Academic Policies

Academic Renewal without Course Repetition Policy 

Inasmuch as past performance does not always accurately reflect a student’s academic ability, Upper Iowa University has established a policy of academic renewal without course repetition.

A student who returns to Upper Iowa University to pursue an undergraduate degree after an extended absence may request permission to remove one or more of their complete academic sessions from future GPA considerations, subject to the following circumstances and conditions:

1. The student must not have enrolled at Upper Iowa University for five or more consecutive years.
2. The student must not have graduated from Upper Iowa University.
3. The student must have demonstrated academic ability by earning a GPA of 2.00 or higher upon completion of 12 semester credits after returning to Upper Iowa University.

If academic renewal is granted, the following conditions  will apply:

1. All courses and credits that were taken during the chosen session or sessions will be removed from consideration for GPA calculations.
2. Semester credits earned will count toward graduation and major requirements.
3. Renewal may be applied only to academic sessions completed prior to the student’s extended absence from Upper Iowa University.
4. All courses and grades for the chosen sessions will remain on the student’s academic transcript, thereby ensuring a true and complete academic history.
5. The statement Academic Renewal Declared on (date) will appear on the transcript after each session affected by the renewal.
6. Academic renewal may be used only one time in a student’s academic career at Upper Iowa University.
7. Once academic renewal has been declared, it is final and irreversible.

After discussing the desire to pursue academic renewal with an academic advisor, the student should submit a written request for academic renewal to the University Registrar.

Attendance

Upper Iowa University is classified as an attendance taking institution by the Department of Education. Instructors must take attendance for all weeks of the registration period.

Attendance is defined as follows for each of the learning modalities (see About Upper Iowa University ).

Face-to-face courses: Student is present in the classroom at the designated time.

Face-to-face courses with an online component: Student is present in the classroom at the designated time and/or has academic interaction in uiuLearn with a discussion post, reply to a discussion post, quiz completion, or assignment submission.

Online asynchronous distance education (online courses): Student has academic interaction in uiuLearn with a discussion post, reply to a discussion post, quiz completion or assignment submission.

Online synchronous distance education (uiuLive courses): Student has academic interaction in uiuLearn with a discussion post, reply to a discussion post, quiz completion, or assignment submission and/or is present on a Zoom classroom meeting at the designated time.

Self-Paced: Student must submit complete assignment/unit for grading.

Course Numbering System

The course numbers denote the class level for which courses are intended. Courses numbered below 100 are designed to assist students in learning the basic foundations. Courses numbered below 100 count toward full-time status for registration purposes, but do not count toward the 120 semester credits required for Upper Iowa University’s bachelor’s degree or toward the 60 semester credits required for Upper Iowa University’s associate degree. Courses numbered below 100 may not be accepted as transfer credit by other institutions. Course numbering: 000 level Foundations of Learning courses (Pre-college level); 100 level courses (Generally intended for Freshmen and Sophomores); 200 level courses (Generally intended for Freshmen and Sophomores); 300 upper level (Generally intended for Juniors and Seniors); 400 upper level (Generally intended for Juniors and Seniors; 500 and above (Reserved for graduate courses).

Course Withdrawal - Administrative (AW) Grade

Fayette Campus courses: Students will be administratively withdrawn from a Fayette Campus course when a student’s consecutive absences exceed by one the number of class meetings per week, or on the third consecutive absence in the case of classes which meet once each week.

8-Week Enrollment Period (Sessions 1-5): During weeks one through six of an eight-week session, students who have not attended for 14 consecutive days will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Students who post in week 5 or after will not be administratively withdrawn.

6-Week Enrollment Period (Session 6): During weeks one through five of a six week session, students who have not attended for 14 consecutive days will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Students who post in week 4 or after will not be administratively withdrawn.

16-Week Enrollment Period (Fall and Spring Semester Long): During weeks one through eleven of a sixteen week semester students who have not attended for 14 consecutive days will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Students who post in week 10 or after will not be administratively withdrawn.

14-Week Enrollment Period (Summer Semester Long): During weeks one through ten of a fourteen week semester students who have not attended will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Students who post in week 9 or after will not be administratively withdrawn.

Course Withdrawal - Student Initiated (W) Grade

Students who wish to withdraw from an active course must complete a course withdrawal form prior to the published last date to withdraw. Informing the course instructor is not sufficient. A grade of W will be recorded on the transcript for student-initiated withdrawals. Last date to withdraw is based on the length of the enrollment period as follows:

8-Week Enrollment Period: Last day of the fifth week of the session.

6-Week Enrollment Period: Last day of the fourth week of the session.

14-Week Enrollment Period: Wednesday of week nine.

16-Week Enrollment Period: Last day of the 10th week of the semester.

Self-Paced Six Month Enrollment Period: Last day of the enrollment period.

Other Enrollment Periods: Contact the center or the Registrar’s Office.

Withdrawing from an active course may result in significant student account charges. Financial aid, tuition assistance, and/or veteran benefits may also be impacted. Student should consult with the Business Office, Financial Aid Office, and Military Veteran’s Affairs Office to understand the financial impact of this action.

Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation

Upper Iowa University is committed to providing a program of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. The goal is to provide a nondiscriminatory work environment, a nondiscriminatory living and learning environment and a nondiscriminatory environment for visitors to the campus. Upper Iowa University herein recommits itself to comply with all applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and orders, which pertain to discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

All administrators and personnel providing input into administrative decisions are directed to ensure that all decisions relative to employment, conditions of employment, and access to programs and services will be made without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Exceptions to this directive may be made in matters involving bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity, actions designed to eliminate workforce underutilization, and/or where this policy conflicts with federal and state laws, rules, regulations or orders.

Upper Iowa University does not and will not tolerate unlawful discrimination. Upper Iowa will recruit, hire, train and promote persons without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status or sexual orientation. Upper Iowa University will base employment decisions so as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and diversity.

No otherwise qualified person will be denied access to, or participation in, any program, service, activity, or the use of facilities on the basis of factors previously enumerated. Reasonable accommodation will be made to facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities in all such activities consistent with applicable federal and state laws, orders and policies.

Further, all supervisory personnel will be responsible for maintaining an environment that is free of racial or sexual abuse and harassment. Acts by anyone that adversely affects another person’s employment, conditions of employment, academic standing, receipts of services, and/or participation in, or enjoyment of, any other activity, will be regarded as a violation of University policy and thereby subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Retaliation against persons filing complaints, for bringing the violation of this policy forward for review or for assisting in a review, pursuant to a filed complaint or grievance is prohibited.

For further information, go to the UIU website policies page at uiu.edu/about/policies and read Policy 305 Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation.

Questions regarding complaints and/or compliance with nondiscrimination and equal opportunity should be directed to the Vice President for Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator.

Phone: 563-425-5959
Email: hr@uiu.edu
Address: PO Box 1857, Fayette, IA 52142

Grade Appeal Process

The grade for any given course is based on the achievement or success of the student as defined by the individual instructor. This may be a quantitative score or a qualitative and subjective decision. The grade received for a course is final unless the instructor makes a formal grade change. If a student wishes to appeal a grade they feel was determined incorrectly, the student must complete the process outlined in this policy within six weeks after the final grade was posted in myUIU.

1. If the student disputes a final grade, the instructor of record must be contacted by the student within seven Upper Iowa University business days of the final grade being posted in myUIU. The instructor of record and student should make every effort to resolve the concern with the final grade within 14 Upper Iowa University business days of the final grade being posted in myUIU. This must occur before the formal grade appeal process begins.
   1. If the concern is resolved by both the student and the instructor of record, if necessary, the instructor of record will submit a grade change form to the Department Chair/Program Director and Registrar.
   2. If the concern is not resolved, and the student does not agree with the decision of the instructor of record, the student may begin the formal grade appeal process. The formal process involves levels of review beyond the instructor of record. The student is required to provide evidence of communication with instructor, or attempted email correspondence, after the final grade has been posted in myUIU to begin the formal process.
2. The student may appeal the decision of the instructor of record to the Department Chair/Program Director in which the class resides. A student must submit this appeal within 19 Upper Iowa University business days from the final grade being posted in myUIU. The Department Chair/Program Director of the will investigate and may meet with the student or additional personnel as needed.
   1. The Chair/Director of the department/program in which the class resides will render a decision in writing to the student and instructor within 10 Upper Iowa University business days.
   2. The Chair/Director of the department/program will submit a grade change to the Registrar if the grade appeal is successful.
3. The student may appeal the decision of the Chair/Director to the Dean of the school in which the class resides only if new and compelling evidence can be provided in support of the grade appeal. A student must submit this appeal within five Upper Iowa University business days from the denial by the chair/director. The Dean will review the new evidence and render a final decision within 10 Upper Iowa University business days. The decision of the Dean is final.
   1. The Dean of the school in which the class resides will submit a grade change to the Registrar if the grade appeal is successful.

The grade appeal process must conclude within six weeks of final grade posted in myUIU.

If a grade is to be appealed is in a class in which the instructor is also the Chair/Director of the department/program in which the class resides, the appeal will go directly to the Dean of the school in which the class resides and any subsequent appeal in which new and compelling evidence is presented will go to the VPASA.

The VPASA will submit a grade change to the registrar if the grade appeal is successful.

Incomplete Grade 

A student may request a grade of incomplete (I) be given by the instructor due to extenuating circumstances (i.e., illness, injury, death in family, personal crisis, military deployment) that have prevented the student from completing coursework.

A student must request an incomplete (I) grade be granted by an instructor prior to 11:59 PM CT of the last day of the session/semester (Thursday). A grade of “I” is temporary and exceptional. A student is eligible for a grade of incomplete when they have met the following:

• Completed 62.5% of the total coursework requirements (Completed coursework through Week 5 of an 8-week session or Week 10 of a 16-week session
• Satisfactory attendance in the course through the point of extenuating circumstance
• Completed assigned coursework to date with a “D” average or better for an undergraduate course or “C” average or better for a graduate course
• Encountered extenuating circumstances that have prevented the student from completing coursework on time

The instructor retains the right to make the final decision on granting a student’s request for an “I,” even though the student may meet the eligibility requirements for this grade.

