ACADEMIC CALENDAR: See CENTRAL CALENDAR

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL: A student is dismissed from the University if at the end of a probationary semester a 2.0 cumulative GPA has not been achieved. Under University policy, dismissal is effective immediately before the beginning of the next regular semester. If a student under Academic Probation earns the GPA required for good standing, but then again falls below the required minimum GPA, the student will automatically be dismissed.

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY: To be academically eligible, or in GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is required for students by the end of their second full-time semester, or at the completion of twenty-four (24) semester hours for part-time students.

ACADEMIC FORGIVENESS: The Academic Forgiveness Policy applies to undergraduate students who withdraw from Kutztown University and seek readmission after a period of no less than four years. Upon readmission, students who request and are granted academic forgiveness will start with a quality point average of 0.00. Courses with a “C” or higher will remain on transcript.

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY: Kutztown University is committed to the personal and intellectual growth of its students. The principal context in which this growth occurs is the University’s courses. The educational process depends upon an open and honest atmosphere of positive cooperation between faculty and students. In order to maintain this atmosphere, professors must evaluate the academic performance of students fairly and students must demonstrate their mastery of subject matter honorably. Any acts of academic dishonesty by students, such as plagiarism on written papers or cheating on exams, threaten to undermine the educational and ethical goals of the University for its students. Such violations are of the utmost seriousness.

ACADEMIC JEOPARDY: To be in good academic standing and graduate from KU, all students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0. Students who earn a cumulative GPA below a 2.0 become a part of the Academic Jeopardy Program administered by the Advising Center for Undeclared Students.

ACADEMIC NOTIFICATION: Students earning a GPA lower than 2.0 at the completion of their first semester will receive a letter of notification.

ACADEMIC PROBATION: Students earning a GPA lower than a 2.0 after receiving an academic warning in any semester will be placed on Academic Probation. A part-time student who has received an academic warning must bring his/her cumulative GPA up to 2.0 or higher within 12 semester credits attempted, or be placed on academic probation.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS: Progress is measured for the academic year based on the student's prior two semesters of enrollment. A typical full-time undergraduate student must earn a minimum of 24 new credits per academic year, and upon entering the fifth semester of attendance the student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, and not be on Academic Warning or Probation.

ACADEMIC WARNING: Students earning a GPA lower than a 2.0 at the completion of their second or any subsequent semester will receive an Academic Warning. Part-time students will be evaluated every 12 credits beginning with the completion of 24 credits and will receive an academic warning whenever this evaluation shows their GPA to have fallen below 2.0. A student is allowed only one semester of academic warning.

ACADEMIC YEAR: A period of time generally consisting of the fall and spring semester. The summer term is considered a separate period.

ADMISSIONS: An application process for entry to a degree program or course at the University.

ADVANCED STANDING: Advanced standing is credit that is given for equivalent courses completed at regionally accredited institutions of collegiate level in which a minimum grade of “C” is earned.

ADVISING CENTER FOR UNDECLARED STUDENTS: An advising center for students who enter the University with the desire to explore academic majors and related careers before committing to a major program of study.

ADVISOR: A faculty member assigned to assist a student with course registration, navigating the University policies and procedures, and developing an academic plan of study.

AUDIT: To attend a class without receiving credit for the class.

BA: Bachelor of Arts

BFA: Bachelor of Fine Arts

BS: Bachelor of Science

BSBA: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

BS/Art Ed: Bachelor of Science in Art Education

BS/Mus Ed: Bachelor of Science in Music Education

BSEd: Bachelor of Science in Education

BSW: Bachelor of Science in Social Work

BUS: The code for the College of Business

CENTRAL CALENDAR: An online calendar containing important dates of Academic importance, including deadlines for withdrawal, dates of course registration, and holiday/recesses. Athletic, and all Campus Events are also included on the Central Calendar. .

CHALLENGE EXAMINATION: See CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

CHECK SHEET: An outline of required courses for a specific degree program/major.

CLASSIFICATION: A student will be classified as a Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Post-Baccalaureate, or Graduate student, depending on credits earned, and/or program of study.

CLEP: The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) enables students to earn college credit by examination. For more information visit the Academic Services Office.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION: An undergraduate or graduate examination given to determine overall comprehension and retention of major coursework.

CONCOMITANT: Courses which supplement the major and contribute to its scholarly comprehension.

CONNECTIONS: An orientation program provided through New Student Programs for new and transfer students where first semester advising and course selection takes place.

