The Washington State University General Catalog (2024)

1. Applicants who have completed a transferable Associate’s degreefrom a post-secondary institution with approved accreditation (see Rule 6) will be admitted as space allows.
2. Applicants without a transferable Associate’s degree, but with at least 27 semester (40 quarter) hours of transferable creditfrom a post-secondary institution with approved accreditation (see Rule 6) normally may be admitted as space allows provided they have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average. Applicants whose cumulative grade point average is lower than a 2.5 will have their academic record reviewed more comprehensively to determine admission eligibility.
3. Applicants with fewer than 27 semester (40 quarter) hours of transferable credit will be considered for admission if they also meet the first-year student requirements. Applicants whose cumulative transfer grade point average is lower than a 2.5 may have their academic record reviewed more comprehensively to determine admission eligibility.
4. In evaluating admission credentials of students with transfer work whose cumulative transfer grade point average is below a 2.00, all of the post-secondary transfer credit from a previous institution may be disregarded, provided the work was completed not less than four years before the time of enrollment at Washington State University. After the student has completed 12 semester credits at WSU with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, the prior credits earned in courses graded C of better will be restored. Only the courses and credits, not grades or grade points, will be restored. The courses that were graded C- or below will remain excluded.

Transfer credit is awarded for college-level academic credit earned based on appropriateness for WSU’s academic programs and comparableness in nature, content, academic rigor, and quality to WSU’s curriculum. One set of transfer course articulation tables will be used for course evaluation by all WSU campuses. The transfer course search tool articulation tables for courses from approved domestic and international institutions is maintained and monitored by WSU Pullman Admissions transcript evaluators and the Transfer Center in consultation with academic units. Transfer credit equivalencies are subject to change.

a) Transfer credit is awarded from nationally recognized postsecondary institutions with institutional accreditation from the following approved accreditation agencies (or equivalent for international institutions).

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

See Rule 14 for information on credit processes for postsecondary institutions with nationally recognized institutional accreditation that is not from an approved accreditation agency.

b) Transfer credit awarded from approved institutions on the quarter system is converted to 0.67 semester credits.

c) Ninety semester hours shall be the maximum allowed by transfer toward a baccalaureate degree.

d) The maximum combined lower-division transfer credit allowed [from approved accredited institutions, CLEP (College Level Examination Program), AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), Cambridge International, military, and any other source] shall be 73 semester credits toward a baccalaureate degree irrespective of when those credits were earned.

e) Junior status, 60 semester credits, and completion of lower-division University Common Requirements (UCOREs) normally will be granted to students who have been awarded the Direct Transfer Associate (DTA) degree from a Washington state public community and technical college. Additional courses, up to the 73-semester credit limit, will be reviewed for transfer on a course-by-course basis. Certain approved associate degrees may also be considered to have fulfilled the lower-division UCORE for graduation, provided the degree’s general education curriculum approximates the disciplinary breadth of WSU’s UCORE curriculum, but do not guarantee junior status or 60 semester credits. Completion of lower-division UCORE will be granted to students who have been certified by their institution as having completed the University of California Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education Breadth Curriculum. For details on specific degrees consult the Office of Admissions and the Transfer Center.

f) Reverse transfer allows students to complete an associate’s degree after transfer to WSU. Policy details and credit levels vary depending on the community or technical college. Students who enter WSU with at least 30 transferable quarter credits (20 semester credits) from a Washington state public community college or technical college will receive the support of the Transfer Center to complete the steps for reverse transfer. Students who enter WSU and later complete one of the associate degrees listed in Rule 6(d) or (f) will receive the benefits described in Rule 6(d) or (f).

g) Students who have completed the Associate of Science Transfer (AS-T) degree from a Washington state public community and technical college normally will receive the same priority consideration for admission as they would for completing the Direct Transfer Associate (DTA) and will be given junior status and 60 semester credits. Completion of the AS-T degree satisfies UCORE WRTG, QUAN, BSCI, PSCI, and three of the following requirements: HUM, SSCI, ARTS, DIVR, ROOTS, EQJS. Up to three additional lower-division UCORE may be satisfied via transfer credit, up to the 73-semester credit limit, or via in-residence credit prior to completion of a baccalaureate degree. An individual course completed within the AS-T degree may not satisfy more than one UCORE category.

h) Completion of all UCORE and the University Writing Portfolio graduation requirement will be granted to students who have completed a baccalaureate degree from another approved accredited institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an international institution with approved accreditation (see 6a), provided that the general education curriculum approximates the disciplinary breadth of WSU’s UCORE curriculum. Approved degrees will also provide senior standing and 90 semester credits.

i)Completion of lower-division UCOREs will be granted to students who have been certified as having completed the lower-division general education curriculum from a baccalaureate institution with approved accreditation (see 6a), provided the degree’s general education curriculum approximates the disciplinary breadth of WSU’s UCORE curriculum. Please consult the Office of Admissions or Transfer Center for more information.

j)Other degrees will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis for fulfillment of requirements, in the absence of an approved articulation. Higher degrees do not necessarily fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements.

k)Transfer credit follows WSU policy for repeat credit (see Rule 34), academic forgiveness (see Rule 43), and grades and grade points (see Rule 90). Transfer credit graded below D is considered failing. Transfer credit grades do not count in the WSU grade point average (see Rule 114).