An incomplete grade is not a substitute for a failing grade and cannot be awarded as a means of raising a student’s grade through the completion of additional coursework after the close of the grading period. A student who does not meet the criteria for an incomplete grade must be awarded an appropriate grade based on the criteria of the course as outlined in the course syllabus.

Having an accommodation does not automatically permit a student be granted the request for an incomplete grade. If an individual has accessibility-related requirements, they must work with the instructor from the first day of class to determine deadlines for assignments within the registered session/semester.

If the extenuating circumstances are deemed acceptable by the instructor, the instructor will record a grade of “I” during the open grading period. The instructor will complete the Incomplete Grade Form outlining the outstanding assignments with adjusted due dates, default grade if the student fails to complete the outstanding assignments and the deadline for completion of all coursework. The incomplete form must be completed and signed by the instructor and the student to indicate a mutual understanding of the work to be completed and timelines for doing so.

The instructor provides a copy of the completed form to the student. The Incomplete Grade Form should be forwarded to the appropriate designee by the instructor by the end of the week following the last day of the session/semester for the course. The instructor will indicate a default grade on the Incomplete Grade Form should the student fail to complete the coursework by the deadline. The default grade is based on the work completed in relation to the total course requirements.

Example: A student has earned a “B” through the sixth week of the session, but requests an incomplete for the rest of the session. The remaining work would comprise 50% of the final grade. Without completing the remaining work, the earned grade would have been an “F.” The student consequently would have a grade of “F” recorded on their transcript.

Following submission of the outstanding coursework, the instructor will submit a Change of Grade form changing the “I” to a letter grade within two weeks of the agreed-upon deadline for completion. If the student does not meet the assigned deadline as designated on the Incomplete Grade form, the instructor will complete a Change of Grade form, changing the “I” to the earned grade. Upon receipt of the Grade Change form, the Registrar’s Office will post the grade to the student’s record and recalculate the GPA.

Incomplete grades count as attempted hours but are not counted as successfully completed hours and may impact Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Refer to 200 Satisfactory Academic Progress for additional information regarding the impact of an incomplete grade on SAP compliance. A student will not receive financial aid for the following session/semester until all grades are entered and it has been determined that the student is eligible to receive funds.

Incomplete grades do not count as completed semester hours and may impact NCAA athletic eligibility.

Exceptions to the Incomplete Grade Criteria

A grade of incomplete may be awarded in the following instances, even if the student has not met the criteria for an incomplete grade:

• Internships: An incomplete grade may be awarded to a student registered for an internship course if the supervising instructor has not yet received the final evaluation from the Internship Supervisor.
• Faculty-Led Study Abroad Trips: For students registered for faculty-led study abroad trips where the travel occurs outside of the session/semester, students will receive an incomplete grade at the time of grade submission. Upon the completion of the travel experience and the submission of coursework related to the travel experience, a final grade will be issued. Students must meet the course requirements during the session/semester of registration in addition to the travel experience of the course.
• Split-semester Student Teaching: For students registered for student teaching placements split between the fall and spring semesters (16 semester hour course divided between semesters - 8 semester hours in each semester), a grade of incomplete will be awarded automatically after completion of the first placement in the fall semester. When the grade is posted for completion of the second placement, the same grade is posted manually by the Registrar’s Office for the first placement.

Extension of an Incomplete Grade

A request to extend the assigned deadline must be put in writing to the dean prior to the assigned deadline. The request must include appropriate documentation (i.e., military orders, medical notes) and a letter from the instructor supporting the extension. The dean will review the request and will notify the student of their decision to grant or deny the request within ten calendar days.

Leave of Absence

Upper Iowa University does not grant a leave of absence. A student needing to withdraw from the University will follow the withdrawal procedures.

Repeat Policy

Undergraduate and graduate students may repeat a course to earn a higher grade. Only the highest grade earned will be used in calculating the grade point average. Courses in which grades of “A” are earned may not be repeated under any circumstances. Students are allowed to repeat a course only once without exceptions noted below, for a total of two attempts. Registrations which result in NA, W, or AW grades do not contribute to total attempts. The Course Repeat Form must be completed by the student.

Exceptions are made for courses designated to be taken multiple times such as research credits, special projects, special topics, social work training certificate courses, and internships.

An exception may also be granted for students requesting to repeat a course for a second time (3rd registration) by the Dean of the School and/or designee in which the course resides. Further exceptions may be possible for extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the Dean of the school in which the course resides.

A student’s academic eligibility to repeat a course does not ensure the credits associated with the repeated course will count toward the student’s financial aid eligibility. Students receiving federal financial aid should remember failed coursework is calculated in the overall Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) review, and a student is required to meet SAP standards to remain eligible for financial aid. For financial purposes, a student may receive federal financial aid (Title IV funds) for a repeated course only once if the course was previously passed (credit has been received).

