Baccalaureate Level
Full-time students at Lasell College with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible for special recognition at commencement.

Specific designations include:
cum laude: 3.5-3.69
magna cum laude: 3.7-3.89
summa cum laude: 3.90

Lasell Chair
The Lasell Chair is awarded annually to a student at the baccalaureate level. The award is based upon an extraordinary level of commitment to the Lasell College campus community throughout the recipient's Lasell career, as evidenced in the quality of service and participation, and in the cumulative, positive impact that his/her presence has had at the College.

Lasell College Book Awards
At the end of each academic year, Academic Departments select graduating Seniors to be honored with Book Awards. These awards (a gift of a book within each student's major) are given in recognition of a demonstrated commitment to excellence at Lasell College. The recipients are judged to be models for their fellow students in professional demeanor, academic achievement, maturity, perseverance, and collegiality. The Book Awards are presented at a special dinner ceremony held Commencement weekend.

Students have a responsibility to maintain the highest level of academic integrity. They are expected to perform educational tasks with the highest moral and ethical conduct. Academic dishonesty, intentional or unintentional, is grounds for failure on any assignment or failure in the course, at the instructor’s discretion. Academic dishonesty is also grounds for suspension from the college at the discretion of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and may be subject to appropriate legal investigation and prosecution.

Helping another student in an act of academic dishonesty constitutes an act of academic dishonesty.

Academic dishonesty may take the following forms:

Plagiarism: The act of taking or passing off another’s ideas, or writing, as one’s own; copying or paraphrasing another’s words without credit; buying or accepting work and presenting it as one’s own. Students bear the responsibility for demonstrating the evolution of original work.

Technologically produced work: The use of software of any kind to produce work that is not one’s own and is not presented as an enhancement of one’s original work is not permissible. Specifically, the use of multilingual machine translation services such Google Translate, Systran or other software systems to translate text from one language to another is not allowed when completing assignments.

Copyright violations: The Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S. Code) protects electronic, print and other copyrighted materials. Any infringement of copyright is a violation of academic integrity. Electronic copyright infringement involves video, audio and computer materials and any other materials made electronically. Copying videos, cassettes or software, selling or disseminating programs without the owner’s permission, putting pirated software on the College computers or your computer is not permitted. As long as appropriate credit is given, making a copy of a small portion of a book or a portion of an article for use in your assignments is acceptable. The correct citation method for sources of ideas and information obtained electronically or in print is available in the library. The library has a copy of the complete Copyright Law for further reference.

Cheating: Dishonesty or deception in order to obtain some advantage or gain; e.g., stealing or receiving stolen examinations. Additional examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, submitting work produced for one course to fulfill the requirements in another, as well as submitting work that is or has been submitted by another student in the same or different course, unless approved by the current instructor. Taking or defacing library materials or educational equipment such as a VCR, computer or software. Cutting pages out of a book or magazine or taking material out of the library and not checking it out is stealing.

Theft/Vandalism:

Forgery: Signing another’s name to exams, forms, or other institutional documents.

Disciplinary Action
Students who violate the Academic Dishonesty policy will be subject to one or more of the following disciplinary actions.
• Warning
•  Temporary or permanent suspension of computer, network and/or library privileges
• Academic suspension
•  Investigation and action taken in accordance with the appropriate student, faculty, or staff handbook
•  Investigation and/or prosecution by state or federal law enforcement agencies

Incidents of academic dishonesty are reported by the instructor in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Notice of Academic Dishonesty that is filed by the instructor will remain in the Vice President for Academic Affairs Office and will be destroyed when the student leaves the College. A student who wishes to appeal a charge must follow the process for ACADEMIC GRIEVANCE as described in the Lasell Student Handbook.

A student who violates standards of College policy by taking or vandalizing library materials or educational equipment may be referred to the College judicial system as described in the Lasell Student Handbook.

Academic Probation at Lasell College is designed to be educative and constructive; its purpose is to engage students more deliberately in the process of progressing academically.

• Students in either the first or second semester of their first year who have a semester GPA of less than 2.0 will be placed on Academic Probation.
• All other students who have a semester or a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 will be placed on Academic Probation.
• Any students who have not completed the English Writing requirement at the conclusion of their fourth semester at the College will be placed on academic probation.

• Matriculated part-time students are placed on probation if their GPA does not meet the same standards specified above for full-time students. The designation of class year for part-time students is based on the number of credits earned, comparable to those used to designate class year for full-time students.

