Student Responsibility
All students are responsible for the proper completion of their academic programs, for satisfying the general regulations stated in this catalog, for maintaining the grade point average required, and for meeting all other degree requirements. Students should secure guidance from an adviser, but the final responsibility remains that of the student.

Students are required to know and observe all regulations concerning campus life and student conduct. Students are responsible for maintaining communication with the University by keeping on file with the Office of Records and Registration at all times a current address and telephone number.

Classification of Students
Undergraduate students who are registered for and attending 12 or more semester hours are classified as full-time students. Those who are registered for and attending fewer than 12 semester hours are classified as part-time students. All undergraduate students are also classified as either regular or special. Special students are those who are admitted under special circumstances and who are not candidates for degrees. Regular students are further classified as follows:

Freshmen - Students who have earned fewer than 24 semester hours of credit.
Sophomores - Students who have earned at least 24 but fewer than 54 semester hours of credit.
Juniors - Students who have earned at least 54 but fewer than 87 semester hours of credit.
Seniors - Students who have earned at least 87 semester hours of credit.

Academic Forgiveness
At the time of readmission to Winthrop, a student who has been absent for five calendar years or longer may choose to reenter under the “academic forgiveness policy.” These previous courses are not used in computing the student’s grade-point average. However, all earlier courses and the grades earned remain on the student’s official transcript and are counted in computing eligibility for academic honors. The student must request “academic forgiveness” through the Office of Records and Registration. Students who have already utilized all their repeat exemptions do not get additional repeat exemptions.

Academic Advisement
Interaction between faculty and students is an integral part of the learning process at Winthrop. Individual advisement sessions between students and their advisers provide opportunities for students to learn more about the philosophy behind the required degree program as well as career opportunities for specific majors. The advisement process enhances and supplements the learning that takes place in the classroom.

The academic adviser’s primary role is to help the student plan a course of study so that courses required in a particular program are taken in the proper sequence. An online degree audit system, DegreeWorks, is available to assist advisers in helping students meet degree requirements. The adviser also helps ensure that the student is aware of all graduation requirements. Advisers may aid, as well, in resolving and preventing academic problems, often referring students to the appropriate academic resource.

Newly admitted students who have declared their intention to pursue a degree in a particular discipline are assigned advisers in the appropriate college. Generally, the adviser assignment is not changed unless the student changes degree programs. Until students officially declare a particular major, they are assigned advisers through University College.

Prior to registration, students are required to contact their academic adviser to discuss their academic situations and receive assistance in selecting courses to be taken in the next term. A meeting with the adviser is necessary in order for the adviser to confirm advising in Wingspan to allow the student to register.

Each college maintains an office in which advising assistance is available when the assigned faculty adviser is not immediately available. Students should contact the offices below for assistance in changing majors, verifying advisers, and other academic advising concerns:

Registration
Registration of courses is done by web registration via Wingspan (https://wingspan.winthrop.edu). Registration for Fall semester begins in April and continues until the beginning of the semester. Spring registration begins in November. In the summer session, which consists of several sessions starting at various times, registration occurs over an extended period and ends, for an individual session, on the first day of classes in that session. Continuing students are permitted and encouraged to register early for the upcoming fall or spring semester. Newly admitted degree-seeking students must attend an orientation session to be able to register for fall or spring courses. Consultation with an adviser prior to registration is required.

Course Load
Spring or Fall Semesters. While the normal course load for an undergraduate student is 15 to 17 hours per semester, a full-time course load may range from 12 to 18 hours. In determining course load, freshmen, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should take into consideration high school performance, ACT/SAT scores, high school grade-point average, and the amount of time available to apply to the academic course work.

A continuing student with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or higher may take a course overload of up to 21 hours. A student on academic probation may take no more than 15 hours in any given semester.

Summer Session. An undergraduate student may not enroll for more than six hours in session A (Maymester). A student may enroll in a total of 14 hours in session B. Sessions C and D each have a 7-hour maximum; however, the total hours taken during B, C, and D sessions may not exceed 14. All other sessions have a maximum load of one course.