SAP Procedures

SAP Determination: The Financial Aid Office evaluates SAP for all students (excluding Self-Paced students) at the end of each semester of their current academic year to determine financial aid eligibility for the next semester. Self-Paced students are evaluated, once all grades have been received, at the regular semester evaluation period following the conclusion of their Self-Paced enrollment term. Students who have failed to meet federal SAP requirements are ineligible to receive federal, state, or institutional financial aid.

SAP Notification: Students who have failed to meet SAP at the semester evaluation will receive a notification to their UIU email addresses and a letter sent to their preferred mailing addresses displayed in Jenzabar. Academic Advisors will be notified through email.

SAP Appeal: A student with extenuating circumstances may appeal the denial of student financial assistance by submitting a SAP Appeal Form within five (5) business days from the day the Notice of SAP Suspension was sent. The appeal must be made in writing, addressed to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee and include the following documentation:

1. Completed Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form
2. A letter written and signed by the student describing why the student has failed SAP and what has changed that will allow the students to successfully meet SAP in the future
3. A physician’s note if the appeal is based on medical circumstances. In accordance with HIPAA, privacy rules, documentation should never include medical records or copies of prescriptions
4. Additional supporting documents, if appropriate
5. An academic plan

Extenuating circumstances include the death of an immediate family member, major medical issue (i.e. requires hospitalization) experienced by the student or an immediate family member of the student, domestic violence, involuntary call to active military duty, or a documented learning disability. Late appeals will not be accepted. Only one approved appeal per level of education will be allowed (one for undergraduate and one for graduate level). Additional appeals may be reviewed for special circumstances (i.e. multiple military deployments).

SAP Academic Plan

If a student is unable to feasibly meet all SAP requirements within one semester, an academic plan must be developed with the student’s academic advisor. The academic plan will outline grade and course requirements that will allow the student to successfully meet SAP. If necessary, the academic plan may extend beyond the current academic year. If the SAP Academic Plan extends beyond the current academic year, the student must meet the minimum 2.0 GPA each semester going forward at minimum. Should the student fail to meet the semester 2.0 GPA the student would move to SAP Suspension. If SAP failure was based on the maximum timeframe measure, the student must complete all credits required for degree completion by the end of the last semester of the academic plan.

Under an academic plan, a student’s progress will be monitored at the end of each semester in order to ensure that the student is progressing according to the requirements of the plan. As long as the student is progressing accordingly, the student will remain eligible for financial aid. If the student is not meeting the requirement of the plan, the student will not be eligible to receive financial aid until all components of SAP have been met.

Reinstatement

Students may reestablish eligibility for financial aid by resolving their qualitative, quantitative or maximum timeframe deficiency. Discontinuing enrollment for a semester or opting to privately pay for coursework without utilizing federal aid will not be, in and of itself, sufficient to allow for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility. Students who are unsuccessful in their SAP appeals may continue their education by utilizing another payment method, such as a payment plan, an alternative loan through a private lender, or by paying out of pocket. The SAP process is run once per semester and student eligibility will be reviewed at that time. A student must have an approved appeal from the Academic Standing committee if they are not meeting the program requirements and must meet the criteria listed for cumulative Satisfactory Academic Progress.

The Financial Aid Office will attempt to notify any student currently receiving financial aid who is placed on Financial Aid Suspension. However, failure to receive such notification does not relieve the student of the requirement to read, understand and follow the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for financial aid recipients.

SAP Rules

Transfer Credit: Upper Iowa University will count transfer credits accepted toward a student’s educational program as both attempted and successfully completed hours. These credits will be included in completions and maximum timeframe calculations, but excluded from the semester GPA calculations.

Attempted Credits: All credits are part of the calculation, including, but not limited to, repeat and incomplete coursework, transfer credits, and coursework completed for a prior degree or major for which a degree was not conferred, regardless of receiving financial aid.

Incompletes and Withdrawals: Courses with Incomplete (I) or Withdrawal (AW or W) grades at the time of the SAP review count as attempted hours but are not counted as successfully completed hours. The first SAP evaluation will be conducted on the Tuesday following the last day of the semester. Faculty must have all grade changes completed on the second Friday following the last day of the semester. A second SAP evaluation will be completed Monday of the next week for any student with an incomplete grade or non-recorded grade. A student will not receive financial aid for the following semester until all grades are entered and it has been determined that the student is eligible to receive funds.

Repeat Courses: Courses that are repeated will count in attempted hours. Repeated courses that are excluded from the academic record will not count as successfully completed hours or in the GPA calculation.

Drop and Non-Attendance Courses: Courses that are dropped prior to the start of the session and courses with a non-attendance (NA) grade are not counted in attempted or successfully completed hours, except when a student has retained an overpayment.

Remedial (Developmental) Coursework: Students enrolled in a degree granting program may receive financial aid for remedial coursework. However, federal regulations prohibit the receipt of financial aid for more than 30 semester hours of remedial coursework.

