Academic Standing and Progress
Admission Status (At The Master’s Level)
Admission is determined as follows:
Matriculated Status
Students who have submitted all required application materials and have met admission criteria and prerequisites.
Certification Program (only)
Students who have submitted all required application materials and have met admission criteria and prerequisites.
Non-Matriculated Status
Students who do not meet all criteria for matriculation, but who have been approved for a specific program of study. Students must submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended, at least one letter of reference, and have a formal interview with a designated faculty member and/or admission counselor. Generally, no more than 12 graduate credits may be accrued under this status.
Enrichment Status
Students who seek to enrich themselves though graduate level courses; those with enrichment status are not considered students within the college’s degree programs. A student with enrichment status is limited to no more than six credits at the master’s level. Enrichment status students must submit a completed graduate application and official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Students must achieve a grade of “B” or better in any courses studied under this status in order to be considered for matriculation.
Note: Doctoral level courses may be taken only by matriculated students enrolled in a doctoral program.
Application Re-Submission (At The Doctoral Level)
The application packets of students who have been denied admission to a doctoral program will not be reconsidered unless there has been substantial change to the admission packet such as academic preparation and/or professional experience. In order to ensure objectivity during the admission process, all communication about admission must be restricted to the Director of Admission.
Change of Program
A student desiring to transfer from one graduate program to another graduate program offered at Immaculata must complete a new application form, goals statement, have an interview with the appropriate program advisor, and submit program specific documentation required for admission. Students will be notified in writing regarding their admission status.
Change Of Status
Anyone seeking a change of status (enrichment, non-matriculated, matriculated) within any master’s program must request in writing a change of status. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the admission process in a timely fashion.
Comprehensive Examinations
Master’s Students
Each candidate must successfully complete the comprehensive examination or its department/division equivalent. A candidate who fails the comprehensive examination may petition the department/division for a re-examination. If the petition is accepted, the re-examination may be taken on the next scheduled testing date. When the student fails, recommendations for academic remediation are made by the Chair. The comprehensive examination may not be taken more than twice.
Nursing and Nutrition and Dietetics students submit the capstone to satisfy this requirement.
Doctoral Students
Each candidate must successfully complete the Degree Candidacy Application (EDL 797) or its department equivalent. A candidate who fails must seek department/division advisement and fulfill recommendations (additional information may be found in the department/division handbook).
The college retains the comprehensive examination for a period of 3 years. At that point the comprehensive examinations will be destroyed. The copy is retained by the college in the event grades are challenged, to prevent copying or using the comprehensive of one class as a measure of competency by a succeeding group, to ensure the anonymity of the graders, to avoid additional processing requirements by the office and to have validation of completion of the requirement.
Comprehensive examinations are not considered an assignment and, therefore, are not returned to the student.
Degree Candidacy
Master’s Degree Students
Matriculated students who have completed 12 semester hours at Immaculata with a minimum GPA are considered degree candidates. In order to be considered a degree candidate, a student must have maintained a B average in his/her course work, have the recommendation of the program chair, and must be matriculated. (See Admission Status.)
Doctoral Degree Students
Degree candidacy is achieved upon successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination or Degree Candidacy Application.
Double Counting of Credits
Students enrolled in a Master of Arts degree program who are pursuing a Certificate may “double count” a maximum of 9 credits. This total of 9 credits includes both Core and Certificate-specific courses. Chairs of individual departments/divisions will make a determination as to whether courses within the Certificate curriculum may be accepted towards the Master of Arts program.
Dual Degrees at Immaculata
For students interested in pursuing a dual major or second graduate degree at Immaculata, the credits for the Core Curriculum will be applied to both degrees. The student is required to fulfill all major requirements and may not “double count” any other courses or credits beyond the Core Curriculum, except when determined by the individual departments. Students are responsible for the Comprehensive Examination or its equivalent in both major areas. Two separate degrees will result from successful completion of all requirements. Students must be officially admitted to a second program.
Graduation
A candidate is expected to complete degree requirements within a maximum of six years for master’s programs and eight years for doctoral programs. The catalog indicates the minimum number of credits required within each program of study. In order to graduate, the candidate must fulfill the following requirements:
- completion of academic program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for master’s students and 3.3 for doctoral students
- recommendation of the faculty
- clearance of all financial accounts, academic holds, and library records
- payment of Graduation Fee
- apply online for graduation
Commencement Walking Policy
Immaculata University holds its annual commencement ceremony at the end of each spring semester. Students approved to graduate are strongly encouraged to participate in commencement for the conferring of the degree.
Students who do not meet graduation requirements in time for the May ceremony may still be allowed to “walk” in commencement provided they meet the criteria listed below:
- Have six (6) or fewer semester hours to complete.
- Have a minimum a 3.0* cumulative grade point average at the Master’s level and 3.3 for Doctoral level.
- Doctoral students must have successfully defended their dissertation.
- Complete a Petition to Participate in Commencement Ceremonies, which must outline student’s plan to complete all degree requirements.
Students may not participate in commencement if they have any outstanding balances.
Names of both walkers and graduates will be printed in the commencement program, and there will be no asterisk or special notation in the program differentiating walkers from actual graduates of the University. “Walkers” do not receive public or printed recognition of honors (cum laude, etc.) in the commencement program.
All graduation requirements and all financial obligations must be satisfied in order to receive the diploma. Degree will be conferred and officially awarded only after all graduation requirements have been met.
