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Course Registration


Registration as a student constitutes the following:

A commitment by the student to abide by and accept University policies, procedures, rules, requirements, and regulations.

The policies, procedures, rules, requirements, and regulations that students must abide by include but are not limited to those concerning registration, academic performance, the Campus Conduct Code, use of the University computing resources, University facilities, and intellectual property, operation of vehicles on campus, and the payment of fees and assessments. Information is contained on the University Policies and Procedures website, University websites related to the relevant subject matters, and in this Bulletin and Student Handbook, Academic Calendar.

Course Registration Requirement

Students may attend a course only if they are officially registered in the course and appear on the instructor’s course roster.

The University reserves the right to withhold registration privileges or to cancel the registration of any student: who is not in compliance with its policies, procedures, rules, requirements, or regulations; or for reasons pertaining to academic performance, health and wellness, qualification to be a student, behavioral conduct, or the safety of the University community.

Professional licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state. At this time, Stockton University cannot confirm if programs that lead to professional licensure or certification meet the prerequisites for professional licensure or certification outside the State of New Jersey.

Students will need to contact the state licensing board relative to their program in the state they are seeking licensure for further information. For more information go to: State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement - SARA - Academic Affairs | Stockton University.

Registration for class at Stockton University or receipt of any service constitutes your agreement and acceptance of responsibility to pay tuition, fees and other associated costs assessed as a result of your registration and/or receipt of services. It is the student’s responsibility to drop or withdraw officially from a registered course and maintain an accurate student enrollment record.

If you drop or withdraw from some or all of the classes for which you register, you are responsible for payment of all or a portion of tuition and fees in accordance with the published tuition refund schedule at Stockton University. Any failure to attend class or receive a bill does not absolve you of financial responsibility as described above.

Registration for Courses

Registration for courses occurs each term prior to the start of classes. New students register at an Orientation session scheduled by the Office of Admissions. Continuing matriculated students register on a priority basis during the pre-registration period. Registration dates and times are based on the number of credits the student has currently earned. Non-matriculated students register on a space-available basis after completion of matriculated student registration. Students given permission to register late are charged a late registration fee and, if applicable, a late payment fee.

Pre-registration dates and non-matriculated registration dates can be found on the Academic Calendar. Course descriptions and schedules can be found online in the Catalog of Courses.

Procedure 2017 Course Numbering
Courses at Stockton are identified according to a course numbering system that employs a three letter acronym for General Studies or a four-letter acronym for Program and Supporting Studies, followed by a four-digit number (e.g., GIS 2177 or PHYS 3209). Students should consult Procedure 2017 for additional course numbering information.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are other courses, experiences, or requirements that students must complete prior to enrolling in the course. Prerequisites are given in the Catalog of Courses. Prerequisite issues should be addressed by the instructor, School Dean, or the Center for Academic Advising.

Corequisites

Several courses have co-requisites. These are other courses in which a student must enroll concurrently. Co-requisites are noted in the Catalog of Courses. Co-requisite issues should be addressed by the instructor, School Dean, or the Center for Academic Advising.

Course Modality Types
Courses are taught in multiple teaching modalities. These will include in-person classes on campus, hybrid classes that combine in-person and online lessons, and completely online classes. Please familiarize yourself with the modality types as you organize your plans and register for the upcoming semester.

Permission of Instructor

Courses requiring Permission of Instructor (POI) are provided in the course descriptions in the Catalog of Courses. Students must obtain permission from the course instructor before registering for the class. If permission is granted, the instructor will issue a permit electronically that will override the restriction and allow the student to register.

Special Project Request Form

Special Project Request Forms are required for special projects, independent studies, internships, and senior projects. Forms must be completed and signed by the student, instructor, and School Dean. Additionally, the signature of the Dean of the School of General Studies is required for all “G” acronym courses as well as for approval of writing, quantitative reasoning, and other attribute designations. The forms must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar prior to the end of the Drop/Add period for processing.

Independent Study

Independent study is an approach followed at Stockton to encourage close working relationships between students and faculty. Independent study provides opportunities to develop highly individualized, rigorous and personal learning experiences. This approach fulfills three needs. It permits students to pursue questions not addressed in faculty-directed classrooms, laboratories or studios; it helps students to develop valuable research skills; and it enables students to test mastery of principles, methods and materials presented in regular classes by instructors. Properly done, independent study should lead to that goal sought by all educated persons, namely the capacity for independent learning throughout life. Students who wish to undertake independent study projects should consult the instructor with whom they wish to work and the Director/Program Coordinator of the graduate program. Projects must be carefully formulated on a Special Project Request Form and signed by the appropriate instructor, student, and Dean of the School where the program resides.

