CREDIT SYSTEM 

Credit Load 

For fall and spring semesters, the maximum number of hours in which a student may enroll is 21, and 15 hours is the maximum credit load for those on probation. Permission of the department chair in which the student is a major is required for all registration involving more than 21 hours, or 15 hours for those on probation. Enrollment in summer is limited to ten credit hours each term or seven credits each term for those on probation. 
 
 

Full-time Enrollment 

Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination 

Certain departments will also grant credit for successful completion of College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject examinations which are administered by the College Board. 

Enrolled students may earn credit by means of a special examination without the necessity of class attendance subject to the following requirements:
1. The applicant must present evidence that he/she has received training or taken work which is approximately equivalent to that given in the course at Clemson for which an examination is requested. 

2. The applicant must not have previously failed or audited the course at Clemson. 

3. The applicant must apply in writing for the examination, and the request must be approved by the instructor, chair of the department in which the course is taught, and the Office of Records and Registration. Application forms are available in the Office of Records and Registration. 

4. Credit (CR) will be awarded for acceptable work in lieu of letter grades in recognition of college-level achievement as determined by College Board Advanced Placement Examination, College-Level Examination Program subject examination, institutional special examinations, and similar instruments. 
 
 

Transfer Credit 

Learning experiences including, but not limited to, military service schools, non-collegiate sponsored instruction, work related experiences, etc. will not be evaluated for transfer; however, enrolled students may request credit by examination for any non-transferable learning experience. For additional information, see section entitled Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination in this catalog. 

Approval of each course should be obtained by the student prior to scheduling the class. By obtaining advance approval, the student is assured of receiving proper credit at Clemson upon satisfactory completion of the course. Information and forms relative to this approval may be obtained in the Student Records Office, 104 Sikes Hall. 
 
 

GRADING SYSTEM 

B–Good 
Indicates work that is definitely above average, though not of the highest quality. 

C–Fair 
Indicates work of average or medium character. 

D–Pass 
Indicates work below average and unsatisfactory, the lowest passing grade. 

F–Failed 
Indicates that the student knows so little of the subject that it must be repeated in order that credit may be received. 

I–Incomplete 
Indicates that a relatively small part of the semester's work remains undone. Grade I is not given a student who made a grade F on his/her daily work. Students are allowed thirty days after the beginning of the next scheduled session, excluding summers and regardless of the student's enrollment status, to remove the incomplete grade. Normally, only one extension for each I may be granted, and this under unusual circumstances. The extension must be approved in writing by the instructor of the course and the chair of the department in which the course was taken. The extension will indicate the nature and amount of work to be completed and the time limit. (Students under this policy are prohibited from removing the I by repeating the course.) A letter grade of I converts to F unless the incomplete is removed within the time specified. 

W–Withdrew 
Indicates that the student withdrew from the course or was withdrawn by the instructor after the first two weeks of classwork and prior to the last seven weeks of classes, not including the examination period. Proportionate time periods apply during summer and other shortened sessions. Each undergraduate student is allowed to withdraw or be withdrawn with a grade of W from no more than 17 hours of coursework during the entire academic career at Clemson University. Transfer students may withdraw from no more than 12 percent of the total work remaining to be done in the chosen undergraduate curriculum at the time of transfer to Clemson University up to a total of 17 hours of coursework, whichever is fewer. Partial credit for courses cannot be dropped. A student who exceeds these limits of hours or who is enrolled during any part of the last seven weeks of classes shall have final grades recorded. A student may withdraw from the University subject to the restrictions above. Additionally, pending approval from the provost or the provost's designee, students may withdraw from Clemson University one time only during their academic careers prior to the final seven weeks of classes (proportionate time periods apply during summer and other shortened sessions), without reduction from their allotted W hours. Any variance from these restrictions must be approved by the provost or the provost's designee and must be requested within 90 calendar days (exclusive of summer vacation) from the date printed on the grade report. The student must document the circumstances supporting the request. For financial aid purposes, enrollment is defined and satisfactory academic progress levels are established as of the last day to register or add classes. Withdrawal can negatively impact financial aid eligibility if a student does not complete a sufficient number of hours. Details are available in the publication Financing Your Clemson University Education. 
 
