Willamette College Policies

About Willamette College

Nationally recognized for exciting, challenging and relevant undergraduate educational programs, Willamette College sets students on a journey of intellectual discovery.

Guided by our university motto, “Not unto ourselves alone are we born,” we produce thinkers, creators and leaders who use their talents and skills to improve their world.

The balance of a liberal education with real-world experiences is essential to preparing our students for a lifetime of success. In addition, half of our undergraduates study abroad, while almost 70 percent complete one or more internships and a quarter participate in faculty-mentored research.

Willamette College graduates credit their time at Willamette with providing them the expertise they needed for successful careers and lives as confident, self-directed and engaged global citizens.

Introduction to the College

Willamette challenges our students to deepen their understanding of themselves and their world through a rigorous liberal arts and sciences curriculum. Our faculty — dedicated teachers and recognized scholars — helps students develop into self-directed critical thinkers who question actively, write effectively, speak persuasively and collaborate enthusiastically. These valuable skills support our students’ work and enrich their lives, wherever their future paths lead.

Our commonwealth of learning includes nearly 50 academic programs with ample opportunities for interdisciplinary study. Rather than limit our students’ education to a specific major, we encourage them to actively engage in a wide range of conversations about everything from sustainability to social justice. Many of these academic experiences take them across the globe, whether to learn Japanese in Kawagoe, research revolutionary theatre in Cuba or study abroad in one of nearly 40 countries.

Because of our small classes, our professors are able to push students to think for themselves as they investigate their passions. They inspire, guide and engage students through research and mentorships that often continue long after graduation from Willamette.  

Combine faculty support with a rich array of learning and social experiences to help students turn knowledge into action, and you’ll see why we were recognized as one of 40 “Colleges That Change Lives.”

Learning is a lifelong endeavor, and Willamette supports its students as they discover their own ways of living out the university’s motto of service, “Not unto ourselves alone are we born.”

Advising and Student Success

The Academic Advising system of the Willamette College  is organized to enhance the traditionally close relationship between students and faculty. Willamette is vitally interested in the intellectual, social, moral, religious, cultural, and emotional growth of each student and views advising and counseling as integral parts of the total educational process. All undergraduate students work directly with a faculty advisor.

The student and the academic advisor, in mutual consultation and agreement, devise an academic program that meets the student's interests and needs and the University's requirements. While the student is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all graduation requirements are met, the academic advisor stands ready to lend assistance, offer information, and check programs.

The student and the academic advisor, meeting together at least once every semester, plan both the immediate semester program and the total four-year program with the major aim of building a coherent liberal arts experience. The academic advising function is an important responsibility of every full-time faculty member of Willamette College and is one that faculty members take very seriously. The student-advisor relationship, tailored to meet the needs of each student, is thus a central part of the student's academic life.

Because most entering first year students  do not yet know what their major will be, the student and the advisor will usually plan a program for the first two years that supports progress in the General Education Program and introduces the student to the broad liberal arts spectrum. This program will prepare students for concentration in a major and acquaint them with a wide variety of possible majors. All members of the undergraduate faculty, regardless of their individual areas of specialization, are prepared to take responsibility for the general advising of students who have not yet declared a major.

In declaring a major — required before a student reaches junior standing — students choose an advisor in the major field and together with that advisor plan the remaining semesters to meet major requirements and to complete complementary elective and general education study. This balance between a broad educational experience and a more specialized major provides Willamette graduates with a solid liberal arts background, which constitutes excellent preparation for both graduate or professional schools and the world of work.

Transfer students are assigned advisors according to their designated major field of interest prior to their initial semester at Willamette. It is important for transfer students to meet with this advisor as soon as they arrive on campus in order to plan intelligently for their time at Willamette and to ensure that they will meet all major program and College of Arts & Sciences graduation requirements. 

Students should also discuss course placement with their advisor. Please see the Placement Exams, Placement Information, and Auditions website as well as the SCIS Transfer and Placement Policies for more information.

Personal advising and career counseling are also available to the student through the Career Development Center.

Academic Policies 

• Academic Achievement

• Academic Dismissal

• Academic Integrity

• Academic Petitions

• Academic Notice

• Academic Progress Policy

• Academic Suspension

• Auditing Courses

• Catalog of Study Policy

• Class Attendance Policy

• Course Listings and Numbering

• Credit Hour Policy

• Credit/No Credit

• Excused Absences Policy

• Final Examination Policy

• Full-Time Enrollment

• Grade Appeals

• Grade Changes

• Grading Policy

• Honors Policies

• Leave of Absence or Withdrawal

• Medical Withdrawal Policy

• Phi Beta Kappa

• Registration

• Religious Holiday Policy

• Retaking Courses

• Time to Degree Policy

• Transcripts

• Transfer Credit

Academic Achievement

At the conclusion of each semester, the academic records of all students working for undergraduate degrees are reviewed by the Academic Status Committee, a standing committee of the faculty. In the cases of students whose work does not meet the University's expectations, the committee determines whether an individual student is: (1) warned about academic progress; (2) placed on academic notice; (3) placed on academic suspension; or (4) dismissed for academic insufficiency. Academic notice, suspension, and dismissal will be noted on the student's transcript.

The criteria used in these determinations include the following academic deficiencies:

• Semester g.p.a. below 2.00

• Cumulative g.p.a. below 2.00

• Major and/or minor g.p.a. below 2.00

• Completion by a full-time student of fewer than twelve credits

• Serious academic difficulty as determined by the Academic Status Committee

Academic Dismissal

If academic performance warrants academic dismissal, the student's participation in University life is severed permanently, including denial of enrollment, attendance and other University privileges, and loss of all fees and academic credit for the semester in which the dismissal takes place. The dismissal will be noted on the academic transcript.

