General Regulations

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It is the responsibility of students to know and observe all regulations and procedures relating to the program they are pursuing, as well as those of the university and Graduate School. In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception granted because students plead ignorance of, or contend that they were not informed of, the regulations or procedures. Questions on regulations and their interpretation pertaining to studies at the graduate level should be addressed to the office of the dean of the Graduate School.

Students planning to graduate should familiarize themselves with the dates relating to application for graduation and other pertinent deadlines. (See the Graduate School Calendar, copies of which may be obtained from the Graduate School, www.grad.niu.edu) It is necessary to apply for graduation by the specified deadline in order to graduate in a particular term, whether or not the student plans to attend the commencement ceremonies, if any.

Students must satisfy the degree requirements of the catalog in force during the term for which they have been admitted to and begin course work in the degree program; or they may, with the consent of their advisers, meet graduation requirements by complying with the degree requirements of a later catalog. Students readmitted to a degree program must meet degree requirements of the catalog in force at the time of the later admission (or of a subsequent catalog, as provided above). Aside from degree requirements, all students are subject to the regulations and policies stated in the catalog currently in force. Exceptions to regulations and requirements contained in the Graduate Catalog require the written approval of the office of the dean of the Graduate School, unless otherwise stated in the catalog.

Student Responsibility for Obtaining Current University Information

The university reserves the right to make changes in admission requirements, fees, degree requirements, and other specifications set forth in this catalog. Such changes may take precedence over catalog statements. While reasonable effort is made to publicize such changes, students should remain in close touch with departmental advisers and appropriate offices, because responsibility for complying with all applicable requirements ultimately rests with the student. The office of the dean of the Graduate School is the authoritative office for verifying deviations from provisions in this catalog.

Each student is assigned by his or her major department an adviser or advisory committee whose purpose is to guide the student’s studies and recommend him or her for the degree when the student is properly qualified. The departmental adviser(s) may be indicated in the student’s letter of admission from the Graduate School, or assigned later.

The official program of courses is formulated by the student in consultation with the assigned adviser or advisory committee. See“The Official Program of Courses” for details on the preparation and submission of the program of courses.

Departmental advisers can assist students in understanding and satisfying departmental and university requirements. However, they are not responsible for informing students of published regulations, such as those in this catalog, nor, except as explicitly provided in this catalog, do they have the authority to modify those requirements. See “Student Responsibility” above.

Good academic work must be based on honesty. The attempt of any student to present as his or her own work that which he or she has not produced is regarded by the faculty and administration as a serious offense. Students are considered to have cheated, for example, if they copy the work of another or use unauthorized notes or other aids during an examination or turn in as their own a paper or an assignment written, in whole or in part, by someone else. Students are guilty of plagiarism, intentional or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other sources without identifying and acknowledging those sources or if they paraphrase ideas from such sources without acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in, either cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a grade of F for the course involved and may be suspended or dismissed from the university.

A faculty member has original jurisdiction over any instances of academic misconduct that occur in a course which the faculty member is teaching. The student shall be given the opportunity to resolve the matter in meetings with the faculty member and the department chair. If the facts of the incident are not disputed by the student, the faculty member may elect to resolve the matter at that level by levying a sanction no greater than an F for that course. The faculty member shall notify the student in writing whenever such action is taken, and the University Judicial Office shall receive a copy of the Academic Misconduct Incident Report indicating final disposition of the case, which will be placed in the student’s judicial file. In all matters where the charge of academic misconduct is disputed by the student or if the faculty member feels a sanction greater than an F in the course is appropriate (such as repeated offenses or flagrant violations), the faculty member shall refer the matter to the University Judicial Office, making use of the Academic Misconduct Incident Report. Additional sanctions greater than an F in a course can be levied only through the University Judicial System or through the university’s research misconduct procedures noted below. Suspension or dismissal from the university for academic misconduct will result in a notation of that action on the transcript of a graduate-level student.

The university has adopted additional policies and procedures for dealing with research misconduct among its students, faculty, and staff. The guidelines, entitled Research Integrity at Northern Illinois University, are available in department offices, in the office of the dean of the Graduate School, and online at www.niu.edu/provost/policies/appm/I2.shtml, and pertain to the intentional commission of any of the following acts: falsification of data, improper assignment of authorship, claiming another person’s work as one’s own, unprofessional manipulation of experiments or of research procedures, misappropriation of research funds.

If a graduate student fails to maintain the standards of academic or professional integrity expected in his or her discipline or program, the student’s admission to the program may be terminated on recommendation of the student’s major department. A statement on students’ rights to the products of research is available in department offices, in the office of the dean of the Graduate School , and online at www.niu.edu/provost/policies/appm/I11.shtml.

Students will not receive credit for any course for which the registration is not completed according to university procedures. Conversely, it is not legitimate to attend or participate in a course in which one is not registered.

Students who have any obligation to the university (such as unpaid fines, tuition, fees, or residence-hall charges, or missing admission documents) will not be allowed to register for classes in subsequent terms until all obligations are met and should not expect retroactive enrollment for a period of time during which they were not eligible to register. (See “Encumbrances.”)

