Academic Policies and Procedures
Standards of Work
Conferral of either a master's or doctoral degree requires at least a B (3.0) grade-point average (g.p.a.). The g.p.a. in formal coursework is computed separately from the average in research, thesis, and dissertation credits to determine eligibility for graduation. A g.p.a. of at least B (3.0) is required in each category. No grade below C (2.0) can be used to satisfy any degree requirement. Departments may establish more rigorous standards.
All graduate students are expected to maintain at least an overall B (3.00) grade-point average on a continuing basis. Should you achieve less than an overall B (3.00) grade-point average, the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled will solicit a written statement from your departmental graduate committee to justify your continuation in the program.
Grading Information
Academic work at Ohio University is evaluated on the following grading system: a grade of A equals 4.00; A- equals 3.67; B+ equals 3.33; B equals 3.0; B- equals 2.67; C+ equals 2.33; C equals 2.0; C- equals 1.67; D+ equals 1.33; D equals 1.0; D- equals 0.67; and F equals 0.0.
The basis for determining your scholastic standing is the grade-point average (g.p.a). This average is determined by dividing the total number of grade points you have earned by the total number of quarter hours of credit you havbe attempted. For example, if you have earned a B (3.0) and an A (4.0) in each of two five-hour courses, first calculate the number of grade points by multiplying the number of hours in each course by the point value for that grade (5x3=15 and 5x4=20). Divide the total number of grade points by the number of hours attempted (35 divided 10=3.5). Your g.p.a. after completing the two courses would be 3.5. G.P.A. is calculated on all attempts at all courses numbered 500 and higher. This means the original grade in a course that is retaken is not dropped from the cumulative g.p.a. Your g.p.a. is figured only on credit hours in courses for which you receive either letter grades, an FN (failure never attended), or an FS (failure stopped attending). FN and FS have the same value as an F.
The following grades also may be recorded: Credit (CR)is usually awarded for satisfactory completion of seminars, research projects, and thesis or dissertation credit. You may receive a grade of Progress (PR)in courses that are not yet complete or that extend over more than one quarter. Grades of CR or PR are not used in computing your grade-point average. An Incomplete (I)indicates that you have made progress in a course but have not finished the work required to receive a letter grade. These hours are not counted in quarter hours attempted, hours earned, or quality points until a letter grade is reported. If neither a letter grade nor notification from the instructor for an extension of time is received by the Office of Student Records, the I reverts to an F letter grade six weeks into the next quarter you are enrolled. Requests from the instructor for an extension of time beyond six weeks cannot exceed the end of the next quarter enrolled. Any remaining Incompletes will be calculated as F in determining your eligibility for graduation.
Determination of appropriate use of letter grades, CR, PR, or I is made by the department and is recorded in the Office of Student Records.
A grade of No Report (NR)means that the instructor has not submitted a grade or that there has been a processing error. Check with the instructor; if a grade was submitted, go to the Office of Student Records to learn what is necessary to clear up the problem.
An Administrative Incomplete (I*)is given by the Office of Student Records when you fail to drop officially a course for which you have registered. Until removed, an Administrative Incomplete is computed as an F in calculating the grade-point average. *Editor's note: This grade is no longer used; it appears here as historic information/reference only.
WP/WF-Withdrawal Pass/Withdrawal Fallis given when a course is dropped after the 15th day of the quarter. This grade does not count in the g.p.a.
FN-Failure Never Attendedis given when you register for a course that you do not attend or officially drop. It counts as an F in your g.p.a.
FS-Failure Stopped Attendingis given when you stop attending but do not officially drop a course for which you register. It counts as an F in your g.p.a.
Removal of FN or FS from the record (treating the course, for tuition and grade purposes, as though it has been dropped by the 15th day of the quarter) requires action by the late course withdrawal review panel or the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled.
Graduate level courses (500 and higher) may not be taken with a Pass/Fail grading option.