Academic Integrity 

All Willamette University students are bound to the Willamette University Academic Integrity Policy.

Procedures for Violations of Academic Integrity

Procedure for a single violation:

1. An instructor who has reason to believe that plagiarism or cheating has occurred shall:

   1. Promptly meet with the student(s) involved, provide appropriate documentation of cheating or plagiarism, discuss the matter, determine whether an infraction has occurred, and decide on a penalty. An instructor may impose penalties for plagiarism or cheating ranging from a grade reduction on an assignment or exam to failure in the course.

   2. If the instructor suspects plagiarism or cheating during a final exam period, and timely resolution is not possible, the professor shall assign the student(s) involved a grade of "I" and provide the student(s) with a written explanation. Whenever possible, the faculty member shall offer to meet with the student(s) no later than the first week of classes the following semester to complete the steps outlined above.

   3. Within three working days of meeting with the student(s), the instructor shall turn in the Report of Plagiarism or Cheating Form to the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences that details the incident and includes the documentation and penalty.

   4. The Report of Plagiarism or Cheating Form and documentation will be placed in a confidential file.

2. Upon receiving the Report of Plagiarism or Cheating Form, the Dean's office shall arrange for a meeting with the student(s) in question and designated members of the Honor Council. Whenever possible, this meeting shall occur within five working days of receipt of the form. The meeting shall typically include the Dean (or Dean's representative) and the student co-chair of the Honor Council (or a designated student Honor Council member).

3. If more than one student is accused of plagiarism or cheating, the Dean (or Dean’s representative) and student Honor Council co-chair (or representative) shall meet separately with each student.

4. In the meeting, the Honor Council members and the Dean's representative shall:

   1. provide the student a copy of the Report of Plagiarism or Cheating Form filed by the reporting instructor, noting on the form the date on which it was delivered to the student,

   2. convey to the student how academic dishonesty violates the Willamette Ethic and Code of Conduct, harms the community, and undermines the educational mission of the College,

   3. provide exercises or assignments that will educate the student on what constitutes plagiarism and cheating, and verify that the exercises or assignments have been completed,

   4. inform the student of the potential consequences of a second violation of plagiarism or cheating, and

   5. determine if the student contests the accusation or the severity of the penalty imposed by the instructor.

5. If the student in question does not contest the accusation and accepts the penalty prescribed by the instructor, the process concludes. Honor Council proceedings are confidential.

6. A student has the right to contest the accusation or the severity of the penalty imposed by the instructor. If the student contests the accusation or penalty, the Dean's office will refer the case to the Honor Council for a hearing and ruling. In adjudicating an appeal, the Honor Council shall observe the following procedures.

   1. The Honor Council hearing shall be confidential and, whenever possible, scheduled within five working days of referral by the Dean's office.

   2. The student and instructor may address the Honor Council and present documentation. Within two working days of the hearing, the Honor Council shall render a judgment as to the validity of the charge and the suitability of the penalty, and will provide written notification to the student and the instructor of their findings.

   3. Appeals of the Accusation of Plagiarism or Cheating: For adjudicating appeals of plagiarism or cheating, the Honor Council will apply a reasonable person standard. If the majority of members attending the hearing determine that a reasonable person may conclude that plagiarism or cheating occurred, then the appeal should be denied.

   4. If the Honor Council finds a reasonable person would not have concluded that plagiarism or cheating occurred and considers the plagiarism or cheating accusation to be invalid, it will recommend that the instructor accept Honor Council’s findings and reverse whatever penalty the instructor had imposed on the student. However, the instructor is not obligated to abide by the Honor Council ruling. If the instructor rescinds the charge of plagiarism or cheating based on the Honor Council's findings, the Dean's office shall expunge the student’s plagiarism and cheating file. If the instructor declines to rescind the accusation, the student can appeal to the Academic Status Committee. 

   5. Appeals of the Judgment or Penalty for Plagiarism or Cheating shall be brought before the Dean.  The ruling of the Dean shall be final.

   6. The Dean's office shall record on the Report of Plagiarism or Cheating Form the final disposition of accusation and penalty, and provide written notification to the student, instructor, and Honor Council. The form will be placed in the student's confidential file.

7. If a student has only one violation, upon the student’s graduation, the file will be expunged.

8. The student cannot circumvent the plagiarism and cheating proceedings by withdrawing from the class. If the final penalty for the academic dishonesty is an "F" in the course, the student shall not be permitted to withdraw.

Procedure for prior or multiple violations:

1. If the student's file contains a prior violation, the Dean's office shall promptly initiate a hearing by the Honor Council to determine if an additional sanction is appropriate. The hearing shall be confidential. The student may address the Honor Council on their own behalf. Sanctions for a second violation may include, but are not limited to, placing the student on probation, academic suspension for a period of time, or dismissal from the College. Within two working days of the hearing, the Honor Council shall communicate its findings in writing to the student and to the Dean of the College. If the Honor Council recommends dismissal, their recommendation shall also be communicated to the President. The Honor Council shall inform the student of their right of appeal.

2. The accused student may appeal the Honor Council's recommendation to the Dean of the College. The appeal must be filed with the Dean's office within five days of the date of the letter providing official notification of the sanction. In reviewing the student's appeal, the Dean’s office shall seek input from the reporting instructor(s) and the Honor Council, who may provide comments or issues to be considered in the Dean's deliberations.

3. Except for dismissal, the decision of the Dean of the College is final. Students can appeal dismissal to the President, or his/her designee, for final judgment.

