to build close advising relationships between freshmen and faculty
to incorporate instruction in critical thinking within a First Year Seminar, which also serves as an introduction to the College curriculum
to provide intensive instruction in college-level academic writing, with exercises and assignments relating to the Seminar topic

Policy on First-Year Advisement

First-year students (under 30 credits earned) must retain their assigned First-Year Program Advisor through the completion of their freshman year at the college.
Students may elect to change advisor in the first semester of their sophomore year and thereafter.
First-year students with a declared or strong interest in a major program of study may be formally assigned a co-advisor by a relevant academic department. The co-advisor is a full-time faculty member who provides guidance and oversight with regard to the intended major course of study. His or her approval signature is required in addition to that of the first-year advisor at registration. Students may be assigned a co-advisor on admission to the college or during the course of the freshman academic year by applying to the Freshman Class Dean.

Program Structure

The First-year Program comprises both the Fall and Spring semesters and includes:

First-Year Seminar I & II (FYP 1001/1002) (2 credits; two 50 – minute meetings per week)

First-Year Seminars are topical or thematic, reflecting faculty interests and/or expertise. Seminar topics and themes are diverse and reflect the broad spectrum of the undergraduate liberal arts curriculum. First-Year Seminars are not survey or introductory courses in any particular discipline and do not count toward any major or minor program of study.

First-Year Seminar I and II address the College’s General Education Critical and Analytical Reasoning Competency.

First-Year Writing I & II (FYP 1003/1004 (2 credits; two 50 – minute meetings per week)

Each section of First-Year Writing provides thorough instruction in composition with the aim of enabling students to develop the writing skills necessary for college-level study. The course includes an intensive review of English grammar, as well as academic style and structure; it examines strategies for written analysis, persuasion, and argumentation. Instruction emphasizes revising, editing and drafting skills. In direct coordination with the First-Year Seminar, students learn to recognize connections between critical thinking and successful academic writing.

An introduction to Information Literacy is embedded within the First-Year Writing sequence: this includes library tours, introduction to information resources, and approaches to scholarly research.

By the end of the year-long sequence of Seminar and Writing courses, students are able to:

Demonstrate the ability to write clearly and with grammatical accuracy in English
Produce written work that has been improved by supervised revision for style and content through multiple drafts and/or sequential assignments
Engage critically with primary and secondary sources, while following both ethical and formatting guidelines for quoting, paraphrasing and citing this material.
Employ the vocabulary, concepts and compositional techniques appropriate to the academic discipline(s) reflected in their First Year Seminar topic.

First-Year Program Grade Requirement

Separate course grades are awarded for First-Year Seminar and First-Year Writing.

Students must earn a minimum grade of C - in all FYP courses to complete the First-Year Program requirement at Manhattanville College. Failure to meet this requirement in any FYP course triggers two consequences in the following semester: registration in a remedial FYP course and automatic placement on Academic Probation. Failure to earn a C - in any combination of FYP courses in two consecutive semesters results in academic dismissal from the College.

First-Year Program Withdrawal Policy

Students may not normally withdraw from a First-Year Program course. Any request for withdrawal from an FYP course requires formal approval by the FYP Coordinator and Provost. If granted, such a withdrawal does not constitute an exemption from completion of all FYP requirements.

Portfolio System

The Portfolio System, first developed in 1971 and among the first such systems in the United States, lies at the heart of Manhattanville’s distinctive approach to integrated education. The Portfolio provides a framework, centered on the College’s Mission, within which each student can reflect on his or her formal and informal learning experiences and develop the skills of self-reflection, integration, and self-assessment. The Portfolio is also designed to aid students in planning and assessing their own academic careers, seeking advice of mentors, considering life and career goals beyond graduation, and highlighting their best academic work for various audiences within and beyond the College.

Through their work within the Portfolio System students will:

Construct and carry out a personalized course of curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activity that integrates the Mission of the College with the students’ own passions and life goals.
Become engaged and responsible learners, familiarizing themselves with College policies and procedures, seeking appropriate mentoring and advice from faculty and staff, and taking action to improve their own education as a result.
Produce written reflections on their educational experiences that demonstrate the ability to articulate, integrate and critically assess their own educational experiences.

The primary materials included in the Portfolio are:

A Freshman year essay;
A Study Plan outlining all coursework to be counted toward the degree;
An essay examining the rationale for the student’s choice of course of study, and how it intersects with a liberal arts education and the student’s co-curricular and extra-curricular experience on campus which serves as a basis for conversations about the state of progress and development with a student’s advisor;
An essay examining the mission of the College as it relates to the student’s curricular and extra-curricular learning experiences;
Examples of work of which the student is most proud, accompanied by a reflection of why this work was chosen, what the student learned, and the ways in which the students has grown as a function of completing this work;
A resume developed in consultation with the Center for Career Development.

