Academic Policies

Academic Accommodations

Academic Accommodations are handled by the Office of Accessibility Resources.

Academic Advising

In addition to working with the Convener or Director of the program, students often work with other assigned academic advisers or mentors at different points in their programs. For example, it is common for faculty members to provide mentorship for extended papers, theses, and dissertations. History and Culture students can apply to change from their initially-assigned adviser to one most appropriate for their research agenda.

Academic Calendar

Courses are offered in the fall semester, January term, spring semester, and summer term.  Many required courses are offered only in the fall and Spring semesters. Students are responsible to regularly review all dates and deadlines posted on the University Registrar’s page (Academic Calendar). Some students in particular parts of their programs, such as MAT students in clinical internships, may follow modified calendars. Students should consult their program handbook in addition to the University calendar.

Academic Integrity Policy

See HERE

Academic Standards

• Students in the Doctor of Letters program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.1 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. D.Litt. candidates must also manifest excellence at certain points in course work in order to undertake the dissertation. All requirements for the D.Litt. degree must be fulfilled within seven years of entering the program.

• Students in the Doctor of Medical Humanities program must maintain an average GPA of 3.1 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. D.M.H. candidates must also manifest excellence at certain points in course work in order to undertake the dissertation. All requirements for the D.M.H. degree must be completed within a period of seven years after after entering the program.

• Students in the Doctor of Philosophy program must maintain an average GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. Ph.D. candidates must also manifest excellence at certain points in course work in order to (a) sit for the qualifying exams and (b) to undertake the dissertation. All requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be fulfilled within seven years from entering the program.

• Students in the Master of Arts in History and Culture program must maintain an average GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. All requirements for the M.A. degree must be fulfilled within five years of entering the program.

• Students in the Master of Arts in Medical Humanities, Health, and Society program must maintain an average GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. All requirements for the M.A. degree must be completed within a period of five years after entering the program.

• Students in the Master of Arts in Teaching program must maintain an average GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. Students in this program who drop below a 2.75 may be dismissed from the program. All requirements for the M.A.T. degree must be completed within a period of five years after entering the program.

• Students in the Master of Education program must maintain an average GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. Students in this program who drop below a 2.75 may be dismissed from the program. All requirements for the M.Ed. degree must be completed within a period of five years after entering the program..

• Students in the Master of Letters program must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better in order to graduate. All requirements for the M.Litt degree must be fulfilled within a period of two years after the student satisfactorily completes the 27 hours of coursework in the program, and within five years from entering the program. 

• Students in the Master of Science in Data Analytics program must maintain an average GPS of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. Students in this program who drop below a 2.75 may be dismissed from the program. All requirements for the M.S. degree must be fulfilled within three years from entering the program.

• Students in the Master of Science in Finance program must maintain an average GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. Students in this program who drop below a 2.75 may be dismissed from the program. All requirements for the M.S. degree must be fulfilled within three years from entering the program.

Academic Standing

Students are expected to maintain satisfactory progress, as determined by the Caspersen School and the Graduate Academic Standing Committee. At the end of each term, the Graduate Academic Standing Committee conducts a review of all student progress. Students whose records do not meet qualitative or quantitative degree standards are placed in the following academic standing categories:

Warning

Full-time students previously in Good Standing will be placed on Warning for any of the following reasons:

• A failure to meet minimum term and/or overall GPA requirements for the degree;

• A failure to satisfactorily complete credits according to minimum progress standards for the degree;

• A withdrawal from all classes in a fall or spring semester.

• A student on Warning who at the end of a fall or spring semester has satisfactorily met the minimum credit and grade point levels will be returned to Good Standing. A student on Warning who at the end of fall or spring semester has not made satisfactory academic progress and returned to Good Standing will be placed on Probation or may be dismissed.

Probation

Full-time students will be placed on Probation for any of the following reasons:

A student who has already been on a semester of Warning for either unsatisfactory GPA or progress.
Students on probation are restricted to 6 credit hours during the probationary semester and must complete at least 6 credit hours. Students who do not attain the GPA and progress minimums may be recommended for leave of absence or required withdrawal.

Required Withdrawal

Full-time students can be placed on required withdrawal for any of the following reasons:

Any student who receives all “F” in any one semester;
Any student who has been on probation and has not returned to Good Standing at the end of the probationary semester;
Students with two or more non-consecutive semesters on Warning or Probation.