In the event that the final judgment is suspension or dismissal, a student will first be notified in person by the Dean (or Dean's representative) followed by written communication. Seven working days shall elapse before the suspension or dismissal of a student becomes effective after the appeal process is completed unless the President determines an otherwise appropriate period for the suspension or dismissal to take effect.

Academic Petitions

Students may occasionally need to petition for clarification of or exceptions to the preceding or other academic regulations. Such petitions should be directed to different places, depending on their specific nature. A list of the most common petitions and their appropriate destinations includes:

Academic Petition Forms are available at the destination locations listed above. The Registrar's Office can also answer other questions about the petition process.

Students should note that certain basic requirements for baccalaureate degrees are never waived or modified, including:

• satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours

• completion of the General Education requirements

• completion of the Senior Year Experience

• cumulative g.p.a. of 2.00 in work taken at Willamette

• cumulative g.p.a. of 2.00 in the major

• cumulative g.p.a. of 2.00 in the minor

The completion of department requirements may be modified or waived by the departments themselves, but not by the Academic Status Committee. Students seeking waivers in undergraduate computer science and data science coursework may also consult the SCIS Transfer & Placement Policies.

Academic Notice

If academic performance falls well below expected achievement, a student will be placed on Academic Notice. If placed on notice, the student is:

• Ineligible to participate in varsity athletics;

• Ineligible to hold any campus office;

• Subject to review of his/her financial aid status (if receiving aid from the University) by the Director of Financial Aid;

• Required to follow an academic support program that may include restrictions on curricular and cocurricular activities;

• Subject to eventual suspension or dismissal if the academic record continues to be below expected achievement.

Students placed on notice should see their academic advisors as soon as possible in order to review their curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities. The notice will be noted on the academic transcript.

It warrants mentioning that participation in some activities may be restricted even if students are not placed on academic notice. All students serving in elected or appointed positions of leadership are required to maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. Various departments in which students serve are responsible for ensuring that students under their supervision are in compliance with this policy, and if students wish to appeal suspension of leadership activities then they should contact the university faculty or staff member to whom they report.

Academic Progress Policy

Normal progress requires that a student complete sufficient credits toward an undergraduate degree according to the following schedule: twelve semester hours completed by the end of the first semester, sixteen semester hours completed for each subsequent semester for a total of:

• 28 semester hours completed by the end of the first year

• 44 semester hours completed by the end of the third semester

• 60 semester hours completed by the end of the second year

• 76 semester hours completed by the end of the fifth semester

• 92 semester hours completed by the end of the third year

• 108 semester hours completed by the end of the seventh semester

• 124 semester hours presented for graduation at the end of the fourth year

In compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations, all semesters of enrollment, even those where a student completely withdraws from the semester on or after the first day, are considered in determining whether or not a student is making adequate progress toward degree completion.

Academic Suspension

A student's participation in University life, including academics, is suspended including denial of enrollment, attendance and other University privileges, and loss of all fees and academic credit for the semester in which the suspension takes place. After the suspension period, a student may apply to enroll again. The student will need to have successfully addressed the issue(s) which led to his or her suspension before reapplying. The suspension will be noted on the academic transcript.

Auditing Courses

To be eligible to audit a course, a student must be in good academic standing, and either enrolled full-time or in the last semester of their senior year. A student who wishes to audit a course must secure the consent of the instructor and register as an auditor on SAGE beginning the first day of the semester through the add/drop period. When class space is limited, priority for seats goes to non-auditors. Credit will not be granted for auditing a course. Auditors are required to attend a minimum of 75% of the class sessions. If this requirement is not met the registrar may, solely upon notice that the student has insufficient attendance, delete the course from the student's record. Audit classes cannot be counted for enrollment certification, for fulfillment of degree requirements, for financial aid purposes, or for loan deferment purposes regardless of billing or registration status.

Catalog of Study Policy

Undergraduate students follow the degree requirements outlined in the catalog in effect when they enroll at Willamette University, but may select a subsequent catalog in effect during their enrollment in order to declare a newly established or revised major or minor. Students are bound by all the degree requirements in effect for a given catalog year: they may not, for example, follow the General Education requirements from one catalog and Major requirements from a different one. Students who are readmitted to the university will follow the degree requirements outlined by the catalog in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

Class Attendance Policy

Class attendance is subject to the following guidelines:

• Students are expected to attend classes. Students not attending the first class session forfeit their place on the roster. Students remain responsible for officially dropping the class.

• Instructors set the specific attendance standards for their own classes.

• Irregular attendance may impair students' progress and therefore be reflected in their grades. Faculty members should inform students about attendance requirements at the beginning of each semester. If this is not done, students should feel obliged to request this information from their instructors.

Course Listings and Numbering

The faculty reserves the right to add and delete courses, to make changes in course content and to make other curricular changes at any time.

Course numbers are an indication of the relationship of the course to the total Willamette College curriculum. Courses are numbered according to this scheme:

 Courses also indicate if they fulfill a General Education requirement. 

Credit Hour Policy

Introduction

This policy codifies the university’s requirement defining credit hours and guides compliance with the following regional accrediting agency guidelines.

Federal regulations mandate that all candidate and accredited institutions comply with the definition of the credit hour as set forth in Section 600.2, which defines the credit hour as:

Except as provided in 34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), a credit hour is 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:

(1) One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week 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

(2) 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. (NWCCU, Policy on Credit Hour, November 2012)

Credit Hour at Willamette

Willamette University operates under a semester credit hour system. The credit hour policy applies equally to courses of varying credits, duration, and modes of instruction, and applies to all credit granted by the university, whether through programs on or off campus, or through transfer from other institutions. Determination of the amount of credit awarded is made by the pertinent school or college’s curriculum committee based on accrediting agency guidelines and federal regulations.

