College Catalog: 2013-2014

Ramapo College is organized into schools rather than departments. Each school is comprised of faculty members from several related disciplines, and each school projects its own academic identity and thematic approach in the programs it sponsors. The five schools offering major programs are as follows:

• Anisfield School of Business
• Salameno School of American and International Studies
• Contemporary Arts
• Social Science and Human Services
• Theoretical and Applied Science.

Academic Schools / Majors

All students associate with a particular school when they choose a major and thereby establish close contacts with faculty and other students sharing similar interests. The choice of school does not restrict the choice of courses, however. Ramapo’s comprehensive General Education Program consists of courses from every school, and students are encouraged to take minors and/or other coursework from across the College.

The courses and requirements for each program are governed by a convening group comprised of faculty members who teach in the discipline area and led by a convener.

Students who have chosen a major/minor or who are interested in a certain program should consult with the appropriate convener and/or a faculty  member  from that convening group. A list of conveners is available on the web, from each school, and from the Center for Student Success.

More information concerning majors, minors, and concentrations may be found in the  Majors/Minors/Schools section of the Catalog. Course descriptions may be found in the online Course Catalog.

Class Size

At Ramapo, most classes are small to moderate in size. The largest lower-level classes typically hold 35 students; labs, studios, seminars, writing intensive courses, and many upper level courses are capped at 20-25 students. Students are expected to participate actively in their coursework and maintain regular and prompt attendance. A syllabus that outlines expectations and responsibilities is distributed during the first week of class. The academic year is made up of two regular semesters, spring and fall. In each of these semesters, the College provides some 900 course sections representing about 500 different courses. Classes are scheduled Monday through Saturday, 8 am through 9 pm.

Summer Session

Summer Session at Ramapo College provides opportunities for Ramapo students and visiting students to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and study abroad opportunities.

Summer study allows students to investigate new areas of knowledge, take advantage of cooperative education placements or internships, supplement degree programs, complete program requirements, and explore the world. More than 200 classes and some 10 study abroad programs are offered during two regular five-week sessions, two three-week mini sessions, one ten-week Saturday session, and various study abroad calendars.

For questions regarding Summer Session registration, contact the Registrar by e-mail at registrar@ramapo.edu.

Summer Session

Winter Session

A limited number of courses are offered online over a four-week period between the fall and spring semesters. Students may take no more than one course per Winter Session.

For questions regarding Winter Session registration, contact the Registrar by e-mail at registrar@ramapo.edu.

Religious Holiday Observance

Ramapo College seeks to attract students with a variety of religious beliefs. While the State of New Jersey only recognizes certain days of religious observance as State holidays, the faculty of the College will help students whose religious observances come at other times to meet their academic obligations. Whenever possible, faculty do not schedule tests on these religious holidays and assist students in making up any work, including tests that they missed by being absent from class.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify a faculty member within the first three weeks of the semester if any class session will be missed due to religious observance and to make the appropriate arrangements.

World Wide Web: www.ramapo.edu
Main Switchboard: (201) 684-7500
Public Safety: (201) 684-7432 – Public Safety TTY: (201) 684-7011
Snow Closing: (201) 236-2902

Telephone Numbers for School Offices

All matriculated students must declare a major by the time they have earned 64 credits towards graduation.

The following procedures apply for students who are undeclared or school undeclared, have earned 48 credits towards graduation, and are enrolled for a subsequent term.

• A student who has earned 48 credits towards graduation and is enrolled for additional credits will be notified by email from the Registrar’s Office of the requirement to declare a major before he or she can register for more than 64 credits. The student will also be informed that he or she will have a registration hold placed on his/her account if he/she fails to comply.
• If, by the time a student attempts to register for beyond 64 credits, he or she has not declared a major, a registration hold will prevent him/her from registering beyond 64 credits.
• A student must submit the Declare a Major form to the Registrar’s Office with the signature of the Convener of the major he/she is declaring. Upon receipt of the form, the Registrar’s Office will remove the hold flag from student’s account, and the student will be eligible for registration.

Transfer students who apply and will be transferring in more than 45 college credits need not submit high school transcripts or SAT/ACT scores.

Transfer course work completed at a regionally accredited college/university or program with a grade of C (2.0) or better will be accepted, provided it is consistent with Ramapo College’s curriculum. Please be aware that only credits transfer and not grades. A student’s grade point average at Ramapo will reflect only course work completed at Ramapo College.

Transfer students must complete a minimum of 48 credits in residency in Ramapo course work and a residency of at least one half the requirements for a major (and/or second major and/or minor) to qualify for a Ramapo College degree. Although credits accepted in transfer count toward the 128 required for graduation, the specific applicability of these credits toward course requirements must be approved through the transfer evaluation and advisement process. For General Education purposes, only those transfer credits which are accepted in the semester of matriculation will be considered for possible waiver of general education requirements.

Transfer credits which are not approved as applicable toward any specific course requirements will count as electives. Transferred courses may apply toward major, minor, school core, general education, and/or elective requirements. In some cases, it may be necessary to complete more than the minimum number of credits required for graduation from Ramapo College.

Accepted students will receive a “Record of Transfer Credits” by mail after each official transcript from a previously-attended college has been reviewed by the Transfer Credit Evaluator.

Only 65 credits (including 100/200 level CLEP) credits may be accepted from a two-year college. A maximum of 80 credits from past course work may be earned by submitting any of the following to the Admissions Office for evaluation:

• Scores achieved in Advanced Placement Examinations of the College Entrance Examination Board;
• Credits earned at other accredited colleges and universities or at new, but non-accredited colleges and universities where the institution is a recognized candidate for accreditation;
• Course work taken in military service which is recommended for baccalaureate credit by the National Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in Armed Services, published by the American Council of Education;
• Course work taken through training programs which is recommended for baccalaureate credit by the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs, published by the American Council of Education;
• Scores achieved on examinations taken through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or the like, used to earn college credit;
• Foreign language credit through Foreign Language Proficiency Testing Service of New York University (NYU).
• Credit earned though the Prior Learning Experience Program (PLEX).

Transfer Degree Requirements

Each student passes through three overlapping phases in preparing for a degree: General Education course work, a school core program, and a major program of study. This format applies to all students and is guided by the College’s academic expectations and graduation requirements.

To be eligible for a baccalaureate degree at Ramapo College, each student must:

1. Complete a minimum of 128 graduation credits;
2. Have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average as well as a 2.0 grade point average in the major;
3. Complete a minimum of 48 credits at Ramapo;
4. Complete the last 32 credits at Ramapo;
5. Satisfy all the General Education, School Core, and Major requirements.

Transfer General Education Requirements

• All of the General Education requirements are waived for transfer students with an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) from a NJ community college. Some of the General Education requirements are waived for transfer students with a degree from a college outside of NJ or with a specified number of credits. General Education courses required are noted on the audit.
• Any General Education requirement can be fulfilled with the appropriate transferred course.
• An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) does not waive any General Education requirements.
• The fact that a course is waived from a student’s General Education requirements does not mean it is also waived from a School core or major requirement. Only the convener of the major may waive a course from the major. Only the Dean may waive a course from the School core.

Double counting: In many instances, a course may fulfill more than one requirement. A course may count in a major and/or minor and/or General Education and/or School core. Although the course may fulfill two requirements, its credit value does not double.

