Application to the Office of Registration and Records on or before April 1 of the academic year they plan to graduate.
- Notify the college of their interest in Commencement Participation via the College’s Commencement website.
Credit Requirements
To receive a bachelor degree from Elizabethtown College, the student must earn a minimum of 125 credits. To receive an associate degree from Elizabethtown College, the student must earn a minimum of 64 credits.Some programs may require more than this minimum to complete all program requirements (See the program requirements for specific information).
No more than one bachelor’s degree is ever awarded to an individual by Elizabethtown College; however, students may complete a second major, a minor, or teacher certification after graduation.
Residency Requirements
Residency means courses/credits completed through Elizabethtown College. The minimum number of Elizabethtown College courses needed to satisfy the requirements varies depending on the program.
- Associate degrees: Students must have at least 9 credits in their major and a minimum of 15 of the last 30 credits in the program overall from Elizabethtown College.
- Baccalaureate degrees: A minimum of 30 of the last 60 credits must be taken from Elizabethtown College. Elizabethtown College credits must include 15 credits in the major, 9 of these must be upper division. The Core Program Capstone must be taken at Elizabethtown College.
- Graduate degrees: A minimum of 27 credits must be taken from Elizabethtown College.
To recognize completion of a minor on the transcript, a student must have completed at least six credits of the requirements at Elizabethtown College while enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program. These are the general requirements, but they may vary slightly by major. Students should refer to the policies in the catalog for their major and/or consult with their academic advisor.
Program Requirements
Undergraduate
Students are required to successfully complete all requirements of the major and the Core Program. The College does not guarantee graduation to any student who is unable to complete the requirements of a specific program or academic major.
In addition to their major, students have the option of pursuing a second major and/or one or more minors or certificates. Second majors must include at least 16 credits not included in the first major. For each minor, the student must complete at least eight credits that are not used to fulfill the requirements of the major(s) or another minor. For each certificate, the student must complete at least four credits that are not used to fulfill the requirements of the major(s) or minor(s) programs. Certificates are embedded with a bachelor’s degree program. They are not standalone programs. Only a notation of certificate completion will appear on the student’s transcript.
Second majors and minors represent additional knowledge and interest in areas outside the first major. Therefore, second majors and minors must be selected in disciplines outside the first major, and additional minors must be selected in disciplines outside the first minor. Major and minor disciplines are determined by the predominant course prefix of the major/minor course requirements.
Other Requirements
Graduation requirements are governed by the College Catalog dated four years prior to graduation or, for major or minor requirements, by the College Catalog in effect at the time of graduation if the student so chooses. For most students, this means they will follow the requirements of the Catalog in effect when they begin their studies at Elizabethtown College. Students who choose to change Catalog years for their major or minor to the one in effect at the time of graduation must inform their academic advisor and the Office of Registration and Records by the end of the fall semester of their senior year. Students may not use a combination of College Catalogs to complete a major or minor. Transfer students are subject to the requirements of the College Catalog in effect when they begin studies at Elizabethtown College or, for major requirements, the one in effect at the time of graduation.
Students may not normally use a College Catalog dated more than four years prior to graduation to determine requirements for a degree. The only exception to this is for students who have been continuously enrolled for more than four years.
Elizabethtown College will graduate only those students who meet the moral and financial obligations incurred in pursuit of their studies. The completion of the required number of credits does not in itself constitute eligibility for graduation. It is the responsibility of the candidate for a degree to make formal written application for the degree to the Office of Registration and Records by the stated deadline. Only students in good academic standing may apply for candidacy for degree conferral.
The Office of the President must be notified by any student who plans to graduate in absentia.
Dean’s List
A full-time undergraduate student who earns a semester grade point average of 3.60 or better in 14 or more credit hours, of which at least 12 credits are letter-graded course work, is regarded by the College as having performed with distinction. The student is placed on the Dean’s List of Honor Students for the semester.