An auditor is a student who is permitted on a space-available basis to observe lecture class discussions but not take examinations or consume the instructor’s time. Auditors receive no grades and no credit. Auditors must be on the official class roster.

Attendance in class as an auditor requires official instructor approval and enrollment. A student wishing to enroll in classes as an auditor may seek permission after classes begin, provided space is available and the instructor approves the request. This option is available only for lecture courses.

Auditors must pay the appropriate fee and submit the signed Enrollment Change Form to the Registrar's Office at the student's home campus. Initial enrollment must be completed by the end of the second week of instruction (census day), or by the add deadline for shorter academic sessions.

Enrolled students wishing to change their enrollment status from credit to audit, or audit to credit, must submit the Enrollment Change Form by the end of the third week of instruction.

A maximum of two audits are allowed for any semester or term. A registration fee per audit hour is charged for any semester or term for other than regularly enrolled full-fee-paying students. Senior citizens are exempt from this fee under the provisions of RCW 28B.15.540, provided the prescribed eligibility requirements are met. Personnel who have received authorization for the faculty/staff fee waiver are exempt from the audit fee up to 6 hours (including audits) in any one semester or 4 hours (including audits) in the summer session. The limitation includes any combination of credit and audit hours. The audit fee is non-refundable.

Students may repeat a course in which they have received a grade of C- or below, or a withdrawal (W), or when a course may be repeated for additional credit. Students may enroll more than once in the same course in any given term (fall, spring, or summer) provided that the particular periods of enrollment do not overlap and that other conditions for allowed repeats are met.

1. Repeating courses graded C- or below. To attempt to improve the cumulative grade point average, a student may repeat courses in which a C- or below was received. When such a course is repeated, only the last grade contributes to the grade point average and total hours earned. Students may repeat a course graded C- or below one time at WSU. At WSU, additional repeats may be allowed only by special permission of the academic unit offering the course. Students in the professional programs (MBA, Medicine, Pharmacy, or Veterinary Medicine) may be held to additional restrictions as described in their student handbooks or catalog materials.
2. Repeats are allowed as transfer credit from another institution. However, the series of repeats and grades is retained on the student’s academic record.
   1. Only courses identified as acceptable equivalents according to the appropriate department, the Transfer Guide, or the Admissions Office are treated as repeats. If courses deemed equivalent in content differ in credit hours, the credit hours of the repeat course supersede the credit hours of the original course.
   2. For courses repeated at other institutions, credit is awarded following the WSU repeat policy.
3. Repeating for additional credit.
   1. Some courses have been approved for repeat credit, i.e., the student may re-enroll in the course during a subsequent term and credit may be accumulated. Such courses are designated in the WSU catalog as “May be repeated for credit” and will list the maximum credit limitation.
   2. Courses which have been approved for repeat credit, such as topics, may offer multiple sections of a course during any one term. Students may enroll in more than one section of these courses in any one term provided that the specified particular topics and titles differ.

Former students who have not attended WSU for at least four years and whose cumulative GPA was less than a 2.0 when they stopped attending may request a fresh start when they return to WSU.

A fresh start begins once the student is officially enrolled following the first day of the term. Initially, the student’s transcript will be marked to indicate that the previous coursework does not count. All credits and grade points earned will be excluded.

After the student has completed 12 credits at WSU with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, the prior credits earned in courses graded C or better will be restored. Only the courses and credits, not grades or grade points, will be restored. The courses that were graded C- or below will remain excluded.

The restored credits will apply toward University requirements, which are set at the time of readmission to WSU and published in the catalog.

Students apply for a fresh start by contacting the designated office on their campuses: Pullman and Everett, the Academic Success and Career Center; Global, the student support team or advisor; Tri-Cities, the Learning Commons; and Vancouver, the Engaged Learning and Career Center.

Pass, fail grading is a student-initiated option, whereby a student elects to take a letter-graded (A – F) course for a pass, fail (P, F) grade.

Pass, fail grading is available to students with the following provisions:

Undergraduate Students:

The university allows up to 21 credits to be taken at WSU on a pass, fail basis by students completing a baccalaureate degree at Washington State University. However, departments and programs may deny their majors permission to take, on a pass, fail basis, courses in their major field or courses needed to meet departmental requirements.

In addition, departments have the prerogative of requesting, from the Office of the Registrar, the letter grade for courses a prospective major has taken on a pass, fail basis. Departments and programs may refuse to accept courses needed to meet requirements if the courses were completed on a pass, fail basis before the student was accepted into the department or program.

