ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND POLICIES

 Attendance Examinations Grades Academic Advisement  
Disciplinary Issues Academic Integrity Class Status Independent Study
Directed Study Internships Waivers Outside Coursework  
Study Abroad Joint and Combined Programs Graduate Courses  
Leaves of Absence Withdrawal Records and Transcripts  
Change of Information Diplomas Academic Terminology Privacy

 
Regulations uniformly applicable to both Stern College for Women and the Sy Syms School of Business are given here; those pertaining to each school in particular are found in each school's respective section of this Catalog.

Changes in Regulations
The University reserves the right to change tuition, fees, course offerings, regulations, and admission and graduation requirements at any time without prior notice. Students should consult University bulletin boards for changes. This Catalog supersedes all previous Catalogs and academic information and policies and is binding on all students. Consideration will be given, however, to a petition by a student for permission to continue a course of study in effect at the time the student enrolled provided that no more than the normal period of time is taken to complete the program.

A final examination may be postponed only on account of illness or some equally compelling emergency, that causes absence at the time of the examination. Under these conditions, the student should notify the Office of the Dean immediately and should subsequently submit a request for a makeup test, along with a physician's note if applicable. If the request is approved, the student pays a $15 makeup exam fee.

Once a student has taken a final examination, no re-examination may be given. No excuse-whether illness, lack of preparation, or any other reason-will be accepted as grounds for a retest or an additional test or assignment.

If a student arrives late at any examination and has no valid excuse for the lateness, the test is taken in the remainder of the allotted time.

Cheating on an examination will subject the offender to disciplinary action, including possible expulsion from the University.

Grades
Grades are available by calling (800) 528-3293 or by accessing www.getgrades.com.

The work of each student is graded on the following scale:

A, A- Excellent

B+, B, B- Good

C+, C, C- Fair

D+, D, D- Poor (lowest passing grade)

F Failure

N No credit

P Pass

Administrative Grades

G Withdrawal without permission (counted as failure)

I Incomplete

L Audit (no credit) Available by special permission with approval of the Instructor and the Office of the Dean (See the Request to Audit a Course form).

M Missing

W Withdrawal without penalty or prejudice

P is used for all courses bearing less than 1 credit, for Independent Study courses, and for courses taken under the P/N option.

I grades may be issued by faculty to accommodate unavoidable delays in the completion of course requirements and to allow for excused emergencies during final examinations. If the work is not completed by six weeks after the end of finals–mid-February for a fall course; beginning of July for a spring course—the Incomplete becomes an F. See the Academic Calendar for the exact dates.

W (withdrawal) requires filing a Change of Program form with the Registrar and, under certain circumstances, written permission of the Office of the Dean. Unless the proper procedures are followed, the student receives a G, equivalent to failure, in the course. See Late Admission and Withdrawal.

A student who has achieved a passing grade in a course may not retake it. In exceptional cases the dean of a school may permit a student who has received a D to retake the course, provided that the student has not taken a more advanced course in the subject after receiving the D. Even if repetition is allowed, the original grade will remain on the record.

In Sy Syms, an advanced course in the major may not be taken if the student has received a D in the prerequisite course. The student must repeat this course.

Satisfactory Progress
All students must meet the following standards of good academic standing and satisfactory academic progress.

Academic Average
All students must maintain a minimum average of 2.0 per semester and cumulatively.

Each grade has a numerical value as follows:

A = 4.000   
A- = 3.667
B+ = 3.333 
B = 3.000
B- = 2.667  
C+ = 2.333
C = 2.000   
C- = 1.667
D+ = 1.333 
D = 1.000
D- = 0.667  
F,G = 0

When the numerical value is multiplied by the credit value of the course, the resulting figure is known as the number of quality points.

The student's average is computed by dividing the number of quality points earned by the total number of credits completed with a grade of A through G. The average is rounded to the third decimal place.

Courses, grades, and credits in the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program are listed on a separate transcript. Block credit for the year of study is recorded on the Stern College or Sy Syms School transcript.

Minimum Number of Credits
The minimum number of credits that each student must accrue to maintain financial aid eligibility by the beginning of each semester of attendance is as follows:

Note that credit is given only for grades A through D- and P. No credit is given for administrative grades.

Academic Retention, Probation, and Dismissal
Students are expected to maintain an academic average of at least 2.0 each semester and cumulatively. Students who, in any semester, fail to achieve an average of at least 2.0 or to accrue the required credits above may be placed on academic probation.

Probation serves as a serious warning to students whose records are unsatisfactory, and is intended to help them achieve the necessary improvement.

Restrictions or conditions may be imposed upon students on probation in the following areas: programs, employment, extracurricular activities, intercollegiate athletics, and financial assistance.

Students not meeting the standards become ineligible for New York State aid, but a one-time waiver for one semester may be granted if failure is due to extraordinary circumstances and if the appropriate Academic Standards Committee recommends such a waiver.

Students whose semester or cumulative average falls below 2.0 two semesters in succession, or three semesters nonconsecutively, or who fail all their courses in a semester, may be dismissed from the school without further notice. In Stern College, the first semester on campus is considered probationary for students admitted with provisional status.

Appeals procedure
If there are mitigating circumstances, students may appeal dismissal in writing to their school's Academic Standards Committee. The appeal must be made before the following semester begins. The committee may allow the student to continue on probation, under such conditions and restrictions that it may set. Decisions will be communicated in writing to the student, the Office of the Dean, the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Student Finance, and the Office of Student Services.

These standards are applicable to all students. They are required for certification to New York State for financial assistance under Section 145-2.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and are required by federal regulations to receive aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.

Late Admission and Withdrawal
The following governs late admission to, and late withdrawal from, classes in Stern College for Women and Sy Syms School of Business.

Please note:
Even when permission to withdraw is not required, the proper forms must still be filed in the Office of the Registrar. 

Only tuition is subject to refund, not fees.   

Regulations apply to the equivalent period in a summer session or intersession.  

When a course from which a student has withdrawn is listed on the permanent record, the grade may be W or G, depending on the circumstances.

Dean's List
Each year, in each undergraduate school, full-time students who have achieved an academic grade-point average of at least 3.5 are included on the Dean's List. Inclusion on this list becomes part of the student's permanent record.

Graduation Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude
To receive honors at graduation, students at Stern College and Sy Syms School must have completed at least 84 credits in residence at the New York campus and must have achieved the following cumulative averages: cum laude, 3.50; magna cum laude, 3.70; summa cum laude, 3.85.

Academic Advisement

Stern College
Academic advisors, deans, and faculty members help students develop academic programs that will realize their full potential. They are available to discuss courses and majors and to interpret college regulations and requirements. Besides advising students about independent study, graduate school, fellowships, and professional options, advisors oversee the progress of students from the time they enter until graduation.

Sy Syms School
The Office of the Dean of the Sy Syms School of Business provides academic advisement for the Sy Syms students. The associate dean and faculty advisors review the academic requirements of each major and concentration with each student. Carefully constructed advisement and program-of-study sheets help the student in planning her academic program. Each semester, students' registrations are approved by a dean or an academic advisor. The academic records of all juniors and seniors are reviewed, and they are advised as to what requirements they must fulfill to graduate. Students are referred to the Office of Placement and Career Services for career counseling if they are unsure of or wish to change their major.

Pre-Health
Students interested in any health-related fields are encouraged to meet with the Pre-Health Sciences advisor. Students contemplating graduate study in the health sciences are urged to meet with the advisor during their first year on campus and to attend all informational meetings dealing with preparedness for health professions admissions, the application process, and professional school selection during the junior and senior years.

Pre-Law
Students considering graduate study in law are urged to meet with the Pre-Law advisor during their freshman year. Intensive guidance services dealing with preparation for the Law School Admissions Test, the application process, and professional school selection are provided during the junior and senior years.

Pre-Engineering
Students considering the Combined Plan in Engineering with Columbia University should meet with the Pre-Engineering advisor during their freshman year. The advisor guides students in planning a course of study and in choosing among the options offered.

Shaped Major
Under special circumstances, students may design an individual major. Students meet with the Shaped Major advisor, who guides them in shaping a cohesive course of study to meet their academic and professional goals. Majors such as Art and Joint Degree Programs fall under this category.

Internships
Students are encouraged to engage in internships to complement their coursework. The Internship advisor suggests appropriate apprenticeships and reviews all internship applications for approval.

Placement and Career Services
The Office of Placement and Career Services provides a full range of career and placement services to all undergraduate students, including, on-campus recruiting, resume referral, career fairs, internships, summer jobs, job postings, business lectures, forums, and career library. The office also offers career counseling and testing, career information and research, and educational planning, including graduate school applications. All services are offered at both the Wilf and Midtown campuses. The office maintains an excellent job and graduate-school placement record.

Disciplinary Probation and Dismissal
Yeshiva University expects its students to exhibit high qualities of character as well as demonstrate academic ability. Every student is expected to adhere to the ideals represented by the University and to show seriousness of purpose, intellectual dedication, and respect for the views and convictions of others. A student's continuance on the rolls of the University;the receipt of academic credits, honors, and awards, graduation, and the conferring of any degree, diploma, or certificate upon the student are entirely subject to the disciplinary powers of the University and to the student's maintaining high standards of ethical and academic conduct. A student may be placed on probation or dismissed by the University at any time for infringement of these standards.

Academic Integrity
The submission by a student of any examination, course assignment, or degree requirement is assumed to guarantee that the thoughts and expressions therein not expressly credited to another are literally the student's own. Evidence to the contrary will result in appropriate penalties, which may include failure in the course or disciplinary dismissal.

Class Status
A student who has satisfactorily completed, or received credit for, one year of full-time study (see each school's regulations on Workload for definition of "full-time") and has removed any entrance condition, is classified as a sophomore. A student who has received credit for two years of full-time study is classified as a junior; and three years, as a senior. See the table below for the exact credit values for the transition points:

Independent Study for credit may be done under the following conditions:

A. The student must normally be a senior or at least a junior, but others will be considered.

B. A minimum average of 2.5 is required.

C. With special permission, the work may count toward the major.

D. The student must work under the supervision of a faculty sponsor. For work done outside the University, an immediate supervisor, in addition to the faculty sponsor, may be required.

E. Independent Study may be done during the summer, with permission of the sponsor and the appropriate dean. A fee is charged.

F. The student may do no more than one Independent Study per semester and no more than three altogether. Under normal circumstances, only 1 or 2 credits are permitted for an Independent Study project done during the school year.

The required procedure is as follows:

1. During the regular registration period for the semester in which the student plans to do the work, the student must submit an Application for Independence Study form. This form provides space for a description of the project and for the recommendations of the faculty sponsor and the Office of the Registrar. The faculty sponsor lists the examinations and papers to be required of the student, and describes the nature of the direct supervision that will be exercised.

2. The appropriate dean considers every application. Approval from the dean is required before work may begin.

3. If the project is carried on outside the University, the following procedure must be followed: Upon completion of the project, the student must submit a final report accompanied by a letter of evaluation from the student's immediate supervisor to the faculty sponsor.

4. Independent Study is listed on the student's record as “(Subject) 4901.” (A second term is 4902, etc.) It is graded on a P/N basis.

Directed Study
Under special circumstances, students who are in need of a course listed in the Catalog but not currently offered are permitted to take the course they need by Directed Study. Approval is granted on an individual basis as follows:

A. Except under the most unusual circumstances, a student may take only one course at a time in this manner.

B. The student must be a senior or, with special permission, a junior, with a minimum average of 2.5.

C. The student must work under the supervision of a faculty sponsor.

D. Directed Study may, in exceptional cases, be done during the summer. Per-credit tuition is charged.

The required procedure is as follows:

1. During the regular registration period for the semester in which the student plans to do the work, the student must submit an Application for Directed Study form to the Office of the Registrar. The faculty sponsor lists the reading and written assignments, the examinations and papers to be required of the student, and the nature of the direct supervision that will be exercised.

2. The appropriate dean considers each application and must approve it before work begins.

At the end of the term, the instructor submits a grade to the Office of the Registrar. The course is listed on the student's record with its regular number and title.

Note: Independent Study and Directed Study are treated as regular courses and are counted as part of the student's regular work-load. Specifically, if the project is not to be completed, the student must withdraw within regular deadlines. If the work is completed late, the student may apply for an extension and, if approved, will receive an Incomplete grade.

Internships
Students may receive credit for significant business or professional learning experience. The internship must provide the intern with an opportunity to grow intellectually or professionally.

To receive credit for an internship, the student must follow these regulations:

A. The student must file an Internship Application with the appropriate undergraduate school by the filing deadline listed on the form. The internship must be approved by the dean or faculty advisor prior to registering for each semester of internship.

B. One hundred hours of internship is equivalent to 1 credit.

C. A maximum of 3 internship credits may be used toward the major. The student must obtain prior departmental or school approval.

D. The student should keep a journal of her activities.

E. Students must submit a final report and an evaluation from their supervisor by the end of each semester.

F. The student will receive a grade of P/N.

G. Credits will be counted toward the student's course load during the fall and spring semesters.

H. The student may pursue internship credits during the summer.

I. There is a $200 tuition charge and a registration fee for summer internships. Full-time students doing internships during the fall and spring semesters do not pay additional internship charges.

Waivers
While faculty and other advisors may make recommendations for waivers and changes in graduation requirements, all exemptions and exceptions must be approved in writing by the dean or the Academic Standards Committee of the school. The Request for Waiver of Prerequisite form should be used to request a waiver of prerequisite, and the Standard Request form for other requests. These forms should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar, and the student should keep a copy.

Work Outside Regular Courses
Permission of the dean of the school in which the student is matriculated is required in order to take any courses at another institution. Students must fill out a Request for Outside Course form.

In accordance with the regulations of the New York State Education Department, students may earn no more credit during summer sessions than is proportional to the amount of credit that may be earned for coursework during the regular term at Yeshiva University, whether the courses are taken at Yeshiva University or elsewhere. See Request for Outside Courses form.

Courses transferred from another institution, whether taken before or after admission to Yeshiva University, appear on the student's record with credit value only; grades earned elsewhere are not entered on the records of Yeshiva University, except in programs in which the tuition is paid by the University.

Study Abroad
Yeshiva University believes in the value of study abroad. Many Yeshiva University students are particularly interested in studying in Israel. Information about the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program is available in the Admissions Office. Students who study abroad, but not on the University's program, must file a Leave of Absence form and a Request for Outside Courses form, available in the Office of the Registrar.

Joint and Combined Programs
Joint bachelor’s–master’s programs with graduate schools of Yeshiva University exist in the fields of Jewish education, Jewish studies, and social work. In these programs, qualified upperclassmen may take courses at the University’s graduate schools and receive credit simultaneously toward their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Further information is available in the Office of the Registrar.

Combined programs with other institutions include Bar-Ilan University School of Economics and Business Administration, Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Occupational Therapy program, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, SUNY College of Optometry, and NYU College of Dentistry. Further information is available in the Offices of the Deans.

Graduate Courses
Undergraduate students enrolled in joint degree programs with graduate schools of Yeshiva University should consult policies and procedures for those programs.

Seniors who are not eligible for the joint programs may be permitted to take graduate courses for undergraduate credit. Full information on such courses is given on Undergraduate Request for Permission to take a Graduate Course form, available in the Office of the Registrar. Such students will not be allowed graduate credit for the courses later, even if they do not need this credit for their undergraduate degree. Only students who originally received permission for graduate credit while still undergraduates will receive such credit.

Leaves of Absence
Students who intend to absent themselves from the University and then return at some future time must apply for a formal leave of absence on the Leave of Absence form. If they do not obtain such a leave, readmission may be denied.

Leaves of absence are ordinarily granted for a maximum of four semesters. Students on leave will not receive credit for study at another institution without prior permission. Students must fill out the Request for Outside Course form.

Withdrawal from the University 
A student who is withdrawing from the University and does not expect to return at some future date should fill out the Application for Official Withdrawal from School form.

Records and Transcripts
Students may print a free, unofficial transcript in the Office of the Registrar. To obtain a written report of grades, students and parents may send a written request to the Office of the Registrar.

Current or former students who wish official transcripts of their records should secure copies of Request for Transcript form from the Office of the Registrar. This may be done in person or by mailing a self-addressed stamped envelope. The form lists the fees, regulations, and procedures governing the issuance of transcripts.

A transcript is not issued without the student's written request, except to the person(s) or agency upon whom the student is financially dependent, or as provided by law.

The issuance of transcripts, and generally the release of any information about a student, is subject to the provisions of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Yeshiva University has adopted regulations to implement the Act. A copy of these regulations is available upon written request, accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope, to the Office of the Registrar.

No official transcript will be issued for a student unless the student's financial record with the University is completely clear.

Official records of students are sent only in the form of a complete transcript. No partial records are sent, nor are records listing only courses without grades.

Students who believe that there is an error in their academic record (e.g., in a grade, average, credit value, or course) must promptly call this to the attention of the Office of the Registrar.

Change of Name or Address
A student who wishes to change either a first or last name on school records must file a Request for Change of Name on School Records form in the Office of the Registrar.

Students who change their home or local residences are required to notify the Office of the Registrar of the change of address within 10 days on the Notification of Change of Address form. A student is responsible for all mail sent to the old address if the University has not been so notified.

Diplomas
Duplicate or revised diplomas can be secured under certain circumstances. Full information is given on the Duplicate Diploma Request form, available in the Office of the Registrar.

Use of the University's Name
No student or student organization may use the name of the University or any of its components in print for any purpose, including identification, without written permission from the Office of the Dean.

Academic Terminology
For the convenience of students, certain academic terms frequently used at Yeshiva University are defined below:

Academic Average: A measure of the student's scholastic achievement.

Advanced Standing: Credit given toward a degree for academic work completed at another institution, or on the basis of an approved examination.

Class Section: A group of students taking a particular course at a specific time. It is identified in course schedules by a letter, e.g., ART 1051, section J.

Corequisite: A course that must be taken during the same semester as another course.

Correlate: A course required for a major that is not in the major department.

Course: A particular portion of a subject. It is identified by a course number, e.g., ART 1051.

Course Description: The statement in the Catalog outlining the content of a particular course.

Course Title: A word or phrase describing the course content. Thus, at Yeshiva University, the course title of ART 1051 is History of Art.

Credit: The credit value of each course is listed after its title in the Catalog. At least 45 academic hours (each 50 minutes long) of formal classroom instruction and other types of study are required to earn 1 credit. These 45 hours are divided as follows: in an undergraduate lecture-recitation course, 15 academic hours in class plus 30 in outside preparation; in a laboratory course, 30 academic hours in class plus 15 in outside preparation; in observation and supervised student teaching, 36 academic hours in class plus 9 in outside preparation. Class hours include examinations. These hours are minimums and may be increased to satisfy special requirements in certain courses.

Curriculum: A planned group of courses (and ancillary experiences) leading to a specific degree, diploma, or certificate.

Department: An administrative unit of faculty members teaching one discipline (see below), or several closely related disciplines.

Discipline: A particular branch of knowledge, e.g., biology, English.

Division: An administrative unit of faculty members teaching related disciplines. The undergraduate faculty is organized into the following divisions: Humanities, Jewish Studies, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Sy Syms School of Business also functions as a division.

Elective: A course that a student may choose to take, as distinguished from a required course.

Major: The subject that a student chooses for primary emphasis.

Minor: A subject that a student chooses for secondary emphasis.

Prerequisite: A preliminary requirement that must be met before a particular course may be taken.

Probation: The status of a student whose enrollment has been placed on a trial basis for scholastic or disciplinary reasons.

Registration: The process of enrolling as a student. It consists of three stages: a) filling out general information forms provided by the University and having them approved; b) selecting courses and sections, having them entered in the computer by the Office of the Registrar, and receiving written confirmation of one's choices; c) completing financial arrangements. The student is not registered until all three stages have been completed.

Required Course: One required for graduation, either for all students or those in a particular area of study.

Residence Requirement: The requirement for a degree or diploma that specifies the minimum period of time that a student must be in attendance at the school through which the document is granted, and the minimum number of credits that must be completed there. The Residence Requirement is intended to give each student adequate contact with the school and its faculty. Residence credit is distinguished from transfer credit, i.e., credit for courses taken at another school of the University or at another institution; it does not imply that the student must live in a University dormitory.

Seminar: A course pursued by a small group of students with a professor, with each engaged in original research or independent study and all exchanging results through reports and discussions.

Status: The category under which a student is enrolled, e.g., Regular, Transient.

Transcript: An unabridged copy of the student's record, certified by the Office of the Registrar.

Please note, most registration forms are available on the Office of the Registrar’s website, www.yu.edu/registrar/.

Privacy
In accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Section 438 of the General Educational Provisions Act, 20 US 1232g), also known as FERPA, Yeshiva University has adopted certain policies to protect the privacy rights of its students with respect to their Education Records. FERPA affords students certain rights of access to their Education Records. FERPA also limits the persons to whom the University may disclose a student s Education Records, and permits certain disclosure without the student s written permission. Please visit the Office of the Registrar to obtain the Yeshiva University FERPA Policy Statement.