Doctoral Academic Policies

Academic Honor Code

Refer to the Student Handbook for this policy. 

Academic Year Definition

The College has three standard academic terms within an academic year. The three academic terms are Fall Semester, Spring Semester, and Summer Session.

Students Receiving Title IV Aid

The Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters are required periods of enrollment for doctoral students receiving Title IV aid (federal financial aid). Failure to enroll in a required period of enrollment will impact a student’s ability to receive federal aid and/or deferment on federal student loans.

Students on an F-1 Student VISA

Enrollment in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters are required for students on an F-1 Student VISA to maintain status as a full-time student. (See additional requirements here).

Auditing a Course (Listener Status)

Permission to audit a class (listener status) may be requested from the Advising Office no later than the official add/drop period for the course.

Students must be enrolled in the course they wish to audit and pay normal associated tuition charges. Courses under audit (listener) status are transcribed on a student’s academic record as non-degree and an L grade is posted signifying audit/listener status. Credits are not awarded upon completion.

Title IV aid and Veteran’s benefits cannot be used if the student audits or enrolls in a course as a “Listener” since the course’s status is listed as non-degree.

Change of Address

Any student who changes their mailing address(es) or name while enrolled at the College can submit the information using Campus Web (log in, click on the Personal Information link in the upper right corner of the window, then click the Biographical Info tab). Forms are also available in the Financial Aid/Advisement Office. An official government document may also be requested for a change of name.

Class Attendance and Tardiness

All students are expected to attend punctually, and for the full class time, every scheduled meeting of each class in which they are registered. Students who do not attend the first class meeting may jeopardize their federal financial aid funding or, in the case of F-1 visa students, be reported out of status to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Absences are recorded beginning with the first scheduled class meeting.  During weeks when classes do not meet face-to-face, students will still be required to submit assignments.

Poor attendance and/or habitual tardiness to class may not only negatively impact a student’s academic success, but may also jeopardize the student’s continued enrollment at the College. Exceptions may be made in cases of serious illness or other documented emergency.

Students are held responsible for all work missed as a result of absences. Each faculty member shall assess each course they teach to determine what class attendance requirements are necessary to complete a course successfully. Students will be informed in writing of these requirements for each course at the beginning of the semester by the professor. Students can contact their Advisors for information about their class absence records for any given course or semester.

Students who do not attend the first week of class and have not secured their schedules may be dropped from their class(es) if they do not provide notice to the faculty or Advisor.

Class Scheduling and Format

All students who are accepted into a doctoral program and begin enrollment at Goldey-Beacom College are to complete their required courses at the College. Doctoral classes are normally offered during the evening, starting as early as 4:30 p.m. and ending as late as 10:30 p.m. in a hybrid course format. Classes may also be held on Saturday. However, classes may be held in any of the following formats: face-to-face, hybrid/hyflex (at least half in-person, the remaining portion online), or 100% online.  Face-to-face classes will occur between the hours of 8 am to 10:30 pm, Monday through Friday, or Saturday between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm.  Final examinations may also be held on Saturday. Any deviation from the planned schedule may or may not delay a student’s graduation. A student changing their course schedule should do so with the assistance of an Advisor, and have the Advisor check the remainder of the schedule as well.  Approval from the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs is necessary for students making special scheduling requests such as independent studies, course substitutions, etc. These requests must include an explanation and be submitted in writing to an Advisor.

If a student fails a class, it is the student’s responsibility to contact an Advisor to adjust future class schedules accordingly.

Comprehensive Exams

Comprehensive exams are required to be completed and passed after students complete their required doctoral coursework and before they are able to move into the dissertation phase of the program. Comprehensive exams are administered and graded by the Comprehensive Exam Committee, which is comprised of faculty members of the College. Exam options include a traditional written exam or a portfolio presentation and are graded as pass-fail. Courses are notated on the student’s transcript with 0 credit hours to record the examination. 

Students who do not pass their comprehensive exam are able to retake the exam within 3 months of their first attempt. Students may choose a different format for their exam than their initial attempt. Students who attempt their comprehensive exam and do not pass it on the second attempt are usually dismissed from the program. However, students are able to appeal their dismissal to the Provost/VP for Academic Affairs for special consideration if there are extenuating circumstances. 

