Academic Regulations and Procedures and Student Policies

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The official source of all information concerning academic policies and regulations is the Undergraduate Catalog. While the Undergraduate Catalog is updated regularly, changes in requirements or policies may occur which are not immediately listed in this Catalog. All students should take note of official bulletins and announcements issued by the Registrar and the Office of the Provost or of information specific to a particular Mercy Universtiy undergraduate program.

Academic Appeals Policy

The purpose of the Academic Appeals Policy is to provide a process for the equitable resolution of formal complaints made by a student, over academic issues including grade disputes and the application of academic policies. Separate appeals policies exist for violations of academic integrity and academic dismissal grievances. The following steps constitute the process; before proceeding to a higher-level step, all lower-level steps must first be completed and documented in writing. The University continues to recommend and encourage the informal resolution of complaints, believing that effective communication is also part of the educational process. To the extent that a faculty member, academic unit head or dean are unavailable, a designee may be appointed for purposes of resolving such issues in a timely manner.

Step One: Faculty

Within two weeks after the end of the semester, term, or quarter (the “academic period”) in which the disputed matter occurred, the student and faculty member must discuss the grade issue via student’s university email, in person, or by phone. After the discussion, the faculty member must make a decision within one week and communicate it in writing to the student. A copy of this decision must also be sent to the academic unit head. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of this decision, a formal written appeal must be submitted by the student to the relevant academic unit head within  one week after receipt of the faculty member’s decision. If the faculty member does not respond to the student request within the referenced time frame, then the student should proceed to Step Two and contact the Academic Unit Head.

Step Two: Academic Unit Head(s)

Within one week after receipt of the formal written appeal, the academic unit head will, depending on the situation, meet separately or jointly with the student and faculty member involved. Meetings may be in person or via telephone. During these meetings each party will submit all information and supporting documentation to the Academic Unit Head who will review all of the relevant documentation. A written decision shall be sent to both parties within one week after the meeting. A copy of this written communication must also be sent to the School Dean. If the faculty member involved is also the academic unit head, the parties may agree to allow another faculty member in the department to review the appeal or proceed directly to Step Three.

Step Three: School Dean

Within one week after the decision in Step Two, an appeal may be made in writing by the student to the relevant school dean. The school dean will meet separately or jointly with the student and faculty member, and/or the academic unit head involved within two weeks of receipt of the formal written appeal. Meetings should be in person, to the extent practicable. The school dean will review the written appeal and previous actions on the appeal, along with any additional information and substantiation submitted by each party and will render a decision in writing to all parties within one week after the meeting. A copy of this written communication must also be sent to the Office of the Provost.

Step Four: Undergraduate Academic Appeals Committee

In the event that the issue has not been satisfactorily resolved in Steps One, Two or Three, a final appeal may be made to the Undergraduate Academic Appeals Committee. Such appeal must be made in writing to the Committee, to the attention of the Provost or designee, within one week after the decision by the school dean. Appeals should be accompanied by a rationale for an Academic Appeal and accompanied by substantiating documentation. Upon review of the student submission along with documentation provided by the School Dean, Academic Unit Head(s) and Faculty member, the Provost or designee will determine whether or not the student’s request for an Academic Appeal Hearing is warranted. If denied, the student will be notified as to the reason for the denial of a hearing, if an appeal hearing is warranted, the Academic Appeals Committee will hold a meeting within two weeks after receipt of the appeal, and shall render a decision in writing to the dean and student within one week of the conclusion of the meeting. The Undergraduate Academic Appeals Committee consists of the Associate Provost (chair) and up to three faculty members, two administrators, and four students (as needed on a case-by-case basis). All parties to the appeal will be permitted to participate and are permitted to submit any documentation they believe is necessary, including written statements and documentary evidence in the meeting with the Committee. The student may be accompanied by one person who is not professional legal counsel who may observe but not actively participate. The Committee will hear from both parties and may call on any witnesses to the matter and review any supplementary documentation. The Committee may ask questions throughout the meeting and may, if necessary, adjourn the meeting to obtain additional information. The Committee does not have the authority to make a grade change; rather, the Committee will review whether it appears the original grade was fairly awarded; however the committee may make other recommendations as it deems appropriate. 

The decision rendered by the Undergraduate Academic Appeals Committee is final; no additional appeals will be permitted.

Academic Eligibility for Financial Aid

In order to maintain their eligibility for financial aid, all students who receive financial aid from the federal and/or state government are required to meet specific standards of academic progress (total number of credits passed and the student’s GPA in a specific semester). The Office of Student Financial Services maintains current records on all students receiving financial aid and thereby monitors their ongoing eligibility for such aid. More detailed information about these standards is included in the financial aid section of the catalog and is available through the Office of Student Financial Services.

Scholastic Index

The scholastic index shows the average grade attained in a set of completed courses. The scholastic index for a given set of courses is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned in those courses by the total number of credits that would be conferred by the successful completion of those courses. The number of quality points earned through completion of a given course is determined by multiplying the number of academic credits the course may confer by the coefficient corresponding to the grade received. The scale of coefficients is as follows:

Example: If a student completes five courses, each conferring three credits, grades A, B+, C+, C, they can compute their scholastic index as follows:

Scholastic index = 41.97 / 15 = 2.798

Courses taken under the Pass/No Credit system, courses for which a student has received a W, and courses taken at other colleges do not affect the student’s scholastic index.

Academic Integrity Policy

Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an honest, truthful and responsible manner. Students are required, to be honest, and ethical in carrying out all aspects of their academic work and responsibilities.

Dishonest acts in a student’s academic pursuits will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty undermines the University’s educational mission as well as the student’s personal and intellectual growth. In cases where academic dishonesty is uncovered, the University imposes sanctions that range from failure of an assignment to suspension and expulsion from the University, depending on the severity and reoccurrence of the case(s).

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, obtaining an unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents.

Cheating is the unauthorized use or attempted use of material, information, notes, study aids, devices, communication, or artificial intelligence tools during an academic exercise. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to:

• Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your work
• Providing assistance to acts of academic misconduct
• Unauthorized collaboration on a take-home assignment or examination
• Using notes during a closed book examination
• Submitting another’s work as your own
• Submitting material generated or altered by chatbots and/or artificial intelligence tools as your own
• Unauthorized use during an examination of any electronic device, such as cell phones, computers, or internet access to retrieve or send information
• Allowing others to research or write assigned papers for you or to complete your assigned projects

Plagiarism is the act of presenting ideas, research, or writings created by other people or artificial intelligence tools as your own.

Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:

• Copying another person’s actual words or images without the use of quotation marks and citations attributing the words to their source
• Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source
• Engaging in plagiarism, via the Internet or other web-based or electronic sources, which includes (but is not limited to) purchasing of, downloading term papers or other assignments and then submitting that work as one’s own, copying text generated by a chatbot or artificial intelligence tool, or copying or extracting information and then pasting that information into an assignment without citing the source, or without providing proper attribution

Self-Plagiarism is the act of turning in one’s own work (papers, exams, cases, etc.) in its original form or with only minor modifications in more than one course for academic credit. Self-Plagiarism is a violation of this policy.