In all cases, the advisor’s approval is required for an undergraduate to take an A – F graded course for a pass, fail (P, F) grade. Requests for pass, fail grading are processed by the campus Registrar's Office.

Graduate Students:

Graduate students are eligible to take A – F graded courses for a pass, fail (P, F) grade with the approval of their committee chair or graduate advisor. While there is no limit on the number of credits, courses taken pass, fail cannot count toward the required credits for graduation and cannot be used as part of the student’s Program of Study. Pass, fail grades may not be used for removal of a specific undergraduate deficiency. Credits earned with pass, fail grades are counted toward assistantship minimum credit requirements.

Professional Students:

Students in the professional careers of Medicine or Pharmacy are eligible for pass, fail (P, F) grading for courses graded A - F only with the consent of their academic department or college. Students in the professional MBA and business career, or in the Veterinary Medicine (DVM) career are ineligible for the pass, fail grading option.

Grading:

The P (pass) grades earned by pass, fail enrollees will not be included in computing the grade point average; however, F grades earned by pass, fail enrollees will be included in grade point average computations.

Information indicating which students are enrolled on a pass, fail basis will not appear on grade rosters transmitted to instructors. Instructors turn in regular letter grades for all students, and grades of A through D are converted to P for those students who are enrolled pass, fail.

Exclusions:

•Courses approved to be graded with one of the satisfactory, fail grading basis (S, F; or S, M, F; or H, S, F; or H, NH, S, F; or S, U) as described in Rule 90f or 90k are excluded from the pass, fail grading option. The grading basis for these courses are indicated in the catalog course description.

• Courses carrying a UCORE designation can be taken for a pass, fail (P, F) grade, but the pass, fail grade will not satisfy a UCORE requirement.

•No courses offered under the HONORS course prefix may be taken pass, fail.

Deadlines:

A student may change a regular letter-graded enrollment to a pass, fail enrollment, or vice versa, during the first three weeks of classes in a semester. After the third week and through the last day of instruction in a semester (end of the 15th week), only a pass, fail enrollment can be changed to a letter-graded enrollment.

All prerequisites shall be satisfactorily completed before the student may register in a course. At the time of registration for an upcoming term, in-progress enrollment counts toward meeting prerequisites. If after grades are entered a prerequisite is no longer met, the course is dropped from the student’s enrollment.

The instructor may waive the prerequisite in the case of a student who has demonstrated competence or who has had academic experience equivalent to that represented by the prerequisite. However, no student may have the prerequisite waived if the academic unit deems the waiver inappropriate.

Students who wish to withdraw from the institution and disenroll from all of their classes initiate a term withdrawal through the Registrar’s Office website, https://registrar.wsu.edu/term-withdrawal/. Students who withdraw from the current term may be entitled to an adjustment of all or part of their tuition (see https://registrar.wsu.edu/tuition-adjustments/withdrawal/). Students seeking to withdraw from a term after completing one or more courses may petition for an exception to the academic calendar deadlines in the event of extraordinary circ*mstances (see Rule 57).
For sessions that vary from the regular 15-week fall and spring semesters described below, a prorated schedule will be used to determine the term withdrawal deadline.

1. Students withdrawing from all of their classes during the first four weeks of the 15-week fall and spring semester will have their permanent records marked "withdrew (date)." (Individual course enrollments will not be recorded.)
2. Students withdrawing from all of their classes after the fourth week through the Friday before final’s week (i.e., the end of the 15th week for fall and spring, or according to a prorated schedule for summer term or shorter sessions) will have their permanent records marked "withdrew (date)," and a grade of W will be recorded for each course enrollment. These W grades will not be counted in the number of withdrawals allowed.
3. Students on academic notice during the semester of their term withdrawal must obtain permission from the reinstatement coordinator on their campus to re-enroll.

Related Link: Tuition Refund Adjustment Policy

Students are responsible for ensuring that they attend all class meetings and complete all in-class and out-of-class work as assigned by the instructor. Students are also responsible for communicating with the instructor should they need to be absent.

a.Attendance Policy: The instructor is responsible for determining the attendance policy and for making decisions regarding the policy, including the consequence of missed classes, within guidelines established by the academic unit. The instructor is responsible for communicating the policy to the students in the course syllabus.

b.Administrative Drops for Non-Attendance: Students who have not attended class meetings (including lectures, laboratories, and other meetings) during the first week of the semester or according to a prorated schedule for shorter sessions may be dropped from the course by the department. Students enrolled in online classes may be dropped if they have not logged into the class during the first week.

Students should not assume that they have been dropped without checking their class schedules.

c.Absences: Students should make all reasonable efforts to attend all class meetings. However, in the event a student is unable to attend a class, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor as soon as possible, explain the reason for the absence (and provide documentation, if appropriate), and make up class work missed within a reasonable amount of time, if allowed. Missing class meetings may result in reducing the overall grade in the class.

