Academic Information, Procedures & Regulations

Academic Standards and Progress

Academic Standards

The College provides high quality instruction, maintains a high standard of academic performance in the classroom, and endeavors to maximize student learning. Students whose performance does not meet the College standards will be required to improve their performance or be dismissed. The College assumes students to be mature and responsible, and students are expected to fully apply themselves in academic endeavors. Furthermore, the College expects students to have knowledge of the information and policies presented in this Catalog and other College publications.

Academic Progress

It is students’ responsibility to be aware of individual academic standing at all times, and to maintain satisfactory progress toward completion of the program requirements for the curricular program in which they are enrolled. During the semester, if a student is uncertain of academic standing in a course, or realizes standing is unsatisfactory, the student should request a conference with the instructor(s) concerned. During such conferences, the instructor informs the student of the quality of individual work and seeks to help the student improve academically. Information about services to help assure student success is available in the College Services section of this catalog.  At the close of each semester, students’ grades are made available in the Portal at my.sunyulster.edu.

Grading and Quality Point System

Grades are issued at the end of each semester. The College uses an alphabetical system to describe the quality of the student’s work in each course. To determine a students’ academic standing for purposes of course progression, honors, graduation, probation, and dismissal, a quality point system is used.

Grades and their numerical values are:

The semester and cumulative averages are computed by dividing the number of quality points earned by the number of semester hours of credit attempted. Example: A student who attempts 15 credits and earns a total of 30 quality points would have a grade-point average of 2.0.;

Other Grade Designations

Grades followed by # are awarded in developmental courses, which carry no college credit. They are not calculated in the student’s average. Grades followed by > indicate that the courses were removed from calculation in the student’s grade point average under the Transcript Re-Evaluation or Fresh Start policies. Information about Transcript Reevaluation is available below, and information about Fresh Start is available in the Admissions section of this catalog.

President’s and Dean’s Lists for Full-Time Students

Excellence in scholastic achievement at SUNY Ulster is recognized each semester by the compilation of the President’s and Dean’s Lists. The Lists are distributed to the local media, and students receive a letter honoring their achievement. Students are eligible provided:

President’s List:

• They are formally matriculated.
• They have completed at least 12 semester hours of credit-bearing courses.
• They have a semester grade-point average of at least 3.75.
• They have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.3.
• They have no current semester grade lower than a C.
• They have no I or F grades in the qualifying semester.

Dean’s List:

• They are formally matriculated.
• They have completed at least 12 semester hours of credit-bearing courses.
• They have a semester grade-point average of at least 3.3.
• They have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0.
• They have no I or F grades in the qualifying semester.

President’s and Dean’s Lists for Part-Time Students

Part-Time students become eligible provided:

President’s List:

• They are formally matriculated.
• They are registered as part-time students (fewer than 12 credits).
• They have a semester grade-point average of at least 3.75.
• They have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.3.
• They have no current semester grade lower than a C.
• They have no I grades in the qualifying semester.

Dean’s List:

• They are formally matriculated.
• They are registered as part-time students (fewer than 12 credits).
• They have a semester grade-point average of 3.3.
• They have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0.
• They have no I or F grades in the qualifying semester.

Part-time students are reviewed for eligibility as they accumulate units of 12 or more credits. Once reviewed, students must accumulate an additional 12 credits to be eligible for the next review. Students who register as full-time students but drop to part-time status after the census date are not eligible for the part-time President’s and Dean’s Lists.

Probation and Dismissal Policy for Matriculated Students

Students are expected to remain in satisfactory academic standing, meaning that the student has maintained an acceptable cumulative grade point average (GPA) for course work at SUNY Ulster:

A matriculated student who fails to maintain a satisfactory GPA is subject to academic probation or dismissal. Academic probation, including any accompanying restraints upon the student’s activities, is intended to encourage greater effort by the student who appears to be having difficulty meeting academic standards. Probation lists are compiled at the end of each term and applied to the student’s academic standing for the following semester(s). A student on probation who does not achieve the minimum acceptable GPA by the end of the next semester may be subject to dismissal review by the Academic Review Committee.