Changes in Enrollment
Changes in enrollment, or student schedule changes, must be made before the end of the designated registration period. Such changes include dropping or adding courses, changing sections, and changing the number of credits to be earned in a course (where applicable). Most changes in enrollment may be done on Wingspan through the designated registration period. After the last day to register or add courses, changes must be submitted to the Office of Records and Registration with the approval of the Academic Dean of the college offering the course.

Withdrawal From Courses
Students are expected to follow the courses of study selected at the beginning of the semester or summer term. There may be instances, however, when the student may need to withdraw from a course. The decision to withdraw from a course is the student’s alone, but consultation with the adviser or Student Services Office and with the instructor is encouraged.

Students may withdraw from a course online through the withdrawal period. Students who have registration holds due to a past due balance, immunization, or any other reason, will NOT be able to withdraw online, and it is their responsibility to complete a withdrawal form (signed only by the student) and submit it to the Office of Records and Registration by the appropriate withdrawal date. The official date of withdrawal from a course is the date the completed withdrawal form is returned to the Office of Records and Registration. The form can be found on the Records and Registration web site under Forms Online.

If the withdrawal is completed during the first 66% of the instructional days of a particular course, the grade of N is assigned, indicating that no credit is awarded. Withdrawal from a course may not occur after 66% of the instructional days of the course have been completed, unless documented extenuating circumstances should warrant withdrawal from the course with the assignment of an N grade. Documented extenuating circumstances include the following:

• death of an immediate family member;

• traumatic and unforeseen circumstances which are considered beyond a student’s control;

• prolonged emotional instability, physical injury or illness which has resulted in the student’s inability to complete academic responsibilities; or

• a change in nonacademic employment beyond the student’s control.

Documentation of such circumstances must be definitive and must be presented along with a request for withdrawal to the Registrar no later than the last day of classes for the course in question.

Complete Withdrawal from Winthrop
Students who find it necessary to discontinue their college work during the fall or spring semester should officially withdraw from the University. The withdrawal process begins with the student completing an online withdrawal form. Consultation with the Offices of Student Financial Services, Financial Aid, Residence Life (on-campus students only), and Records and Registration is required.

A student who withdraws before the course withdrawal date of the semester receives grades of N for all courses. If the student stops attending after the withdrawal date of the semester, the student receives grades of UF, UU, or I, as the individual instructors deem appropriate. A student may withdraw after the course withdrawal deadline with documented extenuating circumstances. Such circumstances include the following: death of an immediate family member; traumatic and unforeseen circumstances which are considered beyond a student’s control; prolonged emotional instability, physical injury or illness which has resulted in the student’s inability to complete academic responsibilities; or a change in nonacademic employment beyond the student’s control. Documentation of such circumstances must be definitive and must be presented along with a request for withdrawal with the assignment of an N grade to the Registrar. Failure to withdraw officially may seriously affect a student’s eligibility for future readmission or for transfer to another institution.

Class Attendance Policies
Students are expected to attend classes and should understand that they are responsible for the academic consequences of absence. For reporting purposes, attendance in distance education courses is based on course activity participation. The student is responsible for all requirements of the course regardless of absences.

Instructors are obligated to provide makeup opportunities only for students who are absent with adequate cause such as incapacitating illness, death of an immediate family member, or service as an authorized representative of the university. The instructor will be responsible for judging the adequacy of cause for absence. The student is responsible for providing documentation certifying the legitimacy of the absence to his or her instructor in advance of such absences. In health-related or family emergency cases where advance notice is not possible, documentation should be provided to the instructor no later than the date the student returns to class. If the instructor denies the adequacy of cause, then the student can appeal the denial to the Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, who will judge the adequacy of cause, and if found to be adequate, will require the instructor to provide a make-up opportunity.

The instructor may establish the attendance requirements for the course. The following policy will be in effect unless the instructor specifies otherwise: if a student’s absences in a course total 25 percent or more of the class meetings for the course, the student will receive a grade of N if the student withdraws from the course before the withdrawal deadline; after that date, unless warranted by documented extenuating circumstances as described in the previous
section, a grade of UF or UU shall be assigned.

