Graduate Academic Procedures and Regulations
Policies and Procedures. All academic policies and procedures can be found in the Academic Catalogue. Students are required to read and adhere to all regulations.
Academic Calendar. The academic calendar is posted in the Wesleyan College Catalogue, on the website, and on WesPortal, WesNet tab, Registrar's Office section. Each graduate program adheres to their own calendar.
Academic Advising and Registration. The director of the graduate program will provide academic advising to graduate students. Faculty advisors are available to assist students, but responsibility for acquainting themselves with regulations and fulfilling all requirements for the degree rests with individual students.
Academic Exclusion/Dismissal. Graduate candidates are required to maintain a 3.00 grade point average. Graduate candidates may have a grade of "C" in no more than two courses in their graduate program. Any candidate who receives more than the allowed "C" grade(s) or receives one "F" grade will be reviewed for continuance in the program and may be suspended or dismissed from the program.
A candidate who repeats the same course (in which a grade of "C" or "F" was earned) and cannot achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 after the repeat of the course will be academically dismissed from the program.
The student may appeal her or his exclusion to the Graduate Program Council; the process of appeal is outlined in the letter of exclusion. A student may be excluded at any time for other than academic reasons as explained in Catalogue.
Attendance. The semester begins with the first day of class according to the College calendar. Students are responsible for all absences from class, and it is the responsibility of the student to contact the professor about the possibility of making up work missed for any absence.
Students are expected to be regular and punctual in attending classes. A student who is absent from any class may be penalized by the lowering of the course grade. Financial aid will not be disbursed to students who do not attend class.
Civility in the Academic Community. Students, faculty, and staff are expected to treat one another with respect in all interactions. In the classroom, rude, disruptive and/or disrespectful behaviors as determined by a faculty member interfere with other students' rights and with the instructor's ability to teach. Therefore, any student exhibiting unacceptable behaviors during a class will be asked to leave and will be counted absent for that class period. Failure to cooperate with this process will result in disciplinary action that may include withdrawal from the class or dismissal from the College. Violations will be reported to the Provost of the College.
Credit and Grading System. Letter grades are used in graduate courses. Plus and minus grade designations are not used. Letter grades are interpreted below with the number of quality points per credit hour or percent of total points assigned to each letter grade.
A: Superior (4 points). The grade A is reserved for work that is of exceptional quality and showing unusual insight, initiative, and understanding.
B: Outstanding (3 points). The grade B is awarded for work that is of outstanding quality and is consistently above the average.
C: Passing (2 points). The grade C indicates average performance. It is an acceptable and respectable grade.
F: Failing (0 points). The grade F indicates failure.
I: Incomplete (not computed in GPA)
W: Withdrawal (not computed in GPA).
Graduate students may not receive credit for graduate courses through course challenge or credit for prior learning.
1. The instructor erred in the calculation of the grade;
2. The assignment of a grade was on the basis other than performance in the course, (though a grade may reflect a penalty for academic misconduct.)
3. The assignment of a grade had a substantial departure from the instructor’s previously announced standards.
4. The grading decision was based upon standards unreasonably different from those which were applied to other students in the same course and section.
The grade appeal procedure is NOT to be used to review the judgment of an instructor in assessing the quality of a student’s work nor is it to be used if the student disagrees with the instructor on how the course was conducted or a clearly communicated course policy. Such concerns should be shared with the instructor and/or the appropriate department chair.
Should a grade change result from the appeal, it is the responsibility of the decision-maker at the level of resolution (instructor, department chair, or Provost) to file, in writing, an authorization for grade change with the Registrar of the College. Said authorization should be submitted to the Registrar's Office within five working days of the decision. A copy of the grade change shall become a part of the student's permanent file.
No change of grade may be made later than one semester (or term) following the semester in which the grade was received. The Provost may make exceptions to the timeline for faculty responses as needed.
Complaints of an Academic Nature. Complaints related to academics but unrelated to grade appeals will follow the same general procedures as outlined above for grade appeals. The complaint must be made in writing using the form published on wesportal, to the instructor, with a copy to the director of the academic program. If the complaint is not resolved, the student may appeal to the division chair, then the Provost of the College, and finally the President of the College.