Credit Hour Definition

One credit hour is awarded for fourteen hours of structured instruction over a fourteen week period, or a designated college session, utilizing the standard academic 50-minute hour. This is exclusive of registration or outside study time. Structured instruction time includes lecture, testing, regularly scheduled face-to-face consultation, supervised group work, class presentation time, electronic media assignment modules, required laboratory time, or regularly scheduled tutorial sessions. Each credit hour should be complemented by at least 120 minutes of outside assignments or study time per week.

Cumulative Index (Cumulative Grade Point Average)

The scholastic average is computed after the first semester and for every semester increment thereafter. A student must earn and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to meet the minimum academic requirement for graduation.

Curricular Updates

The College reserves the right to change curricula and course requirements. Such changes must go through the appropriate academic channels of the College before being implemented. The Registrar’s Office is apprised of changes in a timely fashion so that students are properly advised and directed.

Dissertation

After succesful completion of required coursework and comprehensive exams, students are enrolled in 3-credit dissertation courses for the duration of the drafting and defense of their topic. Students select a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Outside Reader for their dissertation committee and work closely with these members throughout the process of drafting and defense. Successful dissertation defense is required for conferral of the Doctor of Business Administration degree. Students who do not complete and succesfully defend their disseration are considered all-but-dissertation (ABD), and are eligible to petition for a Post-Masters Executive Business Certificate. 

Drop/Add

Once a student has secured their course schedule for a specified academic term with the Business Office, it is the student’s responsibility to make changes to the course schedule within the drop/add timeframe for that academic term. The student must contact an Advisor in the Financial Aid/Advisement Office via GBC Email to make the official course schedule changes. All course change requests must be in writing utilizing GBC Email. By attending a course, the student accepts financial responsibility for the full cost of the tuition and fees for that course. A student cannot request a course schedule drop/add after the academic drop period has ended for a particular academic term. By securing their course schedule, the student has acknowledged receipt of the course schedule and is responsible for all tuition charges for the academic term.

Students dropping or adding eight-week courses must do so during the College’s official Drop/Add periods.

Those Drop/Add periods are:

• Eight-week Session I or Session II courses: first week of each session
• Saturday classes: before the second scheduled day of class (The adding of Saturday classes after the first class meeting has begun is not permitted.)
• Curriculuar Practical Training (CPT): within 30 days of the CPT or practicum start date listed on the Form I-20, a student may request a non-refundable tuition credit on account for the amount of the tuition charges less any applied scholarships. Student must submit to the  Advisor (1) a written request for the non-refundable credit, and (2) a letter of separation from the employer. 

Students who drop a course during the Drop/Add periods are charged 20% of the tuition charges. For details on tuition charge or refund information, please contact the College’s Business Office at (302) 225-6268. The College reserves the right to drop a student’s course(s) if the student has not attended the course(s) and the schedule has not been secured for the academic term in which the course(s) is(are) scheduled.

Academic Drop Period

Students may drop courses without academic penalty during the Session I or Session II. Students will receive a grade of “W” instead of a final grade. The “W” does not affect the student’s cumulative grade point average; the student will not earn credits for the course. In addition, students who drop courses during the following Academic Drop periods will be charged 100% of the total tuition charges. Students must contact their Advisor to drop a course.

• Eight-week Session I or II courses: second week to the end of the fifth week of the session
• Saturday classes: prior to the third class meeting
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT): after first 30 days of the CPT or practicum start date

After the Academic Drop Period

A student may not request a course schedule drop/add after the academic drop period has ended for a particular academic term. Once the schedule is secured, it is the student’s responsibility to make changes to the course schedule within the drop/add timeframe for that academic term. A student who contacts an Advisor after the academic drop period has ended will not be considered for a semester charge reduction regardless of class attendance, how payment was made, or if an outstanding balance is presently owed. The student will be charged 100% of the total tuition charges.

Drops for Medical/Work-Related Reasons

For a student who finds it necessary to drop courses due to medical or work-related reasons, the student should review the following tuition credit descriptions to see if the student is eligible for a tuition credit.