Obtaining unfair advantage is any action taken by a student that gives that student an unfair advantage, or through which the students attempt to gain an unfair advantage in their academic work over another student. Examples of obtaining an unfair advantage include, but are not limited to:

• Gaining advance access to examination materials by stealing or reproducing those materials
• Retaining, purchasing, sharing, or posting examinations, or the students’ written work, like cases, papers, etc., without explicit faculty permission
• Intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student’s work

Falsification of Records and Official Documents include, but are not limited to, acts of forging authorized signatures or falsifying information on an official academic record.

Consequences for Policy Violation

A student who is found to be dishonest in the submission of their academic assignments or other work, or in carrying out their academic  responsibilities may receive a warning, a zero for the submitted assignment or exam, a failing grade for the course, or may be subject to further suspension or expulsion from the University, depending on the severity of the offense(s). Regardless, all incidents of academic  dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Unit Head and School Dean and may be retained by the University in the student’s records.

Academic Integrity – Process to Report and Appeal

The process to report or to appeal an academic integrity violation is as follows:

A faculty member who suspects that a student has committed a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy shall review with the student the facts and circumstances of the suspected violation whenever feasible.

Should the faculty member conclude that there has been an incident of academic dishonesty, they shall complete the Academic Integrity Reporting Form (located on Mercy Connect under the faculty tab) and submit it. This form will include a sanction.

The form will be submitted electronically to the Dean and Associate Dean of the appropriate School, and an initial notification of violation will be sent to the student.  The student may appeal to the Dean or Associate Dean of the School through email within one week of the date of notification.  The Dean or Associate Dean will then ask the student and faculty member to submit evidence and may request to meet with both parties separately.  After a review of the evidence, the Dean or Associate Dean shall decide to either uphold or overturn the charge and communicate the decision through an email to the student within one week of the appeal.

Should the student appeal, the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs shall request evidence from the student and the faculty member.  After a review of the evidence, the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs shall determine if there is enough evidence to convene the Academic Appeals Committee and send a letter to the student within one week to inform the student of this determination. Should the case go to a full review, the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs shall assemble the Academic Appeals Committee to review the case.

At this point, all parties will be permitted to participate and are permitted to submit any additional documentation they believe is necessary including written statements and documentary evidence. The Academic Appeals Committee shall convene within two weeks of the filing of the appeal submission. and shall issue a written decision of its finding within one week of convening.  The Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs shall send copies of its decision to the accused student, the faculty member, and the appropriate Dean and Associate Dean for archiving in the student’s confidential academic integrity record. Unless the resolution exonerates the student, the Student Violation of the Academic Integrity Form shall be placed in a confidential academic integrity file created for the purposes of identifying repeat violations, gathering data, and assessing and reviewing policies.

If the Academic Appeals Committee finds that no violation occurred, the Office of the Provost shall remove all material relating to that incident from the student’s confidential academic integrity file and destroy the material. The Dean or Associate Dean shall work with the faculty member to remove the sanction in the course.

This policy applies to all course delivery modalities including online courses.

If a faculty member believes that the appropriate sanction is academic in nature (e.g., a reduced grade) and the student does not contest either their guilt or the particular reduced grade that the faculty member has chosen, then the student shall be given either a warning or the reduced grade, unless the student is a repeat offender, in which case a sanction more severe than a warning should be applied by the Dean/ Associate Dean. The reduced grade may apply to the particular assignment where the violation occurred or to the course grade, at the faculty member’s discretion. A reduced grade may be an “F”, or another grade that is lower than the grade that the student would have earned but for the violation. If a faculty member determines that a student has committed an act of cheating or plagiarism, and the student withdraws from the course, that student will receive an “FW” for the course regardless of the time of withdrawal. The faculty member shall inform the Dean/ Associate Dean of the resolution via email and the Dean/ Associate Dean shall update the applicable Student Violation of the Academic Integrity Policy Form to reflect that resolution.

In a case where a student admits to the alleged academic dishonesty but contests the academic sanction imposed by the faculty member, or in a case where a student denies the academic dishonesty, the student may appeal by following the process described below.

A student who is found to be dishonest in the submission of academic assignments or other work, or in carrying out their academic responsibilities may receive a warning, a zero for the submitted assignment or exam, a failing grade for the course, or may be subject to further suspension or expulsion from the University, depending on the severity of the offense(s). Regardless, all incidents of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Unit Head and School Dean/ Associate Dean and may be retained by the University in the student’s records.

Reporting Violations and Student Appeal Processes

The process to report or to appeal an academic integrity violation is as follows:

1. A faculty member who suspects that a student has committed a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy shall review with the student the facts and circumstances of the suspected violation whenever feasible.
2. Should the faculty member conclude that there has been an incident of academic dishonesty, the faculty member shall complete submit the Academic Integrity Reporting Form (located on Mercy Connect under the faculty tab). The faculty member must indicate the sanction for the student violation of the policy on the form.
3. The Academic Integrity Form will be submitted electronically to the Dean and Associate Dean of the appropriate School, and an official notification of violation will be sent to the student. The student may appeal to the Dean or Associate Dean of the School through email within one week of the date of notification. The Dean or Associate Dean will then ask the student and faculty member to submit supporting evidence and may request to meet with both parties separately.  After a review of the evidence, the Dean or Associate Dean shall decide to either uphold or overturn the violation and communicate the decision through an email to the student within one week of the filed appeal.
4. Should the student choose to appeal the Dean’s/ Associate Deans’ decision, the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs shall request the evidence examined by the Dean/ Associate Dean. After a review of the evidence, the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs shall determine if there is enough evidence to convene the Academic Appeals Committee and send a letter to the student, within one week of requesting an appeal, to inform the student of this determination. If the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs believes that further review is warranted, the Academic Appeals Committee will be convened to review the case.
5. If the Academic Appeals Committee is convened, the Dean/ Associate Dean, faculty member, and student will be permitted to participate. The faculty member and student are permitted to submit any additional documentation they believe is necessary, including written statements and documentary evidence. The Academic Appeals Committee shall convene within two weeks of the filing of the appeal submission and shall issue a written decision of its finding within one week of convening.  The Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs shall send copies of the Committee’s decision to the student, the faculty member, and the appropriate Dean/ Associate Dean for archiving in the student’s confidential academic integrity record. Unless the resolution exonerates the student, the Student Violation of Academic Integrity Form shall be placed in a confidential academic integrity file created for the purposes of identifying repeat violations, gathering data, and assessing and reviewing policies.
6. If the Academic Appeals Committee finds that no violation occurred, the Office of the Provost shall remove all material relating to that incident from the student’s confidential academic integrity file and destroy the material. The Dean/ Associate Dean shall work with the faculty member to remove the sanction in the course.

Judicial Sanctions

In a case where the allegation of cheating or plagiarism is severe, or where the student has a history of violations of the Academic Integrity Policy which conduct warrants suspension or expulsion from the University, the school Dean shall impose a sanction in addition to or in lieu of academic sanctions, as they deem is warranted under the circumstances. If the student contests the judicial sanction imposed, the student may appeal to the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs.