Students who are not in Good Academic Standing (on Academic Warning or Academic Probation) will receive notification from the Dean of Advising and First Year Programs. Students who do not meet the criteria for return to Good Academic Standing the following semester may be suspended from the College. Students are ineligible for Study Abroad if they are not in Good Academic Standing. Students (full and part-time) who are not in Good Academic Standing will be required to curtail their participation in the co-curricular life of the campus in the following ways:

• Students on Academic Probation may not register for more than 15 credits.
• Students who are serving in an executive board position in a recognized student organization (i.e., whose names appear on the "Officer Roster" as submitted to the Office of Student Affairs) will be considered to be in a probationary status for that semester.
• No student organization officer may remain on probationary status for two consecutive semesters.
• Students who are not in Good Academic Standing will not be permitted to stand as candidates for an executive board position in a student organization.
• Students who are not in Good Academic Standing may not participate as members of an intercollegiate athletic team (in keeping with NCAA regulations).

In order to return to Good Academic Standing, students on Academic Probation are required to meet with their academic advisor on a regular basis, as determined by the advisor in a meeting occurring no later than the first week of classes. Students on Academic Probation are also registered automatically for and are required to regularly attend the Academic Achievement Center for academic support.

The Academic Review Committee monitors all students' academic progress toward satisfactory degree completion at the conclusion of each semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Good Academic Standing

For Full-Time Students

• First year students are in Good Academic Standing after each of their first two semesters if a semester grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is earned and a minimum of 12 credits is completed.
• All other students are in Good Academic Standing if a cumulative and semester grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is earned and a minimum of 12 credits completed.
• All students must complete the six-credit English Writing sequence with a grade of 2.0 or better in each course by the end of their fourth semester in order to remain in Good Academic Standing (or after earning 60 credits for part-time students) earning 60 credits for part-time students).

For Part-Time Students
Matriculated part-time students are in Good Academic Standing if their GPA meets the same standards specified above for full time students. The designation of class year for part time students is based on the number of credits earned, comparable to those used to designate class year for full-time students.

• At the end of each semester, first time, first year students with a semester GPA of less than 1.0 and all other students with a semester GPA of less than 1.3 may be placed on Academic Suspension for a minimum of one semester.
• At the end of each semester, students who have earned fewer than twelve credits (placed on Academic Warning) for each of two consecutive semesters may be placed on Academic Suspension for a minimum of one semester.
• At the end of each semester, students who have been placed on Academic Probation more than once within a four semester timeframe during their academic career at the College may be placed on Academic Suspension for a minimum of one semester.

• At the end of each semester, matriculated students with a semester GPA of less than 1.3 may be suspended from the college for a minimum of one semester.
• At the end of each semester, students who have been placed on Academic Probation more than once in their academic career at the College may be placed on Academic Suspension for a minimum of one semester.

Following their first Academic Suspension, students wishing to return to the College are not eligible to do so until at least a period of one full semester has elapsed. Returning to the College requires a reapplication of admission to the Office of the Registrar. Students must provide evidence of their ability to succeed (for example, proof of progress at another institution) to be considered for readmission.

In the event of a second suspension, students may reapply to the Office of the Registrar for return to the College after a period of at least one academic year has elapsed. Students must provide evidence of their ability to succeed at the College to be considered for readmission.

Readmission following an Academic Suspension is never guaranteed; applications for readmission are reviewed by the Vice-President for Enrollment Management, who consults with a Committee convened for this purpose.

Appealing Academic Review Committee Decision
Students may write a letter of appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Guidelines and deadlines for an appeal are included in the letter of suspension. The Vice President consults with staff and faculty in Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Enrollment Management when considering appeals. The decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs will be final.

Academic Warning at Lasell College is designed to be educative and constructive; its purpose is to heighten students' awareness of their progress towards graduation and encourage good decision making through the advising process.

Full time students who earn a semester grade point average higher than 2.0 but earn fewer than 12 credits for the current semester will be placed on Academic Warning. Students placed on warning for earning fewer than 12 credits for two consecutive semesters may be placed on Academic Suspension.

Students who are in good standing (have a grade point average higher than 2.0 with at least 12 earned credits) and who for the first time have failed to achieve the minimum grade for a required course in their major will be placed on Academic Warning.  It is strongly recommended that they attend support sessions provided by the Academic Achievement Center and meet with their Advisor.