Master's Degrees
A minimum of 45 graduate credits is required for conferral of the master's degree. You may not have more than 12 credits with a CR grade exclusive of practicum, internship, research, and thesis hours applied to your minimal credit requirements. Additional credits may be required by individual departments. You should develop a program of study approved by your advisor and the departmental graduate committee early in your first graduate quarter to ensure that you satisfy all degree requirements in the most efficient manner possible. Since graduate work implies advanced study and some degree of specialization, a certain amount of undergraduate preparation in the subject or field of study is presupposed before you may undertake graduate study in that subject or field.
In most departments a minimum of 27 undergraduate credits is required in the major area. Refer to the requirements listed by each program. It is your responsibility to ascertain whether a period of residence on the Athens campus is required in your major and to plan a program of study accordingly by consulting with your advisor and departmental graduate committee. A comprehensive examination may be required, the nature and timing of which is determined by the department.
Thesis Requirement
If you are in a thesis program, you will prepare the thesis under the guidance of your thesis director on a subject in the field of your major work (see "Restricted Publications of Theses or Dissertations"). The thesis provides an opportunity for you to formulate and express the results of research and study. You may meet the thesis requirement by presenting the results of a creative activity in literature, music, fine arts, or industrial arts, together with a written essay indicating the purpose, procedure, problems, and bibliography involved in the work. Each department prescribes the specific style manual to be followed by its students. You and your thesis director are responsible for maintaining accepted standards of grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, form, and scholarly style in the thesis. A pamphlet, "Format for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations," is available in the college deans' offices. This booklet contains regulations regarding type, margins, quality of paper, and other aspects, as well as detailed directions for submitting the finished thesis. If you are writing a thesis, you must obtain from your dean's office the current "Format" and the printed list of quarterly deadlines for graduation.
After the thesis has been approved by your thesis committee, thesis director, and dean, two copies are forwarded to Alden Library. In addition, one copy is retained in your department. The copies are bound and cataloged; one copy is placed in Archives and the other in the stacks. The thesis is considered a public document and made available to the public in the same manner as any other document cataloged within the University library. If you wish, you may submit a copy of the thesis to University Microfilms International for microfilming and entry into electronic databases.
Graduate students completing a thesis have the option of submitting their thesis in an electronic rather than paper copy format. A pamphlet titled "Guidelines for Preparation of Electronic Theses and Dissertations" describes this option. The pamphlet is available in the Office of Graduate Studies (McKee House). Students wishing to explore this option should contact the Office of Graduate Studies. Theses submitted electronically are available through OhioLink. A single paper copy is bound and placed in the library.
Oral Thesis Examination
An oral thesis examination is required of all students in a thesis program. The examining committee is composed of the director of the thesis (as chair) and two or more additional faculty members. You and your thesis director, in consultation with members of the examining committee, set a time and place for the examination. You must present final copies of the thesis to members of your examination committee at least two weeks before the date of your oral examination to allow adequate review of the manuscript. Results of the examination are reported to the Office of Graduate Student Services and the Office of Student Records as soon as final approval of the thesis is given.
Nonthesis Option
Several departments have master's degree programs with a nonthesis option. Consult with your advisor and carefully consider your career goals in deciding between a thesis or nonthesis option. Many academic areas regard a nonthesis master's program as a terminal degree program.
Transfer of Credit
You may transfer a maximum of 12 quarter hours of graduate credit from an accredited University to a master's degree program at Ohio University, providing the credits to be transferred must are designated graduate credit at the institution where taken, are letter graded B or better; were earned in the past five years; are applicable toward an advanced degree at the institution where taken; and were earned in courses taught by members of that institution's graduate faculty. Credit is not accepted for courses taken by correspondence. Any request for transfer of credit must be recommended by your advisor and departmental graduate committee before final review and acceptance by your dean's office. No letter grades will appear on the transcript for transferred courses, nor will they be calculated in your grade-point average.