Graduation. Graduate degrees are conferred upon satisfactory completion of all requirements, as announced on the program academic calendar. A minimum of 30 credits is required for a graduate program at Wesleyan College. Refer to the program of study to review credit requirements on each individual program.
Graduate degrees are conferred upon satisfactory completion of all requirements, as announced on the individual program academic calendar. The college will also host one annual commencement ceremony for graduate program students in August.
Each student's diploma and transcript will bear the student's legal name. If the name has changed since admission to the College, the student must submit a court order or other document indicating a legal change of name to the Registrar no later than June 1st prior to commencement in August. Refer to the Name on Official Records policy.
The commencement program will bear the student's preferred name as indicated on the application for diploma. If the preferred name has changed since submission of the application for diploma, the student must submit a request to change the preferred name to the Registrar no later than June 1st prior to the commencement ceremony.
Participation in the Annual Commencement Ceremony
A student is eligible to participate and will receive their diploma during the commencement ceremony upon meeting all obligations to the College and completing academic requirements for the degree.
All financial obligations to the College must be paid in full in order for a student to be cleared for graduation. No student who owes an outstanding balance of any amount will be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremony. No degree will be conferred to any student who owes an outstanding balance of any amount to the College. Degrees held due to financial obligations will be conferred in the next commencement ceremony after all obligations to the College have been met.
Honor Code. The Honor Code is the foundation upon which life in the Wesleyan College community is built. It is based upon the idea that individual freedom is a right founded upon responsibility. Graduate students are expected to tell the truth, respect others and their property, and maintain academic integrity and honesty in all areas of college life. If a student violates a principle of the Honor Code, the student is honor-bound to self-report. Likewise, if a student is aware that a fellow student has violated an honor principle, the student is honor-bound to ask the violator to self-report or notify an appropriate college official within 24 hours to report the violation. Academic violations of the Honor Code must be reported to the faculty member teaching the class. All other violations must be reported to the Graduate Judicial Officer (GJO). The GJO is a full-time faculty member on the Graduate Program Council. She/he is elected by the Graduate Program Council for a period of two years.
Maintaining these principles of honor is the ideal toward which we strive. Our Honor Code is not destroyed by infractions of the rules; it is damaged when violations are tolerated. Membership in the college community involves establishing and maintaining these broad honor principles. It is understood that by becoming a graduate student at Wesleyan, an individual signifies acceptance of the Honor Code and all policies and procedures set forth in the catalogue, and as enacted by College Officials.
Honor Code Pledge. As a member of the Wesleyan College student body, I will uphold the Honor Code, strive for personal honesty and integrity in all areas of my life, and fulfill my responsibility for maintaining the Honor Code in the college community.
Honor Council. The Graduate Honor Council (GHC) is convened on an as-needed basis by the Graduate Judicial Officer (GJO). The GHC is composed of:
Honor Council Procedures. In case of a violation of the Honor Code, any member of the faculty, administration, staff, or student community should, when possible, confront a student for an honor offense at the time of the offense. If unable to confront the student at the time of the offense, the violation should be reported to the appropriate college faculty or staff members who will then notify the accused of the alleged charge. Students are strongly encouraged to self-report. The GHC considers self-report as an act of integrity. The accused has 24 hours from that time to report the incident to the GJO. The accuser will report the charges to the GJO or the Provost of the College. The GJO will notify the accused in writing of the charges, the procedures, and the date and time of the hearing at least 48 hours before the scheduled hearing. In emergency situations, 48 hours may not be provided. Cases will be heard as soon as possible after the accused has been officially notified of the charges, with the exception of extenuating circumstances. The GJO or the Provost of the College can discuss cases of academic dishonesty with the professor prior to a Graduate Honor Council hearing. If charges are brought during the week of final exams, the GHC will make every effort to hear the case before the end of the semester. If this is not possible, the case will be held over until the next semester.
A hearing will enable both the accuser and accused to provide accounts of the incident. If the accused does not attend the hearing, it will be held in his/her absence, and the student will forfeit the right to appeal. The GHC will deliberate, decide on a verdict, and choose a sanction. Students will be notified in writing of the hearing outcome.