SGPS Dean’s List
To be eligible for the School’s Dean’s List, undergraduate students must complete nine graded credits in the fall semester and nine graded credits in the spring semester (for a total of 18 credits) and achieve a GPA of 3.60 or higher in each semester. The Dean’s List distinction is noted on a recipient’s transcript each summer.
Graduation (Latin) Honors
Undergraduate
At the time of graduation, an undergraduate student who has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.60 is graduated cum laude; of 3.75, magna cum laude; of 3.90, summa cum laude.
Bachelor’s degree students must keep honors’ residency requirements in mind when considering the option of taking credits at other institutions.
Graduate
Doctoral programs, graduate degrees, and certificates are excluded from this designation.
Honors in the Discipline
Honors in the Discipline is awarded to outstanding undergraduates majoring in various disciplines at graduation. To receive this designation, the student must prepare a research or creative project, and the completed project must be judged outstanding by the faculty of GPS. An invitation from the major program and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in the major are required for a student to begin an honors project.
Honors in the Discipline is noted on the students’ academic transcript. A student may receive recognition in more than one discipline. Schools may recognize more than one graduate in a year.
SGPS Honors in the Discipline
Undergraduate students enrolled through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies receive SGPS Honors with a 3.60 or higher GPA and a minimum of 30 credits with Elizabethtown College, but less than 60 credits, which is the residency requirement to receive Latin Honors. Students earning an associate degree with 3.60 or higher GPA receive SGPS Honors in the Discipline.
Enrolled students complete two graduate credentials at the same level at the same time.
Acceptance into a concurrent credential is at the discretion of the program director, and the school dean governing the program.
All credentials must be declared prior to applying for graduation. A student’s grade point average will be based on all credential declarations, simultaneously or embedded credentialling.
Simultaneous Credentials
A student seeking to enroll in two credentials simultaneously will have each credential transcribed upon the successful completion of all requirements across all credentials. Students are not awarded credentials independent of the other, regardless of the successful completion of a particular course credential sequence.
Embedded Credentials
A student enrolled in degreed programs with embedded credentials will not receive certificate credentials independent of their degreed program. The degreed program is transcribed.
Subsequent Credential
A student may seek to complete an additional, or subsequent, graduate credential after the completion of their first graduate credential. Students must apply for acceptance into the succeeding credential and admissions decisions are independent of all prior admissions decisions.
Bachelor’s Degree to Graduate Degree Program
Students may be approved to use up to nine (9) credits from a previous Elizabethtown undergraduate degree program to meet the requirements of a subsequent graduate degree.
Bachelor’s degree to Graduate Certificate
Undergraduate students enrolled with Elizabethtown College can accelerate their pathway to a post-graduate certificate credential. The post-graduate certificate must contain a minimum of 6 unique credits not counting toward their undergraduate degree.
Graduate Degree to Graduate Certificate
Credits earned in prior degreed program may be applied to a subsequent certificate provided there are three unique credits completed in the subsequent certificate program.
Graduate Certificate to Graduate Degree Program
Graduate credit-bearing certificate programs are comprised of related courses that constitute a coherent body of study within a discipline. Elizabethtown College students who have been fully admitted into a graduate degree program, while previously or currently enrolled in an Elizabethtown College certificate program, may apply credits earned in the certificate program to a graduate degree in their entirety.
Requirements:
- The graduate certificate course credit hours must be defined as an area of concentration within the graduate degree program.
- The graduate degree program must have eighteen (18) unique (not shared) credits unless otherwise noted in the Catalog for the specific graduate program.
If the certificate is not an area of concentration in the graduate degree program, the student may apply up to six (6) previously earned credits from the certificate program to the graduate degree program to take the place of elective credits.
Graduate Certificate to Graduate Certificate
Credits earned in a previous certificate may be applied to a subsequent certificate if at least six (6) credits are unique (not shared) and is completed after the first certificate is awarded.
Graduate Degree to Graduate Degree
Students may be approved to use up to nine (9) credits from a previous Elizabethtown graduate degree program to meet the requirements of a subsequent graduate degree.
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