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Gallaudet University

OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY BISON
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY BISON

Student-Athlete Handbook: Academics

Revised: August 2022

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity grows from the longstanding traditions of the world university community in support of learning, teaching, and the development of knowledge. Academic integrity is a firm adherence to the core values of the University as expressed in the Gallaudet Credo and to standards of conduct in the individual professional and academic disciplines. The Gallaudet campus community includes students, faculty, teachers, and staff, all of whom share certain common goals and values that we all believe enrich our academic environment. The community’s primary goal is to prepare students to be informed, literate, productive, and responsible citizens.

For more information, click here: 
https://www.gallaudet.edu/about#our-promise

Academic Progress Report & Study Tables

  • Your academic progress is monitored by Navigate reports that are filled out by your professor and viewed by your coach and athletic administrators.
  • A student-athlete with a grade point average below 2.50 will be required to submit a hard copy of their academic progress report on a bi-weekly basis to their head coach until the GPA goes above 2.50.
  • Freshmen and new transfer students may need to submit hard copy academic progress reports, on a bi-weekly basis, depending on the decision of their respective head coach.
  • Each varsity team may run a study table for their team during the school year..

Academic Policies

Academic Warning (AW): A freshman student is placed on Academic Warning when the student's cumulative GPA falls between 1.75 and 1.99 at the end of any semester or summer term. Freshmen on Academic Warning are required to meet with their academic advisors to discuss possible modification to their course load, extracurricular activities, and/or employment, and to seek tutoring or other academic support to improve performance.

Academic Probation (AP): A student is placed on Academic Probation if the student's cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the semester or summer term. A freshman is placed on Academic Probation if the cumulative GPA falls below 1.75 for the first time or if a freshman has been previously placed on Academic Warning and his/her cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 for the second time. While on Academic Probation, the student must have a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher to enroll the following semester. The student remains on Academic Probation until his or her cumulative GPA improves to 2.0 or above. A student on Academic Probation whose semester GPA falls below 2.0 is automatically suspended. Nevertheless, if a student on Academic Probation makes a semester GPA of 2.0 or better, but has a cumulative GPA below 2.0, he/she shall remain on Academic Probation.

The Registrar will place students on Academic Probation on course registration hold. This hold will prevent the student from implementing any course registration processes (register/add/drop) until they have seen their Advisor and implemented an Academic Probation Contract/Success Plan for the following term. Students on Academic Probation are required at the beginning of the semester to meet with their advisors to sign academic probation contracts/success plans designed to improve their scholastic performance in the upcoming semester. The academic probation contract/success plan will address the following issues:

  • Course load – students will be required to take a manageable course load. This stipulation may mean limiting the course load to 12 credit hours.
  • Academic Support – students will be required to document participation in academic support activities (tutoring or workshops, for example).
  • Extracurricular activities – students will not be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities, except for selected Intramural Activities determined in consultation with the student's academic advisor.
  • Employment – students may be required to limit employment.

Students who fail to meet the requirements of their academic probation contracts contract/success plans may be suspended from the University at any time during the semester. Such suspensions will be determined by the Academic Intervention Team.

Academic Suspension (AS): A student may be academically suspended for either of two circumstances:

  • A student on Academic Probation whose semester GPA falls below 2.0 is placed on Academic Suspension and is ineligible to be readmitted until they have completed 12 credits of coursework at another secondary institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.0and satisfied the conditions for readmission as specified in their letter of suspension. Please refer to the Transfer Credits policy for further information

  • A student admitted with condition(s) who has not satisfied the condition(s) and who has not been recommended by the Condition Review Committee for continued enrollment as a degree-seeking student will be suspended. That student may re-enroll as a degree-seeking student only after satisfying the condition(s).

Academic Alert (AA): You will be alerted if your semester GPA falls below 2.00. You are encouraged to seek help from your Academic Advisor and Student Success programs to improve your GPA in succeeding semesters. You may also contact our Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success or contact your Faculty Athletic Represenative (FAR).

https://gallaudet.smartcatalogiq.com/en/Current/Undergraduate-Catalog/Registration-and-Policies/Undergraduate-Policies/Undergraduate-Academic-Standing

Academic Administrative Withdrawals

Regular attendance and participation are key factors in academic success for all students enrolled at Gallaudet University. Students are expected to attend classes and complete course assignments while making substantive progress toward their degree(s).

The following Academic Administrative Withdrawal conditions and procedures have been set in place to support student progress towards degree(s) completion, while outlining policy and procedures for situations involving compromised academic performance.The Academic Intervention Team (AIT) plays a role in decisions and processes related to University withdrawal.