Illness and Absence

If illness or emergency prevents a student from attending a scheduled examination, the student should present a written request for a deferred examination, with the reason for absence, to the instructor.

If a prolonged illness or emergency exists, the student should immediately contact the Stockton Cares, which will notify appropriate offices and faculty of the situation. Upon return to the University, the student must present written verification of the nature of the illness and/or emergency and its duration to the Stockton Cares. The student is responsible for obtaining all missed assignments and contacting instructors regarding course work.

Deployment During the Semester for Students Serving in U. S. Armed Forces

A student who is unable to complete a course because the student has been called to partial or full mobilization for state or federal active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the U. S. is entitled to the options set forth in New Jersey Statute 18A:62-4.2. For more information, contact Stockton’s Office of Military and Veteran Services.

Permission of Instructor

If permission is required to register for a course or a course has a restriction (as noted in the Catalog of Courses), it is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor or the School Office (as designated in the Procedures for Adding Courses) to request permission to register for the course. If permission is granted, a permit to register for the course will be issued electronically that will allow the student to register. It is the student’s responsibility to register for a course once a permit has been issued. Courses dropped during this period will not appear on the student’s transcript. There is no financial penalty for dropping a course prior to the drop/add deadline.

Assignment of Grades
Grades are due each semester by the deadlines noted on the Academic Calendar and are submitted by faculty online through the goStockton portal. Faculty can only submit A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, and F grades online. Letter grades should be submitted for courses that have been approved for the Pass/No Credit grading mode. The letter grade will be converted on the student’s transcript as P for grades A through D- or NC for a grade of F. AU, IP, W, WI, and X grades can only be entered by the Office of the Registrar. An I grade will be entered by the Office of the Registrar with submission of an Agreement for Completion of Course Work form or direction from the Assistant Dean.

Grade Changes
Grades represent the professional judgment of faculty in their assigned areas of expertise, and once the final deadline for recording grades has passed, may only be changed when there has been a documented error in grade calculation or in situations of a successful grade appeal. Most grade changes, except those awarded under the appeal system, may be submitted online by the instructor.

Change of “I” Notation
Those students receiving an Incomplete (I) notation must complete all remaining course work as specified in the Agreement for Completion of Course Work Authorization. If a grade is not submitted by the grading deadline for the term as noted on the Academic Calendar, the notation reverts to an F or NC, as appropriate. Once course work is completed, the instructor will record a regular grade within seven calendar days or by the due date for the current term’s grades, whichever is sooner.

Enrollment Limit in a Course
An individual may enroll in a particular course at Stockton University no more than two (2) times. No individual may enroll in a course again after enrolling in it for the second time unless the enrollment is approved by the Dean of the School offering the course. Courses may be exempt from this policy if designated in the course description (as noted in the Catalog of Courses), as is common for certain music and dance classes, seminars, independent study courses, and colloquia. Individuals may enroll in such courses in accordance with program policies.

Student Academic Level

Undergraduate

Academic level for undergraduate students is based on the number of credits transferred to Stockton and/or earned by courses completed at Stockton.

First - Year = 0 to 31 credits

Sophomores = 32 to 63 credits

Juniors = 64 to 95 credits

Seniors = 96 or more credits

Graduate

For graduate students, the student’s academic level (master’s or doctoral) is determined at the time of matriculation and corresponds with the academic program at the time of matriculation.

Course Level

Many courses have class-level prerequisites: first-year, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate level classes. Students should note the requirements designated in the Catalog of Courses. Prerequisite issues regarding class level should be addressed by the instructor or academic school hosting the course.

Course Sequences
Some courses are offered in a specific sequence because certain proficiencies in one serve as the basis for the next level course. Students who complete the higher-level proficiency cannot subsequently earn credit in the lower-level course. Examples of such sequences are MATH 1100 Pre-Calculus Mathematics with MATH 2215 Calculus I and LANG 1230 Beginning French I with LANG 1231 Beginning French II.

Time Limitation on Earning the Baccalaureate Degree
Full-time students typically take 16 credits per semester, which enables them to complete the 128 credits required for a baccalaureate degree within four years. Both full- and part-time students must meet all program and General Studies requirements within seven years of matriculation, or they will be subject to dismissal from the University and precluded from future registration, except in the case of intervening active military service or when the student has an official leave of absence from the University.

Undergraduate Dean’s List

The Dean’s List is generated each fall and spring term to Undergraduate students only. Undergraduate students earning 12 or more credits in a given term are considered for the Dean’s List using the criteria for full-time students:

  • Must earn 12 or more credits in a term.

  • Must earn a GPA for the term of 3.50 or greater.

  • May receive no grade lower than a “C”.

  • May not have any withdrawals (W) or incompletes (I) during the term.

