Central Connecticut State University (CCSU): Graduate Academic Policies and Requirements

In order to be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies a student must meet the following standards:

For most programs, students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.70 (Some programs require an undergraduate GPA of 3.00.)
The student must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all post-baccalaureate course work.
When applicable, students who have successfully completed a master’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.00 GPA, on a four-point scale (where A=4.00), will be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies. (The undergraduate GPA will not be counted.)

Individual programs may have different GPA requirements as well as additional requirements, such as essays or letters of recommendation and/or a personal interview. Please contact the Department Chair or Coordinator of your intended program of study, or access the graduate website for further information.

A prospective student must submit:

Official transcripts for all coursework from every undergraduate institution that they attended to the Graduate Admissions Office.
Official transcripts showing all graduate coursework completed to the Graduate Admissions Office.
A $50.00 non-refundable fee for application processing.
Additional materials, if required by individual program, must be submitted directly to the department.
Applicants who hold a Master’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a 3.00 or higher GPA on a four-point scale (where A = 4.00) are required to request that official transcripts be submitted: one from where they obtained their undergraduate degree and one from where they obtained their Master’s degree as well as from any other institution where graduate courses were taken. (Please note that applicants to the MAT program and to Post Baccalaureate programs are required to submit all undergraduate transcripts as well). The Graduate Recruitment and Admissions office will maintain the right to request other official transcripts to review courses that are essential to the applicant’s program of study.

To ensure maximum benefit from academic study, all applicants who have not earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at an institution where English is the medium of instruction must provide evidence of English language proficiency before acceptance to a graduate program at the University.

Evidence of English language proficiency is evaluated based on factors such as:

the amount and type of formal U.S. education, and/or

official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores.

(TOEFL and IELTS scores must be valid within the most recent two years as evaluated by the CCSU office of the Intensive English Language Program (IELP). Proof of competency in English is indicated by the TOEFL with a score of no less than 550 on the paper based test (or 213 on the computer based test or 79 on the iBT) or an IELTS overall band score of 6.5).

Language proficiency can also be assessed through the CCSU office of the Intensive English Language Program (IELP).

Graduate applicants may be exempt from providing TOEFL or IELTS scores if one of the following criteria is met:

Completion of a four year undergraduate academic program at a non-United States institution in a country where English is the primary language and in which English is the primary medium of instruction, within five years of the proposed semester of initial enrollment at CCSU. (A list of countries will be provided on the graduate website.)
Completion of a graduate degree at a non-United States institution of Higher Education in a country where English is the primary language and where English is the primary medium of instruction, within five years of the proposed semester of initial enrollment at CCSU. (A list of countries will be provided on the graduate website.)
Completion of an undergraduate or graduate academic program from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education.

Official documentation must be submitted from the overseas institution verifying that the applicant’s undergraduate or graduate study is from an institution where all instruction is in English. The Graduate School reserves the right to require additional testing or evidence of competency, and may require study in the Intensive English Language Program.

Applicants who are denied admission to graduate programs at Central Connecticut State University may request reviews of these decisions through an appeal process. In most cases, a minimum GPA of 2.40 is required to be eligible to appeal.

A student may appeal for conditional admission,provided the following conditions are met.

The student has an undergraduate GPA between 2.40 and 2.69.
The student has a graduate GPA of 3.00 for all coursework.
For the student who has taken courses at the graduate level, but who does not meet the minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.70, the quality points of credits for graduate level courses will be added to the quality points of the undergraduate GPA to compute the total GPA, which needs to fall in the range of 2.40-2.69.
The department of application agrees in advance to make a conditional admittance for the student.

Students may request a review of the denial decision, in writing, to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, School of Graduate Studies; they may include additional academic information (such as scores from standardized tests, grades in recent courses, or letters of recommendation) not submitted with the original application.

Depending on the nature of the appeal, the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, School of Graduate Studies will consult with the academic department to which admission is sought, as well as with the Graduate Appeals Committee when applicable, before making a decision.

Applicants who are denied admission to graduate programs at Central Connecticut State University may request reviews of these decisions through an appeal process. In most cases, a minimum GPA of 2.40 is required to be eligible to appeal.

However, in rare cases programs may consider Conditional Admission for students whose cumulative GPA is lower than 2.40. Such consideration is at the discretion of individual departments and the Dean, provided the applicant demonstrates exemplary professional experiences and accomplishments or other relevant evidence in recent years.

Such appeals must be made in writing to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies with written justification supporting the applicant’s current readiness. This may include additional academic information (such as scores from standardized tests, grades in very recent courses, or letters of recommendation from instructors, etc.) which was not submitted with the original application. The dean will first consult the department offering the program for reconsideration of the applicant. Depending on the nature of the appeal, further consultation may be made with an appropriate designee of the academic school or the department chair of the relevant program before making a decision. The dean of the School of Graduate Studies will notify the student of the decision in writing. If an unfavorable decision is rendered, the applicant may request that the appeal be sent to the Graduate Standing Appeals Subcommittee of Graduate Studies.

A student who has been conditionally accepted into a graduate program will be given only one opportunity to fulfill all conditions. If conditions are not met, the student will receive a letter of dismissal from the dean, School of Graduate Studies. A second attempt may be granted by the department and the dean of the School of Graduate Studies in exceptional circumstances; however, no student will be granted more than two opportunities to fulfill any conditions.

A post-baccalaureate student who has been admitted to a graduate program can independently, or in conjunction with his or her department, initiate an appeal to the dean, School of Graduate Studies, that includes a rationale as to why grades for graduate-level courses taken seven or more years ago at CCSU that appear on the graduate transcript should not be used in calculating the student's GPA. The appeal should also substantiate why he or she is now able to complete graduate-quality work.

If the appeal is approved, courses omitted from the GPA calculation may not be used in the planned program in which the student is now enrolled. Please note that courses omitted from the GPA will include all courses that were attempted in the Fresh Start period.

Each appeal will be decided on its own merits and students may use this option only once.

At the time of admission, graduate students receive the name, telephone number and email address of their program adviser in their acceptance letter. Planned Programs of Graduate Study forms also are provided to students upon their admission to the University. Students and advisers should meet as soon as possible to plan their program of study but must be approved prior to the completion of 16 credits of course work. A student may request a change of adviser by completing and submitting the Change of Major/Adviser form to the School of Graduate Studies Office.

The Planned Program of graduate study is an official document which lists the courses and other requirements that students must finish prior to graduation for both degree and non-degree programs. Courses numbered 400 and above may be included in a planned program of graduate study when they are listed in the graduate catalog and the course description so allows.

After a student has been admitted to study for a graduate degree, certification, or program of any kind, the student must consult with the faculty advisor to develop the planned program of graduate study. An approved planned program is required for all graduate programs.

After the advisor and student have signed the planned program form, it must be submitted by the advisor to the School of Graduate Studies for approval. Once approved by the dean, School of Graduate Studies, or designee, it then becomes a formal plan for graduate study which may be subject to revision by the University to reflect additional requirements imposed by outside licensing or accrediting agencies. A planned program of study does not constitute a contract, either express or implied, and is subject to revision as described above. Any changes in the planned program must be approved by the advisor and the dean, School of Graduate Studies. Additional planned program forms and course substitution forms are available in department offices and in the Office of the School of Graduate Studies.

The planned program should be developed with the advisor early in the student's graduate studies but must be approved prior to the completion of 16 credits of course work. Further, no student may undertake the capstone requirement without having a planned program of study on file in the Graduate Studies Office; in addition no student is eligible for graduation without a planned program of study on file. There is also no assurance that course work completed prior to admission to a program, or before the planned program has been agreed upon with the academic advisor, will be approved.

Graduate policy stipulates that no more than nine credits taken at the 500 level as a non-matriculated graduate student will be approved for programs requiring 30-35 credits (or 25% of the total credits for programs over 36 credits). In addition, at the request of the student, the Department and Dean will review the student’s graduate transcript for courses taken as a non-matriculated student and may approve other courses, beyond those nine credits, that he or she wishes to be applied to that degree program.

Graduate students may have a maximum of nine credits (and in some cases zero to six, depending on the program) at the 400 level provided they are found in the graduate catalog and approved by the program advisor listed on their planned program of study. Graduate students enrolled in 400-level classes are required to do additional work as compared to their undergraduate classmates.

The nine credit limit on 400-level courses does not apply to graduate post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs and to some official certificate programs. Courses numbered under 400 may be applied toward teacher certification and official certificate programs when recommended by the advisor but will not be approved for inclusion in other graduate degree programs.

A course substitution form must be completed whenever a student wants to modify degree requirements or apply a course not previously included in an approved planned program toward requirements. Requests to change program requirements, which are initiated after the student has started a thesis or attempted after the comprehensive examination, must be approved by the student's academic department as well as by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Students may request transfer credit for graduate courses completed at another regionally accredited institution of higher education or a college/university of equivalent status outside of the U.S. that is not a CCSU Partner and Affiliate Institution of Higher Education.

All credit presented for transfer must show an earned grade of 3.00 (B) or higher, must be included on the student's planned program of graduate study at Central Connecticut State University, and must be completed within the six-year period preceding graduation and conferral of the graduate degree. Courses which were applied to a previously completed degree will not be transferred to a new degree program.

