Student Participation Policy for CD-ROM Courses
Statement of Policy
Participation in course activities is essential to student success at Excelsior University. Excelsior University is not required to take attendance as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. However, a student is expected to be in contact with the instructor at the beginning of the course and to remain an active participant until its completion. Participation will be monitored on a weekly basis in eight-week CD-ROM courses and no less than biweekly in 15-week CD-ROM courses, as stipulated in the CD-ROM syllabi.
The minimum expectation of a student is to demonstrate some academic related activity in his or her course weekly or biweekly, as stipulated in the CD-ROM syllabi, depending upon the length of the course. Activity is defined as sending an email message to the instructor, taking an assessment, and/or submission of an assignment. This requirement is shared with faculty and students and is included in both the Faculty and Student Policy Handbooks. Additional course requirements (often more stringent) are outlined in course syllabi, and students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with these.
If a student fails to actively participate in a CD-ROM course for three consecutive modules (3-6 weeks total) at any point prior to two weeks before the end of the term (week 14 for 15-week courses and week 7 for 8-week courses), the student will be administratively withdrawn after the stipulated period of non-participation as established in the CD-ROM syllabus of the course. The earliest a student can be administratively withdrawn is the 20th calendar day of the term.
The student will not be eligible for a refund of the course tuition and will owe any balance due for the course. The student will be assigned a grade of AW (administratively withdrawn). A grade of AW does not calculate into the EC or Overall GPA; however, it will be factored into credits attempted/credits earned ratio for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). See the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
A student who cannot participate in a course as stipulated in the syllabus, at least weekly or biweekly, must promptly contact the instructor to be excused.
A student receiving financial aid is subject to Return to Title IV regulations. Note: if a student is registered in INL 102 and receives AWs in all the other Excelsior University courses he/she is taking during the period of enrollment, the return to Title IV calculations will be completed on that student regardless if they complete INL 102 or not. A student’s last date of participation will be the same as the course withdrawal date. If a student is not withdrawn two weeks prior to the course end date, and does not complete the course, she or he will be assigned the earned grade.
Procedure
- Each school offering CD-ROM courses will arrange gradebooks and define a procedure for assuring compliance with this policy bearing in mind the course length and any other conditions specific to that school’s CD-ROM courses.
- All students must be given at least two consecutive warnings before the administrative withdrawal process takes place and both warnings will be documented by activity log codes in SIS.
- The first warning will come after the first gradebook record of non-participation for at least one week. If non-participation is in the first week, the warning will come as early as week 2 for all CD-ROM courses. Otherwise:
- For 15-week 8-module courses, the first warning will come after two weeks (one module) of non-participation.
- For 15-week 15-module, or 8-week 8-module, courses the first warning will come after one week of non-participation.
- The second warning will come after the second consecutive gradebook record of non-participation.
- For 15-week 8-module courses, the second warning will come after the second consecutive two weeks (one module) of non-participation.
- For 15-week 15-module, or 8-week 8-module, courses the second warning will come after the second consecutive week of non-participation.
- The administrative withdrawal will come after the third consecutive gradebook record of non-participation.
- For 15-week 8-module courses, the administrative withdrawal will come after a third consecutive two weeks (one module) of non-participation.
- For 15-week 15-module, or 8-week 8-module, courses the administrative withdrawal will come after the third consecutive week of non-participation.
- A request for administrative withdrawal will be directed to ORR@excelsior.edu by the school dean or designee following a third consecutive record of non-participation in the gradebook.
- The first warning will come after the first gradebook record of non-participation for at least one week. If non-participation is in the first week, the warning will come as early as week 2 for all CD-ROM courses. Otherwise:
- The timing of these actions each week will coincide with the timing of warnings and administrative withdrawals generated for students in online courses. When a student is administratively withdrawn, the student will not be eligible for refund of course tuition. (See Withdrawal from a Course policy.) A student receiving financial aid is subject to Return to Title IV regulations. Note: if a student is registered in INL 102 and receives AWs in all the other Excelsior University courses he/she is taking during the period of enrollment, the return to Title IV calculations will be completed on that student regardless if they complete INL 102 or not. A student’s last date of participation will be the same as the course withdrawal date.If a student is not withdrawn two weeks prior to the course end date, and does not complete the course, she or he will be assigned the earned grade.
- AW Appeal Process: Students have the right to appeal the AW grade. They must do so by Tuesday at 11:59 pm ET during the week that they were assigned the AW. The appeal must be sent to the appropriate School, see the list below. The School will investigate and make a decision no later than noon the following Friday. If the decision for the course is in the student’s favor, the School will notify the student and the Office of the Registrar will remove the AW grade. The student’s access to the course will be restored and the instructor will be notified by the School. In the event that the student’s appeal is denied, the School will notify the student of this decision.Where to Send Your AW Appeal:All School of Nursing Courses: son-courses@excelsior.edu
Undergraduate Studies Courses: ugawappeal@excelsior.edu
Graduate Studies Courses: grstudent@excelsior.edu
