Academic Policies
The following academic regulations apply to all students in the Stockbridge School. It is the responsibility of all students to adhere to them. All regulations require interpretation; however, students who feel that extenuating circumstances warrant an exception to any of the following regulations should discuss their situation with the Stockbridge School Director. The University's official Undergraduate Academic Policies, Undergraduate Rights & Responsibilities, are updated and issued each year to every student by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Office of the Provost. All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the contents of this publication.
Academic Honesty
All members of the University community must participate in the development of a climate conducive to academic honesty. While the faculty, because of their unique role in the educational process, have the responsibility of defining, encouraging, fostering, and upholding the ethic of academic honesty, students have the responsibility of conforming in all respects to that ethic.
The Stockbridge School adheres to the policy of academic honesty as defined in Undergraduate Rights & Responsibilities.
Academic Status
A. Good Standing
Students are in good academic standing when their cumulative grade point average (GPA) is 2.00 or above. This requirement applies to full-time students. The cumulative averages on which academic policy is based are as follows:
| Semester | Good Standing Min. Cum. Ave. |
Probation Cum. Ave. Range |
Suspension Cum. Ave. Range |
| First | 2.00 | 1.35-1.99 | 1.34 or less |
| Second | 2.00 | 1.65-1.99 | 1.64 or less |
| Third | 2.00 | 1.85-1.99 | 1.84 or less |
| Fourth | 2.00 | --------- | 1.99 or less |
B. Academic Probation
Students are placed on academic probation when their cumulative GPA at the end of any semester falls within the probation range indicated. (See Academic Status.) Students on probationary status are eligible to return to school the following semester; however, they must improve their academic performance so that their cumulative GPA falls within the range required to prevent a suspension. Students with a GPA below 2.0 will have an academic hold placed on their record; they will be required to meet with the Stockbridge Director regarding registration.
C. Academic Suspension
An academic suspension is enforced when the student's cumulative GPA falls within the average listed for suspension. Students on academic suspension may not enroll in the Stockbridge School for the subsequent semester. They are required to take a minimum of six (6) credits at another college or university. Students must seek approval from the Stockbridge Director prior to enrolling in the classes. The courses must be completed and passed with a grade of "C" or better. After one semester's absence and the successful completion of the six (6) credits, students may reapply to the Stockbridge School. Please refer to H. Readmission section below.
D. Academic Dismissal
A student's second academic suspension will be recorded as a dismissal, and will result in the student's permanent separation from the School.
E. Immediate Reinstatement
Students who are placed on Academic Suspension or Dismissal may be granted Immediate Reinstatement if the Stockbridge Director determines that extenuating circumstances exist. Although these students will have been formally suspended or dismissed (the Suspension or Dismissal will be noted on the academic record), they may enroll for the succeeding semester. If these students fall below good standing in any subsequent semester, they will be subject to Academic Dismissal.
F. Right of Appeal
Students have the right to appeal an academic suspension or dismissal. Consideration will be given to significant extenuating circumstances that could have reasonably affected academic performance. Students wishing to appeal their academic status will write a letter to the Stockbridge Director, who will then consult with the appropriate department personnel. All appeals will be judged on an individual basis.
G. Low Credit Warning
A student's semester grade report and audit indicate if an insufficient number of credits have been earned. A minimum of 60 credits is required for graduation, an average of 15 credits per semester. Any student not carrying the required amount of cumulative credits each semester is issued a low credit warning.
At the end of the second semester of their freshman year, some Stockbridge students may receive a low credit warning on their grade report since they will be taking less than 15 credits due to the internship. This message has no academic implication, and should be ignored.
Applications for readmission must be submitted to the Stockbridge Director with a letter stating the reasons for leaving school and the reasons for desiring return. Readmission applications must be received by April 15 to guarantee on-campus housing for the fall semester or by October 1 for the spring semester.
- Good standing: a student who left Stockbridge in good standing is eligible to apply for readmission for any academic semester.
- Suspension: a student who has been suspended for academic deficiencies may not be readmitted until the successful completion of six (6) credits at another college or university. An official transcript from the institution must be included with the readmission application and letter to the Stockbridge Director.
- Medical reasons: a student who withdrew for reasons of health must obtain clearance for readmission from the Director of Health Services. The readmission application must first be sent to Health Services for endorsement from the Director of Health Services before being sent to the Director of the Stockbridge School.
Download and print the readmission application. Use Adobe Acrobat reader to obtain this application. You can get Adobe Acrobat reader here.