Under exceptional circumstances only, a student on Required Withdrawal may appeal to the Graduate Academic Standing Committee to be re-admitted in the next term. If the appeal is approved, the student will be reinstated and placed on Probation. Such re-admissions are granted only in unusual cases, and in no cases may a student be readmitted twice.

Except in the case of grade appeals, appeals of decisions made by the Graduate Academic Standing Committee must may be made in writing by the student to the Dean of the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. The Dean will convene a three person committee of faculty and administrators to hear the appeal of the decision and render a final decision. The decision of this committee is not eligible for further appeal.

Attendance

Students are responsible for class attendance and for the prompt and regular performance of all assigned work. Faculty members are not obligated to review class material, give makeup examinations, or make special arrangements to accommodate absences. Faculty may indicate in the syllabus a maximum number of absences that are allowed before a student fails a course.

Complaint Process

Drew University is committed to creating a positive environment for all students. The institution has established policies and procedures to foster such an environment. Students may consult the catalog, the Vice President of Campus Life and Student Affairs/Dean of Students’ Office, Daniel’s Dictionary (the Student Code of Conduct) and the Drew University Consumer Information webpage to learn about these policies. Additionally, individual departments and offices have policies and procedures that pertain to the work they do with and for students.      

Informal Complaint Process

Many issues can be resolved through open and honest communication between the involved parties. Any student who experiences a problem should first try to resolve the issue informally with the individual(s) or office(s) most directly connected with the issue at hand. 

Formal Complaint Process

If the problem is not resolved through the Informal Complaint Process, students should refer to the following policies to determine the appropriate steps for filing a formal complaint:   

Existing Policies:

• Caspersen School of Graduate Studies Academic Integrity Policy

• Caspersen School of Graduate Studies Grade Appeal Policy

• Daniel’s Dictionary (Drew University Student Code of Conduct)

• Drew University Accessibility Resources Policies

• Drew University Complaints Against Campus Life and Student Affairs Staff Policy

• Drew University Nondiscrimination and Human Rights Policy

If the problem is not addressed by one of the existing policies, students may submit a complaint to the Associate Dean for the Graduate Curriculum. To submit a formal complaint, the issue must either interfere with the student learning experience or involve potential violation of University policy or stated operating procedures. The complaint must be submitted either by email to tsacademicdean@drew.edu or in writing, signed by the student, and received by the Associate Dean.

Up to 12 credits from Conflict Resolution courses listed in the M.Litt. or D.Litt are transferable into the Conflict Resolution certificate program. Outside of any degree coursework, students must complete ARCR 900 in order to receive the Conflict Resolution Certificate.

Drew University’s academic year is separated into fall and spring semesters, each running 15 weeks, a two-week January term, and two summer terms, each six weeks, with two embedded four-week sessions.

Drew adheres to the Federal standard of a total of 45 learning hours for every 1-credit earned in a semester, regardless of the time frame or format of instruction.  A credit hour is the equivalent of one hour of classroom instruction (50 minutes) with an average of two hours of out of class work for each hour in class. For example, a 3-credit hour course requires a total of 135 hours of combined in and out of class work, while a 4-credit hour course requires a total of 180 hours.

All course formats and schedules are monitored by the curriculum committees or appropriate academic dean’s office to comply with the university’s credit hour policy. The credit hour calculation worksheet is completed for every Drew credit-bearing course or experience and is kept on file in the appropriate Dean’s office. Existing courses are reviewed periodically by the curriculum committees or academic dean’s offices of each school to ensure that the workload is consistent with the credits to be earned. For accelerated and non-traditional course formats, faculty use the credit hour calculation worksheet to document how these courses meet the minimum semester credit hour requirement.  Credit hour calculation worksheets are also reviewed as data for departmental external reviews.

Policy on Undergraduate Students Enrolled in Graduate Courses

Upper-level undergraduate students may, with instructor permission, enroll in graduate-level courses.  The assignment of credit hours in these cases follows all aspects of Drew’s credit hour

assignment policy.  In these cases, the increased level of difficulty of graduate work generally requires undergraduates to spend more time completing assignments and reading advanced texts.  As a result, undergraduates in these courses generally earn one more credit than graduate students therein. 