CONTROLLED COURSES: Courses that departments restrict student registration because of major, availability, or prerequisites.  Controlled courses are listed in the front of the Master Course Schedule each semester.

CO-REQUISITE: A course that must be taken during the same semester as another course.

COURSE CATALOG: A listing of courses offered, including location, times and dates of classes.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION: Student, who by experience or training acquired academic background or comprehension comparable to that required of students who complete a given course may request to take an examination in the course for the purpose of establishing credit for it. Also known as a CHALLENGE EXAMINATION.  Please note:  Challenge Examinations are not available for all courses.

CREDIT: A unit of measure that is given to a course that can be applied to specific course/credit requirements at the University.

CREDIT HOUR: The lecture hour(s) per week in a course. Generally college courses are three (3) credit hours per week throughout the semester, which in turn equals three lecture hours per week. At the end of the semester, if a grade higher than “F” is earned, the student will earn the number of credit hour(s) for the course.

DEAN’S LIST: Eligibility for inclusion on the list is determined by a semester GPA of 3.6 provided the student is registered for at least twelve (12) credits under letter grading and is pursuing study towards a degree at Kutztown University.

DEGREE: A certificate of completion for specific course/credit requirements at the University.

EDU: The code for the College of Education

FACULTY VOLUNTEER ADVISORS: Faculty members from academic disciplines across campus serve as Volunteer Faculty Advisors in the Advising Center for Undeclared Students. These advisors provide valuable insight and essential information about degree programs within their respective academic departments.

FINANCIAL AID/ASSISTANCE: Federal monies available, in grants, scholarships, loans, and/or work-study opportunities, to qualified students.

FIRST YEAR SEMINAR: One (1) credit course offered to assist first-year students transition to college. Also known as UST 015.

FREE ELECTIVES: Courses students can choose in any discipline under Liberal Arts and Sciences or from the four Library Science courses required for certification as a “Provisional Librarian” in the public libraries of Pennsylvania.

FRESHMAN: A classification of a student who has earned less than thirty (30) credits.

FULL-TIME: A student who is enrolled in twelve (12) credits or more per semester.

GENERAL EDUCATION: Thirty-nine (39) to sixty (60) credit hours of courses in accordance with the General Education Program in the Liberal Arts and Sciences that provide students with broad educational experience. Courses typically are introductory in nature and provide students with fundamental skills and knowledge in mathematics, English, arts, humanities, and physical, biological, and social sciences.

GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING: All students must earn a 2.0 cumulative GPA to remain in good academic standing by the end of their second full-time semester, or at the completion of twenty-four (24) semester hours for part-time students.

GPA: Grade Point Average (GPA) is a measure of a student’s academic standing. It is calculated by dividing the number of quality points by the number of semester hours. Grades earned in courses taken at another institution will not be included in determining a student’s GPA, as only grades earned at Kutztown University affect this average.

GRADUATION WITH HONORS: The cumulative GPA necessary for distinction is: with honor (cum laude) 3.40; with high honor (magna cum laude) 3.60 and with highest honor (summa cum laude) 3.80. The scholastic achievement will be recorded on the student’s permanent record, the commencement program, and on the diploma itself.

GRANTS: Financial aid/assistance that does not require repayment.

GRID SHEET: See CHECK SHEET

INCOMPLETE: A grade of “I” indicates that the student has not satisfied all requirements for the given course. In certain circumstances, i.e. death in the family, prolonged illness, a student may request an “I” be granted for a course(s). If granted, the student and the professor for each course arrange for the work to be completed by the end of the ninth week of the next regular semester.

INCUMBENT: A currently enrolled student.

INDEPENDENT STUDY: Independent study is a course of study specific in nature, content, and level which is not provided as a regular offering of study at the university. An independent study is designed by a faculty member and student subject to approval of the department in which the course of study is undertaken.

INTERNSHIP: A required or elective work experience for students with Junior/Senior classification, and in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or higher), or 2.5 GPA in the major, although departments may establish a higher GPA.

JUNIOR: A classification of a student who has earned between 60-90 credits.

LAS: The code for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Students in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or higher) may be granted a leave of absence for medical reasons, study abroad, and other reasons by the Office of the Provost. A leave may be granted for one semester, with the possibility of renewal for a consecutive semester. At the conclusion of the leave a student may register to continue studies without repeating the admissions process. For more information about taking a leave of absence, visit the Registrar’s Office.

LOANS: Financial aid/assistance that must be repaid.

MAJOR: An area of specialization with a specific set of course requirements including General Education Courses (39-60 credits), and an in-depth study in an academic discipline (at least 25 percent of total program).