 Aim to Graduate (AIM2G) Program

Overview

Aim to Graduate (AIM2G) is a no-cost second chance program to give eligible students an opportunity to improve prior unsuccessful academic performance in one of the target general education or gateway courses listed below. An undergraduate student who received a grade of F or D in one of the AIM2G courses after attempting all the required course work, may be eligible to participate in the AIM2G program. PACT identifies students that meet the program participation criteria. Then, upon faculty approval, eligible students may participate in the program. Upon successful completion of the program, the student’s original grade will be replaced by a grade of C. The AIM2G opportunity is usually offered during summer and winter sessions for a two-week or greater intensive period. 

Target Courses

• CINQ 101  
• ENGL 110 , ENGL 111 , ENGL 112  
• MATH 115  and MATH 116  
• PSYN 101  
• Other general education or gateway courses, as deemed appropriate  

Attendance Policy

Excessive absence interferes with the successful completion of a course of study and diminishes the quality of group interaction in class. To encourage students to accept their obligation to attend class the following policy is established: Class attendance is a matter between the instructor and the student. Instructors are obliged to announce and interpret specific attendance policies to their classes at the beginning of the term and include the policy in the course syllabus. Any student who has been excessively absent from a course and does not present adequate documentation to the instructor and fails to officially withdraw from the course before the last day for course withdrawal may receive the grade of FW (fail-withdrawal), which is computed as an F for GPA purposes.

Leave of Absence

A student in good standing may request a leave of absence from the University, for a maximum of three consecutive semesters, terms, or sessions, excluding summer for non-cohort programs, without prejudice to their standing. If the student does not return ​within the three-term limit, they must re-apply to the University for admission and follow the rules and regulations of the readmission catalog year. A leave of absence may be obtained by written request online via Mercy Connect within the Student Hub. 

Matriculation and Credit

A student may register for courses without being matriculated, but in the event of subsequent matriculation, the student may not apply any degree requirements from catalogs issued previous to their matriculation. Interruption of study for more than two semesters, not including Summer, other than Leave of Absence, will result in loss of matriculation and require reapplication and readmission to the University.

Auditing a Course

Students may enroll in a course on an audit basis. The audit fee is 50 percent of the current per credit tuition rate. A student does not receive a grade or credit for the course they audit. Students must complete an Audit Form available in the Office of Student Financial Services at any campus within the first two weeks of a semester, term or session.

Course Load

Matriculated students may normally register for no more than a total of five courses (not to exceed 16 credits) in a given semester or two courses in an eight-week B or C Term. Permission to register for a total of up to 18 credits must be obtained from the Registrar. Guidelines for up to 18 credits include a minimum 3.4 GPA in the previous two full-time terms at Mercy University. Permission to register for up to 21 credits in any combination of terms must be obtained in writing from the Associate Dean in the school in which the course is offered in consultation with the respective Academic Unit Head. Guidelines for approval for up to 21 credits include the following: minimum GPA of 3.8, successful completion of 18 credits in one term (no withdrawals, F’s, or D’s), an assessment by the Associate Dean in the school in which the course is offered. Non-matriculated students may not register for more than 15 credits in any given semester. A student may register for fewer than 15 credits, and some students may be recommended or required to take a reduced program in cases of academic deficiency. In summer term, no student may register for more than 12 credits.

Credit Hours

The Mercy University policy on assignment of credit hours is modeled after the Carnegie unit system and applies to all graduate and undergraduate courses in all schools, regardless of modality of instruction. Under this policy, there is a standard meeting time of 50 minutes per credit hour per week. Standard meeting patterns are generally established at either one meeting per week or two meetings per week. Standard academic terms span either 15 weeks (for semester and trimester term programs) or 10 weeks (for quarter term programs). It is recommended that Mercy University students are assigned a minimum of two-hours of homework for every hour of weekly in-class instruction. At the time of course creation and approval, credit hours are assigned (at the school level by the appropriate academic unit head and endorsed by the Registrar) based on the Federal and New York State Education Department regulations and accrediting body credit hour requirements. Online courses are subject to an approval process similar to that of traditional in-person courses to ensure credit hour criteria are met.

Independent Study Projects

An independent study project is an original course of study planned by the student in conjunction with a faculty member for the purpose of covering material not offered as a regular course. The student must be at least a junior and have a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.0. To initiate the independent study, a student must fill out the required form, attach to it a written proposal for the course of study to be undertaken, and obtain the approval of the department Chairperson or Academic Unit Head and the school Dean or Associate Dean. The school Dean or Associate Dean will send the form to the Registrar for processing. A student may take no more than nine credits in independent study in their major area and no more than a total of 12 credits toward their degree. No more than one independent study may be taken in any semester.

Prerequisites

Some courses in the catalog require prerequisite courses. Permission to take a course without indicated prerequisites must be obtained from the Academic Unit Head of the department offering the course.

Registration

The regular registration periods are designated precisely for each semester, term, and session. Additional times are designated as periods for late registration. It is preferable, both for students and the University, to have students register early in order to avoid being closed out of courses. Students may register for courses each semester, term or session via connect.mercy.edu. Registration is subject to academic procedures published by the Registrar and billing procedures published by the Office of Student Accounts. All program changes and late registrations are contingent upon approval from the student’s College Opportunity Program (COP) or (Personal Achievement Contract) PACT mentor. Policy of some academic departments may preclude a student from entering a course after its first meeting.

Scheduling Options

Mercy University offers a wide range of flexible course options. Web registration is available to all students, via connect.mercy.edu, and encouraged. A complete listing of course offerings for each location is available on the University website via the fall, spring and summer course bulletins. Day classes are offered at all campuses in a traditional 15-week semester. Evening classes are offered at all campuses with 15-week semesters and eight-week terms. Weekend classes are offered at the Bronx, Dobbs Ferry and Manhattan campus in either a 15-week semester/trimester or a 10-week quarter term. Summer classes are available at the main and branch campuses offering five and 10-week terms, as well as several additional specialized terms. Courses may require a student to complete online components to satisfy the course requirements.

Tutorial Courses

A tutorial course is a substitute for a regular course offering. The tutorial will ordinarily be given in the student’s senior year and only if the required course will not be offered during that year and the course is needed to complete their requirements for graduation. In a rare circumstance, a tutorial course may be offered to permit progression in a student’s program. It is not meant to be used as a scheduling convenience, but, rather, as a last resort after all other scheduling alternatives have been exhausted. The tutorial will always be worth the same number of credits as the catalog course. The student must obtain the approval of an instructor, who will submit to the department Chairperson or Academic Unit Head an approval form, course syllabus, course outline, and a procedure for assessing the student’s performance. The plan must then be submitted to the school Dean or Associate Dean for final approval. A tutorial may be taken to fulfill a program’s core course requirement only in extraordinary circumstances with the approval of the school Dean or Associate Dean and the Office of the Provost.

Change of Grade Policy

A change of grade after the close of any grading period, other than to rectify a grade of Incomplete, is approved only if a mistake was made in determining the final grade.

Any grade change, other than for an incomplete, must be approved by both the chairperson or program director and the school dean.

Core Courses (cc)

NYS Education Department regulations require that a student must take a minimum of one three-or-more credit course at a campus where the degree program is registered with the New York State Education Department. To ensure compliance with this regulation, each academic program has identified a course within the major that is designated as the core course (cc).  The core course can only be offered at the program’s registered campus(es) and cannot be offered at a campus or off-campus location where the program is not registered. Students may take other courses at any campus or off-campus location, but they must complete the core course at the program’s registered campus(es) to successfully complete their degree requirements. Core courses cannot be offered online unless the program is offered fully online. Students enrolled in a fully online program are the only students that can be enrolled in an online core course.  