Policy on Graduate Students Enrolled in Undergraduate Courses

In limited cases, graduate students may take courses in the College of Liberal Arts and apply the credits toward graduate degree completion. The assignment of credit hours in these cases follows all aspects of Drew’s credit hour assignment policy. In recognition of the difference in level of undergraduate and graduate coursework and the amount of time that it should take a graduate student to complete work in an undergraduate course, graduate students earn only three credits for completing a four-credit undergraduate course. In addition, faculty teaching undergraduate courses in which graduate students enroll may replace some assignments to ensure appropriate rigor or enhance the graduate student’s professional and disciplinary goals. Such curriculum adjustments include alternative readings, research work, and performance or portfolio work. These curricular adjustments should not exceed the total hours appropriate to a three-credit graduate course.

Extensions on Coursework (Incomplete Grades)

If a student finds it impossible to complete all course requirements on time, he or she should discuss the situation with the instructor and file a petition with the Graduate Academic Standing Committee for an incomplete. This petition must be submitted on or before the last day of the classes. If the extension is granted, a grade of “I” (incomplete) will be entered for the course, noting the date by which the work must be completed. The work should then be submitted within six weeks after the close of the semester to the instructor.  Final grades are due within four weeks after the submitted work deadline. Students may petition to the Graduate Academic Standing Committee to extend an incomplete beyond the first incomplete expiration date to the expiration date in the subsequent semester. If approved an EI is entered. EIs cannot be extended. If a final grade for an Incomplete has not been submitted by the agreed-upon deadline, a grade of “F” will be recorded by the Registrar.

Grade Appeals

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a mechanism, within the framework of existing University policies and regulations, for the review and consideration of course grade disputes in all Caspersen School degree programs.

Responsibility and Guidelines for Course Grades

The assignment of final grades for a course is the responsibility of the instructor in charge of the course. The syllabus of a course provides the guidelines for the assignment of grades in a course. In addition, the Caspersen School academic policies regarding grades, academic accommodations, academic integrity, attendance, incompletes, and pass/fail grading are applicable to all courses.

Criteria for Appeal

Students have the right to appeal final course grades. The Caspersen School grade appeal policy is intended to present a process that is fair to both students and faculty.

In order for a grade appeal to be reviewed, a student must demonstrate at least one of the following:

a. A demonstrable error was made in the calculation of the grade,

b. The assignment of a final course grade was apparently made on a basis other than the policies described on the course syllabus,

c. The instructor did not assign or remove an Incomplete or initiate a grade change as agreed upon with the student in writing,

d. Substantial extenuating personal circumstances (e.g., serious medical or family emergencies) call the appropriateness of the final grade into question. In these cases, the student must first contact the Associate Dean of Faculty in Arts & Sciences who will receive formal documentation and affirm the validity of such issues before the student can proceed to appeal.

This policy is not applicable to allegations of violations of academic integrity. Matters involving human rights violations or claims of sexual harassment should be handled under the University Human Rights policy.

Grade appeals proceed as follows:

1) The student shall first seek to resolve the matter in conversation with the instructor of the course. Students may contact their instructor in person or by email. Written records of all communications should be maintained.

2) If there is no resolution with the instructor, the student can choose to file a formal written appeal with the Associate Dean of the Graduate Curriculum. The appeal must state succinctly, accurately, and completely the cause for the appeal. The student should include a syllabus, relevant course materials, and any correspondence (to and from the instructor) that supports the appeal. The associate dean will inform the faculty member of the appeal and may attempt to resolve the matter at that time. The associate dean reviews the materials and determines whether the appeal meets the criteria outlined under Criteria for Appeal. The associate dean will notify both the student and the instructor of the outcome as soon as possible but within a reasonable period of the submission of the complaint, explaining his/her decision to both instructor and student in person and/or in writing. Written records of all communications should be kept.

There are two possible outcomes:

(a) The Associate Dean of the Graduate Curriculum rejects the appeal as not meeting the Criteria for Appeal.

(b) The Associate Dean of the Graduate Curriculum deems that the appeal is warranted and refers the grade appeal to the Graduate Academic Standing Committee for review and decision.

If the appeal is denied, the student can present his or her written appeal to the Dean of the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies for a final decision on whether the appeal will proceed.

3) Appeals that meet the criteria will be forwarded to the Graduate Academic Standing Committee for review and decision. The student’s written appeal shall be forwarded to the instructor, who shall submit a statement explaining the reasons the grade was given and why a change is or is not appropriate. The instructor’s statement shall be furnished to the student prior to the hearing. The Committee may require of both the instructor and the student copies of all documents that it judges to be relevant to its deliberations.