Class Attendance and Hazardous Weather Conditions
It is the practice of Winthrop University to carry out its primary responsibility of providing instruction for students during regularly scheduled hours, except in cases when extreme weather conditions make roads unsafe for travel. While Winthrop feels a responsibility to meet scheduled classes and maintain office support for those classes whenever possible, the University places the highest priority on the safety of its students, faculty, and staff. In instances of unsafe road and traveling conditions, the University notifies students via text messaging and email as well local media outlets. An announcement is placed on the Winthrop homepage if scheduled classes and activities of the University have been changed. Students should use their local media and discretion in judging the safety of traveling to the University during periods of inclement weather.

Final Examinations
The form of the final examination is determined by the instructor. The exam period may not exceed two and one-half hours. The times of final examinations are officially scheduled by the Master Schedule Coordinator. Legitimate exam conflicts are defined as follows:

• more than one scheduled exam per period;

• more than two examinations scheduled per day; or

• more than three examinations scheduled in any four consecutive periods.

A student with a legitimate conflict should work directly with their instructor to resolve the conflict. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the resolution
of any conflicts. Personal conflicts such as travel plans and work schedules do not warrant a change in examination times.

Evaluation and Grading
It is the responsibility of all faculty members at Winthrop to assign to all of their students fair grades based on evaluation relevant to the content and purposes of the course of study and, reasonably early in the semester, to inform students of the evaluation placed upon their work. Testing procedures are generally guided by the following principles: a number of evaluations of students’ achievements should be made throughout any given semester; the instructor in each class is encouraged to base students’ final grades on at least four major evaluations; the instructor may require a combination of one-hour tests, written reports, oral reports, or appropriate performances on projects. Tests should be returned to students within a reasonable time. Students have a right to examine their own tests regularly in order to understand which items were answered incorrectly or inadequately.

Grading System

Grades for courses taken for undergraduate credit are recorded as follows:

The grade to which I is prefixed is not used in computing the student’s GPA until the I prefix is removed and indicates the grade earned if no further work is performed. It is the grade in the course unless and until changed by the instructor or until approximately one year has passed, at which time the incomplete is converted to the default grade.

Interim Grades

Winthrop is committed to supporting student success, and one way to do that is to communicate with students in an intentional way about their class progress. Interim grades are a guideline to assist students and advisers in assessing where the student is at that particular point in the semester. Students can access their interim grades for classes that meet the whole semester through the online portal, Wingspan. Interim grades do not appear on a transcript (unofficial or official), and students should keep in mind that their grades are only reflective of the amount of graded work done in the class up to that point. Students with questions about their interim grades should confer directly with their instructors.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option

Undergraduate students may elect to receive a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grade on a total of five courses throughout their entire undergraduate curriculum, and are limited to electing no more than one S/U course per semester, except in the case of first-time freshmen who may use two S/Us in their first semester. (All summer sessions together are considered one semester.) A satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade, recorded as S or U, will not be counted in computing the student’s grade-point average; however, credit will only be given for courses for which an S grade is earned. The purpose of this option is to allow the student an opportunity to explore areas of interest outside the major and outside required courses without jeopardizing the grade-point average. Students are discouraged from choosing the S/U option for required courses or for courses in the major. Students who are unclear about the appropriate application of the S/U option should consult their advisers. The five-course limit regarding the S/U option does not include those courses which are offered only on an S/U basis. A student must elect to utilize the S/U option by the course withdrawal deadline.

Auditing Courses

Undergraduate students may audit a course (take for no credit) with the permission of the instructor of the course and the department chair or academic dean on a space-available basis. An auditor is not required to participate in any examinations or graded course assignments. Participation in class activities and the class attendance policy is at the discretion of the instructor. Students have through the first week of the beginning of the fall and spring semesters and the first day of each summer session to select the audit option. Students must submit a completed Course Audit form to the Office of Records and Registration. Tuition is the same for auditing a course as it is for taking the course for credit. An AU grade is assigned.

Quality Points and Grade-Point Average

To remain in good academic standing, a student must maintain a certain standard of excellence. This standard is defined by the quality-point system. The grade received on a course determines the number of quality points earned per semester hour. Total quality points for a course are calculated by multiplying hours earned by the point value for the grade earned.

• Semester Grade Point Average: The semester grade-point average (GPA) is calculated by dividing quality points earned that semester by hours taken on a letter-grade basis during that semester.