There are two exceptions to the core course requirement:

1. Academic programs that are registered at all three Mercy campuses, including registration in the distance education format at each of those campuses, do not need to designate a core course.

2. Academic programs that are only registered at one campus and only offer their complete program at that campus, do not need to designate a core course.

Core courses are designated with (cc) throughout the catalog. The list of academic programs by approved campus is located in the Registered Programs by Campus  section of this Catalog.

The core course requirement is not applicable for the College of New Rochelle (CNR) teach out students who have transitioned to Mercy academic programs and have already completed the equivalent core course at CNR. The core course requirement is applicable to students who have not yet completed the Mercy equivalent core course while enrolled at CNR. 

Dean’s List

A student whose semester GPA is 3.7 or above is eligible for inclusion on the Dean’s List. The student must be matriculated and carrying a full program of studies (12 credits or more per semester).

B.S./M.S. 4+1 Degree Programs

Undergraduate students in a variety of majors may pursue a 4+1 degree BS/MS program. Master’s degrees available through 4+1 degree programs are in Accounting, Business, Education, Nursing, Health Sciences, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or Psychology. Some programs allow undergraduate students to take graduate credits in their junior and senior years, to make early progress towards the Master’s degree.

Students who major as undergraduates in Psychology or Behavioral Science may receive, upon completion of the Master’s program in the School of Education, teacher certification in Childhood or Early Childhood Education. Students who major as undergraduates in English, Science (Biology), Mathematics, or History may receive, upon completion of the Master’s program in the School of Education, teacher certification in Adolescence Education.  Students who major as undergraduates in Spanish may receive upon completion of the Master’s program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages initial certification.

Evaluation

Students are evaluated in the majority of their courses by the commonly used grading system in which:

Students who have at least sophomore standing and a C average or better may have the option of taking courses ordinarily graded with the conventional system, under the P/NC system with the following restrictions:

1. A course taken optionally for P/NC grading may not be used to fulfill any major or minor requirements, or any general education requirement except under the heading Open Elective.
2. No student may take more than one course graded P/NC optionally during the time period of any given semester and total credits taken with the P/NC option may not exceed 24 credits.
3. Students must make formal application on forms provided for this purpose in the Office of Student Financial Services. The application must be signed by the student’s PACT or COP mentor and the course instructor, and must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar prior to the end of the add/drop period for the term in which the course is scheduled. Once submitted, the request stands, and the student may not petition for a change to a letter grade in the course. Some courses are offered, by way of an exception to general practice, for only a P/NC grade. Such courses are not subject to the restrictions described above.

The final grade in a course is the instructor’s estimate of the student’s achievement; it is based upon quality of performance in addition to regularity of attendance and class participation.

Instructors are required to keep a complete grade record of each class for one full year after the end of the semester or term in which the course was taught. Questions regarding a grade received in a course must be addressed within this time frame and should be addressed first with the instructor. The school dean, in turn, may be consulted by either party to ensure fairness.

 Fresh Start Policy

The Fresh Start Policy gives undergraduate students, who have been readmitted to Mercy University after poor academic performance, the ability to improve their academic GPA.

A student is eligible for Fresh Start if the student meets the following criteria:

1. A student is eligible for Fresh Start after at least two (2) consecutive calendar years of absence from Mercy University.
2. A student must have a cumulative Mercy University GPA below 2.0 prior to readmission to the University to apply for Fresh Start.
3. A student may apply to be considered for Fresh Start at the time of readmission to the University, but no later than the end of the first term of readmission.
4. A student can elect and receive a Fresh Start only once at Mercy University.
5. If Fresh Start is granted, Mercy University courses taken two years or more before readmission with grades below a C-, up to 30 credits, will continue to appear on the student’s academic record. However, the grades for those courses will not be calculated in the student’s GPA. Fresh Start will be notated on the student’s transcript as of the date of readmission. Credit hours earned with a “C-” grade or better may be used to fulfill degree requirements. Major credits earned 2 years or more before readmission to the University may fulfill requirements for a degree, subject to the approval of the Program Director. 
6. Fresh Start does not guarantee reinstatement or admissions to a particular academic program. An individual program retains the right to deny a Fresh Start student into a particular academic program, but not to the University.
7. All other Academic policies remain in effect and are not changed by the Fresh Start policy.
8. For financial aid purposes, all previous course work and grades must be counted toward progress and program pursuit as required by the Federal Department of Education and NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC).
9. For a student that has a previous balance with the University, the Fresh Start opportunity does not eliminate that balance. Full payment, or an agreed upon payment arrangement, must be in place in order to be eligible for Fresh Start.
10. A student who was dismissed from Mercy University due to the violation of any nonacademic policy is not eligible for Fresh Start.
11. Once Fresh Start is granted the student is required to meet with a PACT Advisor and Student Financial Services Counselor.

Graduate Studies

Graduate Advisement

Students who are interested in applying to graduate schools should seek the assistance of their department chairperson or program director, as well as their PACT or COP mentor. Students may also utilize the reference library maintained by the Career Services Center, which provides graduate school data and catalogs and which assists students in applying for graduate fellowships and assistantships. For additional information concerning Graduate Programs at Mercy University, please refer to the Mercy University Graduate Catalog.

Graduate Courses

Undergraduate students who are not registered for a multiple degree program and have completed at least 90 credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and who satisfy other course requirements may petition to enroll in one graduate course at Mercy University per semester, for a total of six credits during their last year of undergraduate study. Graduate courses will not count towards the residency requirement for the major or for program honors. The graduate courses count toward open electives.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements must receive written permission from the graduate program director or department chairperson of the program offering the graduate courses. Contact your PACT mentor to start the process. 

Full-time undergraduate students who receive permission to take graduate courses will be charged the undergraduate tuition rate for the graduate courses. If the student is part-time, the graduate rate will be charged for graduate courses and the undergraduate rate for undergraduate courses. Students receiving financial aid in the form of grants and/or loans will continue to be eligible for said aid, as the courses are approved to count as open electives. If there are any questions, please speak with a representative from the Office of Enrollment Services.

Incomplete Grades

The grade of Incomplete is given when, due to illness or other circumstances such as personal emergency beyond the student’s control, a student has been unable to complete the required course work. An Incomplete grade is only a temporary grade that indicates a student has not completed the course requirements but there is a good chance the student will pass the course when the work is completed. It is not appropriate for students who have missed a lot of classes (since it is not possible to make up classes), for situations where it is not possible the student will receive a passing grade, or for students who wish to do additional post-semester work in order to improve a grade. Instructors are under no obligation to grant the option of an Incomplete.

Courses with incomplete grades are included as cumulative attempted credits. However, these courses cannot be used as credits earned toward the degree since successful completion is the criterion for positive credit accumulation. Incomplete grades are initially counted as a W grade when calculating a student’s cumulative GPA for the purpose of determining whether a student has maintained the qualitative standards of satisfactory academic progress. The student has up to one full term (Term A) to complete the missing course requirements, in accordance with the instructor. If the student has not fulfilled the incomplete requirements within one full term, a grade of F is automatically posted and calculated into the student’s GPA. Ex. A student issued an incomplete grade for the fall semester will have a deadline in the subsequent spring semester (Term A) to complete the missing work.