The Committee shall invite both the student and the instructor to attend the hearing.  The student and the instructor may be counseled, advised, and represented before the Committee by any Drew faculty member, administrator, or student who is not a member of the Committee and who agrees to serve. Using such representation is optional. With the approval of the Committee, either party may invite Drew faculty members, administrators, and/or students other than the principals to make either written or personal statements to the Committee, provided their relevance to the issue can be demonstrated in advance. After the hearing, the Committee, in executive session, shall determine its conclusions. The Committee’s decision shall be put in writing and copies forwarded to the student, the professor, and the Associate Dean of the Graduate Curriculum. If the Committee decides that a grade change should be made, it may request the Registrar to do so. Alternatively, the Committee may recommend that the instructor reevaluate the grade in light of considerations that the Committee sets forth. If the instructor objects to the Committee’s parameters, she or he can request that the Associate Dean of the Graduate Curriculum appoint a faculty member of the associate dean’s choosing to review the student’s work and provide the revised grade to the Committee.

Grade appeal decisions of the Graduate Academic Standing Committee are final and not eligible for further appeal. All involved parties should keep the proceedings confidential at all times.

Timeline for Appeals:

An appeal of a fall semester grade can be initiated no later than January 31st following the semester in which the grade was awarded. An appeal of a spring semester grade can be initiated no later than June 30th following the semester in which the grade was awarded. An appeal of a summer term grade can be initiated no later than August 31st following the semester in which the grade was awarded. Graduating students must initiate a grade appeal within three weeks of graduation. Extraordinary exceptions to these time limits may be determined by the Associate Dean of the Graduate Curriculum.  All complainants have the right to a maximum of one appeal related to a particular course grade.

Grade Point Average

Only work completed at Drew is included in the computation of the average. Grade points are assigned as follows to each credit hour attempted on a graded basis: A = 4.00, A– = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3.00, B– = 2.67, C+ = 2.33, C = 2.00, C– = 1.67, F = 0.00.

No other grades are included in the computation of the grade point average.

The grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total grade points earned from grades on the A to F scale by the total number of credit hours attempted.

Calculating a GPA

1. Multiply the number of class credits by the numerical equivalent of the grade (above).
   • e.g. HIST 601, 3 credits A-, multiple 3 X 3.67 = 11.01
2. Sum the number of credits taken at Drew (exclude transfer credit, Pass/Fail, W grades, and repeats).
3. Sum the results of step 1 (numerical grade equivalent).
4. Divide the total numerical equivalent of the letter grades by the total hours taken at Drew.
5. The result is the GPA.

Grades

The system of grading in the Caspersen School, including letter grades as well as + or -, shall be as follows:
 

Incompletes grades (I) are administered only under exceptional circumstances. Students must petition the Graduate Academic Standing Committee for an incomplete grade; instructor and committee approval are required. Students may petition to extend an expiring Incomplete by one semester. If approves, the an Extended Incomplete (EI) is entered.

Courses dropped between the end of the second and the end of the ninth week of classes are graded W (Withdrew); courses dropped after the ninth week of classes are graded F.

Grades and Information Release

Grades are made available to students via Treehouse Self-Service. Students may also give access to grades via Treehouse Self-Service to a designated proxy.

To set up proxy access to view your grades in Treehouse Self-Service:

• Navigate to the Treehouse Students Tab.
• Select Parent/Guardian Proxy Access within the Help & Services box.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to add new proxies and set up authorization to the desired information.

In addition to setting up online access to grades, students may also set up proxy access for registration, billing, and financial aid information. Moreover, students have the option to assign a “passphrase” that can be used to verbally confirm the proxy’s identity and to authorize access to your information when they are speaking with University offices on your behalf. A printable guide to proxy access is also available.

Leave of Absence or Voluntary Withdrawal

A leave of absence is occasionally advisable for any number of reasons—family emergency, financial distress, illness, etc. A student may leave for one or two semesters and return, or choose a different course of action. Students considering a leave or withdrawal from the university should discuss with their academic adviser or area convener.  