In its totality, the Portfolio System encourages students to be active participants in their academic and extracurricular pursuits and to gain an expanded perspective through the examination of the relationships between their choices, the College mission and the world around them.

At the conclusion of the Sophomore review, the Board on Academic Standards may invite students with exceptional portfolio submissions to participate in an interview, thus becoming eligible for "Portfolio Distinction." During the Senior review, exceptional portfolio submissions may also be recommended for "Portfolio Honors." Each year a senior Portfolio is also chosen for the prize of "Outstanding Portfolio" and this prize is presented at Baccalaureate in the Spring.

Both formal portfolio reviews will appear on the student’s official transcript with a Pass/Fail notation. Students who submit a complete portfolio by the published deadline that is judged satisfactory by the Board on Academic Standards (BOAS) will receive a Pass and will be eligible for Distinction and Honors. Students who submit a complete portfolio, but, following review by the BOAS are required to resubmit one or more items, may receive a Grade Deferred (GD), with material to be resubmitted by the date specified by the Board. Students who do not submit a portfolio by the published due date, or who submit a seriously incomplete portfolio, or who, after receiving a GD, fail to revise their portfolios to the satisfaction of the Board on Academic Standards will receive an F for the portfolio that semester and will qualify for academic probation. These affected students will be required to submit their Portfolios again in the following semester for review. Students who fail to submit the portfolio in the semester in which it is due will be placed on academic probation; students who fail to submit a satisfactory portfolio in two consecutive semesters are liable to be dismissed from the College. Successful completion of the Portfolio requirements is a graduation requirement of the College.

College Writing Competency

Writing competency is satisfied with two requirements at Manhattanville. First, a student must earn a grade of C ‑ or above in both sections of the First-Year Writing Seminar, FYP 1003 and FYP 1004. Second, a student must complete an additional three credits in a classes recognized as meeting the objectives for Written Communication Competency.

Learning Outcomes for "Written Communication"

For competency each student will be able to:

Demonstrate the ability to write clearly and with grammatical accuracy in English
Produce written work that has been improved by supervised revision for style and content through multiple drafts and/or sequential assignments
Engage critically with primary and secondary sources, and quote, paraphrase and cite this material ethically and correctly.
Employ the vocabulary, concepts and compositional techniques appropriate to the academic discipline.

Written Communication courses require formal essays and other representative genres of writing within the discipline. Although the number of assignments and pages will vary by class, students should expect to complete approximately fifteen pages of revised and polished work. Among other writing assignments, the classes require a paper that integrates secondary sources. Students will hone their research skills and learn to incorporate more effectively citations, paraphrase, and summary of secondary material. Documentation of sources varies by discipline (e.g., MLA for English and modern foreign languages, APA for psychology, etc.).

Additional ENC course offerings

ENC 2000: Critical Research and Composition

Critical Research and Composition provides intensive instruction in elements of research, persuasion and advanced composition. The course covers analysis of primary and secondary sources, methods of citation, techniques for analysis and argumentation, and approaches to the construction of the bibliographic essay. This course is offered in conjunction with LIS 2000: Library Research for Composition.

Information and Research Skills

Students must fulfill the one-credit Library and Information Sciences course, by taking an LIS designated course. A grade of C- or higher is needed for the graduation requirement. Students may take up to two Information Literacy courses for credit toward their degree. Students should try to complete their Information Literacy requirement by the first semester of their junior year. An LIS course should be taken concurrently with a course that requires a research paper.

Major and Minor

The completion of a Bachelor’s degree requires a major and a minor. The specific requirements of the major and the minor are provided elsewhere in this catalog. If a student decides to pursue multiple majors, the student does not have to pursue a separate minor. Additionally, some majors (Music majors concentrating in Music Education, Music Management, Music Technology and Music Theater), do not require a minor, as the coursework in the program already constitutes two areas of specialization. More than one area of major or minor study is allowed, but courses may not be double-counted for more than one area of concentration. If a student elects to major in two disciplines that have certain common requirements, an appropriate number of electives must be added in one of the two disciplines.

Co-Advisors for Double Majors & First-Year Freshman Policy

Double majors will have advisors in both major programs/departments. Both advisors will approve students for registration. This co-advisor process will also apply to freshman who declare during the first year. Freshman must retain their first-year seminar advisor through the entire first year, but may add a co-advisor in the major if they chose to declare.

Declaration of Major Policy (Effective Fall 2012)

All matriculated undergraduate students will declare their major(s) and minor(s) by completing this form and submitting it to the Registrar's Office. Students can declare a major and minor(s) at any point after entering the college (see freshmen limitations and transfer notes below). All students MUST declare a major by a deadline in the middle of the 4th semester (example: Spring of the sophomore year). Declaration deadlines are published on the Academic Calendars for each term. Additionally, students should use this form to select an advisor in their intended major of study; students are reminded that their academic advisor must be a faculty member in the department that offers each major and minor.

