University Academic Regulations

University academic policies and procedures apply to all University programs. Policies and procedures unique to individual programs are stated in the Bulletin in the requirements of the program or major.

Inclement Weather

Austin Peay State University offices may remain open during periods of inclement weather.  To be notified if classes are cancelled or the University is closed due to inclement weather, students should sign-up for AP Alert, the University’s test messaging system.  Students may also check the home page of the APSU website for cancellation or closing notices.  Unless the University officially cancels classes, students are responsible for any academic work missed as a result of inclement weather.  It is the individual student’s responsibility to take the initiative in making up any missed work.

In cases of severe inclement weather and hazardous roads, students are to exercise their own judgment in making decisions about class attendance.

More information about the inclement weather procedures can be found at http://www.apsu.edu/alert/weather.aspx.

Academic Advising

Academic advisement is a process that begins prior to admission and continues through graduation. Each undergraduate is assigned a faculty or professional advisor at the time of initial enrollment. The role of the faculty adviser is to help students clarify personal goals, career options, courses of study, program requirements and educational needs. The faculty adviser should maintain regular contact. Advisement is a process in which students gain meaningful insights into their academic, social and personal experiences and needs. Faculty advisers serve as coordinators of the educational experience and monitor student progress at critical times during the year. While the faculty adviser assists the student to identify and assess the alternatives and the consequences of academic decisions, academic choices rest with the students. Each department and college has policies specific to advisement.

Declared Students

Students who have declared a major will be advised each term through their academic department. At the end of the advising session, the advisor will clear the student for registration. Students should review their OneStop advising page to confirm they have been cleared to register. A green checkmark will appear next to the respective term if the student has been cleared.

Students Without a Declared Major

Students who have not declared a major will be assisted in choosing an Academic Focus and appropriate core courses by student success coordinators in the Center for Teaching and Learning in Miller Hall Room 201. The student success coordinator in this area will assist incoming students in identifying a focus area of study, advising students with fewer than 60 semester hours in course selecting and identifying a major consistent with a student’s educational and career goals.

Registration

The Office of the Registrar, located in Ellington 316, is the central administrative office responsible for the registration process, maintaining permanent academic records and, performing degree audits.

After meeting with their academic advisor, APSU students are eligible to register. The registration process includes three phases. The dates for each phase are stated in the official academic calendar on the APSU website at apsu.edu.registrar.

• Priority registration—open to currently enrolled students.
• Open registration—open to new students and readmitted students.
• Late Registration; Drop/Add period— open to students eligible to enroll as fully admitted student for a given semester.

Registration Holds

Holds may be placed on a student’s registration in order to satisfy an obligation owed to the University. Holds are communicated to the student via AP OneStop and APSU email. The most frequent holds are for debts owed the University, such as an unpaid parking ticket or library fine.  Registration, transcript requests, and conferral of degrees cannot be processed unless a hold is removed.

Classification of Students

The academic standing or classification of undergraduate students is based on number of credit hours they have earned as follows:

Full-Time Load

The basic unit of all college work is the “semester credit hours.” For undergraduate students, twelve (12) semester hours for Fall or Spring semester is a full-time load in determining such things as veteran status, financial aid, and insurance eligibility. To determine your eligibility for clarksville campus and our Fort Campbell campus, please visit the Financial Aid website at www.apsu.edu/financialaid.  However, the usual load for a full-time undergraduate student is at least 15 semester hours. Because the summer term is approximately one-third the length of the semester, the workload for one course is three times as heavy. APSU strongly recommends students register for no more than six (6) semester hours in each summer term. Graduate students who enroll for eight (8) hours during the semester are considered full-time.

Auditing

Auditing (no credit awarded) of courses will be permitted for regularly enrolled students who have obtained the permission of the instructor. Such courses count at full value in computing the student’s course load and fees, and the student’s name appears on the official class roll and should appear on the student’s approved schedule of classes. Students who wish to audit a course must complete and submit an Audit Card to the Office of the Registrar before the end of late registration. Once the card has been submitted, the student may not change audit status. The grade awarded is AU and has no effect on the student’s grade-point average; it cannot be changed at a future time. Students may not receive financial aid for audited courses.

Internship

Some academic programs offer the opportunity for internships for which students can earn credit that applies toward the degree. The department which houses the program facilitates all aspects of the internship and awards a grade when the internship is completed.

Unit of Credit

The University offers instruction and grants credit on the semester system, with the academic year on the Main Campus including Fall and Spring semesters, and Summer term.  One semester hour of credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter hours credit.  One quarter hour of credit is equivalent to two-thirds of a semester hour credit.