 

Grade-Point Ratio 

Pass/Fail Option 

Letter-graded courses which have been failed may not be repeated Pass/Fail. 

Registration in Pass/Fail courses will be handled in the same manner as for regular enrollment. Departmental approval must be obtained via approval form and returned to the Office of Records and Registration in accordance with the University calendar for adding courses. Instructors will submit letter grades to the Office of Records and Registration. These grades will be converted as follows: A, B, C to P (pass); D, F to F (fail). Only P (minimum letter grade of C) or F will be shown on a student's permanent record and will not affect the grade-point ratio. 

If a student changes to a major which requires a previously passed course, and this course has been taken Pass/Fail, he/she may request either to take the course on a letter-graded basis, the P be changed to C, or substitution of another course. 

In the event limited enrollment in a class is necessary, priority will be given as follows: majors, letter-graded students, Pass/Fail students, and auditors.
 
 

Mid-term Grades 

This feedback should occur near mid-term, but it shall occur no later than the course meeting prior to the last day to withdraw without final grades. More frequent feedback is strongly encouraged. 

Both student and instructor are to recognize that this feedback reflects the student's performance up to that point in time, and as such, that student's final course grade may change based upon subsequent coursework performance(s). 

The policy includes all undergraduate courses and applies to all summer sessions, including Maymester. 
 
 

Final Examinations 

Final examinations must be given on the dates and at the times designated in the final examination schedule. 
 
 

Grade Reports 

Dropping Classwork 

Continuing Enrollment Policy 

In the event that a student is placed on academic probation, notification to that effect will be placed on the grade report for that session in which the student's academic deficiency occurred and for each session the student remains on probation. The student who clears probation by returning to the graduating academic requirement (2.0) will have notice to that effect placed on the grade report for that session. No notation concerning probation is placed on the student's permanent record. 

A student on academic probation will be suspended or dismissed at the end of the spring semester if his/her cumulative grade-point ratio is below the minimum cumulative grade-point ratio (MCGPR). Students entering Clemson University for the first time will not be subject to suspension until the student has attempted coursework at Clemson for two semesters, that is, fall and spring semesters (not necessarily consecutive enrollment). The minimum cumulative grade-point ratio is 2.0 for students with credit levels greater than or equal to 95 hours. For students with credit levels less than 95 hours, the MCGPR is given in the table below. CL in the table is the student's credit level, based on all credits taken at Clemson, plus any advanced standing received from transfer credits and credits based on approved examination programs. 

A student who passes at least 12 semester credit hours and earns a 2.2 semester grade-point ratio on all hours attempted in the most recent semester (fall or spring) or summer session(s) is permitted to continue enrollment even though his/her cumulative grade-point ratio is below the required minimum grade-point ratio, defined above. 

A student's first failure to qualify for continued enrollment will subject him/her to suspension from the University for the next fall or spring semester. Notice of academic suspension will appear on the permanent record. 

Upon enrolling after suspension, a subsequent failure to meet the requirements for continued enrollment before clearing probation will result in dismissal from the University, and notice of dismissal will appear on the permanent record. Dismissals are for one calendar year. 

Students subject to suspension or dismissal may appeal to the Appeals Committee on Continuing Enrollment at the end of the spring semester or summer session(s). The Appeals Committee on Continuing Enrollment meets approximately one week after final exams following spring and second summer session. Appeals must be in the Office of Undergraduate Academic Services no later than three days prior to the Appeals Committee meeting. An appeal must include a letter from the student giving a complete explanation for the student's poor academic performance. To the extent possible, verifiable documentation should also be included. Students are strongly encouraged to submit a letter directly to the chairperson of the Appeals Committee on Continuing Enrollment from the pertinent department chair (or designate) or academic advisor stating support of the student for continued enrollment in that department. Appeals will be granted only in the most exceptional cases, and a student will be allowed to continue on appeal only once prior to dismissal. Students who return on a successful appeal must meet the conditions specified by the Appeals Committee on Continuing Enrollment. 