Ramapo College’s New Jersey Statewide Transfer Agreement Appeals Process

Students who wish to appeal a perceived misinterpretation of the policies agreed upon in the NJ Statewide Transfer Agreement  must submit a written appeal to the Director of the Center for Student Success within 30 days of receiving his/her credit evaluation. Appeals should be submitted electronically to success@ramapo.edu.  They must include the reason for the appeal and any needed documentation supporting the request.

The appeal will be reviewed by the College’s NJSTA appeals committee.  The Center for Student Success director will then provide a decision to the student within 14 days of receipt of the appeal. All decisions will be communicated to the student via the student’s Ramapo College email account, which requires the student to establish and regularly maintain a Ramapo e-mail account prior to submitting the appeal.

This program is coordinated through the Center for Student Success, which is located on the second floor of Building D.

Recognizing that knowledge may be acquired in many different ways, Ramapo offers the adult student the opportunity to apply for academic credit for learning that has taken place outside the college classroom.

The work world, non-credit courses, workshops, seminars, community work, travel, hobbies, and other activities are often learning experiences. A student who demonstrates that the knowledge gained from an experience corresponds to the knowledge expected in courses offered at Ramapo (or to courses which could be offered within the existing curriculum) is often granted equivalent academic credit. (Credit is not awarded for experience per se, but for knowledge gained from the experience.)

Students interested in participating in the PLEX Program should go to Center for Student Success Website (link below) for an introductory guide to the program and eligibility requirements.

Advisement/Plex

The PLEX Program is restricted to students who have been away from formal schooling for two or more years. A student may receive up to 16 credits from the PLEX Program. (There is an 80-credit limit to the combination of credits transferred from other colleges and/or given for CLEP, PEP, TECEP, or PLEX. Special assessment through the PLEX Program will not be undertaken for subject areas in which standardized examinations are available.)

To qualify for the Deans’ List, a student must be matriculated, complete a minimum of 12 cumulative credits (not including “P” grades), receive no incomplete grades for that semester, and attain a semester grade point average of at least 3.5 and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Part-time students taking fewer than 12 credits per semester are not eligible for the Deans’ List.

As New Jersey’s Public Liberal Arts College, Ramapo College provides a high quality education which is based in the liberal arts.  Through a common general education program spanning the 100-300 levels, students will be provided the opportunity to develop those core skills related to a liberal education.  Required courses include First Year Seminar, Critical Reading and Writing, READINGS IN THE HUMANITIES, and Social Issues.  Other requirements include courses in mathematical reasoning, history, intercultural North America, science, international issues, and topics in social sciences/arts and humanities.

All Ramapo College students must complete the general-education requirements in reading and writing as well as mathematics by the time that they have earned 64 credit hours.

Ramapo College General Education Website

Latin Honors will be awarded to graduates who have completed a minimum of 64 credits (not including “P” grades) at Ramapo College and achieved a cumulative grade point average (including “R” grade credits) as follows:

3.500 – 3.699 – cum laude
3.700 – 3.849 – magna cum laude
3.850 – 4.000 – summa cum laude

Students who have graduated from Ramapo College and who return for a second degree are awarded Graduation with Distinction as follows:

• Students completing 64 or more graded Ramapo credits are awarded Latin Honors based on the guidelines outlined above.
• Students completing between 30 and 63 graded Ramapo credits and have a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher from both the first Ramapo degree and the second Ramapo degree are awarded Latin Honors based on the final G.P.A. of the second degree, as indicated above.

For information email provost@ramapo.edu.

H+, H; Honors
These grades are awarded to students in the College Honors Program who have engaged in a more extensive course of study than that required of the majority of students in the class.

P; Pass
This option may be initiated by the instructor or student. Instructors will specify that a course is being offered only for P/F grades in the course description;  in some cases, the student may then petition for A to F grading by the date posted on the Academic Calendar.  In the event that a course is being offered with A to F grading, students must select the P/F option by the date posted on the Academic Calendar, and that grading option cannot be changed thereafter. The P/F option may be selected by the student for a total of four credits in any semester (fall, winter, spring, or summer) and for a total of no more than four out of each 12 credits earned for a grade.

This option is available only for free-elective courses; courses fulfilling any requirement, including (but not limited to) general education, school core, major and/or minor requirements, are not eligible to be taken for P/F.

Please refer to the grading table (above) for information regarding how P and F grades impact a students’s credits earned and GPA.

W; Withdrawn
Given in exceptional circumstances, with permission of the instructor, for withdrawal from a course. Withdrawal deadlines for each semester are posted on the semester’s Academic Calendar.

Cessation of class attendance or notification to the instructor is NOT considered an official withdrawal. Unless students officially withdraw from a course through the Registrar’s Office, they are still registered for the course and will receive a grade of “F” even though classes were not attended.

I; Incomplete
Given in extenuating circumstances (for instance, reasons of illness or other emergency) when approved by the instructor and when requested by a student who has satisfactorily completed at least two-thirds of course requirements prior to the end of a term on an Incomplete Request form. The default deadline for completion of course work is posted on the Academic Calendar for each semester (typically February 26 for fall semester incompletes and October 15 for spring and summer incompletes, or the next business day); however, the instructor may set an earlier deadline at the time the Incomplete grade is requested. When the work is completed prior to the completion deadline, the instructor completes a ‘Grade Adjustment Request’ form; the new assigned grade replaces the I. If work is not satisfactorily completed by the completion deadline, the grade is changed to F. A student may not graduate with an I grade outstanding.

AU; Audit
Given for completion of a course (except for exams and required papers), if requested at the time of registration. No credit is given for this course. This option may not be changed after the end of schedule adjustments. If a student who has selected Audit fails to attend the class, the instructor may give an Administrative Withdrawal for that class.

R; Repeated Grade
An R grade is given (together with an F grade) when a course failed in an earlier term is successfully retaken. The credits attempted for the RF are changed to E (excluded) when the repeated course is successfully completed. It is not reversible at a later date. The following limitations apply:

• Only one RF per course can be issued, regardless of how many Fs were previously awarded for the course.
• This option is only available twice during a student’s academic career at the College.
• The course must be the same as the earlier failed course.
• The course must carry the same number or greater number of credits.
• If a student receives an F in a course in which an Academic Integrity violation occurred and a sanction was imposed, the course is not eligible for RF grading.

T; Temporary Grade
A grade of T (Temporary) may be issued in rare circumstances when a faculty member has not submitted grades.  This will be changed to the appropriate grade once grades are received.  Transcripts will not be sent until T grades are resolved.

Y; Grade
A grade of Y is assigned  for non-degree credit Basic Skills courses only and indicates the instructor’s recommendation that the student retake the course. Y grades cannot be changed.

X; Fresh Start
Grades beginning with X have been excluded from student’s GPA as part of the College’s Fresh Start program

General Information on Grading

A grade is to be given whenever a student is enrolled in a course after the end of the 50% refund period. If a student drops a course during the 50% drop period, a grade of NG will appear on the unofficial transcript.

A term grade point average and a cumulative grade point average are calculated for each student after the end of each term. These averages are computed by dividing the total quality points by the total quality hours earned. Only courses taken at Ramapo are counted in these calculations.