1. University Sponsored. Any student who is required to participate in off-campus, university-sponsored activities such as field trips, musical performances, judging teams, intercollegiate athletic events, etc., should obtain an official Class Absence Request form from the faculty or staff member supervising the on- or off-campus activity. The form must contain specific information concerning the activity and date, be signed by the supervising faculty or staff member, and be submitted by the student at least one week in advance to the individual instructors of the student’s classes. Alternative forms of the Class Absence Request may also be provided by the supervising faculty or staff member and are acceptable for requesting university-sponsored absences. It is recommended, but not required, that a student not be penalized for absence from class provided a properly signed form has been filed with the instructor prior to the absence. These university-sponsored absences are subject to an instructor’s attendance policy and are not intended to imply additional acceptable absences. In all instances, it is the student’s responsibility to make up all work missed.
2. Military Service Members. Students who are members of the National Guard or a reserve branch of a military service are occasionally required to miss class for weekend drills, active duty, and related responsibilities and are entitled to make up the class (RCW 28B.10.270). In such a case, instructors must not penalize students for the absences and must allow them to make-up the missed work. In each instance, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of the duty before the absence, provide appropriate documentation if requested, and complete the missed work as soon as reasonably possible.
3. Flexible Attendance as an Access Accommodation. Some students have disabilities or chronic medical conditions of an episodic nature that may require flexibility regarding attendance. The Access Center recognizes that in some cases, allowing absences beyond those normally allowed in a course is a reasonable accommodation. However, there are courses in which a specified standard of attendance may be an essential part of the course. When the Access Center determines that flexible attendance may be a reasonable accommodation, instructors will receive notification of approved accommodations and procedures for their consideration. Final determinations regarding flexible attendance will be determined on a case-by-case basis. See the Flexible Attendance Guidelines at the Access Center website and Rule 83. NOTE: The Access Center does not provide accommodations for acute illnesses that cause extended absences (e.g., mono, strep throat, conjunctivitis). In these cases, students are to work with their instructors as indicated under c.6. Other Absences.
4. Reasonable Religious Accommodation. Washington State University reasonably accommodates absences allowing for students to take holidays for reasons of faith or conscience or organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization. Reasonable accommodation requires the student to coordinate with the instructor on scheduling examinations or other activities necessary for course completion. Students requesting accommodation must provide written notification within the first two weeks of the beginning of the course and include specific dates for absences. Approved accommodations for absences will not adversely impact student grades. Absence from classes or examinations for religious reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the period of absence. Students who feel they have been treated unfairly in terms of this accommodation may refer to Academic Regulation 104 - Academic Complaint Procedures. See also Rule 82.
5. Adverse Weather Conditions. When appropriate campus authorities declare a “Yellow / Delayed or Limited Operations” or “Red / Closed” campus condition (BPPM 50.40‐46), or travel to instructional locations is unsafe, classes may be cancelled or delayed. When a student does not attend due to adverse conditions, the instructor will not penalize the student. See the Inclement Weather Policy online at each campus website and at the Office of the Provost website.
6. Other Absences. Students must sometimes miss class meetings, examinations, or other academic obligations affecting their grades due to extenuating circ*mstances. It is the responsibility of the student to provide a written explanation for the absence to the instructor as soon as it is reasonable to do so. When possible, students should provide appropriate documentation for their absence but instructors cannot require written excuses from health care professionals.

As long as absences are not excessive, it is recommended, but not required, that the instructor provide and document reasonable arrangements. Determinations regarding the acceptance of an absence are the discretion of the instructor based on the attendance policy as stated in the class syllabus.

Students who attempt to gain advantage through abuse of any aspect of the absence policy (e.g., by providing an instructor with false information) may be referred to the Center for Community Standards.

d.Emergency Notifications: While the Office of the Dean of Students does not excuse or verify student absences, in the event a student is going to be away from class for an extended period and is unable to contact the instructor in a timely manner, the Office of the Dean of Students may provide an emergency notification on the student’s behalf to the instructors, informing them of the student’s absence and the planned duration of the absence. An emergency notification should not be required or used to excuse a student’s absence.

It is the responsibility of the student to make contact with their instructors as soon as possible to make arrangements for missed work. It is up to the instructor to determine what if any arrangements will be made for the student based upon the attendance policy as stated in syllabus.

e.Request for Consideration: The Office of the Dean of Students and/or the Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Investigation may contact instructors on a student’s behalf when the student’s involvement in a matter implicating the WSU Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct, Executive Policy #15 is having a significant impact on the student’s academic progress.

In such cases, the instructor is strongly encouraged to work with the student to address the student’s needs without compromising learning objectives. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor to make these arrangements.

f.Complaints: Students who wish to raise a concern about the instructor’s arrangement regarding missed work may follow the Academic Complaint Procedure, Rule 104.