PLEASE NOTE: These are the minimum requirements of the College. For example, normal progress toward a degree requires at least 15 credits per semester. Please check with your particular department and/or the financial aid office to see if there are additional requirements or more stringent standards.

The College expects students to attend classes and assigned out-of-class events. Attendance is taken in every class. The College does not, however, set specific guidelines regarding procedures and penalties for absences. Instead, each faculty member sets his/her own guidelines as deemed appropriate for each learning experience. Instructors will distribute their specific course attendance policies as a part of the course syllabus during the first week of classes. Students have the responsibility of knowing these attendance policies.

The serious student assumes the responsibility of attending every class and assigned out-of-class event.

The instructor should not penalize a student for class or assigned out-of-class event absence as long as there is a legitimate reason for the absence. The term “absence” refers to failure to attend all or part of a class session or assigned out-of-class event, as defined by the instructor’s class attendance policy. Students who are granted an excused absence should be provided, within reason, an opportunity to make up missed work. Legitimate reasons for absence include, but are not necessarily limited to, illness, family emergency, observance of major religious holidays, participation in official college events or trips, or, in the case of an assigned out-of-class event, overlap in time with other courses in the student schedule, or participation in scheduled meetings of officially recognized college organizations.

In most cases, including any reason for an excused absence that the student knows about in advance of missing class, it is the responsibility of the student to make prior arrangements with their professors to make up any missed work or assignments. The student should be communicating with the professor as soon as the need to miss a class is known – that is, as far in advance of the class session as possible.

The instructor may require that a student submit appropriate documentation for any excused absence. Appeals can be directed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Late Class Start Policy
Students and instructors are expected to arrive at their class by the official start time of the class. In the event the instructor is delayed, students are required to wait a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes beyond the official start-time of the class before leaving.

Class Cancellation
In the event a class meeting must be cancelled, the instructor calls the Registrar’s Office, and staff in the Registrar’s Office will post an official class cancellation notice bearing the College seal on the classroom door.

The College Calendar is the official schedule for all courses, vacations, holidays, breaks, and final examinations. All students are expected to be in attendance and to take their final examinations as indicated on the College Calendar. Students who leave the campus before the official end of each semester, who return to the campus late after breaks, or who take additional “time off” during the semester do so at their own risk.

Any student wishing to withdraw from all course work at the College should first meet with his or her academic advisor to explore the possible alternatives. If withdrawal is a student’s final decision, the student should complete a College Withdrawal Form that is available from the Office of the Registrar. A grade designation of “W” will be recorded for official withdrawals that occur prior to course withdrawal period deadline date published on the College Calendar. After that time, a student not attending classes will receive grades of “F” for all courses. Grades will be determined based on the submission date of the College Withdrawal Form. An administrative withdrawal may be issued if warranted by circumstances.

Staff in the Registrar’s Office will assist in completing the process. The student will be asked to meet with various professional staff from Student Financial Planning, Student Accounts and Residential Life as part of the withdrawal process.

Students have the opportunity to earn transfer credit by examination in certain academic subjects through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement Program (AP) and the ACT PEP: Regents College Examination. Refer to department-specific requirements and contact the Registrar’s Office/Department Chair for more information.

The College expects all students to take their final examinations on the dates and times scheduled. Students who need to take a final examination at a time other than the scheduled time must discuss this with their instructor before the date of the final examination. The College reserves the right to deny a student’s request for an alternate final examination schedule.

A graduate of Lasell receives the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science. Specific requirements of the various curricula are described under each major. In order to graduate, each student must earn a minimum of 120 credits of academic work; out of these 120 credits, students must complete a minimum of 42 credits in the arts and sciences. Most degree programs at the College require between 120 and 127 credits to graduate.

In order to graduate, students are required to complete 50% of their credits at Lasell College (the College allows a maximum of 60 transferable credits), the final semester of which must be at Lasell College, attain a cumulative GPA (grade point average) of 2.0 or higher, complete a major degree program, and meet Lasell’s Core Curriculum competencies. All degree programs have additional requirements described in the catalog.

A student can qualify for a second bachelor’s degree provided a minimum of forty-five (45) additional credits are earned at Lasell College and all requirements are completed in good standing. Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree are advised that financial aid is severely restricted.

A student may earn two undergraduate degrees concurrently provided (a) all requirements for each degree are completed in good standing, and concurrently (b) all pertinent requirements of Lasell and the individual departments involved are completed successfully, and (c) both degrees are conferred concurrently.