Graduation Requirements
All students are responsible for their progress towards graduation and the fulfillment of requirements. Candidates must successfully complete the following minimum requirements to qualify for the associate of science degree:
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher.
- Obtain a 2.0 or higher in all core courses in the major (indicated in bold type in the curricula).
- Receive a grade of "C" or higher for the internship.
- Complete all departmental requirements, including the internship, courses and credits, as shown in the academic program at the time of first enrollment.
- Earn the total number of credits required by the major (some majors may require more than 60). Thirty credits must be completed in residence, and cannot include any Continuing Education courses. (A matriculated student may not take more than 9 total credits through the Division of Continuing Education, and no more than 6 credits during any one semester.)
- Satisfy all financial obligations to the School and University.
Statute of Limitations
A student shall be allowed no more than six semesters as a full-time student to complete all graduation requirements cited at the time the student entered. Continuation beyond this limit will be with the written approval of the Stockbridge Director.
Registration in Courses and Withdrawal
A. Course Registration
It is the responsibility of all students to select their next semester's courses with the assistance of their program coordinator.
All students register for classes though SPIRE (spire.umass.edu). It is highly recommended that students register early during their appointment times to avoid course overenrollment and/or course conflicts.
- Incoming students register for their first semester classes during the summer orientation period.
- Currently enrolled students receive appointment times for course registration. At that time, students will check whether they need to clear any holds on their records or if they need a Registration Approval Code (RAC), which they will receive from their program coordinator.
- Students on internship during the second semester receive their registration materials via their University email address at the beginning of the continuous registration period.
B. Course Registration Changes
- Add/Drop Period: students may add or drop a course continuously beginning with their individual starting times through the 14th calendar day of the semester. A course dropped during this period will not be recorded on the student's transcript.
- Add/Drop Period for Spring Semester Seven-Week Courses: in the four majors requiring a five-month internship, the second semester is shortened to seven weeks. Students may drop a seven-week course through the seventh day of the semester. There will be no record of the course on the student's transcript.
- Withdrawal Period: students may withdraw from a course, with the instructor's and Stockbridge Director's signatures, from the 15th calendar day of the semester through the mid-semester date published in the academic calendar. Students who drop courses during this period will receive a grade of W (Withdrawn) for the course.
- Withdrawal Period for Spring Semester Seven-Week Courses: students may withdraw from a seven-week course from the eighth day through the 21st day of the semester. Signatures are required from the instructor and Stockbridge Director. A grade of W will be recorded for the course.
- Late Withdrawal Period: after the mid-semester date, the student is responsible for completing the course. Only if the Stockbridge Director grants a late withdrawal for extenuating circumstances may the student withdraw from a course after the mid-semester date. A grade of W will be recorded for the course.
- Late Withdrawal Period for Spring Semester Seven-Week Courses: after the 21st day, a student may withdraw from a course only for circumstances deemed extenuating by the Stockbridge Director. A grade of W will be recorded for the course.
C. Withdrawal from School
Withdrawal can be either voluntary or administrative.
- Voluntary withdrawal: a student who wishes to voluntarily withdraw from school at any time must meet with the Stockbridge Director.
- Administrative withdrawal: a student may be administratively withdrawn from school if, after due notice, the student fails to either satisfy an overdue financial obligation to the University or comply with certain administrative requirements, such as the submission of health questionnaires or immunization forms. This means the student's registration, housing, and financial aid for the current semester will be canceled. The student will be unable to register for any subsequent semester until the administrative withdrawal is resolved. Notification of administrative withdrawal will be sent through the mail or indicated by a negative Service Indicator on SPIRE.
D. Readmission after Withdrawal from a Baccalaureate Program
A student who has been suspended or dismissed from a baccalaureate degree program at the University and wishes to enter a Stockbridge School major is required to petition the University Committee on Admissions and Records (CAR). Rationale should include a statement which clearly indicates a new direction in educational objectives and why success in a Stockbridge program is likely.
Attendance
The attendance of students at all regularly scheduled classes is expected and may be required by individual instructors. Faculty have the right to require formal, written documentation from students who request to be excused from class due to illness or other reasons.
State Law (Chapter 375, Acts of 1985) requires that the University excuse any student who is unable to attend classes or participate in any examination, study, or work requirement because of religious observance. Students have the right to make up examinations, study, or work requirements that they miss because of religious observance without any adverse or prejudicial effects. No fees may be charged to the student for the makeup exercise. The law also provides that such makeup work may not create an unreasonable burden upon the University. Students should inform their course instructors in writing of the day(s) they will be absent as early in the semester as possible and always prior to the day(s) on which they will be absent for religious reasons.