The amount of graduate work transferable to a graduate degree program is limited to a maximum of nine credits for programs requiring 30 to 35 credits or 25 percent of the total credits for programs requiring 36 credits or more, not including prerequisites. The number of credits transferable to a CCSU Official Certificate Programs is limited to a maximum of six credits. (Some programs may have more stringent policies for either degree or non degree programs.) In order to be transferred, a course or courses must be determined to be:

graduate level from an regionally-accredited institution or an out-of-country equivalent authorized to grant graduate degrees;
passed with an earned grade of 3.00 (B) or higher or an equivalent (Pass/fail courses may not be transferred);
within the six-year limit at the time of graduation from CCSU;
recorded on an official transcript from the granting institution; and
included on the planned program by the graduate program advisor.

When international credits are presented for transfer, official transcripts must be provided from the institution attended along with a verified translation of the academic record. In some cases, it may be necessary to seek assistance from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services during the credit evaluation process.

Students who have been admitted to graduate programs must obtain prior written approval from their advisors and the dean of the School of Graduate Studies/designee if they wish to take courses at another institution for transfer into their planned programs of graduate study. Forms for requesting transfer and substitution of credit are available in the Office of the School of Graduate Studies and the Enrollment Center/Office of Continuing Education. Students who do not receive prior approval may not be able to use courses from other institutions as part of their planned programs. Students are responsible for requesting that an official transcript of any approved transfer courses is sent to the Graduate Studies Office. Students should be aware that "continuing education units" (CEUs) may not be transferred to graduate degree programs or applied toward the completion of graduate degree requirements.

Graduate students are advised that the Connecticut Department of Higher Education as well as our various accrediting organizations have very strict policies concerning the recognition of credit awarded by non-collegiate institutions. The University has only one agreement with a non-collegiate institution, that of the Institute of Technology and Business Development (ITBD), a comprehensive business outreach facility of CCSU. Students seeking CCSU course credit thus associated with ITBD must demonstrate to the relevant department that they have the course content and have met the minimum number of contact hours as required. Further demonstration of knowledge and skill competencies is at the discretion of the department. Graduate students in non-degree Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification programs may receive an advisor’s agreement to offset undergraduate general education deficiencies through departmentally approved subject examinations from the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Board. The same rules that govern undergraduate students in teacher certification programs as specified in the undergraduate catalog will apply to graduate students. Passing results for such CLEP exams may be posted on graduate records for students enrolled in Teacher Certification Programs. Official results for advisor-approved examinations must be submitted for consideration to the Graduate Studies Office.

Coursework completed while studying abroad at one of CCSU’s approved study abroad partner and affiliate institutions (as identified on the Center for International Education’s website) shall be treated in the same manner as coursework undertaken on the CCSU Campus. (As a result, these courses will not fall under the transfer policy.) Course equivalencies shall be identified by the faculty advisor prior to study abroad and the actual grade earned abroad will be posted to the student’s transcript, with the grade earned calculating into the overall GPA. Students may not select which courses are brought onto their CCSU academic record; all grades (A through F) will be recorded and made part of the student’s academic record at CCSU.

This policy is particularly relevant to the MA Modern Language: HNAIU Specialization, given that courses taken at the University of Salamanca are required for the MA Modern Languages, HNAIU Specialization, degree. The Modern Language department has stipulated that the 9 credits of graduate coursework taken at the University of Salamanca will be the only credits accepted outside CCSU.

All course work and capstone requirements (i.e., dissertations, theses, comprehensive examinations, and special projects) for the degree must be completed during the six years which precede degree conferral. That is, the student has six years from the earliest course listed on the planned program (including any work transferred from another institution or completed prior to matriculation) to complete all degree requirements.

If a student, due to extenuating circumstances, anticipates that he/she will be unable to complete all degree requirements within the six-year time limit, the student may request an extension by writing to the graduate advisor who will forward it with recommendations to the dean, School of Graduate Studies. When making the request, the student should include the semester and year in which he or she expects to complete the degree and the reason for not meeting the six-year time limit. If the dean, School of Graduate Studies, deems the request justified, an extension will be granted. However, for programs of 30-35 credits, a maximum of eight years will be allowed in total to complete the degree; for programs of 36 credits or more, a maximum of nine years will be allowed.

Even if an extension is granted, however, any courses that were completed before those 8 years (in the case of programs of 30-35 credits) or 9 years (in the case of programs of 36 credits or more) prior to the year in which the graduate degree is to be granted may not be counted toward the completion of that degree

A student who has been accepted to a graduate program through the School of Graduate Studies/Graduate Recruitment and Admissions is considered a matriculated student. A graduate student who registers for nine credits or more is considered a full-time student for tuition purposes.

Full-time graduate students are charged the tuition and fees established by Connecticut State University. New students receive information on their acceptance letters and register online through CentralPipeline or in the Registrar’s Office. Continuing full-time students receive information by email about registration and related procedures conducted by the University Registrar.

Full-time students who fall below the nine credit minimum course load, required to maintain full-time status, must change their status to part-time. Part-time charges will replace full-time charges and any money that has been paid will be transferred to the new charges. Any excess payment will be refunded according to University refund policies. Please note that those enrolling as full-time students may not withdraw from the University as part-time students during the first week of University-wide classes, without incurring the 10% penalty.

A graduate student who has been accepted to a graduate program through the School of Graduate Studies/Graduate Recruitment and Admissions is considered a matriculated student. A student who enrolls in eight or fewer credits is considered a part-time student.Part-time students must register online or in the Registrar’s Office and pay fees online or in the Bursar’s Office.

Part-time graduate students are charged a fixed rate per credit. Part-time students are also charged a non-refundable $62 Registration Fee which gives them access to various University services and facilities, including the Student Center, the University library and student parking.

Students can change their status from full-time to part-time and vice versa for any given semester during the course of their graduate studies through the registrar’s office. Any student who wishes to change his/her status must report to the Registrar’s Office (Davidson Hall) or complete the change of status form available at the Registrar’s website: www.ccsu.edu/registrar. Such status changes must be made in writing prior to the beginning of semester when the change is desired. Full-time students who plan to change their status must contact the Registrar’s Office to avoid billing problems.

A non-matriculatedstudent is someone who has not been accepted by CCSU to pursue a degree. Non-matriculated graduate students are allowed to take a maximum of nine credits at the 500 level. Thereafter, they should seek matriculation into a graduate program. Graduate policy also stipulates that no more than nine credits taken at the 500 level as a non-matriculated graduate student will be approved for programs requiring 30-35 credits (or 25% of the total credits for programs over 36 credits). Non-matriculated students are not eligible for Financial Aid.

Graduate students are expected to invest a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for every one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester. At least an equivalent amount of student work time applies to lab work, internships, practica, studio work, as well as other academic work that leads to the award of credit hours.

Each candidate for the master's degree is expected to demonstrate ability to present effectively the results of graduate study at the University and to analyze problems related to the area of specialization. Candidates must also maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (B) on the graduate record at Central Connecticut State University. In addition to grade-point requirements for good academic standing, students should note that no more than two grades of C+ or C (i.e. two C’s, or two C+’s , or one C and one C+) are permitted for courses included on the planned program of graduate study.

The master's degree is conferred upon the student who has completed, subject to approval of the faculty and administrative officials, all requirements of the planned program of graduate study. Requirements include a minimum of 30 credits of approved graduate courses and a capstone experience of a master's thesis (Plan A), a special project such as an art exhibit, performance, or applied research project (Plan C or E), and/or a comprehensive examination (Plan B).

The master's thesis is required of all graduate students completing degrees under the Plan A option. The thesis represents a report of original scholarship completed under the supervision of a faculty thesis advisor. Depending on department curriculum policy, students receive either three or six credits for completing the thesis requirement as listed in the catalog course descriptions.

Students electing to write a thesis, in accordance with department or program policy, will select or be assigned a faculty thesis advisor. Students select a topic in consultation with the thesis advisor. The advisor and committee of a minimum of one additional faculty member must approve the thesis proposal and the thesis prior to the submission of each item to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, who assures that the thesis meets University standards for format and quality through her approval. Some departments require the student to give an oral defense of the thesis before it is submitted to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies for approval. When all requirements are met and approved, the thesis is transmitted to the University library. A thesis handbook is available in the Graduate Studies Office and also on the graduate website.

The following University requirements apply to all students writing theses:

Whenever possible, the student's graduate advisor will serve as the thesis advisor. If the student and the advisor deem it appropriate, another faculty member may be appointed by the department chair to serve as thesis advisor.
The student must register for the thesis using the Graduate Capstone Course Registration Form, available at the School of Graduate Studies or at the website. Students must obtain all signatures as required on the form and must register during the regular registration period. To register, students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.00 and at least 18 credits completed in programs of 30-35 credits or 24 credits completed in programs with greater than 35 credits.
Students intending to complete a thesis should consult The Master's Thesis Handbook, available in the School of Graduate Studies Office and also at the graduate website.
The thesis must be prepared in a style and format appropriate to the discipline and approved by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Among the currently approved styles are APA, MLA, Campbell, and Turabian.
A copy of the approved thesis proposal must be submitted to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies by the thesis advisor.
Two copies of the approved thesis, one original for binding by the library, plus three additional copies of the thesis abstract (not to exceed 200-300 words and one to two pages) must be submitted to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. A digitized copy of the thesis is also required, accompanied by the permission form signed by the student and thesis advisor.
If a student planning to graduate in May wishes the thesis to be included in the May Commencement Program, the thesis must be submitted by April 15 of the year in which the student plans to graduate.