Credit hours are based on a semester calendar.

The P, W, I, AU, and R grade options are available only by student request and require the submission of appropriate forms to the Office of the Registrar. The Academic Calendar on the web each term indicates the dates for students to take advantage of these grade options.

Ramapo College recognizes a students’s right to file an appeal of an academic nature. Student appeals of an academic nature fall into two general categories: grade appeals and other appeals of an academic nature.

Grade Appeals

Course instructors establish course requirements and performance standards. Instructors’  evaluation of students’ academic performance is a  professional judgment based on the requirements set forth in the course syllabus and is expressed through the submission of final course grades to the Registrar at the close of each semester. Under certain limited circumstances, a student may appeal a grade.

Circumstances for which students may appeal grades

Grade appeals will be considered only if a student can provide documentation supporting his/her case. Circumstances that might justify a grade appeal include (but are not limited to): computational error; factual information not in evidence at the time the grade was posted (for example, an assignment that the student can document was submitted but was not graded by the course instructor and therefore not factored into the final grade); or an alleged violation of College Policy. Appeals that will not be considered include, but are not limited to, those based on a student’s perceived need for a higher grade (for instance, in order to raise his/her GPA or to enable the course to transfer to another institution) and those based on grades that were penalized (for example, 0 on an assignment) because the student was found responsible for violating the Academic Integrity Policy.

Procedure

If circumstances such as those described above can be documented, the student may appeal a grade by taking the following steps:

• No later than twenty calendar days after the posting of grades, a student must bring his/her appeal to the attention of the course instructor  in writing by email or certified letter. Supporting documentation must be provided. Both parties should make good faith efforts to share viewpoints and mediate differences of opinion.
• If it is mutually agreed that a grade adjustment is warranted, the course instructor  forwards a Change of Grade Request, including explanatory reasons and all supporting documentation, to the Dean of the academic unit which sponsored the course. Upon the Dean’s approval, the Change of Grade Request is forwarded to the Registrar.

If a student and the course instructor cannot reach an agreement and a student wishes to further pursue a grade appeal, the student must present a written appeal (by email or certified letter), including pertinent course materials or course work, to the Dean of the academic unit which sponsored the course in question within twenty calendar days of the final determination conference between the student and the course instructor.

• The Dean will confer with the student and the course instructor , jointly or independently as he/she sees fit, review pertinent documents and course materials, and confer with other faculty or administrative staff members as appropriate.
• If the Dean determines that a grade change is warranted, the Dean will forward a Change of Grade Request with explanatory reasons to the Registrar and advise the course instructor and student in writing.
• If the Dean determines that a grade change is not warranted, the course instructor and student will be so informed in writing by email.

If the Dean renders an opinion which does not support the student’s grade appeal, the student may petition for a review by the Office of the Provost. The petition is initiated by the submission of a written statement by the student, submitted by email or certified letter, that explains his/her position and includes any evidence that contradicts the Dean’s decision or contains information that had heretofore been unavailable. Such a petition must be made within twenty calendar days of the final, written determination by the Dean. The Office of the Provost reserves the right to hear the petition and will reject any request for review that does not offer clear evidence that the Dean made a factual mistake, violated school policy, or otherwise acted outside the purview of the Dean.

• The Provost or his/her designee will consider only those grade appeals that have previously received full deliberative discussion at both the instructor  and dean level.
• After conferring with the student, Dean, and course instructor and reviewing the pertinent documentation, the Provost or his/her designee may  approve or decline the student’s grade appeal. The Provost or his/her designee will advise the student, the course instructor, and the Dean of his/her final recommendation.

The decision of the Provost or his/her designee is final.

Other Appeals of an Academic Nature

Course instructors exercise the right of academic freedom. In addition, they have responsibility for managing their classrooms. If, after considering those faculty prerogatives and reviewing relevant policies, students still wish to make appeals of an academic nature (other than grade appeals), they must follow this procedure:

Procedure

Preferably as soon as a student believes that he or she has cause to make an appeal, but no later than 20 calendar days after the last day of the semester in which course is scheduled, the student may meet with the course instructor or, if the student prefers and makes a compelling case for doing so, with the dean of the school in which the course is offered.

1. If the student meets with the instructor, both student and instructor should make good faith efforts to share viewpoints and discuss differences of opinion. If the student and the instructor are unable to reach a mutually acceptable resolution, the student may appeal to the dean of the school in which the course is offered within 20 calendar days after the conference between the student and the instructor. If that dean is different from the dean of the instructor’s primary convening group, the dean of the school in which the course is offered may consult with the dean of the instructor, depending on the nature of the appeal. The dean(s) may also confer with the student, the instructor, and/or other appropriate College personnel jointly or independently to reach a resolution. The decision of the dean of the school in which the course is offered is final.
2. If the student prefers to meet with the dean of the school in which the course is offered first, the dean may decide, depending on the nature of the concern, either to offer the student strategies for communicating directly with the instructor or to accept the appeal without prior consideration by the instructor. If the dean accepts the appeal immediately, the dean of the school in which the course is offered will consult with the instructor in addition to the student and, depending on the nature of the appeal, may consult with the dean of the instructor, and/or other appropriate College personnel jointly or independently to reach a resolution. The decision of the dean of the school in which the course is offered  is final.

Policy

Ramapo College of New Jersey has established standards for academic good standing which apply to all students (matriculated and non-matriculated), as follows:

• Students who have attempted or earned 12 or more credits should have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
• Students should have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average as well as at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in their major(s) to graduate.

Credits and grades of all Ramapo course work contribute to the cumulative grade point average. Courses transferred from other colleges count only as credits earned; accompanying grades are NOT calculated toward the grade point average at Ramapo.

The standards used and the actions prescribed are as follows:

• Students who have a cumulative GPA below 2.00 for ONE semester are placed on academic warning.
• Students who have a cumulative GPA below 2.00 for TWO consecutive semesters are placed on academic probation.
• Students who have a cumulative GPA below 2.00 for THREE consecutive semesters are suspended from the College for one full fall or spring semester.

Procedures for Determining Academic Standing

At the close of each fall and spring semester, once final grades have been posted, the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs reviews records of all matriculated students enrolled at the College who have completed 12 or more credits. Those students whose academic performance has fallen below the College’s established standards (above) are advised of the deficiency in writing by the Office of the Provost via e-mail. Students must check their Ramapo email regularly. Non-matriculated students should check their status on the web.

The following procedures apply for students who have not met the standards for academic good standing.

Students Placed on Academic Warning or Academic Probation

Students placed on academic warning or academic probation are required to develop an academic plan with a Center for Student Successadvisor; Center for Student Success may consult with the student’s assigned faculty advisor. (The faculty advisor provides planning advice within the major; the Center for Student Success advisor provides planning advice with respect to other aspects of the curriculum, including, but not limited to, course load and general education.) The academic plan must be developed within the first month of the semester for which the warning or probation is in effect. For students placed on warning/probation after the fall semester, the plan is due February 15; for students placed on warning/probation after the spring semester, the plan is due September 30. Students who do not complete this requirement will have a registration hold placed on their account for the subsequent semester; this hold will be removed once the student has met with their Center for Student Success advisor. Additionally, students may be advised to register for no more than 3 courses for that semester and to meet with their Center for Student Success advisor at specified intervals throughout the semester. Support programs available to the student may be identified and may include, but are not limited to, the Center for Reading and Writing, Counseling Services, and the Office of Specialized Services.