Periodic Compliance Review

New courses are reviewed and approved by the pertinent school or college’s curriculum committee for compliance with the credit hour policy. The periodic compliance review of the credit hour policy is incorporated into each school’s and college’s established curriculum review schedule under the supervision of the respective dean’s office.

Guidance for Meeting the Credit Hour Requirement

1. Curriculum committees in the pertinent school or college evaluate courses for credit. They approve and maintain written records of substantive exceptions to the base hour-counting guidelines. Documentation of compliance includes course syllabi and class schedules.

   • Syllabi include information outlining the expected amount of work the course requires for the designated number of credit hours. Representative syllabi are kept on file and available for review for both standard courses and types of courses that do not meet for the standard amount of in-seat class time. Regardless of mode of instruction, syllabi demonstrate that courses are consistent in terms of purpose, scope, quality, assessment, and expected learning outcomes with other courses with the same department code, number, and course title.

   • Each school and college maintains a course schedule showing the weeks, hours and days that courses meet. In addition, they maintain a list of the kinds of courses that do not require the standard amount of in-class seat time designated in the policy (for example, online and hybrid courses, laboratory courses, studio courses, independent study, and internship/externship courses) and a schedule showing when those courses meet. A course offered in fewer than 15 weeks contains the same total number of hours – the combined time spent on direct instruction, preparation for class, homework, lab work, field work, etc. – as an equivalent credit-hour course offered in the standard 15-week semester as documented by a combination of the meeting schedule and syllabi.

2. In the undergraduate college, credit is awarded as follows:

   • 4 semester hours = 150 clock hours of instruction and student work

   • 3 semester hours = 112.5 clock hours of instruction and student work

   • 2 semester hours = 75 clock hours of instruction and student work

   • 1 semester hour = 37.5 clock hours of instruction and student work

3. In the College of Law, credit hours are allocated within a conventional semester system for law schools, typically requiring approximately 700 minutes of instruction time (fourteen 50-minute classes or thirteen 55-minute classes) per course unit (see Interpretation 304-4, ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools). The typical law class meets for a total of 780 minutes over 13 weeks for a total of 15.6 “Carnegie” hours.

Definition of Hour

One semester credit equals one hour* of direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours* of out-of-class student work per week for 15 weeks. Generally, one semester credit is granted for a minimum of 45 hours* of student work.

*This rule refers to a 50 min. “Carnegie hour” so the requirement is for 12.5 clock hours (750 min.) of direct instruction or a total of 37.5 clock hours (2,250 min.) of total student work for one semester credit.

Credit/No Credit

To be eligible to take courses on a Credit/No Credit basis, a student must be in good academic standing, and be a full-time student (unless they are a last semester senior). An eligible student may declare a total of 12* semester hours to be recorded on a Credit/No Credit basis. Courses that have been designated exclusively for Credit/No Credit grading are not included in this 12-credit limit.

The grade of credit (CR) is equivalent to grades of A through C-minus. CR grades will be granted credit toward the degree but will not be computed in the grade point average. The grade of NC (no credit), which is equivalent to grades of D-plus and below, will not be granted credit toward the degree and will not be computed in the grade point average.

After signing up for courses in the regular manner, students desiring to take a course on a Credit/No Credit basis will file the Willamette College Credit/No Credit Grading Form in the Registrar's Office before the following deadlines: (1) for full-semester courses, 30 class days after the first day of classes; (2) for half semester courses, 15 class days after the first day of class. Once filed, this form may not be withdrawn or amended. (Students enrolled in PNCA courses should complete the PNCA Credit/No Credit Grading Form.)

After the Credit/No Credit forms are filed and for the remainder of the semester, they shall be considered as privileged information. The Registrar may reveal their existence to the student’s academic advisor; they may not be revealed to the instructor concerned or to anyone else. At the end of the semester, instructors will turn in letter grades in the usual fashion. The Registrar will then change the grade to CR or NC in the appropriate cases. Under no circumstances may a letter grade that has been recorded Credit/No Credit be revealed, even by petition.

*Students enrolled in the Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 semesters are eligible to take a maximum of 16 semester hours on a Credit/No Credit basis over the course of their academic careers at Willamette.

Excused Absences Policy

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that students will not be penalized for work missed while participating in University-approved events. University-approved events fall into the three categories below. Absences for events that fall under category 1 are automatically excused. For events that fall under categories 2 and 3, the faculty member, administrator, or coach organizing the event may request that absences be excused by completing the Excused Absence Request form, preferably during the prior semester, but not fewer than 21 days prior to the event.

1. Students Representing the University: Absences from classes due to University-approved events in which students are representing the University are automatically excused, unless the event is held during study days or the final exam period (with the exception of athletic competitions which can be held during study days or the final exam period, see below). Examples of events that are automatically excused include: (a) athletic competitions (as long as the schedule restrictions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) are met); (b) music ensemble and theatre performances; and (c) debate tournaments. At least three class days prior, if possible, but no later than 24 hours prior to the event, the faculty member or administrator organizing the event, or the athletic department, will circulate the names of participating students and will include departure and return times for events away from campus. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the faculty members individually and to make arrangements for work missed. It is the responsibility of the instructor to provide an appropriate opportunity for the student to make up the work. It is the responsibility of the organizing faculty member or administrator, or the athletic department, to schedule events in such a way as to minimize class conflicts. Allowance will be made for rescheduling canceled events. However, the faculty member or administrator organizing the event, or the athletic department, must circulate the names of the participating students as soon as possible and include departure and return times for events away from campus.