In order to be considered for a grade of Incomplete, the student must:

1. Complete the Request for a Grade of Incomplete form (located on Mercy Connect under the faculty and student tabs) and submit it to the instructor of the class for which the incomplete is being requested.
2. Have attended the scheduled course sessions with minimal absences.
3. Have completed the majority of the course assignments in the courses for which an ‘Incomplete” is being requested (e.g., only one or two assignments need completion).
4. Be able to complete the remaining work during the subsequent Term A, with minimal assistance from the instructor.
5. Provide documentation of the extenuating circumstances (personal emergency, illness, etc.) warranting the incomplete.

NOTE: Students cannot progress to courses for which the course with an incomplete grade is a pre-requisite, unless the I grade is resolved and converted to a passing grade prior to the start of the term. Some Schools may have additional policies – please check the catalog.

Late Registration or Late Add

Registration for courses will end the day before the start of a new semester, term or session. Students may register late during the first week of the new term, session, or semester. Any student who wishes to register after that time, and has made the appropriate payment or payment arrangement, must show written permission signed and dated on the registration form by the Academic Unit Head, the appropriate school Dean (or Associate Dean) and an academic advisor. If the student has missed more than one meeting of the class, the student must also get written permission from the instructor of that course or written proof that the student has been attending the class before the academic advisor may give approval to register. If the class is closed, the student must get a permit from the school dean before the academic advisor may sign the late registration form. No registration will be allowed after the class has met more than once.

Lost Class Time Policy

Purpose: This policy addresses lost class time due to an official university or campus closing and other instances in which a faculty member cancels a specific class session when the university is open and operating on a normal schedule. Lost class time is to be made up so that the university is in compliance with Federal and New York State Education Department requirements specifying that the number of contact hours per course credit must be met. This policy also reinforces the university’s commitment to providing our students with the depth and quality of education that they expect and deserve and maintaining faculty autonomy with regard to curriculum and teaching.

Faculty Members’ Responsibility for Cancelled or Missed Class Sessions:

Faculty Members are responsible for ensuring that the learning goals of the course are not compromised by any missed class days. Before canceling any class session:

1) The faculty member should consult with the appropriate academic administrator (e.g., program director, department chair, associate dean, etc.) to notify them.

2) Faculty members should provide students with advance notice of a class session cancellation, whenever possible. In the case of a university or campus closing, faculty and students will be notified via a university email. Information regarding the closing will also be posted on the university website at www.mercy.edu;

3) For documentation purposes, the faculty member should report to their department chair and associate dean how they plan to replace lost class time so that this information can be retained by the school in their shared drive;

4) It is recommended that each faculty member include in their syllabus/outline the manner in which any lost class time during the term will be made up.

Missed classes may be rescheduled and/or may result in alternative assignments to achieve the learning goals of the class. Faculty may utilize a variety of options for making up lost class time that include but are not limited to:

1) Online options, including synchronous or asynchronous activities, meeting through Zoom, Blackboard Collaborate, assignments via Blackboard, and/or the course Blackboard discussion forum;

2) Alternative assignments (including special outside-of-the-classroom experiences, library and field experiences, library and field experiences, group work, the collection and analysis of data, and preparation of reports or other products);

3) Classroom time rescheduled with student input.

Student’s Responsibility for Cancelled and Missed Class Sessions:

Students are responsible for completing any academic work missed due to lost class time. In the case of a university cancellation of classes due to weather or other circumstances, students are responsible for making up the class work based on instructions from the faculty member. Unless otherwise indicated by the faculty member, lost class make-up instructions will be included in the course syllabus/outline and posted on Blackboard for the course.

Maintenance of Academic Standing

A student’s academic standing at the University is determined by their cumulative and semester grade-point average (GPA).  Students receiving funds from TAP and Title IV must follow the Guidelines for Satisfactory Academic Progress stated in the Tuition, Expenses and Financial Assistance section of this catalog to avoid loss of financial aid. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation.

Minimum Academic Standing

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 per semester and cumulatively.  Failure to do so will result in a status of academic warning, probation, or dismissal. 

Academic Warning

A student is placed on academic warning if either, but not both, their cumulative or semester GPA falls below 2.0  In certain instances, multiple terms may be required to raise a cumulative GPA to 2.0 or above; if a student’s semester GPA remains at a 2.0 or above, they continue on academic warning.  If a student on academic warning earns a semester GPA and also has a cumulative GPA below 2.0, the student’s status shifts to academic probation.

Students return to minimum academic standing once both GPAs are at or above a 2.0 in a fall or spring semester.  Academic Standing is not assessed during summer terms.

Academic warning is not intended to be punitive, but to identify an issue that requires students’ attention and action.  Students are expected to create a plan for improvement with their PACT mentors and reassess their priorities.  Students should also refer to the Student Handbook for available Academic Support Services.

Academic Probation 

Academic probation is defined as cumulative and semester GPAs below 2.0.  A student whose cumulative and semester GPAs are below 2.0 is placed on academic probation.  The student will be sent a letter that alerts them of their status.

Academic probation is not intended to be punitive, but to identify an issue that requires students’ attention and action.  Students must create a plan for improvement with their PACT mentors. They must also meet with their Program Director to discuss the appropriate courses to select as their path may deviate from the traditional academic plan.  Students should also refer to the Student Handbook for available Academic Support Services. 

Students on academic probation may enroll for a maximum of 13 credits.

Academic Dismissal

If a student’s cumulative or semester GPA does not meet 2.0 in the subsequent term after entering academic probation, they will be dismissed from the University.  See Mercy University’s Academic Appeals Policy here.  

Appeal of Academic Dismissal 

A student who has been dismissed from the University for the first time due to failure to meet the prescribed minimum cumulative GPA has the right to make a formal appeal to the Committee on Academic Standing. 

If a student is readmitted, they are placed on probation for one semester during which time they must meet the conditions specified by the Committee or be subject to final dismissal. 

Students dismissed from an Accredited program should refer to their School’s Program Dismissal Review Policy for details on the appeal process. 

Mercy University Intensive STEM Teacher Initiative (MISTI)

Mercy undergraduate students in math and biology who are interested in the 4+1 BS / MS degree program are eligible to apply for participation in the Mercy University Intensive STEM Teacher Initiative (MISTI) program, the Mercy University implementation of the NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. For further information, please see “Programs of Special Interest”.

Minors 

Minors can help students to diversify their educational experiences and/or focus on particular areas to complement their majors. Choosing a minor may also be helpful for students in reaching their career objectives and/or applying to graduate school. Minors demonstrate a depth or breadth of knowledge in particular fields and disciplines. Minors can also allow students to tailor and personalize their own educational experiences to their particular talents, interests, and goals.

Students may group a set of courses as a minor. Minors are noted on a student’s transcript.

A minor consists of a group of courses amounting to at least 15 credits in one of the following areas below.
Courses must be level 120 or above. Individual programs may have additional requirements. Please see the individual program page for more information. 