Students placed on Academic Warning or Academic Probation may not appeal their standing.

Students placed on academic probation are restricted as to the types of extracurricular activities in which they may participate. They may NOT (a) serve as an executive board member of a recognized student organization or serve as an active member of a fraternity or sorority, (b) serve on any College committee or advisory board, (c) serve as a representative of the College, (d) participate in intercollegiate sports, or (e) participate in study abroad programs.

Towards the end of each fall and spring semester, the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs sends an email to students currently on Academic Warning or Academic Probation, reminding students of their standing and the actions to be taken once grades have been posted at the end of the semester. At that time, students in peril of being placed on Academic Suspension who wish to appeal for immediate reinstatement should take appropriate steps to ensure that the documents required for the appeal can be submitted by the appeal deadline.

Once grades are posted at the end of the semester, the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs notifies students by email of their status for the upcoming semester:

• Students on Academic Warning or Academic Probation who have achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 are placed in good standing.
• Students on Academic Warning whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 are placed on Academic Probation.
• Students on Academic Probation who have made good academic progress by completing at least 75% of their course attempted load and achieving a semester GPA of at least 2.5 but whose cumulative GPA is still below a 2.0 are allowed to continue on academic probation for one further semester. If their cumulative GPA is not raised to a 2.0 by the end of the following semester, they will be placed on Academic Suspension.
• Students on Academic Probation who have not made good academic progress and whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 are placed on Academic Suspension. If extenuating circumstances contributed to their grades, they may appeal the suspension (see below). Appeals will only be considered if they are received by the deadline specified in the notification email.

Academic Suspension

Students who have not made adequate academic progress are placed on Academic Suspension for one semester. Students must meet with a Center for Student Success advisor to determine their best course of action for the semester. Students on Academic Suspension must apply for reinstatement; reinstatement is not automatic. The reinstatement process is described in the next section.

Upon notification of suspension, the student is given an opportunity to submit a written appeal for immediate reinstatement to the Committee on Academic Standards and Procedures (CASP), which is comprised of faculty, staff, and administrators (including a Dean and representatives from Student Affairs, the Registrar’s Office, EOF (ex-officio), OSS (ex-officio), Athletics (ex-officio), Counseling and Health Services (ex-officio) and Center for Student Success, and chaired by the Vice Provost (ex-officio). The deadline for appeals is five business days after the posting of final grades; the date will be specified in the written notification sent to the student by the Office of the Provost / Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Committee meets approximately five business days later.

Appeals must be received in writing (by email to casp@ramapo.edu) by the specified deadline. Appeals must include the following materials:

• Letter from the student requesting reinstatement. The student should explain any unusual circumstances which contributed to the academic difficulty and describe how he/she will be able to make better progress if reinstated. An academic plan for the following two semesters must be included.
• Supporting documentation, which may include (but is not limited to) letters of recommendation from Ramapo faculty/staff and/or letters from medical practitioners documenting that the student was receiving care during the current semester.

The Committee, after having considered the appeal, recommends whether the student may remain at the College on academic probation or must accept the one full fall or spring semester suspension. A student who does NOT appeal to the Committee in writing by the designated deadline is viewed as accepting the one full fall or spring semester suspension.

Committee recommendations, based on appeal letters, are forwarded to the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs informs the student of the decision in writing, by email; this decision is final.

Students informed that they may continue on academic probation may enroll for another semester only with an academic plan endorsed by their Center for Student Success advisor, who may consult with the student’s faculty advisor. (The faculty advisor provides planning advice within the major; the Center for Student Success advisor provides planning advice with respect to other aspects of the curriculum, including (but not limited to) course load and general education.) The plan must also include a detailed self-reflective statement indicating how the academic problems of past semesters will be addressed. In addition, students are required to find a faculty/staff mentor. Their records are again reviewed at the end of the probationary period:

• A student who achieves a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 will be placed in good standing;
• A student who does not achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0, but whose semester GPA is 2.5 or better after completing at least 75% of his/her attempted course load, will be allowed one final semester on probation, at the end of which he/she must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better or will be permanently dismissed.
• If neither of these conditions is met, the student will be permanently dismissed from the College.
• If a student has been immediately reinstated and in any subsequent semester is suspended for a second time, the student will be permanently dismissed from the College and is ineligible for reinstatement/readmission.

Reinstatement and Readmission following Academic Suspension

A student on academic suspension must apply to the College for reinstatement or readmission. Reinstatement or readmission is neither automatic nor guaranteed after academic suspension. Students are strongly urged to apply by August 1 for the fall semester and by December 1 for the spring semester.

• A student on academic suspension who wishes to return to the College after a one-semester absence must appeal for reinstatement to the Dean of the School to which he or she wishes to return; an undeclared student must direct his/her appeal to the Vice Provost.
• A student on academic suspension who wishes to return to the College after an absence of two or more full semesters must apply for readmission to the College through the Office of Admissions after successfully appealing to the Dean of the School to which he or she wishes to return; an undeclared student appeals to the Vice Provost. The Office of Admissions will consult with the Dean of the School to which the student wishes to return (or the Vice Provost if the student is undeclared).

In both cases, the student should begin the process by making an appointment with a Center for Student Success advisor who will assist the student in preparing the following materials:

• a detailed self-reflective statement indicating how the academic problems of past semesters will be addressed. This will include documentation and demonstration that the student has addressed the problems which initially led to academic difficulties OR a work record which demonstrates a resolution of the heretofore mentioned difficulties OR other indication of academic success (for instance, the successful completion of credits at another school during the semester(s) in which he/she was absent from Ramapo); and an Academic Plan. The Center for Student Success advisor may consult with the student’s faculty advisor. (The faculty advisor provides planning advice within the major; the Center for Student Success advisor provides planning advice with respect to other aspects of the curriculum, including, but not limited to, course load and general education.)

The Center for Student Success advisor will verify that the student has no outstanding financial obligations to the College, no outstanding disciplinary charges, no assessed sanctions, or any other holds.

The Dean or the Vice Provost, who will consider the appeal:

• may confer with the Committee on Academic Standards and Procedures and consult the student’s CASP file and
• may request a conference with the student, at his/her discretion.

Upon a successful appeal, a student will be conditionally reinstated/readmitted and placed on Continued Probation. The Dean or Vice Provost may stipulate additional conditions beyond the minimum standards cited below. He/she will be required to regularly meet with his/her Center for Student Success advisor and may be advised to take a lower credit load. At the end of the semester for which a student was conditionally readmitted:

• A student who achieves a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 will be placed in good standing;
• A student who does not achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 but whose semester GPA is 2.5 or better after completing least 75% of his/her attempted course load will be allowed one final semester on probation in which he/she must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better or will be permanently dismissed.
• The student must also meet any additional conditions set by the Dean or Vice Provost.
• If any of the conditions above are not met, the student will be permanently dismissed from the College.
• If a student has been reinstated/readmitted, and in any subsequent semesters is suspended for a second time, the student will be permanently dismissed from the College and is ineligible for reinstatement/readmission.