• Cumulative Grade Point Average: The cumulative grade-point average (GPA) is calculated by dividing total quality points by GPA (quality) hours. GPA hours are all hours of credit taken at Winthrop on a letter-grade basis. Credits earned by examinations, credits transferred from other institutions, and credits for courses taken on satisfactory/ unsatisfactory basis are not used in computing a student’s cumulative grade-point average. Courses failed at Winthrop University cannot be replaced by transfer coursework.

• Earned Hours Taken: The sum of the total hours for which the student has been enrolled at Winthrop plus all hours accepted by Winthrop as transfer credit and all hours awarded by Winthrop as Credit by Examination.
  

• GPA (Quality) Hours Taken: All hours of credit taken at Winthrop on a regular letter grade basis. All courses are counted in the semester summary of the semester in which they are taken and in the cumulative summary.
  

• Cumulative Hours Earned: All hours of credit completed at Winthrop University with grades of A(-), B(+/-), C(+/-), D(+/-), or S; all accepted transferred credits and all credits by examination. All courses are counted in the semester summary of the semester in which they are taken and in the cumulative summary.
  

Quality Points: Semester Hours Earned times the value of the Grade: A=4, A-=3.67, etc. (See grading system above.) All courses are counted in the semester summary of the semester in which they have been taken and in the cumulative summary.


Grade Appeal Procedures

Students and faculty members should try to resolve grade problems informally. If no satisfactory solution is reached, the student, the faculty member, or both may contact the appropriate chair or the appropriate dean. For further information, please visit the full Grade Appeal Policy.

Academic Eligibility (Probation and Suspension)

Students enrolled at Winthrop University must earn a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 in order to avoid being placed on academic probation (or suspension). The first semester a student’s cumulative grade-point average falls below a 2.00, he or she is placed on academic probation.

Students on academic probation may not enroll in more than 15 semester hours. A student on academic probation whose semester grade-point average is 2.00 or higher is not suspended at the close of that semester even though the cumulative grade-point average remains below 2.00. The student may continue enrollment on academic probation.

The student is removed from academic probation at the close of a semester in which the cumulative grade-point average meets or exceeds 2.00.

Undergraduate special students are not subject to academic eligibility while in this classification.

Credit awarded by examination and hours earned with a grade of S are used in determining classification but not in determining the grade-point average.

A student’s eligibility in a given semester cannot be influenced by the change of a grade awarded in any semester prior to the previous semester, except in the removal of an incomplete grade.

When a student is on probation, a subsequent violation in the next fall or spring semester of enrollment results in a first academic suspension for the immediately succeeding regular academic semester. Students suspended after spring must also sit out the following summer session. Students who are readmitted after suspension are readmitted on academic probation. Failure to meet the specified minimum cumulative grade-point average during this semester results in a second suspension for one calendar year. Readmission for a second time again places the student on academic probation. Failure to achieve the specified minimum cumulative grade-point average after the second suspension results in permanent dismissal from the University.

Students enrolled in the summer session are not subject to probation or suspension at the end of the summer term, but students who are on probation may be returned to good standing. Credit earned at any other institution while a student is ineligible to enroll at Winthrop University may be applied to a Winthrop degree, as long as the credit meets transfer credit requirements (see below).


Recourse for Academically Ineligible Students

If an academically ineligible student feels there are extenuating circumstances in his or her situation, special consideration may be asked of the Committee on Undergraduate Petitions. Procedures for petitioning are as follows:

1. A petition from the student must be presented to the Registrar stating the specific circumstances which prevented the student from succeeding in his or her course work. This petition must be accompanied by supporting documentation and be signed by the adviser or Director of Student Services of the student’s college as well as a representative from the Academic Success Center. A petition form is available in the Office of Records and Registration and online.

2. The petition must be received by the Registrar at least one week before the beginning of the semester for which the student wishes to be readmitted.

3. The Registrar forwards the petition, along with all supporting documents, to the Petitions Committee.

Those who are readmitted by the Committee are notified and are allowed to register for courses.

General Appeal Procedure

Any undergraduate student may appeal for variations in the general education requirements and other university-wide academic regulations by submitting a petition to the Committee on Undergraduate Petitions.

Petitions must be accompanied by supporting statements or other documentary evidence which the student judges pertinent to the petition. Petitions should be addressed to the Committee on Undergraduate Petitions, in care of the Registrar. A petition form is available in the Office of Records and Registration and online. To be considered at a regular monthly meeting, petitions must be received by the Registrar by the deadline posted on the online Registrar’s calendar.