Preparatory (Foundation) Courses: Courses that a student is required to take in order to enroll into an eligible degree program are to be considered preparatory courses. The courses are preparatory to the degree, not a part of the degree requirements. Applicants who need to take preparatory coursework at UIU prior to being eligible for final admission into a degree program may be able to receive a limited amount of funding through the Federal Direct Loan program.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

To be eligible for federal, state and institutional financial aid, students must comply with the Upper Iowa University standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). All undergraduate and graduate students will be evaluated for SAP at the end of every semester. Evaluations will be made for grade point average (GPA), completions (pace of progression), and total allowable credits (maximum timeframe measurement).

Grade Point Average

An undergraduate student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) as follows:

Freshman (0 to <30 completed credits) - 1.75 GPA
Sophomore (30-<60 completed credits) - 1.90 GPA
Junior and above (>60 completed credits) - 2.00 GPA

A graduate student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) as follows:

1-6 completed credits - 2.50 GPA
7+ completed credits - 3.00 GPA

Remedial (developmental) courses and prerequisite courses count towards the SAP GPA.

Incompletes, withdrawals, non-attendance, and preparatory (foundation) courses do not count towards the SAP GPA.

Completions (Pace of Progression)

A student must successfully complete a minimum of 66.7% (rounded from 2/3) of all cumulative attempted credits. The formula for computing this quantitative measurement is successfully completed credits divided by attempted credits.

The following count towards the SAP completions measurement: repeat courses, withdrawals, incompletes, remedial (developmental) courses, preparatory (foundation) courses, and prerequisite courses. Audit courses do not count towards this measurement.

Transfer credits toward degree are counted in this calculation.

Total Allowable Credits (maximum timeframe)

Students must complete their degree requirements within 150 percent of the published length of their program (number of credits needed to complete degree requirements). For example, a program requiring 120 credits to graduate will be limited to 180 credits of financial aid eligibility. All coursework is counted including, but not limited to, repeat and incomplete coursework, transfer credits toward degree, and coursework completed for a prior degree or major for which a degree was not conferred.

Any student who has exceeded the maximum timeframe and/or who mathematically cannot finish the program within this period will be considered ineligible for financial aid.

The following count toward the SAP maximum timeframe: courses with assigned grades of “F”, withdrawals, incompletes, repeated courses, remedial (developmental) courses, preparatory (foundation) courses, and prerequisite courses.

Failure to Meet Requirements

Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed at the end of each semester. Students who do not meet the requirements outlined above jeopardize their eligibility for financial aid and are placed in one of the following statuses:

Financial Aid Warning: An undergraduate or graduate student who does not meet SAP requirements will be placed on Financial Aid Warning which allows the student to receive financial aid for one additional semester. The student will be evaluated for SAP again at the end of the warning period.

Financial Aid Suspension: An undergraduate or graduate student who fails to meet SAP requirements after Financial Aid Warning is placed on Financial Aid Suspension and is not eligible to receive financial aid without a successful appeal. Should the student not wish to appeal, the student must meet SAP requirements before aid eligibility can be re-established.

Financial Aid Probation: An undergraduate or graduate student who has successfully appealed a Financial Aid Suspension will be placed on Probation for one semester. If the student meets the SAP standards at the end of the Probation semester, the student’s SAP status will reset back to passing SAP. If the student does not meet the SAP standards at the end of the Probation semester, the student will be placed back into Financial Aid Suspension.

Standards for Academic Standing

A student must meet the following standards to be considered in good academic standing:

Undergraduate Programs

Maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average for the appropriate classification listed below.

0 to <30 completed credits* - 1.75 cumulative GPA
30 to <60 completed credits* - 1.90 cumulative GPA
≥ 60 completed credits* - 2.00 cumulative GPA

*Completed credits include transfer credits toward degree plus Upper Iowa University letter grades of A to D-.

Graduate Programs

**Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 with 6 or fewer completed graduate credits.

**Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with 7 or more completed graduate credits.

**Completed graduate credits include transfer credits toward degree plus Upper Iowa University letter grades of A to C-.

Failure to Meet Requirements for Academic Standing

The standards for academic standing are reviewed at the end of each semester by the Academic Review Committee for undergraduate students and the Graduate Academic Review Committee for graduate students. A student who fails to meet the standards for good academic standing will be placed on one of the following statuses:

Academic Warning: A student who fails to meet the minimum standards for good academic standing will be placed on Academic Warning. The purpose of the warning is to make the student aware that continued performance at or below the standards will lead to academic suspension. A student placed on academic warning shall not carry overload and shall not be eligible for study abroad courses.

Academic Suspension: A student who fails to meet the minimum standards at the end of a semester on academic warning will be placed on Academic Suspension. Students placed on Academic Suspension may appeal the action to the appropriate committee. The appeal must include a personal statement by the student explaining the factors that adversely impacted the student’s academic performance, a specific academic improvement plan for achieving the minimum standards for academic good standing, and any supporting documentation.

Academic Probation: A student who successfully appeals his/her academic suspension will be placed on Academic Probation. Students placed on Academic Probation will be reviewed individually at the end of each semester by the Academic Review Committee or the Graduate Academic Review Committee. A student placed on academic probation shall not carry overload and shall not be eligible for study abroad courses. A student will be removed from academic probation when the minimum standards have been met. The length of the probationary period varies by student due to course load and performance.