Maximum Loads

Students who meet full admission requirements may enroll in and receive credit toward graduation in a maximum of 18 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters at the clarksville campus or 9 hours in any term at APSU Center @ FC. This includes registrations at all colleges and universities and APSU Center@ FC. A deviation from this policy must be approved on a Request for Overload form by the student’s advisor or the department chair and the dean of the college in which the student’s major is housed. The maximum load for undergraduate students during the summer terms is eight (8) hours in either five-week session or fourteen (14) hours during the entire summer term.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

A number of APSU courses require the completion of prerequisites by students who wish to enroll in the courses. Therefore, students should attempt to schedule courses that serve as prerequisites for advanced study early in their academic career. Courses numbered 1000-2999 are designed to serve as preparation for upper division requirements. Students may not enroll in any course for which they have not completed the prerequisite satisfactorily or in which they are not enrolled during the priority registration period. Corequisite courses must be taken concurrently and will be listed as such in course descriptions.

Classification of Courses

Courses of instruction for degree credit in the curriculum of the University are divided into three categories: lower division courses (typically regarded as freshman and sophomore level) are numbered 1000-2999; upper division courses (junior and senior level courses) are numbered 3000-4999. Graduate courses are numbered 5000 and above. Undergraduate students may enroll in graduate courses only if they meet minimum requirements as listed in the GRADUATE BULLETIN and receive prior approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies. Courses numbered below 1000 do not count for degree credit, but do count for determining fees, enrollment status and grade point average (GPA).

APSU 1000 Requirement

All first time freshman and students who enter Austin Peay State University with fewer than 12 hours earned in a college/university setting (including Web courses) after high school graduation, must enroll in APSU 1000  during the first semester of enrollment. Conditionally admitted students must enroll in designated sections. Student must register and remain enrolled in APSU 1000 until a grade of C is earned.

Enhanced Courses with SLA Requirement

www.apsu.edu/academic_support/

Students whose ACT, SAT, or placement assessment mathematics, reading, or English scores do not meet the requirements of the Tennessee Board of Regents for university-level courses must enroll in an enhanced section of the appropriate core course. Structured Learning Assistance is a required part of every enhanced course. Assessment scores that place students in enhanced mathematics are: ACT 13-18; SAT 280-450. Assessment scores that place students in enhanced English are: ACT 13-17; SAT 340-440. Assessment scores that place students in enhanced history (reading) are ACT 13-18; SAT 360-450.

Academic Standards and Regulations

Students are responsible for participating in academic advisement and for adhering to the schedule of courses for which they register unless they officially make changes. Students may drop and add courses using AP OneStop and can withdraw from the University by withdrawing online through AP OneStop or submitting required forms to the Office of the Registrar within the time limits established in the Official University Calendar, which is available at www.apsu.edu/registrar.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend class regularly, to participate in class, and to be prepared with assignments. The University requires faculty to report students who have never attended or who stopped attending class. The impact of class attendance on the final grade is within the purview of the teaching faculty, and faculty will inform class members of their attendance policies through a course syllabus distributed at the beginning of the semester or term. Irregular attendance may result in referral to the Academic Support Office (Academic Alert). Students who miss an examination because of extenuating circumstances must request approval from the instructor. Unless the student is officially representing the University off campus, the discretion of the instructor determines the action regarding missed exams or work. Class absenteeism that results in the grade of “FA” (failure, stopped attending) or “FN” (failure, never attended) may adversely affect the student’s time status, financial aid repayment of lottery scholarship, and/or veteran’s benefits.  Grades of “FA” are awarded for courses when a student stops attending class and grade of “FN” is awarded for courses when a student never attends the class.

Grading System

At the end of each semester, the student’s quality of work is graded by the instructor. The grades are indicated by letters on a four-point system being used:

*Not calculated in GPA

Grades of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” carry the appropriate quantity and quality credits, and all grades calculated in the GPA affect the student’s academic standing. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 APSU, Major, Minor and overall GPA in order to graduate.  Effective Summer 2015 and after, any coursework transferred to APSU, regardless of when it was earned, will not be included in the overall GPA calculation.  It will also not be included in the major or minor calculation.

Quality Points and Grade-Point Average (GPA)
Students must obtain a degree of excellence higher than is indicated by a minimum passing grade. For determining the qualitative standing of a student, quality credits are used. To graduate, a student must make a “C” (2.00) average on all credits attempted—that is, earn twice as many quality points as quality hours attempted. In determining the academic standing and grade-point average of a student, the following two factors are used:

1. Total quality hours of credit the student has attempted. (In the case of a repeated course, the course is counted as attempted one time only, except as stated under the “Course Repeats” section.) Courses taken on a Pass-Fail basis, “I” and “IP” grades are not included in the hours attempted.
2. Total quality points earned in courses. (In the case of a repeated course, only the quality points earned the last time the student receives a grade in the course are included, except as stated under the “Course Repeats” section.) Quality points are not earned in courses taken on a Pass-Fail basis.

Graduation GPA

The Grade-Point Average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total quality points earned by the total quality hours attempted, including all courses attempted at APSU and at other institutions (transfer coursework).  Effective Summer 2015 and after, any coursework transferred to APSU, regardless of when it was earned, will not be included in the overall GPA calculation.  It will also not be included in the major or minor calculation.

