Academic Policies

Academic Dismissal Policy

A student’s academic standing is determined at the end of each semester based on the cumulative grade point average (cGPA). A student must earn a minimum cGPA (2.0 Undergraduate | 3.0 Graduate) to be in good standing. When a student’s cGPA drops below the minimum requirement, the following occurs:

1. When a student’s minimum cGPA is not earned, the student is placed on academic warning for the following semester.
2. If the minimum cGPA is not earned in the next semester of enrollment, the student is placed on academic probation.
3. If at the end of the semester in which a student is placed on academic probation the student’s cGPA is still below the minimum requirement, the student is dismissed from the College.

Students will be notified of their academic status in writing if they are placed on warning, probation, or dismissal.

The step required for students on academic warning or academic probation to regain good standing is to achieve the minimum cGPA. Students who have removed themselves from academic warning or probation may be placed on either status in the future if the cumulative GPA falls under the minimum requirement again, and the same process applies (i.e. warning, then probation, then dismissed).

Students may only appeal academic dismissal determinations in writing in accordance with the instructions in the notification.

Academic Honor Code

Charges of violating the Academic Honor Code may be lodged against any student or student organization. If a student does not agree with the charges, the student has three levels of appeal: with the faculty member, with the Academic Integrity Hearing Board, and with the final appeal committee.

Process

Students should first meet with the faculty member if they disagree about the incident and ensuing sanctions. The student should request the meeting in writing within five (5) business days of being notified of the charges.  The student or faculty member may request a third party be present during the meeting. The faculty member will render their decision in writing within five (5) business days of the meeting.

A student who is unsatisfied with the outcome after meeting with the faculty member may request a hearing to appeal the charges. Students requesting a hearing for an Academic Honor Code violation must submit a written appeal within five (5) business days of the written notification from the faculty member. The appeal should be sent to the Chair of the Academic Integrity Hearing Board, with direction being provided from any member of the Academic Affairs Office. The appeal must clearly meet at least one of the criteria below:

• The sanction imposed is not appropriate in light of the nature of the violation.
• The charges lack evidence that a violation truly occurred.
• New evidence has been brought up, which was not previously available and would have a significant impact on the outcome(s) of the hearing.

The hearing board will decide whether or not they will hear the appeal; and the Chair of the Academic Integrity Hearing Board will notify the student within ten (10) business days of receipt of the student’s appeal. If the hearing board decides to hear an appeal, the notice to the student shall include the date, time, and location of the hearing and a copy of the procedures that will be used during the administrative hearing.

Administrative hearings are closed to the public and are confidential. All records from the proceedings are kept confidential. Such hearings will occur during standard business hours during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Academic Integrity Hearing Board:

• A hearing chairperson - an Academic Department Chair designated by Academic Affairs
• One (1) faculty member
• One (1) staff member
• Two (2) student members

The student has the right to appear in person and present information on their own behalf, call witnesses, and ask questions of anyone present at the hearing. If the student elects not to appear at the hearing, the hearing shall be conducted in the student’s absence, and the outcome will be communicated in writing. The student has the right to refuse to answer any question(s) or to make a statement. The hearing board will make its decision on the basis of the available evidence.

Parties involved in the hearing process have the following rights and responsibilities:

Student(s):

• Shall receive, at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing, written notice via their GBC email account of the administrative hearing specifying the suspected violation, the date, time and location of the hearing, and a copy of the procedures that will be used during the hearing.
• Shall be given the opportunity to present their explanation of the alleged violation.
• Is entitled to be present during the hearing while evidence is being presented and may remain until the deliberations have begun. If the student elects not to appear at the hearing, the hearing shall be conducted in the student’s absence.
• Shall have the right to produce witnesses, written documents, and other evidence to substantiate their case.
• Shall have the right to ask questions, which shall be directed to the Chair of the hearing who will pose all questions to all witnesses.
• Shall have the right to refuse to answer any question(s) or to make a statement.
• May have someone present to advise them through the planning and hearing process (e.g., a faculty member, fellow student, or staff member of College Community). Legal counsel is not permitted to be present during the hearing. Should the suspected violation have the potential for criminal prosecution based on the activity that is the subject of the violation, an exception may be granted to allow for the presence of legal counsel. Should legal counsel be permitted, the counsel’s role is limited to legal advisor to the student, not advocate, and counsel may not ask questions of witnesses or otherwise participate in the hearing.

Faculty Member:

• At least five (5) business days prior to the hearing, they shall receive written notice via their GBC email account, with “delivery receipt”, of the hearing specifying the alleged violation, the date, time and location of the hearing, and a copy of the procedures which will be used during the hearing.
• Shall be given the opportunity to present their explanation of the alleged violation.
• Is entitled to be present during the hearing while evidence is being presented and may remain until the deliberations have begun.
• Shall have the right to produce witnesses, written documents, and other evidence to substantiate their case.
• Shall have the right to ask questions, which shall be directed to the Chair of the hearing, who will pose all questions to all witnesses.

Hearing Board:

• Shall base its findings upon the preponderance of evidence.
• Shall make all decisions by majority vote at a meeting with the appropriate quorum of members.
• Shall submit its findings, decision, and action to be taken within two (2) business days following the hearing.
• Shall keep summary minutes of the hearing, which will be available to the student, upon request, within ten (10) business days following the hearing.
• At the discretion of the Chair, an audio record may be made. Deliberations need not be recorded.