Appeals can be made to the Provost of the College, at which time they can be upheld, amended or returned to GHC to be heard. All appeal decisions are considered final.
A student who has been accused of an Honor violation:
The hearing procedure is as follows.
The accused will be called into the Graduate Honor Council room at which time the Graduate Judicial Officer will explain the hearing procedure and state the student's name and the charges being brought against her or him. The accused will be informed that the proceedings will be tape recorded to insure accuracy and for appeal purposes.
The accused will be reminded that he/she is bound by the Honor Code and is required to tell the truth and given the opportunity to present his/her case.
The accuser will be asked to present her or his account of the incident and to present any witnesses about any matter logically relevant to the charge against the student. The accused has the right to be present during this testimony and can question the accuser or any witnesses without being questioned.
After the accuser presents all testimony, the accused has the right to present a defense and to offer testimony and that of any witnesses (maximum of 3).
The GJO may limit unproductively long, repetitive, or irrelevant questioning.
After the case has been presented, the Council will hold confidential deliberations. A decision will be rendered and the accused will be notified in writing within twenty-four (24) hours of the conclusion of the hearing, typically via fax or e-mail according to the preference of the accused. Students are responsible for checking their mailbox for hearing notifications and completion of sanctions (when applicable).
Note: Students are required to represent themselves. Legal or parental representation is not permissible in Honor Council proceedings or appeal hearings.
Possible Sanctions - Any sanction imposed by the Graduate Honor Council is independent of academic sanctions levied by the course instructor. The following are possible sanctions available to the Graduate Honor Council; others may be used if deemed appropriate by the board.
A formal, typed appeal must be presented to the Provost of the College, within 72 hours after the notification of the sanction has been delivered to the student. Appeals will not be accepted in cases where the student has not attended his or her Graduate Honor Council hearing. The student must state the reasons for the appeal and present evidence to support the claim, the verdict (responsible or not responsible), the sanction, or both. The Provost reserves the authority to uphold or amend the sanction or to have Graduate Honor Council and rehear cases when deemed appropriate. In the case of student appeals, the action taken will be administered but can be reversed after the appeal has been heard. Appeal decisions are final.
The following are the only grounds for appeal regarding Graduate Honor Council cases:
The Graduate Honor Council will maintain confidentiality related to cases and all surrounding circumstances. Hearings are open to relevant parties only as designated by the Provost of the College. All college judicial cases are confidential. Cases, students involved, outcomes, or any related circumstances will not be discussed. Exceptions include relevant persons associated with the case on a need to know basis as defined by the designated College official. Accusers may inquire as to whether or not cases have been processed by Graduate Honor Council, however verdicts remain confidential.
Copies of the official correspondence related to all cases will be placed in the student's permanent file by the Registrar. Student files are kept confidential and released only with an official request (see the FERPA section for more information regarding privacy rights).
Incomplete. The grade of I is given only when a student has been absent from the final work in a course due to illness or other causes acceptable to the instructor and to the Provost of the College. Permission from the instructor and from the Provost of the College must be requested and given before an I may be recorded.
The procedure for an incomplete grade is as follows:
a. Except in cases of emergency (defined as unexpected occurrences such as accidents or sudden illness), the student should consult with the instructor if an incomplete grade would be an option. The grade of I (incomplete) means the student is passing the class but some relatively small part (1/3 or less) of the semester's work remains incomplete because of illness or another valid and compelling reason that is satisfactory to the instructor. Instructors are not required to give an incomplete grade.
b. If the instructor supports the incomplete grade, the instructor must submit an Incomplete Grade Form (found on WesPortal, WesNet tab, Provost's Office section, forms) to the Provost of the College for approval.
c. Upon approval, the Provost will notify the instructor. The instructor is responsible for notifying the student, in writing, of the deadline for completing all work.
d. Instructors must remove I grades by 60 calendar days from the last day of the term (date is published on the Academic Calendar).
e. To remove the I grade, the instructor must complete a grade change form in the Registrar's Office. Instructors will be reminded by the Registrar prior to the deadline. If the grade is not changed by the deadline, the Registrar will assign a grade of F. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements for completing all work by the deadline specified by the instructor. A student failing to complete all work shall be regarded as having failed in the course, and a grade of F will be recorded by the Registrar. No extensions to the grade change deadline will be made.