Time Limit
The maximum time allowed between the date when you first initiate graduate study toward a master's degree and the date when you complete the requirements for the master's degree is six calendar years. Any master's degree program that requires more than 60 hours may increase the six-year time limit to seven years with the approval of the Graduate Council. Check with the Office of Graduate Studies or your graduate department to verify the time limit for your graduate program. If you do not complete your requirements within the time limit, you may be permitted to continue graduate study only if exceptional circumstances are associated with the delay.
The dean of your college may grant a one-time one-quarter extension. If circumstances require an extension of time beyond the one-quarter dean's extension, you must apply for readmission to the program. The graduate committee of the program and the dean of the college must review the readmission application. The criteria for readmission should be the currency of your courses, project, or thesis. The program may require retaking or adding particular courses, updating the project or thesis, taking additional practicum or internship hours, or fulfilling any degree requirements that have been added since the initiation of your program. If readmission is approved, the specifications for readmission must be presented to you in writing, with a copy placed on file in the Office of Graduate Studies.
Second and Dual Master's Degree
If you wish to earn a second master's degree at Ohio University, you must make formal application for admission to the department in which you are seeking the second or dual master's degree and pay the appropriate application fee. For a second master's degree, you must prepare a program of study for each master's degree by listing the course number, name, and number of credits. You may use no more than three courses or up to a maximum of 15 credit hours from one master's degree program to satisfy degree requirements. Each program of study must be signed by the departmental graduate committee in both departments in which master's degrees will be earned. You must then submit the programs of study to the Office of Graduate Studies for final approval. Any admission status given in a second master's degree program must be regarded as provisional until the programs of study are approved.
Doctoral Degrees
The doctoral degree is granted on the basis of evidence that you have achieved a high level of scholarship and proficiency in research rather than solely on the basis of successful completion of a prescribed amount of coursework. Your competence and ability to work independently and write creatively are established by qualifying and comprehensive examinations and the quality of a dissertation submitted as an account of your original research.
Program of Study and Advisory Committee
The graduate committee of your department will assign an advisor and an advisory committee who must approve the proposed program of study for the degree. Graduate work completed at another University will be considered by the departmental graduate committee and your advisory committee in the development of your program of study. The guidelines for transfer of credit outlined in the previous section apply, with the exception of the maximum number of hours, which is waived for students pursuing doctoral degrees.
Typically, when the dissertation proposal is nearing approval, the departmental graduate committee will forward to the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled a recommendation for appointment of a dean's representative, together with the names of other dissertation committee members and the title of your dissertation. The committee must consist of at least three members representing the range of content in your program of study, in addition to the representative from the dean's office.
Comprehensive Examination
When coursework is virtually completed, and upon the recommendation of the advisory committee, you take a comprehensive examination to establish your mastery of the fields of specialization and readiness for advanced research. The results of the examination must be reported within one week to the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled on a form provided by the dean's office.
A copy of this form should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies to be included in your academic file.
Scholarly Discipline Requirement
The doctoral degree by definition is research oriented, and each department determines the auxiliary research competencies needed by doctoral candidates. Competence is determined by standards and methods established by the individual department. If you expect to demonstrate proficiency in one of the scholarly disciplines in which examinations are arranged by your dean's office (e.g., statistics, computer science, or foreign language), you must file an appropriate intent form. This form is available from and should be filed with the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled. You must be registered for a minimum of two hours in the quarter in which you take the examination.
The French, German, Russian, and Spanish proficiency examinations of the Educational Testing Service are given at Ohio University several times during the year. Information and application forms are available at the Department of Modern Languages, Gordy Hall 283.