Important Notes:

- First-year students who declare a major will continue to be advised by their First Year Seminar instructor, but will add a departmental advisor as a co-advisor.

Except for a few situations, major declarations by freshmen before the second term of the freshmen year is concluding will be discouraged. This is done to ensure new students experience Manhattanville's unique freshmen immersion.

- Transfer students entering the College with advanced standing having earned transfer credit are advised to speak with an advisor and declare a major as early as possible; this will allow transfer students to accurately assess their intended date of graduation and focus on a program of study.

- Students with multiple majors will designate a major advisor in each department.

- The declaration form must be signed by the appropriate department chairpersons (or their designees), by the new advisor, and by the student. Forms without all required signatures will be deemed incomplete, and will not be accepted.

- NOTE: Prospective Education Majors should see JoAnne Ferrara for a separate program application.

- CAUTION: Changing from one degree program to another may extend your graduation date!

Consult with an advisor to gauge the requirements of a new major before proceeding.

- Graduate & Doctoral Students:

Please DO NOT use the form above. Continue to process program changes using existing procedures with your respective graduate and doctoral program advisor(s).

Completed forms submitted to the Registrar's Office (located in BR-113) will be processed within 3 business days. Forms submitted after each term's filing deadline will be held for processing in the next term.

General Education Curriculum

The following general education credit requirements (I-III) must be completed for graduation by all undergraduates at Manhattanville College.

An official list of courses approved by the Faculty Academic Policy Committee as satisfying general education requirements will be made available to students in the registration period for each semester by the Registrar.

I: Competency Requirements

A. Quantitative Reasoning (6 credits)

B. Critical Analysis and Reasoning (6 credits)

C. Scientific Reasoning (6 credits)

D. Oral Communication (3 credits)

E. Written Communication (6 credits)

F. Foreign Language (minimum of 6 introductory-level credits in one language or demonstration of equivalent competency)

G. Technological Competency (3 credits)

H. Information Literacy (1 credit)

II. Global Awareness Requirement (within the Portfolio) Two courses (6 credits) devoted to the study of a geographical or cultural area with which a student was not previously familiar, or to the comparative study of cultural or behavioral differences, value or belief systems, religions, educational systems, community structures, economic or governmental systems, or artistic traditions. Since many departments and areas of study supply appropriate courses, and many majors include courses that specifically address global perspectives, it is impossible to provide a check-list of satisfactory classes. Students should use the descriptions of courses as listed in the Manhattanville College Catalog to determine the appropriateness of courses to satisfy this requirement, as well as confer with their advisor. It should be noted, however, that introductory level foreign language classes (Levels I and II) do not fulfill this global awareness requirement. Students should list their chosen courses on their General Education Worksheet, which will be submitted with their First and Final Portfolio submissions.

III: Distribution Area Requirements

All Manhattanville undergraduates must complete the indicated credit requirement in all four of the following curricular distribution areas:

Humanities (6 credits)

Social Science (6 credits)

Mathematical (3 credits) & Scientific (3 credits)

Fine Arts (6 credits)

Distribution area requirements can be fulfilled only by courses also approved for a General Education Competency. The distribution area value of a course will be determined by the Faculty Academic Policy Committee on the basis of its content.

In order for the student to receive the General Education competency, and therefore fill a Distribution, the student must receive a grade of C- at minimum.

Full-time students entering the College in Fall 2009 or later who hold the AA or AS degree from an accredited institution are considered to have fulfilled Manhattanville's General Education requirements, that is, the College’s Competency, Distribution, and Global Awareness requirements. However, these students must still take part in and successfully complete the portfolio process. For students entering in Fall 2009 or later without an AA or AS degree, transfer courses will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis, with credit toward the college General Education requirements given as appropriate (in consultation with the department(s)concerned).

Credit Overload Policy & Graduation Credit Requirements

The maximum number of credits for which an undergraduate student may enroll is as follows:

19 credits (except for Music and Dance & Theatre majors)
21 credits for Music Majors
21 credits for Dance & Theatre Majors

A minimum of a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 is normally required for enrollments in excess of these limits. Exceptions are granted only with the approval of the Provost. Applications must be approved by the student’s advisor and filed with the Registrar's Office. Students enrolling beyond the maximum credits above are charged at the credit hour rate for each credit hour enrolled. Fractional credit charges will be multiplied times the credit hour rate and included in the total. Students receiving financial aid will also be required to visit the Financial Aid Office for approval. In addition, students may apply for overload credits only after the two-week undergraduate online registration period has ended.

