First Class Meeting
Students who fail to attend the first class meeting without prior arrangement with the department may be required to drop the course to make space available to other students. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have been dropped from the course; otherwise, they are liable for a grade of “F.”
Adding or Dropping Courses
To avoid schedule changes after the official registration period, students are encouraged to plan each semester’s course work in consultation with academic advisers. Any schedule changes should be made as soon as possible after the beginning of classes. Students may drop courses through the sixth class day without receiving a grade of “W.” Students may add courses through the eighth class day. Courses may be added, dropped, or sections changed using the telephone registration system of PAWS. After the Sixth class day, students may continue to use PAWS or the telephone registration system to add courses. Students should consult the current Registration Schedule of Classes to determine if they can drop courses using the telephone registration system to add courses. Students should consult the current Registration Schedule of Classes to determine if they can drop courses using the telephone registration system or PAWS. Students not permitted to do so must initiate course drops using a form available in the college dean’s office. A grade of “W” will be entered on a student’s record for any course dropped between the 6th class day and the final date for resigning from the University and/or dropping courses. The latter is specified in the academic calendar. Although “W” grades do not affect the grade-point average, an excessive number reflects negatively on a student’s record and could have a bearing on the student’s academic standing. Therefore, it is recommended (although not required) that students keep the number of “W” grades within the limits shown in the following table.
Hrs. Earned at LSU Since August 25, 1989 : Number of Course Drops Permitted
0-29 hours : 3 drops
30-59 hours : 1 drop
60-89 hours : 1 drop
90-119 hours : 1 drop
120+ hours : 1 drop
Students may drop all courses by withdrawing from the university according to the guidelines in the section, “Resignation from the University.”
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Resignation from the University
A student may voluntarily resign from the University beginning with the first day of class through the final day for resigning shown in the “Academic Calendar.” Resignation is initiated in the office of the student’s academic dean. The student must obtain a resignation form and file the form with the Office of the University Registrar within 10 days after it has been endorsed by each administrative office indicated on the form. Resignation is not complete until the form is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar. Students who absent themselves from the university without leave and without official resignation will not be assigned “W” grades and, at the end of the semester, normally will receive grades of “F” in courses for which they are registered. Students who withdraw from the university (including all campuses of the LSU System) without approval, or who are dropped from the University for any reason, may be ineligible for readmission for a semester of longer.
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Full-Time Students
Undergraduates must carry 12 or more hours of resident credit in a regular semester of six or more in a summer term.
Graduates must enroll in Graduate School for at least nine hours of work in the fall and spring (six hours in the summer term).
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Credit for Repeat Courses
A student may not repeat a course in which a grade of “C” or better has been earned unless the catalog description indicates that the course may be repeated for credit or the student’s dean approves the repetition for some special reason. If a student registers for a course in violation of the above policy, the student’s dean may deny degree credit for the course. Unless otherwise stated in the course description, credit will be awarded only once for a course that is repeated. When students are permitted to repeat for credit a course previously taken in the LSU System, only the last grade determines acceptability of the course for degree credit. If a student receives a failing grade when repeating a course for which a passing grade had been earned, the student will lose the credit previously earned for the course. All instances of repeated courses are included in grade-point average calculations; however, degree credit may be awarded only for the last repetition.
Students who receive an “F” in a course must repeat the course in the LSU System in order to receive credit and quality points for it. With prior concurrence of the chair of the department in which the course is offered and the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled, credit and quality points may be approved in individual cases for courses repeated outside the LSU System.
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“W” and “I” Grades
“W” Grades
A “W” will be entered on a student’s record for any approved course dropped within the dates specified in the “Academic Calendar.” In extraordinary cases, upon written petition, the dean of the student’s college may authorize a resignation and/or a drop from a course after the last date specified.
“I” Grades
Work which is of passing quality but which, because of circumstances beyond the student’s control, is incomplete, may be marked “I” (incomplete). An “I” grade may be assigned for undergraduates only if the instructor receives appropriate authorization from the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled. If authorization is not received, the instructor is to consider the delinquent work to be of failing quality, and an “I” grade may not be assigned. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the request for the academic dean’s authorization. An “I” grade will be converted to “F” unless it is removed during the next regular semester in which the student is in residence in the LSU System prior to the deadline for adding courses for credit as specified in the “Academic Calendar.” In extraordinary cases, the dean of the student’s college may authorize that the “I” grade become permanent, or that an extension of time for removing the grade be allowed.
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Grade Appeals
Appeals of final grades must be initiated by the student within 30 calendar days after the first day of classes in the next regular semester.
