FERPA
Notification Of Student Rights Under FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s records within 45 days of the day that the institute receives the request for access.
Students should submit to the Registrar a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the students of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
- The right to request an amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading.
- Students may ask the institution to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Registrar, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
- If the institution decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the institution will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
- The process of amending the academic record only pertains to information that has been recorded inaccurately or incorrectly. It is not a process to appeal grades, disciplinary decisions, or other university decisions with which the student disagrees but which have been recorded accurately. Normal review and appeal channels must be used where the dispute is with the decision itself and not with the accuracy with which the decision or information has been recorded. Information pertaining to grade and disciplinary appeals may be found in the student handbook.
- The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
- One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person whether volunteering for or employed by the institution in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the institution has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); staff in the Office of the Attorney General; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
- A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
- The right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Elon University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-4605
- The institution will honor requests to withhold the information listed below but cannot assume responsibility to contact students for subsequent permission to release them. The institution assumes no liability for honoring instructions that such information be withheld.
The items listed below are designated as Directory Information and may be released for any purpose at the discretion of the institution unless the student requests the information be withheld:
- Name, address, telephone number, dates of attendance, class, and electronic e-mail address.
- Previous institution(s) attended, major field of study, awards, honors (included Dean’s list), degree(s) conferred (including dates).
- Past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, physical factors (height, weight of athletes), date and place of birth.
Class Schedule
The Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education schedules classes in the M.A. in Higher Education program in the fall, winter, spring and summer terms in overall accordance with the academic calendar of the university. Classes are not taught on the weekends with the exception of make-up classes scheduled due to class cancellations for extreme weather, etc. Some classes do have field experiences, such as visiting other universities.
The
calendar for the MHE program includes start and end dates for apprenticeships. Students will be notified well in advance if there are any changes to the MHE calendar.
Graduate Grading System
Graduation is dependent upon the quality as well as the quantity of work completed. Letter grades are used. They are interpreted in the following table, with the quality points for each hour of credit shown here:
| Grade |
|
Quality Points
|
A
|
Distinguished
|
4.0 |
A-
|
Excellent
|
3.7 |
B+
|
Above average |
3.3 |
B
|
Average
|
3.0 |
B-
|
Below average |
2.7 |
| C |
Unsatisfactory |
2.0 |
F
|
Failure
|
0 |
| I |
Incomplete
|
0 |
| WD |
Medical withdrawal |
0 |
| W |
Withdrawal
|
0 |
| NR |
No report
|
0 |
Grades of “A” through “F” are permanent grades and may not be changed except in cases of error. After a professor has certified a grade to the Registrar, they may change it before the end of the next regular grading period. The change must be made online or in writing and have the written approval of the Graduate Director.
An “I” grade signifies an instructor granted extension of the grading period given for extenuating circumstances. The student receiving a grade of “I” must complete all remaining work and the faculty member must submit a final grade to the Registrar the following semester by the date designated in the academic calendar. After the designated date, “I” grades automatically change to “F” unless an extension is granted by the MHE Graduate Director.
A grade of "NR" signifies that the grade was not received in time for processing. An “NR” is replaced upon receipt of an official grade change form. An “NR” not resolved by the university’s published deadline is automatically converted to an “F”.
The grade point average is computed by dividing the total quality points on work attempted at Elon University by the number of hours attempted, except for courses with grades of “WD” or “W.”
Grade Appeal Procedure
The grade appeal system affords recourse to a student who has evidence or believes that evidence exists to show that an inappropriate grade has been assigned as a result of clerical error, personal bias, or arbitrary grading. Grades (for an entire course, assignment, or unit) given by an instructor after the student is found responsible for an academic honor code violation through the University Honor System may not be appealed. The MHE program follows the Grade Appeal Procedure detailed in the Elon University Student Handbook. For more information on the grade appeal process and timeline, please consult the Elon University Student Handbook.
Honor Code
All students at Elon University pledge to abide by the Honor Code, which recognizes honesty, integrity, respect and responsibility as critical elements in upholding the values of the academic community. The current Elon University Student Handbook presents sanctions and hearing procedures in detail.
Continuation Standards
Master of Arts in Higher Education students are expected to complete the program during two years of full-time study. Continued enrollment in the MHE program is dependent upon: 1) maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0, 2) receiving satisfactory professional dispositional evaluations at specified transition points, and 3) receiving satisfactory apprenticeship performance evaluations in an approved Graduate Apprenticeship. Students who do not maintain a satisfactory cumulative GPA, receive unsatisfactory professional disposition evaluations, and/or receive unsatisfactory performance evaluations in their Graduate Apprenticeship are subject to probation or dismissal from the program. Please see the MHE Student Handbook for more information on each continuation standard, the process for determining continuation, consequences for failure to meet standards, and the appeal process.