Outcome

The student will receive written notice of the outcome via GBC Email account with “delivery receipt” within ten (10) days of the hearing informing the student of the Board’s decision. A copy will also be sent to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Dean of Students, or a designee.

If the student wishes to appeal the hearing board’s decision, such an appeal may be made to the final appeal committee, which consists of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Dean of Students.

This appeal must be made in writing within five (5) business days of receiving written outcome notification of the hearing board’s decision. The appeal must clearly meet at least one of the criteria below:

• The sanction imposed is not appropriate in light of the nature of the violation.
• The charges lack evidence of that a violation truly occurred.
• New evidence has been brought up, which was not previously available and would have a significant impact on the outcome(s) of the hearing.

All decisions, penalties, or resultant actions of the final appeal committee are final and will be communicated to the student within ten (10) business days.

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 Semester.  

Students Receiving Title IV Aid

The Fall and Spring semesters are required periods of enrollment for students receiving Title IV aid (federal financial aid). Summer is an optional semester of enrollment which does not impact a student’s ability to receive federal aid or maintain deferment of federal student loans. 

Students on an F-1 Student VISA

Enrollment in the Fall and Spring semesters is required for undergraduate students on an F-1 visa, and the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters for graduate students on an F-1 visa to maintain status as a full-time student. Enrollment for undergraduate F-1 students must be for a minimum of twelve credit hours each semester, and enrollment for graduate F-1 students must be for a minimum of six credit hours each semester.

Add/Drop Policy

Course Registration (Adding Courses)

Course registration periods are broken down into three different categories at Goldey-Beacom College:

Advanced Registration

This is a timeframe in which students can request early access to the course schedule and registration processes by completing an Advanced Registration Request Form managed by the Registrar’s Office. Students receiving veteran benefits are automatically granted advanced registration access to online registration only. No registration fees are assessed during advanced registration.

The dates for Advanced Registration for the 2024-25 academic year are:

Normal Registration

This is a timeframe in which students can add and drop via online registration or by registering for classes with the assistance of an Advisor. No registration fees are assessed during normal registration.

Late Registration

This is a timeframe after the normal registration period in which students can add and drop classes by contacting an Advisor. A fee of $25 is assessed for adding and dropping courses during this period. By registering for classes during this period, delays in processing may be experienced related to billing, financial aid, athletic eligiblity, and international student eligibility. 

Drops and Withdraws

Census Date

The College’s official census dates for external reporting and financial aid purposes are:

Dropping Courses

Once a student has registered for courses it is the student’s responsibility to initiate course drops within the following timeframes by requesting a drop in writing to the Advising or Registrar’s Offices or utilizing online registration to drop the course(s).

Dropped courses do not reflect on a student’s transcript and do not count towards attempted credit hours or a student’s enrollment status.

Administrative Drop

Students may be dropped automatically if they fail to engage in the course by the following engagement deadlines.

Administratively dropped courses are not reflected in enrolled credit hours, and do not appear on the student’s transcript.

Engagement is defined as:

• Asynchronous Online Courses - Accessing the course in Canvas and completing a syllabus acknowledgement.
• Synchronous Online Courses - Attending scheduled class meetings through Zoom.
• Hybrid Courses - Attending scheduled class meetings on Zoom or in-person according to the course schedule.
• In-Person Courses -Attending scheduled class meetings in-person.

Withdrawing from Courses

Once a student has registered for courses it is the student’s responsibility to initiate withdrawing from individual courses within the following timeframes by completing a withdrawal request form.

Withdrawn courses reflect a W grade on the student’s transcript and do count towards attempted credit hours or the student’s enrollment status. Additionally, withdrawn courses are not subject to a refund of tuition and may have implications on the student’s financial aid package.

Exceptions & Other Considerations

Drops and withdrawal requests after the applicable deadline are not permitted without approval from the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar. Appeals may be submitted in writing to the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar.

Auditing a Course (Listener Status)

Students must declare listener status before the course start date by contacting the Advising or Registrar’s Offices. Once a course begins, students may not change from degree-seeking to listener status and vice versa.

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 Curriculum/Major

The process of students selecting a major begins in the Admission process on the student’s application to the College. When the student begins enrollment at the College, the major the student selected becomes their official major. Students can change their major within the same division at any time during their enrollment by contacting their Advisor. (Note: Understand that by a student changing their major, their anticipated graduation date may be delayed).

Students are assigned a catalog year that aligns with their first semester of enrollment and carries through to degree completion. If a student takes a leave of absence or temporarily withdraws and re-enters the College, the latest and current catalog year will supersede their original catalog year.

Changing Student Information

Currently enrolled students who wish to update any part of their student information can do so by contacting the Registrar’s Office. Illustrative examples of changes and the procedure to do so are detailed as follows. For any questions related to student information updates, contact the Registrar’s Office.

Class Attendance and Tardiness

All students are expected to attend punctually, and for the full class time, every scheduled meeting of each course 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.

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 the Advising Office for information about their class absence records for any given course or semester.