2. Other Activities, Including Field Trips: Requests for student absences to be excused for other University events, such as field trips, conference attendance, and musical performance attendance, must be made to the Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee during the prior semester, if possible, but no fewer than 21 days prior to the event. If the excused absence is approved, at least three class days prior, if possible, but no later than 24 hours prior to the event, the faculty member or administrator organizing the event, or the athletic department, will circulate the names of participating students and will include departure and return times for events away from campus. It is the responsibility of the student to notify faculty members individually and to make arrangements for work missed. It is the responsibility of the instructor to provide an appropriate opportunity for the student to make up the work. It is the responsibility of the organizing faculty member or administrator, or the athletic department, to schedule events in such a way as to minimize class conflicts. If an activity is not approved as an excused absence, the faculty member or administrator organizing the event, or the athletic department, cannot require attendance at the event as a mandatory component of a class. If a student chooses to participate in the event, faculty members whose classes are missed are not required to provide make-up work for the absence.

3. Events scheduled during study days or the final exam period: With the exception of NCAA athletic competitions, events should not be scheduled during study days or the final exam period if at all possible. If an exceptional opportunity during study days or the final exam period arises, other than NCAA athletic competitions, the faculty member or administrator organizing the event must request approval from the Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee to take students to the event. For any approved event or for NCAA athletic competitions taking place during study days or the final exam period, the faculty member or administrator organizing the event, or the athletic department, will circulate the names of participating students and will include departure and return times for events away from campus.

Final Examination Policy

This policy seeks to promote effective preparation for final examinations and optimal conditions for the synthesis and assimilation of course materials by designating and safeguarding specific days at the end of the semester to be devoted exclusively to study. This policy further seeks to assure that the full semester is available to complete course work by reaffirming that a semester does not end until the last day of final examinations. To enhance student learning and performance and to provide an environment for the fair and positive conclusion of work undertaken in all classes, the faculty of Willamette College agrees to adhere rigorously to it.

Policy

The maximum length of a final examination is three hours. Faculty members may schedule shorter examinations if they wish.

Faculty members are to give their written final examinations during the times indicated in the published schedule. Students are permitted to take early examinations by obtaining the instructor's approval. The last written examination for a course is to be administered on the day scheduled for the course final examination. No evaluative instrument for a course, including an oral examination or paper, is to be administered or due during the four calendar days prior to the beginning of final examinations. Final oral classroom presentations may extend into those four days but only during the regularly scheduled class times. Finally, a final examination and an additional evaluative instrument are not both to be administered and due on the scheduled day of the final examination.

No classes or formal class activities are to be held during the Study Days that intervene between the end of classes and the beginning of final examinations or the Study Days that are scheduled during the week of final examinations. Faculty members are to be available for consultation with students during these times.

Final examinations for first half-semester courses are to be administered during the last regular class period or during a time outside of class agreed upon by the students and faculty member involved, within one week of the last regular class period. Final examinations for second half-semester courses are to be administered during the scheduled final examination time for that class period as in full-semester courses.

Faculty members are to make separate arrangements with each student to administer final examinations in courses not covered in the published schedule.

All faculty members in Willamette College are to have on file in the class Canvassite a representative sample final examination for each class taught, except in the case of a class that is being taught for the first time.

Full-Time Enrollment

The normal program at Willamette includes sixteen semester hours per semester. A student is considered full-time if registered for 12  to 18 semester hours. A student enrolled in more than 18 semester hours is in overload. A student is considered in good academic standing if he or she is not on academic probation.

Any undergraduate student in good academic standing, who is making normal progress toward an undergraduate degree, is eligible to register for more than 18 semester hours (overload) with the concurrence of an advisor. Students not meeting these criteria must petition the Academic Status Committee for approval of an overload. Petition forms are available in the Registrar's Office.

Students who wish to add overload semester hours to their schedules may do so through SAGE beginning on the first day of the semester. Deadlines for adding and dropping courses are listed in the academic calendar. Students are urged to note the deadlines carefully. Information about overload charges is available by contacting the Student Accounts Office.

Grade Appeals

A student may appeal their grade for a course for one of the following reasons:

• They believe the grade assigned reflects a computational error.

• They believe they were unfairly graded in the course.

The procedure for filing a grade appeal is as follows:

1. A student should first try to reach agreement with the faculty member who assigned the grade through informal conversation.

2. If the student is not satisfied with the result of the conversation, or if the faculty member does not respond to requests for such an informal conversation, the student shall submit a written statement setting forth the basis for the appeal to the chair of the faculty member’s department, with a copy to the professor. Appeals must be submitted by the end of the fourth week of the following semester. The department chair will attempt to mediate the complaint as outlined in C below. ** (See note.)

3. Within 10 business days of receipt of the student’s written statement, the chair will solicit the faculty member’s point of view, in writing, about the grade and the criteria on which it was based. The chair may render a decision based on the written communications or may call the student and faculty member together for a meeting to discuss the issues, after which the chair will render a decision to both the student and faculty member in writing. This decision shall be delivered within 20 business days of receipt of the student’s letter; or, if the letter is received over the summer and the parties are not reachable, by the end of the second week of classes in the Fall semester.

4. If either the student or faculty member is dissatisfied with the chair’s decision, the dissatisfied party may appeal, in writing, to the Associate Dean for Curriculum and Student Success (ADCSS). This appeal must take place within 10 days of receipt of the chair’s decision, and must copy the other party. The ADCSS will consult all parties concerned, and may also seek counsel from the Academic Status Committee or other parties. The ADCSS will render a decision in writing to the student, faculty member, and chair, within 20 business days of receipt of the appeal.