Description of Tuition Credit

Medical Tuition Credit - A medical tuition credit will be considered if the student’s medical condition has caused the student to miss two consecutive weeks of classes.

Work-Related Tuition Credit - A work-related tuition credit will be considered for any student whose supervisor has required/requested them to change work hours and the new hours are during the class hours.  Medical and work-related tuition credits are non-refundable.

Prior to consideration being granted for a possible tuition credit, the student must:

• Speak to the professor to see if it is possible to make up the work missed, even if it means taking an incomplete for the course and completing the work beyond the semester/session.
• Contact the student’s Advisor if the student is unable to complete the required course work to officially drop the course(s) at the current refund percentage. The charge will be corrected if necessary when the tuition credit is approved.

Complete the Goldey-Beacom College Medical and Work-Related Tuition Credit Request form and submit it with the required documentation to the Director of Business Affairs. See part three for the required documentation.

All medical and work-related tuition credit documentation must be submitted within 30 days of the incident, in order for the tuition credit to be considered. Listed below is the medical and work-related documentation that would need to be provided to the Director of Business Affairs.

Documentation Required

Medical Tuition Credit - supporting documentation from the doctor and/or hospital that includes the dates for which the student was being treated and a brief explanation for why the student was not able to attend and/or complete the class.

Work-Related Tuition Credit - supporting documentation from the student’s supervisor explaining that the student requested/required the student to change their work hours and list the hours that the student is now required to work.

The documentation may be mailed to the Director of Business Affairs, Goldey-Beacom College, 4701 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE  19808, or sent by email to krauss@gbc.edu.

Appeal Process

If the student would like to appeal the decision regarding the tuition charge, the student should submit a written appeal request to the Vice President for Finance/CFO, within 30 days of receiving the decision. At this time, the student should present any and all documentation that fully describes the circumstances that would warrant a change in decision. The Vice President for Finance/CFO will respond within ten working days. The decision of the Vice President for Finance/CFO will be final.

Exceptions

Requests for exceptions to any academic policies must be submitted in writing to the Provost/VP for Academic Affairs for review.

Grade Appeal Process

Students who wish to appeal a final grade received in a course completed at Goldey-Beacom College that is not the result of an Academic Honor Code violation* must follow the grade appeal procedures. (The grade a student earns is solely at the discretion of the instructor, and the Academic Integrity Committee cannot override the grading judgments of the instructor. This process addresses cases in which the student believes a grade deviates from the given grading policy of either the instructor or the College. The student must submit documentation that indicates how the grade deviates from either policy. The Committee will then discuss the submitted documentation with the instructor.)

1. The student must discuss their concern with the individual faculty member who assigned the grade as the first step in this process. There is no “grade appeal” without this initial step.
2. If the student feels that there is a discrepancy between the faculty member’s written grading policy and the way the grade was assigned, the student should complete this Grade Appeal form, including documentation, within 30 days of the official end of the semester in which the grade was assigned.
3. The Academic Integrity Committee will render a decision within ten (10) business days and communicate the decision to the student via the GBC Email account with return receipt requested.
4. If the student wishes to appeal the decision of the Academic Integrity Committee, the student must submit the appeal in writing, within ten (10) business days of receiving the decision, to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs with supporting documentation attached.
5. The Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs will review the case and make a final determination within ten (10) business days from receipt of the appeal. The student will receive written notice via the GBC Email account with return receipt requested within ten (10) business days. The decision of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs is final.

*Any grade that is the result of an Academic Honor Code violation must be dealt with through the Academic Honor Code appeal process.

Students: After discussing the grade concern with the instructor, if the student would like to appeal the final grade in a GBC course (per the policies stated above), the student should complete the GBC Grade Appeal Form available by visiting Grade Appeal Form.

Grading System

In each course a student will receive one of the following grades at the end of the semester: A+, A, B+, B, C+, C, F, W/X, or I. The grade of C is the lowest passing grade which is considered minimally acceptable at the doctoral level and two C+’s or C’s are or one F is grounds for dismissal. A failing grade of F is given for work which is unsatisfactory. The grade of W/X indicates an official withdrawal from a course and is not computed into the grade point average.

