Academic Regulations

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:

1. 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.

2. The right to request an amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading.
   1. 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.
   2. 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.
   3. 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.
3. 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.
   1. 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.
   2. 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.
4. 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

5. 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:

   1. Name, address, telephone number, dates of attendance, class, and electronic e-mail address.
   2. Previous institution(s) attended, major field of study, awards, honors (included Dean’s list), degree(s) conferred (including dates).
   3. Past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, physical factors (height, weight of athletes), date and place of birth.

Record Retention Policy

The Registrar's Office at Elon University retains records and disposes of records within the guidelines noted below. This policy will supersede all other policies on student records retention and destruction pertaining to the academic records in the Registrar's Office. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that necessary records and documents are adequately protected and maintained and to ensure that records that are no longer needed or are of no value are discarded at the appropriate time. In the event of a governmental audit, investigation or pending litigation, record disposal will be suspended at the direction of the Registrar. In addition, the Registrar should be informed of any situation that might give rise to legal action as soon as the situation becomes apparent.

The Registrar's Office will release information from the student's academic record to college personnel who have demonstrated legitimate educational interest in the materials. A legitimate educational interest exists if the information requested has an educationally related purpose and is necessary for the college official to perform appropriate tasks or make a judgment within the scope of her/his assigned responsibilities or is related to a matter of safety and security of a student or the campus community.

Specific retention guidelines can be found on the Registrar's website.

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

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

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

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.