The progress of part-time matriculated students will be reviewed in units of six or more credits. A part-time student placed on probation for two consecutive terms may be subject to dismissal review by the Academic Review Committee.

Academic dismissal means that the student has lost matriculated status at the College and cannot return to the college or take classes for at least one academic term (Fall or Spring). A student who has been dismissed and who believes that an error has been made or extenuating circumstances exist has the right of appeal. A student who is currently enrolled will be permitted to continue attending classes until a decision is made on the appeal. Students petitioning for reinstatement or appealing a dismissal decision must meet all submission deadlines which are communicated to the student at the time of dismissal.

Status of Students on Probation

During each semester a student is on academic probation, the student will be limited to enrolling in 12 credits or 4 courses required in their degree program. A student on probation for a first semester will not be held to any activity restrictions. A student on second semester of probation will be prohibited from engaging in all extracurricular activities UNLESS their semester performance has improved from the previous probation semester. Any student on probation for more than 1 semester will be reviewed for dismissal at the end of each academic semester. Dismissal shall be imposed upon a multi-semester probation student that fails 50% or more of their term credits attempted. The progress of part-time matriculated students will be reviewed in units of six or more credits. A part-time student placed on probation for two consecutive terms may be subject to dismissal review by the Academic Review Committee.

Graduation Information

Requirements

It is the student’s responsibility to submit a formal application for a degree, certificate, or diploma to the Registrar’s Office. Graduation application forms are available on the Portal. Spring semester graduation applications are due no later than March 1. Fall graduation applications are due no later than November 1. Summer graduation applications are due no later than July 1. Students who will graduate in Summer, but would like to participate in Spring commencement, must file a special permission form by the Spring application deadline of March 1. 

Students determined by the College to be eligible for graduation shall be awarded the appropriate degree, certificate, or diploma for their program.

Responsibility for meeting the requirements for a degree, certificate, or diploma rests with the student. To be granted a degree, certificate or diploma, a student must meet the following requirements:

• Submit an application for Graduation by the deadline. Applications are available on the Portal and from the Registrar’s Office.
• Have a cumulative grade-point average for all courses required for completion of the degree, certificate or diploma of at least 2.0. There may be additional, specific requirements for particular programs.
• Successfully complete all requirements as stated in the catalog in place at the time of matriculation or those in place at the time a change of major was recorded. Any deviation from these requirements must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to registration for the semester in which the student expects to receive the degree, certificate, or diploma.
• Satisfy the College’s residency requirement: at least 30 hours of successfully completed credits taken at SUNY Ulster for a degree, 15 hours for a diploma, and at least half of the total required credits for a certificate program.
• Satisfy the College’s General Education requirements. Information about these requirements is available in the General Education and Electives section of this catalog.

Course Waivers and Substitutions

Students need the recommendation of a faculty advisor for all waivers and substitution of courses from prescribed curricula. After the advisor has recommended the change, it must go to the appropriate department chair and then to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for final approval. This should be done before students register for the semester in which they plan to be graduated.

Graduation with High Honors

To be graduated with High Honors, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher. A notation of “W High Honors” will then appear on the student’s transcript.

Graduation with Honors

To be graduated with Honors, students must have a cumulative grade point average between 3.3 and 3.74. A notation of “W Honors” will then appear on the student’s transcript.

Posthumous Degrees and Certificates of Recognition Policy

The SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees approves the awarding of posthumous degrees and the giving of posthumous certificates of recognition at the College. Posthumous degrees and certificates of recognition will typically be bestowed at the college’s May commencement exercises.

A posthumous degree is awarded when a deceased student was nearing completion of degree requirements and meets the criteria outlined in the procedure.

If a deceased student does not qualify for the award of a posthumous degree, the student may be given formal recognition for studying at the college. A posthumous certificate of recognition may be given if the criteria also outlined in the procedure are met.

Candidates for posthumous degrees and posthumous certificates of recognition will be given to the Board of Trustees as part of the proposed candidates for graduation list submitted prior to commencement.