The following scale will be utilized to assign grades in the doctoral courses at Goldey-Beacom College:

The I grade is assigned because of incomplete work when circumstances were beyond the control of the student. The student must make arrangements with the instructor of the course to complete the missed work/examination within three weeks after the next regular semester/session begins (fall, spring, summer). Otherwise, the I will be replaced by the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar in accordance with the previous directions of the instructor, and the student will be notified of the change of grade via their GBC Email account.

Academic credit is given for the grades A+ through C. A student may repeat a course to improve skills, enhance knowledge, and/or affect their cumulative index. All grades will appear on the official transcript but only the higher grade will be included in the cumulative index.  At the doctoral level, two grades of C+ or C, or one F, may result in dismissal from the program for failure to maintain satisfactory grades.

NOTE: A student who officially/unofficially drops a course(s) or withdraws from the College after the Academic Drop Period will receive a final grade(s). A grade of W/X may be considered only for the substantiated reasons satisfactory to the faculty or the Academic Integrity Committee.

Graduation & Commencement

Conferral Requirements

At the doctoral level, there are four academic requirements established by the College to receive degree conferral:

1) A cumulative grade point average of a 3.00 or higher;

2) All of the credit hours and required courses in the student’s program have been satisfied.

3) Comprehensive exam has been passed.

4) Dissertation has been defended and final dissertation document has been submitted to DBA Directors with appropriate documentation and signatures of the dissertation committee.

Graduation Procedures

All students completing their degree requirements must complete the following steps, regardless of whether or not they plan to participate in the Commencement Ceremony:

1) Ensure that all degree requirements have or will be met. Students can perform a degree audit via Campus Web on the Registration tab or contact the Advising or Registrar’s Office to verify that all academic requirements are expected to be met by the end of a given semester.

2) Complete an Application to Graduate through the Registrar’s Office. Information is disseminated each semester by the Registrar’s Office about the Application to Graduate process. The purpose of this application is to communicate important information to the College, such as how students want their name to appear on their diploma, whether or not they will attend the Commencement Ceremony, and so on. 

3) Satisfy all financial obligations with the College, including a $95 Graduation Application Fee. This may include working with the College’s Business Office to agree to a payment plan or special payment arrangement. The $95 Graduation Application fee is applied towards the cost of the student’s diploma, regalia (cap and gown), and other expenses related to Commencement. The graduation fee is refundable if the student delays completion of their program requirements to a future academic year.

NOTE: While all care is taken by the Advising and Registrar’s Offices to help students stay on-track for degree completion, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to ensure their degree requirements will be satisfied in the timeframe they wish. This is especially important when a student fails, withdraws, or drops a course and needs to register for the same course in a subsequent semester. Frequent contact with your Advisor will help ensure that you graduate within your desired timeframe.

Commencement Ceremony

There is one Commencement Ceremony each academic year at the conclusion of the Spring semester, which is published in the College’s Academic Calendar. Students who complete their degree in summer are permitted to participate at the Commencement ceremony, though they will not receive degree conferral until all academic requirements are met. Only students who have completed degree requirements within the academic year are permitted to attend.

Issuance of Diplomas

Once the Registrar’s Office has completed the process of conferring degrees for the most recent semester, two types of diplomas are issued to students:

1) Paper diploma, which is ordered through a 3rd-party printing company. Once ordered paper diplomas will be mailed and will arrive no later than four (4) weeks. 

2) CeDiploma, which stands for a Certified Electronic Diploma. This diploma is a mirror of the paper diploma and comes in the form of a blockchain-encrypted PDF, which has life-time accessibility. CeDiplomas are sent to students’ GBC emails shortly after degree conferral and can be verified by the student and/or third-parties by using the instructions included with the CeDiploma. 

Neither paper diplomas, or CeDiplomas, are released to students with outstanding financial obligations or to students who are federal loan recipients that have not completed required Exit Counseling. 