Academic Residency Requirement
Normally, at least three academic quarters of the doctoral program are in continuous residence on the Athens campus in an institutional full-time status (registration for 15 graduate credits). If you receive Ohio University stipend support, you are considered to have instructional full-time status by registering for a minimum of 12 graduate credits for an assistantship, or a minimum of 15 graduate credits for an OGS, fellowship, or tuition scholarship only. For some programs, the residency requirement can be fulfilled a third way: if you are not receiving stipend or scholarship support, you may be granted the option of completing residency requirements for the doctoral degree by enrolling in nine quarter hours of coursework per quarter for three consecutive quarters if concurrently employed in a full-time professional position, defined as one in which the experience contributes directly to your program. This option must be approved by your advisor, the department or school graduate committee, and the department chair or school director. A written justification of how the experience gained in the position is directly and educationally related to your professional goals and the goals of the program, and why this experience (alone or combined with other planned experiences) should be used to satisfy residency, is required.
You must submit the written justification to your advisor before the request will be considered. The continuous residence requirement applies to the period of graduate study following the completion of the master's degree or the completion of at least 45 graduate credits.
Admission to Candidacy
Admission to candidacy is achieved after you have completed the following steps: (1) formation of the dissertation committee (including the dean's representative), which may be the same as your advisory committee; (2) approval of the research proposal by this committee; (3) successful completion of the comprehensive examination; and (4) satisfaction of all required scholarly disciplines.
Forms indicating completion of the above steps are available from and filed in the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled. You are not permitted to schedule the oral examination of the dissertation until you have met all requirements for admission to candidacy.
A copy of your admission-to-candidacy letter should be sent to the Office of Graduate Student Services for inclusion in your official file.
Dissertation
A dissertation, the scholarly account of research in the new area of knowledge, is submitted by each candidate (see "Restricted Publications of Theses or Dissertations"). Each department prescribes the specific style manual to be followed by its students. A pamphlet, "Format for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations," is available in the deans' offices. This booklet contains regulations regarding type, margins, quality of paper, abstract, and other aspects, as well as detailed directions for submitting the finished dissertation to the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled. You must obtain from your dean's office the current "Format" and the list of quarterly deadlines for graduation.
After the dissertation has been approved by your dissertation committee, dissertation director, and dean, two copies are forwarded to Alden Library. In addition, one copy is retained in your department, and another is submitted to University Microfilms International for microfilming and entry into Dissertation Abstracts International. Upon the return of the copy from University Microfilms International, both copies are bound and cataloged; one copy is placed in Archives and the other in the stacks. The dissertation is considered a public document and made available to the public in the same manner as any other document cataloged within the University library.
A copy of the dissertation abstract should be sent to the Office of Graduate Student Services for inclusion in your official file.
Doctoral students have the option of submitting their dissertation in an electronic rather than paper copy format. A pamphlet titled "Guidelines for Preparation of Electronic Theses and Dissertations" describes this option. The pamphlet is available in the Office of Graduate Studies (McKee House). Students wishing to explore this option should contact the Office of Graduate Studies. Dissertations submitted electronically are available through OhioLink. A single paper copy is bound and placed in the library.
Copyright
Dissertations can be copyrighted at the time the manuscripts are sent to University Microfilms International. Arrangements can be made through the library for this service. Under current copyright procedures, microfilming by University Microfilms International constitutes publication. You may lose the ability to obtain a copyright if your dissertation is not copyrighted at the time of submission to your dean's office. For further information, contact the University Libraries administrative office in Alden Library 512.
Oral Dissertation Examination
An oral dissertation examination is required of all doctoral candidates. The examining committee is composed of your entire dissertation committee (including the representative of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled) unless otherwise specified by the associate provost for graduate studies. You must present final copies of the dissertation to members of the examining committee at least two weeks before the date of your oral examination to allow adequate time for review. The final arrangements for the examination must be completed through the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled at least 10 days prior to the examination. Details of the examination, including time and place, are sent by the dean's office to you and the examiners.
The Office of Graduate Studies should be notified of the date that you passed the oral examination for inclusion in your official file.