Upon approval, a student may take a leave of absence for up to two terms. In special cases, a third and fourth semester of leave may be approved by the Graduate Academic Standing Committee. As the student pays no tuition or fees during a leave of absence, he/she is not entitled to use any of the resources of the University: faculty, library, housing, or grants-in-aid. Time spent in leave of absence will not be counted as part of the time limitation for the masters or doctoral degrees. Students should be aware that repayment for any student loans may begin in a leave of absence, by federal regulation. If a student does not register in the term following the end of their leave, they will be withdrawn from the university and will be required to submit a re-entry to return to their program. 

Students  must complete an online request for a leave of absence or withdrawal. The form will be sent to the Associate Provost for approval. Students on a voluntary leave of absence who wish to return to Drew must fill out a re-entry form also available on the Registrar’s office page.

Students leaving later than the end of the ninth week of classes, and before the end of a given semester, will be subject to grades of “F” at the time of withdrawal, unless a recommendation for withdrawal (“W”) is made by the Graduate Academic Standing Committee.

Policy for Active Students Enrolled in a Degree Program Who Are Not Registered

Prior to each Registration period, all students will be reminded of this policy by the Registrar.

First Semester of Inactivity:

A student who is not registered by the end of the Add/Drop Period in a spring or fall semester and who does not have either a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal Status recorded for them, will have a registration status of “Not Registered” and remain active.

Second Consecutive Semester of Inactivity:

A student who is not registered for two (2) consecutive Semesters (which excludes Summer and January Term sessions) by the end of the Add/Drop Period of the second consecutive Semester and who does not have either a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal Status recorded for them, will have their registration status revised to “Not Registered”, receive a registration-blocking hold of “Re-entry Required”, and the student status will remain active.

Third Consecutive Semester of Inactivity:

A student who is not registered for three (3) consecutive Semesters (which excludes Summer and January Term sessions) by the end of the Add/Drop Period of the third consecutive Semester and who does not have either a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal Status recorded for them, will have their student status revised to Withdrawn and will require re-entry into the program.

Student, Financial Aid & Student Accounts Notification:

Students who have had their student status revised to Withdrawn Status in accordance with this policy, will be notified via their Drew email address.  Additionally, both Financial Aid and Student Accounts will be notified for proper processing.

Policy Enforcement:

Registration in either the January or Summer Terms, does not stop this policy from being enforced during the fall and spring terms.

Policy for Re-Entry to Degree Programs:

If fewer than three years have elapsed since the last day of classes of the most recent spring or fall semester in which a student was actively registered, a student may petition the Graduate Academic Standing Committee for re-entry to their degree program. Re-entry to a graduate degree program at Drew University is subject to approval by the Graduate Academic Standing Committee. Students on a Leave of Absence or otherwise withdrawn from the university must submit documentation in support of their re-entry according to the guidelines indicated on the petition to the Graduate Academic Standing Committee form. If there are any questions concerning the student’s status, the Graduate Academic Standing Committee will request that the student submit an academic plan, discussing previous academic work, future plans, and the basis for successfully completing the program.

With regard to financial aid, students are advised to consult with the Office of Financial Assistance regarding deadlines and eligibility.

If more than three years have elapsed since the last day of classes of the most recent spring or fall semester in which a student was actively registered, a student must apply for admission to a current Drew University degree program through the admissions office and, in the event of admission, may be considered for advanced standing in that degree program based upon coursework previously completed at Drew. However, neither admission to a degree program nor advanced standing is guaranteed. The student’s application to a current degree program will be evaluated in accordance with standards for current degree program applicants.

Policy Enforcement:

Registration in either the January or Summer Terms, does not stop this policy from being enforced during the fall and spring terms.
 

Registration and Changes in Registration

All Caspersen students either must be enrolled in courses of study or must pay continuous registration fees in order to be considered students who are proceeding toward a degree in the Caspersen School. Once students have completed coursework they must be registered for Continuous Registration.

If the student is not registered for Continuous Registration, the student must have an approved Leave of Absence.

Registration is available at times announced by the Office of the Registrar. Please refer to the Policy for Active Students Not Registered for students who do not register during the appropriate time frame.

Students may add courses during the first week of classes and in the second week with the consent and permission of the instructor. No course may be added after the end of the second week of classes. Courses dropped between the end of the second week and the end of the ninth week of classes are graded “W”. Courses dropped after the ninth week are graded “F”. Students may petition the Graduate Academic Standing Committee for changes in registration that do not meet these regulations but must document extraordinary circumstances.

Refer to the Academic Calendar for important dates such as first day of classes, add/drop deadline, deadline for course withdrawal.