Dismissal from the Program
Students who do not maintain a satisfactory cumulative GPA, receive unsatisfactory professional disposition evaluations, and/or receive unsatisfactory performance evaluations in their Graduate Apprenticeship are subject to probation or dismissal from the program. Please see the MHE Student Handbook for more information on each continuation standard, the process for determining continuation, consequences for failure to meet standards, and the appeal process.
Changes in Class Schedule
The university reserves the right to cancel or discontinue any course because of small enrollment or for other reasons deemed necessary. In order to assure quality instruction, the university reserves the right to close registration when the maximum enrollment has been reached and to make changes in schedule and/or faculty when necessary. Notice will be given to enrolled students as changes are made in the MHE program.
Course Registration
MHE students will be registered for all required courses by the M.A. in Higher Education program. Registration in MHE 7985 (Internship I) and MHE 7986 (Internship II) requires submission of an approved Internship Learning Contract. Information about the internship approval process is provided in the MHE Internship Handbook.
Course Repeat Policy
MHE graduate students may be permitted to repeat only one course and may only repeat that course once. Both grades will remain on the transcript, but only the most recent grade, regardless of whether it is higher or lower, will be used to calculate the student’s graduate GPA. Permission to retake more than one MHE course requires approval of the MHE Graduate Director. It is important to note that students who retake one or more MHE courses may not be able to fulfill degree requirements within the prescribed two-year time frame and are not guaranteed a graduate apprenticeship and/or scholarship funding beyond the initial two-year scholarship award and/or apprenticeship appointment.
Withdrawing from Courses
Master of Arts in Higher Education students must enroll in the program full time and complete the courses in sequence as outlined in the curriculum. If a student withdraws from one or more MHE courses in a given term, the student will need to appeal to the MHE Graduate Director for permission to remain enrolled in the program and develop a plan for completing remaining degree requirements. It is important to note that students who withdraw from one or more courses and are granted permission to continue in the MHE program may not be able to fulfill degree requirements within the prescribed two-year time frame and are not guaranteed a graduate apprenticeship and/or scholarship funding beyond the initial two-year scholarship award and/or apprenticeship appointment. Additionally, registration changes that place students below full-time status may unfavorably affect financial aid and scholarship requirements, veteran’s benefits, foreign student visas and other benefits and requirements. Permission to withdraw from one or more courses and remain in the MHE program beyond two years will only be granted in the case of extenuating circumstances.
A course dropped without permission of the Registrar is automatically graded “F.” A student who withdraws from the university for any reason (except for a medical reason) receives grades of “W” if the withdrawal is before the designated half-term time period. After this time a student will receive a “W” or “F” depending on his/her grades at the time of withdrawal.
Leave of Absence and Withdrawal for Medical or Hardship Reasons
If a student has a documented medical condition or personal hardship that is impacting their ability to complete course work, the student should consult the MHE Graduate Director or a staff member in the Office of the Dean of Students to discuss their options. The
Office of the Dean of Students website provides detailed descriptions of the following policies: Leave of Absence for Medical Reasons, Leave of Absence for Hardship Reasons, Permanent Withdrawal for Medical Reasons, and/or Retroactive Medical Withdrawal as well as guidance on the process for returning from a leave of absence. It is important to note that students who take a leave of absence or medical withdrawal may not be able to fulfill degree requirements within the prescribed two-year time frame and are not guaranteed a graduate apprenticeship and/or scholarship funding beyond the initial two-year scholarship award and/or apprenticeship appointment.
Withdrawing from the MHE Program
A student may withdraw voluntarily from the Master of Arts in Higher Education program during any term, provided formal written notice is given to the MHE Graduate Director and Registrar. Readmission following program withdrawal is subject to the following conditions:
1. There is no right to automatic readmission.
2. There is no right to scholarship and/or graduate apprenticeship funding.
3. A request for readmission will be considered on the basis of the admission standards prevailing at the time readmission is sought. The student must comply with any new admission requirements even if such requirements differ from those existing at the time they were originally admitted to the MHE program. A request for readmission may be made by sending a letter to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
4. If a student who has withdrawn is readmitted, MHE credits earned five or more years prior to the date of reenrollment will not be recognized. All requirements for the MHE degree must be completed within five years of initial enrollment.
Attendance
Attendance policies for Master of Arts in Higher Education courses are set by individual faculty and detailed in each course syllabus.
Missed Exams
Policies regarding missed exams are detailed in individual Master of Arts in Higher Education course syllabi.