Leave of Absence. A leave of absence is designed to allow a student a break in studies for a limited time without having to withdraw from or apply for readmission to Wesleyan College. The leave of absence applies to any matriculated student who is in good academic and financial standing with the college. However, a leave of absence has consequences for a graduate student in a cohort program, and should always be discussed with the student's academic advisor. The leave of absence may last for a minimum of one semester, and a maximum of a 12-month period; a student may only accrue a total of two semesters (excluding summer semesters) for leave of absence during her/his college career. International students must comply with immigration regulations regarding continuous enrollment. International students should consult with the Student Affairs office concerning regulations.
The student will consult with the program director and apply to the Registrar of the College for a Leave of Absence during the semester preceding the leave of absence period. A student cannot take a leave of absence after the semester begins.
Upon her or his return, it is the responsibility of the student to notify both the program director and the Registrar during registration to reinstate her academic standing. At this time, the student does not need to apply for readmission. If a student exceeds the allotted leave time, she will be deemed to have withdrawn and must apply for readmission. Program requirements in effect at the time of the student's approval for a leave of absence will continue in effect upon return within the allotted leave time.
The Provost of the College may make exceptions to this Leave of Absence policy under extraordinary conditions.
Name on Official Records. The Registrar's Office is responsible for maintaining a student's official academic record, and as such is the office that controls student name changes at Wesleyan College. All inquiries and requests should be directed to this office. Legal name is defined as the name verified by a birth certificate, marriage certificate, social security card, passport, or court order. Students wishing to change their name on their official academic record from the name under which they were admitted to the College must provide the Registrar with legal documentation reflecting their new legal name.
Change of name requires (1) presentation of a current Social Security card reflecting the new name and (2) a government-issued photo ID, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order reflecting the new name. Please present the original legal document or a certified (i.e., notarized) copy with the original notary seal to the Registrar's Office. Faxes cannot be accepted. Original documents will be copied for your file and returned to you.
International students' names must appear on academic records exactly as they appear on the passport issued by the home country. The U.S. entry visa may not be used as documentation for a name change.
Alumnae who wish to order a replacement diploma may do so through the Registrar's Office. Diplomas are only printed twice a year corresponding with commencement. See tuition and fees section for replacement cost.
Numbering of Courses and Abbreviations. Single numbers indicate one-semester courses. Graduate courses are numbered at the 500 level or higher. Subject codes are indicated by the letters following each subject.
BHA Business Healthcare
BNP Business Nonprofit
EBA Business Administration
EDU Education
MAT Mathematics
MUP Music Performance
MUS Music
PSY Psychology
Transcript Requests and Release of Records. Wesleyan College recognizes the privacy rights of students with regard to their educational records, including the right of access to their own records and the right to a hearing to challenge the accuracy of such records. The College will not release personally identifiable data about students from education records without written permission from the student to any individual, agency, or organization, except to the extent that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended (FERPA) authorizes disclosure without consent.
Students and alumnae can electronically send official transcripts to the destination of their choice. Instructions for ordering a transcript are located on Wesleyan's Website: www.wesleyancollege.edu. Click on Academics, Request a Transcript. Unofficial transcripts are only available to currently enrolled students through their WesPortal account at no charge. Fees for transcripts are given in the Financial section of the Catalogue. Wesleyan College is not responsible for incomplete or incorrect mailing addresses provided with requests for transcript releases.
Requests for transcripts will be checked and approved for release within 5 working days by the Registrar's Office at Wesleyan College. During peak periods of activity in the Registrar's Office such as the opening and closing of semesters, registration, and graduation, the processing time for release of transcripts may extend slightly beyond five working days.
Wesleyan reserves the right to withhold the transcript of any student who is past due or delinquent on her loan obligation(s) to the College, is delinquent or has defaulted on federal student loans, owes the College money from current or previous enrollment, has failed to submit official transcripts from previous high schools or college attendance, has failed to return College property, has failed to secure proper immunizations as required by the Health Services of the College, or has failed to fulfill any other obligation to the College.