Class Scheduling, Format, and Registration

Format

Classes may be held in any of the following formats:

• Face-to-Face (F2F) - Completely face-to-face. Every class meeting is held in-person, and in-person attendance is required.
• Hybrid (HYB) - Courses taught at least 50% in-person, with both in-person and virtual components determined by the faculty member. Attendance during in-person weeks is expected to be in-person, and attendance during online weeks is expected in accordance with the course’s syllabus.
• Online Synchronous (ONLS) - Courses taught virtually through Zoom with a scheduled time/day, and attendance through Zoom is expected.
• Online Asynchronous (ONLA) - Courses taught containing a mixture of prerecorded lectures, required coursework, and faculty office hours.
• Live-Online (LVO) - Blended courses. Students have the option of attending in-person or via Zoom from class meeting to class meeting. These courses are held entirely synchronously.
• Independent Study (IS) - Courses taught on an individual basis, arranged and coordinated between a faculty member and small group/individual student(s).

Graduate Course Schedule

Undergraduate Course Schedule

1-Week Seminars

At the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters and through the Summer semester, one-week seminars are scheduled from Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, or 4:30 PM - 10:30 PM, and on Saturday from 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM.

Registration

Students can register for classes in two different ways:

1) Using the Course Registration Feature located on Campus Web under the Registration tab;

2) Contacting the Advising Office

To drop or withdraw from a course, students must contact the Advising or Registrar’s Office.

Special Requests

Requests that are unusual in nature (such as the request for an Independent Study, course substitution, or credit-hour overload) require approval from the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee. Students can begin the process of such a request by submitting an explanation to their Advisor either verbally or via email. Each request is reviewed on an individual basis, and approval is not automatically guaranteed. 

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are designed to ensure students are academically prepared for coursework in a subsequent class based on knowledge gained from a previous course. To request a prerequisite waiver, follow the process found above in “Special Requests”.

Consortium Agreement Policy

The College is currently a participating home-institution in two main consortium agreements:

1) Council of Independent Colleges (CIC via Acadeum)

2) Low-Cost Model Consortium (LCMC via Rize Education)

Definitions

• Home Institution (HI) - The College or University where the student is enrolled as either a non-degree or degree-seeking student. For purposes of this policy, the Home Institution is always Goldey-Beacom College.
• Teaching Institution (TI) - The College or University where the consortium course is delivered. 

Council of Independent Colleges Consortium (CIC)

The Council of Independent Colleges offers online course sharing agreements that are managed through Acadeum, Inc. Through these agreements, students at Goldey-Beacom can enroll in courses at partnering institutions that have similar profiles and receive Goldey-Beacom credit after successfully completing the course(s).

Course Mapping Process

• One-for-One Mapping - Courses whose content is above a 70% threshold in learning outcomes and content are mapped to an active Goldey-Beacom College course.
• Elective Mapping - Courses that are not offered at Goldey-Beacom College or do not meet the 70% outcome and content threshold are mapped as elective courses.

Approval Process

• One-for-One Courses - Faculty course leaders are consulted in the course review and approval process to ensure that the course’s content is above a 70% threshold in learning outcomes and content. 
• Elective Courses - Courses that are not offered at Goldey-Beacom College are approved by the Provost/VP for Academic Affairs or the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar.

Transcription of Credits and Grades

• Grades - Letter grades are transcribed to the student’s academic record by the Registrar’s Office at Goldey-Beacom College as the letter grade earned at the Teaching Institution. If the letter grade used by the teaching institution is not included in the grading scale at Goldey-Beacom College, the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar will compare the Teaching Institution’s posted grade with the Goldey-Beacom College’s grading scale and assign the appropriate equivalent grade.
• Credit - Courses are transcribed to the student’s academic record by the Registrar’s Office at Goldey-Beacom College as the corresponding number of credits for the active or elective course at Goldey-Beacom College.

Appeal of Transcription

• Students wishing to appeal the grade earned at the teaching institution should contact the Teaching Institution and follow their institutional policy.
• Students wishing to appeal a grade that is transcribed when the grade is not included in the grading scale at Goldey-Beacom College and is assigned by the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar should follow Goldey-Beacom College’s Grade Appeal Policy. 

Course Assessment and Accreditation Considerations

All institutions Goldey-Beacom College is in a consortial agreement with are accredited by accrediting agencies that have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This means Goldey-Beacom College ensures that the teaching institution is abiding by standards of accreditation not limited to, but including faculty credentials, course assessment and outcomes, and ethical standards.

Cost and Billing

Students are charged for CIC course enrollments based on Goldey-Beacom College’s tuition rate and for the corresponding number of credits.

Financial Aid

All financial aid for courses in the Council of Independent College’s Consortium is processed at Goldey-Beacom College. 

Low Cost Model Consortium (LCMC)

The Low Cost Model Consortium offers online consortial courses through the RIZE platform with partnering institutions. Through these agreements, students at Goldey-Beacom College can enroll in courses at partnering institutions that are similar in institutional profile and receive Goldey-Beacom College credit upon successfully completing the course.

Course Mapping Process

• One-for-One Mapping - Courses whose content is above a 70% threshold in learning outcomes and content similarity are mapped to an active Goldey-Beacom College course.
• Elective Mapping - Courses that are not offered at Goldey-Beacom College or do not meet the 70% outcome and similarity threshold are mapped to elective placeholder courses and are slotted in a student’s curriculum as an elective.