Students completing an I grade will NOT be added retroactively to the Dean’s List upon completion of the required work.

Part-Time Students
Students earning between eight and 11 credits are eligible for the Dean’s List using the criteria for part-time students.

  • Must earn eight to 11 credits a term for two consecutive terms, excluding the summer term. Recognition will be at the end of the second term of the two consecutive fall and spring terms. Having been recognized on the Dean’s List, students will again become eligible after the next set of two consecutive fall and spring terms in which eight to 11 credits per term have been earned.

  • Must earn a GPA for each term of 3.50 or greater.

  • May receive no grade lower than a “C”.

  • May not have any withdrawals (W) or incompletes (I) during either term. The student becomes ineligible for the term in which a grade of W and/or I was assigned.

Students completing, I grades will NOT be added retroactively to the Dean’s List for the term in which the “I” grade was assigned.

Students meeting the criteria for the Dean’s List have a notation made on their transcript for that term. For part-time students, the notation will appear on the transcript the second of the two terms.

Degree Program Selection

A degree program should be chosen prior to the beginning of the junior year, defined as the completion of 64 credits. Some programs have specific requirements that must be met prior to declaring a major. These are described in the respective sections of the Bulletin. Students who have more than 64 credits and have not formally declared a degree program will not be permitted to register for subsequent terms until they have completed this process or met with a staff member of the Center for Academic Advising for a release to register. Failure to declare a major and develop a program of study may delay a student’s graduation, since not all courses taken may apply to the program of study. A student declares a degree program by obtaining the signature of a program preceptor on a Declaration of Major/Minor/Change of Preceptor Form and filing that form with the Center for Academic Advising.

Changes in Degree Program
A student who wishes to change degree programs must follow the same process used for declaring a major. To enable faculty to plan adequate course offerings for students intending to major or minor in a particular area, students are urged to file declaration of major or change of major on a Declaration of Major/Minor/Change of Preceptor Form as soon as possible.

Graduation Requirements Procedure 2050

Degrees are conferred in December for the Fall semester, January for the Winter semester, May for the Spring semester, and August for the Summer semester and the Commencement Ceremony is held once annually in May. The student is responsible for ensuring that all graduation requirements are met, and for applying for graduation online through the goStockton portal prior to established deadlines:

  • October 1 for fall graduation

  • December 1 for winter graduation

  • February 1 for spring graduation

  • June 15 for summer graduation

The term in which a student has been admitted/re-admitted and enrolls is the student’s official term of matriculation and thereby establishes the degree requirements the student must meet.

The Bulletin pertaining to the academic year serves as the primary contract for degree requirements unless the student in consultation with the preceptor and/or Center for Academic Advising is approved for a Bulletin year change to a subsequent year.

Commencement is an institutional activity developed to honor all graduates in a public ceremony. Participation in a graduation ceremony is optional and limited to those students who have completed all degree requirements prior to the deadlines established by the University and who have satisfied all financial obligations (e.g., fees, fines) to the University. A student in their last term at Stockton must submit a Graduation Application through the goStockton portal in the Student Services Tab. Upon receipt of the Graduation Application, a Degree Works evaluation is initiated by the Office of the Registrar to confirm graduation requirements are met. The audit may include review and approval from the assigned preceptor, program coordinator, the Dean of General Studies, and the School Dean. All courses/requirements of the degree evaluation should be reported as "met."

As students plan for graduation, they are to meet with their preceptor prior to their final year to assure that the Degree Works degree evaluation is accurate. Any section with a red ‘still needed’ indication should be examined to see what courses need to be completed or what possible issues could be corrected. The preceptor and The Center for Academic Advising can help in interpreting the degree evaluation. The initiation of this process is the student’s responsibility.

Commencement Ceremony Participation

The Commencement Ceremony is designed to recognize the completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree.

Students who 1) have applied for graduation by the established date and, pending successful completion of the final semester’s coursework, and 2) will have completed their respective degree requirements and will be eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony.

In these cases, special permission to participate must be granted by the Office of the Registrar. All students are required to submit the Commencement Participation form by the established graduation application deadline and meet the criteria outlined below:

Undergraduate students who are within eight credits of completing all degree requirements and have a plan to complete all remaining requirements in the subsequent summer term may, with the approval of the Office of the Registrar, participate in the commencement ceremony. A student who wishes to participate will need to have earned a minimum of 120 or more credits (including Spring term in progress courses) by the date of the graduation application but have a maximum of eight outstanding credits to meet all requirements for the degree. These students must be registered to earn the credits in the Summer Term for all degree requirements to be completed to participate. Students should register for their final eight credits prior to submitting the request to participate form. Undergraduate students who apply for graduation or request to participate in the commencement ceremony must complete the necessary forms prior to the deadline for late graduation noted above. Not applying by that deadline forfeits participation in the Commencement Ceremony and the commencement ceremony program booklet.