Washington State University is committed to providing people of diverse religious backgrounds access to education. The university reasonably accommodates absences allowing for students to take holidays for reasons of faith or conscience or for organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization.

In addition, law requires reasonable accommodation of religious beliefs and practices so that students' grades are not adversely impacted by the absences. The university will provide reasonable accommodation consistent with the fair, efficient and secure administration of its programs, and consistent with state law.

•Instructors must reasonably accommodate students who, due to the observance of religious holidays, expect to be absent or endure a significant hardship during certain days of the course. "Reasonably accommodate" means coordinating with the student on scheduling examinations or other activities necessary for completion of the course and includes offering different times for examinations or activities.

•Any student seeking reasonable accommodations under this section must provide written notice to the instructor, within the first two weeks of the beginning of the course and include the specific dates for absences. Absence from classes or examinations for religious reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the period of absence.

•The instructor shall inform the student of the decision in writing within seven calendar days of the receipt of the request.

•Approved accommodations for absences will not adversely impact student grades.

•The university provides notice to students of this policy on the university’s web site and in course or program syllabi, including grievance procedures.

Any student who believes that she or he has not been appropriately accommodated under this policy may seek review of the decision by sending a written request to the chairperson of the department offering the course, as soon as possible and no later than seven days after learning of the instructor’s decision. After the chair’s decision, the student or the instructor may appeal to the dean’s office. Appeals to the dean’s office must be presented in writing within seven calendar days of the chair’s decision. The decision of the dean or associate dean shall be made within seven calendar days and is final. The University Ombudsman is available at any stage for advice or assistance in resolving requests for accommodation. Students should understand that fairness in the examination process is an important consideration in the educational process and that they do have a duty to cooperate in making alternate arrangements.

Midterm grades will be submitted for students enrolled in undergraduate courses that span the entire regular fall and spring 16-week semester by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday of the eighth week.

The assessment should not be interpreted as a formal grade, but rather as an indication of the student’s progress to date.

Midterm grades are advisory and do not appear on the student’s permanent record, the WSU transcript.

Washington State University uses letter grades and the four (4) point maximum grading scale. The grade A is the highest possible grade, and grades below D are considered failing. Plus (+) or minus (-) symbols are used to indicate grades that fall above or below the letter grades, but grades of A+ and D- are not used. For purposes of calculating grade points and averages, the plus (+) is equal to .3 and minus (-) equals .7 (e.g., a grade B+ is equivalent to 3.3 and A- is 3.7). A student’s work is normally rated in accordance with the following definitions:

90a.A. Student work demonstrates consistently excellent scholastic performance; thorough comprehension; ability to correlate the material with other ideas, to communicate and to deal effectively with course concepts and new material; reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.

90b.B. Student work demonstrates superior scholastic performance overall, reliability in attendance, and attention to assignments; may demonstrate excellence but be less consistent than the work of an A student.

90c.C. Student work demonstrates satisfactory performance overall, as well as reliability in attendance, and attention to assignments.

90d.D. Student work demonstrates minimal, barely passing performance overall; limited knowledge of subject matter.

90e.F. Student work demonstrates unsatisfactory performance and comprehension or unfulfilled requirements. The grade is failing.

90f.S. (Satisfactory.) Grade given upon satisfactory completion of courses approved to be taught with one of the following grading basis, which are designated in the catalog and schedule of classes and are used for both final and midterm grading.
S, F (satisfactory, failing) grades are used to report grades for courses numbered 499, 600, special examinations (Rule 15), and other courses duly authorized for S, F grading by the Faculty Senate.
S, U (satisfactory, unsatisfactory) grades are used to report grades only for courses numbered 700, 701, 702, and 800.
S, M, F(satisfactory, marginally satisfactory, failing) grades are used to report grades only for designated courses within the College of Veterinary Medicine.
H, S, F (honors, satisfactory, failing) grades are used to report grades only for designated courses within the College of Pharmacy.
H, NH, S, F (honors, near honors, satisfactory, failing) grades are used to report grades only for designated courses within the College of Medicine.

90g.P. (Passing.) A satisfactory grade for a course taken under the pass, fail Grading Option. Instructors will turn in regular letter grades for all students enrolled in courses under the pass, fail option but grades will appear on the student’s permanent record as P (Passing) or F (Failure).

90h.I. (Incomplete.) An incomplete is the term used to indicate that a grade has been deferred. It is for students who for reasons beyond their control are unable to complete their work on time. All outstanding incomplete work (including grades of I, X, and blank/no grade) must be completed and posted to the official transcript prior to the conferral of the degree. It is strongly recommended that students who are granted an Incomplete limit their total number of credits to 18 credits (including credits for the Incomplete course and any new courses) during the semester when they are finishing an Incomplete. Students who receive an I grade have up to the end of the ensuing year to complete the course, unless a shorter interval is specified by the instructor. If the incomplete is not made up during the specified time or the student repeats the course, the I is changed to an F. Instructors are required to submit an Incomplete Grade Report (IGR) to the departmental office with every I given. The IGR must specify conditions and requirements for completing the incomplete, as well as any time limitations less than one year.