Approval Process

• One-for-One Courses - Faculty course leaders are consulted in the course review and approval process to ensure that the course’s content is above a 70% threshold in learning outcomes and content similarity.
• Elective Courses - Courses that are not offered at Goldey-Beacom College are approved by the Provost/VP for Academic Affairs or the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar.

Transcription of Credits and Grades

• Grades - Letter grades are transcribed to the student’s academic record by the Registrar’s Office at Goldey-Beacom College as the letter grade earned at the Teaching Institution. In the event that the letter grade used by the Teaching Institution is not included in the grading scale used at Goldey-Beacom College, the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar will compare the Teaching Institution’s posted grade with Goldey-Beacom College’s grading scale and assign the appropriate equivalent grade.
• Credit - Courses are transcribed to the student’s academic record by the Registrar’s Office at Goldey-Beacom College as the corresponding number of credits for the active or elective placeholder course at Goldey-Beacom College.

Appeal of Transcription

• Students wishing to appeal the grade earned at the Teaching Institution should contact the Teaching Institution and follow their institutional policy.
• Students wishing to appeal a grade that is transcribed when the grade is not included in the grading scale at Goldey-Beacom College and is assigned by the Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar should follow Goldey-Beacom College’s Grade Appeal Policy. 

Course Assessments and Accreditation

The institutions Goldey-Beacom College is in a consortial agreement with are fully accredited and must meet standards for accreditation. This means Goldey-Beacom College reasonably assumes that the teaching institution is abiding by standards of accreditation not limited to, but including faculty credentials, course assessment and outcomes, and ethical standards.

Cost and Billing

Students are charged for LCMC course enrollments based on Goldey-Beacom College’s tuition rate in the appropriate division and for the corresponding number of credits for the active or elective placeholder course at Goldey-Beacom College. 

Financial Aid

All financial aid for courses in the Council of Independent Colleges Consortium is processed at Goldey-Beacom College.

Classification of Students

Student classification refers to the familiar names of the four undergraduate years: freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. Student classification is not determined by the number of years students have enrolled in undergraduate coursework, but the number of earned credits that have been accumulated. 

Credit Hour Definition

One credit hour is awarded for 15 hours of structured instruction over a 15 week period utilizing the standard academic 50-minute hour. This is exclusive of registration or additional study time. Structured instruction time includes lectures, testing, regularly scheduled consultation, supervised group work, class presentation time, module assignments, regularly scheduled tutorial sessions and any other means of instruction depending on discipline and modality. It is recommended that students spend two hours per credit hour on outside of course activity.

Credit-Hour-in-Residency Requirements Policy

In some instances, matriculated students are permitted to enroll in another regionally accredited college or university to satisfy course requirements towards successful completion of their degree program. Some examples include the College’s Consortium Agreements, as well as partnerships with Delaware Law School for a 3+3 BS/BA to JD program. The following limitations are applicable when a matriculated student engages in coursework at another institution:

Graduate Business Degree Programs:

• At least 75% of the program’s required credit hours must be completed at Goldey-Beacom College.

Graduate Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology Program:

• At least 51 credit hours must be completed at Goldey-Beacom College.

Undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree Programs:

• The minimum number of credits a student must complete at Goldey-Beacom College to earn a Bachelor’s degree is 30.
• For students who enroll in a program that contains a Consortial agreement for program-building, courses at the teaching institution satisfy the residency requirements.
• For students who enroll in a consortial class under the Council of Independent Colleges or elective coursework through the Low-Cost Model Consortium, these credits do not satisfy the residency requirement.

Undergraduate Associate’s Degree Programs:

• The minimum number of credits a student must complete at Goldey-Beacom College to earn an Associate’s degree is 30.
• For students who enroll in a program that contains a Consortial agreement, courses at the teaching institution satisfy the residency requirement.
• For students who enroll in a Consortial class under the Council of Independent Colleges or elective coursework through the Low-Cost Model Consortium, these credits do not satisfy the residency requirement.

Preferred Means of Degree Completion:

Goldey-Beacom College has established the following guideline for students, balancing the requirement set forth in this policy along with a path for students to complete their degree. Courses should be registered for and completed as follows:

1. Courses taught at Goldey-Beacom College
2. Consortial courses approved as a one-to-one match
3. Independent Study directed by a faculty member with approval
4. Substitution/Exemption with approval of the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee
5. Consorital course approved as an elective in a related field of study

Undergraduate students have two additional options:

6. Goldey-Beacom College graduate-level course
7. Internship in a field of study related to the required course

Exceptions to Requirements:

• Exceptions to the Credit-Hour-in-Residency Policy - Students may request an exception by contacting the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs, or designee. 
• Substitution/Exemption of Course Requirements - Students wishing to request permission to substitute one course for another may do so by contacting the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs, or designee. Note: If approved, there will be no reduction in the total number of credits required for the degree. 
• Waiver - Students may not request to be excused from a degree requirement which would reduce the total number of credits required for the degree.

Cumulative Index (Cumulative Grade Point Average)

The cumulative grade point average is computed after the first final grade for a course is received by the Registrar’s Office and is updated with every subsequent final grade received thereafter. This includes every course a student has completed at Goldey-Beacom College. Courses which no longer apply to a new degree due to a change of major, and courses no longer offered at the College all count in the cumulative grade point average..

Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average

A graduate student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and an undergraduate student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in order to meet the minimum academic requirement for degree conferral.

Repeated Coursework

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. 

If a student is receiving veterans tuition benefits, funding will only be paid for a repeated course if a passing grade is required to continue to make progress in their degree program. If the failed course is an elective, the student’s veterans benefits cannot be used to repeat the course. 

Developmental Courses for Non-Degree Credit

Grades earned for undergraduate preparatory courses, commonly referred to as “0-level courses” do not count toward any of the College’s Undergraduate degree programs and are not included in the student’s undergraduate cumulative grade point average. These courses are reflected on a separate non-degree transcript. 

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.

Exceptions

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

First-Year Experience Waiver Policy

Exemption Policy

Students who meet the following criteria can opt to have the FYE 101, 102, and/or 103 courses waived and replaced with elective credits:

• Student earned 30 credits of college coursework at a regionally accredited institution.
• Student’s high school graduation date is more than 2 years prior to enrollment at GBC.
• With permission of the Director of Academic Support Services.

Transfer Credit Policy

• Students who have completed the equivalent of 3 first-year experience credits with a C- or better, or on a Pass-Fail basis, are fully exempt from FYE 101-103.
• Students who have completed 1 first-year experience credit are exempt from FYE 102, but will be required to take FYE101 and FYE 103.
• Students who have completed 2 first-year experience credits are exempt from FYE 101 and FYE 102, but will be required to take FYE 103.

Grading - 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*) should submit an appeal to the Grade Appeal Committee by following the procedures outlined below. Please note that the grade a student is assigned is solely at the discretion of the instructor, and the Grade Appeal Committee cannot override the grading judgement of the instructor. The grade appeal process addresses cases in which the student believes a grade deviates from the given grading policy of either the instructor of 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 Grade Appeal 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 Grade Appeal 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.

Grading - Grading Scale

In each for-credit course a student will receive a final grade at the end of the semester, administered by the faculty member of record for each specific course. 

Graduate Division Grading Scale

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.

NOTE: A student who officially/unofficially drops a course(s) or withdraws from the College after the Academic Drop Period may receive a final grade(s). A grade of W/X will be considered in consultation with the faculty member and Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar.

Undergraduate Division Grading Scale

Academic credit is given for the grades A+ through D. 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.

NOTE: A student who officially/unofficially drops a course(s) or withdraws from the College after the Academic Drop Period may receive a final grade(s). A grade of W/X will be considered in consultation with the faculty member and Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Registrar.

Administering Incomplete Grades

An “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 academic term begins (fall, spring, summer). Otherwise, the “I” will be replaced by the Registrar’s Office in accordance with the previous directions of the instructor, and the student will be notified of the change of grade via GBC Email. If no directions or communications have been made from the faculty member to the Registrar’s Office, an ‘X’ grade for unofficial withdrawal will be administered.

Graduation & Commencement

Conferral Requirements

There are two academic requirements established by the College to receive degree conferral:

1) A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher for graduate students or 2.00 or higher for undergraduate students;

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

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 review their 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 participate in the Commencement Ceremony and regalia information. 

3) Satisfy all financial obligations with the College, including a Graduation Application Fee for each degree earned. This may include working with the College’s Business Office to agree to a payment plan or special payment arrangement. 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 assist students in staying 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.

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 fall and summer semesters participate in this 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 participate.

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. 

Conferral of Degree Posthumously or Upon Terminal Illness

On rare occasions, a currently enrolled student may become terminally ill or die while they are attending Goldey-Beacom College. In an effort to honor the student and to express compassion to the student’s friends and family, the College may recognize the student for their work by means of conferring their degree without having met the full requirements for conferral established by the College.

Posthumous Degree Conferral

A student in good standing who dies while attending Goldey-Beacom College may be awarded a posthumous degree without fulfilling all degree requirements. The criteria for awarding a posthumous degree are:

1. At least 75% of the total credit hours have been completed;
2. The student’s cumulative GPA must exceed the required GPA for normal degree conferral

In exceptional cases, the President and/or Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs may decide to modify completion or academic standing criteria.

When a degree is conferred posthumously, the student’s transcript and diploma will be annotated that the degree was awarded posthumously. Posthumous degree recipients are reported as official graduates of Goldey-Beacom College.

Degree Conferral to a Student Experiencing Terminal Illness

A student in good standing who becomes terminally ill with documentation while they are attending Goldey-Beacom College may be awarded a degree without fulfilling all degree requirements. The criteria for awarding a degree under these circumstances are:

1. At least 75% of the total credit hours have been completed;
2. The student’s cumulative GPA must exceed the required GPA for normal degree conferral

In exceptional cases, the President and/or Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs may decide to modify completion or academic standing criteria.

When a degree is conferred posthumously, the student’s transcript and diploma will be annotated that the degree was awarded posthumously. Posthumous degree recipients are reported as official graduates of Goldey-Beacom College.

Certificate Conferral to a Student Posthumously or Experiencing Terminal Illness

A student in good standing who becomes terminally ill with documentation while they are attending Goldey-Beacom College or dies while attending Goldey-Beacom College that does not meet the above criteria for degree conferral may be awarded a certificate acknowledging their valued membership and achievements as part of the Goldey-Beacom College community. 