Graduation Credit Requirements

To qualify for a Bachelor’s degree, all students must complete a minimum of 120 credits with an overall average of C (2.0) or better, and with individual grades of C- or better in all courses used for the major and minor, except where individual departments specify that the minimal grade must be higher. Some major programs, including Education, Music and Dance/Theatre, exceed 120 credits. Transfer students may apply credits earned at another college or university at a level of C- or better and approved by the College to their Manhattanville program. (Students seeking to have courses taken at another institution count toward the major or minor must have the relevant department approve the courses. Certain departments require higher than a C- for major or minor credit.) In general up to 90 credits may be accepted as transfer credit; the last 30 credits, one half of the courses for the major, and one half of the courses for the minor must be completed at Manhattanville. When credits are transferred from another institution, grades earned are not transferred to the student’s Manhattanville transcript, nor are they calculated into a student’s Manhattanville GPA.

Students who have taken college courses while in high school may receive credit if the course was given by college faculty and is reported by college transcript at a level of B or better.

Students must complete all requirements in order to be eligible for graduation and participation in the commencement ceremony:

Total credits
Minimum G.P.A.
Major and minor
General education requirements
Minimum number of liberal arts credits for their degree
B.A. degree: 90 liberal arts credits

B.S. degree: 60 liberal arts credits

B.F.A. degree: 30 liberal arts credits

B.Mus degree: 30 liberal arts credits,
And the two portfolio reviews in order to be eligible for graduation and participation in the commencement ceremony.
Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the student to make certain that all requirements for graduation are met.

Grading and Evaluations

The College maintains the following letter grading system:

A. (4.0), for work of exceptional quality that demonstrates deep insight into the material of the course and mastery of the discipline’s method of inquiry. It may also connote outstanding creativity and originality of thought.

B. (3.0), for work of good quality that demonstrates a thorough grasp of the material of the course and the discipline’s method of inquiry.

C. (2.0), for work that is satisfactory in quantity and demonstrates an acceptable acquaintance with the material and the method.

D. (1.0), for work that only minimally meets the standards of the course.

F. (0.0), for work that is unsatisfactory and/or incomplete, showing little or no mastery of the material or method of inquiry. F is also used when a student withdraws from a course after the withdrawal deadline.

P. (no grade point value), for satisfactory work in a course taken on a Pass/Fail basis. (A maximum of four Pass/Fail credits may be taken in any one semester.)

W. for a course from which the student has withdrawn, with the approval of the instructor and advisor, or Provost or relevant Dean, before the withdrawal deadline.

Incomplete (GD) is given only for extraordinary reasons and means that an instructor granted an extension for a period established by the Provost or relevant Dean. Only students may request incompletes. Cannot be awarded using online grading. Incomplete requests must be finalized by the last day of classes for the semester within which they apply. Incompletes must be finished by the following dates:

Fall Semester - February 1st

Wintersession - March 1st

Spring Semester - July 1st

Summer Session - October 1st

School of Graduate & Professional Studies Module Terms

Fall 2M Module - January 15th

Winter Module - April 1st

Spring 2M Module - July 1st

Summer Module - October 1st

Until then, no grade is entered on the transcript. If the work is not completed by the stipulated deadline, the student receives a grade of F.

Other Grades

Z. (no grade point value), used as a temporary placeholder for coursework that extends beyond the end date of the course's term. Used in rare cases for doctoral dissertations, certain internships and one-year courses. It is still assigned a conversion date, similar to the incomplete (GD) grade as listed above. Cannot be awarded using online grading.

In addition, the instructor has the option of awarding grades of A - (3.75), B + (3.25), and B - (2.75), and C + (2.25), and C - (1.75).

Pass/Fail Option

Students (except those on probation) may choose to take up to 4 credits a semester on a Pass/Fail rather than a letter grade basis. However, this grading option must be indicated on the registration form and can only be changed up to the end of the Add/Drop period. Thereafter the decision cannot be changed.

Note: All coursework to be counted toward the major and minor must be taken for a letter grade, and must receive a grade of C- or better, unless an individual department stipulates otherwise. The single exception to this is the internship taken on a pass/fail basis. Students who wish to fulfill a major or minor requirement with an internship on a pass/fail basis, must have approval from the department chair.

Grade Changes & Appeals

Grade Changes

Grades may be changed due to clerical or calculation error on the part of the instructor or the Registrar’s Office ONLY, not for work submitted after the end of the term (unless the previous grade was an incomplete) Requests for change of grade are to be made by the instructor on the student’s behalf to the provost (undergraduate) or dean of the appropriate graduate or doctorate program. Grade change requests must be made within 1 calendar year of the grade due date (as published in the Academic Calendar) of the term in which the coursework was taken. However, grade changes will not be accepted more than 45 days after the conferral of a degree, at which time the Registrar’s Office officially closes the student’s degree record.

