Section 2:
Core Requirements
2.1 2.2 2.3
2.4 2.5 2.6
2.7.1 2.7.2 2.7.3
2.7.4 2.8 2.9
2.10 2.11 2.12
Section 3:
Comprehensive Standards
3.1.1 3.2.1  
3.2.2.1 3.2.2.2 3.2.2.3
3.2.2.4 3.2.3 3.2.4
3.2.5 3.2.6 3.2.7
3.2.8 3.2.9 3.2.10
3.2.11 3.2.12 3.2.13
3.2.14 3.3.1 3.4.1
3.4.2 3.4.3 3.4.4
3.4.5 3.4.6 3.4.7
3.4.8 3.4.9 3.4.10
3.4.11 3.4.12 3.4.13
3.4.14 3.5.1 3.5.2
3.6.1 3.6.2 3.6.3
3.7.1 3.7.2 3.7.3
3.7.4 3.7.5 3.8.1
3.8.2 3.8.3 3.9.1
3.9.2 3.9.3 3.10.1
3.10.2 3.10.3 3.10.4
3.10.5 3.10.6 3.10.7
Section 4:
Federal Requirements
4.1 4.2 4.3
4.4 4.5 4.6
4.7 4.8

 

 

 
McNeese State University
Compliance Plan for Reaffirmation
 
 

Section 4.3: Federal Requirements

Judgment of Compliance

checked.png Compliance
unchecked.png Partial Compliance
unchecked.png Non-compliance

Requirement

The institution makes available to students and the public current academic calendars, grading policies, and refund policies.

Narrative

McNeese State University is compliance with Federal Requirement 4.3.

University Catalog

McNeese State University publishes the academic calendars, grading policies, and refund policies annually in the McNeese State University catalog. The catalog is available in print and electronically on the University's website. Printed catalogs are distributed annually to Louisiana and southeast Texas high schools and are provided to the Louisiana Library Depository for distribution to all state depository libraries. The Catalog is available to students in the University Bookstore and is disseminated to prospective students through the Office of Enrollment Information. Faculty members are provided with copies of the catalog during the summer session when revised catalogs become available. Catalogs are disseminated to faculty and other University offices through the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. New faculty members are provided with catalogs through their department offices.

The academic calendar published in the catalog provides a schedule of the University’s semester time-table. It includes class beginning and ending dates, orientation dates, student holidays, and important deadline dates such as “last date to resign”, “deadline to file for degree completion”, and “deadline for receipt of thesis.” The calendar also provides dates significant to faculty and administration such as official reporting day and deadlines for the submission of grades.

The catalog delineates the University’s policies regarding letter grade assignation, grade point average computation, grade changes, the method of reporting grades, and academic standing. Policies specifically defined include:

    • System of Grading

    • Quality Points and Grade-Point Average

    • Removal of “I” Grades

    • Repeating Courses

    • Final Grades

    • Grade Appeal Procedures

    • Transcript of Academic Record

These policies outline the student’s responsibilities and the University’s expectations in grading matters. Also provided in this policy is notification of deadlines and time-frames dealing with grading issues such as appeals, transcript availability, and the removal of “Incomplete” grades. The Grade Appeals Procedure is clearly defined and specific instructions indicated.

Refund policies dealing with refunds of registration fees, room and board fees and insurance are clearly stated in the University Catalog. Each policy is careful to clearly assign definitions to terms as they pertain to these policies. For example, the “Refund Schedule for Registration Fees” specifically refers to “calendar days including weekends”: The date that a student officially resigns from the University determines whether fees are refunded. The schedule refers to calendar days including weekends, beginning with the first day of classes as designated in the official University calendar. The refund policy and drop dates apply to off-campus courses as well as on-campus courses.

The refund policy also indicates the manner in which institutional refunds will be credited prior to funds being returned to the student.

The Title IV Refund Policy applies to all students receiving Federal Title IV funding and complies with all federal rules and regulations. The complete policy is provided in the University Catalog and is referenced on various documents supplied to student recipients by the Office of Financial Aid.

Class Schedule

The McNeese State University Class Schedule, published each semester in print and electronic format, also contains the academic calendar and refund policies as outlined in the Catalog. While the refund policy published in the Class Schedule is an abbreviated format, the policy clearly refers the individual to the University Catalog for further information. The Title IV Refund Policy is referenced in the Class Schedule in the section “How Withdrawal from the University Affects Financial Aid”. The Schedule is printed in a newspaper format for ease in distribution and use. Class schedules are available for on-campus distribution in various locations (Registrar’s Office, Enrollment Information) and are distributed area-wide via the Lake Charles American Press (regional newspaper.) Copies may also be distributed upon request to entities such as public libraries, the Visitors Bureau or Chamber of Commerce.

Faculty/Staff Handbook

Grading policies and instructor expectations in relation to these policies are outlined in the McNeese State University Faculty/Staff Handbook, Section 313. In addition to the grading policies as defined in the University Catalog, policies outlining the University’s expectations of instructors and the students’ rights regarding these policies are also described in the handbook. For example, Section 313.5 describes policies relating to the materials used to compute students’ grades, retention of these materials and the students’ right to view the materials.

Faculty/Staff Handbook

313.5. Materials Used in the Computation of Grades

Students have the right to see all graded materials used in the computation of their grade. All records and materials which were used in the computation of the student's grade and which were not returned to the student after grading should be retained for a period of at least one semester following the student's completion of the course. Points may not be subtracted from a student's final total as a punitive action for missing class.

To insure that students are aware of the manner in which grading will be handled in each course, instructors are required to distribute handouts containing information on grading scales and how grades are determined to all students in each course. These handouts are forwarded to the appropriate department head/dean by the 10th class day of each semester and are maintained for five years. Specific items to be included on course syllabi are also defined in the handbook.

Faculty/Staff Handbook

313.6. Required Class Materials

The following materials are to be distributed by each instructor to his/her classes and a copy of each handout kept on file in the office of the appropriate department head or dean: a syllabus providing course objectives or learning outcomes, grading scale, how the student's grade will be determined, attendance policy, and make-up policy, offices hours and contact information for the instructor. Each course syllabus must be posted electronically on Blackboard. Each of these publications is widely distributed in an effort to assure that all students, prospective students, faculty and staff are aware of the policies affecting the educational rights and responsibilities of all.

Supporting Evidence

MSU Academic Calendar in Catalog

MSU Academic Calendar in Class Schedule

MSU Faculty/Staff Handbook, Section 313 Grading System

MSU Faculty/Staff Handbook, Section 705 Required Class Materials

MSU Grading Policy in Catalog

Refund Policies in Catalog

Return of Title IV Funds Policy in Catalog