The comprehensive examination is required of all students who select the Plan B option. The comprehensive examination covers the course work in the student's planned program. At the option of the department, the comprehensive examination may include an oral examination and/or an oral defense of the written examination.

The comprehensive examination is normally taken during the last semester of study, but may be attempted any time after the completion of at least 75% of planned program requirements. Exceptions may be granted with the recommendation of the advisor and permission of the dean, School of Graduate Studies. Students are required to have a minimum 3.00 grade point average at the time of application. Examinations are given each fall and spring semester and, at the discretion of the academic department, during the summer. Students should consult their advisors and/or department chairs concerning the availability of a summer session comprehensive examination. A Comprehensive Examination Handbook is available in the Graduate Studies Office and also on the graduate website.

To be eligible to take the examination, students must complete an application form, which is available in the Graduate Studies Office or on the graduate website. Students should submit this form to the Office of the School of Graduate Studies no later than October 1 for fall semester examinations, and no later than February 15 for spring semester examinations. The academic department will notify students concerning the time and place of the examination and will inform students of the results.

With departmental permission, students may retake the comprehensive examination. Students who do not pass the examination on a first attempt may be required to enroll in additional course work or to make other special preparations for reexamination. Students who fail the examination a second time must appeal to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies for permission to retake the examination.

If the student receives a failing grade on all or parts of the comprehensive examination for a third time, he or she will be dismissed from the graduate program by the dean, School of Graduate Studies, unless he or she is granted permission to choose another capstone option by the program's department chair and the dean, School of Graduate Studies. The student may file an appeal within two weeks of receiving the dean's dismissal letter. If denied, the student may make a final written appeal to the standing Appeals Committee of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Final results of the comprehensive exam (pass/fail) will be included on the student's graduate transcript.

Students who elect the Plan C or E option must complete a special project. In general, the special project involves completion of a body of applied work appropriate to the degree specialty. The availability of this option and the requirements for the special project vary according to the degree program. However, all special projects, both Plan C and E, must include as a minimum an abstract, a definition of the project, project objective (purpose, rationale for conducting the project), a review of literature, research methods or a plan for the project, results or findings, summary or conclusions, and bibliography or references, as well as appendices, if appropriate. The department must specify the style and format to be used and whether an oral defense is required. A special project handbook is available in the Graduate Studies Office and also on the graduate website.

For Plan C, the faculty advisor or another faculty member in the department will supervise the project. The student's work will be evaluated by the advisor and by at least one other faculty member as determined by departmental requirements.

Students in a Plan C special project must register using the Graduate Capstone Course Registration Form, available at the School of Graduate Studies or at the website. Students must obtain all signatures as required on the form and must register during the regular registration period. To register, students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.00 and at least 18 credits completed in programs of 30-35 credits or 24 credits completed in programs with greater than 35 credits. The special project proposal will not be approved by the Dean, School of Graduate Studies, until the student has registered for the course.

An approved special project proposal must be submitted to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies by the advisor. When the special project is completed, the approved special project and three abstracts, must be submitted to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies for approval. Students completing special projects may elect to submit digitized copies of their special projects for posting to the Elihu Burritt Library website. Digitized copies must be accompanied by permission forms signed by students and their advisors.

Students in a Plan E special project will register for the designated special project departmental course. To register, students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.00 and at least 18 credits completed in programs of 30-35 credits or 24 credits completed in programs with greater than 35 credits. The student's work will be evaluated by the course instructor and by other members of the department as appropriate.

Students should discuss with their advisors their departments' requirements for the special project. Students normally receive three credits upon successful completion of their projects.

When students do not complete the thesis or special project a grade of “Incomplete” is noted on the transcript. If students do not register for additional course work they are required to pay a Continuing Registration Fee (CREG) of $40 for each fall and spring semester until the thesis or special project is completed. This allows students to have continued access to computer facilities, library, parking, and faculty.

The CREG fee also may apply to graduate students taking comprehensive examinations. If a student is not registered for course work in the semester when the comprehensive exam is planned, the student is required to pay the Continuing Registration Fee of $40 to have continued access to computer facilities, the library, parking, and faculty.

Failure to pay the Continuing Registration fee in any of these cases will result in being administratively withdrawn from the University and loss of matriculation status. Matriculated graduate students withdrawn for this reason will need to reenroll and pay the re-enrollment fee of $50 plus the money owed for the Continuing Registration Fee.

Some graduate programs require students to make formal application for degree candidacy following the completion of nine credits (at least six of which must be from the area of specialization) in the planned program of graduate study. Students should consult the academic advisor concerning degree candidacy requirements of the particular program for which they have been accepted.

Admission to degree candidacy involves a formal review of the student's progress and potential by department faculty and a decision as to whether the student will be permitted to continue in the graduate program. Degree candidates must have a minimum cumulative average of 3.00 and must meet requirements for candidacy established by the academic department.

Recommendations concerning degree candidacy are included in the student's permanent graduate file. If a student is not approved for degree candidacy, he or she will be withdrawn from graduate study for that particular program.

Some graduate programs require qualifying examinations. To be eligible to take the examination, students must complete an application form, which is available in their departmental office or the School of Graduate Studies, or on the graduate website. Students should submit this form to the Office of the School of Graduate Studies. The academic department will review the application and notify eligible students concerning the time and place of the examination. The department will inform students of the results and forward paperwork to the School of Graduate Studies for inclusion in the student’s academic record.

At time of admission, all candidates must commit to summer study. Courses and learning experiences are sequenced over four summers and three academic years. The program is limited to admitting approximately 25 students in alternate years. They proceed through the program as a cohort, taking the same required courses and having the same experiences. If candidates are able to keep up with their cohort and do their dissertations in the planned one-year period of time, the program can be completed in three and one-half years. Ed.D. candidates must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (B) on the graduate record at Central Connecticut State University. In addition to grade-point requirements for good academic standing, students should note that no more than two grades of C+ or C (i.e. two C’s, or two C+’s , or one C and one C+) are permitted for courses included on the planned program of graduate study.

The Ed.D. degree is conferred upon the student who has completed, subject to approval of the faculty and administrative officials, all requirements of the planned program of graduate study. Requirements include a minimum of 63 credits beyond the master's degree of approved graduate courses and a dissertation. A dissertation is different from a thesis. The dissertation in the Ed.D. program focuses on the translation of theory to practice. It is connected to the candidate's research interest and is expected to break new ground by providing a bridge between what is known from research and what needs to be done in practice. Each candidate is responsible for identifying a dissertation advisor, choosing a dissertation topic with the dissertation advisor, and completing the dissertation as outlined in the department's approval processes and described in detail in the Assessment and Dissertation Handbook.

The sixth-year certificate is presently offered in educational leadership, mathematics education leadership, and reading and language arts. The certificate degree is awarded, subject to approval by faculty and administrative officials, to students who complete all requirements of the planned program. Candidates for the sixth-year certificate must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (B) on the graduate record at Central Connecticut State University. In addition to grade-point requirements for good academic standing, students should note that no more than two grades of C+ or C (i.e. two C’s, or two C+’s , or one C and one C+) are permitted for courses included on the planned program of graduate study. All course work and any related requirements for the sixth-year certificate must be completed as specified within the "Six-Year Time Limit" section.

After the student has been admitted, requirements for teacher certification at the graduate level will be individually prescribed through a transcript evaluation by an advisor in the School of Education and Professional Studies and departmental subject advisor when applicable. Certification requirements include not only course work (such as completion of undergraduate requirements for appropriate subject majors, professional education, and student teaching) but also the satisfactory completion of all requirements for admission to the Professional Program of the School of Education and Professional Studies.

Students are advised to contact their advisors as soon as possible after they are admitted to graduate study. For current information concerning Connecticut and University requirements for certification, they may consult the office of the dean, School of Education and Professional Studies. Students completing planned programs of teacher certification programs do not participate in graduation ceremonies.

Official Certificate Programs (OCP) are defined as academic programs of study that have been through a complete University curricular review and approval process, but which do not lead directly to a formal degree. These programs are designed for people interested in developing expertise in a particular field of study, but who do not wish to complete formal degree requirements. The advantage to these programs is that they are formal programs of study, in which students are matriculated, and may pursue their studies on a full- or part-time basis, and be eligible for financial aid. Most importantly, these programs are coordinated by faculty closely tied to the area of interest who are committed to advising students enrolled in these programs, ensuring that the student is best able to achieve his or her educational goals. Requirements for Official Certificate Programs at the graduate level will be individually prescribed by the program director after the student has been admitted to Graduate Studies. Candidates are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (B) on the graduate record at Central Connecticut State University and have no more than two grades of C+ or C (i.e. two C’s, or two C+’s , or one C and one C+) for courses included on the planned program of graduate study. When requirements have been completed, students are issued a certificate from the dean, School of Graduate Studies. Students completing planned programs of certificate programs do not participate in graduation ceremonies. Students completing OCP planned programs of study do not participate in graduation ceremonies.

Students wishing to pursue post-master's study in areas other than the sixth-year certificate and the Ed.D. may request admission to a planned program of post-master's study. Thirty-credit planned programs of graduate study beyond the master's degree are individually prescribed programs of advanced study which are developed with an advisor. Students develop planned programs with their advisors. All requirements must be completed within a six-year time period dating from the earliest course included on the planned program. When requirements have been completed, students may request an official letter from the dean of the School of Graduate Studies which documents that they have completed 30 credits in a planned program of graduate study beyond the requirements for a master's degree. Completion of post-master's requirements is also noted in the student's official University record. Students completing planned programs of post-master's study do not participate in graduation ceremonies.