5. Final authority rests with the Dean in the event that either the student or faculty member is not satisfied with the conclusion reached by the ADCSS. A written appeal to the Dean, which must be copied to the other parties involved, must be made within 10 business days following receipt of the ADCSS’s decision. The Dean will render final judgment in writing, within 10 business days of receipt of the appeal, to the student, faculty member, Chair, and ADCSS.

6. Neither students nor faculty members may be represented or accompanied by another person at any grade appeal meeting or conference.

7. If a grade appeal involves alleged academic misconduct, the grade appeal should be heard after the Honor Council has reached a decision about the alleged infraction.

**Note: In the event that the faculty member in question is the department chair, the appeal will move directly to the Associate Dean for Curriculum and Student Success.

Grade Changes

Once recorded, a grade may be changed only in the case of clerical or computational error. The instructor who assigned the grade must be involved in any appeal procedure concerning grade changes. The department chair may take the place of the course instructor when the course instructor is no longer employed by Willamette University. Written notification must be submitted to the Dean of the College explaining the reason(s) for the change. No changes will be permitted one year after the grade has been recorded.

Grading Policy

The following symbols are used for grades included in the calculation of the grade point average (g.p.a.):

where the following terms are used:

• A = Excellent

• B = Good

• C = Satisfactory

• D = Below Standard, and

• F = Failing

The grade of AUD (audit) is used when a student signed up for a course as an auditor. Auditors are required to attend a minimum of 75% of the class sessions. If this requirement is not met the registrar may, solely upon notice that the student has insufficient attendance, delete the course from the student's record.

The grade of CR (credit), used in those courses designated by the faculty or those courses selected by students on the Credit/No Credit option, will be granted credit toward the degree but will not be computed in the g.p.a. The grade of NC (no credit) will not be granted credit and will not be computed in the g.p.a. In those cases where students select this option, reported final grades of C-minus or better will be converted to CR and grades of D-plus or lower will be converted to NC.

The grade of I will stand for Incomplete. This grade may be given only in cases where all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed, and the instructor determines there are legitimate reasons to grant the student an extension of time. Instructors must submit a Report of Incomplete Grade form to the Registrar's Office within two weeks following the grading deadline for the semester in which the incomplete grade is submitted. The deadline for students to submit work to be graded to replace grades of I will be the fifth Friday of the subsequent semester. This deadline may be extended by a maximum of one semester, if the student successfully petitions the Academic Status Committee by the date on which the outstanding coursework is due (the fifth Friday of the subsequent semester). All grades of I will be accompanied by a contingency grade, in the computation of which the instructor has considered work not completed as a zero or an F. The contingency grade will be recorded on the permanent record (transcript) until that time when the Registrar receives the final grade. If a replacement grade is not submitted, the contingency grade will be retained as the final grade.

The grade of Q will denote those rare cases (usually in advanced seminars and independent study) when a continuing project for legitimate reasons must be extended beyond the end of the semester. Prior to the assignment of the Q grade, the instructor must submit written notification to the Dean of the College indicating the reason for use of this grade. The deadline for Instructors to submit final grades to replace grades of Q will be the day that all final grades are due for the subsequent semester. This deadline may be extended only if the student successfully petitions the Academic Status Committee. Any unresolved Q grades after that date will be converted to NGR (No Grade Received).

The grade of W will stand for Withdrawal and is given at the request of the student concerned within the stated deadlines. No credit will be granted toward a degree and the W grade will not be computed in the g.p.a. The final date to drop a class through SAGE in order to receive a grade of W, at the instigation of the student, will be the 60% point in the semester for full-semester courses, and the 60% point of the half-semester for half-semester courses. The withdrawal deadline is listed in the Academic Calendar. Withdrawal after the deadline will be possible only if the student successfully petitions the Academic Status Committee. A student is required to attend class until they are officially dropped or withdrawn. If a student fails to withdraw officially, the grade in any course which they discontinue becomes an F.

Computing the Grade Point Average (G.P.A.)

The quality points for a course are computed by multiplying the points for the grade equivalent by the number of credits for that course. To compute the grade point average, divide the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credits attempted (Credit/No Credit and Audit grades not included). The grade point average is computed only for courses registered through Willamette University.

Honors Policies

Willamette recognizes academic excellence by awarding the Latin Honors of summa cum laude (with highest honors), magna cum laude (with high honors) and cum laude (with honors) at the time of degree conferral. Latin Honors are recorded on students' academic transcripts.

Graduates with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.90 will be awarded summa cum laude; those with at least 3.85 will be awarded magna cum laude; and those with at least 3.80 will be awarded cum laude.

A student may graduate with department honors in the major field of study by distinguished completion of a thesis, research project, performance or creative exhibition, by attainment of a departmentally specified cumulative grade point average for courses within the major and by completing other requirements as prescribed by the major program faculty.

A student may be named to the College Honors List for any semester during which the student earns a g.p.a. of 3.75 or better with no fewer than twelve credits of graded undergraduate coursework. A notation of this achievement is made on the student's transcript.

Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa, which was founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776, is the oldest and most prestigious of the national honor societies. The first chapter was founded to promote the ideals of freedom of inquiry within a broad liberal education, and these concerns have remained a hallmark of the organization ever since. Only the top 10% of four-year colleges nationwide have been granted Phi Beta Kappa Chapters.