Individuals who have not paid tuition and fees by the applicable deadlines may have their registration canceled. However, nonpayment of tuition and fees does not necessarily result in cancellation of registration, nor is it an appropriate means by which to effect withdrawal. A student wishing to drop or withdraw from a course must do so by following established procedures, and by the applicable deadline. Failure to do this by specified deadlines may result in continued registration and/or financial liability.

Registration may also be canceled for students who fail to satisfy admission or registration requirements or requirements for permission to enroll as a student-at-large.

 Class Time Conflicts

A graduate-level student wishing to enroll in two courses for which the scheduled class meeting times overlap must obtain, in advance, the written approval of both course instructors and the office of the dean of the Graduate School.

The Illinois College Student Immunization Act (110-ILCS 20) and university policy require that all students born on or after January 1, 1957, who are assessed on campus fees, provide written evidence of current immune status with respect to certain communicable diseases, or evidence of exemption from this requirement, by the tenth calendar day of the first term enrolled.

Failure to provide the required documentation and be in compliance with the state law by the tenth calendar day of the first term enrolled will result in a late processing fee. A registration encumbrance will also be placed on the records of students who are not in compliance. You will be notified at your NIU e-mail account if any additional information is required.

Immunization information may be obtained from the Health Services web page at www.niu.edu/healthservices/immunizations or by calling 815-753-9585.

The Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that college freshman living in residence halls be immunized against meningococcal disease. The ACIP recommendation further states that other college students under 25 years of age who wish to reduce their risk for the disease may choose to be vaccinated.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the linings of the brain and spinal cord that is caused either by viruses or bacteria. Viral meningitis is generally less severe and resolves without specific treatment. Bacterial meningitis, especially meningococcal meningitis, is more serious and can result in permanent neurologic damage or death.

Meningococcal meningitis commonly begins with high fever, headache, and stiff neck that develop over a period of several hours to two days. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness and discomfort looking at bright lights. Meningococcal meningitis is spread through exchange of oral and respiratory secretions (i.e., coughing, kissing, and sharing eating utensils), not through casual contact. Individuals who live in the same household or have direct contact with an infected person’s oral secretions are at an increased risk of acquiring the infection.

Two vaccines are available that protect against four of the five strains (or types) of the bacterium that cause meningococcal disease. While both vaccines provide immunity for a number of years to approximately 90% of those who are vaccinated, neither medication confers lifelong immunity to meningococcal meningitis.

Health Services provides meningococcal vaccinations for NIU students on request. There is a charge for this vaccination. For more information, please contact Preventive Medicine at 815-753-9759.

A record encumbrance is a restriction placed on a student’s official academic record. Academic records may be encumbered under a number of circumstances, examples of which include past-due obligation to the university (such as unpaid tuition, fees, fines, or residence-hall charges); incomplete admission requirements (such as missing transcripts or other academic credentials); and a disciplinary action by the university or the Student Judicial Office.

Students may not be allowed to register or to have transcripts or diplomas issued after an encumbrance has been placed on their academic record. Students who have had an encumbrance placed on their record may direct inquiries to the office that requested the encumbrance or to the Office of Registration and Records. Only the office placing an encumbrance may authorize its removal. Students who are ineligible to register by reason of an encumbrance should not participate in courses and should not expect registration in course work to be effected retroactively for a period during which they were ineligible to register.

For immediate release of monetary encumbrances, all past-due obligations to the university must be paid with a cashier’s check, certified check, or money order.

The university expects a reasonable level of English competency in its graduate students, regardless of their discipline. Those students who hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution in the U.S., or a recognized institution in the U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand at which the language of instruction was English are considered to have met this requirement. In special circumstances, a student’s department may seek a waiver of this requirement based on the student’s demonstration of appropriate written English proficiency in other ways (e.g., through employment). Other graduate students are required to take either the standardized Test of Written English (essay portion of the TOEFL), the written portion of the International English Language Testing Services (IELTS) exam, the GRE Analytical Writing Assessment, the GMAT Writing Assessment, or the examination administered for this purpose by the NIU Department of English, to test their written English language competency level. Those whose English appears deficient or marginal for purposes of graduate study and scholarly communication on the basis of their score on one of the aforementioned examinations will be required to improve their competence in the language. They will then be required to take and pass either the two-course sequence of ENGL 451 and ENGL 452, or the single course ENGL 453, depending on the score achieved.

A student who believes that the results of one of these examinations did not accurately reflect his or her English writing proficiency may repeat the test or may take one of the other tests, not later than the student’s second semester of Graduate School enrollment, and the score on the second test will determine the student’s English course placement. Submission of scores from no more than two attempts will be permitted. If none of these examinations is taken by the end of the student’s second semester of Graduate School enrollment, then both ENGL 451 and ENGL 452 will be required. A student’s major department may require completion of additional course work in English it deems pertinent to graduate study in the student’s chosen field.

ENGL 451. ESL RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I (3). Only for graduate students whose native language is not English. Exploration of academic discourse in a cross-disciplinary context. The writing and revising of essays with special support for grammar and mechanics. Reading of academic prose. Weekly writing assignments. Not available for graduate credit. PRQ: Placement by testing and consent of department.