Grade Appeals

The instructor of a course is responsible for the evaluation of a student’s work in the classroom. If students believe that they can objectively demonstrate that a course grade is in error, or that some documented extenuating circumstance was not taken into consideration, they may pursue a Grade Appeal. Please note that the only permissible reason for a Grade Appeal is the unfair evaluation of academic work, and that only final course grades are subject to appeal. Course grades assigned as a result of academic dishonesty are overseen by the Board on Academic Standards and should not be appealed using the procedure here; see the section on Academic Dishonesty.

Before bringing an appeal, students should consider the following questions:

- Does the calculation of final numerical grades match the percentages stated in the instructor’s syllabus?

- What was your true attendance record?

- Have all course requirements been met, as stated in the syllabus? Does your submitted work satisfy the requirements for each assignment?

If, after answering these questions, the student believes that a grade appeal is needed, he/she must first make every effort to contact the course instructor and attempt to resolve the situation. If the instructor is difficult to reach or unresponsive, the student should request that the department contact the instructor.
If the student is unable to reach a resolution after consulting the instructor, or if the instructor cannot be contacted, the student may then file a Grade Appeal with the chair of the relevant academic department. (If the instructor and the department chair are one and the same, the appeal should be made to the Provost's Office, for undergraduates, or the relevant Dean, for graduate students.) A student’s appeal should demonstrate an objective discrepancy between the way in which s/he was evaluated and the grading standards outlined in the syllabus.
Grade appeals must be made in writing and must be filed within 45 days of the grade award date. By submitting a grade appeal, the student acknowledges that the final grade resulting from the process may be the same as the original, higher, or even lower.
The student’s appeal will be considered by an ad hoc departmental or divisional committee. After considering the student's appeal and consulting with the instructor, the department will notify the student of its decision in writing. This notification will be no later than the end of the semester following the one in which the grade was given.
If the student believes that the departmental appeal process failed to consider important evidence, or was procedurally incorrect, s/he may further appeal the grade to the Grade Appeals Committee by filing a second Grade Appeal within 14 days of the department's decision. Such an appeal will only be considered on the basis of new evidence or a lack of due process. The Grade Appeals Committee is convened by the Provost (for undergraduates) or the relevant Dean (for graduate students) and consists of faculty members with relevant academic expertise. The decision of the Grade Appeals Committee is final.

Credit Repeat Policy

Re-Taking Course - Original Grade of "F"

A student who earns a Failing grade ("F") may re-take the same course for credit (i.e. if a minimum grade is needed for a course required of one’s major) because no credit is earned with an "F" grade. The original "F" grade remains on the transcript; a subsequent passing grade does not replace the failing grade. However, both grades are calculated into the student’s cumulative GPA.

Re-Taking Course - Original Grade Passing

If a student earns a passing grade (“D” or higher) in a course, and re-takes the same course and earns a higher grade, the subsequent grade does not get factored into the cumulative GPA and credit totals. Courses taken below the 4000-level may not be repeated for credit*.

Re-Taking Course at another Institution (Transfer Credit)

If a student takes a course at another institution that is equivalent to a Manhattanville course that the student previously completed, the same repeat policies apply as if the course were taken at the College. Re-taking a course in which the original grade was “F” at Manhattanville will allow the student to earn transfer credit for the repeated course. Re-taking a course in which the original grade was “D” or higher prevents the student from receiving transfer credit, though earning a higher grade may fulfill a specific major or minor requirement.

Repeated for Credit* = Please note that repeated coursework is reflected in semester GPA and semester credit totals, but does not get factored into cumulative GPA and credit totals.

Academic Integrity & Procedures Regarding Violations of Code of Academic Integrity

ACADEMIC CONDUCT AND ADJUDICATION

ACADEMIC POLICIES

Students should consult the Course Catalog; for degree programs and requirements they should specifically consult the Course Catalog that was current at the time of their matriculation.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Academic dishonesty is a serious form of misconduct in an educational community. It threatens the relationship of trust that must exist among members of that community. As such, it warrants the most serious of responses, including possible expulsion from the College. It is each student’s responsibility to become familiar with the information presented below as well as with related procedures and sanctions. In cases where academic dishonesty is suspected, both faculty members and students have an obligation to bring the matter to the attention of the Director of the College Writing Program for appropriate action.

NOTE: All students are held accountable to these rules, even if a professor does not explicitly specify rules regarding academic integrity in his/her syllabus or course policies.

FORMS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Academic dishonesty can take many forms and though always serious can be assessed as a minor or major offense.