Students are nominated for membership in the society primarily on the basis of their scholarly achievement, good character, and broad cultural/academic interests. Our chapter nominates the top 2% of each junior class, and the top 10% of each senior class (including those nominated as juniors). At least three/fourths of a candidate's courses must be liberal arts courses (as opposed to applied or professional courses). Seniors must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50, and juniors 3.75, in order to be considered for membership. Aside from GPA, weight is given to breadth of academic program (number and variety of courses taken outside the major), faculty recommendations, service to the department or university, good character, academic awards and achievements, and extracurricular activities.

Registration

Newly admitted students are registered for classes by an advisor from the Dean's Office prior to the beginning of their first semester.

Continuing students register for classes in the second half of each semester following consultation with their faculty advisors. All registration is completed by students using the online registration system.

Beginning on the first day of the semester, students who wish to make changes in their course schedules may do so by submitting requests through the online registration system. Course adds require approval from the course instructor and the student’s advisor. Course drops and withdrawals require approval of the student’s advisor. Deadlines for adding, dropping, and withdrawing from courses are listed in the academic calendar. Students are urged to note the deadlines carefully.

Any undergraduate student in good academic standing, who is making normal progress toward an undergraduate degree, is eligible to register for more than 18 semester hours (overload) with the concurrence of an advisor. Students not meeting these criteria must petition the Academic Status Committee for approval of an overload. Petition forms are available in the Registrar's Office.

Students with disabilities are encouraged to request assistance from the Director of Accessible Education Services prior to course selection/registration if they need accommodations on the day of registration or in the classroom thereafter. Relocation of scheduled classes to more accessible rooms and other reasonable accommodations are available per documented need.

The University reserves the right to discontinue any class for which the enrollment is insufficient.

Retaking Courses

Students with advisor registration consent may retake once any non-repeatable course taken at Willamette University. The retaken course must be identical in listing to the course originally completed. Although both grades will appear on the transcript, only the higher grade will be computed in the GPA. In the event the same grade is earned, only one of the two grades will be used in computation of the GPA. Credit will be earned only once for a repeated course. The University is under no obligation to schedule a course for the purpose of student retaking. As Willamette University does not transfer grades from other institutions, this policy does not apply to transfer credit.

Time to Degree Policy

Undergraduate students are expected to progress toward a degree as described in the Academic Progress policy, completing their degrees eight calendar semesters following their enrollment. Students who do not complete degree requirements within six calendar years of initial enrollment or re-enrollment at Willamette University will be held to the requirements of the current catalog.

Transcripts

A Willamette University transcript is a complete record of a student's enrollment at the University including all course work from all colleges and schools; partial transcripts are not available. Official transcripts are signed by the Registrar and bear the official seal of Willamette University.

Requests for academic transcripts may be submitted through our Parchment site. Additional information about transcripts is available on the Registrar's Office website.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer a maximum of 64 semester hours, or 96 quarter hours, toward a Willamette degree. In most cases, courses taken at regionally accredited colleges or universities will receive full credit if they are comparable to courses offered at Willamette, or otherwise consistent with the goals and standards of Willamette's undergraduate degree programs. Courses with grades below C- (C minus) will not receive credit. Transfer courses are not used in computing the Willamette University grade point average. To be eligible for transfer credit, college courses must be described in the college catalog and recorded on the college transcript.

Once matriculated at Willamette University, students must submit a Transfer Credit Request form prior to enrolling in proposed transfer courses. 

At least 60 semester hours must be earned in residence at Willamette University, and at least 32 of the final 40 semester hours must be earned in residence or in Willamette-sponsored off-campus study programs.

Information for First Year Students

In most cases, college credits earned prior to secondary school graduation, including those earned in concurrent (or dual) enrollment programs, will receive full transfer credit.

Willamette University encourages student participation in the Advanced Placement (AP) program sponsored by the College Board, the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and concurrent (or dual) enrollment programs. No college credit is granted for College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Many AP scores of "4" and "5" will be granted a minimum of 4 credits. Willamette will grant 4 credits for many IB Higher Level examinations passed with a score of "5" and up to 8 credits for many Higher Level exams passed with a score of "6" or "7". Willamette will also grant 4 additional credits to students who earn the full IB Diploma with a score of 30 or above. Willamette maintains current listings of AP and IB course equivalencies.

For students admitted as first year students, no more than 32 credits will be awarded for courses taken prior to matriculation. This includes college, AP, IB, and concurrent (or dual) enrollment credits.

Students should consult the Office of the Registrar with any questions regarding the transferability of credits.

Information for Transfer Students

Satisfaction of specific general education requirements will be determined on the basis of a course-by-course evaluation of the transcript(s). Please note that at the time of admission, the fulfillment of general education requirements is assessed. Any upper level transfer credit that is major or minor specific may be granted by the respective department after matriculation.

Associate of Arts (AA) Degree

• Students admitted as a transfer student with an Associate of Arts degree (AA) from an accredited community college will automatically be granted 60 semester hours (junior standing) upon entrance. Please note that this does not guarantee the satisfaction of all general education requirements.

• Students will still be required to fulfill the upper-division writing-center course, the study in a language other than English, the World Engagement, and Power Difference and Equity requirement.

• The language requirement may be satisfied by transferring in language courses, or by taking a placement exam after matriculation and demonstrating intermediate proficiency.

Associate of Science (AS) Degree

• Students admitted as transfer students with an Associate of Science (AS) degree from an accredited institution will automatically be granted 60 semester hours (junior standing) upon entrance.

• AS students will have satisfied many general education requirements, leaving the upper-division writing-centered course, the study in a language other than English, World Engagement, and Power Difference and Equity requirement.

• The language requirement may be satisfied by transferring in language courses, or by taking a placement exam after matriculation and demonstrating intermediate proficiency.

Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) Degree

• Students admitted as transfer students with an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree from an accredited institution will automatically be granted 60 semester hours (junior standing) upon entrance.