Posthumous Recognition of a Student

Definition and criteria:

When a currently enrolled student dies prior to completing requirements for a degree or meeting an academic goal at SUNY Ulster, that student may be recognized posthumously for the work completed at the college and as a gesture of compassion to the student’s family. There are two types of posthumous recognition, the posthumous degree and the posthumous certificate of recognition.

A posthumous degree is given when the deceased student was nearing completion of degree or certificate requirements. Criteria for the posthumous degree are:

• The student has completed 75 percent or more of the required courses for an academic program or would have met 75% of the required courses upon completion of the enrolled semester.
• The student was enrolled in classes at SUNY Ulster at the time of death. Requests should be made within two years.
• The student was meeting at least acceptable achievement standards as defined by the College’s Academic Standards and Progress policy in the College catalog and in good financial standing with the College.

If a deceased student does not qualify for the award of a posthumous degree, the student may be given formal recognition for studying at the college. A posthumous certificate of recognition may be given when the following criteria are met:

• The student has attempted at least 12 credits at the college.
• The student has enrolled in classes at SUNY Ulster at the time of death. Requests should be made within two years.
• The student was meeting at least acceptable achievement standards as defined by the College’s Academic Standards and Progress policy in the College catalog and in good financial standing with the College.

Exceptions to above listed criteria may include, but are not limited to:

• 1. An interruption by injury, illness, deployment, etc., in the student’s continuous enrollment.
• 2. Serving in the armed forces.

Process for posthumous recognition:

A member of the college’s faculty or staff or family member of the deceased may request consideration for a posthumous degree or posthumous certificate of recognition. This request should be made to the Registrar, where it will be evaluated to confirm that the request meets the criteria. After evaluation by the Registrar, the request will be presented to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for consideration. A request approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs will be presented to the college’s Board of Trustees for approval.

The Registrar, or designee:

1. Posts the notice of the award of the posthumous degree of certificate to the student’s transcript and orders a diploma. The statement “awarded posthumously” will be printed on the student’s transcript, but not on the diploma.

2. May confer a degree or certificate with no posthumous designation on the transcript if the student who is deceased had applied for graduation and had completed all program requirements.

Transcript Requests

Requests for official transcripts can be electronically sent to other institutions. Current or previous students must request online. https://www.sunyulster.edu/academics/transcript-request.php

There is a nominal fee per official transcript request. Payment must be submitted at the time of the request. Requests are processed immediately. Students should only request a transcript after all their final grades have been submitted.

Students with Financial or Other Obligations to the College

Students who have completed their academic requirements, but who have outstanding financial or other obligations to the College, will be graduated but will not receive their diploma, until all financial or other obligations have been met.

Other Academic Information

Change of Address

Students who change their legal or mailing address should notify the Registrar’s Office immediately so that records may be corrected in conformity with the law. Students must present a picture ID in order to request any change to their student record.

Change of Major Program

If a matriculated student wishes to change a major area of study, the student must complete a Change of Curriculum form. A formal change of program requires the signature of the student’s academic advisor. Forms are available at the Registrar’s Office and on the Portal.  Students are bound by the program and degree requirements as stated in the catalog for the academic year in place at the time of a change in curriculum.

Adding and Dropping Courses 

Registered students can add a course or switch course sections during the add period specified for each academic session. No additions/changes can be made after the end of the add period (See the “IMPORTANT DATES” document on the website or Portal). For full semster, 15 week classes, the add period is during the first 5 days of the semester. For 10 week, 7 week or 6 week classes, the add period is shortened to the first 3 days of the session. 

Dropping (de-registering from a course) must be requested before the start of the specific academic session. Any request to drop a course after the course has begun, may result in a tuition liabilty. 

Requests to Add/Drop must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office (either electronically from student’s Ulster email or in-person) by the end of the business day of the established Add/Drop period. Classes that are dropped during the established Add/Drop period will not appear on the student’s schedule or official college transcript.  