Minor offenses usually relate to more technical matters, are isolated or limited in scope, and are not committed for the purpose of academic advantage. Improper citation, failure to use quotation marks around a direct quote, or to acknowledge a source in-text or on a Works Cited page, when these instances are isolated and limited, are a few examples of minor offenses. How such offenses are sanctioned is usually determined by the individual instructor’s evaluation of the impact of these technical errors within the context of the structure and content of the particular course. Minor offenses are not required to be reported to the Director of the College Writing Program.

Major offenses relate to anything that constitutes an action that results in an unearned academic advantage or inexcusable gross negligence. These include, but are not limited to:

Plagiarism: This consists of offering as one’s own work the words, ideas or arguments of another. Appropriate citation (including page numbers) with quotation marks, references or footnotes, is required when using another’s work; the failure to do so constitutes plagiarism. Copying homework and answers on an exam or report, submitting a term paper from the archives of a group or from another student, procuring a paper from any source (electronic or otherwise) and submitting it as one’s own are further examples of plagiarism.
False citation: Providing false information about a source is academic dishonesty. This includes citing a title, author and page as if it were from one source when, in fact, it is from a different source, or including information that did not come from the cited source.
Cheating on exams.
Forgery: Signing any faculty member or administrator’s name to a College form or document without express permission.
Falsification: Altering any official College document, paper or examination to mislead others; or, any deception (written, oral, or electronic) of a College official in an attempt to circumvent College academic policy.
Computer abuse: For all assignments for computer-related courses, students are required to acknowledge any information, from word texts to full programs, that is not their own. In addition, infringing on the rights of other students to gain access to the computer system, destroying or infecting files, copying files or programs without permission are considered academically dishonest.
Destruction, theft or displacement of library materials.
Multiple submissions: Work done for one course cannot be submitted for another course without the express permission of the professor.
Unauthorized collaboration on academic assignments.
Aiding another student in the commission of academic dishonesty.

PROCEDURES REGARDING ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

The primary responsibility for finding plagiarism and determining the penalty in terms of the grade for the plagiarized assignment and the course lies with the instructor of the course. For proven or uncontested major acts of academic dishonesty, either of the following sanctions may be imposed by the instructor: Failure of the assignment or failure of the course. When an instructor has found what he/she considers to be a major offense (or if someone witnesses what he/she considers to be a major offense), the Director of Writing Program is contacted. The instructor (or other person witnessing or suspecting academic dishonesty) and the Director of Writing Program will decide together whether the offense is of a serious nature. If the Director and Instructor cannot agree on a penalty, the Chair of the Board on Academic Standards will determine the penalty. If it is determined that a major offense has occurred, the instructor or Director of Academic Writing will contact the student and inform him/her of the findings and the penalty that will be imposed within the course, and will be informed that him/her must meet with the Director of the College Writing Program.

All further disciplinary procedures will proceed in the following manner:

For a first offense:

The student and instructor may meet to discuss the matter. The student is required to meet with the Director of Academic Writing. If the student accepts responsibility for the offense and the penalty imposed by the instructor, no further sanction beyond that imposed by the instructor will be made. However, the student waives his/her right to a formal hearing by the Board on Academic Standards on the matter and consents to the instructor’s penalty.

The Admission of Academic Dishonesty form will be filed with the Director of Academic Writing and is retained until the completion of the degree; if there are no further violations of the Code of Academic Integrity, the agreement will be destroyed. The student, should he/she reconsider his/her consent to the agreement, may void the document within ten (10) days of signing the agreement, and request a hearing by the Board on Academic Standards (BOAS) to review the penalty imposed by the instructor.

Where the student disputes the finding of the instructor, the student may chose to not sign the Admission of Academic Dishonesty form and must contact the Director of Academic Writing. The student must submit a formal written appeal to the Chair of the Board on Academic Standards within 48 hours of notification of the sanction. The BOAS Chairperson may uphold the finding and sanction, overturn the finding and sanction, or impose an alternative sanction, as appropriate, based on their examination of the matter.

Where the student disputes the decision of the BOAS Chairperson, the student may ask for a formal review by the full Board on Academic Standards. The BOAS may uphold the initial sanction, impose a lesser sanction, or impose a more severe sanction as a result of the appeal.
If the penalty involves a change in a grade for a course, the student has the right to appeal the grade through the procedures outlined under GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES under ACADEMIC ISSUES.
If the sanction imposed or upheld involves suspension or expulsion from the College, the student may appeal the sanction to the Provost within 48 hours of notification of the decision. Such an appeal will only be considered on the basis of procedural unfairness or new evidence that might have resulted in a different decision.

For a second or later offense:

The student and instructor may meet to discuss the matter. The student is required to communicate with the Director of the Academic Writing regarding the offense. The course instructor will submit the Admission of Academic Dishonesty form to the Director of Academic Writing, who will then forward it to the Board on Academic Standards for investigation and possible disciplinary action. All second or later offenses are forwarded to the BOAS Chairperson for review. The student will be asked to appear before the BOAS. The BOAS will impose one or a combination of sanctions depending on the severity of the infraction and the student’s prior academic integrity record.