Students subject to suspension or dismissal after the spring semester will be permitted to enroll in summer school and may have their regular enrollment reinstated immediately if the summer school work brings their cumulative grade-point ratio above the minimum cumulative grade-point ratio or if the student passes at least twelve semester credit hours and earns a 2.2 grade-point ratio on all hours attempted during the summer session(s). 

When a student is suspended or dismissed for academic reasons, ineligibility to continue officially commences on the first day of classes of the very next semester (fall or spring, as appropriate) immediately following the decision of ineligibility. 

A student who has been dismissed may file a petition for readmission with the Appeals Committee on Continuing Enrollment after one calendar year. If this petition is denied, the student may file subsequent petitions for readmission after any intervening term of enrollment. Dismissed students who are readmitted and again fail to meet the requirements for continuing enrollment will be dismissed and may not appeal to continue. 

This continuing enrollment appeals process is separate from the unsatisfactory academic progress appeal with Student Financial Aid. Students subject to suspension or dismissal must be allowed to continue enrollment before submitting a satisfactory academic progress appeal for financial aid eligibility. Further information on satisfactory academic progress is available in the Financial Information section and in the publication Financing Your Clemson University Education.
 
 

Grade Protests 

Repeating Courses Passed 

Repeating Courses Failed 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 

Residence Requirement 

Make-up of Incompletes Received in Last Semester 

Special Requirements 

Credit Limitation 

Academic Honors
Honor Graduates 

Honor Lists 

Honors and Awards 

CLASSWORK

Course Prerequisites 

Class Attendance 

Some students are on scholarships and/or grants-in-aid overseen by the University Scholarships and Awards Committee. The acceptance of such scholarships and/or grants-in-aid may require participation in events both on and off campus. Additionally, students occasionally are required to miss class because of participation in co-curricular activities, such as class trips, that the faculty members note on their syllabi. The student must discuss these activities with the faculty members whose classes will be missed well in advance of their occurrences. The documentable absences are necessary, and the instructor will make arrangements for those students to make up graded work that takes place during those necessary absences. The time, location, and nature of the make-up work will be at the discretion of the instructor. If required, documentation will be provided to instructors by students. 

Instructors are expected to set reasonable policies in working with those student personal documentable absences that are truly beyond the student's control. After reviewing the reason for the absence, the instructor at his/her discretion may allow the student to make up the graded work missed. 

All other aspects of class attendance are within the discretion of the instructor, department, or college responsible for the course. If a student feels unfairly treated in any attendance-related situation, the student has the right of appeal to the Academic Grievance Committee. 
 
 

First Day Class Attendance 

Dead Days 

NOTE: Dead Days do not apply to courses numbered 600 or above. 
 
 

Auditing Policies 

Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in 12 or more hours may audit courses at no additional charge. Others interested in auditing should verify their eligibility through the Registrar's Office. 
 
 

Cross-Listed Courses 

Enrollment in Graduate Courses 

Seniors with a cumulative grade point ratio of 3.0 or higher may enroll in 700- or 800-level courses and may use these courses to meet requirements for the bachelor's degree. However, courses used for this purpose cannot be counted later toward an advanced degree. Alternatively, such students may take 600-, 700- or 800-level courses in excess of 
the requirements for their undergraduate degrees and may request that these courses be included as a part of their graduate program if they are subsequently admitted to the Graduate School. Courses cannot be taken at the 600 level if their 300- and 400-level counterparts are required for the undergraduate degree in the same academic major as the proposed graduate degree. 

A Clemson senior with a cumulative grade-point ratio less than 3.0 may apply to the Graduate School for conditional acceptance. If accepted, the student may enroll in graduate courses for inclusion in a future graduate program, subject to approval of Form GS6. The form must be turned in and accepted by the Graduate School before a student can register for graduate courses. 

In all cases, the credits and quality points associated with senior enrollment in graduate courses will be part of the undergraduate record. 
 
