Santa Clara University

Academic Information

STANDARDS OF SCHOLARSHIP

Only courses in which the student has earned assigned grades of A, B, or C, with plus (+) or minus (-) variations, may be counted for the master’s or Ph.D. degree. The student must earn a 3.0 average in the approved 45 units required for the completion of the M.S. degree or the approved 72 units required for the Ph. D. degree. Only credits, not grade points, are transferred from other institutions. A cumulative GPA of less than 2.6 after the completion of 16 units may result in dismissal from the graduate program.

GRADING SYSTEM

The grades A, B, C, and D may be modified by (+) or (-) suffixes, except that the grade of A may not be modified by a (+). Grade point values per unit are assigned as follows: A = 4.0; A- = 3.7; B+ = 3.3; B = 3.0; B- = 2.7; C+ = 2.3; C = 2; C- = 1.7; D+ = 1.3; D = 1.0; D- = 0.7. F= 0., I (incomplete), P (pass), NP (no pass), NR (no grade reported by instructor; this notation is assigned by the Student Records Office), and W (withdrawn) are all assigned zero points. Unit credit, but not grade point credit, is awarded when the grade of P is assigned.

The University also uses the following marks: AUD (audit), I (incomplete), N (continuing work), NP (not passed), NS (no show), and W (withdrawn). No unit credit or grade point value is granted for any of these marks.

READMISSION/REGISTRATION

An application for readmission is required of students whose enrollment in the School of Engineering lapses for three consecutive quarters. Applicants for readmission must submit transcripts of the latest graduate work completed in other university programs, together with official transcripts of study completed elsewhere since their previous enrollment.

After successfully completing advanced degree requirements at Santa Clara University, a student must reapply if interested in taking graduate engineering courses. None of the courses used to satisfy requirements for the first degree can be applied to any other subsequent degree.

REPEATING COURSES

A student may, with the permission of the department, repeat a course in which a grade of C or lower was received on the first attempt. All grades, whether received on the first or second attempt, will be used in computing overall student performance. The units from a course may be counted only once in fulfilling graduation requirements.

COURSES TRANSFERRED FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS

All M.S. students have the option to transfer a maximum of 6 semester or 9 quarter units from an accredited institution into their degree program with their advisor’s approval. All Ph.D. students have the option to transfer a maximum of 12 semester or 18 quarter units from an accredited institution into their degree program with their advisor’s approval. Please keep the following in mind when transferring units:

• Only those courses completed with a C grade or better will be eligible for transfer.
• Extension and continuing education courses may not be transferred.
• The units may not have been used for another degree.
• Only the credit will transfer, but not grades so your overall grade point average will be based on coursework completed at Santa Clara University only.
• An official transcript is required for verification of the units by the student’s advisor and Engineering Graduate Programs.

In order to transfer units into a degree program, please follow this procedure:

• Include those units you wish to transfer in the “Transfer Credit” section of the Program of Studies form and include the Institution name, Course number and name, Grade, Units* and Year. (*Please note that 1 semester unit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter units. Please put the quarter unit value on your Program of Studies so that the final total will be correct.)
• Have your academic advisor sign the Program of Studies and submit it to Engineering Graduate Programs.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students are required to maintain full-time student status, which requires enrolling in at least 8 units per quarter (summer session excluded). Admission to graduate study is based, in part, on records of undergraduate study. International applicants, applicants who are not U.S. citizens or have not received a degree from a U.S. institution (excluding foreign universities with English as the teaching medium), must also submit their score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) exam. Additionally, applicants who hold a 3-year bachelor's degree are required to have their official transcripts evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A list of accredited evaluation services is available online at: http://www.naces.org.

International students requiring an F-1 student visa must submit financial statements showing adequate funds for tuition, fees, and living expenses for the entire program. Accepted students will be mailed an I-20 Request Form with their acceptance letter. This form and the financial documents must be returned to the Engineering Graduate Programs Admissions Office no earlier than 90 days before classes begin.

CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT

Concurrent Enrollment means that a student is enrolled in two places at the same time. An international student at Santa Clara University may be given permission to engage in Concurrent Enrollment provided the student meets the following USCIS requirements:

• Combined enrollment amounts to a full course of study
• The student has been granted permission from a faculty advisor to enroll at another college (advisor must sign Concurrent Enrollment Form)
• Must receive written approval from DSO at International Student Services
• The student is making normal progress at Santa Clara and is not in danger of probation or disqualification
• The coursework at the other school is NOT vocational and will be accepted for fulfilling degree requirements at SCU

For more information, please contact the International Student Services Office at 408-554-4318 or refer to its Web site: http://www.scu.edu/F1/.

WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSES

Students may change their course registration as stated in the Academic Calendar. Withdrawal from any course may be accomplished up to the 7th Friday of the term. After the third week of the quarter, a withdrawal will be recorded as W on the transcript. After the tenth Friday, an emergency that qualifies may be handled as an incomplete (I). Dropping a course without formal withdrawal will result in a grade of F. Deadlines are strictly adhered to and will result in loss of tuition refund.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY

Withdrawal from the University is not officially complete until students clear all of their financial obligations with the Bursar’s Office. Students on deferments or a Federal Perkins Loan must also clear their financial obligations with the Credit Counseling Office.

ENGINEERING HONOR CODE

The Engineering Honor Code is a long-standing Santa Clara tradition. Instituted at the request of engineering students, the code states: All students taking courses in the School of Engineering agree, individually and collectively, that they will not give or receive unpermitted aid in examinations or other coursework that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of grading. Students and teachers cooperate and share responsibilities under the code. Teachers are responsible for making clear what aid is permissible and for using procedures that minimize temptations to violate the code. Students are responsible for behaving honorably, for actively ensuring that others as well as themselves uphold the code, and for being responsive to violations. Students dominate the administration of the code, and they take full responsibility for trying cases of alleged violations and for recommending penalties. Alleged violations should be reported to the Office of the Dean.

STUDENT RECORDS

University policy relating to student records complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Accordingly, the University may release directory information to any person on request, unless a student requests in writing that directory information be kept confidential. A student’s directory information is designated as follows:

1. Name
2. Address, telephone number (campus, local and/or permanent), e-mail
3. Date and place of birth
4. Dates of attendance, full-time/part-time status, major field of study, classifica tion, expected graduation date, degrees, and honors received
5. Photographic image
6. Most recent previous educational institution attended
7. Participation in officially recognized activities, including intercollegiate athletics
8. Name, height, and weight of participants on intercollegiate athletic teams

During the registration period and throughout the academic year, students may request in writing, through the Student Records Office, that directory information be kept confidential. Once filed, the request remains in effect until the beginning of the next academic year, or a shorter period, if designated by the student.

Certain records are excluded by the law from inspection, specifically those created or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist in connection with the treatment or counseling of a student. Parents’ financial information, including statements submitted with scholarship applications, is also excluded by law from inspection. Third parties may not have access to educational records or other information pertaining to students without the written consent of the particular student about whom the information is sought.

Former or current borrowers of funds from any Title IV student loan program should note carefully that requests for nondisclosure of information will have no effect on preventing Santa Clara University from releasing information pertinent to employment, enrollment status, current address, and loan account status to a school lender, subsequent holder, guarantee agency, U.S. Department of Education, or an authorized agent.

Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records at the following offices:

1. Official academic records, including application forms, admissions transcripts, letters of acceptance, and a student’s permanent academic record are on file and maintained in the Student Records Office.
2. Working academic files are also maintained by the deans in their respective offices.
3. Records related to students’ nonacademic activities are maintained in the Office of Student Life.
4. Records relating to students’ financial status with the University are maintained in the various student financial services offices.

Students have the right to request the amendment of their educational records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights. Students may direct complaints regarding academic records to the dean of the college or school in which they are enrolled or to the University Registrar. In addition, students have the right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by Santa Clara University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Written complaints should be directed to the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-5902. Detailed information can be found on the Family Compliance Office Web site. Copies of Santa Clara University’s student records policy are available from the Student Records Office, Walsh Administration Building.

CAMPUS SECURITY AND CRIME STATISTICS ACT

The U.S. Department of Education requires universities that receive Title IV funding to disclose certain information, including institutional graduation rates, athlete graduation rates, financial assistance awarded, and crime statistics. Information presented in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is made available to assist current and potential students and employees in making informed decisions regarding their attendance or employment with Santa Clara University. To view the Santa Clara University reports, please go to the Campus Safety Services Web site at: http://university-operations.scu.edu/campus-safety/. A paper copy of the report may be obtained by writing to Campus Safety Services, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053.