To change a graduate program after admission, the student must complete the Change of Graduate Degree Program/Advisor form and submit it to the School of Graduate Studies Office. Students must be matriculated and must meet any special requirements of the program to which they are seeking approval for a change. The student is responsible for submitting additional materials for acceptance, if required, to the graduate studies at the same time they submit the form. The form will be forwarded to the department that offers the requested program for a decision. The department may also assign conditions for admission.

If the change in program is approved, the student will be notified and assigned a new advisor. The student must then consult with the new advisor to develop a new planned program of graduate study for submission and approval. Subject to approval, course work completed prior to the change in program may be recommended for inclusion on the new planned program at the advisor's discretion.

Research is defined by the Uniform Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalized knowledge. The university’s policy on the use of human participants in research conforms to federal and state laws and regulations designed to assure that the rights of participants are fully protected. In addition, the policy serves to protect researchers from inadvertently causing harm. Thus, in compliance with federal regulations, all research (including research conducted by graduate students) using human subjects must be reviewed and approved by CCSU Human Studies Council (HSC). Proposals must be submitted for review prior to data collection, as there is a strict policy that no research will be reviewed retroactively. Information regarding the HSC and the proposal submission process can be found at www.ccsu.edu/humanstudies. Students may also refer to the Master's Thesis Handbook or the Special Project Handbook or contact the School of Graduate Studies or the Office of Sponsored Programs for more detailed information regarding conducting research using human subjects.

If research involves the use of animals, CCSU policy mandates that approval must be sought from the CCSU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is responsible for oversight and evaluation of the animal care and use program at CCSU. Its functions include inspection of facilities; evaluation of programs and animal-activity areas; review of proposals for the use of animals in research, testing or education; and the review of concerns involving the care and use of animals at CCSU. Research application materials may be obtained by contacting the IACUC chair; the application for project approval is also found in the Master's Thesis Handbook.

Newly accepted students do not require an alternate pin number for the first semester of enrollment. After the first semester, continuing students who have not filed a planned program will not be able to register until they obtain an alternate pin from their faculty adviser. Alternate pin numbers are available at the start of the advising period. Students should take the opportunity to plan their program of study. Graduate students who have filed an official planned program of study with their adviser that was then submitted to and approved by the School of Graduate studies do not require an alternate pin to register.

The following numbering system is used by Central Connecticut State University:

001-099 Non-credit courses

100 Search courses (undergraduate credit)

101-199 Courses open to first-year students, and in general to all undergraduate students

200-299 Courses open to sophomores, and in general to all undergraduate students

300-399 Courses open to juniors, and in general to sophomores, juniors, and seniors

Courses numbered under 400 may be applied toward teacher certification and official certificate programs when recommended by the advisor but will not be approved for inclusion in a degree program.

The marking of courses as available in an odd year (O) or an even year (E) refers to the whole academic year. Thus, a course scheduled for (O), odd year, would be given in an odd-starting academic year, such as 2011-2012, that fall or the next spring. One marked (E), even year, would be available in an even-starting academic year, such as 2012-2013, that fall or the next spring. If unspecified, the course is offered both semesters.

400-499 Courses are open to in general to juniors, seniors, and also to graduate students, when included in the graduate catalog. Students may have a maximum of nine credits (and in some cases zero to six, depending on the program) at the 400 level as approved by the program advisor. Graduate students enrolled in 400-level classes are required to do additional work as compared to their undergraduate classmates.

A "bridge" course is an entry-level graduate course which may share lectures with a specific advanced undergraduate (400-level) capstone course that is integral to each program (undergraduate and graduate). Each of these courses will have different numbers, titles, syllabi, and requirements. Undergraduate bridge courses must not have graduate credit.

A "link" course is a graduate course which may share lectures with a specific advanced undergraduate (400-level) course on the same topic. These courses may be electives. Each of these courses will have different numbers, titles, syllabi, and requirements. Undergraduate link courses must not have graduate credit.

400-599 Graduate courses. Courses numbered 400 and above may be included in a planned program of graduate study only when they are listed in the graduate catalog and the course description so allows and when approved by the advisor and the dean, School of Graduate Studies.

Students may add courses on a space-available basis (that is, enroll in courses in addition to those for which they have previously registered) prior to the scheduled beginning and through the first seven days of each fall or spring semester. Summer and winter courses must be added prior to the second class meeting. All students add courses online through their pipeline accounts or through the Registrar's Office. Capstone and independent study courses also may be added within this same period; however specific forms are used that require signatures including that of the dean, School of Graduate Studies. Registration after a semester's scheduled beginning but within the add period is dependent on course enrollment and/or the willingness of the instructor, department chair, and dean(s) to approve an additional student.

Dropping courses will be allowed up to the last day of the third week of classes during a regular semester. If a full-time graduate student drops below nine credits, the student must change status from full-time to part-time. Requests for dropping a course must be in writing Courses dropped by the deadline do not appear on the student's transcript. Forms are available in the Registrar's Office, Davidson Hall. The deadline for dropping all full-semester courses is included in the schedule of classes provided by the Registrar's Office as found on the Registrar’s Office website. If all courses are dropped between the first day of classes and the last day of the third week of classes, the student will be withdrawn in good standing from the University and a “W” will appear on the transcript for each course dropped.

Warning: Failure to carry a minimum of nine credits may affect Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and receipt of certain federal, state, and other benefits, including but not limited to various financial aid programs, Veterans benefits, and Social Security benefits. Students dropping below nine credits are ineligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics. In addition, full-time graduate assistants must carry a minimum of nine credits.

Graduate students, full-time or part-time, may withdraw from any class from the beginning of the 4th week of the semester until the end of the 12th week of classes by completing and submitting the Course Withdrawal Form available on the Registrar’s Website or at the Registrar’s Office. No permission is required. A "W" will appear on the transcript in all cases of withdrawal; no exceptions.

A student seeking to withdraw after the 12th week of class and until the last day of classes must present documentation of extenuating circumstances for his or her request. After the twelfth week of classes, withdrawals are only permissible under extenuating circumstances after recommendation of the instructor and chair, and approval of School of Graduate Studies Dean. Poor academic performance is not considered an extenuating circumstance. Students may find the Withdrawal-After-Week-12 Form at the Registrar’s Websiteor at the Registrar’s Office as well as at the Graduate School website and Graduate Studies Office. If the request is approved, a “W” will be recorded on the student’s transcript. In all cases of withdrawal, a “W” does not affect the student’s grade-point average. If a student stops attending and fails to officially withdraw from a course, a grade of "F" will be recorded on the student's record.

The pass/fail option is not available to graduate students for courses in which they are enrolled. Pass/fail is only used for recording performance on the Comprehensive examinations.

Graduate Students may audit a course but no credit will be earned.

Students who register as part-time students may enroll for a maximum of eight credits. Students who register as full-time students enroll for no fewer than nine credits, and up to a maximum of 15 credits. Both part-time and full-time students may register online through their pipeline accounts or through the Registrar’s Office.

A full-time graduate student who wishes to register for 16-18 credits must receive written authorization from the Dean, School of Graduate Studies. Authorization for credit overloads during winter and summer sessions must also be obtained from the Dean. Credit Overload forms are provided by the University Registrar.

Students who wish to register for more than 18 credits should apply in writing to the Dean of Graduate Studies at least one week prior to registration for the semester in which the additional course credits are to be taken. Applications for Over 18 Credits are available on the Registrar’s Website at www.ccsu.edu/Registrar. Effective fall, 2003, in addition to the applicable tuition/required fees, full-time students registering for more than 18 credits will be assessed appropriate excess per credit fees for each credit beyond 18. These fees are non-refundable and will not be deleted if at a later time the total credits number less than 19.

Summer and Winter Session registration is conducted by the Registrar’s Office for all graduate students. Summer Session offerings and the Winter Session offeringsare available online. Summer and Winter Sessionfees are the same as part-time fees during regularacademic semesters.

The University permitsa maximum registration of seven credits duringthe first five-week and eight-week Summer Sessions; seven credits during the second five-week Summer Session; and four credits during the three-week post Summer Session. No more than fourteen total credits may be taken during the Summer Sessions. DuringWinter Session, students may enroll in up tofour credits of academic course work.

Prior to enrollment, undergraduates who meet requirements of a minimum 3.00 GPA and 90 credits of study, may request registration by using the appropriate form to obtain approval of undergraduate advisor, instructor, chair of the department offering the course, and the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, who will give preferential admission to graduate students.

600-699 Graduate courses are open only to master's, sixth-year, and doctoral students.

700-799 Graduate courses are open only to doctoral students

This information is subject to change. For a complete list of the Refund Policy, please visit the Bursar's website. Refer to the Registration Calendarfor specific semester dates.

Please remember that you need to maintain a minimum of 12 credits for Undergraduate students or 9 credits for Graduate students per semester to be considered a Full Time student and to retain eligibility for financial aid, University-billed Sickness Insurance, Veterans Benefits, and student athletics.

Part Time students dropping below 6 credit hours may affect their financial aid award.

Note: Some fees are non-refundable.

Full Time students who change their status after the start of classes to Part Time and then withdraw during the first week of classes will be assessed a 10% withdrawal penalty.