For petitions concerning a lapse in course inclusion within the General Education Program, the Registrar reserves the right to review and act on the petition and relay the decision to the student and the Undergraduate Petitions Committee. For all other petitions, the Registrar forwards the petitions, along with any supporting documents, to the Undergraduate Petitions Committee and relays to the student the decisions reached by the Committee. (Refer to Recourse For Academically Ineligible Students above for specific instructions pertaining to petitions concerning academic ineligibility.)

Students may appeal the Petitions Committee decision to the office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs or their designee.

Fluency in English

A grievance policy exists in cases where a student claims that a faculty member’s fluency in English is not adequate to conduct a course. Students may consult department or deans’ offices or the Office of Academic Affairs to obtain the full text of the policy and grievance procedures.

Teacher Certification Requirements
Requirements for teacher certification set by the South Carolina State Department of Education or other agencies may or may not be the same as degree requirements shown in this catalog. For more information, contact the Student Academic Services office in the Richard W. Riley College of Education.

Dual Enrollment

Qualified high school students may enroll for university courses at Winthrop during the regular academic year or summer session. South Carolina high school Juniors and Seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and 1050 SAT or 22 ACT scores are eligible. Credit earned can count towards a high school diploma, for college credit at Winthrop or both.

Transient Study Credit

Courses taken at another institution by a Winthrop student, either during the summer sessions or a regular semester, for transfer back to Winthrop must have written approval of the student’s Student Services Office prior to registration for the courses. It is the student’s responsibility to have transcripts forwarded to the Office of Records and Registration as soon as possible, and, if it is the student’s final semester at Winthrop, no later than two days prior to the expected graduation date.

Transcripts of all college work taken while a student is absent from Winthrop for a semester or more must be submitted when the student reapplies to Winthrop. All transient study credit is subject to the Winthrop University Transfer Credit Policy (below).

Transfer Credit

Winthrop University, in general, accepts transfer course credit from other institutions of higher education under the following conditions:

1. The course work must have been taken at an institution that is accredited by the commission on colleges of a regional accreditation agency.

2. The subject matter and the level of the course must be appropriate to Winthrop’s general education curriculum or the program into which the student is transferring.

3. The grade that is received for the course must be at least a C- or a grade with a minimum level equivalent to a C-.

The individual college at Winthrop makes the final determination of the applicability of the accepted credit to the student’s degree program. A transfer student must earn at least 25% of the semester hours of course credits at Winthrop to complete requirements for an undergraduate degree (30 hours in a 120-hour program). Transfer credit is not used in computing a student’s grade-point average at Winthrop. However, it is used in computing eligibility for academic honors and the LIFE Scholarship.

Winthrop University will award two hours of credit (General Education Physical Activity credit and Physical Education Elective) for completion of military Basic Training. In order to obtain credit, new students must submit a DD214 form or DD-2586 form to the Office of Admissions. Currently enrolled students should submit the form to Records and Registration. Students who have taken military course work, and who wish for that course work to be evaluated for transfer credit to Winthrop University, should request that an official transcript be mailed to the Office of Admissions (new students) or Records and Registration (continuing students). The office of student services in the applicable college will evaluate military credit using the current edition of the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces. The academic college will make the final determination on the applicability of the acceptable credit to the student’s degree program.

Winthrop will consider professional certification using the recommendations of the American Council on Education’s College Recommendation Service (CREDIT). CLEP Credit No more than 30 semester hours may be earned through credit-by-examination and no grades are given for semester hours earned through credit-by-examination. Credit will be awarded based on the date of the test and university subject examinations course equivalent policy in place for that date, not the date Winthrop University received CLEP scores. Credit will be awarded based on information received only on official CLEP transcripts.

Foreign Language Credit

Students may obtain credit for French, German, or Spanish courses listed below upon completion of the appropriate course with a grade of B or higher. Credit will not be given for courses for which university credit has been awarded previously. No grade is assigned to this credit. A grade is received only for the course taken at Winthrop. The course credits that can be earned are summarized below. For further information, contact the Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures, Dr. Scott Shinabarger at shinabargers@winthrop.edu.