 

ACADEMIC RECORDS 

Classification 

Academic Advising 

Change of Major 

Withdrawal from the University 

Academic Renewal 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY 

I. Academic Integrity Policy 

B. Academic dishonesty is further defined as: 

1. Giving, receiving, or using unauthorized aid on any academic work; 

2. Plagiarism, which includes the copying of language, structure, or ideas of another and attributing the work to one's own efforts; 

3. Attempts to copy, edit, or delete computer files that belong to another person or use of Computer Center account numbers that belong to another person without the permission of the file owner, account owner or file number owner; 

C. All academic work submitted for grading contains an implicit pledge and may contain, at the request of an instructor, an explicit pledge by the student that no unauthorized aid has been received. 

D. It is the responsibility of every member of the Clemson University community to enforce the Academic Integrity Policy. 

II. Academic Integrity Committee 

A. Structure
The Academic Integrity Committee is composed of twenty members as follows:
1. Ten tenured members of the faculty; two members from each college elected by their respective collegiate faculties. Faculty members will be elected on a staggered term basis, serving for a period of two years after initiation of staggered terms. Terms commence with fall semester late registration. 

2. Ten members of the undergraduate student body; two from each college. Student members are nominated by the Student Body President, through an application and interview process in the spring semester, approved by the Student Senate, and appointed by the Provost for terms of two years. Students must have a 3.0 grade-point ratio at the time of appointment and must have completed 30 hours by the end of the spring semester. Nominations will be made in the spring semester with terms of service commencing with fall semester late registration. 

3. The committee is divided into four standing boards, hereafter referred to as hearing boards, which will hear the cases of academic dishonesty. Hearing boards convene on a weekly, rotational basis unless there are no cases to be heard. For summer sessions, the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services must maintain at least one hearing board to hear cases. 

4. Hearing boards are comprised of two faculty members, two students, and one chairperson. Quorum, for a hearing board, is one student, one faculty member, and a chairperson. Decisions by the hearing board will be by majority vote. 

5. Chairpersons will be elected from within the Committee's membership. Two chairpersons are selected from the faculty membership and two from the student membership. Chairpersons will vote only to break a tie. 

6. Before hearing any cases, a new member of the committee must undergo a training session(s) with the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services. 

7. The Director of Undergraduate Academic Services is the administrative coordinator of the Academic Integrity Committee. 

B. Procedures
1. When, in the opinion of a faculty member, there is evidence that a student has committed an act of academic dishonesty, the faculty member shall make a formal written charge of academic dishonesty, including a description of the misconduct, to the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services. 
At the same time, the faculty member may, but is not required to, inform each involved student privately of the nature of the alleged charge. 

2. When, in the opinion of the student, there is evidence that another student has committed an act of academic dishonesty, he/she should contact the faculty member for the course to discuss the incident. After being contacted, if, in the opinion of the faculty member, there is evidence that a student has committed an act of academic dishonesty, the faculty member shall make a formal written charge of academic dishonesty, including a description of the misconduct, to the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services. At the same time, the faculty member may, but is not required to, inform each student involved privately of the nature of the alleged charge. 

3. When the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services has received a formal charge of an alleged violation, he/she will contact the student involved privately to notify him/her of the charge and at the same time will provide the student with a copy of the charge and a copy of the procedures that the Academic Integrity Committee has adopted, pursuant to number 6 below. 

4. After informing the student involved, the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services will convene one of the boards of the Academic Integrity Committee within 14 calendar days of his/her being notified of an alleged violation. All students will be presumed innocent of a violation until found guilty by a hearing board. 

5. A charge of academic dishonesty in a course must be made within 14 calendar days of the date printed on the grade report for the semester or session in which the course is completed. If an I (Incomplete) is given in a course, the grade in the course is considered to be final when the I is made up. 

6. The Academic Integrity Committee will adopt its procedures, to be followed by all hearing boards, prior to the first case heard by a hearing board. In addition to providing the student with a copy of the procedures, as stated in number 3 above, the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services will provide a copy of the procedures to the involved faculty member and also the hearing board members. The Director of Undergraduate Academic Services will also retain copies of these procedures. The procedures must afford both faculty and students the opportunity to present their cases and the opportunity for rebuttal. 