Full Time students withdrawing from all courses (Fall and Spring semesters only)

("W" grade will appear on the record starting with the first day of classes)

Before the start of classes/ term	100% tuition refund
During 1st Week	90% tuition refund
During 2nd Week	60% tuition refund
During 3rd & 4th Week	40% tuition refund
After 4th Week	No refund

Part Time students (Fall and Spring semesters) and all Summer and Winter session course drops or withdrawals

Full Semester Courses

Before the start of classes/term and through add/drop period	100% tuition refund
During 2nd Week	60% tuition refund
During 3rd & 4th Week	40% tuition refund
After 4th Week	No refund

3 - 8 Week Courses

(For online courses, each business day of the term/session counts as one class meeting day.)

Prior to 2nd class meeting	100% tuition refund
Prior to 3rd class meeting	60% tuition refund
Prior to 4th class meeting	40% tuition refund
After start of 4th class meeting	No refund

Less than 3 Week Courses

(For online courses, each business day of the term/session counts as one class meeting day.)

Prior to 2nd class meeting	100% tuition refund
Prior to 3rd class meeting	60% tuition refund
After start of 3rd class meeting	No refund

Full Time Matriculated Students: The payment of Tuition and State University Fee is waived for any Connecticut resident presenting evidence of being 62 years of age or older who has been accepted for full-time admission and is enrolled in a degree-granting program. Other fees, including the General Fee, SA/Media Fee, Accidental Insurance Fee, (and for online courses an Online Fee per online course), are still due.

Part Time Matriculated Students: The Course Fee is waived for regular non-online courses for any Connecticut resident presenting evidence of being 62 years of age or older who registers part-time through the Registrar's Office. (For online courses, 25% of the Course Fee is waived.) The Registration Fee is still due. Special registration dates apply.

Non-Matriculated Students: The Course Fee is waived for regular non-online courses for any Connecticut resident presenting evidence of being 62 years of age or older. (For online courses, 25% of the Course Fee is waived.) The Registration Fee is still due. Registrations are limited on a space-available basis and accepted the Saturday before classes begin.

For more information, visit registration information and proceduresand the Bursar's Office tuition/ fees information.

The University is committed to supporting the health and well-being of their students. The University provides a wide range of counseling services to address the mental and physical health needs of their students, including counseling, psychiatric services, consultation, and referral assistance. The goal of the universities is to enable each and every student to function fully as a member of the academic community.

Students are permitted to take voluntary leaves of absence for physical or mental health reasons.

If a student so requests, the Student Health Service or Counseling Center will assist a student in determining whether to take a voluntary medical leave of absence and in arranging that leave. A student on a voluntary medical leave of absence may maintain contact with, and may visit, campus friends and teaching, residence, counseling and administrative staff.

A full-time or part-time student who wishes to withdraw in good standing from the University must consult with the Registrar and have the appropriate forms completed and approved by that office no later than four weeks before the last day of the final examination period. The Registrar's Office will assist in filing the form necessary for withdrawal. The School of Graduate Studies should also be notified of such intent.

Withdrawals after this date will be permitted only under extenuating circumstances and will require consultation and approval of the Graduate School Dean. The student must complete a reenrollment form with the Graduate Studies Office or Graduate Admissions to initiate reenrollment.

When students do not register for course work in a semester and have a grade of “Incomplete” noted on the transcript, they are required to pay a Continuing Registration Fee (CREG) of $40 for each fall and spring semester until the thesis or special project is completed. The CREG fee also applies to graduate students taking comprehensive examinations when they are not registered for course work in the semester when the comprehensive exam is planned. Failure to pay the Continuing Registration fee will result in being administratively withdrawn from the University and loss of matriculation status.

Including when students do not pay their CREG fee, four other instances can occur regarding loss of matriculation status.

1. In the first instance, a full time student who has been accepted but who does not attend is subsequently withdrawn from their requested program. To be considered for readmission, the student must complete a Request for Reactivation form.

2. The second instance has to do with full time and part time students who are denied admission or whose admissions applications are withdrawn; when these students wish to reactivate their application, they do so by completing a Request for Reactivation form if the request is submitted within two years of the initial application. An additional application fee is not required in this instance; however, submission of official transcripts from any additional institutions attended after the initial application will be required.

3. If the reactivation is not requested within the two year period, students must then complete a new graduate application, pay the application fee, and re-submit all official transcripts to the Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Office directly from each institution where courses were taken.

4. The last instance occurs when, after two years of not being registered for classes, both full time and part time graduate students will be notified that they are in danger of becoming inactive and being dropped from their programs, unless they register for courses in the next semester. Once students are made inactive, they must submit a Re-Enrollment request form and pay a re-enrollment fee of $50 to continue in the program. Students may also need to pay a $40 continuation fee required by the Graduate Studies Office if they are enrolled in their capstone thesis, special project, or comprehensive examination. Any semesters in which the student has not taken course work still continue to count toward the six-year time limit for completing the graduate degree program. Only students in good standing (3.00 graduate GPA or higher) are considered for reenrollment.

Any student who no longer wishes to pursue a graduate degree program must provide written notification to the School of Graduate Studies. Readmission into a graduate program will be contingent on the student's academic standing (3.00 or higher) and consideration of performance while in the program. Students obtain forms for reentry in the Graduate Studies Office or Graduate Admissions. If the student subsequently wishes to resume full-time graduate study within two years, a Request for Reactivation form must be submitted through Graduate Admissions. After two years, students must request reenrollment by filing a re-enrollment form and paying a fee of $50 to resume their studies.

CCSU is required by federal law to establish, publish and apply reasonable standards for measuring whether a matriculated student is maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward a degree objective, and to ensure progress toward the degree for all periods of enrollment, whether or not the student has received financial aid. These standards are applicable to all financial aid recipients at CCSU and affect eligibility for all federal and state aid, including grants, student loans, and work-study.

SPECIAL NOTE:For 2012-2013 financial aid eligibility: All Students must accomplish a passing rate of 67.5% by the end of spring 2012 during the 2011-12 academic year to be eligible for 2012-13 financial aid. (Non-matriculated students are not eligible for Financial Aid.)

Doctoral, Masters: 3.0
Credential/certification: 2.5
Undergraduates:
- Junior/Senior (54+ credits): 2.0
- Sophomore (26-53 credits): 2.0
- Freshmen (0-25 credits): 2.0

Students must complete at least 67.5% of the credits attempted with a passing grade of A, B, C, D, P. For example, a student who enrolls in 30 credits for an academic year must complete at least 20 credits (30 x .675 = 20). Non-passing grades of F, INC, NC, U, W, and AU will lower a student's completion rate.

All attempted credits resulting in either an academic grade or administrative transcript notation will be included in the quantitative calculation. Incomplete courses, course withdrawals, course repeats and non credit remedial courses will be included in this assessment. Transfer credits will be counted as attempted and earned credits in the calculation for determining satisfactory academic progress.

Students must complete their program within 150% of their program's required units. For example, a student in a 120 unit program must receive his/her degree within 180 credits. All graded coursework will be counted, including transfer units, repeats, and withdrawals. Up to 30 remedial credits may be excluded. Courses with grades of RD (report delayed) or RP (report in progress) will be considered as completed credits until a final grade is determined.

Students will be placed on probation status (can receive aid) at the end of the academic semester if any of the following applies:

CCSU GPA falls below their objective-specific GPA
Completion rate of attempted units with passing grades falls between 50% and 67.5%.

Federal Regulations require students who have reached Junior or Senior status to maintain at least a 2.0 CCSU Grade Point Average.

Students will become disqualified from receiving financial aid if any of the following applies:

Student is in a Financial Aid Probation status for two consecutive academic semesters;
Student completes fewer than 50% of their attempted units with passing grades in any academic year;
Student fails to complete their program within 150% of their degree program required units.

Students who become disqualified from receiving financial aid will be notified on their CCSU e-mail account and will be provided instructions on the financial aid appeal process. Appeals will be evaluated based on the student's extenuating circumstances.

Students who are disqualified due to low GPA or low unit completion will regain financial aid eligibility once they achieve the required GPA or credit completion as long as they have not completed more than 150% of their program requirements. Undergraduate students who are disqualified due to exceeding the 150% of the required units for their program will regain eligibility after they become a master's or credential student after their bachelor's degree is posted. Students who meet this condition before the spring semester may submit a SAP Appeal Form to request their eligibility be reinstated; otherwise progress will be reviewed after spring grades have posted.

Letter grades, including their plus and minus combinations, are utilized by the School of Graduate Studies. The following grade point equivalents will be used to compute cumulative grade averages: A (4.00); A- (3.70); B+ (3.30); B (3.00); B- (2.70); C+ (2.30); C (2.00); C- (1.70); D+ (1.30); D (1.00); D- (0.70); F (0.00). No planned program credit is awarded for grades of C- or below, but all grades received in post-baccalaureate status at Central Connecticut State University remain on the graduate transcript and are included in the student's cumulative grade average. A grade of NR (not recorded by instructor) will be entered if grades are not submitted in a timely manner. Grades of NR not changed to another grade by the instructor within a year will be changed to an F. (For undergraduates the deadline is the first eight weeks of the subsequent major semester.) Responsibility for removing an NR within this time limit rests with the student.

Additional grades used at CCSU include:

AU Audit (no credit)

INC Incomplete

IP In Progress (Doctoral)

NC Satisfactory completion of a non-credit course

S Satisfactory performance in a non-credit course

TR Transfer credit

U Unsatisfactory performance in a non-credit course

W Withdrawal

The Pass/Fail grading option is not available to graduate students, other than for recording performance on the Comprehensive Examination.