Academic Standing GPA (Overall Combined)

The Grade Point Average (GPA) for Academic Standing (Overall Combined) is determined by dividing the total quality points earned by the total quality hours attempted, including all courses attempted at APSU and other institutions (transfer work).

*Note–Effective Summer 2015 and forward: This GPA will not include transfer work for any new student enrolling Summer 2015 and forward.  Also, any returning student who attended another institution during his/her absence from APSU, will not have that transfer work included in his/her overall /overall inclusive GPA.  Previously included transfer work remain included.

Grade Reporting
Students are assigned a grade in a course at the end of the semester or term. A mid-term grade must be awarded in all courses numbered 1000-2999 and may be awarded in upper division courses; they do not affect University GPA.

Grade of Incomplete
A grade of incomplete (I) must be changed within one calendar year or the grade of “I” will automatically convert to a grade of “F.” After the grade of “F” is recorded, the student will have one calendar year to appeal the “F” grade through the instructor of the course. If approved, an official grade change must be submitted by the instructor through AP OneStop for the Dean of the college for his/her approval no later than one calendar year after the grade of “F” was recorded.

Pass-Fail Grading
Students, except those on academic probation, will be permitted to take some courses, excluding core courses, in which they may receive a grade of Pass or Fail. These courses are identified in the Course Descriptions section. In order to be eligible for this program, the student must have satisfactorily completed 24 semester hours at APSU, must be enrolled full-time (12 hours) in letter-grade courses, and may take only one such course. Other than for the exceptions listed in certain programs, no student will be permitted to apply toward a degree more than 12 semester hours of traditional credit graded with Pass.

Participating students will be awarded a grade of “P” if the required coursework was judged by the instructor to be at a level of “C” or above. Such courses do not impact grade-point averages for graduation or for honors. Students must have the permission of the instructor to enroll on a pass/fail basis unless the course is designated as a pass/fail course. A student may change to a pass/fail basis only during the normal drop/add period.

Not Recorded (NR) Grade
A grade of “NR” will be recorded for all courses in which an instructor fails to enter a final grade. Students should contact the instructor immediately if a grade of “NR” has been recorded.

Grade Changes
Errors in grades must be reported to the instructor of the course immediately.  No grade changes will be made for one calendar year after the grade was assigned without the approval of the college dean and Provost.

Grade Appeal
Students may appeal final course grades entered in the fall semester no later than 30 calendar days after the start of the spring semester. Students may appeal final course grades entered in the spring, maymester, and summer semesters no later than 30 calendar days after the start of the fall semester. If the deadline date falls on a weekend or holiday, then the deadline shall be the next business day. Please see Policy Number 3:033, Student Course Grade Appeal Policy, for detailed information.  Once a degree has been posted to the transcript, the academic record is deemed complete, and changes will not be made on grades prior to the posted degree.

For purposes of this policy, courses held in Fort Campbell Spring I and Spring II are considered spring semester courses, Summer III courses are considered Summer semester courses, and Fall I and Fall II courses are considered Fall semester courses.

Access to Grades
Students may obtain their mid-term and final grades through AP OneStop for students (http://onestop.apsu.edu).
 

Dropping Courses, Grades Awarded, Withdrawals

After a student has officially registered for a class, the student is considered to be a member of the class unless the student officially drops the class, officially withdraws from the University, is canceled by administrative authority, or is permanently excluded by the Student Academic Grievance Committee. All financial obligations are retained when the student discontinues class attendance without officially dropping or withdrawing from the University.

Grades Awarded for Dropped Courses
The grade awarded for a dropped course or for courses from which the student withdrew depends on the date the student withdrew from the course or from the University. The dates for awarding grades appear in the Official University Calendar.

1. A grade of “W” is awarded when the student drops or withdraws within the time period the University has established for awarding an automatic “W.” The grade has no impact on the student’s cumulative GPA.
2. A grade of “F”, “FA” or “W” will be awarded if the student drops or withdraws between the automatic “W” date and the automatic “F” date. A grade of “W” will only be awarded if the instructor determines the student is passing at the time of withdrawal.
3. A grade which the course resides of “F” or “FA” is awarded during the mandatory “F” period. Very limited exceptions are made and require the student to present to the Dean of the College, in which the course resides, acceptable reasons establishing the existence of extenuating circumstances. The dean’s decision is communicated to the instructor.