Students wishing to change their current major to a new major must initiate this change by speaking with his/her advisor;
1.   If the decision is made to change a major, the student fills out the “Change of Major” form available on My.Lasell.com. The form must include the signature of the current academic advisor and/or Department Chair.
2.   If approved, the student submits the form to the Center for Academic Advising, located in Bancroft House, which notifies the student of the change to the new major and assignment of a new advisor.  If the department chair does not approve the change of major, he/she then notifies the student and the student may request a change of major again in the next semester.
3.   Upper-class students are assigned a new advisor after the change of major form is submitted to the Academic Advising Center.  First-year students changing majors anytime during the first year of college are not assigned a new advisor until the following academic year.
Students who have selected the undeclared option or who plan to declare a second major will follow the “Change of Major” procedure noted above with assistance from their advisor. (Please refer to the undeclared section for more information). Students wishing to declare a second major are strongly encouraged to initially declare one major and add the additional major no sooner than the second semester of the first year with the approval of the chairs from both departments.

A Minor provides students the opportunity to deepen their understanding and expertise in an additional area of study. A 2.0 [C] average must be maintained within a Minor program of study in order to receive the Minor, with some programs having additional earned-grade requirements. A Minor consists of a minimum of five courses, at least 50% of which must exist outside of the courses required for the student’s Major (i.e., course “required for the Major” or “additional Major requirements) or another declared Minor. If a course is listed as an option within a student’s Major requirements (or within another declared Minor), but is not taken to fulfill those requirements, it may be counted toward the Minor as one of the non-major electives. Hence, in five or six-course Minors, three or more courses must be drawn from non-major electives, and cannot be double counted for another Minor. Additionally, at least 50% of courses in a Minor must be taken at Lasell College. Students may declare a Minor at any time by completing a “Declaration of Minor” form in the Registrar’s Office.

Students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory academic progress is defined both by the number of credits successfully completed and the grade point average. In general, a full-time student is expected to complete all requirements within six years for a bachelor’s degree. A student with extenuating circumstances will be evaluated individually.

Full-time students normally carry a course load of 15-18 credits per semester; a course load of 12 credits is considered full-time. Any Student wishing to enroll in more than 18 credits must have the written permission of the Department Chair for their major, who consults with the academic advisor.

Students exceeding 18 credits will be charged for additional credit hours. Excess credit fees are not reduced or refunded for schedule changes made after the add/drop period.

International students must carry a minimum of 12 credits per semester to maintain their certificate of eligibility.

A student eligible for a degree must apply for graduation through the Office of the Registrar at least one full semester before they expect to complete all requirements for graduation. Failure to comply may result in a delay of receiving the degree by a semester.

Degrees are awarded three times a year in December, May, and August. Commencement exercises are held once a year in May.

Students classified as conditional graduates may participate in the May commencement exercises. To be considered a candidate for conditional graduation a student must have:
a)   attained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0; and
b)   be within one (1) course (maximum of 3-4 credits) of completing their graduation requirements.

A student may petition to be a conditional graduate if the above requirements have been met. Approval must be granted by the Registrar and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The student must complete the Conditional Graduation Contract (available in the Office of the Registrar) agreeing to the following:
1.   course must be approved in advance by the Registrar
2.   approved course must be taken at an accredited institution
3.   course must be completed by the end of August following commencement with a grade of “C” or better
4.   an official transcript must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar following course completion

Students enrolled in a major whose final semester includes a summer session may also be eligible to petition for conditional graduate status provided institutional requirements (a) and (b) above have been met and they have only the required summer courses pending, as stated in this catalog.

The Conditional Graduation Contract must be signed and returned to the Office of the Registrar by May 1, 2013. Conditional graduates are not eligible for Latin honors recognition at commencement; if they are eligible after completing all required credits for graduation, this is so noted on their record.

Data are presented to be consistent with national reporting guidelines for graduation rates as defined in the Student Right-to Know Act. These guidelines specify that only students who are (1) first-time college students during the fall semester and (2) enrolled full-time during their first semester are to be included in each yearly cohort. Each cohort is then tracked for 6 years. Students not tracked for graduation rates include: students who begin college in the Spring; students who begin college as part-time students; graduate students; and students who are transfers from other colleges. All colleges that participate in federal financial programs are required to report graduation information to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for its Graduation Rates Survey. The national average for private four-year colleges in 2010 was 55.1% and for public four-year institutions the national average was 39.6% (www.ACT.org). The 2010 graduation rate for Lasell was 51.04% and the 2011 rate was 46.5%.