GPA Calculation

For the purposes of computing grade-point average, grades are evaluated as follows for each semester hour of credit:

Grade Quality	Points	Grade Quality	Points
A	4.0	C	2.0
A-	3.7	C-	1.7
B+	3.3	D+	1.3
B	3.0	D	1.0
B-	2.7	D-	0.7
C+	2.3	F	0.0

For example, if a student receives an A in two courses, one carrying 3 credits and one carrying 1 credit; a B in a 3-credit course; a B- in a 3-credit course; a C- in a 2-credit course; a D in a 3-credit course; and an F in a 2-credit course, the grade-point average is computed as follows:

A or 4 quality points per hour x 4 credits = 16 quality points
B or 3 quality points per hour x 3 credits = 9 quality points
B- or 2.7 quality points per hour x 3 credits = 8.1 quality points
C- or 1.7 quality points per hour x 2 credits = 3.4 quality points
D or 1 quality point per hour x 3 credits = 3 quality points
F or 0 quality points per hour x 2 credits = 0 quality points
17 credits for a total of 39.5 quality points
To calculate this student's semester grade-point average, the quality point total is divided by the total number of credits taken: 39.5 ÷ 17 = 2.32.
The cumulative grade-point average (CGPA) for a student's record is determined by adding the credits attempted and dividing this total into the total number of quality points. The cumulative grade-point average indicates the academic record of the student for the time enrolled at the University and does not include transfer credit.

No more than two grades of C+ or C (i.e. two C’s, or two C+’s, or one C and one C+) may be carried in a planned program; courses beyond these in which grades of C+ or C are achieved may have to be repeated or additional course work may have to be taken on the planned program of study.

Courses in which students receive a C- or lower will not be counted for graduate credit in the planned program and may not be used to meet prerequisite requirements for graduate courses. Students will be required to retake required courses as listed on their planned program of study in which grades of C- or lower are earned.

If a graduate student retakes a graduate course in which the student earned less than a C, both grades will appear on the student’s transcript. However, only the most recent course grade and credit will be applied to the GPA and course requirements. No course may be repeated more than once without permission from the graduate advisor and Dean, School of Graduate Studies. Certain graduate programs may not be eligible for the retake policy. This policy is applicable only for failing grades of C- or less. The policy refers to courses taken from summer 2009 to the present.

A grade of Incomplete may be recorded at the discretion of the instructor when a student, for circumstances which cannot be controlled, is unable to complete the requirements of a course in which he or she is registered during the current semester or session.

The student who receives a grade of Incomplete will be responsible for assuring that all course requirements are completed within one calendar year of issuance, or sooner if required by the instructor. A grade of Incomplete which has not been changed by the instructor within the year allowed for course completion will become an F (failure) automatically.

This latter policy does not refer to grades of Incomplete received for capstone theses or special projects. However, a Continuing Registration Fee (CREG) of $40 will be issued each semester that a student maintains an incomplete in his or her capstone thesis or special project. Letters will be sent to students owing the CREG fee each semester; failure to pay will result in being withdrawn from the program. Students who are withdrawn will then have to re-enroll and pay a $50 re-enrollment fee.

Academic grading reflects careful and deliberate judgment by the faculty member instructing a course. However, the University recognizes that there may, on occasion, be an error or injustice in the determination of a final grade for a course.

Any student who believes that a final grade involved an error or a palpable injustice should confer with the instructor who awarded the grade no later than the fourth week of the following regular academic semester (fall/spring). If the outcome is not satisfactory, the student may present the case next to the department chair who may effect a settlement upon written agreement with the instructor. Further appeal shall be to the dean of the appropriate academic school, and, if no settlement can be effected, to the Grade Appeals Review Board of the Academic Standards Committee. The full text of the Appeals for Grade Changes Policy may be found on the Academic Standards and Regulations page of the Undergraduate Catalog linked hereand in the School of Graduate Studies Handbook.

A formalized process for appealing non-graded, performance-based assessments, such as comprehensive examinations, degree candidacy, etc., has been established by the Graduate Studies Committee. Similar to grade appeals, a student who believes that an error or a palpable injustice has occurred should first confer with the department to which the appeal is directed. If the outcome is not satisfactory, further appeal shall be to the dean of the appropriate academic school. If no settlement can be effected, the student should bring the appeal to the Standing Appeals Committee of the Graduate Studies Committee. (Contact may be made through the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, 102 Barnard Hall.) The Graduate Appeals Committee will meet as a group to determine whether there is merit to an appeal of a non-graded, performance-based assessment by reviewing documents and records that are presented with the appeal. If the Appeals Committee believes that additional information is needed, the committee will request clarification from the department and/or student. The Committee's determination will be based on whether the student was denied due process. The Appeals Committee will render its decision in writing by notifying the graduate student and copying the dean, School of Graduate Studies.

All graduate students must maintain a 3.00 (B) cumulative grade point average (CPA) in course work at Central Connecticut State University in order to be in good academic standing. Good academic standing is required to receive financial aid and to graduate.

Students who drop below a 3.00 average will receive a letter from the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, informing them that they are no longer in good academic standing and that they have been placed on academic probation or dismissed from their programs. Once a letter of dismissal is received, a student may appeal the dismissal. The student is expected to promptly meet with the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and provide an explanation for his/her poor performance. If a student receives a letter of dismissal and fails to meet with the dean of the School of Graduate Studies as recommended in the letter, the student's schedule will be dropped and he/she will be withdrawn from his/her program. A student who is dropped from the program and who wishes to reapply must do so through the School of Graduate Studies. The dean, School of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the department offering the program, will decide whether the student may continue with his/her studies. Continuation will be contingent upon the student's progress in meeting the requirements for good academic standing, as well as other materials as required.

In addition to grade-point requirements for good academic standing, students should note that no more than two grades of C+ or C (i.e. two C’s, or two C+’s , or one C and one C+) are permitted for courses included on the planned program of graduate study leading to a doctoral or master's degree or sixth-year certificate. Students who achieve grades low enough so that, in the judgment of the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, they will not be able to attain the 3.00 CPA required for graduation, will be dismissed from the graduate program.

Students who are dismissed for academic reasons may appeal first to the dean, School of Graduate Studies. If an unfavorable decision is rendered, they may then appeal to the Graduate Studies Committee.

Students who are dismissed from graduate study may request reenrollment upon attainment of a 3.00 (B) cumulative grade point average on the Central Connecticut State University graduate record. Forms for requesting file reenrollment are available in the Graduate Admissions Office and the Office of the School of Graduate Studies and at www.ccsu.edu/grad. Along with submitting the reenrollment form to Graduate Admissions, the student must submit to the department offering the program any additional materials that are required by the department for its review of the file. A department may also consider prior performance in the program when reviewing for readmission the file of a student who has been formally dismissed by the School of Graduate Studies.

Students who are dismissed from a graduate program will not be allowed to take courses for graduate credit unless they have the permission of the instructor, the chair of the department offering the course, and the dean, School of Graduate Studies.

Upon completion of all applicable course and capstone requirements for the doctoral degree, master's degree, or sixth-year certificate, students are eligible to receive their degrees and to graduate.

Degree award and graduation are not automatic. While a student may have completed all applicable course and capstone requirements for his or her program, every degree candidate is required to notify the University about program conclusion by filing a graduate-level Application for Graduation form with the School of Graduate Studies by the due date as listed on the University calendar in the semester in which they intend to graduate. Not submitting an Application for Graduation in a timely manner may result in failure to receive the appropriate degree for the requested semester. Further, if a degree-seeking student fails to finish all requirements by the completion date indicated on the submitted Application for Graduation, a new application must be filed.

Central Connecticut State University confers degrees three times during the academic year: May, August, and December. Students expecting to receive degrees during any of these periods must complete all applicable program requirements by the last official day of the semester or session in which the degree is to be awarded.

Students who anticipate finishing degree requirements during the spring semester (May completion) should submit the Application for Graduation no later than March 1. Students who anticipate finishing degree requirements during the summer sessions (August completion) should submit the Application for Graduation no later than March 15. Students who plan to finish degree requirements during the fall semester (December completion) should submit the Application for Graduation no later than September 15. Graduate-level Application for Graduation forms are available in the Graduate Studies Office and on the website, as well as in other areas on campus. Students must be admitted to a graduate program and complete all degree requirements and meet graduate degree policies in order to be awarded a degree in that program.

All students who submit an Application for Graduation and expect to receive the doctoral degree, master's degree, or sixth-year certificate are eligible to participate in formal University-wide commencement ceremonies held annually each May. Information about commencement ceremonies will be made available on the University website. Participation in commencement does not guarantee the award of the degree.

Graduate students at Central Connecticut State University are expected to follow University regulations outlined in the Student Handbook (available online at www.ccsu.edu/Students/handbook) and the School of Graduate Studies Handbook (available from the Graduate Studies Office, Barnard Hall and online at www.ccsu.edu/grad). These handbooks describe in detail the code of student conduct and subsequent disciplinary actions that may occur as a result of violations of this code.

Students are required to review and update their own Contact Information, as well as the name and address of an Emergency Contact, before registration. This requirement ensures that CCSU is able to alert students about campus emergencies and to reach emergency contacts in the event a student is involved in an emergency.

Students can update their Emergency Contact Name and Address by clicking on the CentralPipelinelink at the top of the wwww.ccsu.edu page and choosing "Students". On the CentralPipeline for Students page, click on the WebCentral-Banner Web link. Log into WebCentral and click on "Update Contact Information" on the "Home" tab.