Additional information about registration can be found on the Registrar’s website.

Reservation of Rights

The University reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in the University’s academic program, courses, schedule, or calendar whenever in its sole judgment it is deemed desirable to do so.  The foregoing changes may include, without limitation, the elimination of colleges, schools, institutes, programs, departments, or courses, the modification of the content of any of the foregoing, the rescheduling of classes, with or without extending the enhanced academic term, the cancellation schedule classes, or other academic activities. If such changes are deemed desirable, the University may require or afford alternatives for scheduled classes or other academic notification of any such change as is reasonably practical under the circumstances.

Retaking a Course

Except for Ph.D. students, a Caspersen student may retake a course in which he or she has earned a grade of F, except for M.A.T. students who are required to repeat courses in which they earn a grade lower than B-. For courses retaken after a first grade of F, both the original F and the grade earned when the course is retaken are calculated in the GPA. Credits are awarded only for the second course enrollment, assuming the student earns a passing grade.

Separation from the Caspersen School

The Caspersen School reserves the right, upon recommendation of the deans, to separate from the school any student who fails to meet the standards of academic and professional conduct. Students may also be separated from the school for failure to meet their financial obligations. There will be no refund of tuition and fees for a student who is asked to withdraw.

Students leaving later than the end of the ninth week of classes, and before the end of a given semester, will be subject to grades of “F” at the time of withdrawal, unless a recommendation for withdrawal (“W”) is made by the Graduate Academic Standing Committee.

Student Education Records

Drew University students have the right to access, and the assurance of privacy for their Drew educational records. These rights are in keeping with Public Law 93-380, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (also known as the Buckley Amendment), and University policy. The full text of Public Law 93-380 and a full statement of Drew University policy and procedures with respect to student education records are on file and may be consulted in the Offices of the Registrar and the Dean of Campus Life and Student Affairs and in the Office of Financial Assistance. See the Drew University official FERPA policy on the Registrar’s page.

The Caspersen School publishes the following schedule pertaining to the retention of student records:

An academic folder will remain “active” until the student has been graduated or withdraws. Then it will become inactive and will be stored for a period of an additional five years. Then it will be offered to the University Archives. Capstone essays will be retained electronically for at least one year after their disposition by the Graduate Academic Standing Committee. Language examinations will be retained for one month after the grades are reported to the Graduate faculty. Program related documents are kept in a student’s academic folder and are subject to conditions explained above. All documents pertinent to financial aid are kept in the office of the Director of Financial Aid for seven years.

It is University policy and Registrar’s Office procedure that the adjustment of academic records cannot be made once the official Academic Record has been sealed. The sealing of a record occurs when a student has completed their academic relationship with the University. This can happen via completion of a degree program or withdrawal from a degree program. The adjustment of a record cannot be made once the inactivation of a record has been complete; graduation or full withdrawal. As such, an appeal cannot be made to this regard. All information on a sealed academic record is final.

Transcripts of Record

The transcript is an official record of courses taken, grades received, academic honors, and degrees conferred to a student. Official transcripts may be obtained through the Registrar’s Office.

Once a student graduates, the transcript is considered “sealed” for that particular degree and changes cannot be made.

Tutorials

Although not available on a regular basis, a student may arrange to undertake tutorial study for academic credit with an instructor. Such tutorial arrangements must be proposed by petition and receive approval from the Graduate Academic Standing Committee. The Committee will take into account the nature of the proposed project, the student’s interest and need, and the teaching load of the faculty member involved in reaching its decision. Not more than one tutorial for a given student may be approved in any one semester. Tutorials are not routinely permitted during the summer. Normally, only two tutorials are allowed in the Ph.D., D.Litt. and D.M.H. programs. Tutorials may be counted as seminars. Students in the M.Litt. or D.Litt. are not eligible for tutorials until after their third semester.

Waiver of Required Courses

Students in all programs may petition to the Graduate Academic Standing Committee for waivers of required courses in consultation with the convener or director of the program. Waivers might be approved based on prior coursework, work experience, or a self-designed and specialized emphasis in a student’s coursework. Approved waivers do not lower the number of credits required for a degree. Students who have completed the C.M.H. at Drew who matriculate into the M.A. in Medical Humanities, Health, and Society or the D.M.H. are automatically waived from completing the same courses in the new degree. See the section on Coursework in Other Drew Degree Program for more information.