The following conditions for earning a minor apply:

1. At least nine credits used toward a minor concentration must have been taken at Mercy University.
2. A student must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses making up the minor in order for the minor concentration to be recorded on the student’s transcript. .
3. Courses already counted toward major or major elective courses cannot also constitute part of a minor concentration. 
4. Open electives can be used towards a minor.
5. Courses already counted toward the General Education Curriculum  or the General Education Disciplinary Groupings  cannot be used to fulfill a minor.
6. Courses from the General Education Disciplinary Groupings  can be used for a minor.
7. Please speak with your PACT mentor about the process of declaring a minor.

• Biology
• Business Administration
• Communication Disorders*
• Communication Studies
• Computer Information Systems
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Cybersecurity*
• English
• Health Science*
• History*
• Latin American and Latino Studies*
• Legal Studies
• Mathematics
• Media Studies
• Music Production and Recording Arts*
• Philosophy*
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Theatre Arts

* See the Communication Disorders, B.S. , Cybersecurity, B.S. , Health Science, Health Promotion Concentration, B.S. , Music Production and Recording Arts, B.S.  and History, B.A. , academic program pages for specific requirements and additional information. 

See the School of Liberal Arts  page for specific requirements and additional information on the Latin American and Latino Studies minor and the Philosophy minor. 

New York State Department of Health Bureau Immunization Program

All students born after January 1, 1957, are required to show proof of immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella and any other vaccine that may be required by law or governmental agency, including but not limited to the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Mercy University also reserves the right to require proof of immunity or vaccinations for other illnesses as may be needed for the health and safety of the University community.

Policies and Procedures Relating to Student Complaints

Mercy University has a variety of procedures for dealing with student-related issues, including grade appeals, student discipline, sexual misconduct complaints, disability accommodations, discrimination and retaliation. In some instances, however, students may wish to make complaints against faculty members, administrators or against the University in situations that are not covered by a particular policy. The purpose of this Policy is to address some of those instances and to provide a process whereby current students can file a complaint with the University in circumstances where they feel that the matter cannot be resolved informally, including but not limited to:

Complaints against faculty in academic settings;

Complaints relating to other employees, contractors or vendors for misconduct or unprofessional behavior;

Complaints in connection with student services such as billing, tuition and financial aid; or

Complaints related to other University services such as food services, residential life, athletics and/or health and wellness.

In such cases, a complaint can be made pursuant to the Student Complaint Policy. The full Policy can be found in the Student Handbook and on the University webpage here: http://www.mercy.edu/media/student-complaints-policy. A complaint can also be submitted online at: http://www.mercy.edu/student-complaint-form.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Mercy University is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual’s race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, marital status, familial status, partnership status, disability (including HIV/AIDS), genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, alienage, citizenship, criminal arrest and conviction records, military or veteran status, salary history, credit history, caregiver status, pregnancy or lactation status, sex and reproductive decisions, status as a victim of domestic violence/stalking/sex offenses/sex abuse, unemployment status, or any other legally prohibited basis in accordance with federal, state, county and city laws.

The University is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations when appropriate to individuals with disabilities, individuals observing religious practices, and employees who have pregnancy or childbirth-related medical conditions.

Retaliation for reporting or opposing discrimination, cooperating with an investigation of a discrimination complaint, or requesting an accommodation is also prohibited.

The University’s policy addressing discrimination and harassment is set forth more fully in the Mercy University Policy on Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination.

The University’s policy addressing sexual harassment, gender-based harassment and sexual violence is set forth more fully in the Mercy University Policy on Sexual Misconduct.  Both of these policies can be found in the Student Handbook.

Inquiries regarding the application of all laws, regulations and policies prohibiting discrimination may be directed to Thomas McDonald, Title IX Coordinator and Equity Compliance Specialist, tmcdonald7@mercy.edu or titleix.equity@mercy.edu or at 914-674-7679.

Policy on Alcohol and Illegal Drugs

The abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs can have a significant adverse effect upon the Mercy University community, compromising interpersonal relationships and undermining the educational mission of the College. In response to these concerns, and pursuant to the Drug-Free Schools of Communities Act Amendments of 1989, the College has developed a comprehensive program to prevent the use of illegal drugs and the abuse of alcohol. The University reviews its program biennially to determine its effectiveness, to implement any necessary changes, and to ensure that the required disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced. Refer to the Student Handbook for detailed information concerning:

1. Mercy University’s policies on substance abuse and alcoholic beverages.
2. University sanctions for violation of these policies.
3. Criminal sanctions for the illegal possession or distribution of drugs and alcohol.
4. Mercy University’s Drug/Alcohol Use Amnesty Policy.
5. Health risks of drugs and alcohol.
6. Places where one can receive help concerning the abuse of alcohol and drugs.

Rights Afforded Under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (“FERPA” or the “Act”) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records.  An eligible student under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age.   Persons who unsuccessfully applied for admission to the University or who are offered admission but never attended the University are not covered by the Act.

Eligible students are afforded the following rights:

1.  Inspection. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day the University receives a request for access. A student should submit a written request to the Registrar that identifies the record the student wishes to inspect. The school official 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 school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2.  Amendment. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the College to amend a record should write to the Vice President for Enrollment Services, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why it should be changed.
3. Appeal of University’s amendment decision. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested, the University will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Hearing requests must be made in writing, to the VP of Enrollment Services within thirty (30) days of being informed of the decision to decline the request for amendment. Within a reasonable period of time after receiving such request, the VP of Enrollment Services will inform the student of the date, place and time of the hearing. The hearing will take place before the designee of the Vice President of Enrollment Services, a designee of the Vice President for Student Affairs and a designee of the Provost. The student may present evidence relevant to the issues raised and may be assisted or represented at the hearing by one or more persons of the student’s choice, including an attorney, at the student’s sole expense. While the FERPA amendment procedure may be used to challenge facts that are inaccurately recorded, it may not be used to challenge a grade, an opinion, or a substantive decision made by a school about an eligible student.
   The Committee must issue a written decision that contains a summary of the evidence and a statement of the basis for the decision. The decision of the Committee is final and must be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing. If the decision is in the student’s favor, the education records will be amended in accordance with the Committee’s decision. If the decision is unfavorable to the student, the student may prepare a statement commenting on the contested information in the education record or stating why the student disagrees with the decision not to amend the record, or both. The University must maintain any such statement in the student’s file along with the contested part of the record for as long as the University maintains that record and the University must disclose the statement whenever it discloses the portion of the record to which the statement relates.
4. Consent for disclosure. The right to provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information (PII), as defined below, from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent as set forth in section III below.
5. Complaint. 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, Washington, DC 20202

The University may, at its discretion, release “directory information” with respect to a student for any purpose without the student’s consent. The University has designated the following categories of information as directory information with respect to each student: name, local and permanent address, electronic mail address, telephone listing; age; photograph; major field of study; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members in athletic teams; enrollment status; dates of attendance at Mercy University; degrees, honors and awards received, and their dates; and most recent educational institution attended.

