University Catalog 2016-2017

University of Colorado Boulder
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Academic Standards

    Good Academic Standing

    Good academic standing in the college requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above in University of Colorado work and a 2.00 grade point average for all CMCI coursework. Grades earned at another institution are not used in calculating the grade point average at the University of Colorado. However, grades earned in another school or college within the University of Colorado system are used in determining a student’s scholastic standing and progress toward the degree.

    Probation

    Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 overall or 2.00 in CMCI coursework are placed on probation. Those students who enroll in any term in the calendar year, excluding summers, after being placed on probation are expected to raise their grade point to the minimum or above by the end of the term. Neither CU Boulder’s summer session nor enrollment through Boulder evening courses counts as a probationary semester. Students are not dismissed at the end of the summer term.

    Students placed on academic probation who elect to remain out of school for a full calendar year can return to the university with a two-semester window to achieve the required cumulative GPA or CMCI GPA. Students on probation who return after a hiatus of one year are placed on a second probation at the end of the semester in which they return if their cumulative GPA or CMCI GPA remain below the minimums and are dismissed from the university if they do not achieve the minimums by the end of the semester following the imposition of the second probation.

    Scholastic Suspension

    CMCI students are subject to suspension if they do not maintain a cumulative university GPA of 2.00 and a cumulative CMCI GPA of 2.00.

    Students whose GPA’s fall below either of these levels are normally placed on probation for one semester, during which they have an opportunity to raise their averages to the required levels. Students who still have a cumulative average below 2.00 after their semester of probation will be suspended and will not be able to register for University of Colorado daytime courses on any campus during any academic year. Students suspended are eligible for readmission when they have achieved a cumulative 2.00 average or a 2.00 average in CMCI courses by virtue of work done during the University of Colorado’s summer term (any of the three campuses) and/or through the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (Boulder evening or correspondence courses). Students who choose to enroll in continuing education courses to restore their good standing must maintain a 2.5 GPA or above in each term or be suspended from both day and continuing education classes. They also may return as transfer students when they have overcome their academic deficiencies by enrolling at another institution (i.e., by achieving an overall 2.00 average in the University of Colorado work plus all work taken elsewhere since suspension). These transfer grades are used only for the purpose of readmission and do not remain in the University of Colorado cumulative grade-point average. Suspended students pursuing this latter option have two semesters after readmission to bring their University of Colorado and/or CMCI grade point average up to 2.00 or they are suspended again.

    Academic Ethics

    The College of Media, Communication and Information maintains the highest standards of intellectual honesty. Cheating; plagiarism; illegal possession and distribution of examinations or answers to specific question; alterations, forgery, or falsification of official records; presenting someone else’s work as one’s own or performing work or taking an examination for another student are examples of acts that may lead to suspension or expulsion. Reported acts of academic dishonesty are referred to the Honor Council. The policies and procedures governing acts of academic dishonesty can be found online at honorcode.colorado.edu/academics.

    Policy on Grade Appeals

    The following shall be the official policy of the College of Media, Communication and Information regarding grade appeals.

    When a student believes that a grade has been improperly assigned, and discussions between the instructor and the student have not led to any resolution of the problem, then:

    1. The student shall have the option of making a formal written appeal to the chair/associate chair of his/her department. The appeal must specify the remedy desired by the student, and it must be submitted within 45 days of the end of the academic term in which the course was taken.
    2. The chair/associate chair will meet with the student and with the faculty member who taught the course. The instructor will be asked to submit a formal, written response to the student’s written appeal. If the chair/associate chair is unable to broker a solution mutually acceptable to both student and instructor, then the chair shall appoint an ad hoc Student Ethics committee, which will review the dispute. The committee shall consist of two impartial faculty members competent in the subject matter of the course in question.
    3. The department chair will convene the committee and provide the committee with the student’s written appeal and the written response from the faculty member. Within 45 days, the committee will submit a report and recommendation to the chair, and the chair will recommend to the instructor either 1) that the originally assigned grade stand; or 2) that a new grade be assigned.

    In cases where a change of grade is recommended and the instructor does not wish to accept the recommendation of his/her colleagues, the materials will be submitted to the dean of CMCI who will review the materials and make a final decision.

    Policy on Waiver of Degree Requirements

    The College of Media, Communication and Information does not waive degree requirements or excuse students from completing degree requirements. Petitions for exceptions to the academic policies stated here may be submitted to the ad hoc Committee on Academic Rules and Policies. Such petitions will be considered only if they meet all three of the following conditions:

    • The student must document that she/he has made every effort to fulfill the policy or requirement as defined and must demonstrate that no other options exist for fulfilling the requirement as defined in this catalog.
    • The student must document that she/he is prevented from fulfilling the policy or meeting the requirement as defined here for compelling reasons beyond the student’s control.
    • The student must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the faculty committee that she/he has fulfilled or will fulfill the intent of the policy or the requirement through an appropriate alternative.

    Students who believe that their circumstances meet the conditions to submit a petition must first consult with their academic advisor. If the advisor offers options for meeting the requirement or policy as defined here, the student must pursue those options and should not submit a petition.