7. In cases in which there is a finding of guilt, the faculty member may consult with the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services to consider any past precedent established regarding academic penalties levied in similar cases. Faculty members must inform the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services of the academic penalty for a student found guilty by a hearing board. 

8. The Director of Undergraduate Academic Services is responsible for notifying the registrar and all other appropriate University personnel of the finding of guilt and the academic penalty. The Director of Undergraduate Academic Services retains all records of academic dishonesty cases and their findings in accordance with the University's Records Retention Policy. 

C. Penalties
1. Upon a finding of "not guilty" by a hearing board, the student's record will not reflect the incident. 

2. Upon a finding of "guilty" by a hearing board, the Director of Undergraduate Academic Services will notify the student and faculty member of the decision immediately. If the offense is the first for the student, then the faculty member has the ability to determine the academic penalty, which shall not exceed a grade of F for the course. 

3. If the finding of guilt is not the student's first offense, the student will receive a grade of F for the course, will be suspended from the University for one or more semesters, and may be permanently dismissed from the University. The hearing board will determine the period for which the student will be suspended or, if applicable, permanently dismissed. Suspension or dismissal requires the approval of the President of the University. 

D. Appeals
1. Students do not have the option to appeal a decision of guilt rendered by the hearing board, whether it is the first, second, or any subsequent offense. Students do not have the option to appeal the penalty determined by the faculty member for first offenses or to appeal the grade of F for the course given for second offenses. 

2. For offenses resulting in suspension or permanent dismissal, students have the option to present written information to the President of the University to appeal the length of the suspension or to appeal a decision of permanent dismissal. Students must present information in their defense, as allowed in this paragraph, to the President within five working days after receipt of written notification of the suspension or dismissal. However, as stated in number 1 above, students cannot appeal a decision of guilt rendered by the hearing board. 
 
 

ACADEMIC GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE

I. General

The Academic Grievance Committee is composed of 28 members as follows: 
A. Fifteen members of the faculty; three members from each college. Members are appointed on a staggered basis by the respective college deans and serve for a period of three years. Term commences with fall semester registration. 

B.Twelve undergraduate students, nominated by the student body president, approved by the Student Senate and appointed by the Provost for one-year terms. Nominations should be made in the spring semester. Term of service commences with fall semester registration. At least one and no more than three students shall be appointed from any one college. 

C. Dean of Student Life (or designee); 

D. The Senior Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies shall appoint the chairperson from those faculty members who have previously served. 
 
 

II. Rules and Procedures for Academic Grievances 

2. If the grievance remains unresolved, the student may bring a written statement detailing the grievance before the Academic Grievance Committee. The student must report to the Office of Undergraduate Academic Services and secure a checklist form which the student will use to document the following: (a) the dates of those consultations described in Procedure 1, above, (b) the names of those persons consulted, and (c) the signature of the collegiate dean attesting that no resolution could be reached. (Note: If all parties agree, the checklist may be signed and dated during the initial consultation.) Both the written statement and the checklist form must be delivered to the Office of Undergraduate Academic Services within 90 calendar days (exclusive of summer vacation) from the date the student alleges to have been aggrieved; or, in a case involving a protest of a final grade, the grievances must be filed within 90 calendar days (exclusive of summer vacation) from the date printed on the grade report for the term in which the student alleges that an inequitable grade was recorded. The Office of Undergraduate Academic Services will retain the original documents and forward a copy of the grievance to the chairperson of the Academic Grievance Committee. In a case involving a protest of final grade, the Office of Undergraduate Academic Services will notify the Office of Records and Registration of the filed grievance. The failure of a student to file a grievance within the 90-day period will cause him/her to forfeit his/her right to file a grievance under this procedure. (d) If a student files a grievance, the professor has 90 days (excluding summer) to respond. 