Academic Administrative Withdrawal from a Course:

A student who ceases regular attendance any/all course meetings (classes) and/or who does not complete assignments in keeping with course requirements, but who does not officially withdraw from Gallaudet University during that semester, may be administratively withdrawn from that course in accordance with the policy described herein.

A student may be required to withdraw from a course or may be automatically withdrawn by faculty with approval from the Academic Intervention Team (AIT) if the student:

Has not communicated with with the faculty by the third week of classes, as indicated by absence of email, Blackboard, or Navigate communications; and/or

Does not progress satisfactorily in coursework by the noted course withdrawal date; as indicated by not submitting course assignments on time, or by submitting work that does not meet minimum requirements outlined in the syllabus, assignment sheets, or rubrics; and/or

Engages in any prohibited conduct resulting in the disruption of a class or academic activity, as evidenced by repeated documentation of violations of the Student Code of Conduct outlined by the Office of Student Conduct.

Students in violation of the above criteria in any particular course may be required to withdraw from that course, or may be withdrawn by action of their professor and the School Leader of that course, with a grade of Withdraw (WD) if prior to the date indicated in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar for withdrawal (typically the week after midterms), or with a grade of F if on or after that date.

Academic Administrative Withdrawal from the University:

Should the above conditions pertaining to Academic Administrative Withdrawal from a Course occur simultaneously in two or more courses at any point during the academic year, the Academic Intervention Team (AIT) shall assume responsibility of the University Academic Administrative Withdrawal process in accordance with the following procedure:

https://gallaudet.smartcatalogiq.com/en/Current/Undergraduate-Catalog/Registration-and-Policies/Undergraduate-Policies/Undergraduate-Course-Withdrawals

Academic Support

Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success:

The Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success (Katherine Giles Bean) works closely with other academic and non-academic units to foster improved academic performance, personal development, and well-being of all student-athletes. Her role is designed to support student-athletes in retention, academics, personal growth, and success. 

Faculty Athletic Advisor (Stacy Novak) who is a member of the faculty at an NCAA member institution who has been designated by the institution to serve as a liaison between the institution and the athletics department, and also as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs. The role of the FAR is to ensure that the academic institution establishes and maintains the appropriate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics.

Academic Advisors use their knowledge of Gallaudet and its resources to help students select courses and plan their education and careers. Students will be assigned to an advisor during New Student Orientation and remain with the same advisor until the student declares a major. When the student declares a major, the student transfers to a faculty academic advisor within the major department.

Student Success Coaches are professional student success coaches dedicated to providing academic and career guidance and support to all students.

Athletic Peer Mentors are current or former student-athletes who understand the unique challenges that student-athletes face in their collegiate experience and are trained and ready to provide support peer-to-peer. Peer Mentors are leaders and upper-level students trained peer leaders in a variety of student success capacities, including peer academic advising, peer career consulting, peer mentoring and other key roles.

For information on academic support at Gallaudet University please visit http://www.gallaudet.edu/student-affairs.html.

Academic Success

Registration
 In an effort to reduce missed classes and afford the student-athlete the opportunity to complete their daily classes prior to the start of intercollegiate practices on a daily basis, underclassmen will be allowed to register early if their season is during the upcoming registration period. Coaches will provide a list to the athletic department ahead of time for those who can register early. Student-athletes will be notified by the Registar's Office for the opportunity to register early. It is the responsibility of each student-athlete to register early as possible to avoid most conflicts. It is highly recommended that all student-athletes meet with their advisors to carefully plan the upcoming semester. Student-athletes should also address any holds (academic, financial) that they may have on their account that could delay course registration.

Class Attendance and Excuse Policy

A student who represents the University in an NCAA athletic competition shall be excused from class and provided with an official travel letter from the Associate Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Success with the dates of travel and times of class dismissal. 

A list of student-athletes expecting to participate in the competition must be maintained and updated by the athletics department. This list of student-athletes and competition dates is to be sent out to faculty and be available at any time upon request.

Student-athletes are to be excused from class separately from the professor’s individual attendance policy. Student-athletes are responsible to communicate with their professor about their absence and arrange to catch up on missed course content and coursework. 

The Associate AD for Student-Athlete Success and Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) will be available to work with professors on providing support when student-athlete travel occurs during a class where in-person attendance is vital (such as labs or field trips) to ensure that the student-athlete is able to benefit from course learning and to prevent academic penalty in grading.

Contacts

Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success
Katherine Giles Bean
katherine.bean@gallaudet.edu
 Field House 105
202-904-8513

Faculty Athletics Representative
Stacy Nowak
stacy.nowak@gallaudet.edu

 

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