MASTER SCHEDULE:  The Master Schedule is printed each semester and lists the courses offered in the upcoming semester.  In additional to listing course offerings, the Master Schedule contains the Academic Calendar for the semester as well as a list of controlled courses.

MINOR: A less comprehensive course of study that requires fewer credits than a major.

ONLINE STUDENT SERVICES: An online system where Kutztown University students can: register for courses, drop/add courses, view charges and payments, view schedule, view transcript, view and renew on-campus housing, check financial aid, check restrictions, change address, print semester grade reports, browse course offering, and view faculty information. Online Student Services system uses industry-standard SSL encryption and client-side JavaScript for quick download times, information presentation, and form validation.

PART-TIME: A student who is enrolled in less than twelve (12) credits per semester.

PASS/FAIL: Students having completed at least thirty-two (32) semester hours of college-level work with at least a 2.75 GPA may take one course per semester for credit on a pass/fail basis. Pass/fail courses are not calculated into the cumulative GPA since no letter grade is assigned to a pass/fail course.

PRE-ADVISEMENT: A meeting between an advisor and student, prior to web registration, where a review of academic progress, course selection, and the discussion of program of study will be performed.

PREREQUISITE: A course that must be taken before a specific course can be taken.

QUALITY POINT: For the purpose of calculating a student’s GPA, each letter grade carries a given number of quality points: “A” carries 4 quality points, “B” carries 3 quality points, “C” carries 2 quality points, “D” carries 1 quality point, and “F” carries 0 quality points. The number of credit hours in the course will be multiplied by the quality points assigned to the letter grade earned to determine the overall quality points earned in the course i.e. a three (3) credit “A” is worth twelve (12) quality points.

READMISSION: An application process for students to be readmitted to the university after dismissal, or separation from the university, other than through a leave of absence.

REGISTRATION: The process of enrolling in course(s) at the University. See ONLINE STUDENT SERVICES.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Financial assistance based on merit, or other qualification(s) which does not require repayment.

SEMESTER: An academic period of time, usually fifteen weeks in length.

SEMESTER HOUR: See CREDIT HOUR

SENIOR: A classification of a student who has earned more than ninety (90) credits, although has not earned a bachelor’s degree.

SOPHOMORE: A classification of a student who has earned between 30-59 credits.

SUMMER SESSION: A shorter, more concentrated term of study, generally not considered part of the academic year. At Kutztown University the summer session is divided into Summer Session I, and Summer Session II, each four (4) weeks in length.

SUMMER START: A summer program to provide selected first-year students a structured introduction to Kutztown University.

TEN-YEAR RULE: Kutztown University welcomes the return to higher education of students who for various reasons did not complete their degrees. Such students should be aware that courses taken in their major discipline ten years or more prior to the resumption of study perhaps will not be counted toward graduation. Such courses may no longer be considered to be current or be required for the degree.

TRANSCRIPT: An official record of a student's academic work, including a list of courses taken, grades received, and credits awarded.

TUITION: The cost charged to students for courses, not including certain fees i.e. student activity fee.

UNDECLARED: Identifies a student who is not committed to a specific degree program.

UNDERGRADUATE EXCEPTIONS COMMITTEE: A faculty and administrative campus committee that reviews petitions submitted by students wishing to have a specific regulation waived for just cause.

UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM: Freshmen based on their high school record and SAT Scores, transfer students from other honors programs, and incumbent students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher are invited to join Kutztown University Honors Program which focuses on completing higher level coursework.

UST: A Department code for courses and/or programs through University Studies.

UNIVERSITY STUDIES (UST 015): One (1) credit course offered to assist first-year students transition to college. Also known as  First-year Seminar.

VERSION NUMBER: A unique number that identifies the specific requirements for an academic program/major.

VPA: The code for the College of Visual & Performing Arts.

WEB REGISTRATION: Course registration through Online Student Services.

WITHDRAWAL:
From a course: To be relieved of the responsibility of classes that a student is registered for, the student must officially withdraw from those classes through the Registrar’s Office. Failure to withdraw from a class for which a student is registered, but is not attending, will result in a grade of “F” for that course.
From Kutztown University: Any student leaving the University prior to the end of any academic semester must officially withdraw from the University by completing the withdrawal form and submitting it to the Registrar’s Office. Failure to complete the withdrawal process may result in failing grades in all courses being taken during that semester.

WORK/STUDY: Students who are eligible for the work-study federal financial aid/assistance program will generally work no more than twenty (20) hours for a department on campus, and be paid an hourly wage.