ENGL 452. ESL RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II (3). Only for graduate students whose native language is not English. Exploration of critical strategies and documented writing in the disciplines. Documented writing required in all sections. Special support for grammar and mechanics. Not available for graduate credit. PRQ: ENGL 451 and consent of department.

ENGL 453. ESL RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION (3). Only for graduate students whose native language is not English. A concentrated approach to disciplinary writing with special support for grammar and mechanics. Reading of academic prose. Documented writing required in all sections. Not available for graduate credit. PRQ: Placement into ENGL 453 and consent of department.

Courses may be listed as deficiencies either in the letter of admission to the Graduate School or on the program of courses. Students are encouraged to remove such deficiencies as early in the program of study as possible. A schedule for completing courses identified as deficiencies may be established by the adviser or advisory committee.

A graduate-level student’s course load includes all courses for which the student is registered, graduate or undergraduate, whether taken for credit or audited. A course from which the student has officially withdrawn is no longer part of that student’s course load. A full-time load for a graduate student or student-at large in a fall or spring semester is 9 semester hours, and in summer session is 6 semester hours. A graduate-level student on academic probation may not enroll for an overload. A student in good academic standing considering an overload should seek academic advice and must obtain approval to carry more than 12 semester hours in the fall or spring semester or 9 hours in the summer session. For a graduate student in a degree program, this approval must be obtained, in advance, from the student’s major department; for a student-at-large, or a graduate student not in a degree program, the prior written approval of the office of the dean of the Graduate School is required.

Graduate students holding assistantships during a fall or spring semester are to carry 9 semester hours of course work throughout the semester. In the summer session, students on such appointments are to carry 6 semester hours. Reductions of up to 3 semester hours in the expected course load, and any overload, must be approved in advance by the appointee’s major department. Any greater reduction must be approved in advance, in writing, by the appointee’s department chair and the office of the dean of the Graduate School. Graduate students holding fellowships, internships, or similar appointments are bound by the above regulations unless the conditions of their appointments specify otherwise and the exception has the written approval of the Graduate School.

An international graduate student in F-1 or J-1 student status is required to carry 9 semester hours in the fall and spring semesters. Such a student is not required to be enrolled in the summer session to be in compliance with immigration regulations, but may be required to be registered in the summer under other university regulations, such as these pertaining to graduate assistants; see also “Continuous Enrollment.” Permission to take fewer than 9 semester hours in the fall or spring must be obtained in advance from the student’s major department and the office of the dean of the Graduate School, and can be granted only in particular circumstances defined by U.S. government regulations.

For the purposes of full-time enrollment certification to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the United States Department of Homeland Security, international students in F-1 and J-1 status pursuing doctoral degrees registered for 3 semester hours will be considered full-time once a program of courses is received by the Graduate School confirming that all course work except 799 (dissertation) is complete and that continuous enrollment in 799 has begun. Students holding graduate assistantships must register for a minimum of 9 semester hours during fall and spring semesters and 6 semester hours during summer term (if a student has a graduate assistantship during the summer).

Students may obtain certification that they are pursuing their studies full-time only if they are enrolled in a full course of study as defined above for their particular situation. A student with an approved underload is, by definition, not enrolled for a full course load. Therefore, such a student cannot expect to obtain official verification of full-time status, for purposes such as deferment of educational loans, for example.

Thesis and dissertation research, and other scholarly and creative activities offered under courses numbered 699 and 799, are intended as culminating academic experiences in the respective graduate programs. Therefore, in order to be eligible to enroll in a course numbered 699 or 799 a student must be admitted to the corresponding degree program; students-at-large are not eligible to enroll in such courses. Students may enroll in courses numbered 699 (thesis) and 799 (dissertation) during any semester and up to the maximum number of hours noted in the course description. Students subject to the continuous enrollment requirement must enroll in courses numbered 699 and 799 for credit, not audit. Only the required number of hours required by the program for 699 and 799 courses will count toward degree.

With permission of the instructor, a student may enroll in a class as an auditor. A student who enrolls as an auditor cannot expect to submit assignments to be graded by the instructor unless those assignments are part of the audit requirements established when permission to audit was granted. A student enrolled for credit who wishes to change that enrollment from credit to audit after the drop deadline must do so prior to the withdrawal deadline specified on the Graduate School website, and must have the approval of the instructor, the department, and the office of the dean of the Graduate School.

Tuition and fees are charged for audit hours on the same basis as for hours taken for credit. Audit hours are included in the calculation of the total course load, but a student who enrolls as an auditor will not receive credit for the course. A student enrolled as an auditor who wishes to change that enrollment to registration for credit must do so early in the term, no later than the add/drop deadline specified for that course.

Graduate students and students-at-large may enroll in undergraduate courses. Students admitted with undergraduate deficiencies are encouraged to remove these deficiencies at the earliest possible date in their course of study. Tuition for such classes is charged at the same rate as for graduate-level classes.

While undergraduate course grades are not included in the GPA, they are a part of the permanent record of the graduate student or student-at-large and appear on the transcript. However, no quality points are assigned to the course. Consequently, graduate students, who plan to pursue licensing or certification by external bodies, should carefully consider the ramifications of completing undergraduate courses to fulfill requirements.