Grading System
A letter grading system is used as a means of measuring as fairly as possible both the quality and overall performance of a student's work.
At the end of the semester, students may view their records on SPIRE. Effective Fall 2004, the following letter grades and assigned quality points are as follows:
| Letter Grade | Quality Points Per Semester Hour | |
| A | 4.000 | |
| A- | 3.700 | |
| B+ | 3.300 | |
| B | 3.000 | |
| B- | 2.700 | |
| C+ | 2.300 | |
| C | 2.000 | |
| C- | 1.700 | |
| D+ | 1.300 | |
| D | 1.000 | |
| F | 0.000 | |
| INC | 0.000 (Incomplete calculates as an F until final grade is received) | |
| ____ | 0.000 (Blank grade calculates as an F) | |
Other grade symbols NOT included in quality point calculations are:
| AUD | Audit | |
| CR | Graduation Credit | |
| P | Pass (added to graduation credits) | |
| W | Withdrawn | |
| Y | Year-long course in progress |
A. To calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA) for a semester:
Example of a given semester report:
| FALL 2005 SEMESTER REPORT |
||
| Course |
Credits |
Grade |
| Animal Science |
2 |
P |
| Botany |
4 |
B+ |
| English |
3 |
C- |
| Forestry |
3 |
A |
| Soils |
4 |
INC |
1. Find the Grade Point Equivalent for each grade:
| Grade |
Grade Point Equivalent |
|
| P | = |
do not include; counts towards graduation credit |
| B+ |
= |
3.300 |
| C- |
= |
1.700 |
| A |
= |
4.000 |
| INC | = |
0.000 |
2. Multiply the Grade Point Equivalent by the number of Credits:
| Grade Point Equivalent |
Credits |
Total Points for each course (except
Animal Science) |
| 3.300 | X 4 = |
13.200 |
| 1.700 |
X 3 = |
5.100 |
| 4.000 |
X 3 = |
12.000 |
| 0.000 |
X 4 = |
0.000 |
3. Add the Total Points earned for each course, except Animal Science:
| Total Points | |
| 13.200 |
|
| 5.100 |
|
| 12.000 |
|
| 0.000 |
|
| 30.300 Total Grade Points | |
4. Add the Total Credits attempted in those GRADED courses (do NOT include credits in a course for which you earned a P or W):
| Course |
Credits |
|
| Botany |
4 |
|
| English |
3 |
|
| Forestry |
3 |
|
| Soils |
4 |
|
14 |
Total Graded Credits |
5. Divide the Total Grade Points earned by the Total Graded Credits:
30.300 / 14 = 2.164 (your Grade Point
Average (GPA) )
|
B. Grade Changes
Final grades may be changed only when requested, in writing, by the instructor of the course. Final approval for a grade change must come from the Stockbridge Director.
C. Incompletes
The Stockbridge School follows the general University guidelines for Incompletes, which are found in Undergraduate Rights & Responsibilities. Please note that when courses are recorded as Incomplete, the addition of credits without points will result in a lowering of the grade point average, which might result in a student being suspended or dismissed. In other words, getting an Incomplete can place a student in jeopardy; it should not be viewed as a way to avoid getting a failing grade.
Students who are unable to complete course requirements within the allotted time due to significant extenuating circumstances may request a grade of Incomplete (INC) from the instructor of the course. Normally, an Incomplete is warranted only if a student is passing the course at the time the request is made. An Incomplete is averaged in the cumulative average as an "F," and must be resolved by the student as soon as possible, but not later than the last week of classes of the following semester.
D. Repeated Courses
Students may repeat up to five courses in which they earned grades of C-, D+, D, or F. Both grades will appear on the transcript; however, only the second grade will be calculated into the cumulative grade point average. However, if a student takes a course a third time, the last two grades will be factored into the cumulative grade point average. The credits will only be counted once.
E. Continuing Education Courses
Please see Undergraduate Rights & Responsibilities for further information.
Students who have enrolled in the University after being admitted to a Stockbridge program may not apply courses taken through the Division of Continuing Education to their University degree requirements except under the following circumstances:
- Stockbridge students may enroll in courses offered by the Division of Continuing Education during the summer session or intersession. Courses taken during these sessions will be merged into the student's official undergraduate records and transcripts.