Honors and Awards

Graduates at the Doctoral level who have attained superior academic achievement are recognized. Those recognitions are:

• Highest Honors - Final Cumulative GPA of 4.000
• High Honors - Final Cumulative GPA of 3.900 - 3.999
• Honors - Final Cumulative GPA of 3.750 - 3.899

Candidates for graduation who are participating in the annual Commencement Ceremony are also recognized, however the GPA used to calculate anticipated honors is based on the GPA at the end of Spring session I for students whose degree has not yet been conferred, due to the close proximity of Commencement with the end of the spring semester and summer session that has not yet begun. 

International Students on F-1 Visas

Refer to the Student Handbook for this policy. 

Privilege of Attendance

Refer to the Student Handbook for this policy. 

Progress Toward Degree/Maximum Timeframe for Completion

All degree requirements must be completed within seven (7) years after the first doctoral level course is taken.

Re-Entry

A student who has not been continuously enrolled at the College and is interested in resuming their degree program course work must make the request in writing to the Program Director. Consideration for re-entry will require a review of the student’s prior academic record, previous financial payment history at the College, and compliance with the College’s Student Code of Conduct and/or Housing Guidelines. If the student was an international student (F1 visa holder) when previously enrolled, their records will be reviewed for SEVIS compliance. Additional information or documentation may be requested from the student to accompany the request. The written request with supporting documentation will be forwarded to the Academic Integrity Committee for their review.

Approval to return is contingent upon course availability and may be deferred to a future semester or session.

Previous course work completed at Goldey-Beacom College will be evaluated according to current programs; therefore, the longer a student has been out, the more courses the student may need to complete in order to earn a degree. Depending on its content, course work which is more than 10 years old may no longer apply to a current program.

Credits earned for previous course work at Goldey-Beacom College which are not required in the current program chosen are still included in the total number of credits the student has earned but do not apply directly to the new program.

Semesters during which a student in the program is not registered for course work continue to count toward the maximum completion time for the degree. (See Progress Toward Degree)

Students who are approved to re-enter the College will not automatically receive previously awarded Goldey-Beacom College sponsored merit and need-based scholarships. Consideration for the reinstatement of the scholarship awards will include a review of the student’s prior record while in attendance at the College.

A student may be granted approval to re-enroll at the College but may not be eligible to apply for federal financial aid funding if the student did not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards while previously enrolled. Federal financial aid questions can be discussed with an Advisor.

Release of Academic Information for Deceased Students

The following requirements protect the confidentiality of academic information upon the death of a former student of Goldey-Beacom College, Beacom College or Goldey College.

The Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar will evaluate each written request for the release of a transcript or other academic information of a deceased student. Goldey-Beacom College reserves the right to deny any verbal or written request in whole or to release only part of the requested student’s academic information. The College does not release academic information of deceased students to the news media or for research purposes.

The closest living next-of-kin may submit the completed Request for Deceased Student’s Academic Information form along with the following notarized documents in English:

1. Death certificate of former student
2. Birth certificate of requestor to prove next-of-kin relationship

The Executor of the deceased student’s estate can request academic information if there is no living next-of-kin.  The Executor of the estate completes and submits the Request for Deceased Student’s Academic Information form along with a notarized copy of the Letter of Appointment of Executor for the student.  Both documents must be in English and submitted to the Goldey-Beacom College Registrar’s Office.  The Request for Deceased Student’s Academic Information form can be obtained from the Registrar’s Office at registrar@gbc.edu.

If the student has an outstanding obligation to Goldey-Beacom College, the requestor will be notified via email.

Release of Grades Policy

Students can access grading information in a few different ways:

1) The student’s Official Transcript, which may be requested from the Registrar’s Office. 

2) The student’s Unofficial Transcript, which may be accessed through Campus Web under the Advising & Registrar tab.

3) The student can view Gradebook information on Campus Web. This grade may differ as faculty may use one method of grading in Campus Web and submit a different grade to the Registrar’s Office; in this case refer to the faculty member’s syllabus which will detail grading methodology.

Official and Unofficial Transcripts are not released to students who have an outstanding financial obligation to the College, however under limited circumstances transcripts may be released to certain entities that provide employer/tuition reimbursement. 