The criteria for the award of a certificate under these circumstances are:

1. The student must have completed at least one full-time term;
2. The student’s cumulative GPA must exceed the required GPA for normal degree conferral

These certificate recipients will not be reported as official graduates of Goldey-Beacom College.

Honors and Awards

Students who have attained superior academic achievement are recognized. Those recognitions are:

Undergraduate Degree Honors

• Summa Cum Laude - Final Cumulative GPA of 4.000
• Magna Cum Laude - Final Cumulative GPA between 3.800 - 3.999
• Cum Laude - Final Cumulative GPA between 3.600 - 3.799

Graduate Degree Honors

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

These honors are awarded at the time of degree conferral and recognize a student’s overall academic achievement throughout their degree progress. Degree Honors are indicated on a student’s academic transcript and on their diploma.

Candidates for graduation who are participating in the annual Commencement Ceremony are also recognized with honors. 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 (for example Fall semester graduates), due to the close proximity of Commencement with the end of the spring semester and that the summer session has not yet begun.

Undergraduate Full-Time Semester Honors

These honors are awarded to undergraduate students at the end of each academic term to recognize a full-time student’s academic achievement during a specific timeframe. Semester Honors are indicated on a student’s academic transcript.

President’s List

1. Semester GPA of 3.850 - 4.000
2. 12+ earned credits during the semester

Dean’s List

1. Semester GPA between 3.600 - 3.849
2. 12+ earned credits during the semester

Undergraduate Part-Time Academic Distinction

1. Semester GPA of 3.600 or higher`
2. 6-11 earned credits during the semester

International Students on F-1 Visas

Refer to the Student Handbook for this policy. 

Internships & Experiential Learning

Internships and other experiential learning opportunities, which facilitate the transition from academic coursework to the world of work, may be available to interested and eligible students. This educational process allows students to acquire practical skills and exposure to the reality of the workplace beyond the boundaries of the campus, to enhance self-awareness, and to help provide direction with regard to career choice. For more information, students should contact the Career Services Office.

Graduate Division

At the Graduate level, there are two types of internships/experiential learning opportunities for students to pursue for academic credit:

1. For the MA Counseling Psychology program, two Practicums under faculty supervision totalling 12 credit hours are required for degree completion. 
   • Required prerequisites for participation in PSY 657 Practicum I  and PSY 658 Practicum II  are outlined in the respective course descriptions.
2. For students on an F-1 visa, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is available for eligible students. While this is not required for degree completion and does not satisfy any degree requirements, it provides students with industry experiences that complement students’ coursework. 
   • Requirements for participation are:
     • Have completed one full year of academic study at a regionally-accredited, not-for-profit college or university in the U.S.
     • Are currently in active F1 status in good academic standing with the College
     • Completion of a term paper based on the student’s field experience
     • Supervisor’s completion of a Student Internship Evaluation form

Undergraduate Division

At the Undergraduate level, there are three types of internships/experiential learning opportunities for Associates/Bachelors degree-seeking students:

1. For the BS Digital Marketing program, two Capstone Internship courses under faculty supervision totalling 6 credit hours are required for degree completion.
   • Required prerequisites for participation in MKT 495 Marketing Capstone Internship I  and MKT 496 Marketing Capstone Internship II  are outlined in the respective course descriptions.
2. For students in any Bachelors degree program, excluding the BS Digital Marketing, students can complete up to 6 academic credits of non-required internships to count towards degree completion.
   • Requirements for participation are:
     • Junior or Senior Standing
     • Minimum of 2.75 cumulative GPA
     • Approval from an Academic Advisor and the Career Services Office
     • Completion of a term paper based on the student’s field experience
     • Supervisors completion of a Student Internship Evaluation Form
3. For students on an F-1 visa, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is availble for eligible students in two forms:
   • 1-credit CPT internships which do not satisfy any degree requirements
   • 3-credit CPT internships which are similar in nature to the 6 academic credits of non-required internships outlined above in point 2

Multiple Degrees

Graduate Division 

Graduate students who wish to earn another graduate degree must fulfill additional credit and course requirements. Some additional degree requirements have reciprocity with other majors at the Graduate level, meaning that students need not complete all of the degree requirements of the second degree since they have already completed some requirements for their first degree. However, to earn an additional degree, students must complete all degree requirements through reciprocity or enrolling in additional courses. In the chart below, the minimum course and credit requirements are listed. Additional degree requests can be made to the Advising or Registrar’s Offices where an individual review of completed courses will take place, and specific course requirements will be outlined for the additional degree(s).

Undergraduate Division

Undergraduate students who wish to earn another undergraduate degree must fulfill additional credit and course requirements. Some additional degree requirements have reciprocity with other majors at the Undergraduate level, meaning that students need not complete all of the degree requirements of the second degree since they have already completed some requirements for their first degree. In the chart below, the minimum course and credit requirements are listed. Additional degree requests can be made to the Advising or Registrar’s Offices where an individual review of completed courses will take place, and specific course requirements will be outlined for the additional degree(s).

Progress Toward Degree/Maximum Time frame for Completion

Graduate Division

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

Undergraduate Division

A student must complete the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree program within six academic years (an academic year equals two semesters and summer session) of full-time study (minimum of 12 credits per semester) or twelve academic years of half-time study (minimum of 6 credits per semester).