Withdrawal from the University
Official withdrawal requires all courses to be dropped by withdrawing online through AP OneStop at http://onestop.apsu.edu. First time freshmen, athletes and active duty soldiers using GoArmyEd are not permitted to withdraw online. First time freshmen must contact the Academic Alert Coordinator at 931-221-6555 and athletes must contact the Athletic Department at 931-221-6119 to initiate the withdrawal process. Please print off the withdrawal form located at www.apsu.edu/registrar/forms.htm and take it to your appointment with the Academic Alert Coordinator or Athletics. Once you have obtained all necessary signatures, the form must be returned to the Office of the Registrar, Ellington 316 for processing and finalization of the withdrawal process. Active duty soldiers who registered through the GoArmyEd portal must withdraw from classes through the GoArmyEd portal. Any fee adjustment of tuition and fees will be based on the published schedule for fee adjustments included in the Official University Calendar and the date the completed withdrawal form is submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Withdrawal from the University may require repayment of financial aid, loss of lottery scholarship eligibility and loss of VA benefits. Students receiving financial aid should meet with the financial aid counselor prior to withdrawal.

Placement Assessment

1. Prospective students 21 and older who are applying to APSU and cannot provide valid ACT/SAT scores
2. International students without valid ACT/SAT scores
3. Transfer students 21 and older who have earned fewer than 12 hours of transferable college credit from a regionally accredited college or university and cannot provide valid ACT/SAT scores
4. Transfer students with 12 or more hours who are unable to document transferable college-level English, history and mathematics courses from a regionally accredited college or university

The placement assessment is used for academic placement. Students whose scores fall below the level of college ready* are required to enroll in enhanced sections of core courses. Deficiencies in reading and writing (English) must be removed during the student’s entering semester or term. A mathematics deficiency must be addressed within the first 30 hours of enrollment.

The placement assessment is offered in the Testing Center, Ellington 202, and at APSU @ Fort Campbell. An appointment with the APSU Testing Center is required. Students may schedule an appointment by calling 931-221-6269 or go to the website at http://www.apsu.edu/testing.

*appropriate learning support required if initial assessment scores fall below:

Transferability of Credit

Austin Peay accepts credits from other regionally accredited colleges and universities as transfer credit. Substitutions of transfer credit in the requirements of the major must be approved by the department in which the major is housed. Students may appeal the denial of transfer of credit from non-regionally accredited institutions; the decision regarding such credit is deferred until after registration at APSU. Stipulations that apply to transfer credit include:

1. All Transfer Hours Attempted, Hours Earned, Quality Points, and Grade Point averages earned at other colleges and universities will be included in the APSU academic record.  As of Summer 2015, all new or returning students who attended another institution while absent from APSU, transfer work GPA will not be included in the APSU academic record.
2. Courses earned with grades of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “P” will be considered for applicability toward the APSU degree; only grades of “A,” “B,” or “C” will be accepted for ENGL 1010 , and remedial courses.  A grade of “F” will be posted on the APSU academic record.  Transfer grades are equated to the APSU grading system.
3. Courses earned with grade of “I” will transfer to APSU as a grade of “F.”
4. The completion of an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree in a university parallel (transfer) program at any Tennessee Board of Regents two-year institution, as stated in the institution’s 1988 or later Bulletin, satisfies the General Education core requirements for the BBA and BS and all core requirements for the BA except for Humanities Foreign Language (6 hours). The only exception to this policy is if the student has not completed six semester hours of history.  Students who have not completed six semester hours of history will not have met the General Education core requirements. Moreover, certain requirements of specific degree programs at APSU may be satisfied by careful selection of General Education core courses at the two-year institution. This policy also applies to Hopkinsville Community College if six semester hours of history have been included and if their core has been met without exception. The Associate of Applied Science programs at Fort Campbell, TBR Community Colleges or Hopkinsville Community College do not fulfill the General Education core requirements for the baccalaureate degree.
5. The completion of a baccalaureate degree from any institution or the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree from a foreign university as certified by an educational credential agency may satisfy the General Education core requirements for a second bachelor’s degree, unless the history requirement in this Bulletin has not been met.
6. There is not a maximum or minimum number of hours of credit that can be transferred from a community or junior college. Only lower division credits are transferable from a community or junior college. Courses will be evaluated on an individual basis as to their applicability toward degree requirements and must meet all University degree requirements.
7. APSU grants non-traditional credit for military service and service schools in accordance with the recommendations included in the “Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services,” published by the American Council on Education.
8. APSU grants credit for courses completed only from institutions that are accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association for colleges and universities.
9. Credit earned as a transient student that will be transferred to APSU must be approved on a Coursework Approval Form prior to the student registering.
10. Only new transfer students beginning Fall 1999 may be considered for transfer credit from a non-regionally accredited institution of higher learning when requested during their first term at Austin Peay. Readmit, SOCAD, and currently enrolled students may request consideration for only such credits earned during or after Fall 1999. Course equivalency credit may be awarded only after review and approval by the appropriate academic department chair or designee and dean. One application for Transfer of Credit from a Non-Regionally Accredited Institution of Higher Learning Application is required for each course requested for acceptance. A course competency examination or other evidence may be required as a part of this process.
11. Transfer applicants who have a valid ACT English score of 28-30 (SAT/SAT1 verbal/ critical reading 620-680) may receive credit for ENGL 1010 . Those with a valid ACT English score of 31-36 (SAT/SAT 1 verbal/critical reading 690- 800) may receive credit for ENGL 1010  and ENGL 1020 . Students will receive this credit only if they have not already received college credit for ENGL 1010  and ENGL 1020 .