If the office hearing the appeal renders an opinion that does not support the student’s reinstatement/readmission appeal, the student may petition for a review by the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. The petition is initiated by the submission of a written statement (submitted by email or certified letter) by the student that explains his/her position and includes any evidence that contradicts the hearing office’s decision or contains information that had heretofore been unavailable. The Provost (or his/her designee) reserves the right to hear the petition and will reject any request for review that does not offer clear evidence that the hearing office made a factual mistake, violated school policy, or otherwise acted outside the purview of the hearing office.

Policy

All members of the community are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic endeavors.  Since violations of academic integrity erode community confidence and undermine the pursuit of truth and knowledge at the College, academic dishonesty is not acceptable.

Procedure

Responsibilities

The Office of the Provost has responsibility for the oversight and enforcement of the Academic Integrity Policy and for making the policy an institutional priority.  The Office of the Provost is also responsible for publishing the policy and for educating both faculty and students about the policy.

Faculty members play a crucial role in implementing the Academic Integrity Policy. They are responsible for educating their students about the importance of academic integrity and for communicating to students their expectations with respect to academic integrity in course work. They also report alleged violations of the policy to the Vice Provost.

Students have the responsibility to know and understand the Academic Integrity Policy and to comply with the policy in their academic work.

Criteria

There are four (4) broad forms of academic dishonesty:

1. Cheating

Cheating is an act of deception by which a student misrepresents his or her mastery of material on a test or other academic exercise.  Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to:

• copying from another student’s work;
• allowing another student to copy his/her work;
• using unauthorized materials such as a textbook, notebook, or electronic devices during an examination;
• using specifically prepared materials, such as notes written on clothing, or other unauthorized notes, formula lists, etc., during an examination;
• collaborating with another person during an examination by giving or receiving information without authorization from the instructor;
• taking a test for another person or asking or allowing another to take the student’s own test.
• PlagiarismPlagiarism occurs when a person represents someone else’s words, ideas, phrases, sentences, or data as one’s own work.  When a student submits work that includes such material, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific footnote or endnote references; additionally, verbatim statements must be acknowledged through quotation marks.  To avoid a charge of plagiarism, a student should be sure to include an acknowledgment of indebtedness:
  • whenever he or she quotes another person’s words directly;
  • whenever he or she uses another person’s ideas, opinions, or theories, even if they have been completely paraphrased in one’s own words;
  • whenever he or she allows another individual to contribute to the work in some significant fashion (for instance, through editing or sharing of ideas);
  • whenever he or she uses facts, statistics, or other illustrative material taken from a source, unless the information is common knowledge.

  Examples of standard citation formats can be found on the George T. Potter Library Website: Library Website: Citation Manuals and Style Guides

• Academic Misconduct Academic misconduct includes the alteration of grades, involvement in the acquisition or distribution of unadministered tests, and the unauthorized submission of student work in more than one class.  Examples of academic misconduct include, but are not limited to:
  • changing, altering, falsifying, or being the accessory to the changing, altering, or falsifying of a grade report or form, transcript, or other academic record, or entering any computer system or College office or building for that purpose;
  • stealing, buying, selling, giving way, or otherwise obtaining all or part of any unadministered test or paper or entering any computer system or College office or building for the purpose of obtaining an unadministered test;
  • submitting written work (in whole or in significant part) to fulfill the requirements of more than one course without the explicit permission of both instructors;
  • disregarding policies governing the use of human subjects or animals in research;
  • sabotaging another student’s work through actions designed to prevent the student from successfully completing an assignment;
  • knowingly facilitating a violation of the academic integrity policy by another person.
• Fabrication Fabrication refers to the use of invented information or the falsification of research or other findings.  Examples of fabrication include, but are not limited to:
  • citing information not taken from the source indicated;
  • citing of sources in a “works cited” that were not used in that project;
  • altering, stealing, and/or falsifying research data used in research reports, theses, or dissertations;
  • submitting as one’s own any academic work prepared in whole or in part by others, including the use of another’s identity;
  • falsifying information or signatures on registration, withdrawal, or other academic forms and records.

Reporting Violations

In order to ensure due process, any member of the community who is aware of a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy is expected to report the incident to the Vice Provost. A faculty member may choose to resolve the incident him/herself or send the case to the Vice Provost for review (see below). In either case, the faculty member reports the incident to the Vice Provost on the reporting form, which serves not only to report the incident but also to record the finding and the sanction in situations in which the faculty member chooses to resolve the case. A faculty member is encouraged to report an alleged violation of academic integrity within 30 days of the discovery of the alleged violation but must do so no later than the last day to submit grades for the term in which the alleged violation occurred. A faculty member may report an incident after that date, but only if he/she has new evidence.

Hearing Process

A faculty member has the option of resolving a case of an alleged violation of the Academic Integrity Policy with the student or referring the case to Vice Provost. When an unresolved case reaches the Vice Provost, he/she will determine the factual sufficiency of the case and identify the appropriate hearing body, either the Vice Provost or the Academic Integrity Board, which is charged with hearing cases that may result in Suspension or Expulsion. The Vice Provost will also send to the board for review a case resolved by the faculty member that constitutes a second or subsequent violation.

