Academic Policies and Procedures (from WLU Student Handbook: Academic Policies)

Academic Dishonesty Policy

Academic Dishonesty, in whatever form, belies the stated philosophy of West Liberty University “to promote the development of the intellectual, cultural, social, physical, emotional, moral, and vocational capacities of all persons within its sphere of influence.” Individuals who commit acts of academic dishonesty violate the principles, which support the search for knowledge and truth. The academic community has established appropriate penalties and disciplinary action for such behavior.  For full information on types of academic dishonesty, penalties, appeals, and procedures related to academic dishonesty, please refer to the University Catalog.

Grade Appeal Procedure/Policy

The grade appeal process is outlined in Procedure 221: Grade Appeals.  For full details review online at https://westliberty.edu/human-resources/files/2018/06/Procedure-221-Grade-Appeals.pdf.  Grade appeal procedures specified in academic program handbooks supersede this procedure.

The evaluation of student performance is based on the professional judgments of instructors, and matters of academic judgment cannot be appealed.  Only final grades may be appealed.  In a grade appeal, the student has the burden of proof in establishing cause for a grade change.  The only bases on which a grade may be appealed are: (A) The instructor did not apply the same grading criteria to the appealing student as for other students; (B) The grade awarded was arbitrary, capricious, or prejudiced; or (C) The grade assigned was awarded as the result of an error in calculating, recording, or reporting a final grade.

Class Attendance Policy

Students should attend every class for which they are scheduled, as they are held responsible for all work covered in the courses taken.  Irregularity in attendance may cause a student to become deficient scholastically and create the risk of receiving a failing mark or receiving a lower grade than he/she might have secured had he/she been in regular attendance.

A policy statement adopted by the Faculty Senate (1983) contains the following:  “The students of West Liberty University depend upon the faculty, staff, and other resources.  Faculty and students depend upon the class schedule for an orderly arrangement of instruction.  Scheduled classes testify to the importance of ordered class instruction and the implicit benefit of class attendance for the students.  Consequently, the policy of West Liberty University encourages all students to attend classes and all instructors to organize and conduct their courses accordingly.

Instructors must include their attendance policy in their course syllabi, which are available to students at the beginning of the term.  No student is permitted to attend class until tuition and fees are paid or arrangements have been made for their payment.  Students are not arbitrarily granted any class cuts.  Failure to attend the first scheduled meeting of classes may result in the loss of the student’s position in those classes unless he/she has notified the instructor prior to the first meeting that he/she will be unable to be in attendance.  All attendance policies go into effect upon the first meeting of class.

Regularly scheduled classes take precedence over all other activities.  No penalty may be imposed upon a student for failure to perform curricular or extra-curricular responsibilities that are scheduled in conflict with a regular class.

Instructors may provide, within reason, opportunity for students who miss class for university-recorded curricular and extra-curricular activities (such as field trips, choir trips and athletic contests) to make up work.  However, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate timely discussion on these matters with the faculty member of the regular scheduled class.

The Health Service does not provide students with excuse slips in the case of student illnesses.

For further information regarding class attendance, please refer to WLU Policy No. 229: Class Admission and Attendance.

Core Coursework /Transfer Agreement

The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has established a process and format which enables students who transfer from one college or university to another to transfer core coursework that will count toward fulfillment of general studies requirements at the receiving institutions. Under terms of the agreement, a student may transfer undergraduate coursework in the areas of English Composition, Communication and Literature, Fine Arts Appreciation, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Social Science as general studies credits. For further details on the above, please refer to the University Catalog or contact the Registrar.

Dean’s List

At the end of each semester the Registrar’s Office prepares a

Dean’s List of students who have done outstanding scholastic work for that semester. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must complete a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours with a quality-point average of at least 3.50.

Graduation with Honors

Recognition is accorded candidates for graduation as follows:

Summa Cum Laude  3.9-4.00

Magna Cum Laude   3.70-3.89

Cum Laude   3.50-3.69

The grade point average of all courses at West Liberty University and that of all work transferred from other institutions must meet the grade point standard in each category of honors.

To be considered for graduation with honors, a student must have completed a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit for regular letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) at West Liberty University.

Withdrawal from Courses

A student who officially withdraws from a course by the end of the class day marking the two-thirds point of the semester or summer term shall receive a grade of “W.” A student who does not officially withdraw from a course shall receive a grade of “FIW,” indicating failure because of improper withdrawal. “FIW” is computed as “F” for grade-point average.

Students can drop courses in WINS until the last date to enroll for the respective semester. To drop a course after the last date to enroll, students must email their instructor and copy in the Registrar’s Office (registrar@westliberty.edu) with their name, ID number, course name, and CRN. The instructor will then need to send an email approval to registrar@westliberty.edu with the effective drop date. Withdrawing students receiving financial aid may be required to repay a portion of their financial aid in some cases.

Withdrawal from the University

Students who find it necessary to withdraw from the university during the course of a semester or summer term must complete the official withdrawal procedure. To drop a course after the last date to enroll, students must email their instructor and copy in the Registrar’s Office (registrar@westliberty.edu) with their name, ID number, course name and CRN.  The instructor will then need to send an email approval to registrar@westliberty.edu with the effective drop date.  Withdrawing students receiving financial aid may be required to repay a portion of their financial aid in some cases.

Students who leave the university without officially withdrawing will receive failing grades (“FI”) in all courses for which they are enrolled.

Policy Regarding Students Called To Active Military Service

West Liberty University’s policy on students who are called to active duty can be found in the University Catalog, available online at http://westliberty.edu/registrar/west-liberty-university-bulletin/.