Release of Student Information (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides eligible students certain rights with respect to their educational records. Those rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records within 45 days after the day the College receives a request for access. A student should submit a written request to the Registrar’s Office that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. A Goldey-Beacom College official will be present during the inspection.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the College to amend a record should communicate in writing to the Registrar’s Office, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the College decides not to amend as requested, the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. FERPA permits the College to disclose educational records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including security personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using College employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or any person (including another student) engaged by the College to provide clerical or other support services to another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College. Upon request, the College also discloses educational records without the student’s written consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. FERPA also permits the College to disclose without a student’s prior written consent appropriately designated “directory information”, which includes the Goldey-Beacom College’s student’s: name; local college, home, and cell phone numbers; local college and home address; e-mail or other electronic messaging address; age; major and/or minor fields of study; full-time or part-time status; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; class standing; weight and height of members of athletic teams; honors, awards, and scholarships earned; photographs; dates of attendance; degrees(s) received; post-graduate plans; and most recent previous educational agency or institution attended. A request that directory information not be released without prior written consent may be filed in writing to the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar two weeks prior to enrollment. In addition, the Soloman Amendment requires the College to grant military recruiters access to campus and to provide them with student recruitment information, which includes student name, address, telephone listing, age or year of birth, place of birth, level of education or degrees received, most recent educational institution attended, and current major(s).
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

List of illustrative examples of disclosures that Goldey-Beacom College may make without consent:

• To other school officials, including faculty, staff, administration and trustees within Goldey-Beacom College whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions.
• To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer.
• To authorized representatives of the United States or state/local educational governmental entities.
• In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, the amount of aid, the conditions of the aid, or enforce terms and conditions of the aid.
• To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the College, in order to (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction.
• To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions.
• To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes.
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.
• To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency.
• Information the school has designated as “directory information”.
• To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of § 99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding.
• To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21.

Repeating Courses

A student may repeat a course to improve skills, enhance knowledge and/or affect their cumulative index. All grades will appear on the official transcript but only the higher grade will be included in the cumulative index. A student who is receiving federal financial aid assistance should speak to an Advisor about the impact repeating a course has on financial aid eligibility as well as Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.

Return to School After Medical Leave

Refer to the Student Handbook for this policy.

Standards of Academic Progress

The Goldey-Beacom College academic and financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards are in accordance with federal regulations for graduate students. The College makes its SAP policies applicable to all federal and state financial aid as well as institutional aid. The Satisfactory Academic Progress applies to all academic terms regardless of whether financial aid was received. The graduate periods of consecutive or non-consecutive enrollment include fall semester, spring semester and summer session.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Procedures

Goldey-Beacom College evaluates a student’s academic progress in a degree seeking program at the end of regular enrollment periods. That review process determines if a student is eligible for subsequent federal and state financial aid as well as institutional aid or if a student is not achieving academic success. Given the extent that a student is not succeeding academically, the student may be placed on Academic Warning or dismissed from the College.

Academic Warning Procedures

A student is on Academic Warning after their academic transcript has been reviewed by an Advisor at the end of a stated academic term* and if the student is academically deficient in accordance with the applicable graduate Standards of Academic Progress. Students remain eligible for federal and institutional funding if on Academic Warning. When a student has been determined to be on Academic Warning, the student is notified via GBC Email.

Academic Warning requires that an academic action plan be developed for the doctoral student with input from the Advisor and Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. The action plan is to identify the student’s academic deficiencies and focus on strategies that can lead to academic success and continued federal and state aid eligibility. All students are required to meet in person with an Advisor and/or Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs to discuss the academic action plan. A student’s continued federal and state aid as well as institutional aid may cease should the student choose not to attend the prescribed meeting or not agree to the recommended academic action plan.

It is the federal government’s and Goldey-Beacom College’s expectation, that the student will successfully achieve their agreed upon academic action plan through prescribed strategies. An example of a particular strategy would be the requirement of a student to reduce their course load for a given academic term or require the student to earn a certain final grade in a particular course registered for in a stated semester.

The Advisor will monitor the student’s academic progress toward completion of the academic action plan through email communications with the student and their faculty. A student may be required to regularly meet with an Advisor and/or Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs to discuss progress of the academic action plan. 