90i.W. This is the term to be used if the student has withdrawn from a course in accordance with Rule 68 or has withdrawn from the university in accordance with Rule 70.

90j.X. Denotes continuing progress toward completion of special problems, research, thesis, doctoral dissertation (i.e., 499, 600, 700, 701, 702, 800), or flexible enrollment courses; X grades are converted to S or to a letter grade upon completion. An X grade may also be used when no final grade is available due to instructor’s illness or absence, or due to a pending administrative action outside of the instructor's control. All outstanding incomplete work (including grades of I, X, and blank/no grade) must be completed and posted to the official transcript prior to the conferral of the degree.

90k. U. (Unsatisfactory.) Student work demonstrates unsatisfactory performance, failed examination, or unfulfilled requirements in courses numbered 700, 701, 702, and 800.

90l. Z.(Failure due to discontinued attendance without withdrawal.) The Z grade is an internal grade indicating that a student earned a failing grade and discontinued all participation in a course without formally withdrawing from the course. It appears and functions as an F rather than as a Z on the transcript. An instructor entering a Z grade must enter the last date of attendance for each Z grade submitted. If the last day of attendance is not available, the date of the last exam or assignment recorded must be submitted instead.

An instructor may not change a grade after the final grade deadline has passed and grades have posted to the transcript, except to correct a previously submitted grade, or to provide a grade for an I, X, or blank / missing grade.

In the case where a grade is being corrected, the chair of the department is notified when the request is submitted.

Grade changes must be submitted within one year following the end of the term when the course was taught. In extenuating circ*mstances or when prompted by an academic integrity violation, exceptions to the one-year limit may be considered by request to the Registrar’s Office.

The student’s grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing grade points earned by the number of credits attempted. Credits attempted for F grades are calculated into the GPA. Grades P, S, M, H, and NH do not carry grade points, and the credits are not calculated into the GPA. Transfer and other nonresident credit are not computed in the Washington State University grade point average.

•Credits attempted, excluding those yielding no grade points, equal 9, and divided into total grade points earned, 25.8 = GPA (2.866).

•The third decimal point is rounded one decimal place to result in a final GPA of 2.870. The WSU transcript displays two decimal points, 2.87.

•The number 5 is rounded up following standard rounding rules.

A student’s grade point average (GPA) is determined by adding the grade points earned in all WSU course work and dividing by the total number of credits in which the student has been enrolled at WSU. I, W, S, P, H, M, U, and X grades are disregarded.

The grades earned at other institutions do not count in the Washington State University grade point average.

Students should follow these steps to resolve complaints about grades, instruction, or course policies:

•For concerns on course policies as outlined in the course syllabus, the complaint should be emailed to the instructor within 5 business days after the first day of class instruction, or for students who enroll after the first day of class within 5 days of receiving access to the syllabus, in either hard-copy or electronic form.

•For grades on individual assignments, the complaint should be emailed to the instructor in a timely way (typically within a week of receiving the grade, or as defined by the instructor) so that the issue may be addressed.

•For final grades, the complaint must be emailed to the instructor within 10 business days of the final grading deadline and posting to the transcript.

•For any other concerns about instruction that arise during the course, the student should email the instructor to attempt to resolve the issue.

If the complaint is not resolved with the instructor within 10 business days of sending the email, or if the instructor is unavailable, then the student may work directly with the chair of the academic department in which the course is offered. The chair’s decision shall be rendered within 10 additional business days.

After the chair’s decision, the student may appeal to the Dean’s Office of the academic college. Complaints must be emailed to the college dean within 10 business days of the chair’s decision. The written statement should:

•describe the complaint,

•provide supporting evidence of how the student has attempted to resolve the complaint,

•indicate how the issue affects the student, and

•state the remedy sought from the college dean.

The decision of the college dean is the final step and shall be made within 10 business days.

On the Everett, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver campuses, the program leader or academic director will act in place of the department chair. The program leader or academic director will outline next steps if the student is unsatisfied.

The University Ombuds is available at any stage for advice or assistance in resolving academic complaints.

Note: Though chairs and college deans (and program leaders and campus chancellors) may resolve complaints about instruction and grading, they may not change a final grade without the consent of the instructor, except as provided by Rule 105.

a.) Chairperson Acting in Lieu of Instructor: In the extraordinary circ*mstances when an instructor is not available, or has failed to respond to the student or chairperson using his or her official WSU email account within 20 business days according to Rule 104, the chairperson of the department may change a final grade.

b.) University Grade Appeals Board: If a chair, dean, Graduate School Dean, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs or designee, or University Ombudsman determines that a change of a final grade is warranted for any reason other than academic dishonesty, any one of them may refer the case to the chair of the University Grade Appeals Board for review. The case must be referred within one semester of the posting of the grade (excluding summer term).