A student may participate in only one commencement ceremony. If, after declaring an intention to walk, a student does not participate in the ceremony and fails to notify the Office of the University Registrar at least four days prior to the commencement date, that student is ineligible to participate in any subsequent commencement ceremony.
Posthumous Conferral of Degrees
On rare occasions, a student who has completed all or nearly all of the requirements for a degree meets an untimely death before the degree is conferred. In such cases, it may be appropriate for this student to be recognized for his/her work by means of conferring a degree posthumously.
Graduate students shall be in good academic standing and substantially complete with courses and the required culminating experience for the graduate degree, including thesis/dissertation if required, and as confirmed in the petition by the graduate program director. Petitions shall be forwarded to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research for review and recommended to the VPAA, then to the President for approval.
If approved, the President will notify the VPAA and dean. The official commencement program will include the student’s name with the annotation that the degree was conferred posthumously. The student’s academic record will be similarly annotated.
Exemptions
Students seeking an exemption from an academic policy stated in the catalog should submit a request in writing to the Dean for a catalog exemption. Exemptions related to coursework (such as a waiver of prerequisites, sequencing or courses, or course substitutions) should be submitted to the department/division chair.
Temporary Suspension, Non-Continuation, or Exclusion
Temporary suspension, non-continuation, or exclusion from the programs and services of the college may occur for academic or disciplinary reasons.
In the case of unsatisfactory work, unsatisfactory progress toward the degree, disruptive or inappropriate behavior within or beyond the program, or failure to complete the basic program requirements in a timely fashion, the program chair may recommend the temporary suspension, non-continuation, or exclusion of a student to the Dean, who will notify the student of the decision. A decision to suspend temporarily, to discontinue, or to exclude a student means that the academic programs and services of the College are no longer open to that student except in cases where the student is admitted, through the standard admission procedure, to another program.
Temporary Suspension consists of a designated period during which the student may not participate in programs and services. Non-continuation involves the termination of a student’s acceptance in a specific program of study. Following a ruling of non-continuation, a student may not participate in the programs of the associated major.
Exclusion involves the termination of a student’s status. Following a ruling of exclusion, the student may not participate in any of the programs, services, or activities of the College.
In cases of suspension or exclusion during the course of the academic year, fees will not be refunded or remitted in whole or in part. Exclusion and non-continuation will be noted on the transcript with the date.
Readmission
If a student has not been enrolled in graduate courses at the master’s or doctoral level for a period of one year and has not requested a leave of absence, the student is considered to have withdrawn and must re-apply for admission. Readmitted students are subject to the rules and policies of the catalog under which they are readmitted and may be re-enrolled in their previously declared major if the program is available at the university at the time of their re-admission. If a student has attended another institution during the interim, official transcripts must be submitted. Programs which have been discontinued are unavailable to re-admitted students. The timeframe for degree completion (not to exceed 6 years-master’s; 8 years-doctoral) as well as program requirements for graduation will be assessed and formalized at time of re-admission. Re-admission is not guaranteed. This time frame does not necessarily apply to financial aid eligibility. See Published Length of Program.
For consideration of re-admission at the master’s level, an application must be submitted. Students must also submit an updated goals statement and complete an interview with the appropriate department/division faculty member. Doctoral students seeking re-admission must complete the formal admission process.
Readmission of Service Members and Reservists Policy
Immaculata University academic community includes a number of veteran and military students. At times, these students may be called to fulfill their duties for training or deployment. Immaculata has a number of procedures in place to support such students during service-related absences. Short Absences (less than 30 days): Military students (including those in the Reserve or National Guard) may have required military activities which cause the student to be absent from class for a short period of time (typically 2‐3 weeks once a year). These absences qualify as “excused absences”, which means that the absence, with proper arrangement, is not subject to penalty, and coursework may be satisfied through agreement between the instructor and the student. A copy of military orders should be presented to the instructor as soon as they are available. Long absences (30 days or greater): In the case of a longer activation or deployment, the student should consult with his/her advisor and appropriate dean for coordination with instructors to determine the best course of action based on the length of absence and percentage of the term completed. The resolutions may include: course drops without academic or financial penalty, alternate methods to complete coursework, or an incomplete.
Return of Tuition Assistance: Military Tuition Assistance (TA)
The TA is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.
To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, (Immaculata University) will return any unearned TA funds on a prorate basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. These funds are returned to the military Service branch.
Instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the educational institution will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.
| 8- Week Course withdraw submitted | ||||
|
Before or during week 1 100% |
During week 2 75% |
During weeks 3-4 50% |
During week 5 40% |
During weeks 6-8 No Return |
| 15-Week Course Withdraw submitted | ||||
|
Before or during weeks 1-3 100% |
During weeks 4-5 75% |
During weeks 6-8 50% |
During weeks 9 40% |
During weeks 10-15 No Return |
Status: Full-Time/Half-Time
For purposes of enrollment, full-time status requires enrollment in a minimum of 9 credits per semester. Half-time status requires a minimum of 4.5 credits per semester.
Withdrawal from College
Complete withdrawal should not be confused with changes in registration status. Requests for complete withdrawal from the College must be made in writing to the Dean. If students have completely withdrawn from a program, they may not resume their studies unless they have been formally re-admitted. If students are withdrawing from the University prior to the end of the semester, they must follow the procedure outlined for withdrawal from classes in order to avoid receiving failing grades for their courses. Students who withdraw without approval will receive an F grade in any courses in which they are enrolled. Students who have not enrolled for the period of one year will be withdrawn.