Credit by Examination

A student may receive university credit by AP, IB, CLEP or other such examinations and by experiential learning.

Life/Work Portfolio Experiential Learning Credit

Options at the Undergraduate Level
Austin Peay State University offers a variety of assessment tools for the evaluation of college-level knowledge gained through work and life experience. A student may earn a maximum of 15 semester hours at the undergraduate level through experiential learning credit. APSU prescribed allocations for experiential credit fall within the established Southern Association of Colleges and Schools parameters for experiential credit. Experiential learning credits may be earned in Communication and Theatre, Professional Studies, Health and Human Performance, Medical Technology and Computer Science, Criminal Justice and Information Technology.

Students earning experiential credit must meet the minimum residency requirements of 25% of the total number of credits required for the degree at Austin Peay State University. The privilege of seeking experiential learning credit is available to both full-time and part-time degree status students. A student should meet with his or her program advisor at the beginning of the academic career at Austin Peay State University to determine how experiential learning may be applicable to the degree.

Portfolio Development
Upon approval by the appropriate chair a student may develop a portfolio for a course or courses offered by Austin Peay State University to gain college-level credit. Portfolios are submitted to the faculty advisor and/or the department chair(s) of the appropriate department(s). The process ideally includes a preliminary study of the portfolio, an interview with the student, and the determination of credit to be awarded by the faculty assessor. A student seeking experiential credit via a life/work portfolio must complete an APSU non-credit portfolio development course through Continuing Education.

Students must choose CLEP, departmental challenge exams or other approved mechanisms to receive credit for prior knowledge when available in lieu of seeking credit via portfolio. Experiential learning credits awarded will be treated in the same way as transfer credits; a “P” (Pass) will be assigned and will not count in the grade point average. For additional information about various options for earning experiential learning credit, contact The Center at (931) 221-6487.

Candidates for portfolio credit are:

1. Returning students with significant work experience
2. Employed at least 5-7 years in a particular field, with increasing responsibilities
3. Highly organized – effective speakers and writers
4. Highly motivated – will work independently to complete a project
5. Able to reflect on work and training

International Baccalaureate (IB)
Austin Peay State University honors International Baccalaureate (IB) credit for certain undergraduate classes for which an equivalent is offered and for which the required grade is achieved.

 College Level Examination Program General Examinations Credits (CLEP)
Students who have earned fewer than 60 hours of traditional college credit may receive university credit by satisfactorily completing the appropriate CLEP (College Level Examination Program) general exam.  Students seeking such credit must have earned no credit for a similar course for which the credit is to be awarded.  A six-month waiting period is required before a student can repeat a general examination.  Effective October 17, 2014, the required waiting period before a student can repeat a general examination will be three months.  Contact the University Testing Center for additional information regarding CLEP exams.  See below for the list of CLEP general examinations and the APSU courses for which the credit can be applied.

 College Level Examination Program Subject Examinations Credits (CLEP)
In order to receive credit for the CLEP Subject Examinations the student must not have attempted credit in a similar course for which the credit is to be awarded.  Both the objective tests and the essay tests may be required for Subject Examinations.  A waiting period of six months is required before a student is eligible to repeat any Subject Examinations.  Contact the Testing Center for additional information on CLEP Examinations.   See the list below of CLEP subject examinations and the APSU courses for which credit can be applied.

*Both the essay portion and the objective portion of the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature test are required to receive credit for ENGL 1020.
**English Literature credit hours change effective January 2016.
 

Correspondence Credit
Credit earned upon completion of correspondence courses taken from a regionally accredited university will be accepted. Students registered at APSU must have permission on the Coursework Approval Form to take a correspondence course. While in residence at the University, the student may not take English Composition by correspondence.

Departmental Proficiency Examinations
Some academic departments give proficiency examinations to students under limited conditions in conjunction with an instructor who is willing to administer and grade the examination. Students should have the requisite knowledge and skills upon completion of existing courses, from previous experience, or personal expertise. Students should contact the respective department chair about potential courses for departmental proficiency examinations. Students must complete the Application for Departmental Proficiency form (available from the Office of the Registrar) and pay the respective fees prior to the examination. To be acceptable for credit the student must have attained a minimum grade of “B” on the examination.

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
Credit earned through DANTES-Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) will be evaluated using ACE guidelines. DSST exams are available from the Testing Center.

Non-Traditional Credits
Students may be able to receive college credit for other experiences and examinations. A complete list of examinations and experiences and the courses for which the student may receive credit may be found at http://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/registrar/Non-Traditional-Credits_2.pdf.