Chemistry Credit

Students may obtain credit for CHEM 104 upon completion of CHEM 105 or 211 at Winthrop with a grade of B or higher. Credit will not be given for courses for which university credit has been awarded previously. No grade is assigned to this credit. A grade is received only for the CHEM 105 or 211 course taken at Winthrop. For further information, contact the Chair of the Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Geology, Dr. Robin Lammi, at lammir@winthrop.edu.

Graduate Credit for Winthrop University Seniors

Winthrop seniors with an overall grade-point average at Winthrop of 3.00 or better may be permitted to take courses numbered 500-599 for graduate credit during their final semester of undergraduate work, provided the total course load (undergraduate and graduate) for that semester does not exceed 16 semester hours. The student may receive graduate credit for these courses only if the requirements for the baccalaureate degree are satisfactorily completed by the end of that same semester.

Senior business students in their final term may take one 600-level business class if the student meets the following conditions: (A) admitted provisionally to any Winthrop MBA program; (B) limited to one 600-level business course; (C) 3.0 undergraduate grade point average; and (D) limited to maximum load of 16 semester hours.

Undergraduate students who wish to take courses numbered 500-599 for graduate credit must first receive approval from the academic dean of the school or college in which they are majoring. The Undergraduate Request to Take Courses for Graduate Credit form is available on the Office of Records and Registration’s website under "Registration Forms."

Undergraduate Students Pursuing Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s (Accelerated) Programs

Undergraduate students who are pursuing Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs of Study may qualify to take up to 9 hours of graduate 500-level coursework at Winthrop and apply those hours to the undergraduate degree. To qualify for graduate-level coursework in a combined bachelor’s/master’s program, an undergraduate must:

• submit an Intent to Pursue Accelerated Graduate Program form with the appropriate graduate program office (by that program’s posted deadline) and have it approved by the specific graduate program director;

• successfully complete 75 credit hours before taking each graduate course;

• maintain at least a 3.0 GPA as an undergraduate; and

• complete the Undergraduate Request to Take Course for Graduate Credit form through the Office of Records and Registration, no later than the add/drop deadline.

Repeating a Course

A student may repeat any course taken at Winthrop University or transferred to Winthrop for which they did not earn a grade of B or higher, or a grade of S. (This regulation does not apply to courses that may be repeated for additional credit.) Credit hours earned in a particular course taken at Winthrop will not be awarded more than one time, (unless the course has been approved for additional credit) and transfer credit for repeated courses will be forfeited.

A student who enters Winthrop as a freshman is allowed a maximum of four repeated courses with grade exemption for any courses taken at Winthrop University for which he or she did not earn a grade of B or higher. Under this policy, the original grade earned in the course will be exempted from the calculation of the cumulative grade point average. Students who transfer to Winthrop with fewer than 40 semester hours of credit also are allowed the four course repeats with grade exemption; those with at least 40 and fewer than 70 hours are allowed three; those with at least 70 and fewer than 100 are allowed two; and those with 100 or more are allowed only one repeated course.

The repeat exemptions will be automatically applied to courses as they are repeated up to the allowed number of repeat exemptions. Receiving a grade of U in a repeated course will not replace a previous attempt’s grade. Honors course grades can only exempt honors courses. Repeat exemptions only apply to courses taken and retaken at Winthrop. All courses and grades remain on the transcript. Students electing academic forgiveness do not get additional repeat exemptions.

For students receiving federal Financial Aid, the credit hours of the original course and the repeated course will both count in the student’s attempted hours for calculation of percentage of hours earned (Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for Financial Aid.)

The Permanent Record and Transcripts of Record

A permanent record of each student’s courses, credits, and grades earned is maintained by the Office of Records and Registration. Transcripts are provided upon written request of the student. Transcripts are withheld from those students and former students who have unpaid accounts with the University.

Final Grades

At the end of each semester and summer term, students may access their final grades via Wingspan. Any grade error must be reported to the instructor of record. If no error is reported within 30 days of the day grades are available for student access, it is assumed the report is correct and each entry becomes a part of the student’s permanent record.