3. The documents referred to in Procedure 2, shall be delivered to the chairperson of the Academic Grievance Committee. The chairperson shall, upon receipt of the documents, appoint a subcommittee consisting of a chairperson who is a fac
ulty or staff member of the committee and at least two other committee members, including at least one student, to investigate the grievance. If possible, the subcommittee shall include members who are not in the same college as the grievant. 

4. The committee members appointed by the chairperson will constitute the subcommittee to investigate the grievance. A minimum of three subcommittee members, including at least one student member, must be present for the subcommittee to conduct the hearing described in Procedure 7. 

5. The subcommittee to investigate the grievance will attempt to gather all information pertinent to the grievance in separate meetings with the individuals who give information concerning the grievance; however, after the separate meetings have been held, the subcommittee may question the student and faculty or staff member simultaneously in one meeting. Such a joint meeting will be held only if the subcommittee deems it necessary for clarifying the facts. 

6. The Academic Grievance Committee will, to the greatest extent possible, handle each case in a confidential manner. 

7. The hearing on the grievance will be informal and shall be closed to the public. The chairperson shall take whatever action is necessary to ensure an equitable, orderly and expeditious hearing. Minutes of the meeting shall be taken, and all parties to the grievance shall be given an opportunity to be heard. Each party is responsible for having present at the hearing all witnesses that he/she wishes to speak on his/her behalf. In addition, the chairperson may request the presence of any other person who can supply information pertinent to the grievance. Witnesses shall not be present during the hearing proceedings except when they are called to speak before the committee. The parties shall be permitted to question all individuals who are heard by the committee. If any witness is unable to be present at the hearing, the chairperson may, at his/her discretion, accept a written statement from that witness to be presented at the hearing. The parties shall be accorded the right to assistance of counsel of their own choice; however, counsel shall not be permitted to participate actively in the proceedings. 

8. Upon conclusion of the hearing, the subcommittee shall reach, by majority vote, a posed solution to the grievance. The subcommittee chairperson shall then formulate the findings in writing and seek to obtain from the parties involved in the grievance signed acceptance for a recommended solution to the grievance. If all parties to the grievance accept the solution posed by the subcommittee, the matter of the grievance will be considered closed when the solution has been implemented. Copies of the written findings and recommended solution will be forwarded by the subcommittee chairperson to all parties to the grievance for acceptance via return receipted certified mail. Each party will be asked to indicate acceptance of the posed solution by signing and returning the letter within 14 calendar days of its date. Failure to respond within 14 calendar days will constitute acceptance. Proper notification of the solution arrived at by the Academic Grievance Committee will then be mailed by the subcommittee chairperson to the involved faculty or staff member, department chair of the faculty member or immediate superior of staff mem
ber, the involved collegiate dean, and Director of Undergraduate Academic Services. In a case involving a protest of a final grade, the subcommittee chairperson will also notify the Office of Records and Registration of the solution arrived at by the Academic Grievance Committee. 

9. If, after the conclusion of the hearing on the grievance, the chairperson cannot secure acceptance of the posed solution, the grievance shall be referred to the President of the University via the Provost with the committee's recommended solution to the grievance along with all supporting evidence previously submitted to the Academic Grievance Committee. When grievances are referred in this manner, the President, on behalf of the University, shall make the final decision on the solution to the grievance and will then notify the involved faculty or staff member, department chair of the involved faculty member or immediate superior of the staff member, involved collegiate dean, and Director of Undergraduate Academic Services of the University's final decision. In a case involving a protest of a final grade, the President will also notify the Office of Records and Registration of the University's final decision. 

10. The chairperson shall keep in confidence all records pertinent to each grievance and pass these records to the Office of the Provost for filing. Records shall be available to succeeding chairpersons of the Academic Grievance Committee. 

11. The Academic Grievance Committee shall make every reasonable effort to resolve every grievance presented to it by the end of the semester in which each grievance is received. 

12. These procedures can be changed by the Academic Council. Such changes shall not affect any case under consideration at the time of the change. Notification of any changes to the procedure shall be given to the President of the University via the Academic Council.