Academic Action Plan Outcomes Procedures

Any student who meets the agreed upon academic action plan continues to be eligible for federal and state financial aid as well as institutional aid. The student will be removed from Academic Warning status when the academic action plan has been achieved. The student will be notified of the determination by the Advisor using GBC Email. Students who demonstrate satisfactory progress toward the completion of the action plan but may not have met the action plan can appeal to have the plan extended with approval from the Advisor and Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. If approved, the student remains on Academic Warning and the monitoring process by the Advisor continues.

Any student who is unable to successfully achieve the academic action plan as documented and monitored by the Advisor will be forwarded to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs for final review and determination of dismissal or continued enrollment. A student who is permitted to continue enrollment in the next regular academic term at the College is not eligible for federal and state financial aid and may not be eligible for institutional financial aid. The final decision will be communicated to the student using GBC Email.

Dismissal from the College

Any student who is dismissed from the College may petition the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs for possible reinstatement to the College, but may not do so until taking a full academic term break from the College after the dismissal.

Petitioning is defined as submitting an appeal in writing for consideration to be reinstated. Reinstatement grants permission to register and enroll in classes. The student’s written request should state the reasons for the failure to make academic progress and what has changed that will now enable the student to succeed. The petition is reviewed by the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs may request an interview with the student. A decision will be rendered in writing to the student within ten (10) business days of receipt of the petition. All decisions by the Vice President for Academic Affairs are final. The Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs will communicate the final decision regarding reinstatement using GBC Email.

Students reinstated at Goldey-Beacom College must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards prior to receiving federal and state aid. Students who re-enter the College will not automatically receive previously awarded Goldey-Beacom College sponsored merit and need-based scholarships. Consideration for the reinstatement of the scholarship awards will include a review of the student’s prior record while in attendance at the College.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

The Satisfactory Academic Progress standards are two-fold. A student must make satisfactory academic progress according to both Grade Point Average Progress and Earned Credit Progress criteria to continue receiving federal or state financial aid as well as institutional aid.

Grade Point Average Progress

The cumulative grade point average is reviewed for every student after each academic term, beginning at the completion of the first academic term of attendance. At any time, a cumulative grade point average below the level of 3.0, the student will be placed on Academic Warning status.

Two periods of enrollment* below a 3.0 cumulative grade point average may be grounds for dismissal. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or below will be grounds for immediate dismissal. In addition, two grades of C+ or C, or one F, will be grounds for dismissal from the program.

*academic terms may not be consecutive

Earned Credit Progress

Students must progress toward their degree completion by earning all registered and enrolled credits during required periods of enrollment at the College.

Final Grades and Satisfactory Academic Progress

The final grade(s) that a student receives at the end of each semester or session has a direct effect on the academic progress standards:

• For a course in which a final grade of “F”, “W” or “X” (which is a result of courses dropped or an official withdrawal from the College) is received, the credits for that course are included in a student’s attempted credits but not in earned credits.
• Course credits for a grade of “I” are added to attempted credits at the end of the semester. However, earned credits for incomplete courses are not added until the “I” is replaced by a final grade of “B” or better. If a final grade of “F” replaces the “I” grade, no credits will be included in earned credits.
• Transfer credits are not included in attempted or earned credits. Therefore, a student cannot earn credits at another institution in order to make up any earned credit deficiency at Goldey-Beacom College.

NOTE: A reduction in course load during and after the College’s official drop/add and drop periods, repeating courses, and withdrawing from the College have major effects on a student’s continued financial aid academic progress eligibility. The Financial Aid/Advisement Office recommends that students contact their Advisor prior to dropping/adding a course, withdrawing from the institution, receiving a non-passing grade, or rescheduling a previously taken course to have their continued financial aid eligibility reviewed.

Student Responsibility

Refer to the the Student Handbook for this policy. 

Transcripts of Permanent Records

Transcript requests are processed by the Registrar’s Office and include the following:

• Final grades
• Courses in progress
• Cumulative GPA and term GPA
• Most recent degree pursued
• Degree conferrals/honors

Please note that transcripts will not be released to students who have outstanding debts to the College and to Federal Loan recipients who have not completed Exit Counseling. 

Unofficial transcripts may be accessed by students through Campus Web under the Advising & Registrar tab.