The University Grade Appeals Board shall have jurisdiction over decisions of any instructor and/or administrator on matters of University course grading appeals. The decision of the board is final and not subject to further appeal.

Note: Students may not take a grade appeal directly to the board but should follow the academic complaint procedures, as presented in Rule 104.

c.) Procedure for academic integrity violations: Allegations of academic integrity violations are processed through the procedure established in WAC 504-26-415. A final grade may be changed at any time as a result of this procedure.

a. The award of a baccalaureate degree requires the satisfactory completion of all University graduation requirements. The degree grade point average will be posted to the official transcript at the time that the baccalaureate degree is conferred.

b. The award of a baccalaureate degree requires the completion of and posting to the official transcript of all outstanding incomplete work (including grades of I, X, and no/blank grades).

c. The award of a baccalaureate degree and/or diploma requires the student’s good standing in the university and satisfaction of all University graduation requirements. “Good standing” means the student has resolved any acts of academic or behavioral misconduct, and complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of the misconduct. (See Rule 45 and the Standards of Conduct for Students.)

1) The University shall have the sole authority in determining whether to withhold the degree and/or diploma in cases where the student is not in good standing due to acts of misconduct, has not resolved any acts of academic or behavior misconduct, or has not complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of misconduct.

2) The University shall deny the award of a degree if the student is dismissed from the University based on his or her misconduct.

3) A diploma will not be sent until the student has resolved any unpaid fees and resolved any acts of academic or behavioral misconduct and complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of misconduct.

d. The grades earned at other institutions do not count in the Washington State University grade point average.

e. To complete a baccalaureate degree, students shall:

1) Earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average or better in graded course work.

2) Earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average or better in graded course work in the major.

3) Complete the departmental and college requirements for an active baccalaureate degree. Baccalaureate degrees remain active for the purpose of degree completion for eight years following the last inclusion in the WSU catalog.

4) Earn a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit. At least 30 must be WSU hours; see Rule 6.

5) Earn a minimum of 40 semester hours of credit in 300-400-level courses; 500-level courses will count toward the 300-400-level requirement, but an undergraduate may not be required to complete a 500-level course as a requirement for the baccalaureate degree.

6) Complete the University Common Requirements (UCOREs) for graduation.

7) Complete the university writing requirements, including two Writing in the Major courses and the Writing Portfolio.

(a) To earn a professional degree, students shall complete all requirements specified for the degree.

(b) The award of a professional degree requires the completion of and posting to the official transcript of all outstanding incomplete work (including grades of I, X, and no/blank grades).

(c) The award of a professional degree and/or diploma requires the student’s good standing in the university and satisfaction of all University graduation requirements. “Good standing” means the student has resolved any acts of academic or behavioral misconduct, and complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of the misconduct. (See Rule 45 and the Standards of Conduct for Students.)

1) The University shall have the sole authority in determining whether to withhold the degree and/or diploma in cases where the student is not in good standing due to acts of misconduct, has not resolved any acts of academic or behavior misconduct, or has not complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of misconduct.

2) The University shall deny the award of a degree if the student is dismissed from the University based on his or her misconduct.

3) A diploma will not be sent until the student has resolved any unpaid fees and resolved any acts of academic or behavioral misconduct and complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of misconduct.

(a)The Graduate School has no residency requirement.

(b)All outstanding incomplete work (including grades of I, X, and no/blank grade) must be completed and posted to the official transcript prior to the conferral of the master's degree. Once a degree is conferred and posted to the official transcript, no changes will be allowed on the academic record that predates the degree.

(c) The award of a master's degree and/or diploma requires the student’s good standing in the university and satisfaction of all University graduation requirements. “Good standing” means the student has resolved any acts of academic or behavioral misconduct, and complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of the misconduct. (See Rule 45 and the Standards of Conduct for Students.)

1)The University shall have the sole authority in determining whether to withhold the degree and/or diploma in cases where the student is not in good standing due to acts of misconduct, has not resolved any acts of academic or behavior misconduct, or has not complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of misconduct.

2)The University shall deny the award of a degree if the student is dismissed from the University based on his or her misconduct.

3)A diploma will not be sent until the student has resolved any unpaid fees and resolved any acts of academic or behavioral misconduct and complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of misconduct.

(d) To complete a master's degree, a student shall:

1) Earn no fewer than 30 semester hours of credit with a minimum of 21 semester hours of course work for a thesis degree program or 26 semester hours of course work for a nonthesis degree program.

2) Earn a minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a graduate program in all upper-division and graduate course work completed for the master’s degree.

3) Earn a minimum grade point average of 3.00 for all course work taken as a graduate student.

4) Successfully complete graduate examinations.