Military Service Experience
Students are eligible to receive non-traditional credit for military experiences after successfully completing one course at APSU and attaining regular student status. Military experience is evaluated using the appropriate ACE Guide recommendation. Students who have completed Basic Training are awarded two hours of Physical Activity and three hours of HHP 1250 - Wellness Concepts and Practice .

Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)
Austin Peay State University honors Advance Placement (AP) credit for certain classes in which an equivalent is offered and for which the required score is achieved.  The following Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) are accepted for credit toward a degree.

Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) Credit

Students who have successfully passed the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) examination may submit scores to the Office of the Registrar and receive undergraduate credit.  Courses for which credit may be received are listed below.

Law Enforcement and Corrections Training

Upon completion of one APSU course, a regular admitted student may request evaluation of training received from the following Tennessee academies: Metropolitan Police Department (Nashville), Tennessee Basic Police School (Donelson), Tennessee Department of Safety (Donelson) and Tennessee Department of Corrections (Tullahoma).  The following courses represent the credit usually given for the B.S. degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security.

Excelsior College Examination for Nursing Students

Students not attending NLNAC School of Nursing
The School of Nursing grants credit for the following Excelsior College Exam in nursing for (RN-BSN) registered nurses.  If a student does not pass the examination, it may be retaken once.  If the minimum score is not made, the RN/BSN student must take and pass that course within the APSU Nursing Program.  Official scores must be sent to the APSU Office of Admissions and the School of Nursing.  After careful review, a memo with scores attached will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar for recording to the academic record.  Contact the School of Nursing for additional information at this website http://www.apsu.edu/nursing.

Credit for Students Graduating from Excelsior
The School of Nursing grants credit for Excelsior College Exams in nursing for BSN completion students.  These course/exams are completed to meet requirements for Associate of Science in Nursing.  This credit is to be granted to students who are licensed registered nurses and is to be used for Escrow transfer credit for nursing courses.  Transcripts from Excelsior College will validate passing of these courses/exams.  Excelsior College is an NLNAC accredited program.  The director of the School of Nursing will recommend the exams to be approved for escrow on an individual basis.  Contact the BSN completion track coordinator.

Academic Status

Three levels of academic status exist: good standing, academic probation, and academic suspension. Students placed on academic probation or academic suspension receive notification from the Office of the Registrar at the end of the semester or term the status was earned.

Good Standing
This status means that the student is meeting the minimum standard for retention. Satisfactory Academic Progress means that the student is not on academic probation or suspension and meets the following overall GPA requirements:

1.5 for 0-29 hours attempted
1.8 for 30-45 hours attempted
1.9 for 46-59 hours attempted
2.0 for 60 and above hours attempted

Graduation requirements require that the student earn an overall GPA of 2.00, a minimum APSU GPA of 2.00, a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major, and a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the minor if applicable. Programs may require a higher GPA for retention in the program.  Effective Summer 2015 and after, any coursework transferred to APSU, regardless of when it was earned, will not be included in the overall GPA calculation.  It will also not be included in the major or minor calculation.

Academic Probation
A student will be placed on academic probation at the completion of any semester/term or summer session when the student’s cumulative GPA falls below the following:

Quality hours attempted include all courses and  hours except for grades of “AU”, “I”, “IP”, “NR” and “W.”  Students on academic probation are limited to a credit load of 14 hours during the Fall and Spring semesters or 6 hours at Fort Campbell or all Summer sessions.  Freshmen and Sophomores placed on academic probation will be required to participate in the academic strengthening program, Promoting Academic Student Success by enrolling in PASS 0900.  Students who do not complete the PASS course will be required to enroll in the course the next semester.  If they are still on academic probation.  If a student enrolled in PASS 0900 is placed on Academic Suspension and has failed to earn a passing grade in PASS 0900 he/she will not be allowed to appeal the academic suspension and students will be required to serve their academic suspension.  Students who are indefinitely suspended must wait one year before they are permitted to appeal to the Student Academic Standing Committee.  Other students on probation or students returning from academic suspension are also encouraged to participate in the program.  Please contact the Center for Teaching and Learning office at 931-221-7633 or go to the website at http://www.apsu.edu/ctl for information about the program.  Conditionally admitted students enter on probation and will be subject to suspension after the first semester if their semester GPA is less than 1.50.

Academic Suspension
Students on academic probation who, at the end of the semester/term of enrollment, fail to earn the grade-point average required for that semester (Column A below) or to raise their overall GPA to the required minimum (Column B below) will be suspended for the next semester as well as for any term that might be in session before the next semester begins (e.g., summer term).

Quality hours attempted includes all courses and hours except for grades of “AU”, “I”, “IP”, “W” and “NR.”

The student who is academically suspended for the second time (Second Suspension) including suspensions from all colleges and universities attended, will be suspended for one calendar year.  The student suspended for the third time or more (Indefinite Suspension) may be readmitted only by a petition for reinstatement approved by the Academic Suspension Appeals Committee.