Academic Dismissal: A student will be dismissed from Upper Iowa University if he/she fails to make improvement toward the minimum standards while on Academic Probation. A student may apply to return to the university after a one-year period has elapsed by submitting the Personal Information for Returning Students Form and an appeal (academic improvement plan).

The student placed on academic suspension or dismissal is responsible for working with the academic advisor to complete an appeal and submit to the appropriate Academic Review Committee.  The Academic Review Committee will review the Academic Improvement Plan.  The committee will approve or deny the appeal based on evidence provided by the student.  A successful appeal will result in the student’s status being changed to Academic Probation.

Undergraduate Grading Policy

Instructors will assign a grade for each student enrolled in a course reflective of the quality of work of the student enrolled in that course.  At the conclusion of a course, grades are to be submitted to the Registrar through the myUIU grade portal by 11:59 AM of the Monday following the conclusion of the session/semester.

Grading System

Upper Iowa University uses a standard grading system. Instructors are required to implement +/- grades in their courses.  The instructor’s course syllabus will outline the +/- grading scale and assigned percentage associated with each grade.

All grades of “F” posted at Upper Iowa University are considered to be earned “F” grades.  

The following grades are not used in computing the grade  point average:

I - Incomplete

A grade of I is a temporary grade assigned by the instructor that will be changed to a letter grade of A-F by the end of the following session (center or online courses) or semester (Fayette Campus and semester-long courses).

X - Extension

A grade of X is a temporary grade assigned to a self-paced course that will be changed to a letter grade of A-F by the end of the four-month extension period.

P-Passing

A grade of P is assigned for satisfactory performance in an elective course taken on a pass/fail basis or for credit granted for experiential learning, special training programs, credit by examination or for other types of nontraditional learning experiences.

W-Course Withdrawal

A grade of W is assigned when a student initiates removal from an active course after the drop period has closed, but prior to the close of the withdrawal period.  A course withdrawal has no effect on a student’s grade point average.  Withdrawn credits are considered attempted but not earned for the calculation of percent completion when assessing satisfactory academic progress (SAP).

AU-Audit

A grade of AU is given when a student enrolls in a course without receiving college credit.

AW-Administrative Withdrawal

A grade of AW is assigned to courses in which the student has been administratively withdrawn.

NA-Non-attendance

A grade of NA is assigned to a student who does not attend an enrolled course during the first week of the class.

NR - Not Recorded

A grade of NR is assigned when an instructor fails to record a grade for a student upon final grade submission.  An NR grade shall be replaced by the appropriate grade upon submission of the grade by the instructor using the Grade Change Form.

Official Grade: An official grade is the grade posted to myUIU at the end of the grading period.  It is the student’s responsibility to check myUIU grades for accuracy. If a student feels there has been an error in how the grade was calculated or if the grading process did not adhere to the expectations outlined in the syllabus, the student may appeal using the Grade Appeal Process on page 21.

Calculating Grade Point Average

The GPA is determined by dividing the number of quality points earned at Upper Iowa University by the total number of graded semester credits earned at Upper Iowa University. Grades transferred from other institutions are not included in the overall GPA.

The GPA earned for a major will include grades transferred into the student’s major. The GPA at the time of posting a bachelor’s degree is constant. Courses completed after a bachelor’s degree has been earned will not change the GPA from that point on.

Nursing CEP registrations that are part of a consortium agreement and Education Abroad courses that are registered with a to be selected (TBS) placeholder registration in a UIU semester will count toward total hours attempted and GPA hours and will count in the GPA calculation. These registrations will be applied to calculations for Satisfactory Academic Standing (SAS), Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), Dean’s List, and honors for graduation.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy 

Transfer students may expect to receive full credit for college level courses and/or programs completed at institutions of higher education that are regionally accredited or accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education office of Post-secondary Education (USDE-OPE) or by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Upper Iowa University will also consider acceptance of coursework in transfer from:

• International institutions that are approved/registered by their country’s Ministry of Education or other national educational governing body as reviewed and approved by Upper Iowa University.
• International institutions where transcripts for individual students are reviewed and evaluated by an approved foreign credential evaluators service and approved by Upper Iowa University.

Coursework completed at institutions that fail to meet any of the aforementioned criteria will not be accepted in transfer to Upper Iowa University.

Coursework completed with formal Upper Iowa University Articulation Partnership Advantage institutions will be transferred following articulation guidelines. Coursework from other accredited institutions will be transferred to meet particular degree requirements based on full-time faculty recommendations.

Grades earned in courses accepted for transfer will appear on the student’s Upper Iowa University transcript, and the credits earned will count toward the total number required for graduation. However, grade points earned at another institution are not trans ferred and are not figured into the cumulative grade point average (GPA) maintained at Upper Iowa University, but are included in calculating the major/endorsement GPA.