Transferring Credits. Wesleyan College graduate programs will accept up to 6 transfer credits, earning at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) from graduate courses evaluated by the specific program director and deemed to meet the same required outcomes as the Wesleyan equivalent. These courses have to be taken at other institutions accredited by the following agencies:
Credit from an institution of higher education accredited by an institutional accreditor not listed above will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Withdrawal. For candidates in a cohort-format program, withdrawal from a course is equivalent to withdrawal from a cohort. Candidates are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisor when making a decision on withdrawal from a course. A student may withdraw from a course only in the case of serious illness or emergency with the approval of the Graduate Council and the Provost of the College no later than one week past the mid-term point of the current term. Exceptions regarding the withdrawal deadline are made only in cases of illness and emergency when a "W" may be granted past this date at the discretion of the Provost of the College. Withdrawal from a class must be accomplished through the Registrar's Office, Tate 120. It is strongly recommended that any student receiving financial aid who is contemplating withdrawal from the College, first contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to determine the impact of that decision.
The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 and the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 set forth regulations governing the treatment of Title IV funds (Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant [SEOG], Academic Competitiveness Grant [ACG], National SMART Grant, Federal Subsidized Loan, Federal Unsubsidized Loan, and Federal PLUS) when a student withdraws completely from an institution. When a student withdraws during a period of enrollment in which she or he has begun attendance and has received federal Title IV financial aid, Wesleyan College is required to determine the amount of earned and unearned Title IV aid. A student is eligible to retain the percentage of Title IV aid disbursed or that could have been disbursed that is equal to the percentage of the enrollment period completed by the student (calculated daily). Scheduled breaks of 5 or more consecutive days are excluded. The unearned Title IV aid must be returned to the appropriate federal aid program(s). If the student has completed more than 60% of the enrollment period, no Title IV aid needs to be returned.
Workload. A normal course load is between 6 and 12 semester hours during the fall and spring semesters. 6 credits is considered full-time in all graduate programs. To maintain visa status, all international students must enroll and maintain at least 6 credit hours during fall and spring semesters. Exceptions to this regulation must be discussed with the international student advisor. Only one online or distance learning class (maximum three credits) can count toward a full course of study for an F-1 student during each term or semester.
Programs for Graduate Academic Enrichment
Instructional Technology Program. Wesleyan is committed to providing students with the opportunity to use technology appropriate for their field of study. Students have access to both private e-mail and access to WesPortal, the College's intranet. The use of the systems must comply with the College's network policy which fully supports the EDUCOM Code for the protection of software and intellectual rights.
Wesleyan College provides students with (Wi-Fi) wireless network connection throughout the campus. These connections afford students the opportunity to browse the Internet, conduct research, and develop an appreciation for the ever-changing world of digital information.
Several computer laboratories and electronic classrooms are available for specialized activities such as scanning, statistical analysis, multimedia development, multimedia presentations, and Web page creation. Most courses involve direct use of computer and web-based resources. The Canvas learning management system facilitates sharing course resources, grading, bulletin-board and chat-based discussions. Students have access to electronic databases and Georgia inter-library loans and downloads as well as extensive use of virtual exploration programs and electronic simulations.
Information Technology Assistants are available to provide computer support and training.
Disability Resources. Wesleyan College is committed to equal education and full participation for all students. Disability Services is committed to supporting students with disabilities. The Director of Disability and Advocacy Services oversees the implementation of disability related programs and services.
If a student with a disability wishes to receive an accommodation, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the Director of Disability and Advocacy Services and request an accommodation by completing the Disability Services Request Form. The student must provide current documentation from a qualified licensed professional as soon as possible, prior to when accommodations are desired. The documentation should include the specific diagnosis attributing to the disability, how the diagnosis was determined, and effects the disability will have on the student's collegiate life. Students may request a Wesleyan College Disability Services Verification Form on which a licensed professional can provide this information.