Suspended students may file a written appeal of their suspension period with the Office of the Registrar no later than the deadline date indicated in the student’s suspension letter.  Only one appeal per suspension period may be made, with Indefinite Suspension limited to one appeal per calendar year.  The academic suspension on appeals committee will review paperwork for each appeal and render a decision.  The decision of the committee is final.  Students who successfully appeal an Academic Suspension will be required to participate in the academic strengthening program, Promoting Academic Student Success, and enroll in PASS 0900.  Students who do not complete the PASS course will be required to enroll in the course the next semester if they are still on academic probation.  If a student enrolled in PASS 0900 is placed on Academic Suspension and has failed to earn a passing grade in PASS 0900 he/she will not be allowed to appeal the academic suspension and students will be required to serve their academic suspension.  Students who are indefinitely suspended must wait one year before they are permitted to appeal to the Student Academic Standing Committee.

The University reserves the right to cancel a student’s registration with full fee adjustment should the student enroll prior to being officially notified of an academic suspension.

A student on academic suspension may not be admitted to, or continue in, any program at APSU for credit or for grade-point purposes. 

Academic Forgiveness Policies

CARE Policy

A. The CARE (Credentials Analysis and Re-Evaluation) Policy is a plan of academic forgiveness, which allows undergraduate students who have experienced academic difficulty to make a clean start upon returning to college after an extended absence.

B. The CARE allows eligible students to resume study without being penalized for his/her past unsatisfactory scholarship and signals the initiation of a new QPA/GPA to be used for determining academic standing.

C. Readmitted students who were formally enrolled in the institution as well as transfer students who meet institutional requirements for admission and who have been separated from all institutions of higher education for a minimum of two (2) years are eligible for CARE. CARE is not available for students who have earned a college degree.

D. CARE criteria:

a.  Once the student has satisfied the above requirements, the institution may grant CARE.  The student may be granted CARE only once.

b.  The student’s permanent record will remain a record of all work; however, up to 18 credit hours taken which earned grades of D or F during all terms beginning within a continuous 365 day window will be excluded from the calculation of the QPA/GPA. QPA, GPA and credit hours will reflect courses for which passing grades were earned and retained.

(1) Retained grades will be calculated in the CARE QPA/GPA.
(2) Courses with D or F grades must be repeated at the institution when they are required in the student’s current major.
(3) The application of retained credit toward degree requirements will be determined by the requirements currently in effect at the time the academic renewal status is conferred on the student. Specific program requirements must also be met.
(4) Previously satisfied Assessment and Placement Program (COMPASS) requirements will not be forfeited.

c. Upon degree admission, CARE applicants who did not satisfy COMPASS requirements at the time of previous enrollment and whose academic plan includes completion of a college-level English or mathematics course must meet current Academic Assessment and Placement Program (COMPASS) requirements regarding enrollment in college English and mathematics courses.

d. The student’s transcript will note that CARE was applied and the date on which it was applied.

e. By applying for CARE, the student signifies understanding that institutions other than APSU may not accept the QPA as it is calculated with CARE.

E. This policy is independent of financial aid regulations. Financial aid requirements at the time of application will apply. Therefore, a CARE applicant should check with his/her financial aid counselor for guidance.

FRESH START

Minimum Criteria for Institutional Academic Fresh Start Policies

1. “Academic Fresh Start” is a plan of academic forgiveness which allows undergraduate students who have experienced academic difficulty to make a clean start upon returning to college after an extended absence.
2. The Academic Fresh Start allows eligible students to resume study without being penalized for his/her past unsatisfactory scholarship and signals the initiation of a new QPA/GPA to be used for determining academic standing.
3. Readmitted students who were formally enrolled in the institution as well as transfer students who meet institutional requirements for admission and who have been separated from all institutions of higher education for a minimum of four (4) years are eligible for the Fresh Start.  Academic Fresh Start is not available for students who have earned a college degree.
4. Academic Fresh Start criteria:
   1. Student Requirements
      1. Separation from all collegiate institutions for at least four (4) years.
      2. Anytime after the readmission or admission as a degree-seeking student, file a formal application to the dean of the college of the student’s major requesting the Academic Fresh Start and describing an academic plan.
   2. Terms of the Academic Fresh Start
      1. Once the student has satisfied the above requirements, the institution may grant the Academic Fresh Start. The student may be granted a Fresh Start only once.
      2. The student’s permanent record will remain a record of all work; however,courses taken and previously failed will be excluded from the calculation of the QPA/GPA. Courses with a D grade will also be excluded from the calculation when a grade of C or better is required in the student’s current major. QPA, GPA and credit hours will reflect courses for which passing grades were earned and retained.
         1. Retained grades will be calculated in the Fresh Start QPA/GPA.
         2. Courses with D or F grades must be repeated at the institution when they are required in the student’s current major. All remaining courses for the current degree objectives must be completed at the institution. No transient credit will be accepted after invoking Academic Fresh Start.
            1. The application of retained credit toward degree requirements will be determined by the requirements currently in effect at the time the academic renewal status is conferred on the student. Specific program requirements must also be met.
         3. Previously satisfied Assessment and Placement Program (COMPASS) requirements will not be forfeited.
      3. Upon degree admission, Fresh Start applicants who did not satisfy COMPASS requirements at the time of previous enrollment and whose academic plan includes completion of a college-level English or mathematics course must meet current Academic Assessment and Placement Program (COMPASS) requirements regarding enrollment in college English and mathematics courses.
      4. The student’s transcript will note that the Fresh Start was made and the date of the Fresh Start. 
      5. The student will apply for the Fresh Start with the understanding that all TBR institutions will honor a Fresh Start provision granted at another TBR institution. The student should also signify understanding that non-TBR institutions may not accept the QPA as it is calculated with the Fresh Start.
      6. This policy is independent of financial aid regulations. Financial aid requirements at the time of application will apply. Therefore, a Fresh Start applicant should check with his/her financial aid counselor for guidance.