First-year retention is defined as the percentage of an initial cohort (as defined above) enrolled at the same institution one year later (i.e., freshman to sophomore year). The national average for private four-year colleges in 2010 was 68.7% ("www.ACT.org"). Lasell’s three year average is 68.9%.

A student experiencing medical or personal difficulties due to extenuating circumstances may request a Leave of Absence in writing from the Dean of Advising and First Year Programs at any time during the semester for the remaining part of the semester. Students must be in good standing throughout the College. As with any change of status, a student should consult appropriate personnel including the academic advisor, the Office of Student Financial Planning, and Student Accounts to learn how a leave may impact the student’s return.

Before returning to the College after a Leave of Absence, the student must notify the Office of the Registrar in writing. If necessary, a written request can be made to the Dean of Advising and First Year Programs to extend the Leave of Absence for one semester. The Dean of Advising and First Year Programs will notify the student and the Registrar in writing of the decision to extend the leave within one week. If the Leave of Absence is granted under emergency conditions, a separate protocol for return is required by the College.

Good Academic Standing in the Major
The student is in Good Academic Standing in the Major when a cumulative
2.0 [C] GPA or better is maintained within the Major [courses identified with major field designator]. Additional requirements for Good Academic Standing may exist by individual academic program — including, but not limited to, minimum grades required in specific courses. Exceptions to the requirements for Good Academic Standing in the Major require the written approval of the Department Chair.

Good Academic Standing in the Minor
The student is in Good Academic Standing in a Minor when a cumulative 2.0 [C] GPA or better is earned within the Minor. Additional requirements for Good Academic Standing may exist by individual academic program — including, but not limited to, minimum grades required in specific courses. Exceptions to the requirements for Good Academic Standing in the Minor require the written approval of the Department Chair.

Internship Entrance Requirements
In keeping with the College’s core principle of connected learning, all academic programs require students to do an internship (other terms for the internship exist in some programs, e.g., “field experience,” “practicum,” etc.). In order to register for an internship, the student must:

1. Be in Good Academic Standing
2. Maintain a cumulative 2.0 [C] GPA or better within the Major [courses identified with major-field designator] taken prior to the internship
3. Meet any additional requirements as set by individual academic programs
4. Have the written permission of the academic department chair

Students not on Leave of Absence who separate from Lasell through suspension, withdrawal, graduation, or any other method are required to reapply for admission to the College by completing an Application for Readmission. These applications are available through the Office of the Registrar. While admission is not guaranteed, application is encouraged.

Please note: Students who have left the College due to medical emergency situations should refer to the Student Handbook, Mental Health Emergencies Section, for necessary steps for return to Residence and the College.

Lasell College regulates access to and release of a student’s records in accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 as amended (PL 93-380, Section 438, The General Education Provisions Act). The purpose of the act is to protect the privacy of students regarding:
• the release of records, and
• access to records maintained by the institution.

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (the Buckley Amendment), Lasell College has committed itself to protecting the privacy rights of its students and to maintaining the confidentiality of its records. A copy of the law is available in the Registrar’s Office.

The following is a summary of the rights of students under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Students’ Rights

1. Review and Inspection of Records
   Students have the right to review and inspect their educational records as defined in Section VII of the Policy within a reasonable time of a request to the Registrar’s Office. All requests to inspect records will be fulfilled within 45 days.  The College has an obligation to respond to reasonable requests from students for explanation of their education records.  If a student is unable to inspect personally his/her education record, the College is obligated to provide a copy of the record requested upon the payment of a copying fee.

2. Right to request an Amendment of Records
   A student has the right to request that the College amend education records which the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the privacy or other rights of the student. The College will decide whether or not to amend such records and so inform the student.

3. Rights to a Hearing to Challenge the Contents of Records
   A student has the right to challenge the contents of education records the student  believes are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the privacy or rights of the student. The hearing is conducted by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. If the student prevails at the hearing, the student has the right to request an amendment to the record.  Should the student not prevail, the student may enter an explanation in the records setting forth the reason(s) for disagreeing with the hearing decision.