Time Limit
You must complete the doctoral program of study within seven calendar years of the date of its initiation as determined by the department and recorded in the Office of Graduate Studies.
If you do not complete requirements for the degree within the given period, you may be permitted to continue in graduate study only if exceptional circumstances are associated with the delay in progress.
The dean of your college may grant a one-time one-quarter extension. If circumstances require an extension beyond the one-quarter dean's extension, you must apply for readmission to the program. The application for readmission must be reviewed by the graduate committee of the program and the dean of the college. Criteria for readmission should be the currency of your (1) knowledge of the required work, (2) research literature, and (3) research methods and techniques. The program may require additional coursework, retaking the oral/written comprehensive examination, changing or updating the dissertation, or fulfilling any degree requirements that have been added since the initiation of your program. If you are approved for readmission, the specifications for readmission must be presented to you in writing with a copy placed on file in the Office of Graduate Studies.
Restricted Publication of Theses or Dissertations
The University does not accept theses or dissertations containing material developed as part of a research project if the thesis or dissertation is restricted from publication. Publication, for this purpose, includes the cataloging and placement of the approved manuscript in the Ohio University Libraries and, for dissertations, microfilming by University Microfilms International. (University Microfilms International does allow authors to restrict the distribution of dissertations and theses.)
Upon written request to your dean's office, you may delay publication up to a maximum of 12 months if, in the judgment of the office, the data upon which your thesis or dissertation is based are proprietary and not available in the public domain. You must submit the request for delay with the formal approval of your advisor at least one academic quarter before the normal date of publication of the thesis or dissertation.
A thesis or dissertation completed at Ohio University is withheld from the public only if it has been approved for delayed publication following the procedures outlined above or if a question of plagiarism, libelous or abusive statements, or falsification or misrepresentation of data is raised, in which case the manuscript is withheld until the issue has been resolved.
For further information, consult Ohio University Policy and Procedure #19-051.
Students submitting theses or dissertations electronically may restrict electronic access to the documents for up to five years. This provision is made available to ensure individuals the opportunity to publish the thesis or dissertation work. For additional information about this option, students should contact the Office of Graduate Studies.
Registration
Details concerning the registration procedure are given in each quarter's Schedule of Classes, which is available from the Registrar's Office before the registration period, or on the Web.
If you are a graduate student with admission status who has not registered for a quarter or more (except summer), you need to obtain a new registration access code (RAC), following the procedure detailed in the quarterly Schedule of Classes. Former students whose admission status has expired through time limits must apply for a time extension, or reapply for admission. Students whose admission status has expired due to graduation must apply to a new degree or non-degree program.
You must be registered at the graduate level in any quarter in which you receive any service from the University or use its facilities. You must also be registered in the quarter in which you will graduate. Master's students must be registered for at least one graduate credit hour, and doctoral students for at least two. Any exceptions to registration hour requirements must be approved by the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled.
If you are currently attending the University, you may preregister for a subsequent quarter.
Identification Card
When you register, you will be given information about obtaining an identification card, issued by Communication Network Services (CNS). This card, which is automatically validated when you register, gives you access to campus services including the meal plan, library privileges, and the Student Health Service.
The card is issued free of charge according to these guidelines:
- If you are a new student, you are issued a card free of charge.
- If you are a re-enrolling student returning after one year or more, your old card will be valid upon registration. If you no longer have your old card, you will be issued a new card free of charge.
- If your name or Social Security number has changed, you will be issued a new card free of charge provided you return your old card when the new one is issued.
CNS charges a card replacement fee under these circumstances:
- You will be charged $10 to replace a card that is lost, stolen, or damaged within one year of your last quarter of enrollment. (A $5 refund will be issued if you find your old card and return it to CNS during the same quarter in which it was replaced.)
- If your name or Social Security number has changed, you will be charged $10 for a new card onlyif you do not return the old card. If you return the old card when the new one is issued, you will not be charged.
