Academic Regulations

Academic Regulations

Academic Regulations

Class Exercises Involving Animals

Students who are concerned about the use of animals in teaching are responsible for contacting the instructor prior to course enrollment to determine whether animals are to be used in the course, whether class exercises involving animals are optional or required and what alternatives, if any, are available. If no alternatives are available, the refusal to participate in required activities involving animals may result in a failing grade in the course.

Departments that include courses where animals are used must actively inform students of such courses through notices in the catalog and other publications. The University of Maryland, College Park campus, affirms the right of the faculty to determine course content and curriculum requirements. The University, however, also encourages faculty to consider offering alternatives to the use of animals in their courses. In each course the instructor determines whether the use of animals in classroom exercises will be a course requirement or optional activity. The following departments have courses that may require animals to be used in class activities: Animal and Avian Sciences, Bioengineering, Biology, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Entomology, Psychology, and courses with the NRMT prefix.

 

Course Numbering System

The first numeric character of the course number determines the level of the course and the last two digits are used for course identifcation. Courses ending with the numeral 8 or 9 are the only courses that are repeatable for credit. Courses are designated as follows:

000 - 099 Non-credit course
100-199 Primarily courses for first- year students
200-299 Primarily sophomore course
300-399 Junior, senior course not acceptable for credit toward graduate degrees
400-499 Junior, senior course acceptable for credit toward some graduate degrees
500-599* Professional School course (Dentistry, Law, Medicine) or post-baccalaureate course (not for graduate degree credit)
600-699 Course restricted to graduate students
799 Masters Thesis credit
899 Doctoral Dissertation credit

 

Degree Completion

A minimum of 120 successfully completed course credits is required for graduation in any degree curriculum; however, individual colleges, schools, and departments may establish higher requirements for graduation. Check with your advisor for specific information. If you feel there are special circumstances that make it impossible for you to complete a normal course load, you must meet with an advisor to discuss the circumstances, plans for continued progress toward a degree, and the implications for continued enrollment.

University of Maryland Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy

University of Maryland policy stipulates that full-time degree seeking students are expected to complete their undergraduate degree program in four years. To meet this expectation, students must plan carefully in consultation with an academic advisor; complete 30 credits each year (which is usually accomplished through a course load of 14 to 16 credits per semester); satisfy general education, prerequisite and other course requirements with acceptable grades in a timely manner; and meet the benchmarks. Academic units provide the benchmarks and sample templates of multi-semester plans leading to four-year graduation. Students are required to map out individualized four-year plans, consistent with these guidelines and benchmarks, and are responsible for updating them as circumstances change. Students who do not meet benchmarks are required to select a more suitable major.

Students who change majors must submit a realistic graduation plan to the academic unit of the new major for approval. Any student who completes ten semesters or 130 credits without completing a degree is subject to mandatory advising prior to registration for any subsequent semester. Students with exceptional circumstances or those who are enrolled in special programs are required to develop a modified graduation plan that is appropriate to their situations. In all cases, students are responsible for meeting progress expectations and benchmarks required for their degree programs.

Every student should contact his or her college or department advisor to obtain the relevant materials for developing a four-year graduation plan and required benchmarks. For information about this policy visit: the Office of Undergraduate Studies/Student Academic Success and Student Academic Success FAQs.

 

Marking System and GPA Calculation

Marking System

The University’s marking system defines the standards for letter grades as follows:

  • A+, A, A- denotes excellent mastery of the subject and outstanding scholarship;
  • B+, B, B- denotes good mastery of the subject and good scholarship;
  • C+, C, C- denotes acceptable mastery of the subject;
  • D+, D, D- denotes borderline understanding of the subject, marginal performance, and it does not represent satisfactory progress toward a degree;
  • F denotes failure to understand the subject and unsatisfactory performance.
  • XF is used to indicate failure due to academic dishonesty. Treated in the same way as 'F' for the purposes of cumulative average.
  • I is used as an exceptional mark that is an instructor option. For further explanation see 'Marking System' in the 'Academic Records and Regulations' section of the Undergraduate Catalog at https://academiccatalog.umd.edu/ undergraduate/registration-academic- requirements-regulations/academic- records-regulations/
  • The mark of P is a student option mark. This grade is not used in any computation of quality points or cumulative average totals at the end of the semester. For a full explanation see 'Marking System' in the 'Academic Records and Regulations' section of the Undergraduate Catalog at https://academiccatalog.umd.edu/undergraduate/registration-academic-requirements-regulations/academic-records-regulations/
  • An S is a department option mark which may be used to denote satisfactory performance. This is not included in the computation of cumulative average.
  • A W is used to indicate withdrawal from a course after the end of the schedule adjustment period. For information and completeness, the grade of a W is placed on a student's permanent record by the Office of the Registrar. This grade is not used in any computation of quality points or cumulative average totals at the end of the semester.

Quality Points for Letter Grades

Quality points (points used in calculating Grade Point Average) associated with each letter grade under the plus/ minus grading policy are as follows:

Grade
Plus-Minus Grade Policy
(As of Fall 2012)
A+
4.0
A
4.0
A-
3.7
B+
3.3
B
3.0
B-
2.7
C+
2.3
C
2.0
C-
1.7
D+
1.3
D
1.0
D-
0.7
F
0.0

Calculation of Cumulative GPA

GPA is computed by dividing the total number of quality points accumulated in courses for which a grade of A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, or XF has been assigned by the total number of credits attempted in those courses. Courses for which a mark of P, S, I, NGR or W has been assigned are not included in computing the GPA. Each letter grade has a numerical value: A+=4, A=4, A- = 3.7; B+=3.3, B=3, B- = 2.7; C+=2.3, C=2, C- = 1.7; D+=1.3, D=1, D- = 0.7; F = 0.

Multiplying this value by the number of credits for a particular course gives the number of quality points earned for that course.

For additional assistance calculating your GPA, please use Testudo GPA Calculator or see an Academic Advisor.

 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The complete policy can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Undergraduate academic performance is based on a student's grade point average (GPA). Students are required to achieve a 2.0 GPA to maintain satisfactory academic progress. A GPA under 2.0 is considered unsatisfactory performance. Students with a GPA under 2.0 will be placed on Academic Probation. See "How to compute GPA" below for an explanation of semester and cumulative GPA.

A minimum of 120 successfully completed course credits is required for graduation in any degree curriculum; however, individual colleges, schools, and departments may establish higher requirements for graduation. Check with your advisor for specific information. If you feel there are special circumstances that make it impossible for you to complete a normal course load, you must meet with an advisor to discuss the circumstances, plans for continued progress toward a degree, and the implications for continued enrollment.

Semester Academic Honors

Semester Academic Honors (Dean's List) will be awarded to students who complete, within any given semester (excluding winter and summer terms), 12 or more credits with a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher. This recognition will be noted on the student's academic record. Courses with grades of P and S are excluded from the twelve credit determination.

Satisfactory Academic Performance

Satisfactory Academic Performance is the achievement of a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.

Academic Probation & Dismissal

Academic Probation: Students will be placed on academic probation if their cumulative GPA falls below 2.0. Normally, a student is expected to attain a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of any probationary semester. Students who fail to achieve a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of their probationary semester may be academically dismissed, depending on their credit level as detailed below.

  • Students who have earned 60 credits or more will be dismissed from the University in the event their cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 at the end of their probationary semester.Students who are on probation and attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of a winter or summer term will not be subject to dismissal in the subsequent semester.
  • Students who are on academic probation and have earned fewer than 60 credits will be permitted to continue on academic probation if a minimum semester GPA of 2.0 is achieved in each semester of probation.
    • Full-time students must complete 9 or more credits in each semester. A completed credit is defined as credit for any course in which a student receives a grade of A, B, C, D, F, P, or S.
    • Students who meet this requirement will be permitted to continue on probation until the close of the semester (excluding winter and summer terms) in which they attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.
    • Students who are on probation will be dismissed if they have not achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of the semester in which they complete 60 credits.
    • Students who are on probation and attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of a winter or summer term will not be subject to dismissal in the subsequent semester.