The procedure is as follows:
- The student should meet with the faculty member concerned to discuss the situation and attempt to arrive at a solution. Although each may have a counselor present, it is believed that under most circumstances, the meeting will be more productive if only the student and the faculty member are present. If an administrative officer (department chair, dean, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost) is the faculty member who assigned the grade which is appealed, that officer should recuse himself or herself from the appellate process; his or her place in the procedure will be taken by a faculty member appointed ad hoc by the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost or the Chancellor, as appropriate. If the faculty member is on sabbatical leave or is otherwise unavailable, his/her place will be taken by a faculty member appointed by the department chair or his/her designee. The faculty member must inform the student of his/her decision within several calendar days. If the decision reached requires change in an official University record, the faculty member must comply with all University regulations and procedures necessary to accomplish the change. A change of grade is accomplished by filing a “Grade Correction Report.” A satisfactory reason for the change it “academic appeal.” The department chair and/or the student’s dean (dean of the college in which the student is enrolled) may request documentation of the facts of the matter to facilitate any decision with respect to approval of the grade change.
- If the matter is not resolved between the student and the faculty member, and the student wishes to pursue the appeal, he or she shall make a written request to the chair of the department in which the course was taught asking for a meeting of the department chair, the faculty member, and himself or herself. The faculty member will provide the name of the appropriate department chair. The written request should clearly state the purpose of the meeting and should indicate the faculty member, and himself or herself. The faculty member will provide the name of the appropriate department chair. The written request should clearly state the purpose of the meeting and should indicate the faculty member’s name; however it should not go into detail as to justification for the appeal. This request must be submitted within 45 calendar days after the first day of classes of the next regular semester. The department chair shall arrange a meeting within 14 calendar days from the date of receipt of the request. At this meeting, both the student and the faculty member may be accompanied by a counselor. At the close of the meeting, or within seven calendar days thereafter, the department chair shall make a decision. If a decision is made at the close of the meeting, it is to be given orally to all present. If the matter is taken under advisement, the department chair shall inform all parties, including the student’s dean, of his or her decision in writing. If the decision reached requires change in an official University record, the faculty member must comply with all University regulations and procedures necessary to accomplish the change.
- If the student is not satisfied with the decision reached, he or she may appeal to the dean of the college in which the department offering the course is located. The dean’s name will be furnished by the department chair. Appeals concerning courses numbered 8000 or above should be directed to the dean of the Graduate School. The student’s appeal must be in writing on a Student Appeal Form available in department and college offices and must be submitted within 14 calendar days after notification of the department chair’s decision. The form must contain the following information: (1) a statement of the action(s) complained of: (2) the relief requested; and (3) a specific statement of the reasons supporting the relief sought. Upon receipt of the completed Student Appeal Form, the dean must promptly forward copies to the department chair and faculty member concerned, who must promptly reply with individual written statements supporting their previous actions. Either may request that a hearing panel be convened. Copies of the written replies must be forwarded to the student. When the department chair’s and faculty member’s replies have been received, the student may choose one–and only one– of the following options: (1) The dean may decide the question on the basis of the written appeal and the faculty member’s and department chair’s written requests; (2) The dean may meet with all parties concerned, who may be accompanied by counselors if desired, and, after discussion, reach a decision; or (3) The dean may refer the appeal to a hearing panel for their recommendation. If a hearing panel has been requested by the student, the faculty member, or the department chair, the dean must convene such a panel. Hearing panels to consider grade appeals will be appointed by the dean and shall be composed of three faculty members selected by the dean, with no more than two from the same department, and two students appointed by the president of the college’s student governing body. The dean should designate the chair of the panel. The panel shall hold a hearing with the department chair, the faculty member, and the student, each of whom may be accompanied by a counselor. After deliberation, the panel will make its recommendation in writing to the dean. Copies of the recommendation, and the dean’s final decision, must be given to all parties, including the student’s dean. Regardless of the method used, the dean must make his or her decision within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of the student’s appeal. The decision must be written, listing the reasons supporting the decision; copies must be given to all parties, including the student’s dean. If the decision requires change in an official University record, the faculty member must comply with all University regulations and procedures necessary to accomplish the change.
- If any party to the appeal believes that a serious procedural error occurred or that there was an abuse of discretionary authority in reaching the decision, he or she may file with the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost a written petition for review. This petition, which must be filed within seven calendar days after receipt of the decision in step 3, must contain a complete statement of the alleged serious procedural error, or examples of abuses of discretionary authority complained of, and also must contain reasons for the relief sought. The petition must be accompanied by all documents produced in the appeal. Copies should be sent to all parties to the appeal and to the student’s dean. The Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost shall decide within 14 calendar days after receipt of the petition whether further action should be taken. In reaching this decision, he or she may ask other parties to the appeal to make written reply to the request for a review, or these parties on their own, may make a written reply. If the decision is reached that a review is not justified, the student and all other parties, including the student’s dean, will be so notified. If the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost decides to respond favorably to the petition for review, he or she will hold a formal meeting with all parties and their counselors, if desired, and reach a decision based on discussions at this meeting, as well as on all written materials furnished. Once a decision is reached, the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost will notify all parties, including the student’s dean, of his or her decision. The decision of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost shall conclude the matter, subject to the right of the Chancellor to review the case. The Chancellor will consider the case only on the basis of a petition for review following the procedure outlined above.
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Advising
Each student enrolled in the architecture program is given a faculty advisor that will assist in navigation of the program and career advice. Student assignments for advisors are posted outside the School’s Main Office, room 136. For general administrative help see Tom Sofranko in Atkinson 223.