If the penalty involves a change in a grade for a course, the student has the right to appeal the grade through the procedures outlined under GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES under ACADEMIC ISSUES.

If the sanction imposed or upheld involves suspension or expulsion from the College, the student may appeal the sanction to the Provost within 48 hours of notification of the decision. Such an appeal will only be considered on the basis of procedural unfairness or new evidence that might have resulted in a different decision.

If the sanction imposed by the BOAS Chairperson involves a suspension or expulsion from the college, the student may appeal the sanction to the Vice President for Student Affairs within 48 hours of notification of the decision. Such an appeal will only be considered on the basis of procedural unfairness or new evidence that might have resulted in a different decision.

Sanctions that may be imposed for a second or later offense are as follows:

Disciplinary probation for academic dishonesty (this disqualifies the student from academic or departmental honors, including honor societies, study abroad candidacy, Dean’s List, Portfolio Honors, and the Castle Honors Program and will require the student to work with his or her Class Dean who will monitor the student for further academic integrity violations and assist the student in rectifying any underlying academic weaknesses which may have contributed to the initial violation)

Suspension from the College for one or more semesters. Students are entitled to readmission to the College at the end of their suspension.

Expulsion from the College. Students are not entitled to readmission to the College. Additionally, once expelled, students will not be conferred a degree from the College.

Academic Probation and Dismissal Policy

Full-time undergraduate students qualify for academic probation if:

they fail to achieve a grade of C- or higher in either semester of the Freshman Seminar or Freshman Writing course or the FYP 4001 College Skills course; or
they fail to submit the Portfolio in the semester in which it is due, or to submit revisions to it by the established due date; or
they fail to meet earned credit and GPA standards as listed below:

Following the Completion of this semester	A student must have earned at least	With cumulative GPA of at least
1	10 credits	1.8
2	22 credits	1.9
3	34 credits	2.0
4	46 credits	2.0
5	58 credits	2.0
6	70 credits	2.0
7	82 credits	2.0
8	94 credits	2.0
9	106 credits	2.0
10	118 credits	2.0

Full-time undergraduate students qualify for dismissal if:

• academic probation has been incurred in two consecutive semesters of enrollment (not including summer or winter sessions); or

• academic probation has been incurred in a total of three semesters of enrollment; or

• in their first semester at the College, the semester GPA is below 1.25.

Part-time undergraduate students qualify for academic probation if their cumulative GPA falls below 2.0.

Part-time undergraduate students who remain on probation for two consecutive semesters of enrollment at the College shall be dismissed, in this case meaning that they are disqualified from enrolling for further courses.

Undergraduate students on academic probation may not take courses on a Pass/Fail basis, and may not be granted an Incomplete (GD) in any course during the semester of their probation. Full-time undergraduates on academic probation must register for 15 or 16 credits in the semester of probation, and may not withdraw below 12 credits. In addition, they are required to meet with their designated Class Dean on a regular basis throughout the semester. As probationary students are not in good academic standing, they may not participate in intercollegiate athletics.

Students (full-time or part-time) who have been dismissed may appeal that decision to the Academic Appeals Committee. Students should direct their appeal to the Director of Academic Advising. The decision of the Committee, which is normally final, is conveyed to the student in writing by the Provost. Further appeals can only be considered on the basis of procedural unfairness or new evidence. Such appeals should be directed to the President within 48 hours after the student has received the letter from the Provost.

Students whose appeals have been denied may apply for readmission to the College after one year’s absence. Readmission is not automatic and requires the student to demonstrate the ability and readiness to undertake continued studies.

The Academic Appeals Committee is chaired by the Provost and also includes: the Director of Academic Advising; the chairperson of the faculty Academic Policy Committee; the chairperson of the faculty Board on Academic Standards; the Director of Residence Life; and the Dean of Students. The Academic Appeals Committee will request a statement from the student’s academic advisor and may also request further information from individual instructors. A student whose appeal is approved may be required to participate in specific courses or mentoring programs as a condition of continued enrollment. The student’s academic advisor will be notified of the outcome of the appeal.

Attendance Policy

Attending class is vital to academic success. Accordingly, Manhattanville College expects attendance and punctuality at all classes. Students are expected to accept personal responsibility for any absences, and will be held responsible for all course content, requirements, and assignments, whether or not they are present in class. Individual instructors may establish course attendance policies, including penalties for absences and lateness. The responsibility for explaining and/or documenting individual absences rests with the student, who must understand that instructors are not obligated to grant requests for make-up or supplementary work.