Full-Time Status
A graduate student enrolling for nine or more credits is assessed full-time fees. Students with graduate contracts are required to register for a minimum of 12 or 15 graduate hours, as described elsewhere in this catalog.
Veterans Benefits
To receive full veterans benefits, you must register for at least nine quarter hours of graduate work. For more information about veterans benefits, contact the Veterans Coordinator, Chubb Hall 110.
Auditing
To audit a course, follow the registration procedures outlined in the quarterly Schedule of Classes. The academic fees for auditing a course are the same as the fees for taking a course for credit. Since auditing is a grading option, you can change from audit to credit or credit to audit only by dropping the course and re-adding it with the correct grading option. You can make this change only during the first 15 calendar days of the quarter or the active registration period for the appropriate summer session. Refer to the Schedule of Classes for specific dates.
Your instructor may set up specific requirements for auditing a course, and if you do not meet the requirements, you may be removed from the class, at the instructor's discretion, with a grade of WP or WF. Be sure to discuss your auditing status with the instructor at the first class meeting.
Courses taken for audit cannot fulfill registration requirements for graduate appointments.
Cancellation of Registration
Your advisor or graduate chair, with the approval of the dean, may request that Graduate Studies cancel your registration because of poor academic performance, failure to meet course prerequisites, falsified signatures, failure to provide final transcripts, or other violations of University policy.
Change Procedures
Change of Class ScheduleTo add a course, withdraw from a course, or correct your registration, follow the procedures outlined in the quarterly Schedule of Classes. Changes that deal with programmatic content must be approved by your faculty advisor and the course instructor.
Adds.A course may be added only during the first 15 calendar days of the quarter or the active registration period for the appropriate summer session. Follow the procedures outlined in the quarterly Schedule of Classes.
Drops.You may drop any course through the fifth week* (defined for the purpose of this policy as the 35th calendar day) of a term. After the end of the fifth week and before the last class day of the quarter, you may petition your dean in writing, requesting to drop under special circumstances. (Earning a low grade in the course is not considered such a circumstance.) If you drop a course during the first two weeks (15 calendar days), you will have no record of the course on your transcript.
If you drop a course after the 15th day of the quarter*, the instructor assigns a grade of WP or WF, indicating that you were performing work considered passing (WP) or failing (WF) at the time you dropped the course. This grade is awarded at the end of the quarter, at which time the name of each student who has dropped a course appears on the grade sheet.
If you drop some but not all hours before or during the first 15 days of the quarter*, when such changes result in reduction of fees, you are entitled to receive a 100 percent refund of the reduction. Changes made after the 15th day of the quarter* result in no refund. Please note: Cancellation of registration is defined as dropping all classes before the first day of classes. Withdrawal from the University is defined as dropping all classes on or after the first day of classes. You cannot withdraw from all classes using TRIPS or Web registration. Withdrawal is not permitted on or after the last day of class.
*NOTE: Registration deadlines vary for summer session I and II and flexibly scheduled courses. Refer to the Schedule of Courses or the Registrar's Office for specific deadlines.
This policy is to be implemented for degree-seeking graduate students in the following way: during the time between registration and the end of the fifth week, you must inform your instructor and department graduate committee chair of your intent to drop a course. After the fifth week of the quarter and before the last class day of the quarter, you may petition your department graduate committee chair in writing to request a drop under special circumstances. If the department graduate committee chair approves the request, a copy of the special petition will go to the dean of your college for approval. Poor academic performance is not sufficient grounds for dropping a course. Graduate students who are not formally part of a graduate program are covered by the drop policy as it applies to undergraduates.