Students are advised that adding or dropping courses may have several consequences including but not limited to: delaying time to graduation, program eligibility, or probationary status; affecting financial aid status and eligibility; and liability for unpaid charges for courses for the semester. 

Final Examinations

There is an end-of-semester culminating experience in each course. This may take the form of a final examination; a unit examination; a term project; or a final evaluation of projects, papers, or performances completed by students. Within the first two weeks of classes, the individual instructor will inform students of the method to be used.

Minimum Competency in Writing

At the end of the semester, all students taking ENG101 must take a timed departmental writing competency test, which a panel of instructors evaluates. The results of this exam constitute 25% of the student’s grade for the course. Students who have earned a C or better in the course after the exam grade is incorporated into the final course grade may register for the next sequential course.

Repeat Course Policy

When a course is repeated, only the last grade (A-F) will count in the grade-point average, even if the last grade is lower than the grade(s) received on the previous attempt(s). No repeated courses or their grades will be removed from the student’s transcript. Repeating a course may affect a student’s financial aid status. This policy does not apply to courses which, because of their varied content, have been designated as courses that may be repeated for credit.

Residency Requirement

To be eligible for graduation, a student must have successfully completed at least 30 credits for a degree, 15 hours for a diploma, and at least half of the total required credits for a certificate program.

Multiple Degree Policy

Students may earn more than one degree at SUNY Ulster, with some conditions.

For A.S. or A.A. degree programs, all required courses must be successfully completed for each program. A minimum of 15 academic credits beyond those required for any previous degrees must be completed at SUNY Ulster. Any courses applied to previously earned degrees cannot be counted as part of these additional 15 credits. NOTE: An A.S. in Individual Studies will not be granted as an additional degree.

To earn a program Certificate in addition to an A.A.S., A.O.S., A.S. or A.A. degree, or to earn an additional program Certificate, at least half of the credits applied toward the Certificate must have been completed at SUNY Ulster. Note: A certificate in General Education will not be granted as an additional certificate subsequent to the awarding of any A.A. or A.S. degree.

All grades earned in courses taken at this College applied to an additional degree will be included in the cumulative GPA for the additional degree.

Course Withdrawal 

Students can withdraw from a class through the last day of regularly scheduled classes for the academic session and will have a grade of “W” noted on the transcript. (See the “IMPORTANT DATES” document on the Portal).

Students are advised that withdrawing from course(s) may have several consequences including but not limited to: delaying time to graduation, program eligibility, or probationary status; affecting financial aid status and eligibility; and liability for unpaid charges for courses the semester.

Leave of Absence

SUNY Ulster students in good academic standing who voluntarily withdraw from all courses prior to the end of an academic term, or who intend to disrupt continuous enrollment at the College for one calendar year or less, are eligible to take a Leave of Absence.

• The Leave, which may be for a maximum of one calendar year, allows the student to maintain matriculation during the period of non-attendance.
• When the student returns to College, he/she is eligible to register for courses and remains subject to the Catalog and policies and procedures in place at the time of initial matriculation.
• In extraordinary circumstances, students may request an extension of the initial Leave of Absence for a period not to exceed one additional calendar year.
• Students who do not request a Leave of Absence, and who have a gap of more than one academic term (Fall or Spring), will be required to reapply for admission to the College, and will be subject to the Catalog, policies and procedures in place at the time of readmission.  Readmitted students who were in competitive, selective programs such as Nursing or Veterinary Technology, will have to reapply to those programs, as well. Readmission to the College does not guarantee re-admission to specific programs.

Students wishing to take a Leave of Absence should contact the Assistant Dean for Student Services.

Semester Credit Hour Policy and Compliance

The Semester / Credit Hour Policy and Compliance defines the college’s policy on the assignment of semester / credit hours and the method by which the college’s compliance with credit hour assignment is assured. All credit-bearing degree and certificate programs at SUNY Ulster are approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Calculation of credit hours for these programs follows NYSED guidelines, which are consistent with the U.S. Department of Education’s definition of a credit hour. Click here to access and read the entire Semester/Credit Hour Policy & Compliance document.