If you do not have access to a computer, please click on the link to the form below to submit your Emergency Contact Nam and Address.

In accordance with appropriate federal and state laws, the University has designated certain types of student information as public or directory information. The University respects the student's right to privacy and will do its best to protect that privacy.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students." These rights include:

The right to inspect and review their education records maintained by the University within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Requests to inspect and review educational records should be made in writing to the appropriate University official that maintains the records. The University will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. The University is not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for eligible students to review the records. The University may charge a fee for copies.
The right to request that a school correct a record that they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. The student should write to the University official, clearly identify the part of the record he/she wants changed, and specify why he/she believes it is inaccurate. The University will notify the student of the decision. If the school decides not to amend the record, the eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

Note: FERPA was not designed to provide a process to be used to question substantive judgments which are correctly recorded. The rights of challenge are not intended to allow students to contest, for example, a grade in a course because they felt a higher grade should have been assigned.

The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes consent without disclosure. Some of the circumstances under which FERPA permits disclosure without consent are listed below. This is not an exclusive list. Disclosure is permitted to:

University officials with a legitimate educational interest;
- University officials include but are not limited to people employed by the University in administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff positions; people or companies, such as attorneys, auditors, collection agencies or the National Student Clearinghouse, with whom the University has contracted; employees of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system office and Board of Regents; university volunteers; students serving on an official committee or assisting another university official in performing tasks.
- A university official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill professional responsibilities.
- Officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled;
- Accrediting organizations to carry out their functions;
- Comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
- Appropriate parties in cases of health and safety emergencies;
- State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law;
- Certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Comptroller General, U.S. Attorney General, state and local educational authorities, and their researchers and evaluators in connection with certain state or federally supported education programs (see Notice below);
- Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the University;

As described below, disclosure is also permitted of Directory information, as defined in the University’s policy.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the 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 University may, or under the Freedom of Information Act, may be required to, disclose, without consent, directory information. Central Connecticut State University identifies directory information in its University Catalog to include: student's name, permanent mailing address, telephone number, dates of attendance, class standing, photographs, academic major, minor and concentration, degree candidacy, degree(s) earned, graduation date and any awards or honors received. Additional information that is also considered directory information includes participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and the weight and height of members of an athletic team.

Students have the right to request that the University not disclose directory information to individuals or organizations outside the University (although we are required to provide information to organizations which have provided the student any type of financial aid, including loans). A student who wishes to have his/her directory information restricted should contact the Office of the Registrar.

As of January 3, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education's FERPA regulations expand the circumstances under which your education records and personally identifiable information (PII) contained in such records — including your Social Security Number, grades, or other private information — may be accessed without your consent. First, the U.S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or state and local education authorities ("Federal and State Authorities") may allow access to your records and PII without your consent to any third party designated by a Federal or State Authority to evaluate a federal- or state-supported education program. The evaluation may relate to any program that is "principally engaged in the provision of education," such as early childhood education and job training, as well as any program that is administered by an education agency or institution. Second, Federal and State Authorities may allow access to your education records and PII without your consent to researchers performing certain types of studies, in certain cases even when we object to or do not request such research. Federal and State Authorities must obtain certain use-restriction and data security promises from the entities that they authorize to receive your PII, but the Authorities need not maintain direct control over such entities. In addition, in connection with Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems, State Authorities may collect, compile, permanently retain, and share without your consent PII from your education records, and they may track your participation in education and other programs by linking such PII to other personal information about you that they obtain from other Federal or State data sources, including workforce development, unemployment insurance, child welfare, juvenile justice, military service, and migrant student records systems.

Several offices of the University, principally those of Institutional Advancement, provide information to news organizations about CCSU's students' accomplishments and activities while they are at the University and at the time of graduation. Additionally, CCSU supplies photographs and other visual images of students and corollary text in response to requests from news organizations. As a regular practice, photographs of students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus are used in publications produced by the University for recruitment and general information. Any student who does not wish to appear in any photos used for these purposes must notify the Office of Marketing & Communications (832-1790) immediately upon matriculation. It is, however, not possible to practice these restraints with respect to the use of photography (where groups of students appear) of scenes, events, or classes in session.

A student must notify the Office of Registrar in writing of a change of address. Students living off campus and not at their permanent addresses should register their local address with the Office of Registrar.

At Central Connecticut State University we value personal integrity as fundamental to our interactions with each other. We believe that one of the purposes of a University education is for students to learn to think critically, to develop evaluative skills, and to express their own opinions and voices. We place special weight on academic honesty in all of our intellectual pursuits because it is a value that is fundamental to academic life and scholarly practice. All members of the University community are obligated to uphold high standards of academic honesty in their scholarship and learning. Therefore, we expect students to take personal responsibility for their intellectual work and to respect and acknowledge the ideas of others. Academic honesty means doing one's own work and giving proper credit to others whose work and thought one may draw upon. It is the responsibility of each student to become familiar with what constitutes academic dishonesty and plagiarism and to avoid all forms of cheating and plagiarism.

The CSU code of conduct, Guidelines for Student Rights and Responsibilities and Judicial Procedures, defines academic misconduct as including, but "not limited to, providing or receiving assistance from another, in a manner not authorized by the instructor, in the creation of work to be submitted for academic evaluation (including papers, projects, and examinations). Plagiarism is defined as presenting, as one's own, the ideas or words of another person, for academic evaluation, without proper acknowledgement."

Cheating may take many forms. It includes, but is not limited to, the following actions, unless explicitly authorized by the instructor:

Exams

Copying from another person's paper or receiving unauthorized aid from another person during an examination;
Use of unauthorized materials or devices during an examination or any other form of academic evaluation and grading; e.g., use of signals, notes, books, or calculators during an examination when the instructor has not approved their use;
Knowingly allowing another person to copy from one's paper during an examination.

Improper Behavior

Use of another person as a substitute in any form of academic evaluation or acting as a substitute for another person in any form of academic evaluation; e.g., a student cannot have another person take an examination for him/her;
Acquisition or distribution of improperly acquired examinations; e.g., stealing examinations before the test period or taking a copy of an examination from a testing room without the permission of the instructor. (Examinations which have been distributed by an instructor are legitimate study tools.);
Submission of another's material as one's own for academic evaluation;
Preparation of work for another student to submit for academic evaluation;
Unauthorized collaboration in the preparation of materials to be submitted for academic evaluation; e.g., working with another student on an assignment when the instructor has not authorized working together;
Submission of the same work, or substantially similar work, in more than one course without prior consent of the evaluating instructor(s);
Disruption in classroom, lab, or research and study areas; any conduct or actions that grossly or persistently interferes with the academic process. (See Rights and Responsibilities, "Prohibited Conduct," Student Handbook.)

Falsification or Misuse of Academic Information

Falsification or misrepresentation of one's own academic record or that of anyone else; e.g., altering a transcript for admission, hacking into the University's computer system and changing a grade, having another student take an examination in one's place, signing someone else's name to an attendance sheet.
Unauthorized use of information in University computer records or the computer files of other students (see Computer Use Policy);
Using unauthorized materials or fabricated data in an academic exercise; e.g., falsifying data in a research paper or laboratory activity; conducting research on human or animal subjects without review by the appropriate panel or supervisor.

Plagiarism

Copying sentences, phrases, paragraphs, tables, figures, or data directly or in slightly modified form from a book, article, or other academic source without using quotation marks or giving proper acknowledgment to the original author or source.
Copying information from Internet Web sites and submitting it as one's own work;
Buying papers for the purpose of turning them in as one's own work;
Selling or lending of papers for the purpose of violating academic honesty policies. (This may also be an academic crime, see Connecticut General Statutes, §53-392a.)

Understanding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting another person's work without acknowledgements, whether in the same or in slightly modified form. In academic practice this is regarded as theft, intended to gain undeserved credit. Like other forms of academic dishonesty, plagiarism is cheating. To academicians, a well-documented paper is more impressive than one which arouses the suspicion of a reader who is familiar with the student's work and alert to echoes of other writers. The proper use of outside sources does not necessarily mean that a paper is lacking in originality, nor does the presence of quotation marks in the text. In fact, the purpose of research and documentation is to share useful information with the reader. The penalties for plagiarism greatly exceed the unlikely reward of gaining credit by getting away with it.

Students must be careful to avoid plagiarism and are responsible for learning how to present the ideas of others in their own work. For current documentation practice, student should consult the instructor and a style manual. When material is borrowed from another person, the source must be indicated. There are three ways in which another writer's material may appear:

by putting quotation marks around short passages borrowed verbatim (word for word); or by setting off from the text, without quotation marks, for longer quotations;
by précis: condensing part of a writer's argument; and
by paraphrase: interpretation of a writer's ideas.

All three must be acknowledged either in footnotes or informally in the text.

Consequence of Academic Misconduct

On May 10, 2010, the CCSU Faculty Senate approved a new policy regarding the disciplinary procedures for academic misconduct. This policy applies to both undergraduate and graduate students, with the following exceptions:

Attending an Academic Misconduct Workshop will not be considered as a sanction for graduate students.
When an incident of academic misconduct involves a graduate student, the Dean of Graduate Studies, rather the Dean of the academic program, should receive a copy of the Academic Misconduct Report.