Undergraduate hours are included in the calculation of academic load by the university but not by the Department of Education, which establishes regulations for award of federal financial aid. Graduate students and students-at-large, therefore, should understand the potential ramifications on their financial aid before enrolling in undergraduate classes. For graduate students and students-at-large the deadlines and other conditions of enrolling in, dropping, or withdrawing from an undergraduate class are the same as those pertaining to a graduate class, as they are determined by the student’s level, not the class level.

Seniors in their final term at NIU who want to take courses for graduate credit must apply for and receive early admission to the Graduate School. No student may enroll more than one term under early-admission status. (See “Early Admission of NIU Undergraduates.”)

Northern Illinois University undergraduate students may complete a maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate-level course work for undergraduate credit, if they have completed 90 semester hours of credit towards their baccalaureate degree with a GPA of at least 3.00 or have previously completed a baccalaureate degree. They must also obtain, in advance, written approval from the instructor and from the office of the dean of the Graduate School to enroll in the course for undergraduate credit. In addition, for a 600- or 700-level course, the approval of the department offering the course is required.

A student in the Northern Illinois University College of Law may enroll in graduate courses, provided that he or she has earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree from an accredited institution and has obtained all necessary approval of the College of Law. A law student not also admitted to the Graduate School must obtain permission to register as a student-at-large. Enrollment of a law student in graduate courses will be for graduate credit.

With the approval of the student’s major department and the office of the dean of the Graduate School, up to 9 semester hours of course work from the Northern Illinois University College of Law may be applied toward a graduate degree program. A graduate student not simultaneously pursuing a degree in the College of Law must petition the dean of the College of Law for permission to enroll in any law course. Such permission will only be granted in special circumstances. Credit hours in NIU law courses will be counted as transfer credit in the context of transfer-credit limits in, and time limits for completion of, graduate degree programs and will not contribute to the student’s graduate GPA.

With the approval of the office of the dean of the Graduate School, up to 9 semester hours of law courses taken at other institutions may be accepted toward meeting the requirements of the M.B.A. program, with approval of the College of Business; the M.A.S. and M.S.T. degrees, with approval of the Department of Accountancy; the M.P.A. program, with approval of the Division of Public Administration; and the Ph.D. in political science, with the approval of the Department of Political Science. These institutions must be regionally accredited, with their law schools accredited by the American Bar Association. Law courses are not graduate courses, and therefore law courses taken at institutions other than NIU are not accepted toward meeting the requirements of any other graduate degree at NIU.

Following the title of each course is a number in parentheses denoting the number of semester hours of credit available for the course. Where a range is given–e.g., “(1-3)”–the course is a variable-hour course. In such a case the department may offer the course for a fixed number of hours, within that range, in a given academic term or may allow students to select any number of hours within that range. A student enrolling in a variable-hour course should ascertain at the start of the term the number of hours of credit for which that particular offering of the course is available that term.

A course description may indicate that the course may be repeated to a specified maximum number of semester hours. There may be a lower or upper limit to the number of hours in a particular course that may be applied toward meeting the credit-hour requirements for a graduate degree. Unless otherwise specified in this catalog, graduate courses may be repeated for credit only under the following circumstances.

If the student meets the requirements for the special repeat option, the course may be retaken under that option.
In a case where, to satisfy a program requirement, a student must achieve a certain grade as specified in the Graduate Catalog, and the student fails to do so, the course may be repeated once. If the student again fails to achieve the required grade, the student’s admission to that program will be terminated.
If a course taken to complete the requirements for a graduate degree does not fall within the period of time allowed for that degree, the course may be retaken for credit with approval of the student’s major department.
The department in which authority for an approved teacher certification program resides may determine that credit in a course required for that program was obtained too long ago to be acceptable in meeting current requirements for certification. In such a case, that department may approve retaking the course for credit.

A student who has taken a course at the 400 level, may take the same titled course at the 500-level under the following circumstances:

A graduate student in a degree program must secure permission from his or her major department prior to enrollment in the course; or
A student-at-large must obtain approval of the department offering the course and of the office of the dean of the Graduate School; or
A student pursuing teacher certification who needs to take such a course for graduate credit to meet a certification requirement may do so with the approval of the department in which authority for that certification resides.

A variable-hour course may be taken only once for credit, unless the catalog description specifies that it may be repeated or unless one of the conditions listed immediately above is met.

Where a course is repeatable, maximum credit limits are stated in the course description. The statement, “May be repeated to a maximum of [number] semester hours,” means that the semester hours earned both from the initial enrollment and any permitted subsequent enrollments cannot exceed that maximum. For the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, unless otherwise prohibited, enrollments in such a course may take place in any combination of semesters, including multiple enrollments during a single semester.

These limitations on repeatability of courses do not restrict which courses may be taken under the special repeat option described below, for under the special repeat option credit is granted for only one of the two times the course is taken. Restrictions on repeatability of courses apply only to registration for credit, not registration for audit.

If a graduate-level student wishes to repeat an undergraduate course for credit, the student must have the approval of the department offering the course. In addition, if the course is a deficiency for the student’s major program, whether specified in this catalog or in the student’s letter of admission or program of courses, the student must also obtain the approval of the major department to repeat the course.

The special repeat option is available only for graduate courses in which a grade below B was attained. In order to repeat a course using this option, a student in a graduate program other than a doctoral program must have written approval of the student’s major department; students-at-large and others not in degree programs must have written approval of the office of the dean of the Graduate School. When a course is repeated on this basis, only the second of the two grades earned for the course is computed in the GPA. Enrollments resulting in recorded grades of IN, NG, NR, WF, or WP, which are not instructor-assigned, and enrollments for audit (no credit), cannot be counted as “repeats” under this policy. No student may repeat more than 6 semester hours of course work on this basis; no course may be repeated more than once under this option. The special repeat option is not available to a student admitted to a doctoral degree program.

All drops of or withdrawals from courses must be accomplished before the applicable deadlines. Schedule-change deadlines and drop and withdrawal procedures are published each term. Questions about those procedures should be directed to the Graduate School.

It is possible for a student to drop a course prior to the start of or early in the course. When a course is dropped, no record of the enrollment appears on the student’s record. After the drop deadline, a period is specified during which the student may withdraw from the course with the course remaining on the student’s record with a grade. A student who withdraws from all courses in which he or she enrolled in a given term is considered to have withdrawn from the university for that term. For each graduate course in which a student is doing passing work (C or better in a graduate course) at the time of withdrawal, as assessed by the instructor, a WP will be received; for any course in which the instructor determines that the student is not doing passing work, a WF will be received. If the instructor does not make an assessment of whether the student is passing or failing, a WP will be received. Transcript entries of WP and WF are not included in the computation of the graduate GPA. Transcript entries made in connection with withdrawals from undergraduate courses will be W or F in accordance with the undergraduate grading system; the withdrawal procedures and deadlines, however, will be those applicable to graduate-level students and courses.

Students who fail to notify the Graduate School in writing of their intent to withdraw from the university, or who fail to withdraw from a course or from the university in accordance with established procedure and by the established withdrawal deadlines, may receive an F in any affected course(s). If withdrawal is accomplished early enough in the term, there may be reduced liability for tuition and fees under the university’s refund policies. Later withdrawal may leave the student wholly liable for tuition and fees. Questions about billing and refund policies should be directed to the Bursar’s Office.

Most students, both full- and part-time, prefer to pursue an advanced degree without interruption in time. Those students who interrupt their studies should especially note the maximum time period allowed to fulfill all requirements for the degree sought. (See the sections entitled “Limitation of Time” elsewhere in this catalog.)

Students availing themselves of the services of the academic staff or the facilities of the university in any way that directly or indirectly relates to fulfilling degree requirements or receiving course credit must be enrolled. For example, a student must be enrolled in the term in which a comprehensive examination is taken. Also, once a student has begun work on a thesis, dissertation, or other activity under course number 699 or 799, it is expected that such work progress each academic term, and enrollment must be continuously maintained in course number 699 or 799 until a final grade is received for the activity and the required documentation of the activity is formally approved by the Graduate School (if applicable), unless a leave of absence is obtained, as described in the section “Requirements for Graduate Degrees.” If such continuous enrollment in courses numbered 699 or 799 is not maintained, and a leave of absence is not granted, then the student’s admission to the program will be canceled. (See “Readmission/Reentry” in this catalog.)

A student is not required to be registered in the term of graduation simply in order to graduate, if the student is not otherwise required to enroll under the policies of the previous paragraph. However, in order to make use of academic or nonacademic services of the university, a student is required to be enrolled for the corresponding term.

The Graduate School grading system applies to all graduate students taking courses for graduate credit.

The graduate grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours that a student has taken in NIU courses earning grade points. In no case are NIU courses taken for undergraduate or law credit or transfer courses included in the computation of the graduate GPA. Grades and their grade point values are as follows.

Other transcript entries, with their definition, include the following.

I–Incomplete (see also following section on “Incompletes”)
IP–In Progress
WP–Passing at time of withdrawal
WF–Failing at time of withdrawal
O–Audit; no grade and no credit

Students doing less than satisfactory work will be assigned the grade of D, F, or U. Graduate credit is given only for those courses in which a grade of S, or C or better, is earned.

 S/U and IP Grading

Certain graduate courses are graded on an S/U basis; such grading, however, is restricted to courses titled externship, independent study/research, institute, internship, practicum, seminar, or workshop. Individual students may not elect S and U grading. Other graduate courses are graded on an S/U/IP (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory/In Progress) basis. Thesis and dissertation courses, as well as similar project courses that require completion of work over multiple semesters and that are designated as 699 or 799, are graded on an S/U/IP basis. IP is a neutral grade–that is, the grade does not carry quality points–but IP grades awarded for 699 and 799 count toward the completion of a degree, as stipulated by the program of courses. While a student is working on the thesis, dissertation, or continuing project, a grade of U or IP will be awarded. In the final semester in which the thesis, dissertation, or project is successfully completed, a grade of S will be awarded. Grades of IP previously awarded will remain on the transcript, except in the case of on-going internships or similar courses, as designated in the catalog. In those cases, IP grades must be changed to an appropriate letter grade by the instructor in order for the course to count toward degree. No student may graduate with a U on his or her transcript in such courses.

Incompletes

When a student is passing a course yet special circumstances prevent a student’s completing the requirements of a course, the instructor may, at her or his discretion, direct that the symbol I (indicating incomplete) be entered in the student’s record. When the I is assigned, the instructor will file in the departmental office and in the Graduate School an Incomplete/Reversion Grade Form outlining the work to be completed, the deadline for completion of the work, and the grade that will be awarded if the student fails meet the deadline. In no case may the deadline be later than 120 days after the last day of final examinations during the term for which the incomplete is assigned. The incomplete must be removed within 120 days.

If the instructor does not change the incomplete within the period allowed for resolution, the incomplete (I) will be converted to an F or to the stipulated reversion grade. If no reversion grade is recorded, a grade of F will be awarded at the conclusion of 120 days. An administratively awarded grade, like one assigned by an instructor, may be changed at the discretion of the instructor of record prior to a student’s graduation. A student may not graduate with a transcript entry of “I” on his or her record.

Grade Appeals

A graduate-level student may formally appeal a course grade alleged to have been assigned capriciously. The definition of capricious grading is limited to (a) the assignment of a grade to a particular student on some basis other than performance in the course, (b) the assignment of a grade to a particular student by more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in that course, or (c) the assignment of a grade by a substantial departure from the instructor’s standards announced during the first fourth of the course. A grade appeal may not be based upon disagreement with the judgment of an instructor in assessing the quality of a student’s work. The student must submit a formal written appeal to the departmental Grade Review Board, through the chair of the department offering the course, by the end of the fourth week of the fall or spring semester immediately following the term for which the course grade was assigned. A full description of procedures governing the appeal of allegedly capricious semester grades for graduate-level students may be obtained from the ombudsman, department offices, college offices, and the office of the dean of the Graduate School and online at www.niu.edu/provost2/facpers/appm/III8.htm; and this should be consulted before appealing a grade.

An instructor of a graduate course shall inform the enrolled students of the basis for assigning final grades in the course, within the first fourth of the course. In courses other than those involving one-to-one mentorship, this information should be provided in writing and should include a brief description of those assignments, examinations, and other required academic activities that will contribute to the course grade, and the weight to be given to each activity’s contribution to that grade. Where possible, the instructor may also indicate the level of academic performance that will earn specific course grades. If, this early in the course, there is uncertainty in the assignments to be given, this should be clearly indicated.

In courses where the academic activity is individually arranged between a student and an instructor–such as thesis or dissertation research, independent study, or individual instruction in music performance or studio art–course expectations should be explained to the student within the first fourth of the course.

Faculty members who teach maintain regular office hours or provide other means to promote student-faculty consultation, in accordance with department policy. These office hours are included in course syllabi and are posted publicly each academic term. Arrangements more convenient to students than office visits (e.g., e-mail or online chat groups) may be substituted for office hours where provided for by department policy.

To remain in good academic standing a graduate student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all graduate courses required on the student’s program of courses (excluding deficiency courses taken for graduate credit) as well as in all graduate courses taken. The GPA is computed on a cumulative basis, by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of credit hours that a student has taken in courses earning grade points. The GPA includes any course work taken at NIU for which a student earned graduate credit, but not graduate work taken at other institutions that is accepted toward meeting the requirements of an NIU graduate degree or certificate. Courses in which a student has received I, IN, NG, NR, O, OW, S, WF, or WP are not included in this computation.

Following any academic term at the end of which the cumulative graduate GPA falls below 3.00, the student will be considered on academic probation. A student on academic probation who fails to bring the GPA to the required level of 3.00 upon the completion of an additional 9 semester hours of graduate work, excluding S/U course work but including course work for which a grade of IN or NG has been recorded, or upon enrollment in any course work in 3 subsequent terms, will be academically dismissed from the Graduate School. A student on probation who has registered for but not completed 9 or more such additional semester hours, or has enrolled in three terms following the term for which the student was placed on probation, will not be permitted further registration until all grades of I and NR have been removed and the student has achieved good academic standing.

A graduate student or student-at-large who is on academic probation may not carry an overload. A graduate student who has been academically dismissed from the Graduate School may not register as a student-at-large unless granted academic reinstatement as described in the following section.

A graduate-level student who has accumulated 6 or more semester hours of grades of D, F, U, or WF in graduate course work at NIU will be academically dismissed from the Graduate School, regardless of the student’s GPA. If a course is repeated, whether under the special repeat option or otherwise, the grades in both attempts will be considered in determining whether this 6- semester-hour total has been reached.

A graduate student who fails to maintain a GPA of 3.00 in his or her required program of courses for a particular degree may, upon recommendation of the department or program, be subject to termination of admission to that degree program.

A student-at-large must maintain a GPA of at least 3.00 in all graduate course work to be in good academic standing and is subject to the provisions of probation and dismissal as described above.

Although undergraduate course work is not included in the computation of the graduate GPA, it is also expected that graduate students achieve certain levels of competence in undergraduate courses pertinent to their graduate studies at NIU. If a graduate student fails to earn a grade of C or better in an undergraduate course specified as a deficiency course for the student’s program, or in course work in English that is required as a consequence of the mandatory testing of English-language proficiency, then upon the recommendation of the department, the student’s admission to the corresponding degree program will be terminated. Some programs have higher performance expectations for undergraduate deficiency courses, which may be specified in this catalog or in the student’s letter of admission to the Graduate School.