Upper Iowa University may transfer up to 78 lower division college semester credits from accredited institutions. These 78 semester credits may include:

1. Up to nine semester credits of activity courses, including transcripted intercollegiate athletics. 
2. No credits from courses identified by Upper Iowa University as remedial or developmental level.
3. No more than 30 semester credits from one year occupational diploma programs.

Upper Iowa University may transfer an additional 12 semester credits, identified by the four-year transfer institution as upper division credit, to a transfer maximum of 90 semester credits.

Up to 78 lower division semester credits and 12 upper division semester credits evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE) or National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) and semester credits earned through CLEP, DSST, Excelsior College and ACT-PEP examinations will transfer to Upper Iowa University.

Transfer grades lower than a C- will not be accepted.

Upper Iowa University will accept AA or AS degrees with a liberal arts core as fulfillment of the general education requirements for a baccalaureate program. Prerequisites are not waived.

Experiential Learning Credit

Upper Iowa University recognizes that students in higher education come with many experiences and from varied backgrounds. Learning experiences gained through training programs and academies may be reviewed and evaluated for academic credit. 

ACE/NCCRS Approved Credit

Many training programs have been approved for credit by the American Council on Education (ACE) or National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS). Check with an academic advisor to see if completed training has been evaluated by ACE or NCCRS. There is no charge for transcripting ACE or NRCCS recommended credit. Credits earned through ACE or NRRCS do not reduce the minimum required 30 semester credits of coursework through Upper Iowa University for graduation. Credits earned through ACE or NRCCS do not apply to the 60 graded credits needed to graduate with Magna or Summa Cum Laude honors.

Credit by Examination

Students may earn credit through CLEP/DSST/Excelsior College and/or ACT-PEP examinations. There is a minimal testing fee. Credit by examination is transcripted without charge when the student’s score is at the level recommended by ACE for credit. These exams are accepted to fulfill requirements in very specific ways. A student should contact an academic advisor before taking any credit-bearing exams to determine the appropriate exam for their respective degree plan.

Credits earned by examination do not reduce the minimum required 30 semester credits of coursework through Upper Iowa University for graduation. Credits earned by examination do not apply to the 60 graded credits needed to graduate with Magna or Summa Cum Laude honors.

Experiential Learning Portfolio Credit

A portfolio process has been developed to determine student achievements and demonstrated learning outcomes. Students can earn up to 30 semester credits for prior learning experience. Contact an academic advisor for information on the guidelines and procedures.

Experiential learning credit granted by another institution is accepted only if it is a part of a degree earned and transferred to UIU. Similarly, credit granted by UIU for experiential learning may not transfer to other institutions.

Because the documentation process required of a student is extensive, and since the evaluation of this documentation by UIU staff demands considerable time, the student must be accepted for admission and registered for at least one course through Upper Iowa University before applying for experiential learning credit. Experiential learning portfolio credits do not reduce the minimum required 30 semester credits of coursework through Upper Iowa University for a bachelor’s degree.

Experiential learning credits do not apply to the 60 graded credits needed to graduate with Magna or Summa Cum Laude honors. Experiential learning credit, awarded as upper division credit, may be used to satisfy the upper division credit requirement for graduation. Education course credits may not be earned through Experiential Learning.

Fees for experiential learning credit granted are assessed at $60 per semester credit. See an academic advisor for more information. All fees are due within 90 days of assessment, and before credit will be recorded on the student’s transcript. An official transcript will be issued only after the student completed a course with Upper Iowa University.

Law Enforcement and Fire Science Credit

Students who have successfully completed law enforcement or fire science training may submit documentation to Upper Iowa University for evaluation. There is a one-time evaluation fee of $200 paid at the time of submission. The documentation will be evaluated for credit and applied to the UIU transcript. Consult an academic advisor for further information. A maximum of 30 semester credits can be earned through a combination of portfolio and law enforcement/fire science credits.

Credits earned for law enforcement and/or fire science training do not reduce the minimum required 30 semester credits of coursework through Upper Iowa University for graduation. Credits earned through law enforcement or fire science do not apply to the 60 graded credits needed to graduate with Magna or Summa Cum Laude honors.

Military Credit

Credit for military courses, training and occupational specialties/ratings with American Council on Education (ACE) college credit recommendation guidelines will be transcripted at no charge.  Training completed may be verified by an official Joint Service Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript, DD295, or copies of certificates; a portfolio is not required. Up to 78 lower division semester credits and an additional 12 upper division semester ACE-evaluated military credits may be transferred for a maximum of 90 semester credits toward the 120 semester credits required for graduation. ACE-recommended military credits do not reduce the minimum required 30 semester credits of coursework through Upper Iowa University for a bachelor’s degree or 15 semester credits for an associate’s degree. ACE-recommended military credits do not apply to the 60 graded credits needed to graduate with Magna or Summa Cum Laude honors. 

Support for Military Students

Upper Iowa University is a signatory of the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and adheres to the Principles of Excellence for Education Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses and Other Family Members per Executive Order 13607.  The university is also a participating institution in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Upper Iowa University has been recognized by Military Advanced Education as a Top Military-Friendly University and by Victory Media as a Military Friendly School consecutively since 2008, and is an active participant in the Council of College and Military Educators.

Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserves: Upper Iowa University is a Letter of Instruction (LOI) Member Institution in ArmyIgnitED. ArmyIgnitED is the virtual gateway for all eligible Active Duty, National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers to request Tuition Assistance (TA) online, anytime, anywhere for classroom and distance learning. It allows Soldiers to manage their education records including college classes, testing, on-duty classes and Army Education Counselor support. ArmyIgnitED is also the virtual gateway for Army Civilians to apply for their Civilian education, training, and leader development events. As a member institution, there are no upfront, out-of-pocket expenses for soldiers when enrolling in Upper Iowa University classes as long as their request for TA has been approved by the Army. Upper Iowa University was selected by the Army to offer associate and bachelor’s degrees to Soldiers, their spouses, and adult children worldwide.

Navy: Upper Iowa University is a partnership instituition in the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE). The NCPACE program at UIU offers distance education opportunities to Sailors regardless of location. Upper Iowa University provides associate and bachelor degree programs which are relevant to each Navy rating, and makes maximum use of military professional training and experience based on the Joint Service Transcript (JST) transcript to fulfill degree requirements. UIU offers opportunities for Sailors to take courses through distance learning so that Sailors anywhere will be able to pursue a degree. Upper Iowa University is eligible to offer associate and bachelor’s degrees to Sailors, their spouses, and adult children worldwide.

Coast Guard: Upper Iowa University is eligible to offer associate and bachelor’s degrees to Coast Guard personnel, their spouses, and adult children worldwide.

Air Force: Upper Iowa University recognizes the work completed in the Community College of the Air Force and currently has an articulation agreement based on those courses. UIU treats the CCAF transcript just as it would any community college transcript and will apply all appropriate coursework toward a bachelor’s degree. Upper Iowa University is a proud partner of both the Air Force’s General Education Mobile (GEM) program and the Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC) program. The Air Force Education program directs airmen with associate in applied science degrees to a collection of accredited “military-friendly” colleges and universities to consider when completing a four-year degree. Airmen enroll in classes and request tuition assistance in the Air Force’s Virtual Education Center.

Marine Corps: As with the other services, Upper Iowa University will evaluate a student’s military training as posted on the Joint Service Transcript (JST) and build a personalized college degree plan by consolidating earned credit from military training, college level testing programs, self-paced degree courses and other college courses. Upper Iowa University is eligible to offer associate and bachelor’s degrees to Marines, their spouses, and adult children worldwide.

Military Spouse Program: The MyCAA Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 of tuition assistance to eligible military spouses. The scholarship helps military spouses pursue licenses, certificates, certifications or associate degrees necessary to gain employment in high demand, high growth portable career fields and occupations. Spouses may use their MyCAA funds at any academic institution approved for participation in the MyCAA Scholarship.

University Withdrawal

Center or Online students who choose to withdraw from the University should contact their Academic Advisor or Center Director who will assist in the process.

Fayette Campus students who plan to withdraw or transfer should fill out the form located on myUIU - Academics - Student Forms - University Withdrawal Form

Students who want to withdraw from a course only should use the Course Withdrawal form located on myUIU - Academics - Student Forms - Course Withdrawal Form

Use of Human Research Subjects

Students, faculty and staff wishing to conduct research involving human subjects must seek approval in advance. The relevant Human Subjects Application Policy and procedures are available on the UIU website policies page at uiu.edu/about/policies and in Policy 104 Human Subjects Application.

Validation of Enrollment - Non-Attendance (NA) Grade

Students must validate enrollment in their classes. The grade of NA is assigned when a student fails to attend and fails to withdraw prior to the start of the course.

Fayette Campus courses: Students who have not attended in person or had academic interaction in uiuLearn by Friday of the first week of each session/semester will have an NA grade posted.

Center courses: Students who have not attended in person or had academic interaction in uiuLearn during the first seven days of the session/semester will have an NA grade posted.

Online (asynchronous) courses: Students must validate enrollment by attendance (see definition under the attendance section) during the first seven days of the session/semester will have an NA grade posted.

uiuLive (synchronous) courses: Students must validate enrollment by attendance (see definition under the attendance section) during the first seven days of the session/semester will have an NA grade posted.

Self-Paced: NA grades are not applicable to this program.

Video Conference (Zoom) Attendance Policy for Face-to-Face, Hybrid, and Video Conference Courses

Students are expected to attend class via the learning experience in which they are registered for a course in face-to-face, hybrid and video conference courses. With instructor consent, students may attend the course via synchronous video conference (i.e., Zoom) and be counted present for attending the class session for up to two consecutive class periods. Faculty will record a student as attending a face-to-face, hybrid, or video conference course if the instructor gives consent for the student to attend via video conference and the student attends the course session via video conference.

Students who request to attend class outside the registered method for more than two consecutive class periods will be required to provide documentation to accommodate such a request.

International students must meet attendance guidelines to maintain visa status. Faculty should consult the International Services Coordinator to grant an exception to the two-day maximum for International students.