If the submitted documentation meets the requirements, the Director of Disability and Advocacy Services will approve reasonable accommodations and notify the student of this approval. If the documentation does not meet the requirements, the Director of Disability and Advocacy Services will inform the student that additional information or contact with the medical professional is required. If a student feels as though she has been denied a reasonable accommodation or is dissatisfied with the determination that they are not eligible as an otherwise qualified individual with a disability the student may appeal in writing according to the Process for appealing decisions by the Office of Disability Services.
Once approval of the accommodation request has been obtained from the Director of Disability and Advocacy Services the student is expected to identify herself and present the documentation provided by Disability Services to the appropriate staff or faculty member as soon as possible. The student is then expected to meet with the appropriate staff or faculty member to determine how accommodations will be administered. The student will then return the paperwork to Disability Resources in order to finalize the accommodations.
Accommodations that decrease the integrity of a course or program or cause an undue burden will not be approved. Accommodations will not be granted retroactively. Accommodations will be determined on an individual basis according to specific student needs. To continue to be considered for academic accommodations, a student must request services each semester. Other accommodation requests must be made annually.
Willet Memorial Library. The Lucy Lester Willet Memorial Library offers a variety of print and electronic resources to support student research and the College curriculum. The library's strong liberal arts core collection includes more than 140,000 books, 33,900 microforms, and more than 500 print and online periodical subscriptions. The library provides extensive electronic resources, including more than 100 databases containing periodical indexing, full-text journals and reference works supporting a full range of curricular programs. Many of these are available through the statewide GALILEO (Georgia Library Learning Online) project. Through Wesleyan's membership in the Georgia Private Academic Libraries (GPALS) consortium, students can enjoy access to the library collections of 20 other academic libraries in the state in addition to being able to borrow materials from libraries nationally via interlibrary loan. Professional librarians offer reference and research assistance, workshops, and other learning opportunities designed to foster information-literacy skills for academic success and life-long learning. Library hours before and during holidays may change. Hours for holidays and summer session are posted on the Library's website.
Graduate Financial Information. Graduate students may contact the Financial Aid Office for financial assistance. Funds may be available through private, state, and federal programs for these students. Financial information is located in the financial information section of the catalogue.
Graduate Financial Aid Policies. Financial aid policies are located in the financial aid section of the catalogue.
Graduate Student Life. Wesleyan strives to exist as a community of scholars - a community comprised of students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Respect for the individual student and for the individual student's contributions to the College community drives the academic and co-curricular programs of the College. Enthusiasm and respect for diversity of culture and thought permeates the Wesleyan community. Students from different cities, states, countries and cultures, and students with many different ideologies enrich the Wesleyan experience for all members of the College community.
Dean of Students. The Dean of Students oversees the Division of Student Affairs and is responsible for the overall quality of campus life. The Dean of Students is available to assist students with problems and concerns. The Dean of Students oversees areas of equity and inclusion, residence life, and disability and advocacy services.
Campus Police. The Wesleyan Police Department provides 24-hour, 365 days a year service. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are encouraged to report all incidents of crime and emergencies to the Wesleyan Police as soon as possible. The officers are state certified police officers who have been authorized by the State of Georgia to exercise all enforcement powers, including the power of arrest, and authorized by the governing body of the College to have jurisdiction over the College campus. Campus Police may be contacted from any on-campus phone by calling 5145, or by calling 478-960-7969. Campus phones are located outside each residence hall. Officers will provide night time escort service on campus for students. The Wesleyan Police Department crime statistic report can be found on the college website under campus safety and on the WesPortal.
Food Service. Food Service on campus is provided through Metz Culinary Management. Non-boarding students, faculty, staff and guests may eat in the Anderson Dining Hall by purchasing meals through the cashier.
Wesleyan College is privileged to steward many arts and cultural events and share them with the community. Most are free and open to the public. Wesleyan art galleries are open M-F 1-5PM and on Wesleyan Market Saturdays from 10AM-2PM.
Event listingTour our beautiful 200-acre campus featuring Georgian architecture, lush green spaces, recreational facilities, residence halls, and worship center.
Vist Wesleyan VirtuallyWesleyan College is home to five NCAA Division III sports: soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and softball. In addition, we offer an award-winning Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Equestrian program.
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