Graduate assistants shall be graduate students in good academic standing on the effective dates of their appointments. Assistants will have their appointments terminated if during the term of their appointments they (1) are academically dismissed or (2) fail to achieve good standing after one semester (excluding summer session) on probationary status. If a graduate student is placed on academic probation during the period of appointment, the employing unit may terminate the assistantship at that time.

A student must be in good academic standing in all graduate work taken at NIU at the start of the term for which admission is sought in order to be admitted to any graduate degree program (major) or specialization. A student must be in good academic standing overall and in the degree program in question to be eligible for graduation from the program.

A graduate student or student-at-large who has been academically dismissed may petition for academic reinstatement. Such petitions are acted upon by the Graduate Council Appeals Committee. To submit a request for reinstatement, or for more information about the appeals process, the dismissed student should contact the office of the dean of the Graduate School.

Graduate students or students-at-large who have been academically dismissed from NIU, and who have been absent from the university for ten years or longer, may request consideration for reinstatement under the returning graduate student/student-at-large reinstatement policy. The cumulative GPA of a student reinstated under this policy will be based only on course work attempted after the date of reinstatement. The reinstated student will be considered to be on final academic probation. If upon completion of 9 or more semester hours of graduate-level course work (exclusive of course work graded on an S/U basis but including course work in which a grade of IN or NG has been recorded), or upon enrollment in any course work in three subsequent terms, the new cumulative GPA is below 3.00, a final academic dismissal will be issued to the student.

The student’s status upon reinstatement will be governed by that held at the time of dismissal (i.e., graduate student or student-at-large) and prevailing Graduate School policy on reentering graduate students. A former graduate student reinstated to the Graduate School under this reinstatement policy must apply, or reapply, for admission to a desired degree program. All university regulations and program requirements in force at the time of reinstatement will apply to the reinstated student.

The Graduate Council Appeals Committee is authorized to review requests for exceptions to certain rules and certain kinds of appeals. The committee does not hear grade appeals, for which a separate procedure exists. Its primary authority lies in the sphere of Graduate School regulations–for example, admission, matriculation, and retention–but in special cases it may serve as an appellate body for academic matters deriving from the rules and practices of the departments and colleges. One major function of the committee is to review petitions for academic reinstatement from graduate students and students-at-large who have been academically dismissed. It will not review academic decisions that are based upon the disciplinary expertise of faculty in a particular field–for example, judgments of whether or not a student has passed a comprehensive examination, or whether or not a student who meets the university’s minimum requirements should be admitted to the Graduate School to pursue a particular program. However, it may examine the equitability of the process(es) by which such academic decisions have been arrived at. Similarly, if a student has requested an exception to a regulation (e.g., policy, procedure, deadline) at the appropriate level (departmental, college, etc.) and the request has been denied, the Appeals Committee may be asked to review the case only to the extent that the denial is alleged to be “capricious”–that the appellant’s request was handled in a fashion substantially different from those of other students in similar situations.

A student wishing to bring some matter before the Graduate Council Appeals Committee should address a written request to the office of the dean of the Graduate School. A student whose petition has been denied by the appeals committee may request reconsideration only upon presentation, in writing, of additional relevant evidence not previously available to the committee. There is no further authority to which a decision of the Graduate Council Appeals Committee may be appealed, as it acts on behalf of the Graduate Council, which is the university’s policymaking body in matters relating to graduate study.

For a student completing a doctoral degree at NIU after completing one or more master’s degrees and/or an Ed.S. degree in educational administration at NIU, an unlimited number of semester hours of graduate work from those prior NIU programs may be applied to meeting the credit-hour requirements of the doctoral program, provided that the NIU course work was not applied to meeting requirements of a graduate degree at another institution. However, any NIU graduate work already applied toward two graduate degrees (whether at NIU or elsewhere) may not be applied also toward doctoral program requirements. Also, a maximum of 9 semester hours of NIU course work that has been applied toward meeting graduate degree requirements at another institution may be used in an NIU doctoral program. The doctoral program in any case must conform to all other applicable requirements, including approval of the department and the Graduate School. For limitations on graduate transfer work acceptable in doctoral programs, see “Study-Abroad and Transfer Credit” in the doctoral requirements section of this catalog.

Any other student who pursues two distinct graduate degrees at NIU, either simultaneously or consecutively, may have up to 9 semester hours of graduate course work accepted for credit in both degree programs, with the exception of students who have permission for simultaneous pursuit of the M.P.H. and M.S. program in nursing, who may apply a specified 15 semester hours for credit in those two degree programs. A student who pursues a master’s or Ed.S. degree at NIU after completing a graduate degree at another accredited institution may have up to 9 semester hours of graduate course work used in that other degree program accepted for credit in the NIU degree program, whether the courses were taken at NIU or at the other institution.

Students pursuing the Master of Music degree and the Performer’s Certificate, either simultaneously or consecutively, may have up to 6 semester hours of graduate course work accepted for credit in both programs.

A student who pursues two certificates of graduate study at NIU, either simultaneously or consecutively, may have up to 4 semester hours of graduate course work accepted for credit in both certificate programs.