Drop and Withdrawal Standards

After the official registration period is over, students may make adjustments in their schedule through the process of adding and/or dropping courses.

1. A student may drop or add a course by obtaining the approval of the appropriate administrators.
2. The last date for students to add or drop a course without a penalty is to be clearly indicated and expressed in the catalogue or bulletin of each institution.
3. At the discretion of the institution, courses that are dropped within the add-drop period may be or may not be indicated on the student’s transcript.
4. After the last day to add or drop a class without a penalty, and not later than two-thirds into the semester, a student may officially drop a course(s) or withdraw from the institution and receive a “W” or other appropriate symbol/grade.
5. In general, such symbol/grade counts as no hours attempted.
   1. Universities
      1. After two-thirds of the semester is complete, a student may drop a course(s) or withdraw from the institution without a mandatory grade of “F” only after having established the existence of unavoidable circumstances.
      2. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the appropriate university administrators or faculty to determine the grade the student is to receive, which could be an “F”.
      3. Statements describing this process will be clearly shown in the catalogue or bulletin of the university.
   2. Community Colleges
      1. A student who drops a course or withdraws from the community college after two-thirds of the semester is complete will receive a “W” or other appropriate symbol in the course or courses passing.
      2. However, the student will receive a failing grade (usually denoted by an “F”) in the course or courses failing unless it can be clearly demonstrated that an unusual condition or hardship exists.
      3. Each institution must develop institutional guidelines outlining specific types of conditions or hardships which will be considered as acceptable.
6. Students who desire to drop a course (s) or withdraw from the institution before the end of a semester must make a formal application in the appropriate administrative office of the institution which will be so defined in the catalogue or bulletin of the institution.
7. If for any reason a student does not officially drop a course(s) or withdraw from the institution; the student will receive an “F” for each course(s) involved.

Course Repeats

Students who are repeating courses with course numbers that are not identical with grades other than “A” or “B” must complete a Course Repeat form located on the Office of the Registrar website at www.apsu.edu/registrar. This form must be returned to the Office of the Registrar by the 14th day of classes.

Approval to repeat a course with a “B” or better must complete a Request to Repeat Course(s) with Previous Grade(s) of “B” or Better form located on the Office of the Registrar website under Online Forms at www.apsu.edu/registrar, and may only be granted by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

If a course taken at another school is repeated at APSU, the course at the other institution will be marked as a repeat. If the course transferred to APSU as an elective, the student must petition the chair of the department in which the course is offered in order for the elective course to be marked as a repeat.

The last grade received in a repeated course will be used in the computation of the GPA. However, in cases where the course is attempted three times, including transfer work, the third and all future grades for the course will be included in the computation of the GPA. Repeating a course already passed will result in the last grade received and credits earned from the last grade. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Note:  Coursework transferred to APSU after Summer 2015 may be used for a repeat and to exclude a previous earned grade, but will not be used in the GPA calculation.

Dean’s List

Clarksville Campus
At the end of each specific semester/term a list of honor students, known as the Dean’s List, is published.  To qualify for this distinction the clarksville campus student must earn at least 12 credit hours (university-level courses only) with a minimum semester/term GPA of 3.50.  Courses taken on the Pass-Fail grading system and Remedial Studies will not be included in hours earned for purposes of the Dean’s List.

APSU Center @Fort Campbell
At the end of each term a list of honor students, known as the Dean’s List is published.  Students attending the Fort Campbell campus qualify for this distinction using two methods:  at least 12 hours in one term (university-level courses only) with a minimum term GPA 3.50; or a combination of at least 12 credit (university-level courses only), in consecutive Fall I and Fall II or Spring I and Spring II terms.

Graduating with Honors

Only University-level courses will only apply to graduate with honors.  Students who earn an inclusive overall grade point average as follows will graduate with honors: