Academic Standards and Policies

MMC fosters an academic community; students and faculty work together to create a learning experience that imparts knowledge and forms character – the hallmarks of a university culture. To achieve this, the College adheres to a policy of Academic Honesty – one that teaches students to complete tasks in a thoughtful, honest manner so as to breed a positive ideal of self-knowledge within each student. It is through this quality that students understand their true capabilities. This policy instructs students to honor their colleagues by producing work that is based on their own capabilities so fellow students receive their equal consideration in the eyes of their professor. Honest work—on the computer or in writing—is important in the development of the academic character. MMC desires for each student to finish each course, each program, with a developed sense of self, a pride in the integrity of their own work toward their own level of achievement; this will create a true community of dedicated, life-long learners.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, collusion, and willful misrepresentation.

1. Plagiarism means to present as one’s own the work of someone else, or the attempt “to blur the line between one’s own ideas or words and those borrowed from another source” (Council of Writing Program Administrators, January 2003, http://wpacouncil.org/node/9 ). Examples of plagiarism include: submitting work copied in part or whole from other students; submitting work copied in whole or part without proper attribution from the Internet, books, or articles; submitting work in part or whole purchased from or prepared by another person. Students can avoid the risk of plagiarism by clearly attributing and indicating the source of any idea or wording that they did not invent.
2. Cheating means doing something to gain an unfair advantage over other students. Examples of cheating include: using or attempting to use unauthorized notes or technology during an exam; copying from another student during an exam or in an assignment when not explicitly permitted to do so; repurposing an assignment from one class in part or whole for another class.
3. Collusion means collaborating with another person in an unauthorized fashion. Examples of collusion include: allowing another student to look at or copy your work; preparing an assignment for another student to submit as their own; allowing another person to do one’s work.
4. Willful Misrepresentation means intending to deceive. Examples of willful misrepresentation include: fabricating data; forging records or official documents; and lying about reasons for absence or late work in order to gain accommodation.

Faculty who suspect academic dishonesty must contact the student and offer a discussion (in person or via phone or email) about their concern within ten business days of detecting the academic dishonesty. The student is allowed at least five business days to respond. In cases where the faculty member concludes, as a result of this discussion, that there is not, in fact, evidence of academic dishonesty, no further action is required on the part of the faculty member. If the student does not reply or fails to be available for such a discussion, the faculty member will proceed with a report.

All faculty (including part-time and full-time) must report all cases of academic dishonesty to Academic Affairs using the MMC website no matter how they choose to resolve the case. Faculty should identify cases of academic dishonesty as soon as possible but no later than within a month of the incident.

In the case of academic dishonesty, the instructor has the authority to, but is not obligated to, fail the student for either or both the assignment and the course; however, the penalty should be proportionate to the severity of the offense. In consultation with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the instructor may also recommend other disciplinary action in accordance with college policy. However, in all cases, whether such action is taken or not, violations of the policy will be recorded in an Academic Integrity file maintained by Academic Affairs. Students with serious or multiple violations may be subject to additional sanctions, as determined by the Academic Review Committee.

Please Note: Students found in violation of the Academic Honesty Policy will not be permitted to drop the course. If a student is found in violation of policy and the faculty member or Academic Review Committee sanctions an “F” grade for the class, the student’s transcript will reflect a letter grade of “F” If a student should process a withdrawal form (including a medical withdrawal) while the case is pending, the grade will be changed to an “F” grade.

When faculty report violations, each report goes into a central Academic Integrity file. Each reported student will receive written notification that a report will be placed in the file; the student’s academic advisor will be copied on this notification. The file will be placed under limited access and housed within Academic Affairs. Under most circumstances, only the Vice President of Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will have access to the file. Information about individual cases will be made available to the Academic Review Committee on an as-needed basis. Records in the file are subject to FERPA guidelines.

Academic Affairs will take the following actions when notices are placed in the file:

1st violation: Students will be sent a written notice requiring that they have an in-person meeting with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within thirty days. A hold will be placed on their record immediately. That hold remains until the case is closed. If the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs determines that a first violation is particularly egregious, they may refer the incident to the Academic Review Committee for consideration.

2nd or greater violation: Students will be sent a written notice requiring that their case has been referred to the Academic Review Committee. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will explain the process to the student. The Associate Dean will then schedule a hearing by the Academic Review Committee and communicate the logistics to the student.

The Academic Review Committee will convene under the following circumstances:

1. When a student is cited for a second or greater instance of academic dishonesty with the placement of a notice in the Academic Integrity file, the case will automatically be referred to the Academic Review Committee for review within sixty business days of the placement of such notice.
2. When a student is referred by the Associate Dean for a particularly egregious first violation, the Academic Review Committee will hold a hearing within sixty business days of the placement of notice.
3. Students may request a hearing of the Academic Review Committee to appeal a notice being placed in the Academic Integrity file.

The Academic Review Committee consists of five voting members of the faculty. An alternate member will be appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs if a committee member needs to recuse him/herself due to conflict of interest or is not available for deliberation. In each case, all members participating in this process are expected to maintain the highest level of discretion and confidentiality regarding all proceedings and findings.

1. A student may request a hearing with the Academic Review Committee within thirty business days (as determined by the date on the notification letter) of a notice being placed in the Academic Integrity File.
2. The Chair of the Academic Review Committee must schedule a hearing within sixty business days after receiving a student’s request for an appeal. The hearing itself must take place prior to the end of the following semester. All efforts should be made to guarantee that the hearings take place in a timely manner.

The Academic Review Committee has the following responsibilities:

1. Determine whether the parties acted according to the College’s policies regarding academic dishonesty;
2. Decide whether the allegations of academic dishonesty are warranted;
3. Decide whether the grade penalty and/or disciplinary action were warranted and proportional to the offense;
4. Consider a number of resolutions including but not limited to:

• clearing the student;
• issuing a written warning;
• mandating remedial academic counseling re. ethics or academic integrity;
• requiring an assigned project related to academic integrity or ethics;
• dismissal from the College Honors Program;
• denial of access to internships or independent studies;
• loss of scholarship support from the College;
• withholding honors or awards;
• suspending the student for one or more semesters, with the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs;
• permanently expelling the student, with the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Academic Review Committee will arrive at its findings by simple majority, using the preponderance of evidence (more probable than not) standard. The Associate Dean will inform the interested parties of the decision within thirty business days of the hearing. All decisions made by the Academic Review Committee are final.

In some cases, students are notified of a decision made by the Academic Review Committee that subsequent violations will result in either their immediate suspension or dismissal from the College. Upon receipt of any report of subsequent violations, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will review the report, consult with the Chair of the Academic Review Committee (or designee) and the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of the Faculty, and if all are in agreement, the Associate Dean will notify the student of their suspension/dismissal. Any differences of opinion among the Associate Dean, ARC Chair, and VPAA will result in a hearing by the Academic Review Committee prior to the administration of sanctions.

The following Rules and Procedures will apply to the Academic Review Committee:

1. Any member of the Academic Review Committee who has a conflict of interest with the case in question must recuse him/herself from the case.
2. The student will be informed by the Chair of the Academic Review Committee of his/her right to provide any evidence at the hearing.
3. The student will be allowed, but not required, to attend the hearing, and to bring one support person (a faculty member, staff member, or another student from the College) to the hearing. The Chair of the Academic Review Committee must be informed of that intention within seventy-two hours prior to the hearing. The support person does not have the right to speak or ask questions.
4. Final decisions will be recorded in the Academic Integrity file.

According to federal regulations, to be considered as making satisfactory academic progress, the student must have a cumulative C average (2.0 GPA) at the end of the student’s second academic year. Any student not making satisfactory academic progress is considered ineligible for federal aid and/or MMC institutional grant aid. All students will be reviewed at the end of each enrollment period. The minimum required cumulative GPA is shown below:

Required Minimum GPA
Credit Hours Attempted	Minimum Required Cumulative GPA
1 – 18 credits	1.2
19 – 29 credits	1.5
30 – 47 credits	1.8
48+ credits	2.0

According to federal regulations, financial aid eligibility is limited to 150% of the credits required to complete a degree. As explained in the above section on the maximum time frame a student’s financial aid eligibility is limited to a total of 180 attempted credit hours. For a student to be maintaining the proper pace, the ratio of earned hours to attempted hours must be no less than as shown in the following table.

Pace for Degree Completion (formerly Program Pursuit)
When total attempted credits hours are:	Earned (completed) credit hours must be at least:
Less than 26 credits	50% of attempted hours
26-50 credits	55% of attempted hours
51-75 credits	60% of attempted hours
76-100 credits	65% of attempted hours
101-125 credits	70% of attempted hours
126+ credits	75% of attempted hours

It is the policy of the College to respect its members’ observance of their major religious holidays. Administrators and instructors responsible for the scheduling of required academic activities or essential services are expected to avoid conflict with such holidays as much as possible. Such activities include examinations, registration, and various deadlines that are a part of the Academic Calendar. When scheduling conflicts prove unavoidable, no student will be penalized for absence due to religious observance, and alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements involved. If a suitable arrangement cannot be worked out between the student and the instructor, they should consult the appropriate Chair. If an additional appeal is needed, it may be taken to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Marymount Manhattan College does not discriminate against any student on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions. Absences due to medical conditions relating to pregnancy will be excused for as long as deemed medically necessary by a student’s doctor and students will be given the opportunity to make up missed work. Students needing assistance can seek accommodations from the Title IX Coordinator, Rebecca Mattis-Pinard at rpinard@mmm.edu or 212-517-0563.

Students who receive military orders for active duty or deployment will receive “W” (Withdrawal) grades for the term. An exception to this policy can be made if a student receives military orders after the eleventh week of classes, has completed approximately 80% of the assignments, and can reach an agreement with the faculty (at the faculty member’s discretion) about how missed work will be made up. Annual Training (AT) or other normal training orders are not considered mobilization or active duty orders. Students who receive orders for Annual Training should make a formal request to postpone their orders until the end of the term. If their request for postponement is denied, and the student and faculty member can come to an agreement about how the missed work will be made up, then the student may remain eligible for credit and grades without penalty for absences due to routine training. For more information, please see the Military Withdrawal Policy.

All courses and degree programs at the College must comply with Section 50.1 (o) of the New York State Commissioner of Education Regulations:

Semester hour means a credit, point, or other unit granted for the satisfactory completion of a course that requires at least 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments, except as otherwise provided pursuant to section 52.2(c)(4) of this Subchapter. This basic measure shall be adjusted proportionately to translate the value of other academic calendars and formats of study in relation to the credit granted for study during the two semesters that comprise an academic year.

The U.S. Department of Education defines a credit hour as an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:

• One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one-quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or,
• At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Marymount Manhattan College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

MSCHE issued a “credit hour policy” in August 2012 that requires MSCHE institutions to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s definition of “credit hour.” MSCHE also noted in the statement that institutions must provide this information to the Commission’s evaluators “at appropriate points of accreditation review so they can verify compliance with the credit hour regulations.

One credit hour is awarded for a minimum of 12.5 hours of classroom instruction with a normal expectation of 25 hours of outside study per credit over the course of the term.

For online or hybrid courses, credit hours are assigned according to the classification of the course:

• Type 1: On-line courses with no classroom meetings that share equivalent student learning objectives and expectations for student effort as face-to-face sections of the course: The on-line section is assigned the same credit hours as the face-to-face section.
• Type 2: On-line courses that include an in-class component (i.e., hybrid courses) with equivalent student learning objectives and expectations for student effort as a fully face-to-face section of the course: The hybrid section is assigned the same credit hours as the face-to-face section.
• Type 3: On-line and hybrid courses that do not have corresponding face-to-face sections for comparison: The department providing the course must document the expected level of student effort, expected student/faculty interactions, course assessment plan, and student learning objectives for the course along with proposed credit hours. This information will be reviewed by the Curriculum Committee and the VPAA/Dean for approval of the proposed credit hours.

One credit hour is awarded for the equivalent of fourteen periods of such activity, where each activity period is 160 minutes or more in duration with little or no outside preparation expected. Where such activity involves substantial outside preparation by the student, the equivalent of fourteen periods of 110 minutes duration each will earn one semester credit hour.

One credit for independent study (defined as study which is given initial faculty guidance followed by repeated, regularly scheduled individual student conferences with a faculty member, and periodic as well as final evaluation of student performance) is awarded for the equivalent of 37.5 hours of student academic activity.

At its discretion, MMC may award credit hours for learning acquired outside the institution which is an integral part of a program of study. When life or work experience is to be credited as a concurrent portion of an academic program design, as in an internship, one credit hour will be awarded for each 40-hour period of supervised activity that provides the learning considered necessary to program study plus 5 hours of outside study.

At its discretion, MMC may award credits for mastery demonstrated through credit-by-examination. When such credit by examination is allowed, it may be used to satisfy degree requirements or to reduce the total number of remaining hours required for a degree. MMC may also award credits through Prior Learning Assessment; see http://www.mmm.edu/academics/about-the-program.php for information.

Faculty may present educational justification for departures from these policy provisions to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Credit hours to be earned in approved international academic programs will continue to be considered on an individual basis following established procedures. Other special arrangements suggested by partner institutions will be considered on an individual basis by the Office of Academic Affairs.

New courses are reviewed and approved by the Curriculum Committee and the VPAA/Dean for compliance with the credit hour policy. The periodic compliance review of the credit hour policy is incorporated into each department’s program review under the supervision of Office of Academic Affairs

The following is the method by which a student’s GPA is calculated:

1. Multiply the quality points equal to the grade by the number of credits for which the grade was earned: A=4.00 quality points x 3 credits = 12.00 points
2. Add the total quality points earned in a semester
3. Divide by the total number of credits for a semester

The total quality points, divided by the total credits, equals the GPA for the semester. To compute a cumulative grade point average, including all MMC courses taken to date and divide by the total number of credits for which grades of A through F, plus UW and WF, have been earned or assigned.

D grades will be credited toward the degree, but not toward the fulfillment of requirements in the major or an elected minor. A student receiving a grade of D or below in a required major or elected minor course must repeat the course. When a student repeats a course, both the D grade and the new grade compute in the cumulative grade point average. The credit for the given course is only counted once toward the degree. In the case of required general education and elective courses, the grade of D is acceptable and does not require repetition. A student may elect to repeat such courses to raise his/her grade point average, but credit is only counted once. In no case may a student take any course more than twice during his/her entire career at MMC.

Grades earned by a student reflect the quality of his/her academic performance, as judged by the instructor of the course and pursuant to the requirements set forth in the course syllabus; the course instructor has sole responsibility for determining all academic grades. Though rare, a student may feel that his/her work has been graded unfairly, or that his/her grade is based on some standard other than academic performance in the course in question. In such cases, the Grade Appeal Procedure(opens in a new tab) offers the student a vehicle by which to seek clarification and/or resolution.

Grades entered on a student’s transcript (except for the INC grade) are considered permanent; consequently, students who wish to appeal a grade must make their request as soon as possible after receiving their grade report. As a first step, students are required to make his/her appeal to the faculty member for whose course the grade was earned. The decision to review a student’s work and the grade earned is made at the sole discretion of the faculty member. Should a disagreement remain unresolved at this level, the student may seek redress with the Chairperson of the Department or Division through which the course was offered. Further appeals may be made to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and may be referred to the Academic Review Committee.

Barring instructor error, grade appeals are entertained in cases where unusual or extenuating circumstances apply. In any case students may not request to appeal a grade beyond 30 business days after the original grade was received.

Matriculated students may petition for a grade waiver(opens in a new tab) for courses in which they earned grades of D, F or WF only under the following circumstances:

• Except for extenuating circumstances, they must be continuously matriculated at MMC
• Grade waivers will not be approved for more than 4 courses with a maximum 12 credits
• A course in which a student receives a UW or W grade is not eligible for a grade waiver
• Students must repeat the identical course for which the original grade was earned at MMC, unless such course is no longer offered, in which case a suitable substitute may be approved by the divisional chair
• Under no circumstances will a student be permitted to petition for a grade waiver for a course in which a prior grade waiver was granted
• Credits earned for Internships, Independent Study, Prior Learning Assessment, under the Pass/Fail grade option, Study Abroad, Consortial Agreements and/or other non-traditional means may not be considered for grade waivers
• All grade waiver petitions must be submitted to the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention by the last day of the semester in which the repeated courses are taken
• Grade waiver petitions are reviewed and approved by the Dean and the Registrar
• Grade waivers will not be granted when a student’s F grade is due to a violation of the College’s Academic Honesty Policy

If approved, the following conditions apply to the waiver of a grade:

• Upon completion of the repeated course, the student will be awarded the new grade, regardless of whether it is higher or lower than the original grade; only the new grade will be applied in the calculation of the term and cumulative GPAs
• The old grade will not be used to calculate the GPA but will remain on the student’s transcript record and designated to indicate that a grade waiver was granted
• Although the new grade will replace an existing F or D grade, in cases of the D grades, no additional credits will be granted for the course.

Once submitted by instructors and processed by the Center for Student Services, grades are considered permanent and may not be changed unless serious extenuating circumstances apply. Final grades for courses and independent work may be academic or administrative grades.

MMC calculates quality points and GPA to three decimal places:

An Incomplete grade (INC) may be awarded by a faculty member upon request by the student prior to the submission of final grades to address extenuating circumstances, provided the following specific requirements are satisfied, the majority of course requirements and assignments have been completed and the student must postpone, for serious medical or personal reasons beyond his/her control, the completion of a particular final paper, report, examination or another assignment. The student and faculty member must complete an Incomplete Clearance Plan(opens in a new tab) outlining the outstanding assignments/requirements and the date on which these will be due to the instructor.

Students may choose to forego a letter grade and take courses under the Pass/Fail Option under the following conditions:

• The student must have completed 60 credits of academic work, including transfer credits
• The student may not be on academic probation
• The student must file a request form for the Pass/Fail Option(opens in a new tab) with the Center for Student Services during the Program Change period each term; under no circumstances will a student be allowed to apply the pass/fail option to any course once the Program Change period has ended. Request forms must be signed by the instructor of the course. Once a student chooses the Pass/Fail option he/she may no longer decide to take a letter grade.
• The Pass/Fail Option may be applied only to courses taken as electives and not to courses intended to fulfill degree requirements, including courses intended to fulfill general education requirements, major or minor requirements, or courses intended as prerequisites for graduate schools
• The Pass/Fail Option may not be applied to Independent Study courses and Internships
• No more than one course in a single term and no more than an overall total of four courses or 12 credits (whichever is fewer) under the P/F option will be applied to the MMC degree
• All requirements for the course must be completed to be eligible to receive the grade of Pass (P)
• A grade of Pass (P) is not counted toward the student’s cumulative index, but a failing grade (F) is computed in the index
• A course in which a student receives a grade of pass may not be counted toward the 60 credit minimum MMC credits necessary to receive honors at Commencement. The Grade of Pass is considered equivalent to a grade of D or better. Grades of P generally do not transfer to other institutions

A student may not take a course offered by the College more than twice; i.e., only one repetition is allowed. This policy does not apply to certain courses for which content changes, e.g.: Directed Study (298, 398), Cultural Studies (COR 300), Special Topics (COMM 308, etc.). See Department listings for codes. If a student repeats a course, both grades are calculated in the student’s cumulative GPA, unless a student has an approved Grade Waiver Petition for the course. In all cases, the credits for the course will be granted only once in determining a student’s total credits completed.

Students who fail a course twice will:

• in the case of General Education courses, be required to petition to continue studies at MMC
• in the case of a course in the student’s major, be required to declare a new major in order to continue his/her studies at MMC

Note: Repeating a course may adversely affect a student’s full-time status for financial aid purposes.

Sometimes students are unable to continue in school for psychological reasons. In rare cases, the College will require a student to take a leave of absence to address these concerns. In most cases, however, the student realizes the need to go on leave. Students granted psychological leaves have a “hold” placed on their records accessible to selected staff only.

The general policies and guidelines governing placing a student on a medical leave of absence for psychological reasons and the conditions for returning from leave follow:

An involuntary leave is appropriate for students who refuse to take a voluntary leave of absence and engage or threaten to engage in behavior which 1) poses imminent and/or significant risk to self or others, 2) causes significant property damage, or 3) substantially interferes with the community and/or academic activities. The Director of the Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) in all cases evaluate the student directly and/or reviews materials from other mental health professionals before making a recommendation to the Dean of Academic Advisement to place the student on involuntary leave. Once placed on an involuntary leave of absence, the student must fulfill the requirements for return from leave. Until then, a block on the student’s record prevents registration for classes.

In a voluntary leave, the student consents to the leave and the conditions for return from leave. As with involuntary leaves, the Director of CWC evaluates the student and/or reviews supportive documentation from other mental health professionals before recommending the leave to the Dean of Academic Advisement, who implements the leave. The general criteria for recommending a voluntary medical leave of absence are either 1) the student needs to leave school to concentrate on treatment for mental health issues or 2) the student’s academic performance is compromised because of mental health issues. Once placed on a voluntary leave of absence, the student must fulfill requirements for return from leave. Financial obligations are not waived by a voluntary leave of absence. There is a block on the student’s record preventing registration for classes.

When a student is hospitalized for psychiatric reasons and/or substance abuse, in general, he or she will be required to have an in-person evaluation with the Director of CWC, who will give feedback to the Vice President and, if appropriate, the Director of Residence Life on whether the student is safe to return to the residence halls and/or remain in the college. Sometimes remaining in the residence hall or the college may require certain conditions, such as attendance in counseling sessions.

All residential students who take an involuntary or voluntary leave of absence must leave the residence hall. In some instances, the student is required to leave the residence hall but is permitted to complete the academic semester. This decision is generally made by the Vice President for Student Affairs in consultation with the Director of Residence Life, Dean of Academic Advisement, and Director of CWC.

Students on a psychological leave will be expected to fulfill all financial obligations to the College for that semester, in accordance with published liability dates. Students will be charged based on the date of official withdrawal and the College’s tuition cancellation policy. In order to not be charged for a given semester, a student must be withdrawn by the end of the business day on the first official day of classes for that semester.

To return from a medical leave of absence a student must fulfill these conditions:

• Be out of school for a minimum of three months
• Be in treatment during the entire time away from school
• Have the therapist submit a Certificate of Readiness to Return form to the Director of CWC
• Be evaluated by the Director of CWC approximately one month before the student’s intended return

Based on fulfillment of these criteria, the Director of CWC makes a recommendation to the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention about the student’s readiness to return. Sometimes conditions are attached to the recommendation, such as ongoing treatment. It should be noted that because the CWC Director’s evaluation takes place shortly before the start of the term, which is necessary to properly assess the student’s readiness, the block on registration will not be removed until that time.

If the decision is not to readmit, the CWC Director in consultation with the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention will specify the conditions that must be met before readmission.

Newly readmitted students should consult with the Dean of Academic Advisement to determine their class schedule given their prior psychological difficulties.

Once admitted to the College, matriculated (degree-seeking) students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment for all consecutive fall and spring semesters until they have completed their degree. Students who must interrupt their studies for a compelling reason (for example, sustained illness, personal or financial matters that impede their ability to continue study) may be allowed to leave school for a stated period, not to exceed one year or two consecutive semesters. To do so, and thereby, retain matriculated status, a student may request to maintain matriculation by completing a Maintenance of Matriculation Application(opens in a new tab). The form is also available in the Center for Student Services or can be downloaded from The Registration & Records(opens in a new tab) website.

Such applications are approved only under the following circumstances: the student must be in good academic standing (the cumulative GPA must be at least 2.0); the student must have satisfied all past and current financial obligations to the College; the student must not have had any disciplinary action while in attendance at MMC. Students should not plan on matriculating at another college while maintaining matriculation at MMC. Such application must be submitted prior to the beginning of the given semester for which the Maintenance of Matriculation is sought. Students will be notified as to whether or not their requests for Maintenance of Matriculation have been approved.

If the student’s request for Maintenance of Matriculation is approved, the student’s permanent academic record or transcript will indicate by the course code REG 001 “Maintenance of Matriculation” that the student maintained active matriculated status. However, students with an approved Maintenance of Matriculation are not considered enrolled and cannot receive verification of enrollment as a full-time or part-time student from the College for that time period. In addition, maintenance of matriculation does not prevent a student from entering loan re-payment, if applicable. Students who have been approved for Maintenance of Matriculation are notified, along with all continuing students, of the registration period for the subsequent semester and may register on their priority registration day. Thus, students who have been approved for Maintenance of Matriculation do not need to apply for readmission to the College and may be assured that any academic scholarships they may have been awarded at the time of their admission to the College will remain available to them, provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Lastly, these students will be bound by the catalog requirements in effect at the time of their initial enrollment at the College, provided that the date of that catalog does not exceed the statute of limitations (10 years) imposed by the State of New York.

Students who require a second semester away from the college may indicate so by checking off both terms on the application form. Under no circumstances will a student be permitted to maintain matriculation for more than two consecutive semesters. Students who either fail to apply for Maintenance of Matriculation or who do not return after their registration for Maintenance of Matriculation has elapsed will be required to apply for re-admission in order to return to their studies at MMC. Students who seek re-admission are subject to the catalog requirements in effect at the time of their re-admission and will have forfeited any financial assistance awarded them by the College at the time of their original admission to the College.

International students, who must attend classes to maintain their F-1 Visa status, are not eligible for Maintenance of Matriculation. They should consult the Director of International Recruitment in the Office of Admissions for additional information.

Matriculated students are classified on the following basis according to the number of credits completed:

First Year: 0-29 credits

Sophomore: 30-59 credits

Junior: 60-89 credits

Senior : 90+ credits

Matriculation

A matriculated student is one who has stated an intention to complete the degree requirements of the College, has satisfied all entrance requirements of the College and has been accepted for admission for part-time or full-time study. Students who wish to take leave for a semester while pursuing their degree must file a Maintenance of Matriculation form with the Registrar in order to maintain their status within their degree program.

Those who do not must apply for readmission and will be subject to degree requirements in effect at the time of their readmission.

Degree students who have not been in attendance for one or more semesters, and are not currently on maintenance of matriculation, must apply for re-admission to the college before registering for any future classes. The readmission process is very straightforward. To be re-admitted, students simply complete and submit a re-admission application to the Office of Academic Advisement at least two weeks prior to the start date of the semester/session for which re-admission is sought. To be considered for readmission to the college, a student must clear all financial holds and should have left the college in good academic standing, as defined by a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Students who were previously admitted through a special program such as HEOP or Access, may be required to re-interview for such programs, prior to re-admission, as other conditions may apply. Also, students who had previously majored in Theatre or Dance must notify those departments of their desire to return, and may be subject to re-audition.

Students who have taken college credits in other institutions while being away from MMC must submit all related transcripts for evaluation prior to being approved for re-admission. These credits are likely to transfer and may be used to satisfy either Gen Ed or major requirements, once such credits have been evaluated. Unless otherwise exempted, all re-admitted students will be required to satisfy their degree requirements under the catalogue that is in place upon their return, and as such may be subject to new major or general education requirements. It is therefore important for re-admitted students to meet with an academic advisor during their first semester back to make sure that they are fully aware of their degree requirements under the current catalogue.

As noted above, the re-admission process applies only to degree students. All other students must contact the Admission Office for possible reinstatement of their non-degree status.

For re-admission to degree status, please complete and submit the Re-Admission Application(opens in a new tab) to the Office of Academic Advisement. It can be mailed, emailed, or sent via fax (212-517-0510).

For more information on the readmission process, please call the Office of Academic Advisement at 212-517-0568 or email us at advisement@mmm.edu.

To withdraw permanently from the College during a given semester, a student must formally withdraw from all registered courses by completing a withdrawal form available in Office of Academic Advisement. At the time of withdrawal, students must complete an exit survey, signed by the Office of Academic Advisement, the Center for Student Services, and the Office of Residence Life, as appropriate. Such a withdrawal will take effect as of the date the student completes and signs the official withdrawal form. A student who chooses to withdraw voluntarily from the college will be held liable for tuition and other charges as of the effective withdrawal date, consistent with the College’s tuition cancellation policy.

Students who wish to withdraw from all courses during a given semester with the intention to return to the College must complete a withdrawal form as described above, and they must complete an exit survey indicating their desire to return to the College within a given time period. If, due to circumstances beyond the student’s control, the student cannot complete the withdrawal form, a letter/email to the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention or a phone conversation with the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention will constitute official withdrawal notification. Students informing faculty that they will not be returning to College is not sufficient and is not considered an official withdrawal.

Students seeking a temporary withdrawal from the College should apply for maintenance of matriculation for the up-coming semester. Failure to secure maintenance will require the student to apply for re-admission prior to any future registration.

If a student withdraws from one or more courses during a given semester, the withdrawal is effective as of the date the student officially withdraws and a grade of “W” appears on the student’s transcript. Students may only withdraw without academic penalty during the official withdrawal period in each semester/session, listed in the College Catalog(opens in a new tab) and on MMC’s website.

A student who chooses to withdraw from classes during the course of a given semester may incur failing grades for all such withdrawn courses. It is therefore the responsibility of the student to become fully aware of the academic implications of such withdrawals at the time that such action is taken. The course(s) from which a student withdraws will appear as part of the student’s permanent transcript unless such withdrawals occur prior to the official “last date to drop a class without a grade.” Students withdrawing after this period but during the official withdrawal period will receive a “W” grade which carries no academic penalty and is not computed into the student’s GPA. However, students withdrawing after the last date to withdraw with a “W” grade will receive a “WF” grade which counts as an “F” grade with 0 points.

Students who cease attending courses without officially withdrawing will be given a grade of “UW”. This grade will factor into the student’s GPA and will count as an “F” grade. Students should know that ceasing to attend classes or notifying an instructor of intent to withdraw does not constitute an official withdrawal. Further, a student who withdraws for medical or psychological grounds is subject to the policies and procedures below. The student is responsible for all charges on the account due to his/her withdrawal.

A student may apply for a medical withdrawal when, due to some physical or psychological problem, he or she is unable to complete the course of study during a given semester. In such circumstances, the student must make a request to withdraw prior to the last day of the semester and before the faculty has submitted final grades for the courses involved. It is important to note that an approved medical withdrawal will apply to all courses for which the student is currently registered. In general, a student who receives at least one passing grade in a given semester is deemed ineligible for a medical withdrawal. Further, students seeking to withdraw from some, but not all, courses in a given semester will be subject to the normal withdrawal process.

The following procedures and policies apply to medical withdrawals:

• Students seeking a medical withdrawal from a given semester must first notify the Office of Academic Advisement of their desire to withdraw from all courses for which they have registered. Upon such notification, the student will immediately be withdrawn and awarded withdrawal grades based upon the date of notification, pending completion of the process below.
• After withdrawal, the student must submit a Medical Withdrawal Request form and a formal letter stating the basis for the request to the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention.
• In addition, the student must submit to the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention a letter from a licensed medical or mental health professional (appropriate to the reason for withdrawal), certifying that due to a medical problem – either physical or psychological – the student is unable to continue his/her studies during the current semester. Where the medical problem is of a psychological nature, such a request will be forwarded to the Director of the Counseling and Wellness Center prior to the approval of his/ her request.
• In highly extenuating circumstances, requests for medical withdrawals, along with substantiating documentation, may be made no later than 30 days after the end of the semester for which such consideration is sought.
• After all documentation has been submitted and the request is granted, the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention will authorize the Registrar to award “W” grades in all courses for which the student registered during the semester.
• Students whose requests have been granted will receive a letter from the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention confirming the approval of the request and outlining the associated terms and conditions.
• It is understood that the granting of a medical withdrawal, whether psychological or physical, does not in any way constitute or imply a cancellation of tuition or other fees for which the student is currently liable. The determination of any refund will be in accordance with the College’s refund policy.
• A student whose medical withdrawal request is granted may apply for maintenance of matriculation for up to two subsequent semesters. A request must be made to the Registrar in the Center for Student Services prior to the start of each semester for which the student wishes to maintain matriculation.
• A student whose request for medical withdrawal was granted is required to submit a letter of clearance from a medical practitioner no sooner than 30 days before the start of next semester for which registration is sought. In cases where such withdrawal was based on psychological reasons, such a clearance is also mandatory.
• Students who fail to register for a subsequent semester (Fall or Spring) and who have not been granted maintenance of matriculation must apply for and be approved for readmission prior to further registration. In the event that such an absence from the college was initiated through a medical withdrawal, the medical clearance letter becomes mandatory and must be submitted along with the application for readmission.
• In all cases, students whose medical withdrawal was granted may not re-register for any subsequent semester without prior approval by the Dean of Academic Advisement and Student Retention. In addition, at the discretion of the Dean, a student whose medical withdrawal was granted may be required to take an involuntary leave of absence from the college for up to one year.
• All international students and students in special programs, such as HEOP and Academic Access, must inform the directors of their programs of any intention to request a medical withdrawal.

Under certain extenuating circumstances, a student may request a medical withdrawal after the term has ended. The Dean of Academic Advisement and the Center of Health and Wellness Director, if applicable, will consult and review each case. If a retroactive medical withdrawal is granted, all final grades for the given term will be converted to “W”’s - Official Withdrawals. Under no circumstances, will a student be able to obtain final grades in some courses and “W”’s in others. Requests for partial withdrawals will not be accepted.

This policy applies to all credit-bearing distance learning courses and programs offered by Marymount Manhattan College, beginning with the application for admission and continuing through to a student’s graduation, transfer, or withdrawal from study.

All credit-bearing courses and programs offered through distance learning methods must verify that the student who registers for a distance education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives academic credit. One or more of the following methods must be used:

1. A secure login and password: Each MMC student is assigned a unique student ID and password to login to a number of the college’s systems, including the learning management system (Blackboard) and college e-mail system. The student is instructed to keep this ID/Password personal and confidential.
2. Proctored examinations: Distance learning courses may utilize proctored or in-person exams and other activities that require face-to face interaction by faculty that minimize the possibility of academic dishonesty.
3. New or emerging technologies and practices: The college may elect to employ technologies that it deems effective in verifying student identification. All methods of verifying student identity in distance learning must protect the privacy of student information. Personally identifiable information collected by the College may be used, at the discretion of the institution, as the basis for identity verification. For instance, a student requesting that their Blackboard be reset may be asked to provide two or more pieces of information for comparison with data on file, or bring an MMC ID card or other verification to the Blackboard administrator.

All users of the College’s learning management systems are responsible for maintaining the security of usernames, passwords, and any other assigned access credentials. Access credentials may not be shared or given to anyone other than the user to whom they were assigned to for any reason. Users are responsible for any and all uses of their account. Users are held responsible for knowledge of the information contained within the most recent College Catalogue as well as the Griffin Guide. Failure to read College guidelines, requirements, and regulations will not exempt users from responsibility. Students are responsible for providing complete and true information about themselves in any identity verification process. Faculty teaching courses through distance education methods hold primary responsibility for ensuring that their individual courses comply with the provisions of this policy. Faculty are responsible for informing the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of any new technologies being used to verify student identity, so that published information on student privacy can be maintained appropriately, and so that the College can coordinate resources and services efficiently. Because technology and personal accountability may not verify identity absolutely or ensure academic integrity completely, faculty are encouraged, when feasible and pedagogically sound, to design courses that employ assignments and evaluations unique to the course and that support academic integrity. Division Chairs, Department Chairs, and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs are responsible for ensuring that faculty are aware of this policy and comply with its provisions. The Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for ensuring College-wide compliance with the provisions of this policy and that Division Chairs, Department Chairs, and the Associate Dean are informed of any changes in a timely fashion. The VPAA is responsible for publishing College-wide information on how identity verification processes protect student privacy, and is also responsible for coordinating and promoting efficient use of College resources and services, and for ensuring that College-level processes remain in compliance with this policy

Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) accepts credit in transfer for coursework completed at colleges and universities accredited by the regional agencies of the United States Commission on Higher Education (USCHE).

MMC reviews transfer credits for work completed at institutions not accredited by the regional agencies of the USCHE on a case-by-case basis with the following restrictions:

1. Students are required to supply course syllabi for each course under consideration.
2. Typically, transfer credit is only granted for an equivalent MMC course (eg. PSYCH 101 or COMM 131).
3. A maximum of 18 credits can be awarded.
4. For College policy on Conservatory or Military credits, please see below.

Transfer credits are assessed according to the following guidelines:

1. The maximum number of transferrable credits MMC will award is 90. The College cannot guarantee that all degree requirements can be met within the remaining 30 credits.
2. The minimum transferable grade in all cases is a C- or higher.
3. For students transferring from accredited two-year institutions a maximum of 70 credits may be awarded, if credits are applicable to the student’s program and MMC’s curriculum. This includes liberal arts courses taken in A.A., A.S., A.A.S., and A.O.S. degree programs.
4. Only coursework completed at a baccalaureate-granting institution can be considered towards 300/400-level MMC equivalents. The only exceptions to this policy are advanced technical and specialized courses offered at two-year colleges in fields such as mathematics, theatre, and video production.
5. The College does not typically award credit for courses in which the student earned a grade of P (Pass).
6. The College does not typically award credit for remedial courses.
7. Placement in technique courses in Dance and Theatre Arts will be determined by the faculty on the basis of a student’s ability as demonstrated during a post-admission evaluation.

Transfer credits are assessed according to the following process:

Upon receipt of an official external transcript, the Office of Academic Advisement will conduct a review of the student’s academic program to determine the maximum number of credits that may be awarded and to evaluate how such credits may be applied to the student’s degree. This evaluation takes into consideration the following:

1. The number and type of transfer credits awarded by the College will be determined based on the requirements of a student’s officially declared academic program, including all majors or minors. Any subsequent change in a student’s major or minor may affect the number of transfer credits awarded.
2. Courses that appear to be equivalent to MMC courses are accepted as such; courses that do not appear to be equivalent may be considered for elective credit based on a review of the learning goals and assessments of the course(s).
3. All credits applicable to the student’s current degree will be counted as attempted and earned credits but will not be included in the student’s MMC GPA.

Students may have completed college-level courses offered by the military for which no college credit was earned. The Office of Academic Advisement evaluates these courses based on the recommendations of the American Council on Education and their applicability to MMC’s curriculum, to determine if credit can be awarded or if the student should make such a request through the Prior Learning Assessment process (see section below).

Students may have completed college-level courses offered at conservatories that are not accredited by any of the regional agencies of the USCHE. The faculty in the division of Fine and Performing Arts evaluate these courses to determine if credit can be awarded or if the student should make such a request through the Prior Learning Assessment process (see section below).

Marymount Manhattan College will consider the award of nontraditional credit in the following categories:

1. Advanced Placement (AP)
2. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
3. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
4. NYU Foreign Language Proficiency Tests or tests administered by other pre-approved testing organizations (e.g., the Goethe-Institut)
5. International Baccalaureate (IBC)
6. Jerusalem Exams

Acceptance of such credits is subject to the following conditions:

• No more than 30 combined non-traditional credits from the categories above are accepted toward degree requirements;
• Credits earned within the above categories may be applied to requirements at the 100 and 200 levels only;
• Credits earned in these categories will not count toward the 30 credit residency requirement or toward the 12 credit minimum residency requirement in the field of concentration or major.