The University also recognizes that certain graduate programs require their students to complete their degree requirements in the summer following the Commencement Ceremony. With that requirement in place the University will afford those graduate students the privilege to participate in the Commencement Ceremony without completing degree requirements. These graduate students are eligible to participate in the ceremony, with permission of their program chair and are required to submit the Commencement Participation form by the established graduation application deadline.

All students (undergraduate and graduate) who do not apply for graduation by the deadline for late graduation applications forfeit their inclusion in the commencement ceremony and program. The University will make every effort to facilitate their graduation but cannot guarantee that the student will be accommodated.

Honors at Graduation
Undergraduate Latin Honors at Graduation
As part of a comprehensive educational program to promote and recognize outstanding academic achievement, Stockton University will grant qualified baccalaureate degree recipients with Latin honors. The undergraduate student who meets the following eligibility requirements upon completion of all degree requirements will be awarded cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. At least 64 credits must have been completed satisfactorily at Stockton prior to graduation for a student’s academic record to qualify for an honors designation. All courses attempted at Stockton will be included in the following calculations, except courses with P/NC or W (or equivalent) grades.

Undergraduate students with a cumulative GPA of 3.950-4.000 will be designated summa cum laude; students with a cumulative GPA of 3.850-3.949 will be designated magna cum laude; students with a cumulative GPA of 3.750-3.849 will be designated cum laude. The calculation of GPA will be truncated to three decimal places. GPA calculations are not rounded up.

Although students graduate under the academic requirements at their time of admission to the University, students graduate under the graduation policies that are in effect at the time of their graduation.

Program Distinction
Undergraduate programs may convey recognition of remarkable performance in program work to students graduating, in general, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in program-cognate credits. Additional criteria may be required by the program. For such awards, the phrase Program Distinction will be added to the degree and noted on the transcript. Programs that choose to convey this recognition will include all criteria in the relevant section of this Bulletin. Graduate programs may convey recognition of superior performance in the program based on criteria that are printed in their Program Handbook. Program Distinction for graduate students will be noted on the student’s transcript.

Questions regarding academic eligibility should be addressed with a student’s preceptor or the Center for Academic Advising. Information regarding the ceremony and other graduation-related events are posted on the Commencement website.

Educational Record

The educational record is the official and unabridged educational and demographic record of a student at Stockton University. This record is the central source that portrays the student’s educational progress and achievement while at the University. The Office of the Registrar is responsible for the accuracy and maintenance of the educational records.

Release/Duplication of Student Records

External Release
Upon written request from a student, the Stockton University transcript is released to an individual, institution, or organization as specified by the student. Students may request to release official Stockton transcripts online. No other portion of a student’s record is released separately. Transcripts from other institutions are not released. Students have access to their unofficial transcript in the goStockton portal.

Internal Release
A student’s record or portion thereof can be duplicated by the Office of the Registrar for professional use by faculty and staff members. To obtain this copy, other than the advising document, staff members are required to contact the Office of the Registrar.

Student Rights

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 (the Buckley Amendment) ensures students of the right to privacy in their educational records and establishes the right of students to inspect and review their records and to initiate grievance proceedings to correct inaccuracies. Students are also assured of the right to file complaints with the FERPA Office of the United States Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Stockton to comply with the Act.

Since March 1997 the Solomon Amendment has been in effect. The amendment allows the Secretary of Defense to have directory access to student information for purposes of military recruitment. The amendment is separate from the FERPA guidelines. Stockton University must comply with FERPA and the Solomon Amendment.

Students have the right to challenge the accuracy or appropriateness of information contained in their records. Depending upon the record involved, the following are the individuals to whom to speak when initiating a student information grievance.

  • Official Educational Record – Registrar.

  • Financial Aid Report – Director of Financial Aid.

  • Housing Record – Assistant Vice President for Student Living and Learning.

  • Security and Safety/Campus Police Record – Chief of Police.

  • Campus Hearing Board/Campus Conduct Code Record – Dean of Students.

  • Academic Irregularity Record – Provost.

  • Student Accounting Record – Director of Student Accounts and University Bursar.

  • Educational Opportunity Fund Student – Director of Educational Opportunity Fund Program.

Appeals are to the Provost, appropriate Vice President, or Dean of Students. Consult grievance procedures in this Bulletin. It should be noted that if a student’s challenge through the grievance procedure is unsuccessful, student can nevertheless submit statements commenting on the information in the records or statements setting forth any reasons for disagreeing with the decisions rendered in the course of the grievance procedures. The statements will be placed in the file, maintained as part of the student’s records, and released whenever the records in question are disclosed.