A student must complete the Associate in Science or Associate in Arts degree program within three academic years (an academic year equals two semesters and summer session) of full-time study (minimum of 12 credits per semester) or six academic years of half-time study (minimum of 6 credits per semester).

Re-Entry to the College

Refer to the Student Handbook for this policy.

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 Registrar’s Office 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 requester 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 of 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 requester will be notified via email.

Release of Grades Policy

There are three methods in which a student/alumni can access final grade information from the Registrar’s Office. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student/alumni who attended can request/view the following:

1. An Official Transcript - Requested using the transcript request process.
2. An Unofficial Transcript - Accessed through Campus Web.
3. A Final Grade Report - Accessed through Campus Web.

Transcript Withholding:

Official Transcripts are not subject to withholding, but may be subject to partial redaction which would not include a full listing of all terms and grades a student completed/earned if the College is required to do so by federal regulations. Exceptions are listed below.

Unofficial Transcripts and Final Grade Reports are not make available to students who either owe an outstanding financial obligation to the College or for non-completion of required Exit Counseling for Federal Student Loan borrowers. 

Mandatory exceptions for the release of official transcripts that will result in redaction of a student’s official transcript include the following, and are subject to an internal review that may delay processing:

1. The outstanding balance owed is due to an institutional error, fraud, or misconduct per CFR 668.14 (b) (33).
2. The student received Title IV (federal aid) funds for semesters in which a final grade was received per CFR 668.14 (b) (34) and is making a good faith effort to cover the remaining balance through the form of loan or payment plan with the College.

Additionally, students may be eligible to request an unredacted transcript if they are making a request to deliver their official transcript directly to an employer or scholarship agency in order to utilize tuition reimbursement or to receive funding.

There are no exceptions to the withholding of unofficial transcripts or final grade reports.

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 Registrar’s Office 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 Registrar’s Office 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 Registrar’s Office 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.

If a student is receiving veterans benefits, funding will only be paid for a repeated course if a passing grade is required to continue to make progress in their degree program. If the failed course is an elective, veterans benefits cannot be used to repeat the course. 

Return to School After Medical Leave

Refer to the Student Handbook for this policy. 

Standards of Academic Progress (SAP)

Annual Review and Definition of Good Standing

Goldey-Beacom College is required by the Department of Education (DOE) under CFR 34 § 668.34 to establish a Standards of Academic Progress Policy (SAP). An annual review of each student’s academic progress will occur at the conclusion of every Spring semester. In order to be considered in good standing, students must:

Graduate Division

1. Achieve at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for undergraduates and;
2. Earn at least 75% of the student’s cumulative attempted credits.

Undergraduate Division

1. Achieve at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for undergraduates and;
2. Earn at least 75% of the student’s cumulative attempted credits.

Impact of Grading Scale on Academic Progress

Graduate Division

In accordance with the College’s Graduate grading scale, the following grades are considered passing and add to the student’s earned credits and factor into the student’s cumulative GPA: A+, A, B+, B, C+, C, P

In accordance with the College’s Gradate grading scale, the following grades are considered not passed and impact the student’s academic record adversely as follows:

• F - Failing grade which results in a negative impact to the student’s cumulative GPA and is considered unearned in the student’s cumulative credit count.
• W/X - Withdrawn grade which results in no impact to the student’s cumulative GPA and is considered unearned in the student’s cumulative credit count.
• I - Incomplete grade which results in no impact to the student’s cumulative GPA and is considered unearned in the student’s cumulative credit count. This grade is subject to change based on reporting by the faculty member to the Registrar’s Office, at which time it impacts the student’s cumulative GPA and credit hour count according to the new grade.

In accordance with the College’s Graduate grading scale, courses that are repeated and subsequently passed with a higher final grade remove the original course’s assigned grade from the cumulative GPA and attempted credits.

Undergraduate Division

In accordance with the College’s Undergraduate grading scale, the following grades are considered passing and add to the student’s earned credits and factor into the student’s cumulative GPA: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, P

In accordance with the College’s Undergraduate grading scale, the following grades are considered not passed and impact the student’s academic record adversely as follows:

• F - Failing grade which results in a negative impact to the student’s cumulative GPA and is considered unearned in the student’s cumulative credit count.
• W/X - Withdrawn grade which results in no impact to the student’s cumulative GPA and is considered unearned in the student’s cumulative credit count.
• I - Incomplete grade which results in no impact to the student’s cumulative GPA and is considered unearned in the student’s cumulative credit count. This grade is subject to change based on reporting by the faculty member to the Registrar’s Office, at which time it impacts the student’s cumulative GPA and credit hour count according to the new grade.

In accordance with the College’s Undergraduate grading scale, courses that are repeated and subsequently passed with a higher final grade remove the original course’s assigned grade from the cumulative GPA and attempted credits.

Outcomes of SAP Review

The following outcomes are possible after the annual review of the student’s academic performance:

1. Good Standing - The student has met both the cumulative GPA and cumulative earned credit requirements and is considered in good standing.
2. Financial Aid Warning - The student has not met the cumulative GPA and/or earned credit requirements and is placed on Academic Warning. The student is placed on an academic plan that defines the academic expectations of the student in the subsequent semester. Students on Financial Aid Warning are able to receive forms of financial aid assistance, both federally and institutionally. 
3. Financial Aid Probation - A student on Financial Aid Warning who did not meet the terms of their academic plan and are still not meeting the cumulative GPA and/or earned credit requirements. The student is no longer eligible for any form of financial aid assistance.