• Resolution by the faculty member.A faculty member may choose to resolve the case him/herself. The faculty member will notify the student of the allegation in writing and arrange a review conference with the student, reminding the student to review the Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure before the meeting. At the conference, the faculty member will present the evidence to the student and give the student two options: to resolve the case with the faculty member or to send the case to the Vice Provost for further review. If the student elects to resolve the case with the faculty member, the faculty member will issue a finding (i.e., responsible or not responsible for violating the Academic Integrity Policy) and, if responsible, a sanction. Sanctions may include requiring students to redo the assignment or to retake the exam with or without penalty, assigning a failing grade on the assignment or the exam, or assigning a failing grade for the course. The faculty member may also recommend that a student seek the support, for example, of the Center for Reading and Writing. The faculty member reports the finding and the sanction on the reporting form and submits it with all supporting documents to the Vice Provost. If, once the case is reported, the Vice Provost determines that the student has been found responsible for a prior offense, the Vice Provost may refer the case to the Academic Integrity Board for review. The finding and the sanction of the Academic Integrity Board override the finding and the sanction of the faculty member.If the student or the faculty member prefers the case to be reviewed by the Vice Provost, if the student fails to attend the scheduled conference with the faculty member, if the student contests the faculty member’s finding and/or sanction, or if the case is not otherwise resolved, the faculty member must refer the matter to the Vice Provost for further review and resolution. If the case is referred to the Vice Provost, the faculty member must provide all pertinent documentation and evidence to the Vice Provost with the specific factual allegations set forth on the reporting form.
  Once the allegation of a violation is made to the Office of the Provost, the Vice Provost (or the Vice Provost’s designee) will determine the factual sufficiency of the case. The Vice Provost will also determine the Hearing Officer/body (i.e., the Vice Provost or the Academic Integrity Board), depending on the nature and the severity of the case. If the Vice Provost (or his/her designee) determines that the case has factual sufficiency, he/she will issue a charge to the student via e-mail. The charge will include the hearing date and the hearing body.
• Resolution by the Vice Provost.
  The Vice Provost (or designee) will hear cases that, while serious, are not egregious enough to result in Suspension or Expulsion from the College. The Vice Provost (or designee) will arrange a hearing with the student.  At the hearing, the Vice Provost (or designee) will review the policy and procedure, present the evidence to the student, and issue a finding (responsible or not responsible for violating the Academic Integrity Policy) and, if responsible, a sanction. Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, issuing an official warning, requiring the student to redo the assignment or to retake the exam with or without penalty, requiring the student to seek the services of the Center for Reading and Writing, assigning a failing grade on the assignment or the exam, assigning a failing grade for the course, suspending the student from activity privileges, and/or placing the student on disciplinary probation. Failure to comply with sanctions by the prescribed time may result in a registration hold or other disciplinary action. For specific definitions of these sanctions, the student should consult section N of the Student Handbook.
• Resolution by the Academic Integrity BoardThe Academic Integrity Board will hear all cases of students found responsible for prior offenses as well as all other cases that, because of their egregiousness, may result in Suspension or Expulsion from the College. Egregious cases may include, but are not limited to, ones in which graduate students allegedly plagiarized any part of their theses or capstone projects. In addition, the Vice Provost (or designee) reserves the right to send to the board for review any case at any time for any reason. The board will be comprised of five members: two matriculated students and three faculty and/or professional staff. A quorum consists of three members of the board. The Vice Provost (or designee) will provide the student with the option to meet prior to the hearing to present the evidence and to the review the policy and procedure. At the hearing, the Vice Provost (or designee) will serve as Board Advisor and, in that capacity, will present evidence, comment on procedure and admissibility of evidence, manage the hearing, and protect the rights of all parties. In addition, the Board Advisor has the right to remove from the hearing any individual who disrupts the hearing or otherwise fails to follow the procedures outlined in this policy. The Board Advisor will be present during the deliberations of the board but will not vote. The board will hear testimony from, and pose questions to, the student, the complainant, and any witnesses. The student will in turn have an opportunity to question anyone who provides information at the hearing and to respond to any evidence presented against him/her. After the hearing, the board will issue a finding (responsible or not responsible for violating the Academic Integrity Policy) and, if responsible, a sanction. Sanctions may include Suspension or Expulsion as well as the imposition of lesser sanctions as appropriate. Graduate students found responsible for plagiarizing any part of their theses or capstone projects may be sanctioned with permanent dismissal from their programs in addition to or instead of other sanctions as appropriate. Failure to comply with sanctions by the prescribed time may result in a registration hold or other disciplinary action.

Procedural Protection

For any hearing conducted by the Vice Provost or the Academic Integrity Board, the student shall have the following procedural protections:

1. The student will receive, in addition to the reporting form, written notice of the charges that is dated at least three (3) business days prior to any scheduled hearing with the Vice Provost (or designee) and seven (7) business days prior to any scheduled hearing with the Academic Integrity Board. A student may relinquish his or her right to the notification period by signing and executing a waiver with the Office of the Provost. All correspondence will be sent to the student’s Ramapo College e-mail address. It is the responsibility of the student to access his/her electronic mail on a daily basis.
2. The student will have reasonable access to the case file prior to and during the hearing, provided that all reviews of files must take place in the Office of the Provost. All case materials shall be retained in the Office of the Provost.
3. The burden of proof shall be upon the complainant, who must establish that the person charged is responsible for the conduct violation “more likely than not” based on the credible evidence. This “preponderance of the evidence” standard is a lower one than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard employed in criminal prosecutions within the court system.
4. The student has the right to remain silent and not to present evidence against him/herself.
5. The student has the opportunity both to question those who provide information at the proceeding and to respond to any information being presented against her/him. Formal rules of evidence shall not be applicable pursuant to the Code of Conduct. The Hearing Officer or Board Advisor, as applicable, shall give effect to the rules of confidentiality and privilege but shall otherwise admit all information for consideration that reasonable persons would accept as having material value. Unduly repetitious or irrelevant information may be excluded.
6. Any member of the College community may, upon showing relevance and necessity, request witnesses to appear at a hearing conducted by the Vice Provost or the Academic Integrity Board. Character witnesses are not permissible in campus disciplinary proceedings. It is the responsibility of the complainant and the charged student to notify the Vice Provost, by fax, electronic mail, or in writing of the persons they wish called as witnesses at least three (3) business days before the proceeding. The Vice Provost will notify students who are identified as witnesses that their appearance is required. It is generally expected that witnesses will appear in person to give testimony. Under rare circumstances, a signed, dated, and notarized statement of a witness who is unable to appear or who has been excused may be introduced at a proceeding. The decision as to whether such a document or any other alternative means of testimony may be used lies solely with the Vice Provost. Students who refuse to appear as witnesses for either the complainant or the charged student may be charged with “failure to comply with the directions of College officials, including campus Public Safety officers, or officers of the law, acting in performance of their duties (Code H.17).” Witnesses will be excluded from the proceeding during the testimony of other witnesses. All parties to the case and witnesses shall be excluded during any deliberations determining responsibility or sanctions.
7. A student charged with alleged violations, complainants, and witnesses may be accompanied by an advisor, who may be an attorney, to the hearing. An advisor may provide counsel to the student but may not speak on his/her behalf nor appear in lieu of the student. A student who wishes to have an attorney as an advisor must inform the Vice Provost, in writing by fax, electronic mail, or by telephone at least three (3) business days before the scheduled hearing. When informed that an attorney will be present at the proceeding, the College may consult with the New Jersey State Attorney General’s Office for advice on whether legal counsel for the College should also be present.
8. In accordance with current guidelines established in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and implemented by Ramapo College, the record of most disciplinary proceeding’s findings is not open to the public.
9. In cases in which a student charged does not appear after proper notice and has no justifiable reason for non-appearance, the finding will be an “uncontested admission of violation,” and an appropriate sanction will be imposed.
10. A student will be subjected to the College’s judicial process if the alleged violation occurred while s/he was a registered student. In cases where a student charged withdraws from the College prior to the disciplinary proceeding, the judicial process will not be deferred.
11. Hearings will not be postponed unless under unusual circumstances set forth in the “Justifiable Excuse” policy for non-appearance. The policy is available in the Office of the Provost. The process is designed to be educational in nature and support the student speaking for herself/himself; therefore, only the responding student may make a request to postpone a hearing. Requests by third parties, including counsel, will not be considered.
12. Where Suspension or Expulsion is a possible sanction, proceedings will be tape-recorded. Other proceedings may be recorded at the discretion of the College. These recordings are solely for the purpose of providing assistance to the Hearing Officer, the members of the Academic Integrity Board, and the appeals officer in their deliberations. These recordings remain the property of the College and constitute an official record of the proceeding.
13. Final decisions and a listing of any sanctions imposed will be noted by the Hearing Officer or the Board Advisor, who will be responsible for ensuring such information is conveyed in writing to the charged student and to all others as deemed necessary or appropriate. The finding will be e-mailed to the charged student no later than ten (10) business days following the date of the hearing. Notification of others with a need or right to know under the law will only take place after all possible appeal processes have upheld the finding.

College Honors Program

If the student is found to have violated the Academic Integrity Policy and is enrolled in the College Honors Program, the Director of the College Honors Program will be notified in order to review the student’s status in the program.

