Graduation The only exception to the above policy will be candidates for one-year certificates. Applications for any award will not be considered during the last few weeks before commencement unless special permission is given by the Dean of Student Administrative Services. A candidate for graduation must pay the graduation fee at the Cashier's Office at the time of application. For students to be admitted to candidacy for any degree or title, their academic record must show that they have satisfied the entrance requirements and that they can fulfill the requirements for graduation. No credit obtained prior to the time a student matriculates will be used toward graduation requirements unless approved by the Graduation Committee. The student must have cleared all College financial obligations in order to graduate. Students who complete degree requirements during any quarter of the academic year will receive their diploma during the following quarter. An official letter of completion and a transcript may be obtained on request for purposes of employment or promotion. Graduates who receive their diplomas prior to commencement and who are eligible for Honors will have to return their diplomas to the Graduation Office to have the Honors designation noted after commencement. (See Honors at Graduation.) Change in Graduation Requirements Beginning with the 1983-85 catalog, college policy allows bachelor degree candidates six years to complete the graduation requirements of the catalog under which they were admitted. Associate degree candidates are given three years. Prior to 1983, the policy allowed four and two years, respectively. The 1981-83 catalog was the last four-year catalog and was in effect for students admitted to the College between summer quarter 1981 and spring quarter 1983. That catalog expired with June graduation 1987 for bachelor degree candidates, and June graduation 1985 for associate degree candidates. Students who were admitted under the 1981-83 catalog and did not graduate by the expiration dates, must choose a subsequent catalog for the applicable graduation requirements. The 1983-85 catalog was the first six-year catalog published. Six-year catalogs are in effect for students admitted between summer quarter of the first year of the catalog, and spring quarter of the last year of the catalog. For bachelor degree candidates, six-year catalogs expire with June graduation six years from the last year of the catalog. For associate degree candidates, the catalog expires with June graduation three years from the last year of the catalog. When bachelor or associate degree candidates take longer than six or three years to graduate, they must choose the requirements from any one catalog published within the six- or three-year period prior to their graduation. Once a catalog is selected, students must abide by all the graduation requirements specified in that catalog. Grade Requirements Students must attain an average grade point of at least 2.00 for all their registered work. Not more than 30 quarter hours of D grade credit may be applied toward graduation. The school or department, however, may reject any or all D grade work toward the major or minor requirements. Honors at Graduation Candidates for graduation at Weber State College may receive Honors in relation to their achievement in all their registered work. Only the names of students who qualified for Honors designation at the end of the winter quarter immediately preceding commencement will be published in the commencement program. However, all students who have qualified at the end of the spring quarter will have the appropriate designation placed on their transcripts and diplomas according to the following policy: Bachelor Degree Candidates • Summa Cum Laude - The candidate's cumulative GPA must rank in the top 3 percent of all candidates for a Bachelors Degree in the school of their major and the candidate's GPA must be 3.90 or above. • Magna Cum Laude - The candidate's cumulative GPA must rank in the top 8 percent of all Bachelor Degree candidates from the school including those designated Summa Cum Laude and the candidate's GPA must be 3.80 or higher. • Cum Laude - The candidate's cumulative GPA must rank in the top 16 percent of all Bachelor Degree candidates from the school including those designated Summa and Magna Cum Laude and the candidate's GPA must be 3.60 or higher. Associate Degree Candidates Those candidates for the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science whose cumulative GPA ranks in the top 5 percent of all candidates from each school and is 3.85 or higher will be awarded "High Honors." Those candidates whose GPA is among the top 15 percent and 3.60 or higher will be awarded "Honors." Waiver of Requirements Institutional Requirements—The Admissions, Credits, and Graduation Committee has the responsibility to hear requests from students seeking waivers of College policies in the following areas: Admission, Registration, Records, Graduation, Academic Eligibility, and Residency. The Committee meets regularly, usually weekly. It is composed of faculty, staff and students and is empowered to waive policy if there are reasonable grounds. Request for waivers are initialized at the Office of the Director of Admissions, located in Room 210B of the Miller Administration Building. 14 Bachelor Degree Requirements General Informatior Waivers are generally not granted on the basis of extenuating circumstances such as work conflicts, health constraints, marital troubles, etc. Waivers may be granted on the basis of evidence supporting one or more of the following grounds: (a) Misadvisement/Misinformation; (b) Unreasonable obstacles; (c) Equivalent standard/ substitutions; (d) Reasonable progress; (e) Circumstances beyond the student's control; and (f) Other reasonable grounds. Requests for waivers must be submitted in writing (preferably typewritten), must cite the specific grounds, with all necessary supporting documentation on which the request is based, and must include a copy of the student's transcripts. Students must submit an original, plus seven copies, of all request materials 24 hours prior to the time of the meeting. If they choose to do so, students may support the written request with an in-person presentation to the Committee. When requests involve members of the administration, faculty, or staff, those personnel will be given the chance to provide input prior to the Committee's final decision. Committee decisions may be appealed to the Vice President for Student Services. Appeals will only be considered for violation of due process or evidence of new information. School and Department Requirements—Major and minor program changes and waivers will be requested through the department and dean of the school and when approved will be logged directly into the computer. Writing Philosophy Weber State College recognizes that the ability to write cogent, coherent, correct prose is a hallmark of the educated person. Effective writing skills not only enhance professional advancement but also foster intellectual growth. The College is committed to developing proficiency in writing across disciplines and throughout the programs of all its students. To accomplish this goal, students must write to learn about their disciplines and learn to write in their disciplines. Courses in most disciplines contain writing components which help students learn the writing process via discussion, peer review, and/or multiple drafts of essays, journals, research papers, reports, letters, case briefs, etc. Such real world assignments will prepare students for writing tasks in their careers. REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTER DEGREES Weber State College offers a Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) and a Master of Professional Accountancy degree. Program requirements are outlined in the School of Education and the School of Buiness and Economics, respectively. REQUIREMENTS FOR BACHELOR DEGREES Credit Requirements A candidate for graduation with a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, or a Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree must have completed a minimum of 183 credits. A minimum of 60 credits of upper-division work must be completed. Foreign Language Requirement A candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete 24 credits, or the equivalent, in one or more approved foreign languages. A maximum of 15 college credits from high school may count toward filling the foreign language requirement provided the student can pass an examination to demonstrate proficiency in the subject. (For a list of examinations see the Foreign Language Department in this catalog.) Transfer credit from another institution will be recognized without an examination. Major Requirements Major programs which require a minor will consist of not fewer than 40 and not more than 60 credits in the major field. Major programs without a minor shall consist of not more than 85 credits in the major field. Minor Requirements A minor is a program of study generally selected to complement and strengthen a student's major and/or enrich the student's overall educational program. Some bachelor degree programs do not require a minor. See your major program of study outline to determine if a minor is required. Residency Requirement A candidate for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree must have a minimum of 45 credits in residence at Weber State College and be registered at the College during at least one quarter following the last commencement prior to graduation. School or Department Requirements Further information concerning specific courses will be provided under the discussion of school or department requirements and instructions. Candidates for graduation in the School of Education must meet the minimum requirements as outlined by the Utah State Board of Education for certification of elementary and secondary schools. Specific College Requirements All candidates for bachelor degrees must include in the 183 credits required for graduation the following: Student Services Interdisc. Programs Allied Health Sciences Arts& Humanities Business & Economics Education Natural Sciences Social Sciences Technology 15 Continuing Education