Academic Probation Conditions: The Office of the Registrar will notify students when they are placed on academic probation. Such notices will include a requirement that the students consult an academic advisor in their colleges early in the probationary semester and in no event later than the beginning of the early registration period for the next semester. The Office of the Registrar will notify the colleges of students who are placed on academic probation and will note the academic probationary status on the students' academic record.

  • Academic advisors will assist students in developing appropriate plans for achieving satisfactory academic performance.
  • Students who are placed on probation will not be allowed to add or drop courses, or register without the approval of an academic advisor in their college.

Academic Dismissal:

  • Students who have earned 60 or more credits will be dismissed if their cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters (excluding winter and summer terms) Students who attained a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the preceding winter or summer term will not be subject to dismissal.
  • Students who have earned fewer than 60 credits will be dismissed following any probationary semester in which they fail to attain a minimum 2.0 semester GPA and complete the requisite credits detailed under 'Academic Probation.' Students who attained a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the preceding winter or summer term will not be subject to dismissal.
  • Students who have been academically dismissed and who are reinstated will be academically dismissed again if a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 is not achieved by the end of the first semester after reinstatement. Reinstated students will not be allowed to add or drop courses, or to register during any semester without the approval of an academic advisor in their college, unless a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 is achieved.
  • The Office of the Registrar will notify the appropriate University offices when students are academically dismissed and will note the dismissal on the students' academic record.
  • The Student Success Office will notify students in writing when they are dismissed. The notices will include a statement that registration for the next semester (excluding winter or summer terms) will be canceled.
  • Normally, a student dismissed for academic reasons must wait out one semester (fall or spring) before reinstatement. Exceptions will be determined by the Faculty Petition Board. Applications and information about the reinstatement process can be obtained from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, which is responsible for administering the reinstatement process in coordination with the Faculty Review Board.

HOW TO COMPUTE GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

  • Requirements for satisfactory academic progress are based solely upon grade point average. This is computed by dividing the TOTAL NUMBER OF QUALITY POINTS accumulated in courses for which a grade of A, B, C, D, or F has been assigned by the TOTA L NUMBER OF CREDITS ATTEMPTED in those courses. Courses for which a grade of "P", "S", "I", or "NGR" has been assigned are NOT included in computing the GPA.
  • Each letter grade has a numerical value: A+, A, A- = 4; B+, B, B- = 3; C+, C, C- = 2; D+, D, D- = 1; F = 0. Multiplying this value by the number of credits for a particular course gives the number of quality points earned for that course.
  • An example of how a SEMESTER GPA and a CUMULATIVE GPA are calculated is given below:
Course
Credits Attempted
 Grade
Quality Points
ENGL 101
3
C
6
MATH 110
3
B+
9.9
ZOOL 101
4
A
16
PSYC 100
3
D-
2.1
HIST 156
3
F
0

 

 
Credits
Quality Points
Current Semester totals
16
34
Previous Semester totals
27
74

 

Semester GPA = semester quality points / semester credits attempted; Ex: 34 / 16 = 2.125

Cumulative GPA = total quality points / credits attempted; Ex: 108 / 43 = 2.511

Note: When a course is REPEATED, all grades will be included for the purpose of determining the number of quality points used to calculate the cumulative grade point average. First semester students and freshmen through the first 24 credits will receive quality points appropriate for the higher grade when calculating the grade point average.

 

Special Math Courses

MATH003, MATH007, MATH013, and MATH015 carry credit for billing and determination of full-time and part-time status, but are excluded from the calculation of semester and cumulative grade point averages. Charges for Special Math courses are in addition to tuition charges. For more information contact the Mathematics Department at 301-405-5053.