• AAOT students will have satisfied many general education requirements, leaving the upper-division writing-centered course, the study in a language other than English, World Engagement, and Power Difference and Equity requirement.

• The language requirement may be satisfied by transferring in language courses, or by taking a placement exam after matriculation and demonstrating intermediate proficiency.

Association of Science Oregon Transfer Science (ASOT-CS) Degree

• Students admitted as transfer students with an Associate of Science Oregon Transfer Computer Science (ASOT-CS) degree from an accredited institution will automatically be granted 60 semester hours (junior standing) upon entrance.

• Upon presentation of syllabi and grades from a completed ASOT-CS program, the Computer Science department may accept a student’s completed introductory courses, taken from an accredited institution, in place of the CS 151 —> CS 152 introductory sequence. Once the student enrolls at Willamette and declares a computer science major, they may send their syllabi and grades to the Chair of the Computer Science Department for evaluation.

• ASOT-CS students will have satisfied many general education requirements, leaving the upper-division writing-centered course, the study in a language other than English, World Engagement, and Power Difference and Equity requirement.

• The language requirement may be satisfied by transferring in language courses, or by taking a placement exam after matriculation and demonstrating intermediate proficiency.

Tokyo International University (TIU) Scholarship Exchange Program

• Students transferring from Tokyo International University in the Scholarship Exchange Program will automatically be granted 64 semester hour credits (junior standing) upon entrance.

Information for Students Receiving GI Bill® Benefits

Any student receiving GI Bill® education benefits while attending Willamette University is required to obtain transcripts from military training and all previously attended schools and submit them to the school for review of prior credit.

Information for New Students

Willamette University encourages student participation in the Advanced Placement (AP) program sponsored by the College Board and the International Baccalaureate program. No college credit is granted for College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

All AP scores of "4" and "5" will be granted a minimum of 4 credits. For a current listing of AP course equivalencies, visit our Advanced Placement (AP) Test Credit Granting Policy webpage. Willamette will grant 4 credits for each IB Higher Level examination passed with a score of "5" and 8 credits each for Higher Level exams passed with a score of "6" or "7." Willamette will also grant 4 additional credits to students who earn the full IB Diploma with a score of 30 or above. For a current listing of IB course equivalencies, visit our International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit Granting Policy webpage.

A maximum of 32 credits total may be earned from the AP and IB programs. This credit may be applied to major and minor programs with the approval of the academic departments concerned. Credit earned based on AP or IB scores may not be used to satisfy general education requirements.

College credits earned prior to secondary school graduation in concurrent enrollment programs may transfer to Willamette University.  However, such courses must be more advanced in the discipline than courses normally offered at the secondary school. In order to be eligible for transfer, college courses must be described in the college catalog and be recorded on the college transcript.  Credits that apply to the secondary school diploma cannot be applied a second time to the baccalaureate degree.

In preparing for enrollment at Willamette University, secondary school students should have four years of college preparatory study including English, mathematics, foreign languages, history or social studies, and laboratory science. Secondary school students who take college courses that are replacements for courses available in their secondary school are considered to be doing their college preparatory work outside the secondary school curriculum, rather than accumulating credit toward the baccalaureate degree. Therefore, introductory courses taken at a college instead of a secondary school are viewed as college preparatory and not transferable. Credits that apply to secondary school diploma cannot be applied a second time to the baccalaureate degree.

Secondary school students should consult the Office of the Registrar with any questions regarding the transferability of college credits. No more than 32 credits will be awarded for courses that a student completed prior to secondary school graduation.

For incoming Freshmen with advanced standing, a maximum of 32 credits can be transferred. This includes AP/IB and college transfer credits.

Other Degree Offerings

Engineering

To offer the advantages of a combined liberal arts and engineering program, Willamette University has arrangements with Columbia University, New York; the University of Southern California, California; and Washington University, Missouri, whereby a student may receive both a Bachelor of Arts from Willamette and a Bachelor of Science from the participating engineering school.

After three years in residence at Willamette University, the student may qualify for transfer to Columbia University, University of Southern California, or Washington University. To qualify for the program students must, at a minimum, complete the following courses: mathematics through differential equations, two semester sequence of introductory chemistry, two semester sequence of introductory physics, and computer programming. Other courses for a particular engineering field or school may be required or recommended. The student must complete the general education requirements: six Modes of Inquiry courses, two quantitative courses, foreign language, and four writing-centered courses. The student must also make progress towards completing a major. At any of our affiliated engineering schools, the student spends two years in any one of the several curricula in engineering. At the end of five years, he or she will receive the Bachelor of Science in engineering from Columbia, USC, or Washington and the Bachelor of Arts degree from Willamette University. Information concerning the engineering program may be obtained by consulting Dr. Richard Watkins of the Physics Department.

Forestry

Willamette University has partnered with the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University in North Carolina to offer a five-year program resulting in a B.A. from Willamette and a masters of Forestry or Masters of Environmental Management from Duke. Students take three years of undergraduate liberal arts courses at Willamette and two years of graduate courses at Duke. The program is also available over four and two years.

Program Prerequisites include:

• Natural or Social Science courses related to the student's area of interest

• College level course in Calculus (required)

• College level course in Statistics* (required)

• Students must earn a grade of B- or better in each prerequisite course and earn college credit in order for it to count towards the prerequisite. Pass/Fail courses are not acceptable. Self-paced courses are also not acceptable.

• Undergraduate experience and training in professional Writing

• Each program requires additional courses or recommends additional preparation, for details visit https://nicholas.duke.edu/academics/masters-programs/concurrent-degree-programs.