Detailed information concerning each of the points cited above can be found on the University webpage, in the Mercy University Student Handbook, or can be obtained by inquiring with the Office of Registrar.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Policy

Credit for Prior College-Level Learning

Mercy University is committed to providing students with opportunities to earn credit for verifiable college-level learning. To recognize college-level learning students acquire outside of formal higher education, the University relies on the following policy to ensure academic quality and rigor. Such learning may be derived from various life and work experiences. “Prior Learning Assessment” or PLA refers to all of the processes the University uses to review and evaluate evidence of learning and to award academic credit as indicated by academic and administrative standards.

There are three types of PLA used by the University: Credit by Examination, Credit for Reviewed Professional Learning, and Credit by Portfolio Assessment (described below). Students must be matriculated in a Mercy University undergraduate degree program to participate in any form of PLA.

Students may earn up to 30 undergraduate credits toward an applicable degree program for learning that has been acquired outside of the traditional classroom setting through any combination of PLA.

Credits earned through PLA do not count toward the University or program residency requirements. Credits earned through PLA may fulfill general education, major, major elective, and open elective degree requirements.

In order to earn credit through PLA, students must demonstrate that their prior college-level learning meets the course learning outcomes for Mercy University courses within the degree program.

The following methods are acceptable for validating prior university-level learning and awarding credit at Mercy University:

Credit by Examination

Credit demonstrated by successfully passing national standardized examinations such as DSST Exams, Excelsior College Examinations, the College Board College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Advanced Placement (AP) exams.

Students interested in earning Mercy University credit by examination should consult with their PACT mentor or COP advisor.

Credit for Reviewed Professional Learning

Reviewed Professional Learning (RPL) is a form of PLA that describes the process Mercy University uses to evaluate learning that has been acquired through various professional activities such as college-level training programs, licenses, certifications, and other professional credentials. Undergraduate students who provide the necessary documentation may be eligible to incorporate these credentials within their Mercy University degree plan, subject to any other applicable policies. All final official documentation of licenses, certifications, and other professional credentials must be submitted before the end of a students’ first semester at Mercy University.

Students interested in earning Mercy University credit through Reviewed Professional Learning should consult with their PACT mentor or COP advisor.

Credit by Portfolio Assessment

Students who have acquired college-level learning through professional and paraprofessional work, political activity, volunteer work, and other employment may be eligible to participate in the Life Achievement Portfolio Assessment process at the College.

In order to earn credit by portfolio assessment, a student must complete the eligibility process to determine program fit and receive authorization from the Office of Educational Assessment to participate in the Life Achievement Portfolio Assessment process. Once authorized, students must register for and successfully complete the LFAC 301 Life Achievement Portfolio  course to develop and submit a portfolio for evaluation. Upon submission, faculty evaluate the contents of the portfolio and make credit recommendations. Portfolios are evaluated based on the academic quality of each student’s learning and the extent to which college-level learning is documented. Portfolio evaluation typically takes 4-6 weeks after submission. Credit is not guaranteed; rather it is based on the learning that is documented in the portfolio and its applicability to the student’s undergraduate degree program.

To be eligible for the Life Achievement Portfolio Assessment process, a student must have successfully complete ENGL 112  either at the College or in transfer.

Fees for portfolio assessment can be found in the Tuition, Expenses and Financial Assistance  section of this Catalog. 

Students interested in earning credit by portfolio assessment should consult their PACT mentor or COP Advisor, or contact the Office of Educational Assessment to complete the screening process for LFAC 301  Eligibility.

Life Achievement Portfolio Appeals

A student who wishes to appeal a credit award decision regarding the evaluation of their Life Achievement Portfolio may do so by contacting the Office of Educational Assessment. Students may respond to the credit award email to request an appeal within 10 days of the date of the award letter. The Office of Educational Assessment will facilitate a second review of the student’s portfolio by a qualified faculty member. Results of this review are typically issued to the student via email within 2-3 weeks after the date of the appeal request. Appeal decisions are final. 

Exception to Registration and Refund Policies

Mercy University is committed to providing motivated students with the opportunity to succeed in the classroom. The University recognizes that there may be extraordinary circumstances under which attendance in class is rendered impossible, or which severely hinder a student’s ability to successfully meet the requirements of their course of study. For these reasons, the University has instituted the following Exception Policy, in that students with the following extraordinary circumstances may be eligible to request an exception to the registration and refund policies:

Active Military Service – This applies to any student required to discontinue attendance of classes due to their or their spouse’s military service. The student must fill out the Special Considerations Form, and provide a copy of the orders to report to active duty to the Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Services, or their designee. A decision regarding an exception to the registration and/or refund policy will be provided to the student within five business days.

Health Related - This applies to a student who has a serious physical or mental health condition which affects her or his ability to successfully meet the requirements of their course of study.

In order for a request for partial or full refund and/or exception to the withdrawal policy to be considered due to health-related reasons, the following steps must be taken:

The student (or someone authorized on behalf of the student) must submit a request to the student’s PACT or COP mentor within two weeks of when the health-related incident occurred or prior to the end of the semester for which the student is requesting a refund/exception to the withdrawal policy, whichever is earlier. The request shall include the following documents:

1. A completed Special Considerations Form, which can be found on Mercy Connect under the student, faculty and advisor tabs or at the Office of Student Financial Services;
2. A letter explaining the health-related issues; and
3. Medical Records, as well as any other relevant documentation.

After submission of all required documents, the PACT or COP mentor shall forward the completed package as soon as practicable to the Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Services, who will forward to the package to the Committee for Special Consideration. The Committee for Special Consideration, which shall be comprised of a member of the Offices of the Provost, Student Affairs and Health and Wellness, shall review the case and make a recommendation within ten (10) business days of submission of all required documentation to the Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Services or their designee, who shall render a decision on the matter within five business days. The decision of the Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Services or their designee shall be final.

Note that requests pursuant to the Exception to the Registration and Refund Policies are not routinely granted, and that the expectation of a low or failing grade is not an acceptable reason for the Committee and/or Assistant Vice President for Student Financial Services to consider a withdrawal from a course. The instructor will be asked by the Committee to indicate on a Course Withdrawal Evaluation Form what the student’s level of performance in the course has been up to their last date of attendance.

If a refund or registration exception is granted for health-related reasons, the student shall not return to the University until medical clearance is provided by a treating physician, which shall be evaluated by the University’s Director of Health and Wellness. The Director will then make a recommendation to the Provost,or their designee, for the determination whether the student is fit to return, which determination shall be final.

If a student is granted an exception for tuition for any of the reasons above, the student will not receive a refund, but will be able to apply these funds towards future terms of study at Mercy University. The student will be credited an amount deemed appropriate by the Assistant Vice President for Student Financial Services and shall be for tuition only; fees are non-creditable, non-refundable and non-negotiable. Room and Board charges do not qualify under this policy. Please see the policy for housing refund outlined in the student’s Housing Contract or contact the Dean of Student Affairs. Cases where a student has federal and/or state financial aid or grants will be dealt with as appropriate by the Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Services within the mandates of the respective authority.

For registration requests, the Registrar (in consultation with the relevant College personnel) will determine the appropriate exception that will be granted on behalf of a student depending on the student’s particular circumstances.

