Attendance Policy and Grades

Attendance is an important component which influences the quality of education at any level of study; however, in an accelerated degree program it is paramount. One of the key benefits of the Master of Education in Literacy Program is degree completion in only one year; one of the drawbacks is that this benefit necessitates a strict attendance policy that is adhered to by each professor. Late arrival to class is not acceptable with obvious exceptions being made for unavoidable circumstances. An evident pattern of late arrival will be addressed by the Program Director.

To graduate from this degree program, students must have attended 95% of their classes. This allows for only four absences throughout the entire program, and even those absences must fall within specific parameters:

• No absences are allowed from two-hour courses because these courses only meet on four/five occasions.
• One absence is permitted from a three-hour course. Two absences from the same three-hour course will result in the final grade being lowered by one letter grade.
• Arriving late for class twice within the same course will equal an absence.

A student who misses more than four class sessions throughout the entire program will, under most circumstances, be automatically withdrawn from the program.

Appeals may be made to the Program Director with regard to unusual or extenuating circumstances which impact attendance.

Grading Policy

Final grades for the Master of Education in Literacy Program will not contain (+) or (-) signs.

Grading Scale

• 92-100 A
• 84- 91 B
• 76- 83 C
• 75 and below F

A grade point average of 3.0 is required to graduate from this program. A graduate student may receive a grade of C as the final grade in one course and remain in the program. Upon receiving a second C as a final course grade, however the graduate student will be required to withdraw from the program. Students receiving a grade of C will need to earn a grade of A in a course (or courses) of equal credit value in order to maintain the GPA needed to graduate.

Transcript Columns Interpretation

• Earn – total semester hours earned that apply toward graduation requirements.
• Pass – total hours passed including hours that apply toward graduation requirements along with courses passed that are not applicable to degree requirements.
• Quality – total Judson hours passed and/or attempted that receive grade points (includes F, WF, and AWF).
• Points – total number of grade points earned by all quality hours
• Grade Point Average (GPA) – a measure of a student's performance. The quality of a student's coursework is indicated by a session GPA. The quality of work through one or more semesters is indicated by a cumulative GPA which includes all Judson courses. A summary GPA includes all transfer work as well as Judson work.

Example:

• Sess – current Judson University session
• Cum – cumulative Judson University sessions
• Sum – cumulative Judson University and transfer course sessions

Grade Grievance

Any student has the right to appeal a questioned grade to the course instructor in writing, if the student believes the instructor has miscalculated the grade, or has not given reasonable and timely assessment of the student's course assignments. The appeal process must conclude within six weeks of the start of the appeal. Grade changes submitted after the six-week deadline will not be processed.

A procedure has been established for resolving those occasions when a student actively disagrees with the grade received in a course.

• No later than two weeks after the student's receipt of the grade report listing the questioned grade, the student must confer with the instructor. If a grade inaccuracy is determined, the instructor will process a grade-change request. Grade changes must be submitted within four weeks of the start of the appeal.
• If agreement cannot be reached, the student may appeal to the division chair in writing. If the division chair can mediate an agreement between the student and instructor, a grade-change request may be processed. If no agreement can be reached, or if the instructor is also the division chair, the next step is applicable.
• The student may appeal the decision to theVice President and Dean of Adult and Continuing Education Programsin writing. They shall investigate and render a decision. A decision by theV.P. either to change the grade or leave it as it is, will be considered final.
• Approved by the Vice President and Dean of Adult and Continuing Education Programs

Communication Policy

The primary method of communication between graduate students and the university will be through electronic mail.

While enrolled in the Master of Education in Literacy program, students have the responsibility to check their Judson University e-mail accounts daily for timely and important communication that may be sent from the program director, professors teaching in the program, or offices of the university.

Students admitted to and entering the Master of Education in Literacy program must accept full responsibility for consequences resulting from a failure to regularly read and respond to e-mails related to coursework or university obligations. Graduate students experiencing difficulty in using a Judson University e-mail account should notify both IT Help Desk 1(847) 628-4357 and the program director (847) 628-1093.