Change in Program Requirements
As a degree candidate, you must either (a) meet the requirements set forth in the Graduate Catalogat the time of your initial registration in a graduate degree program, or (b) should you choose to follow the requirements of a later catalog, meet those requirements in their entirety. In the event of program changes, departments are expected to make appropriate adjustments to allow you to fulfill the requirements of the initial program of study. If an extension of time beyond one quarter is granted, you are generally expected to meet all requirements of the program at the time of the extension request. Requests for such extensions must incorporate a detailed explanation of the means employed to meet modifications in requirements enacted since your entry. This information is considered by the graduate committee and the dean of the college as part of the approval process. (This paragraph does not apply to students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine.)
Change of Personal Information
All changes to your personal data must be reported to the Registrar's Office, Chubb Hall. Forms are available in the Office of Graduate Studies or the Registrar's Office. Changes of name, social security number, and birth date must have a document verifying the correct information at the time the request is made. International students must report all changes of address in accordance with immigration regulations.
Forms for reporting a change of home or Athens address are available in the Office of Graduate Studies. You are responsible for any University office communication sent to you at the last address reported to the Registrar's Office.
Graduate Student Responsibility
You must assume responsibility for knowing University, college, and departmental regulations and for complying with all applicable procedures. In no case will a requirement be waived or an exception granted because you plead ignorance of the requirement or assert that your advisor or another authority did not inform you of the requirement. While the personnel of the Office of Graduate Studies and your advisor will endeavor to aid in every way possible, the responsibility for meeting requirements stated in this catalog rests with you.
Late Registration
Unless in the judgment of the registrar your registration has been delayed due to the convenience of the University, a late registration fee will be assessed beginning with the third week of each quarter.
The late fee* is $40 the third week, $60 the fourth week, $80 the fifth week, and $100 the sixth week.
The last day to register with a late fee is the Friday of the sixth calendar week of the quarter.
All fees, including the late registration fee, must be paid before the late registration form will be accepted and processed.
In addition to all other service charges, a $10 returned check charge will be assessed by the Bursar's Office on all checks returned by a bank for insufficient funds.
*fees subject to change without notice.
Withdrawal from the University
Apply for withdrawal on a withdrawal form obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies. When the request for withdrawal has been approved by the associate provost for graduate studies, the order is referred to the Office of Student Records, which grants an official withdrawal after it has been determined that all obligations to the University have been met. A refund of registration fees is made according to regulations. Refer to the current schedule of classes for timelines and a full description of the Refund of Registration Fee Policy.
If you withdraw after the 15th day of any quarter, you will receive a WP/WF grade in each course. If you fail to complete the work of a course and do not complete an authorized withdrawal, you will have an F reported for the course.
If you have withdrawn from the University for medical reasons, you may not be reinstated until the Office of Graduate Studies has received a written clearance from the Student Health Service.
Transcripts
A copy of a your records is issued by the Registrar's Office as an official transcript. Transcripts are made only upon written request, with a $5 charge for each copy.
Unmet University financial obligations or pending disciplinary cases may result in a hold being placed on your academic record. A transcript will not be sent until the hold is cleared by the initiating office.
Replacement Diploma
To receive a replacement diploma, you must file with the Registrar's Office a notarized affidavit attesting that your original diploma has been lost or destroyed, a copy of a court order verifying a legal name change, or a copy of your official marriage certificate. In the case of a legal name change, the original diploma must be returned.
Each affidavit requesting a replacement diploma must be accompanied by a $15 fee.
The replacement diploma will carry current titles and signatures of University officers and the notation "official replacement." Allow 6 weeks for delivery.
Academic Misconduct
All forms of academic misconduct are prohibited by the Student Code of Conduct. Academic misconduct refers to dishonesty in assignments or examinations (cheating); presenting the ideas or the writing of someone else as your own (plagiarism); or knowingly furnishing false information to the University by forgery, alteration, or misuse of University documents, records, or identification. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, permitting another student to plagiarize or cheat from your work; submitting an academic exercise (written work, printing, sculpture, computer program) that has been prepared totally or in part by another; acquiring improper knowledge of the contents of an exam; using unauthorized material during an exam; submitting the same paper in two different courses without the knowledge and consent of your professors; or submitting a forged grade change slip.