The specifics of the policy and all relevant forms can be found at www.ccsu.edu/AcademicIntegrity. As an overview, when a student is suspected of academic misconduct, the instructor shall attempt to meet with the student to discuss the alleged misconduct and the sanction he or she intends to impose. Sanctions for academic sanction should be commensurate with the severity of the misconduct. These sanctions may include one or more of the following: a reduced grade for the assignment in question, the opportunity to revise the assignment or complete additional course work, a grade of F for the assignment in question, a grade of F for the course.
Instructors are encouraged to file an Academic Misconduct Report for all violations, especially when the sanction involves a failing grade for the course and/or if the Instructor believes that further disciplinary sanctions (e.g., disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion) are warranted. If the student feels unjustly accused, he or she may appeal to the chairperson of the department in which the alleged misconduct occurred. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the department chairperson, he or she may submit a formal appeal to the Office of Student Conduct requesting review by a Faculty Hearing Board. A Faculty Hearing Board also would be convened in cases for which the student has a prior academic misconduct violation and in cases for which the instructor recommends disciplinary sanctions.

When Graduate Students Are Suspected of Academic Misconduct

When a faculty member reasonably believes that there is sufficient information to demonstrate that a student may have engaged in Academic Misconduct:
1. The faculty member will discuss the incident with the student, in the presence of the department chair if the faculty member or student so desires.
2. At this time the faculty member shall outline the possible penalties specified in the CCSU Student Handbook.
3. The faculty member will indicate that the matter may be referred to the Dean, School of Graduate Studies or the University Judicial Officer for possible disciplinary action.
Based on the available documentation, the response offered by the student, if any, and any other relevant information:
1. The faculty member will, within a reasonable period of time, reach a determination whether the student has engaged in Academic Misconduct.
2. Should the faculty member determine that Academic Misconduct has occurred, the faculty member shall retain evidence of the said misconduct.
If the faculty member determines that Academic Misconduct has not occurred, no University Academic Misconduct Report need be prepared.
If the faculty member determines that Academic Misconduct has occurred, the faculty member shall:
1. Impose an academic sanction.
2. Prepare and forward to the Dean, School of Graduate Studies or the University Judicial Officer, a University Academic Misconduct Report indicating the determination reached and sanctions imposed.
The faculty member:
1. Shall inform the student that additional University Academic Misconduct Reports may result in more severe penalties.
2. May contact the dean, School of Graduate Studies or the University Judicial Officer to request a conference with the student to further explain the act leading to the University Academic Misconduct Report. The conference will be facilitated by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and include the University Judicial Officer, a Graduate Studies Committee member not affiliated with the graduate program of the student, and the graduate student. This meeting will not be a disciplinary hearing, but a consultation with the student to further explain the misconduct.
3. May request a disciplinary hearing with the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and the University Judicial Officer, in cases of serious forms of academic misconduct.
In accordance with the "Student Records and Directory Information Policy (FERPA)," "Data from academic, disciplinary, and counseling files shall not be available to unauthorized persons on campus or to any person off campus without the express consent of the student involved, except under legal compulsion" (CCSU Student Handbook). One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is defined as a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Regents 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.

Subsequent Violations of the Academic Misconduct Policy
When the University Judicial Officer receives multiple University Academic Misconduct Reports regarding a particular student, whether or not the faculty member has made a complaint, a "Pre-Hearing Investigation" will normally be conducted in anticipation of disciplinary action, which may result in disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion from the University. If the University Judicial Officer determines that a formal hearing is warranted, a faculty member or members may be requested to provide information.

A Student's Rights When Suspected and or Charged With Academic Misconduct

A student has the right:
1. To meet with the faculty member, in the presence of the Department Chair if so desired, before any determination has been made.
2. To be informed during this meeting of the faculty member's suspicions and have an opportunity to discuss the matter.
3. To appeal a finding of Academic Misconduct made during the course of the semester, within 10 school days of being provided with a University Academic Misconduct Report.
  A written statement of appeal must be provided to the faculty member, the Department chairperson, the Dean, and the University Judicial Officer, setting forth the basis of the student's appeal. Upon receipt of a student's mid-semester appeal, the University Judicial Officer will consult with the faculty member, the Department Chair, and the Dean and communicate to the student within 10 school days the results of the student's appeal.
Once a final grade is awarded, the student may file a grade appeal in accordance with the "Appeals for Grade Change Policy" (CCSU Student Handbook).
If a student receives a final grade of "F" as a result of violating the Academic Misconduct Policy, and that grade is upheld by the grade appeal process, no retroactive withdrawal from the course will be permitted.
All end of the semester appeals must be made in accordance with the "Appeals for Grade Change Policy."
In addition to academic sanctions provided by the faculty member, if disciplinary proceedings have been initiated by the University Judicial Officer, a student has the right to have such proceedings resolved in accordance with the CSU "Guidelines for Student Rights and Responsibilities and Judicial Procedures."

Professor's Responsibilities When Academic Misconduct is Suspected During End of the Semester Grading
If a faculty member reasonably suspects academic misconduct during end of the semester grading, a grade of Incomplete may be entered, to be replaced by an appropriate grade once the issue is resolved. The grade of Incomplete allows a faculty member to complete end of the semester grading and still follow up on suspected violations of the University Academic Misconduct Policy.

Academic Misconduct reported by a member of the University Community other than the relevant faculty member: See "Academic Misconduct" in "Guidelines for Student Rights and Responsibilities and Judicial Procedures" (CCSU Student Handbook).

Regular attendance for classes is expected of all graduate students by the University and may be a course requirement. Frequent absences can result in a lowered grade or possible course failure. The following regulations are in effect:

A student is responsible for class attendance, although each instructor should establish his/her policy and inform the class.
A student absent from class for five (5) consecutive days or less should, upon return, explain the absence to the instructor.
A student absent from class for more than five (5) days, who has not been seen as a patient in the University Health Service for the evaluation of the illness, should submit verification of the absence from his/her physician to the Office of Student Affairs. Notification of a student's absence will be relayed to the appropriate professor only if a physician's verification is submitted at the time of the request for notification.
Students are expected to notify instructors in advance for absences related to official University trips, conferences, intercollegiate athletic events, musical performances, and other events.
Make-up work is the responsibility of the student.

The University reserves the right to cancel courses that have insufficient registration, and to change the schedule of courses or instruction as necessary.

At the discretion of the University, classes may be cancelled or delayed because of inclement weather conditions. The decision to cancel or delay day classes is usually made by 6:00 a.m. WTIC, 1080 AM, carried the official University announcement of delays and cancellation, which can also be heard on several other central Connecticut radio stations. In addition, WVIT-TV 30, WFSB-TV 3 and WTHN-TV8 are notified. Cancellation of evening classes will normally be decided by 2:00 p.m. Evening classes are not automatically cancelled when day classes have been cancelled. For up-to-date information on cancellation or delays, use the Snow Phone Line (860-832-3333).

If the University is closed during the final examination period because of storm conditions, the administration will notify radio station WTIC-AM and other stations that examinations will be cancelled. The Registrar will reschedule the examinations and an announcement made by radio. If the radio stations do not announce cancellation of examinations, assume that the examinations will be held as scheduled.

The campus computing facilities are available to graduate students to facilitate educational objectives, research, and study. In exercising computer privileges, graduate students are expected to follow University rules and regulations governing the use of computer accounts and equipment. These regulations are found in the Student Handbook from Student Affairs.

Email is our primary means for official communication to students. Students have a responsibility to check their email on a regular basis. For the full email policy,

Assignment of email addresses:
The information technology department will assign each employee and student an official email address. It is to this official address that the Universities will send email communications. This official address will be the address listed in the University's Global Address List found in the Exchange/Outlook Address Directory and will be the official email address included with personal information within the administrative computing system.

Educational uses of email:
Faculty members may determine how email will be used in their classes. It is strongly recommended that if faculty members have email requirements and expectations, they specify these requirements in their course syllabi.

Students may request information on completion and graduation rates from the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment or by going to the Fact Book on their website.

A transcript is the complete, unabridged academic record, without deletions or omissions, compiled while at Central Connecticut State University. Upon the granting of a degree or completion of a program, a student's transcript is considered officially sealed, meaning no changes in grades or alteration in courses will be made unless that student believes that the information in his or her transcript is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of his or her rights of privacy. It is a student's responsibility to review and confirm the accuracy of his or her academic record. A student may view his or her transcript at any time on the Web to verify its content. It is recommended that the degree recipient confirm the accuracy of all grades, honors, terms, and cumulative GPA notations at the time final grades are posted to their academic record upon graduation.

It is a student's responsibility to notify the Office of the Registrar, in writing, of the information in the transcript that he or she believes is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of his or her rights of privacy. A student who believes that his or her transcript is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of his or her rights of privacy has the right to request an amendment to the transcript and, if this request is denied, the right to an opportunity for a hearing to challenge the content of the transcript on the ground that it is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of his or her rights of privacy. If, as a result of the hearing, the student's request is denied, the University shall inform the student of the right to place a statement with the transcript, commenting on the contested information in the record or stating why he or she disagrees with the decision of the University, or both.

Transcripts may be obtained from the Office of Registrar. The cost per copy, which is subject to change, is $5. The cost of an expedited transcript (issued within 48 hours) is $15. All requests for transcripts must be in writing and include payment in advance. Please refer to the Registrar's Website, for further information.

Graduate Academic Policies and Requirements

Admission Policies for Acceptance to Graduate Programs

Student Status (Definitions and Policies)

Major and Degree Policies

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Registration Related Policies

Leaving the University and Reenrolling

Financial Aid Policies

Grades and Grading Policies

Student Records

General University Policies