- Students who are enrolled at Stockbridge for at least six credits during a fall or spring semester may apply to their degree requirements up to two courses offered by the Division of Continuing Education during that semester, but only if those courses are not available to the students through regular University offerings.
Students who are on suspension or who have been dismissed may not register for courses offered by the Division of Continuing Education except with the permission of the Stockbridge Director. If permission is granted, credits and grades attempted and earned during this period of enrollment will be factored into the student's undergraduate records and any subsequent readmission decisions.
F. Pass/Fail Option
The purpose of the pass/fail option is to encourage students to be academically venturesome in their course selection. Students are allowed to use their pass/fail option for one elective course per semester. Required courses for the major may not be taken pass/fail. Students who register for a course, which is mandatory pass/fail, shall not be deprived of their option to take one additional elective course on a pass/fail basis per semester.
Students must officially elect the pass/fail option within the first 14 calendar days of each semester with the approval of their program coordinator. The instructor of the course will not be informed that the course is being taken pass/fail. At the end of the semester the instructor will submit the student's earned letter grade. If the grade submitted is one that will raise a student's cumulative average, the grade will be entered on the student's grade report. If the grade submitted is one that will lower a student's cumulative average, a "P" (Pass) or "F" (Fail) grade will be entered on the grade report. A grade of "P" is not assigned any points, and does not affect the semester or cumulative average; however, the credit earned is counted towards graduation credits. A grade of "F" earned in a course taken pass/fail is assigned 0.000 points, and lowers both semester and cumulative averages.
G. Grade Reports and Transcripts
Final grades are viewed on SPIRE (http://spire.umass.edu) at the end of the fall and spring semesters.
One official transcript of a student's record will be furnished without cost. For each additional copy there is currently a $3.00 charge. Students may request a copy of their transcript in person, by mail, or by fax; signatures are required. Requests for transcripts cannot be taken over the phone. Checks or money orders for transcripts, payable to the University of Massachusetts, must be sent to the Stockbridge School Office, 115 Stockbridge Hall, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003 or fax (413) 577-0242.
Change of Major
To effect a change of major at the Stockbridge School, a student must complete a change of major form, available from the Stockbridge School Office. A student is required to take the following steps to ensure the change of major:
- Consult with the proposed department to determine the desirability of a program change and the possibility of admission to the desired major, and obtain the signature of the program coordinator of the new major.
- Obtain release signature from the current program coordinator.
- Report to the Stockbridge Director to effect the change on the Stockbridge record.
Transfer to a UMass Baccalaureate Degree Program
Students who are about to graduate with an associate of science degree may apply for transfer to a baccalaureate program in either the College of Natural Resources and the Environment or another college of the University. In order to qualify for transfer to a baccalaureate program, students should attain a minimum 2.500 cumulative grade point average, and be recommended by the Stockbridge Director.
Applications for UMass transfer may be obtained at the Stockbridge School Office. The deadline dates for transfer applications are: March 15 for the fall semester and October 15 for the spring semester. The Stockbridge Director will submit all applications to the Transfer Affairs Office, which will notify students of their admission.
Students who wish to transfer to UMass prior to completing a Stockbridge degree program must file an application with the University Admissions office (413-545-0222).
Information regarding baccalaureate degree programs in the College of Natural Resources and the Environment may be obtained by calling: 413-545-1969.
Honors
A. Dean's List
Stockbridge students who receive a semester grade point average of 3.500 or higher are appointed to the official Dean's List at the end of any semester in which they are classified as full-time students. A minimum of 12 graded credits is required to achieve Dean's List.
B. LEAR
The Stockbridge Honorary Scholastic Society, LEAR (Celtic word for learning), was established in 1935 to encourage high scholarship. Students who earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.750 or higher for three and/or four semesters are elected to membership in this society in December or May, respectively. Certificates are awarded to members of each graduating class who have achieved this extraordinary distinction.
C. Cum Laude
Cum Laude will be awarded automatically to students who graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 3.200 or higher with a minimum of 33 graded residency credits.
Graduation Ceremony
Seniors who complete all the requirements for their major may participate in the graduation ceremony.
Students who will complete their graduation requirements at the end of the fall semester may participate in the graduation ceremony held the previous May with the approval of the Stockbridge Director.
SPIRE
SPIRE provides online access to the new Student Information System (SIS). Students use SPIRE to register for courses, check course and schedule information, view semester grades, access financial aid information and housing assignments. The SPIRE web address is: spire.umass.edu.
Stockbridge is a division of the College of Natural Resources and the Environment.
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