Final Grades

When a student is suspected of academic dishonesty and the case is not resolved prior to the official submission of final grades to the Registrar’s Office, the Vice Provost will assign a Z grade for the course involved, using a Z grade form. Once a Z grade has been issued, the procedures described above will be followed.

Repeat / Fail (RF) Option

If a student receives an F in a course in which an Academic Integrity violation occurred and a sanction was imposed, the course is not eligible for RF grading.

Appeal Procedures

A student who is found responsible of violating the Academic Integrity Policy may appeal the decision of the Academic Integrity Board only if certain circumstances exist. The student may not appeal the decision of the faculty member or the Vice Provost. Appeals may be made only if:

• sanctions are grossly disproportionate to the offense, and/or
• specific procedural errors or errors in interpretations of College regulations were substantial, and/or
• new and significant evidence becomes available which could not have been discovered by a properly conducted investigation prior to or during the original hearing.

The following procedures apply to appeals:

• An appeal must be submitted by the student in writing to the Provost within five (5) business days from the date of the letter of finding.  Failure to appeal within the allotted time will render the original decision final and conclusive.
• The Provost reserves the right to hear the appeal and will reject any appeal that does not offer clear evidence that one of the heretofore mentioned circumstances applies.
• In the case in which an appeal is filed in writing, the imposition of the sanction will be delayed.
• Appeals shall be decided only upon the record of the original proceeding and upon the written letter of appeal.  Reversal or modification of sanction, or a finding of not responsible, may only occur if one of the heretofore mentioned circumstances applies.

Retention of Records

Case files will be retained in the Office of the Provost until five (5) years after graduation or termination.

Placement Testing Exemption Policy

Testing Website

Ramapo College will honor coursework that is successfully completed [with a grade of (P)Pass, C or better] from another accredited college or university and accepted as direct equivalents to the following courses as having satisfied remedial and/or developmental requirements in the following areas:

Reading:

Writing:

Mathematics:

Ramapo College matriculated students must obtain the appropriate approvals prior to taking the course.  Transfer students who satisfy remedial and/or developmental courses at another college or university will not require retesting prior to registration in the subsequent college-level course taken at Ramapo College.  However, it is strongly recommended that students whose remedial and/or developmental transfer course work is more than 2 years old consider a placement retest in order to ensure appropriate next course placement.

Students who transfer courses without direct equivalents (for example, MATH 099 or MATH 098) should contact their advisors to determine appropriate next course placement.

Fall and Spring
The College has established course load limits for its students. Except in very unusual circumstances, matriculated students are limited to 18 credits and non-degree students are limited to 11 credits. Normally, a full-time student completes four courses each semester and is therefore eligible to graduate in four years, having accumulated 128 credits and satisfied all other degree requirements (including a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0). If, for extenuating circumstances, a matriculated student wishes to register for more than 18 credits, the student must obtain the permission of the Center for Student Success. If approved, permission will be noted on the student’s record to enable registration.

Summer
All courses are open to all students who have met prerequisites, if any.
In general, students may register for a maximum of two (2) courses (or 8 credits) per session for a maximum of 19 credits for the entire Summer Session. In unusual circumstances, permission to enroll for more than the maximum noted above may be granted by the Center for Student Success.

Winter
Winter Session courses are offered only online. In general, students may register for a maximum of one (1) course per session. In unusual circumstances permission to enroll for more than the maximum noted above may be granted by the Center for Student Success.

Non-Degree Seeking Students:
Non-degree seeking students are limited to a maximum of 11 credits per semester for a total of 30 cumulative credits, at which point they may not continue unless they matriculate well in advance of registration through the Admissions Office.

[More Information]

Visiting Non-Degree Seeking Students:
Non-degree seeking students who are visiting from other accredited colleges may enroll for more than 11 credits if they present a Visiting Student form, completed by the home institution, which verifies good academic standing, advisor approval of courses, and the home institution’s raised seal.

[More Information]

Post-Baccalaureate Non-Degree Seeking Students:
Non-degree seeking students who already possess bachelor’s degrees may enroll for more than 11 credits.

[More Information]

Policy

An R grade is given (together with an F grade) when a course failed in an earlier term is successfully retaken. The credits attempted for the RF are changed to E (excluded) when the repeated course is successfully completed. It is not reversible at a later date. The following limitations apply:

• Only one RF per course can be issued, regardless of how many Fs were previously awarded for the course.
• This option is only available twice during a students academic career at the College.
• The course must be the same as the earlier failed course.
• The course must carry the same number or greater number of credits.
• If a student receives an F in a course in which an Academic Integrity violation occurred and a sanction was imposed, the course is not eligible for RF grading.

Procedure

If a student wishes to apply an R grade to a previously-failed course, the student must apply to the Center for Student Success for the RF.   All RFs must be requested by the time a student applies for graduation following the Graduation Application deadline posted on the Academic Calendar.

This policy refers to courses taken and passed in the major and establishes procedures for the achievement of the required GPA in the major. It is not to be confused with the Repeat Grade Policy.

1. Students may retake a maximum of three courses in the major.
2. Students may retake only those courses in the major in which they received  the lowest grades (or courses in the major approved by the convening group as especially important regardless of the original grade).
3. Students may retake a previously-passed course only once.

Credits from a retaken course are not counted toward graduation credit and must be subtracted from the “earned credit” column on the transcript and degree evaluation. When a course is completed the second time, both grades are used in determining cumulative GPA and GPA in the major.

Degree candidates must complete a minimum of 48 credits at Ramapo College to be eligible for a Ramapo degree.

The final 32 credits of a student’s career must be completed at Ramapo College. Students may be approved to include study abroad credits among their final 32 credits; however, they must still have completed 48 credits at Ramapo College.

A minimum of half the requirements of a major, second major, or minor must be completed at Ramapo College. Students should refer to the Majors section of this Catalog for residency requirements for specific majors.

Students must complete a minimum of 64 credits (not including “P” grades) at Ramapo College and attain a cumulative grade point average (including “R” grade credits) of at least 3.5 in order to be awarded Latin Honors.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

Students in good academic standing may take a leave of absence of one semester by arrangement through the Center for Student Success.  Students who plan to be away for two or more semesters must officially withdraw from the College (refer to Withdrawal from Ramapo College, below).   Students requesting a ‘leave of absence’ due to medical reasons must make arrangements with the Center for Health and Counseling Services (refer to Medical Leave of Absence, below).

Students who take a leave of absence for one semester do not need to apply for readmission and can simply register for the next upcoming semester during the registration period after consulting with an academic advisor. Students who remain away from Ramapo College for two or more semesters must apply for readmission with the Office of Admissions by the established readmission deadlines: August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester. Students who are readmitted will continue their studies under the graduation requirements in effect at the time of their readmission.

Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA)

Students may apply for a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) from the College for reasons of physical or psychological illnesses. Students must withdraw from all registered courses under this policy. Exceptions may be considered on an individual basis. The grade for each course will be recorded as “W” on the student’s transcript. There will be no refund if the request for an MLOA is completed after the College refund deadline (see Academic Calendar on the web).

Students considering applying for an MLOA need to contact the Center for Health and Counseling Services (CHCS) to request an evaluation for the purpose of pursuing a MLOA.  If the condition is medical in nature, contact Student Health Services (SHS) (201-684-7536); if the condition is psychological in nature, contact Counseling Services (CS) (201-684-7522). In order to obtain an MLOA a student must obtain a medical recommendation from the appropriate unit (i.e., Health or Counseling) within the Center for Health and Counseling Services.  In order for an MLOA to be processed for a given semester, the evaluation must be completed prior to the final day of classes.

