Academic Policies

Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism

As an academic community, Landmark strives to instill and foster intellectual honesty and integrity. Effective evaluation of student work can occur only in an environment in which intellectual honesty is respected. Academic dishonesty is a clear violation of academic integrity and academic responsibility. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to inappropriate giving or receiving of aid during tests, and plagiarism.

To plagiarize is to give the impression that a thought or a piece of writing is original, when, in fact, it is borrowed from another without providing a reference.

Each student is responsible for ensuring that his or her work does not involve plagiarism. Ignorance of plagiarism, or of Landmark rules, is not a mitigating circumstance. Students with questions about plagiarism should consult the instructor of the course for whom they are preparing work.

The minimum penalty for plagiarism is no credit (recorded as a zero for the purpose of determining the student’s course grade) for the unit of work in which plagiarism occurs unless the professor deems the specific nature of the infraction allows for a revised submission of the assignment for credit.

The maximum penalty for first offense plagiarism is a failing grade for the course in which the plagiarism occurs. In cases of repeated offense, suspension or expulsion from Landmark may be imposed at the discretion of the Academic Dean’s office and the President. No opportunity may be granted to make up or otherwise fulfill the requirements of the unit of work involved. A student suspended from Landmark may not transfer to Landmark any course credits earned at other institutions during the period of suspension.

Instructors are expected to report any suspected cases of academic dishonesty and plagiarism to the Academic Dean’s office.

Procedures if a suspected infraction occurs:

1. Professor meets with student within 5 days.
2. Professor determines infraction occurred.
3. Depending on circumstances (as assessed by faculty member) the penalty imposed could be (a), (b) or (c)
   1. resubmission of assignment complying with accepted conditions;
   2. failure of assignment;
   3. failure of the course. 
4. All infractions are reported to the Department Chair, Student Advisor, and the Academic Dean’s office.
5. All documented cases of plagiarism will be kept on file in the student’s registrar’s file. 

Academic Probation

These policy statements outline the steps leading to Academic Probation that may result in suspension from the College. The policy applies to students who attempt nine or more credits in a given semester, or who have attempted 15 cumulative credits over the course of their tenure at Landmark College.

• If a student’s cumulative GPA at the end of a semester falls below 2.0 (or below 1.8 for a student completing the first semester), the student will begin the next semester on Academic Warning.
• If the student’s cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 at the end of the next consecutive semester, the student will begin the next semester on Academic Probation.
• If the student’s cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 at the end of the next consecutive semester, the student will be suspended from the College for one year.

A semester is defined as the Fall or Spring term. Summer credit courses and study abroad do not constitute semesters, although grades earned during these programs are factored into the cumulative GPA.

A student placed on suspension can appeal the ruling in writing to the Academic Dean and the President of the College within one calendar week of notification of suspension. The appeal should consist of a letter of intention, outlining why the student’s appeal should be considered, and an academic plan for success that the student intends to abide by if the appeal is granted.

Students who enter the College at the partial-credit level are expected to earn passing grades of C- or better in EN and FY within two attempts. Students who are unable to earn the minimum C- grade at the end of the second term of partial credit may be asked to leave the College and must petition the Director of First-Year Programming and Placement to continue enrollment at the College for a third term. If students return for a third semester they are expected to earn passing grades of C- in the majority of their courses. If students are unable to earn passing grades of C- or better in the majority of their courses, they will not be able to return to the College.

Academic Standing

The following categories represent the Landmark College policy regarding Academic Standing definitions:

• Dean’s List: Three or more full-time courses with no grade lower than “B” and no withdrawals in a given semester.
• Good Standing: Maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.
• Academic Warning: Falling below a cumulative GPA of 2.0, or below a GPA of 1.8 if a first semester student.
• Academic Probation: Failure to remain in good standing as the result of a cumulative GPA that falls below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters.
• Suspension: If the student’s cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 at the end of the third consecutive semester, the student will be suspended from the College for one year. Decisions to suspend or continue on probation will be made at the discretion of the President, following a recommendation by the Academic Dean, after consultation with the student’s instructors and advisor.

Access to Records: Notification of Rights under FERPA (Revised 4/07)

In accordance with the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, it is the policy of Landmark College to provide students with the right to limit the dissemination of their educational records, and to inspect and review such records to ensure their accuracy.

Except as allowed under the act, Landmark College will not release personally identifiable educational records of students to any individual, agency, or organization without prior written consent of the student. Students may formally request copies of their educational documents through the Registrar’s office.

Adding and Dropping Courses

It is the policy of Landmark College to permit students to drop courses without record prior to the end of the fourth instructional week of the semester.

In addition, students may add courses during the first of the semester. Students are responsible for completing the work already in progress in courses added during this period. The Registrar will supply dates for adding and dropping at the start of each semester.

To add or drop a course at the beginning of a semester, the student must have his or her advisor approve schedule changes. In cases when students are requesting waivers for prerequisites in order to add the course, the appropriate department chair must also give approval.

Administrative Withdrawal

Student absences from classes may occur for a variety of reasons and may have a negative influence on a student’s academic performance. Data shows that Landmark students who earned all Bs or better over the course of several years averaged less than three absences per course, while students who ended their years on academic probation accumulated an average of eight absences per course.

Student absences not only affect their individual performance, they affect the dynamics and learning environment of the entire class. For these reasons, students are expected to attend all classes. In order to give faculty a tool for managing their courses that optimizes the learning environment for all students and to give students clear feedback that attending classes in an expectation of the college, the following policy exists:

Students may be administratively withdrawn from a course at the discretion of their instructor under the guidelines that follow. Administrative Withdrawals are considered only after other efforts to promote student success have failed.

Guidelines for Initiating an Administrative Withdrawal

• The student has missed an equivalent of two weeks of the course, and
• The student has missed too many scheduled opportunities to meet the course learning objectives, such as assignment completion, or office hour appointments, and
• The student is disengaged.

Procedures regarding administrative withdrawal may be found on the back of the Administrative Withdrawal Form, available online at: https://sharknet.landmark.edu/departments/aa/Registrar/Forms/Forms/AllItems.aspx

Procedure

Administrative withdrawals can only begin at the start of the official withdrawal period, usually at week 5 of the semester.

Before initiating an Administrative Withdrawal a professor must:

• Document the student’s attendance and grades in the ISIS system in a timely manner for the student and the student’s advisor.
• Attempt to meet with the student and the advisor to provide guidance and support.
• Issue no fewer than three academic warning notices in the ISIS system to document the accumulation of absences and the related academic performance difficulties that could justify an administrative withdrawal. Student will have at least 2 academic days from issuance of the third warning to respond to the instructor.
• Issue an ISIS comment stating that an administrative withdrawal has been initiated.

Professors can download administrative withdrawal forms.

Once Administrative Withdrawal is intitiated:

The department chair must approve administrative withdrawals for them to be processed by the Registrar. The department chair also manages the appeal process in coordination with the instructor, the student and the Registrar. Department chairs teaching their own courses should submit administrative withdrawal form to the Academic Dean for approval.

The Registrar communicates with the student, the student’s parents, the professor, the advisor, and the department chair setting the timeline for finalized withdrawals and the appeal process.

Appealing an Administrative Withdrawal

Any student administratively withdrawn from a course has the right to make an appeal. The following guidelines govern the appeal process:

• The student submits a written appeal that includes an action plan that outlines specific steps to re-engage in the course. This appeal must be submitted within five (5) working days of notification from the Registrar and submitted to the department chair and the professor.
• The student must attend class during the appeal process.

The department chair, in consultation with the professor, will make the final decision on the appeal based on:

• A review of the student’s overall participation and performance in the course and the student’s written appeal which includes an action plan.
• A review of the professor’s required documentation.
• The department chair communicates the student’s status with the Registrar and the professor during the 5-day appeal period.
• The Registrar communicates with student, the student’s parents, the professor, the advisor and the department chair in the appeal process.

Multiple Administrative Withdrawals

In some cases, students are administratively withdrawn from multiple courses during the semester. In these cases, any student enrolled in only two courses will be reviewed by the Academic Intervention Team unless the student’s initial plan included course load reduction. Students who begin a semester with four or five academic courses, and reduce their course load to two or fewer will initiate the Academic Intervention Team’s review. This team will present a recommendation to the Academic Dean regarding continued enrollment for the student.

Policy on the Appeal of Final Grades for Individual Courses

A student may appeal a final grade in a course under the following specific conditions:

• The student may submit an appeal based on the claim that the professor of the course failed to adhere to the stated grading policy of the course as the policy appears in the course syllabus.
• The student may submit an appeal based on a claim that the professor of the course was discriminatory in failing to apply documented criteria for grading that appears in the course syllabus when determining the student’s final grade.

Any student wishing to appeal a final grade should first discuss the grade with his or her professor. If the student is unable to resolve the grievance over a final course grade through consultation with the professor, a written request for review of the course grade should be submitted to the chair of the department or the director of the program in which the course was taught.

Written requests for review of a final course grade by a department chair or program director must be submitted no later than the end of the fifth week of the next regular, academic semester.

If the grievance over a final course grade cannot be resolved through the meeting with the department chair or program director, the student may submit a final appeal in writing to the Academic Dean.

The written request to the Academic Dean must be submitted within two weeks of the final meeting with the department chair or program director, or by mid-semester.

The decision on the appeal of a final course grade by the Academic Dean is final and cannot be appealed.

Attendance

It is the policy of Landmark College to require attendance in all classes, to ensure intensive and consistent instruction. In addition, because classes are small, the absence of one or more students may affect the learning of the entire class. Students who miss classes may be subject to academic disciplinary action as described in the Administrative Withdrawal Policy and the Student Handbook. Students are reminded to check course syllabi for instructor’s grading policies with regard to attendance.

Auditing Courses

It is the policy of Landmark College to permit students to audit courses offered at the College.

• Priority for enrollment is given to those students who are not auditing the course.
• A student may elect to change a course he or she is auditing to regular enrollment during the add period of the semester only.
• A student may elect to change a course is which he or she is enrolled to an audit during the drop period of the semester only.
• To select or deselect the Audit Option, an Audit form must be completed and approved by the student’s advisor, the course instructor, and the appropriate department chair.

A record of the audit appears on the student’s transcript, but no credit can be earned for the course, and no letter grade can be earned or factored into the student’s GPA.

Calculating Grade Point Average (GPA)

A student’s grade point average is calculated based on two values. The first is the total credit hours the student has taken, and the second is the total quality points the student has earned. When a GPA calculation extends beyond two decimal places it is truncated (a GPA calculation of 1.456 would be evaluated as 1.45.) The total credit hours a student has taken is equal to the sum of the credit hours assigned to each course she has successfully completed.

Grade point averages are computed upon request for students taking credit courses. A graduation average is computed for each graduating student when all requirements have been met. Landmark College does not give class rank to any student.

AU, IP, P, LP, CR, NC, S, U, W, or WP -
no quality points earned; not counted in GPA credits

Class Cancellation Policy

Official notice of class cancellations and faculty absences is generally posted at 8 a.m. each day during the academic year on Sharknet and also the door of the College’s Business Office. Please use this link to access information about daily cancellations and faculty absences: https://sharknet.landmark.edu/departments/aa/Lists/Faculty%20Absences/Todays%20Absences.aspx

Classroom Recording Policy

Federal laws, including the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, require institutions of higher education to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Permission to make recordings of lectures and class discussions is a reasonable accommodation for many students with language-based learning disabilities, attention disorders, communication disorders, and significant difficulties with executive functions.

For the purposes of private academic study and review, Landmark College students may record class lectures and discussions using analog or digital technology, including audio, video, still photos, and other forms of capture technology as they become available.

Classroom faculty may record their own class lectures and discussions to serve various purposes at the discretion of the faculty member. These purposes include academic research (with Institutional Review Board approval), professional development, and digitization of course content for access through course websites and other formats.

All course materials (lectures, discussions, handouts, examinations, web materials) and the general, intellectual contents of each course at Landmark College are protected under federal copyright laws. The content of any recording of a lecture or class discussion is protected under federal copyright law and may not be published, quoted, or shared without the consent of the faculty member.

The College’s Policy on Academic Freedom will prevail in all applications of the Recording policy. Classroom recordings created under the policy cannot be used by students for purposes other than as a tool to support personal study and review of course material for test preparation and similar, academic uses related to the course.

Students are required to inform faculty before recording class lectures and discussions for such personal, academic study, and review. Faculty members are required to inform students when recording class lectures and activities that include student participation. If a faculty member records classes to support research activities, the faculty member must obtain informed consent from students before incorporating student-generated data in the research. (Faculty members and others wishing to conduct classroom-based research are required to adhere to protocols, set by the College’s Institutional Review Board, that govern such research.)

Students and professors making classroom recordings are responsible for keeping sensitive and personal materials private. Students and professors may not publish, quote, or share classroom recordings in publicly accessible locations, and in real or digital (e.g., networked or online) environments, without the expressed consent of the individuals being recorded or affected by the recordings. Any violation of these requirements will be viewed by the College as a serious violation of the College’s rules, and will result in College discipline and other remedies as appropriate. Students who wish to make recordings in class will be required to sign an acknowledgment that they understand and will comply with these requirements.

In cases for which students may be absent from classes, professors should not be expected to provide students with a recording of the class meeting.

The syllabus for each course at the College must include a statement that students are allowed to record in the classroom for study and review. Course syllabi should also state that any student concerned about the creation of classroom recordings should speak with the professor about the concerns at the outset of the course.

Copyright Statement

It is the intent of Landmark College that all members of the College community adhere to the provisions of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, United States Code, Sect. 101, et seq). Members of the College community who willfully disregard the copyright policy do so at their own risk and assume all liability.

For the Landmark College policy on the copyrightable works created by the College’s faculty and staff while engaged in College-associated activities, please visit the Landmark College Copyright Policy in the Employee Handbook: https://sharknet.landmark.edu/departments/hr/Pages/Handbooks-Page.aspx.

Copyright Clearance

Landmark College maintains an institutional license with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) for copyright permissions from thousands of publishers. The College expects faculty and staff to obtain permission for the distribution of copyright-protected materials via the CCC’s easy-to-use interface.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act Agent

In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Pub. L. 105-304, Landmark College has designated a DMCA agent to receive notification of alleged copyright infringement occurring in the landmark.edu domain. Contact dmcaagent@landmark.edu to report any concerns.

Copyright Support

The Landmark College Library offers assistance with:

• using the Copyright Clearance Center’s Annual License permissions interface
• finding other options for resources not covered by the CCC license
• finding resources on copyright issues pertaining to faculty and staff

The Library staff cannot, however, offer any legal advice about copyright.

Course Load

Students attending Landmark College are expected to enroll in four academic courses per semester at the credit or non-credit level. Students may enroll in five academic courses, but they are encouraged to consult with their advisors if they are considering this option.

Academic Concentrations Policy

Academic concentrations are available to students as an option in the Landmark College associate degree curricula. The concentration option is voluntary, and declaration of a concentration will not be a requirement to earn an associate degree from Landmark College. All proposed concentrations receive approval through the same processes used to review and approve course proposals.

Purpose

A Landmark concentration serves to promote and enhance personal goals and build a sense of accomplishment. By designating a concentration, a student affords the advantage of focusing on and drawing upon an area of interest and strength. Engaging in the study of a subject through a concentration allows students to feel a connection to a department/program or a group of instructors and with other students.

Description of Academic Concentrations

A concentration should constitute the successful completion of 15 or more credits defined by academic departments/programs and the Academic Dean. Each concentration will include a minimum of seven credits at the 2000 level. Only six credits from transferred courses apply toward a concentration. The sequence of courses within each concentration will reflect a logical approach to the curriculum and current practices in higher education. The sequence or spread of courses in a concentration may vary based on criteria to be determined by departments/programs in consultation with the Academic Dean.

A concentration 15 or more credits allows students to take additional elective options. A concentration with a minimum of 15 credits will not preclude students from having the opportunity to develop reading, writing and critical thinking skills through course work at the 1000 and 2000 levels in English, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Humanities.

A concentration will have one to three required courses that run every semester. Each concentration will incorporate multiple elective options that follow a predictable yearly sequence. Sufficient electives should be available to allow for a menu of choices (at least two elective options per semester). All of these courses have track records of consistent enrollment, which should continue. A concentration should not require departments/programs to run courses that do not enroll consistently, but depending on program need, departments/programs may reserve the right to substitute courses as needed. Departments/programs may make minor changes in requirements for concentration offerings.

Concentrations may be discipline-specific, department-specific, or interdisciplinary. Interdisciplinary concentrations shall have a designated point person (a relevant department chair) to respond to questions and make necessary minor modifications. Department Chairs/Program Directors and Curriculum Committee will ensure that new proposed concentrations are distinct from existing concentrations. In the event of a student choosing to pursue more than one concentration, only one course will be allowed to satisfy both concentrations.

On a three-year assessment cycle, the Academic Dean in consultation with the Curriculum Committee shall ensure that current slate of concentrations remain viable and, as much as possible, comprehensively representative of Landmark’s curriculum. Concentrations that do not draw significant interest from students over a three-year period may be removed.

A completed concentration will be noted on a student’s transcript at the time a student completes his or her requirements for an associate degree. Completing a concentration does not provide insurance in terms of transferability of credits to other institutions. However, a concentration is a way for colleges to recognize that a student has completed a course of study that may serve as a gateway to further study at a four-year college, and may serve as one demonstration of a student’s intellectual persistence and dedication.

The Declaration of Concentration form is available at the following link: http://intranet.landmark.edu/academics/registrar

Declaration of Degree Policy

• All students will file a Declaration of Degree.
• To declare the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, students must earn at least a “C” in three Landmark College classes, each in a different discipline. An overall GPA of 2.0 or higher is also required.
• To declare the Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies, students must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher and have completed nine Landmark college credits or 15 transfer credits.
• To declare the Associate of Arts degree in Business Studies, students must have achieved a math placement level of 3 or higher and have successfully completed BU1011 - Introduction to Business  and BU1111 - Principles of Accounting I , with an average overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• To declare the Associate of Science degree in Computer Science/Gaming, students must have achieved a math placement level of 5 or higher and have earned three to six credits in the CS or MA disciplines, with an average overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• To declare the Associate of Science degree in Life Sciences, the student must have achieved a math placement level of 5 or higher and have earned four credits in the NS discipline, with an average overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Approval of the B.A. coordinator is required for all declarations of degree for the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies.
• Approval from the Office of Academic Affairs is required for all declarations of degree for Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies.
• Approval of the appropriate Department Chair is required for all declarations of the Business, Computer Science/Gaming and Life Sciences degrees.
• Students overdue in declaring their degree may be placed on Registrar’s hold, preventing them from participating in course registration. (A student is overdue if more than one semester has passed since he or she has earned the minimum of nine Landmark credits.)
• In cases where students have not declared a degree after earning 15 Landmark College credits, the degree choice will default to A.A. in Liberal Studies. After 35 credits it will default to B.A. in Liberal Studies.
• To change their degree, students will file a new Declaration of Degree form, approved by the appropriate office, and will complete the appropriate course requirements for the new degree.

The following are the standard procedures for students in using the Declaration of Degree form:

• Students will work with advisors to fill out the appropriate declaration of degree form.
• The declaration of degree form will be submitted to the Registrar’s office.
• The Registrar’s Office will record the students’ degree choice, which will then appear on their transcripts, schedules, and in the Power Campus database for tracking purposes.
• Students will follow the degree requirements they have declared and use the appropriate Graduation Plan worksheet.

The Declaration of Degree forms are available at the following link: https://sharknet.landmark.edu/departments/aa/Registrar/Forms/Forms/AllItems.aspx
Graduation Plan worksheets are available at this link: https://sharknet.landmark.edu/departments/aa/Registrar/Graduation%20Requirements/Forms/AllItems.aspx

Degrees with Honors

The designation cum laude (with honors) on the Landmark College diploma is a recognized mark of superior academic accomplishment. Students who show particular distinction in scholarship at Landmark College will be recognized by graduating with one of three degrees of honors: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude.

It is the policy of Landmark College that for students receiving associate degrees to graduate with summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude honors, students must earn the grade point averages shown in the chart on page 35.

Expected Completion Schedule

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA of 1990) mandate that reasonable accommodations be made for individuals with learning disabilities, including extending time limits for completion of academic requirements. However, students at Landmark can be expected to make satisfactory progress toward completion of the program within a specific time frame.

Therefore, it is the policy of Landmark College that students enrolled in noncredit courses are expected to be enrolled in and successfully complete at least three courses each semester, progress through any given level of the curriculum within two semesters and a Summer term, and be enrolled in a full-credit course load after two years. Students who require an additional semester at the noncredit level may petition to the Director of First-Year Programming and Placement for a waiver. The maximum time a student may spend in noncredit courses is three years. Students enrolled full-time in credit courses are expected to be enrolled in, and successfully complete, at least three courses (or nine credit hours) each semester, and to complete all of the requirements for the degree within three years (six semesters and one Summer term). Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts Liberal Studies degree are expected to complete the requirements within six years.

Students who may be making progress but who are unable to complete the program requirements within the expected time allotment may request an extension from the Academic Dean. Such students must produce documentation of progress and propose in writing a time frame and schedule for completion of the requirements.

Extensions

If a student requests an extension, the Academic Dean must approve the extension in advance.

Extensions are granted only in cases for which the student is ill or unable to complete the course due to circumstances beyond the control of the student.

The student’s advisor and instructor must sign the Extension form. Extension forms are available from the Registrar’s Office and on the intranet: https://sharknet.landmark.edu/departments/aa/Registrar/Forms/Forms/AllItems.aspx

Landmark College does not provide a grade of “IN” or Incomplete.

Forgiveness

Letter-graded, credit-bearing courses in which the student earns a grade of C- or lower may be retaken once for forgiveness.

Courses to be forgiven must be taken at Landmark. As per our transfer credit policy, we do not transfer grades from other colleges.

Credits will be earned only once for courses which are repeated and forgiven.

Upon completion of the second attempt in the course, the higher of the two grades for the course will be recorded and factored into the student’s GPA. The original attempt (course title, code and grade) will remain on the student’s transcript, the grade forgiven in brackets.

Upon a successful repeat, original notations of the student’s academic status based on the earlier GPA calculation (academic warning or academic probation) will not be changed and will remain on the student’s transcript.

A student who earns a grade of IP, W, or WP in a course, and takes the course again is not considered to be using the forgiveness policy. If the student earns a C- or lower in a course on the second attempt for which he or she has had an IP, W or WP on the first attempt, the student can take the course a third time using the forgiveness policy. A record of all three attempts will appear on the transcript, however, the highest grade earned in the class is the grade which will be used to figure the student’s GPA.

Summa Cum Laude 3.8 - 4.0 GPA
Magna Cum Laude 3.5 - 3.79 GPA
Cum Laude 3.2 - 3.49 GPA

Grading System

It is the policy of Landmark College that the following shall constitute its Grading System:

Pass/LowPass/Fail for Credit Courses

It is the policy of Landmark College to permit students to take elective courses on a Pass/Low Pass/Fail basis. Courses that fulfill core or degree requirements cannot be taken as P/LP/F.

A “P” is recorded on a student’s transcript when he/she earns a C or above. An LP is recorded in the event that a student has earned a grade of C-, D+, D or D-. An F is recorded when a student fails the course.

Selection of Pass/LowPass/Fail can begin as early as the add period, but must be completed before the end of the drop period of the semester. Re-designating a Pass/LowPass/Fail status in a course to a letter-graded status can only be completed during the add period of the semester.

Students may not select the Pass/LowPass/Fail option during their first semester at Landmark.

To select or deselect the Pass/LowPass/Fail option, a grading status form must be completed, approved by the student’s advisor, and submitted to the Registrar.

Professors do not know of a student’s Pass/LowPass/Fail status and, therefore, submit letter grades for all students, regardless of their grading status, to the Registrar by the end of the semester. The Registrar enters a P, LP, or F onto the student’s transcript when this grading status has been chosen.

The number of courses that a student may take using the Pass/LowPass/Fail grading option is limited to one per semester, with a total of two toward an Associate Degree and four toward a Bachelor’s Degree.

Credit/No Credit

Credit Courses that are never graded with a letter will be graded as Credit or No Credit, with a CR or an NC appearing on transcripts. A CR grade is awarded when a student has done D- or better work in a course.

Noncredit Courses

Noncredit Courses that are not letter graded will be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory scale that will be reflected on the transcript as S or U.

Numerical Equivalents of Letter Grades

Graduation Requirements

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for graduation from Landmark College.

Graduation from Landmark College with an associate degree requires students to earn 61 credits. Students must earn 22 credits from the Common Core, which includes introductory courses in English, First-Year Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences. Students must earn an additional 39 credits through a combination of degree requirements and electives to achieve the 61 credits are necessary for graduation.

For requirement details, see the degree program requirements.

Graduation from Landmark College with a bachelor’s degree requires a student to earn 121 credits to earn their degree. Students must earn 37 Core Requirements at the 1000-2000 level, which includes introductory courses in English, First-Year Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and World Languages, 24 General Education Core Requirements at the 3000-4000 level, 48 B.A. Elective Credits, and 12 Major Requirement Credits.

Graduation Walking Policy

Students who are within two (2) three-credit general education electives of completing their degree may walk in the commencement ceremony.

Any student can file a written appeal to the President at least one month in advance of a graduation ceremony, if the student feels that their circumstances might warrant additional policy flexibility.

Credits and Graduation

Students are graduated in the database and issued a diploma when all credits and degree requirements are complete.

Landmark College has thee official graduation dates per year (December, May, and August), even though students may complete their last credits and requirements in January or at any earlier point in the Summer sessions; those finishing at these times officially graduate on the upcoming graduation date.

Walking at graduation is not a guarantee of earning a degree. For those students who walk at graduation prior to meeting ALL graduation requirements, no academic honors will be conferred until after the student meets ALL academic requirements.

In Progress (IP) Grade

For EN 0911 , EN 1011 , FY 1001 , FY 1011 , MA 0291 , MA 0392 , and MA 1501 , the policy of Landmark College is to permit entry of an IP (In Progress) grade by the professor, when a student has not demonstrated an acceptable level of proficiency in meeting the course outcomes by earning a grade of D+ or below.

The grade of IP may not be applied to other courses.

An IP will appear and remain on the student’s transcript, instead of a letter grade, but will not be factored into the GPA. No credits will be awarded for an IP grade. The student receiving the IP must repeat the course at the same level in the following semester.

At the noncredit level, the student will take the usual second-semester, noncredit class. At the 1000 level, the student will repeat the same course. Advisors should consult with department chairs to choose the most appropriate placement for students prior to registration.

At the end of the second attempt at a class, a letter grade will be entered on the student’s transcript and factored into the GPA. If a student does not demonstrate an acceptable level of proficiency in meeting the outcomes of the second-semester course, the student will receive a letter grade of D or F and can use the forgiveness policy to repeat the course again, with the permission of the appropriate department chair.

Leave of Absence Policy

• Students who need to leave for a short period of time, such as for a death in the family, medical issues, etc., may be allowed to return to their classes if they are in good academic standing upon departure, and the leave of absence does not prohibit them from successful completion of the course goals and objectives. The leave period of time allowed by this policy is generally 1 to 2 weeks. Service members or reservists requiring a short-term deployment or service-related leave will be allowed up to three weeks of absence from the College. Leaves of Absence are granted by the Academic Dean.
  • Satisfactory demonstration of the attainment and completion of class goals following such a leave will be determined by the professor, in consultation with the student and the academic advisor.
• A departure or absence from the College that spans more than one semester requires no preapproval by the College in order to maintain re-enrollment eligibility. Instead, students may be away from Landmark College for up to 4 full semesters before being required to re-apply through the formal admissions process. Re-enrollment for such students is facilitated through the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
  • Process for re-enrollment is outlined on the following webpage: www.landmark.edu/admissions/apply-now/former-students

Math Placement Requirement Policy

All Landmark College students must successfully complete at least one college-level mathematics course as part of their degree program requirements. Students are placed in an appropriate mathematics class at the time of registration by completing the required math placement instrument. Students who transfer an approved college-level mathematics course with a minimum grade of “C” will be exempt from completing the placement. Students overdue in completing the math placement may be placed on Registrar’s hold, preventing them from participating in academic registration. A student is overdue if more than one registration period has passed since he or she entered Landmark College.

Placement and First-Year Points of Entry

Upon acceptance to Landmark College, students place into one of three Points of Entry:

• Language Intensive Curriculum (LIC)
• Partial-Credit Curriculum (PC)
• Credit Curriculum (C)

The Academic Placement Team reviews relevant information from the application for admission to determine each student’s initial placement in the curriculum. Relevant materials may include educational history, achievement test results and performance on the College’s placement test. The Placement Team works to ensure that each student is placed at a level of the curriculum that is appropriate to the student’s skill level and most likely to facilitate individual academic growth.

Once placed, each student receives written notice of the placement decision. Students with questions about placement may appeal their placement decisions with the Director of First-Year Academic Programming and Placement. Refer to information on the First-Year Program for more information.

Reporting Student Grades

Warnings

Notices of academic warning are sent via the Internet Student Information System (ISIS) to students who are in danger of failing a course. First warnings are reported to the student and his or her advisor. Second and subsequent warnings are reported to the Academic Dean and, in cases where the student has waived his or her FERPA rights, to the student’s parents or designee. Academic warnings are also reported to the Academic Dean.

Grades and Final Reports

It is the policy of Landmark College to provide students at the midterm with a letter grade for each class in which they are enrolled, based on the specific course objectives. At the end of the semester, students receive a letter grade and comment for each class.

Any student enrolled in a course as of final exam week receives a final grade and final comment for the course. The final comment is entered in ISIS when the final grade is submitted to Self Service. Self Service is an Internet software system designed to provide students, faculty, and administrators with access to a student’s current academic performance. Through Self-Service students and advisors are able to develop an academic plan, register for classes, review transcripts and grades, and interact with faculty and advisors.

If a student is granted an extension, the instructor of the course will submit a final comment in ISIS when submitting the final grade to Self Service.

Transcripts

Transcripts contain records of courses taken, grades and credit received. Course description material and other information may be requested in addition to the transcript. It is the policy of Landmark College that its official transcripts, bearing the College seal and the Registrar’s signature, may be released only upon written request of the student or alumnus/alumna.

Requests for transcripts and other records should be mailed to the attention of the Office of the Assistant Registrar and should be accompanied by a small processing fee per request. Fees must be paid by cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card before transcripts or records will be sent. Please use the link below to access the transcript request form.

https://sharknet.landmark.edu/departments/aa/Registrar/Forms/Forms/AllItems.aspx

Transcripts may be withheld by order of appropriate College officials, if some financial or other obligation to Landmark College remains unmet.

Transfer Credit Policies

Landmark College will accept as many credits as appropriate (up to 80 credits in the B.A. or 30 credits in the A.A./A.S.). All students are required to complete at least 24 out of their final 30 credits at Landmark College.

Determination of eligible credits depends on program requirements and individual transcripts. Transfer students entering Landmark with 40 (or more) credits may be allowed to waive certain prerequisites and/or replace core courses. Students are required to get approval from the appropriate Department Chair to enroll in higher level courses without prerequisites.

Transfer credits do not affect the student’s GPA; the course and credits are transferred, but not the grade.

The following requirements must be met to receive credit:

• Credits must be from a public or private institution accredited by an authorized regional accreditation agency, such as NEASC.
• Course Grades must be at 2.0 or higher (e.g. “C”) to be transferred to Landmark.
• Courses graded on a pass/fail basis, offered on a noncredit basis, or that are equivalent to noncredit courses at Landmark will not be transferred.
• AP courses with a grade of 3 or above may be transferred to receive credit.

IB courses with a grade of 4 or above may be transferred to receive credit.

The requirements for certain programs at Landmark College are waived at the discretion of the Academic Dean or the specific department chair. These courses will be considered for transfer on a case-by-case basis.

Visiting Students and Transfer Credits

Summer courses taken at Landmark College’s Summer Session for Visiting College Students before a student matriculates at Landmark College will be removed from the student’s Landmark degree transcript only after a student petitions the Academic Dean to have the course credit and grade removed from his or her Landmark transcript. It is recommended that students petition the Academic Dean within the first few weeks of their first semester on campus as a matriculating student.

This policy does not apply to students who do not matriculate at Landmark after attending Landmark’s Summer Session for Visiting College Students.

Withdrawing from a Course

In order to withdraw from a course, the student’s advisor must sign a completed Drop/Add/Withdrawal form.

The appropriate department chair must approve the form. A grade of W, WP, or WF must be specified on the form.

The approved form must be submitted to the Registrar. The Registrar confirms the withdrawal via email with the student, advisor, instructor, and chair.

A student can withdraw from any course, for any reason, prior to the end of Week 8 of the semester. A grade of W will appear on the student’s transcript and will not affect the student’s GPA.

After Week 8, any student who withdraws from a course must have a grade of WP (withdraw-passing) or WF (withdraw-failing) specified on the form, depending on the student’s grade in the course at the time of the withdrawal.

The grade of WF is the same grade as an F and is factored into the student’s GPA as an F.

The grade of WF puts the student on academic probation. A student can take a WP or WF until the end of the last day of classes in the semester.

Administrative Withdrawal

Administrative withdrawal (AW) follows the same schedule as a standard withdrawal for assigning a grade of W, WP or WF. An AW should not be issued until the drop period ends. A significant difference between an AW and a standard withdrawal is that the course instructor initiates the AW. The standard withdrawal is initiated by the student and advisor. An AW appears as a withdrawal on the transcript.

Administrative withdrawals cannot occur during the last ten days of classes.

Refer to the guidelines for administrative withdrawals for more information. The Registrar will supply the exact dates of the withdrawal period at the beginning of each semester.

Withdrawal from the College

A student may withdraw from the College until 5 p.m. on the last day of classes. Upon withdrawing, a “W” symbol will appear in the grade column on a student’s transcript for all courses still in session on the effective date of withdrawal. Courses that ended before the effective date of the withdrawal will report grades following normal conventions. All courses that have not yet started as of the effective date of the withdrawal will be deleted and no entry will appear on the student’s transcript.

Students who live in a residence hall must check out of the hall within 24 hours after withdrawing.

There are four classifications of withdrawal. They are as follows:

Withdrawal: Voluntary

At any time during the year, a student may withdraw from the College for personal reasons. In consultation with the Dean of Students or the Academic Dean, a student planning to return to Landmark should discuss the requirements for readmission.

Withdrawal: Involuntary

Students may be forced to withdraw from the College for inadequate academic performance (e.g., dropping down to one class or being administratively removed from all individual classes), or when the College determines that the student is a possible danger to one’s self or to others or that the student has refused to cooperate with efforts deemed necessary by the College to determine if the student represents such a danger.

Withdrawal: Medical

A medical withdrawal will be granted in the case of extraordinary circumstances - such as a serious illness or injury - that prevent a student from continuing his or her coursework. This classification covers both physical-health and mental-health difficulties. A student must provide documentation from a qualified professional for a medical withdrawal within 30 days of his or her departure from campus. The College may certify a medical withdrawal without documentation. Clearance from qualified professionals may be required for a student to resume their studies in a later semester.

Withdrawal: Administrative

A student who leaves the College without informing the Office of the Dean of Students or the Office of the Academic Dean may be administratively withdrawn from the College after missing 10 consecutive class days.

Students capable of signing the official withdrawal form are expected to do so. If the student is not capable of signing the form, the Dean of Students or Academic Dean may sign on behalf of the student.

Students who are suspended from the College will not be allowed on campus as of the effective date of their suspension without the express, written consent from the Office of the Dean of Students or Office of the Academic Dean. Students who are suspended will be eligible for re-enrollment at a future date and may have specific re-enrollment criteria to be met for re-enrollment to be considered.

Students who are expelled from the College will not be allowed on campus as of the effective date of their expulsion without the express, written consent from the Office of the Dean of Students or Office of the Academic Dean. Students who are expelled from the College will not be readmitted.

Re-Enrollment Process

Very often, students who have left the College before graduating decide they need to return - either for a class in the summer, a semester or to complete their degree. Re-enrollment requirements depend to some extent on the circumstances of the departure and its duration.

Re-enrollment Process for Students Away From the College

Students who have been away from the College will work through the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (do not contact your former academic advisor or any other office), and should use the following process to request re-enrollment for a future semester.

1. In the time when a student who has withdrawn or has been suspended is away from Landmark College, it is expected that he or she has been constructively occupied and has maintained a satisfactory standard of conduct.
2. In all cases, re-enrollment will require a personal statement, outlining why the student is requesting re-enrollment to the College and how the student has occupied his or her time while away from the campus. Students should also include the transcripts from any educational institution they attended while they were away from Landmark.
3. Please note other factors that will be taken into consideration in the re-enrollment process:
   1. Students who left in poor academic standing may be placed on Academic Probation for a period of at least one semester.
   2. Students who withdrew for medical reasons or for reasons of safety must obtain a recommendation from a clinical practitioner who is qualified to assess the student’s current state of physical and/or mental health and can state that the student is ready to reengage in a residential college and the rigors of a course of academic study.
   3. Students who were suspended from the College must provide all documentation required in their letter of suspension from the College.
   4. Students who left with pending disciplinary charges will be required to address those matters with the student conduct office before re-enrollment can be completed.

While the majority of students who apply for re-enrollment do return to Landmark College, re-enrollment is not guaranteed to any applicant. The College seeks to re-enroll only those students who have demonstrated an ability to remain in good academic standing and citizenship and who are likely to persist to the completion of the degree requirements. Therefore, the College may sometimes advise an applicant to defer his or her return until a time later than the one originally proposed.

To initiate the re-enrollment process, a student should complete the online forms found at https://landmarkstudentaffairs.wufoo.com/forms/reenrollment-request. Once the form is received, the request will be reviewed by the Dean of Students and the Academic Dean. In most cases, a response will be provided within 10 days. Any further questions about re-enrollment to the College should be directed to the Dean of Students.

For Landmark Graduates and Other Alumni Interested in the B.A. in Liberal Studies

Landmark College’s B.A. in Liberal Studies degree ensures interested students can receive a total college experience that fully integrates Landmark’s innovative learning strategies and use of assistive technology - while giving them the critical thinking, communications, problem solving, and decisions skills employers value. The degree also provides an excellent foundation for graduate study.

Landmark College graduates and other alumni who are interested in returning to the College for the B.A. in Liberal Studies degree, should fill out the B.A. inquiry form to receive regular updates about the program’s development and reminders about when our higher-level courses will be available. https://landmarkstudentaffairs.wufoo.com/forms/reenrollment-request

Procedures Regarding Psycho-Educational Evaluations and Related Medical Records

Landmark College accepts the Association on Higher Education and Disability’s (AHEAD) interpretation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) regarding disability-related information. Specifically, disability-related information “should be treated as medical information and handled under the same strict rules of confidentiality as is other medical information. This includes the comprehensive documentation from an appropriate source that persons with disabilities are often required to provide to establish the existence of their disability and their need for accommodation or consideration” (emphasis added).¹

AHEAD further maintains that: “In the U.S., the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment, provides students with access to their own educational records…Treatment records of a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional are exempt from disclosure under FERPA” (emphasis added).

The medical records, including psycho-educational evaluations and related information, are therefore not part of the educational record of the student, and may not be disclosed. As detailed in 34 CFR Part 99, Subpart A, the term “education records” does not include “Records on a student who is 18 years of age or older, or is attending an institution of postsecondary education, that are…Made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional acting in his or her professional capacity or assisting in a paraprofessional capacity.”²
 
In accordance with federal law, Landmark College will not transfer, release, disclose, or otherwise offer for inspection for any purpose those records that are exempt from disclosure under FERPA, specifically including psycho-educational and related records.

1
From the Association on Higher Education and Disability’s pamphlet “Confidentiality and Disability Issues in Higher Education” (2001).
2
For full information on FERPA, go to www.ed.gov/policy/gen/reg/ferpa/index.html