Transfer of Credits

A maximum of six (6) doctoral credits can be evaluated, approved, and accepted as credit towards a degree program in the Graduate division.

• Accredited College Coursework - Students may submit official transcripts from other institutionally accredited colleges or universities in all modes of delivery to be evaluated for transfer credit. A grade of a B or above is required to accept any Graduate-level credits. Such credits generally transfer as applicable curriculum substitutes.
• Non-Accredited Institution Coursework - Students may submit official documentation of credits earned at non-accredited institutions and/or through non-traditional programs for review; however, there is no guarantee that the credits may be accepted. Documentation needs to include an in-depth description of material covered, number of contact (classroom) hours, mode of delivery, amount of time required outside of class, and a grade equivalent to a B or better. Such credits will be reviewed on an individual basis.
• Institutions outside the US - Transfer credits may be awarded for college-level course work completed at institutions outside the United States. Overseas institutions must be accredited. Students may submit transcripts translated into English, along with documentation demonstrating the institution’s accreditation, for evaluation. The College may require the student to submit the documents for formal evaluation by a third-party translation and evaluation service if there is any doubt regarding accreditation or credit hour equivalency.

Generally, transfer credit can be awarded for coursework completed within ten (10) years of the date of transfer credit evaluation.

Students who wish to attend Goldey-Beacom College must provide the College with the information listed under Admissions Requirements as well as official transcripts from each graduate program previously attended. Students who defer enrollment may be subject to a re-evaluation of their transfer credits for the new year and term in which they enroll. This re-evaluation may require a student to submit updated official college academic transcripts.

Withdrawal

A student is considered withdrawn from the College if the student does not complete scheduled enrollment or the student withdraws and fails to return after providing written withdrawal confirmation by notifying an Advisor and the Program Director in writing via GBC Email. If a student withdraws without providing written notification, the withdrawal date will be determined by the student’s date of last attendance.

Scheduled enrollment is defined as enrollment in the next regular semester. The next regular semester for graduate student is fall, spring or summer. The timeframe a student has to satisfy degree requirements is not suspended using the period when the student has not registered for coursework.

Student withdrawals due to substantiated medical reasons require the submission of medical documentation within thirty (30) days from the date of withdrawal. The official withdrawal date will be determined as the date on which the official Withdrawal Form was received by the Financial Aid/Advisement Office.

A student who withdraws owing an outstanding debt to the College is expected to contact the College’s Business Office to immediately clear the debt. Student referral to collection agencies and credit bureaus is at the discretion of the College. Collection costs and/or legal fees, up to and including 50% of the delinquent balance, may be charged to the student’s account by Goldey-Beacom College in the collection of a delinquent balance.

Federal Financial Aid Recipients

In the event of a withdrawal from the College, a student who has received federal student loan funds at any time during their studies at the College must complete Federal Student Loan Exit Counseling through www.studentloans.gov. The purpose of this important counseling is to select a repayment option and review the total amount of federal student loans borrowed to date.

The College is required to report to the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS) the actual date of withdrawal of a federal grant and/or student loan recipient.  A student who has withdrawn from the College is recommended to research grant or student loan data on www.nslds.gov.

Return of Title IV Funds

In accordance with federal regulations, the College is required to perform a Return of Title IV Funds calculation if a student receiving federal aid does not complete all of the scheduled days in a period of enrollment.  The College’s policy regarding this process is located in the Financial Aid Policies and Scholarships section of this catalog.

Leave of Absence

Students who contemplate leaving Goldey-Beacom College voluntarily and anticipate that they will not be able to return the semester following their departure are encouraged to file for a Leave of Absence (LOA). The LOA cannot exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period. If unable to return at the end of the first semester on a LOA, a student on LOA may make application for continuation by emailing or calling their Advisor. The LOA assures re-admission without further paperwork and the ability of the student to continue under the terms of the academic requirements that applied at the time the LOA was granted. At any time after return to part-time status, a student who has been on LOA may opt to study under the terms of a later curriculum. Information about the College’s Leave of Absence Policy is available from an Advisor or from the Registrar’s Office. All LOAs must be approved by the Program Director.