Students can take as much time as needed away from the College to recover from their condition; however, students who do not take classes for two or more consecutive semesters must reapply for admission through the Office of Admissions. Students who stay out for longer than two consecutive semesters and are readmitted will continue their studies under the graduation requirements in effect at the time of their readmission.

In order to be approved to return from an MLOA, a student must provide the required documentation and complete an evaluation through the appropriate unit (Health or Counseling) within the Center for Health and Counseling Services.  Students returning from an MLOA must complete the process by the established deadlines: August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester. If the deadline is missed, the student’s return from an MLOA will be postponed until a later semester. If the process to return from an MLOA is not completed by the deadline, the student will be deregistered.

For detailed information, refer to the Center for Health and Counseling Services website.

Late Administrative Withdrawal under Extraordinary Circumstances
The College recognizes that extraordinary circumstances may prevent a student from completing the semester. These circumstances include, but are not limited to:

• Personal illness;
• Death of a family member, spouse, or partner;
• Caring for a terminally ill family member, spouse, or partner;
• Recovery from catastrophic circumstances or natural disaster;
• Immediate relocation required by an employer.

Under those circumstances, the student should make every effort to withdraw from courses prior to the last date to withdraw or, if appropriate, to ask instructors for incompletes or to apply for a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA). In the event that the student is unable to withdraw under standard college procedures, due to reasons beyond his or her control, or is not granted incompletes, he or she may apply for a late administrative withdrawal under extraordinary circumstances by taking the following steps:

• No later than the last day of classes of the regular (i.e., fall or spring) semester following the term (i.e., fall, winter, spring, summer) for which the student wishes a late administrative withdrawal, the student must submit to the Office of the Provost an appeal letter in his or her own words supported by official documentation.
• The appeal letter should address the following points:
  • The student should explain the nature of the extraordinary circumstances that prevented him/her from completing the semester. If the student had a personal illness, the letter should include the nature of the medical or psychological condition. The standards used to grant a late administrative withdrawal for medical reasons are the same as those used to grant the MLOA. The student should review the MLOA policy in the college catalog.
  • The student should explain the reason why he/she was unable to follow standard college procedures for withdrawal or why he/she did not ask for, or was not granted, incompletes. Ordinarily, the student should apply for the late administrative withdrawal before the end of the semester. If the student is unable to do so, he/she should explain why he/she did not apply for the late administrative withdrawal before the end of the semester. All students are academically obligated for the courses for which they are registered and are responsible for withdrawing from those courses properly.
  • The student should indicate the term for which he/she wishes to be withdrawn. Typically, a student who is granted a late administrative withdrawal will receive Ws in all courses for the term in question. In addition, the student will ordinarily be withdrawn from only one term per appeal. However, under extraordinary circumstances, a student may be withdrawn from some courses while the grades for other courses are retained, and a student may be withdrawn from more than one consecutive term per appeal (e.g., spring and summer). Thus, if the student wishes to retain some grades, he or she must justify why, despite the circumstances, he or she was capable of completing some courses successfully and not others. Moreover, if the student wishes to be withdrawn from more than one consecutive term, he or she must justify why circumstances beyond his or her control mitigated his or her best attempts to manage the medical or psychological condition or other relevant circumstance.
• Examples of appropriate documentation may include, but are not limited to:
  • Official documentation from the medical provider addressing diagnosis, date of onset, effect of the medical or psychological condition on the student’s academic performance, effect of the condition on the student’s inability to withdraw from courses using standard college procedures, prognosis, and treatment plan;
  • A death certificate of a family member, spouse, or partner;
  • Relevant medical documentation for a family member, spouse, or partner along with proof that the student was required to provide ongoing medical care that only he or she could provide;
  • Official documentation of relocation due to a natural disaster;
  • A dated letter from an employer requiring immediate relocation.
• The Provost or his/her designee will review the appeal letter and any documentation and consult as necessary with appropriate campus professionals.
• Based on that review, the Provost or his/her designee will make the decision whether to accept the application for a late administrative withdrawal. The Provost or his/her designee may also request a meeting with the student in order to reach a final decision or request supplementary information or documentation. In all cases, the burden of proof is on the student.
• The Provost’s Office will communicate the final decision in writing by e-mail and process the appropriate paperwork if the late administrative withdrawal is granted.

The decision of the Provost or his/her designee is final.

Withdrawal from Ramapo College

Students who decide to withdraw completely from Ramapo College must consult with an advisor from Center for Student Success and process a ‘Notice of Withdrawal/Leave of Absence’ form. Students requesting to withdraw due to medical reasons must make arrangements with the Center for Health and Counseling Services (refer to Medical Leave of Absence, above).

Adherence to the withdrawal procedure is necessary for possible readmission to Ramapo College. Students who have withdrawn from the College and decide to return must apply for readmission with the Office of Admissions by the established readmission deadlines: August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.

Officially withdrawing from or taking a leave of absence from the College will not automatically withdraw students from courses.  In addition to submitting the official withdrawal form through Center for Student Success (or Health and Counseling Services for medical leaves), students must drop courses for the semester through the College’s web registration services system (if the add/drop deadline has not passed), or complete a “Course Withdrawal Form” with the appropriate approvals and according to the established deadlines.  Course Withdrawal Forms are available in the Office of the Registrar.

Matriculated students who wish to earn credits at another accredited institution for transfer back to Ramapo must meet with an academic advisor in the Center for Student Successand complete an Off Campus Study request form. This form verifies that the course(s) will be accepted by Ramapo and provides a guide as to how the credits will be applied to Ramapo requirements. In preparation for the meeting, it is important to bring the list of courses being considered for approval.

Students with 64 or fewer credit hours may request permission to transfer in courses from any two- or four-year accredited institution of higher education. Students who have earned 65 or more credit hours may request to take and transfer in courses from any four-year accredited institution of higher education. Junior and senior level students may not take and transfer in courses from county or two-year colleges and will be denied permission to take and transfer in courses from two-year institutions.

Note: Before taking classes off campus, review Ramapo College’s residency requirement (above).

Limited opportunities to enroll for course work on an Independent Study basis are available. A student interested in this option should obtain an Independent Study Registration Form from the Registrar, have it completed by the instructor and the dean of the school sponsoring the Independent Study, and return it to the Registrar’s Office.

1. Students may not enroll for more than FOUR (4) credits of Independent Study during any semester, including summer or winter.

2. Normally, students may not exceed eight (8) credits of Independent Study over the course of a student’s career.
3. Students on academic probation or academic warning are ineligible for Independent Study.
4. Students may not take an Independent Study for a course that is offered within the regular schedule for that semester.
5. The dean of the school sponsoring the Independent Study may make exceptions to the four previous procedures.
6. Students must complete a contract form for Independent Study as well as the Independent Study Registration Form. This form will indicate the purpose, objective, grading criteria, guidelines for hours of work required, discipline and level, and title/credits for the Independent Study.
7. Independent Study registrations will not be accepted after the last day of add/drop as indicated on the academic calendar.