Academic Honors

President’s List.
Each undergraduate student who completes a minimum of 12 semester hours of courses taken on a letter-grade basis (excluding S/U) during the fall or spring semester and earns a grade-point average of 4.00 is eligible for the President’s List for that semester. A student may not have incomplete grades.

Dean’s List.
Each undergraduate student who completes a minimum of 12 semester hours of courses taken on a letter-grade basis (excluding S/U) during the fall or spring semester and earns a grade-point average of at least 3.50 is eligible for the Dean’s List for that semester. A student may not have incomplete grades.

Honor Graduates.
Any undergraduate student who completes degree requirements with a final grade-point average of 3.50 to 3.74 shall be granted a diploma cum laude; any undergraduate student who completes degree requirements with a final grade-point average of 3.75 to 3.89 shall be granted a diploma magna cum laude; any undergraduate student who completes degree requirements with a final grade-point average of 3.90 or higher shall be granted a diploma summa cum laude.

In order for a student who has credits from another institution to receive a diploma cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude, it is necessary to have the required grade-point average on the work taken at Winthrop as well as the required grade-point average on the combination of Winthrop work, including courses lost due to utilization of academic forgiveness, and all work taken at other institutions. Coursework taken at other institutions cannot raise a graduate to a higher level of Academic Honors.

Students who complete degree requirements with a final grade point average of 3.75, earn a minimum of 48 quality hours (earned hours on a regular letter grade basis) at Winthrop University, and do not qualify for one of the categories above, will receive Honors Recognition.

Choice of Catalog
A regular undergraduate student may obtain a degree in accordance with the requirements set forth in the catalog in force at the time of the student’s initial enrollment as a regular undergraduate student at Winthrop, provided that the student has not been absent from active enrollment for a continuous period of twelve months or more; or the student may elect to obtain a degree in accordance with the requirements of any catalog issued after the initial enrollment, provided the student was enrolled as a regular undergraduate student in Winthrop at the time the catalog was issued and has not subsequently been absent from active enrollment for a continuous period of 12 months or more. When a student has been absent for a period of 12 months or more, he or she must fulfill the requirements of the catalog in force at the time of re-enrollment or a subsequent catalog in force during enrollments. In all cases, a student is restricted in choice to the requirements of a specific catalog and must graduate within a period of eight years from the date the catalog was issued to claim the rights of that catalog.

If any course required in the catalog specified is not offered after the student specifying the catalog has accumulated 87 semester hours, the University reserves the right to substitute another course. In all cases, if a course has been officially dropped from the course offerings, the University provides a substitute course. Change of Degree or Program of Study A student may change from one degree program or area of academic concentration to another, provided the prerequisites for admission to the new program are met and appropriate written approval is obtained. Students should consult their appropriate Student Services Office for assistance.

Application for Graduation

The Application for Graduation serves as official notification to the Registrar of the student’s planned graduation date and also generates the ordering of the student’s diploma and other commencement-related notifications. Students should apply for graduation through Wingspan upon earning 85 hours. An official review of the student’s record is performed to verify remaining degree requirements only upon receipt of the application for graduation. The Office of Records and Registration will notify students and advisors via email upon the audit completion to check DegreeWorks, the online degree progress auditing tool. The audit serves as a notification to the student of remaining degree requirements. A new degree review is required if a student has a change of major, minor, or concentration. It is the student’s responsibility to notify their Student Services office as well as the Office of Records and Registration of such changes. If a student is not enrolled at Winthrop for one calendar year, the review is void and will require completion of a new application for graduation.

A $50 graduation fee is assessed at the time of the submission of the graduation application to the Office of Records and Registration. Failure to file an application by the deadline will result in a late fee. The application deadlines are February 1 for August and December graduation and September 15 for May graduation. If the application is filed after the established deadline, a $25 penalty is assessed. After the next established deadline, a $50 penalty is assessed for applications submitted during the semester of anticipated graduation.

Awarding Degrees and Commencement Exercises

Degrees are awarded three times a year, at the end of each Fall and Spring semester and at the end of the summer session. Commencement exercises are held only twice a year, in December and in May. The program for the December commencement lists the names of all students who completed degrees during the preceding summer session, as well as those who were degree candidates during the Fall semester. The program for the May commencement lists the names of those students who were degree candidates during the Spring semester. Only students who have completed all degree requirements may participate in the commencement ceremony.