If you have committed any act of academic misconduct as determined by the judgment of a faculty member or by the procedures of the Office of University Judiciaries, serious action--which may include failure of work undertaken, failure in the course, and formal disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion by the Office of University Judiciaries--will be taken against you.
In cases of academic misconduct, a faculty member has the authority to grant a failing grade. If your course grade is lowered by an instructor who has accused you of plagiarism, you may appeal this grade first through the instructor, then the department chair or school director, and then the dean of your college. If satisfaction is not achieved through this process, the dean will appoint a faculty committee of five members, including the chair or director of the department or school, to consider your case and render a decision. The decision of this committee is not subject to further appeal.
The faculty member also has the discretion to refer your case to the director of judiciaries. The director of judiciaries, the University Hearing Board, and the University Appeal Board have the authority to take formal action that includes, but is not limited to, suspension or expulsion from the University. However, the director of judiciaries, the University Hearing Board, and the University Appeal Board have no authority to modify a grade given by a faculty member.
If you wish to appeal an action of University Judiciaries or the University Hearing Board such as suspension or expulsion by taking the matter to the University Appeal Board. Details of appeal procedures are included in the Student Handbook.
Further information on academic misconduct is available from the Office of University Judiciaries, Beckley Building, Suite D, telephone 740-593-2629.
Intellectual Property Policy
The University intellectual property policy is defined by Ohio University Policy and Procedure #17.001. In accordance with state law (Section 3345.44, Ohio Revised Code), patentable inventions created by Ohio University faculty, staff, and students are the property of the University if the work was supported by University funds or performed in University-controlled facilities. Computer software and databases are the property of the University if created as part of University-assigned duties. The policy provides for a generous sharing of any royalties among the inventors and the relevant University units, departments, and colleges. Students are encouraged to read the complete policy and procedures on the Web--at https://www.ohio.edu/policy/17-001.html - or contact the Technology Transfer Office, 20 E. Circle Drive, Suite 190, telephone 740-593-1818.
Research Using Human Subjects
The investigator in any research involving human subjects at Ohio University is expected to conduct any and all such experiments in compliance with Ohio University Policy and Procedure #19.052.
In summary, this policy applies to research investigations involving human subjects conducted by faculty, staff, or students at or under the auspices of Ohio University.
The purpose of the policy is to protect the rights and personal privacy of individuals, to assure a favorable climate for the conduct of scientific inquiry, and to protect the interests of Ohio University. Ohio University's policy on research involving human subjects is in compliance with the requirements set forth in the National Research Act (P.L. 93-348) and the regulations on public welfare set forth in Part 46 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations (45 CFR 46).
For details concerning the scope and purpose of this policy and for information concerning procedures, see the Ohio University Policy and Procedures Manualor contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
Graduation and Annual Commencement Exercise
You must apply for graduation through the Registrar's Office and pay the graduation fee by the date indicated in the University calendar. You can apply online at https://www.ohio.edu/registrar/ . If you fail to meet graduation requirements in that quarter, you must reapply for graduation and pay the graduation reapplication fee by the date indicated in the University calendar for the quarter in which you will meet graduation requirements. You must submit all work to be applied toward meeting degree requirements no later than the last day of classes of the quarter in which you expect to graduate. Additional deadlines to be met by students writing theses or dissertations are available in the office of the dean of the college in which you are enrolled.
The annual commencement is held at the close of spring quarter in June. Master's and doctoral degree recipients from the preceding winter, fall, and summer quarters are invited to attend, along with spring-quarter candidates. Doctoral candidates must be approved for graduation by their college dean before they can participate.
Academic attire with appropriate hoods is worn by candidates at the commencement exercises. Make arrangements for purchasing academic attire through the Office of Public Occasions.
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 593-1000