Repeating Courses

Students may only repeat a course to attempt to improve the grade earned in a prior course enrollment, but they must do so at Mercy University. The maximum limit is three attempts (initial registration plus two repeats) excluding withdrawals for any individual course. Some programs have more stringent limits on repeating courses. Students should consult a PACT mentor before registering to repeat a course. Students should also meet with an enrollment services counselor to understand the potential impact to their financial aid by repeating a course. Students are strongly encouraged to seek tutoring support when repeating a course in order to take advantage of resources that can assist them in making their repeated course attempt successful.

Grade Suppression: 

Students should be aware that the highest grade for the course will be the grade of record. Transcripts will reflect grades earned in all Mercy courses. For repeated courses, the attempts excluded from the grade point average will be marked with an “E” to indicate exclusion from the students’ grade point average and the grade of record will be marked with an “I” designating Inclusion in the students’ grade point average. Transfer students who successfully take a course at Mercy University for which transfer credit was awarded will lose the transfer credit and the Mercy University course will be the course of record for degree completion and on the transcript.

Students may not repeat a course to attempt to improve their grade or change a failing grade once their degree is conferred.

Special Topics or Independent Study courses are designed to vary from semester to semester and can be taken more than once if the course title and content is different.

Responsible Conduct of Research Policy

I. Policy Statement 

It is the policy of Mercy University that all faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students involved in scientific and empirical research must complete training in the Responsible Conduct of Research. Trainees engaged in research at the undergraduate or graduate level will receive instruction in ethical considerations and decision making in RCR that is appropriate for their disciplines and stage of research education and curricula. Faculty and staff engaged in scientific and empirical research must complete RCR training regardless of funding.  It is the responsibility of the faculty researcher to ensure that all applicable team members are informed of this requirement and that the requirement has been met.

II. Mercy University Faculty and Staff Online Training

All faculty and staff members involved in scientific and empirical research, regardless of whether it is funded, must complete required online modules of the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative’s (CITI) training in RCR.  This online training should be completed within six weeks of beginning research activities. However, when applying for IRB approvals, IRB guidelines for submitting proposals must be followed, which state that all research proposals submitted to the Mercy University IRB must contain a certificate of successful completion of the CITI training program for all key personnel.

Information and instructions for the CITI training may be found at https://www.mercy.edu/academics/research-grants/citi. Online RCR training certificates are valid for four years; after four years, training must be completed again. A list of Mercy’s required and optional CITI RCR training courses is available upon request from the Research and Grants Coordinator in the Office of the Provost.

III. Mercy University Graduate and Undergraduate Students

Graduate and undergraduate students who are involved in scientific and empirical research, regardless of funding, must complete required online modules of CITI training in RCR within six weeks of initiating their research activities.  However, when applying for IRB approvals, IRB guidelines for submitting proposals must be followed, which state that all research proposals submitted to the Mercy University IRB must contain a certificate of successful completion of the CITI training program for all key personnel.

Instructions for completing the CITI training are found at https://www.mercy.edu/academics/research-grants/citi.Online RCR training certificates are valid for four years; after four years training must be completed again. A list of Mercy’s required and optional CITI RCR training courses is available upon request.

IV. Documentation of Training

All researchers are expected to maintain records documenting the fact that they have completed training in RCR. In addition, they are expected to submit digital copies of their training certificates to the following College personnel:

1. Mercy University’s Research and Grants Coordinator.  The Research and Grants Coordinator will maintain documentation of completion of RCR training for all Mercy researchers, whether faculty, staff, graduate or undergraduate students. The Coordinator will also provide information about RCR training to faculty, staff, and students who are involved in scientific and empirical research, and guidance with regard to any RCR issues.

2. Director, Office of Sponsored Programs. The Director, Office of Sponsored Programs, will ensure that a copy of an up-to-date RCR training certificate for each PI or co-PI of a research grant application is on file before a grant application may be submitted.

V. Responsible Faculty Advisors

Faculty advisors of graduate and undergraduate students who are involved in scientific research related activities will have the following RCR training responsibilities:

1. Faculty advisors will provide ongoing training to their student researchers in RCR topics specific to their research setting. This training may include face-to-face discussions during group or individual meetings.

2. Faculty advisors will make themselves available to their students in need of guidance about RCR issues.

3. Faculty advisors will maintain copies of RCR training certificates of completion for their student researchers.

4. Faculty advisors will ensure that students comply with particular federal sponsor requirements for RCR training. Such requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:

V. Background

Mercy University’s Policy for the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is intended to comply with the requirements of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  These requirements are detailed in NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg18_1/nsf18_1.pdf and outlined in NIH’s NOT-OD_10-019 as updated by NOT-OD-16-122 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-16-122.html.

Student Conduct and the Judicial System

Part of any educational process is instilling an understanding of civic values and of the standards of conduct and behavior that individuals expect of each other. Our policies reflect the values of our college and also incorporate a number of legal requirements. These policies address many of the difficult intersections between private conduct and societal rules, including alcohol and drug use and abuse, sexual assault and harassment, discrimination and hate crimes, and public speech. In developing policies that deal with these areas, the College seeks to educate our students as well as regulate activity. The responsibility for understanding and abiding by these policies, and any related laws, rests within each individual student. Students have the obligation to become familiar with the College’s policies and should reflect thoughtfully on their conduct in these areas.

Transcripts and Grade Reports

Students who do not have a hold on their account may obtain their grades via Mercy Connect.

Transcripts are only processed and printed by the Registrar. Transcript requests may be made online or at any campus for pick-up at a later date. No transcript is issued for a student whose financial account is not settled.

Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions

Students who are matriculated at Mercy University are encouraged to complete their programs at the University. Students who, for extenuating reasons, need to take courses at other colleges with the intention of transferring the courses to Mercy University must obtain written approval from the appropriate school dean. Students must obtain the permission to transfer credit form through the Office of Student Financial Services / PACT or from the dean of the school. Students must obtain approval prior to enrolling in a course at another institution to ensure that the course is equivalent in content to the comparable course at Mercy University. If written preapproval is not obtained the course may not be accepted in transfer. Students must complete the course with a grade of C (2.0) or higher. Courses transferred to Mercy University are not applied towards the University or program residency requirements. Transferring courses to Mercy University can in some cases make the student ineligible for graduation honors. Students should check the section on Graduation Honors for further information.

For a full explanation of transfer procedures, see the Admissions  page.

Withdrawal from a Course

A student who has decided that they will be unable to complete the work of a course satisfactorily may withdraw from the course up to the 9th week of a 15-week term and up to the 4th week of an 8-week term. Course withdrawals may be processed online via Mercy Connect, or in person at the Office of Student Financial Services at campus of choice. It is wise to consult your COP or PACT mentor. The student is advised to meet with a Student Financial Services Counselor regarding refund policies and the effect of the withdrawal on continuing eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial aid. Withdrawal from a course is indicated on a student’s transcript by W.

Please note that a student who stops attending a class but does not officially withdraw by completing a withdrawal process, either in person or online before the withdrawal deadline, will receive a FW grade. The FW grade will be calculated in the same manner as an earned F in the GPA.

Late Withdrawal

It is important to note that all withdrawals are based upon tuition commitments for the full semester in accordance with the published refund schedule. The effective date of withdrawal is the date when the student withdrew using Mercy Connect or the date the withdrawal was processed by the Office of the Registrar. Failure to attend classes does not constitute an official withdrawal.