(a)The Graduate School has no residency requirement.

(b)All outstanding incomplete work (including grades of I, X, and no/blank grade) must be completed and posted to the official transcript prior to the conferral of the doctoral degree. Once a degree is conferred and posted to the official transcript, no changes will be allowed on the academic record that predates the degree.

(c).The award of a doctoral degree and/or diploma requires the student’s good standing in the university and satisfaction of all University graduation requirements. “Good standing” means the student has resolved any acts of academic or behavioral misconduct, and complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of the misconduct. (See Rule 45 and the Standards of Conduct for Students.)

1)The University shall have the sole authority in determining whether to withhold the degree and/or diploma in cases where the student is not in good standing due to acts of misconduct, has not resolved any acts of academic or behavior misconduct, or has not complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of misconduct.

2)The University shall deny the award of a degree if the student is dismissed from the University based on his or her misconduct.

3)A diploma will not be sent until the student has resolved any unpaid fees and resolved any acts of academic or behavioral misconduct and complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of misconduct.

(d) To complete a doctoral degree, a student shall:

1) Earn no fewer than 72 semester credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree to include the minimum requirements as listed in the Graduate School's Policies and Procedures and as established by the academic program.

2) Earn a minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a graduate program and in all 300-400-level and graduate course work completed for the doctoral degree.

3) Earn a minimum grade point average of 3.00 for all course work taken as a graduate student.

4) Successfully complete graduate examinations.

Candidates for baccalaureate degrees who have completed at least 30 hours of graded work (grades in which grade points are awarded) at Washington State University will graduate summa cum laude if the cumulative grade point average for work completed at Washington State University is 3.90 or better, will graduate magna cum laude if the minimum cumulative grade point average is 3.70 but less than 3.90, and will graduate cum laude if the minimum cumulative grade point average is 3.50 but less than 3.70.

The appropriate Latin phrase will be printed on the diploma and on the final transcript. Qualified students electing to participate in the Honors College who complete its requirements satisfactorily, regardless of whether they qualify to graduate summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude, will receive a certificate of completion and a printed notation on the final transcript.

Computation of graduation honors will be done prior to the end of the final semester to allow for publication of the appropriate honors in advance of graduation. However, following the student’s final semester, the Registrar will recompute the student’s GPA including the last semester’s work, and only this computation will determine official graduation honors.

An official copy of a student’s academic record at Washington State University that bears the official seal of the University and the signature of the Registrar is referred to as a transcript. The transcript must include all classes taken at Washington State University and their respective grades.

Requests for official transcripts may be ordered at www.transcript.wsu.edu. Students should review their unofficial transcript prior to ordering the official transcript. Official transcripts are not withheld for any reason, including instances where a student has current or outstanding debt to the university.

Transcripts of secondary or higher education study that have been submitted to WSU as a requisite for admission cannot be returned to the student. Students desiring transcripts from other institutions must order official transcripts directly from the institution at which the work was taken. WSU does not issue or certify copies of transcripts from other institutions. Copies of international transcripts of which WSU possesses the original copy may be requested using the Non-WSU, International Transcript Request form, also available online.

Federal law requires Washington State University to annually notify students currently in attendance at the University of their rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). See https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.

Under FERPA, a student has the right to:

1. Inspect and review his or her education records. “Education records” means those records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by Washington State University or by a party acting for Washington State University.

2. Request the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights.

3. Consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

4. File with the Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by Washington State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Federal law also requires that WSU employees, prior to receiving access to education records, receive training about the rights of students and their education records as governed by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).

Washington State University may release directory information contained in a student’s education records. “Directory information” means information contained in an education record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed.

Directory information includes the following: name (including any former name); local and permanent addresses; telephone numbers; email addresses; major and minor fields of study; participation in officially recognized sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance; enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, full-time or part-time); class standing (e.g., junior, senior); status as graduate assistant and assignment; degrees, certificates, and awards received, including the President's Honor Roll; and the most recent previous educational institution attended by the student.

Restricting directory information: Students may request that WSU not release directory information by choosing "FERPA Restrictions" under their profile in myWSU. When students restrict their directory information, their names will not be published in the campus directory, and WSU will not release their names in any WSU press releases, including President's Honor Roll notification to hometown newspapers. In addition, WSU will not be able to verify any degrees earned without signed consent.

Granting access to education records: Students may authorize a parent, spouse, employer or other third party to access their official WSU records, including account balances, class schedules, financial aid, scholarships, and grades. Students designate which information to share (access is read only) by choosing “Third Party Access” under their profile in myWSU. Alternatively, students may request that their education records be shared with specific individuals or departments by providing a written, signed request.

The Washington State University policy on student records can be found in the Washington Administrative Code 504-21 online. Contact the Office of the Registrar at 509-335-5346 or see http://www.registrar.wsu.edu/ferpa-rights-and-privacy/ for more information.