4. Right to Refuse Designation of Directory Information
   Lasell College considers the following as public information (described in the Policy as “directory information”): name, term, home and electronic address, campus address and mailbox number, telephone (home and cell) and voice mailbox number, date and place of birth, photograph, electronic portfolio (EPortfolio) major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, program of enrollment, expected date of graduation, degrees and awards received, and most recent previous institutions attended by the student.  Some or all of this information may be published in directories such as a student directory, an electronic student directory, a sports program, the Lasell intranet (MyLasell), the Lasell College website, or other campus publications.

   A student has the right to refuse to permit the designation of any or all of the categories of personally identifiable information as directory information, except to school officials with legitimate educational interest and government agencies.  A  school official is defined as a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff ); a person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using College employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.  A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College.

   If a student decides to withhold disclosure of directory information, a Request to Prevent Disclosure of Information needs to be completed within three days of his/her registration, which states the desire not to permit the designation of one or all of the categories of directory information.  The decision to withhold the disclosure of directory information remains in effect for one academic year and needs to be renewed annually, if so desired.

   With regard to external inquiries, the Registrar’s Office will verify directory information, unless advised to the contrary by the student as indicated above. “Verify” means to affirm or deny the correctness of the information.  The College will not provide corrections for inaccurate information.  All non-directory information, which is considered confidential, will not be released to outside inquiries without the express consent of the student except under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). However, the College will verify financial awards and release data for government agencies.

5. Right to file a Complaint
   Complaints regarding violations of the rights accorded students under this policy should be directed to the Registrar.  (Complaints failing resolution internally  may  be  filed  directly  with  the  Department  of  Education,  330 Independence Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20202.)

Students will be allowed to take a military leave from the College without penalty. Students will receive a 100 percent tuition refund and a pro rata refund of unused room and board fees (less any financial aid which may have been received for the term) upon presenting an original copy of their military orders for active duty to the Office of the Registrar. Alternatively, extension (INC) grades with no tuition reimbursement may be more appropriate when the call for active military duty comes near the end of the term.

Each student must remain continually aware of progress in meeting requirements for graduation. If there is any question about an individual record, the Registrar’s Office should be consulted. Each student must also be aware of deadlines set within each academic year that pertain to academic actions: these are identified in the Academic Calendar found in both the Lasell course catalog and the Academic Planner/Student Handbook as well as email messages from the Registrar. Students are expected to activate their Lasell email accounts and to check them regularly, as many official notices from the administration and the faculty are sent only as electronic mail.

Title II Section 207 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1998 requires states, as recipients of HEA funds, and all institutions with teacher preparation programs that enroll students receiving federal financial assistance to prepare annual reports on teacher preparation and licensing. In Fall 2010, 58 students were enrolled in Lasell College’s Massachusetts Department of Education approved teacher preparation program. Requirements for student teachers averaged 25 hours per week for 16 weeks, for a total of 400 hours.

Mission Statement: With hands-on field experience, small class sizes that support one-on-one, student-teacher interaction, and experienced professors, Lasell College’s teacher preparation program offers a unique blend of theory and practice in the educational environment. An aggressive, insightful program of study ensures students understand the challenges of today’s school systems, and the demands for those of tomorrow. Each student’s personal philosophy of education is formed by grounding theory with practices observed in schools located in diverse communities.

Lasell College’s passing rates on the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) are included in the Title II report. In 2010-2011, 100% of the graduates of our education licensure programs passed all portions of the exam. Our approach to student success includes infusing test content into courses, providing seminars focused on test objectives and strategies, and using test results to strengthen the program. .

Official copies of a student’s permanent academic record are issued by the Registrar’s Office. Transcript requests can be made on our website at www.lasell.edu/transcriptrequest.The transcript fee is $5.00 for each copy requested. Transcripts are mailed directly to the designated college or employer within two to four days. Transcripts cannot be processed for students who have any outstanding financial obligation to the College.

Unofficial transcripts may be issued directly to the student provided the request is in writing. The fee is $5.00 for each copy and the processing time is two to four days.

Grading System
Grades submitted by the instructors are issued at the end of each semester and are represented by letters. Class promotion, graduation, honors, Good Academic Standing, Academic Probation and Suspension are based on a student’s grade point average (GPA). The GPA is computed by multiplying the number of semester hours of credit by the appropriate quality point value, and then dividing the sum of these products by the total number of semester hours of credit attempted. Students may take a specific course on a pass/fail basis with permission of the Dean of Advising and First Year Programs. (See also Pass/Fail Policy.)