Depending on the outcome of each academic year and/or semester, students may shift from one status to another. 

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility

Students who were placed on Financial Aid Probation are able to regain eligibility for financial aid assistance by petitioning for reinstatement of financial aid through the Financial Aid Office. Once a petition of reinstatement is received by the Financial Aid Office, a review of the student’s academic transcript occurs. If the student is meeting the minimum cumulative GPA and earned credit requirements, the student may regain eligibility under Financial Aid Warning statuses.

Transcripts of Academic 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

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 college or graduate program previously attended. Students who defer enrollment or declare a different major than their initial selection 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.

Graduate Division

A maximum of nine (9) graduate level credits can be evaluated, approved, and accepted as credit toward a degree program in the Graduate division.

Undergraduate Division

A maximum of ninety (90) undergraduate level credits can be evaluated, approved, and accepted as credit toward a Bachelor’s degree program. A maximum of forty-five (45) undergraduate level credits can be evaluated, approved, and accepted as credit toward an Associate’s degree program. For additional information about the number of credits required to complete a degree at Goldey-Beacom College, see the Credit-Hour-in-Residency Requirements Policy.

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

Once enrolled at Goldey-Beacom College, students may not continue to accumulate transfer credits from other institutions unless prior approval is granted by the Registrar’s Office.

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 B or above is required to accept any Graduate-level credits. A grade of C- or above is required to accept any Undergraduate-level credits. Such credits generally transfer as applicable curriculum substitutes.

Career and Technical Education Coursework (CTE)

Undergraduate students enrolled in courses under the Career and Technical Education pathways in the State of Delaware may be granted credit in accordance with the College’s agreement. Undergraduate students enrolled in courses under the Career and Technical Education pathways outside the State of Delaware may be granted elective credit if an agreement exists between an accredited post-secondary institution and a high school in the same state. Such out of state CTE credit evaluation requires a critical evaluation by the Academic Affairs Office and may not be granted in all cases.

Non-Accredited Institution Coursework

Applicable only for the Undergraduate Division, 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 C- or better. Such credits will be reviewed on an individual basis. Some examples include Delaware Bankers Associate/FEA transcripts, coursework evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE), and military Joint Service Transcripts (JST).

Institutions outside the US

Transfer credits may be awarded for college-level coursework 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.

Advanced Placement/CLEP/International Baccalaureate (IB)

Applicable only for the Undergraduate division, credit may be awarded for above-average scores/grades, and if the subject matter is deemed appropriate for the program of study being pursued.

Verification of Identity in Distance Education Courses Policy

All credit-bearing courses and programs offered through distance education methods must verify the student who registers for a distance education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives academic credit. According to the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), one or more of the following methods must be used:

1. An individual secure login and password,
2. Proctored examinations, and/or
3. Other technologies or practices that are effective in verifying student identification.

Goldey-Beacom College further recommends:

1. Misconduct Policy Statement provided in the Syllabus
2. Honesty Pledge within the course
3. Visual ID verification, where applicable

All methods of verifying student identity in distance learning courses must protect the privacy of student information as outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. If any fees associated with the verification of student identity will be charged to students, they must be notified of these charges in writing at the time of registration or enrollment.

Goldey-Beacom College does not charge fees associated with the verification of student identity.

Withdrawal

Official Withdrawal

An official withdrawal can be initiated by contacting the Advising or Registrar’s Office. Students will be prompted to complete an official withdrawal form, and may need to make a request to withdraw from individual courses. 

Unofficial Withdrawal

If a student fails to enroll in the next consecutive term without completing an official withdrawal through the Advising or Registrar’s Office they are considered to be unofficially withdrawn from the College. Accordingly, a withdrawal date will be determined by the student’s date of last class attendance or academic action such as submission of coursework or documented interaction with the faculty member. 

Financial Impact of Withdrawing from the College

A student who withdraws from the College, whether officially or unofficially, that owes 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 their federal grant or student loan data on www.nslds.ed.gov.

International Students on an F-1 Visa

In the event of a withdrawal from the College, a student who is on an F-1 Visa will be required to transfer to another institution in the U.S. to maintain their SEVIS record, or the student’s record will be terminated during the next period of SEVIS registration in the first 60 days of a subsequent semester. Students who officially withdraw from the College will be counseled by a Designated School Official (DSO) to provide adequate coordination and advisement to remain compliant with SEVP and USCIS reglulations. Students who unofficially withdraw from the College will be notified when their SEVIS record has been terminated, and will have 15 days to leave the country in accordance with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance.

Leave of Absence

A student who requires a leave of absence from their studies at the College should contact the Registrar’s Office to complete a Leave of Absence form. A leave of absence may be requested for academic, financial, medical, work-related, military, or other personal reasons.

Return to School after Medical Leave

Should the leave of absence result from medical reasons, the student must submit appropriate documentation to the student’s Advisor before returning to school. The documentation should provide reasonable explanation as to the reason for the absence.  Additionally, the College reserves the right to request medical clearance from the appropriate medical professional when any student requires medical or psychiatric care.  This documentation may be required to return to campus or the Residence Halls if the illness or condition is serious, contagious, prolonged, or could pose a threat to the returning student or others.