Other Grievance Procedures

Grievance procedures pertaining to situations not covered in the policies above have been established at Manhattanville College for students who feel they have received biased or unfair treatment by a faculty member in a class. The following grievance procedures do not apply to issues relating to academic dishonesty, academic dismissal and misconduct. Students should consult the Student Handbook or other sections of the catalog, as they apply to these situations. Meant to protect students’ rights, these grievance procedures are as follows:

Students with complaints should first attempt to resolve the issue by discussing their problem with the faculty member involved. This must happen within one semester of the claimed instance of unfair treatment. If the student cannot locate the teacher, he/she should contact the Provost (or the relevant Dean, for graduate students).

In the event that the discussion with the faculty member does not resolve the matter to the student’s satisfaction, the student should go to the head of the department or program and explain his/her grievance, submitting a summary of that grievance in writing. (If the department chair is one and the same as the faculty member identified in the grievance, the student should go to the Provost or the relevant Dean, for graduate students). This must occur within 5 business days of the discussion with the faculty member. The department or program head will investigate the matter, consulting with the faculty member identified in the grievance, as well as with other members of the department, and going over pertinent records and documents, in an effort to achieve a fair resolution of the grievance. The resolution will be given in writing to the student and a copy sent to the Academic Advising Office.

In the event that the grievance cannot be resolved to the student’s satisfaction within the department, within 5 business days after the receipt of the chair’s letter the student should make a formal complaint to the Grievance Committee, attaching all pertinent documents and evidence. The Grievance Committee is chaired by the Provost and, in the case of graduate students, the Dean of the Graduate Program, and the Chairperson of the Faculty. In cases where any one of these members must be excused due to their involvement in the grievance or his/her inability to attend, the chair of the Board on Academic Standards, or another member of this committee, will stand in for that position. Once the grievance is received in writing, the Grievance Committee reviews the available materials, consults with the student and the faculty member, as well as with the department. After consultation and review of the materials, the Grievance Committee votes and the decision is conveyed by letter to the concerned parties.

The decision of the Grievance Committee may be appealed to the President only on the basis of procedural unfairness or new evidence that might result in a different decision. Such an appeal must be made in writing within 5 business days after receipt of the letter from the Grievance Committee.

For grievances regarding charges of academic dishonesty or for misconduct in the residence halls, please see the Manhattanville Student Handbook and Code of Community Conduct. For grievances regarding academic dismissal, please see the section in the catalog on Academic Probation and Dismissal. For grievances regarding grades received as a result of academic dishonesty, follow the grievance procedure above.

Residence Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree

Manhattanville College requires all undergraduate students who have transferred in 60 credits or fewer to matriculate for and to complete at least 60 semester credit hours, at least one half of the major, and four semesters academically "in residence" in order to earn the Bachelor’s degree.

"In residence" includes all courses for which students receive grades which impact their Manhattanville College G.P.A.., including overseas — or other off-campus — programs which are an integral part of a signed, cooperative agreement. Students will be required to obtain the signed approval of the advisor and the chief academic officer before embarking on any such off-campus programs which are intended to be considered "residence" credit.

In order to earn the Bachelor’s degree, students who have transferred into Manhattanville with more than 60 credits will be required to:

complete at least the final 30 semester credit hours and at least half of the major and minor "in residence" with at least a 2.0 G.P.A. in courses in which they are enrolled at the College.
demonstrate that they have satisfied the Manhattanville College general education requirements — either in courses for which they have enrolled at Manhattanville College — or at another accredited college/university.
complete all State-mandated Bachelor’s degree/certification requirements.

The maximum amount of transfer credit that may be applied to the Manhattanville transcript is 90 credits for students matriculating as of Fall 2009; students who enrolled prior to Fall 2009, may transfer in a maximum of 60 credits. In either case, one half of the courses for the major, and one half of the courses for the minor must be completed at Manhattanville.

Withdrawals

With the exception of First-Year Program courses, students may withdraw from courses without academic penalty up to the withdrawal deadline in the Academic Calendar. The course then appears on the transcript with a “W” instead of a grade. In order to withdraw, students must obtain the signature of the instructor of the course as well as the faculty advisor. If students wish to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline, they must present their appeal to the Academic Advising Office, who grants such requests only in extraordinary circumstances, and only with the faculty member‘s endorsement. Full-time undergraduate students must not withdraw below 12 credits without first appealing to the Provost's Office, to ensure they are eligible. Please note that students who are in danger of failing a course due to violations of the Code of Academic Integrity are not allowed to withdraw from the course to avoid a failing grade in the course.

Students may not withdraw from a First-Year Program course. Only in rare circumstances are exceptions made. Any request for withdrawal from an FYP course requires formal approval by the FYP Coordinator and Provost. If granted, such a withdrawal does not constitute an exemption from completion of all FYP requirements.