INC means Incomplete
IP means In Progress (used for courses that extend beyond the academic semester)
W means Withdraw
X means non-credit item completed (i.e., lab)
LVP means Lasell Village participation
AU means Audit
NG means no grade was submitted by the faculty member
In Pass/Fail courses, P means Pass, and F means Fail
Students need to consult academic standards for individual departments regarding withdrawal policies.
The Mid-term Progress report represents the professor’s best judgment of a student’s progress in a course. It does not enter any permanent record, nor does it indicate a student’s final grade. Progress reports are issued prior to the midpoint of the course and include the following ratings:
GD means Good: B or above
S means Satisfactory: C to B-
WA means Warning: C or below

Registration
After scheduling courses with their academic advisors, students register with the Registrar’s Office each semester. Students who are already enrolled pre-register in April for the following Fall semester and in November for the following Spring semester. A student is officially registered for classes only after all financial obligations to the College have been met.

Add/Drop
Students wishing to change a course must secure the necessary form from the Registrar’s Office and obtain all required signatures. This must be done prior to the end of the add/drop period, which ends after the first week of classes. Students may not enter a class after the add/drop period.

Course Withdrawal
After the Add/Drop period a student may be allowed to withdraw from one or more courses until the end of the withdrawal period deadline date published on the College Calendar. A grade designation of “W” (withdrawn) will appear on the transcript if the withdrawal is recorded prior to the course withdrawal period deadline date. After that time, a student not attending a class receives an “F”. In consultation with his or her academic advisor, the student should review policies regarding fulltime status, academic standing, financial aid, athletic eligibility and international student visa status prior to submitting a course withdrawal. Course withdrawal forms are available from and must be returned to the Office of the Registrar.

Course Repeat Policy
Students are permitted to repeat any course, on a one time only basis.  Students who fail to achieve the minimum required grade for a repeated course must meet with the Dean of Advising and First Year Programs or the Dean of Undergraduate Education and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs to discuss actions necessary for continuing at Lasell.  The student will not be able to register for the following semester until after this conference occurs.

When a course is successfully repeated, the higher of the two grades will be computed into the GPA, and the lower of the two grades will be removed from the average. No additional credits will be counted toward graduation; however, the lower grade will remain on the permanent academic record. For additional restrictions, students need to review individual major requirements.

Incomplete Grades
On rare occasions, a grade of Incomplete (INC) may be granted. Ultimately, the decision to grant a grade of Incomplete is at the discretion of the instructor; however, both the student and the instructor must sign the contract for completion before a grade of INC can be issued. An Incomplete should be issued only for extraordinary reasons. It is not appropriate to issue an Incomplete simply because a student has not performed well or has not completed required coursework. A copy of the contract must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar with the final grade roster. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the request and to make all arrangements with the instructor for turning in late work. First Semester Incomplete grades must be made up by the first day of the spring semester with grade changes submitted 48 hours prior to the end of the Add/Drop period for the spring semester. Second semester Incomplete grades must be made up within four weeks following the end of examination week with grade changes submitted by the end of the fifth week following the end of examination week. If there is no grade submitted by the instructor, the Incomplete is converted by the Registrar to an “F”.

Under extenuating circumstances, extensions may be granted by the instructor with the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a written request for an extension by completing the appropriate paperwork in the Registrar’s Office.

Grade Changes
A final grade (excluding an Incomplete) may not be changed after submission of the grade by the instructor to the Registrar’s Office unless a clear and demonstrable mistake or miscalculation by the instructor is discovered. The submission of late or revised work by a student is not grounds for a legitimate change of grade, nor is the retaking of an examination. Changes to final grades cannot be made beyond one semester after the initial awarding of the grade. Changes to final grades require the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Pass/Fail Option
A student at sophomore status or above may take up to two courses (six credits) total while at Lasell in a degree program on a Pass/Fail basis. Courses that are only offered on a pass/fail basis are excluded from this two course (six-credit) limit. The following courses may not be taken Pass/Fail:

1. Any courses required for completion of the student’s major, concentration within a major, or minor. Only courses listed under the catalog categories “Additional Requirements,” “General Education Core,” or “Unrestricted Electives” can be taken pass/fail (if they are not otherwise excluded, as noted below).

2. Any courses within either the student’s major, minor, or general education core that have a specific letter grade requirement or otherwise excluded by the academic department.

3. All Foreign Languages must be taken for a letter grade — not pass/fail.

A pass grade does not receive quality points and is not counted in determining the grade point average. A failing grade is equivalent to zero quality points and does count in the grade point average. Pass/Fails may not be changed to letter grades after the course is completed.

A student wishing to take a course on a Pass/Fail basis must have the approval of the Dean of Advising and First Year Programs, who consults with the Department Chair overseeing the student’s major or Registrar as necessary. Forms are available in the Registrar’s office and must be completed and returned to the Registrar by the posted deadline.

Auditing
With the approval of the instructor, students may register to audit a course by completing a Course Audit Form by the end of the Add/Drop period. The form is available in the Registrar’s Office. Audited courses are recorded on the transcript but no grade or credit is given.

Directed Study (Independent Study)
Students may enroll in directed studies on a limited basis as determined by the Department Chair. Students interested in this option should pick up the required form in the Registrar’s Office. The completed form must be submitted within the first three weeks of the semester. Approval is normally restricted to pursuits that are not offered in existing courses and requires the approval of the Department Chair.

Transfer Credit Policy
Lasell students who wish to receive academic credit for coursework taken at another institution must request approval from the College before registering for the course. Students who are considering this must complete the Transfer Credit Approval form at Lasell’s Office of the Registrar and obtain all necessary approvals before enrolling in the course.

If approved by Lasell, academic credit can be granted for coursework taken at another institution; however, grades for courses taken at other institutions are not calculated into a student’s grade point average. Only grades of C or better are acceptable for transfer credit.

Students wishing to transfer credits in science courses that span two semesters must submit grades for both semesters.

Students are required to complete 50% of their credits at Lasell College, the final semester of which must be at Lasell.  No more than 60 credits are accepted for transfer to the College.

Classification of Students
Designation of class year for a student entering the College in their freshman year is determined at the end of the Spring semester. Upper-class standing is determined by the total number of successfully completed credits. The following credits in semester hours are required for ranking in the upper three classes of the College:
Sophomore Class:      30 Credits
Junior Class:              60 Credits
Senior Class:              90 Credits

Designation of class year for students transferring into the College, or for students transferring into a new major, is based upon the above classifications as well as the numbers of credits/years remaining to graduation at the time of transfer in the major in which the student enters.

Students who take an overload of credits must consult the College’s extra credit policy to determine if there will be additional costs. (See section on Course Overload and Excess Credit.)

Dean’s List
Each semester students who achieve a specific GPA will be placed on the Dean’s List. Dean’s List requirements are:

• The student must be full-time carrying 12 or more graded credits for the   semester
• The student must have a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher
• The student is not allowed a course below 2.0 in the semester
• The student is not allowed any incompletes for the semester. If incompletes are made up in accordance with College policy, students who then qualify for the Dean’s List will have the notation entered into their permanent academic record

The Academic Grievance Process provides students with a mechanism to appeal faculty actions related to the process of instruction and evaluation of academic performance or other academic matters pertinent to the teacher-student relationship. In filing a grievance, it is understood that the student believes his/her interests as a student have been adversely affected by someone’s departure from or misinterpretation of existing academic policy. (The College reserves the right to establish academic standards and the necessary policies to support them. Consequently, there may be no academic grievance of the contents of published Academic Policies established by the College, including those of individual Academic Programs and individual instructors.)

Informal Conciliation
A student wishing to alter or reverse any academic action must first attempt to resolve the matter informally and expeditiously. The student shall contact the faculty member within seven (7) calendar days of the action in question to schedule an appointment (in cases where the dispute is over a grade for an assignment or test, or a final course grade, “action in question” shall refer to the date of receipt of the grade). The student is expected to present his/her concerns and to weigh the faculty member’s response. If not resolved, the student may discuss the matter with the faculty member’s Department Chair. If the student’s complaint is with the Department Chair, then he/she may discuss the matter with Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA).

If no resolution is reached, the student may begin the Formal Grievance Process. In any event, if the matter is not resolved, any formal grievance must be filed within twenty-one (21) calendar days of the action in question.

If the issue under dispute impacts the student’s ability to register for a course or courses in a subsequent semester, a determination of an exception to existing policy will be made by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Formal Grievance Process
If no resolution is reached, the student may begin the Formal Grievance Process — which must be filed within twenty-one (21) calendar days of the action in question (hence, the informal conciliation process has occurred within this overall time period). Procedures for filing a Grievance may be obtained in the Office for Academic Affairs.