With the approval of the major department, courses used to satisfy requirements of a concentration or a certificate of graduate study may also be applied toward a graduate degree unless specified otherwise in the catalog description of the degree program.

In taking advantage of these dual-use provisions, the student must complete all the stated requirements for each degree or certificate of graduate study. Further, the provisions concerning limitation of time for degree or certificate completion as described in “Requirements for Graduate Degrees” and “Certificates of Graduate Study” apply independently to each degree or certificate, and the written approval of the office of the dean of the Graduate School is required. In no case may a course be accepted for credit in more than two graduate degree programs or in acquiring more than two certificates of graduate study.

With the approval of the student’s department and the office of the dean of the Graduate School, some graduate courses taken at other accredited ( U.S. ) or recognized (foreign) institutions may be accepted toward meeting the credit-hour requirements of a graduate degree at NIU. The student must have earned graduate credit in the course according to the institution at which the course was taken (so, for example, courses in which undergraduate credit, medical-school credit, or other professional postbaccalaureate credit was earned cannot be accepted in transfer).

No transfer credit accepted from another institution may be in correspondence courses, which are defined as courses other than independent-study courses, delivered via any medium, that do not involve significant real-time interaction between students and faculty.

A grade of B- or better must have been earned in each graduate course accepted in transfer toward meeting NIU graduate degree requirements, and the overall GPA in all graduate transfer courses thus accepted must be 3.00 or higher. Courses for which grades of S, Pass, Credit, or the like have been earned will be accepted in transfer only if the Graduate School can officially verify that the student’s performance was at a level equivalent to a grade of B or better.

To receive consideration for graduate work done elsewhere, the student must submit to the Graduate School an official transcript showing the course work in question. Transfer credit is considered to be accepted toward meeting degree requirements only at the time a student is cleared to graduate from the program.

In transfer, three quarter hours are considered to be equivalent to two semester hours. Therefore, if the graduate credit earned in a course accepted in transfer from another institution was reported in quarter hours, the transfer credit will be granted at the ratio of two semester hours per three quarter hours.

Students should consult the “Requirements for Graduate Degrees” section of this catalog for more specific information on limitations on transfer credit and the combined total of transfer and other courses applicable to individual degree programs.

Upon receiving the official letter of admission to the Graduate School, students should plan their course selection for their first term at NIU. Care should be taken that such selections conform with the requirements of the specific program they wish to pursue in their major department.

Students are urged to consult early in or prior to their first term with their academic advisers (named in the letter of admission) to plan an official program of courses. The program of courses must be approved by both the student’s major department and the Graduate School. Prior to registering each term, students should consult with their advisers for the purpose of review and approval of all course selections.

The Graduate Catalog outlines the minimum course requirements for each degree program, for a student fully prepared to begin that program. Departments may, and often do, require additional course work of individual students as necessary to address deficiencies of background or other specific needs for proper academic or professional preparation. And, a department is not obligated to accept any particular course for inclusion in a student’s program of courses, whether it was taken at NIU as a graduate student or as a student-at-large, or was taken at another institution. Some degree programs also have a limitation on the amount of credit from courses taken at NIU as a student-at-large, and/or on the combined total of student-at-large and transfer hours, that may be applied toward meeting degree requirements; such limitations are described below or in individual program descriptions in this catalog.

At least 50 percent of the credit for graduate course work required on the program of courses, excluding courses identified as deficiencies, must be in the student’s major. Individual degree programs may require a program even more closely focused on the major field. For a student in a doctoral program who has a master’s degree, the requirement of 50 percent of graduate work in the major applies only to courses beyond the master’s degree. The official program of courses to be taken for the degree should be submitted to the Graduate School for review for conformity with departmental and university requirements as early in the student’s graduate studies as possible.

The official program of courses form, approved by the major department, must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than the graduation-application deadline for the term for which the student applies for graduation. Until a student’s program of courses is approved, in writing, by both the major department and the Graduate School, the student cannot be assured that the proposed plan of study will be accepted as fulfilling the degree requirements. When the program of courses has been fully approved, a copy will be sent to the student and to the adviser. Any changes subsequently made to an approved program of courses must also be submitted to and approved by the Graduate School.

Assessment at Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University engages in assessment processes to answer important questions about the quality of students’ graduate experiences. Assessment is one of the techniques the university uses to measure the extent to which it fulfills its educational mission, and information from assessment helps the university improve courses, degree programs, and support services. Additionally, assessment activities provide information that is required at the state and national levels for certification and accreditation purposes. Most importantly, assessment processes tell us how well the university is meeting students’ needs.

Many assessment activities at NIU occur as a part of instruction within the degree program. Other assessment activities, including surveys and projects, occur with the goal of measuring students’ abilities by evaluating performance at selected points in time. As students progress through degree programs, they will be expected to participate in assessment measures, which they should complete to the best of their abilities. Students’ performances on these measures reflect on the quality of the university and its graduate and professional programs. All student performance data are aggregated; no individual student information is reported.

Questions regarding assessment should be directed to Assessment Services, 815-753-7120. Assessment Services is located in the Campus Life Building, Room 111.

The university offers a limited number of graduate concentrations, which are listed in this catalog under “Graduate Concentrations and Certificates of Graduate Study.” A concentration is a course of study, typically interdisciplinary, linked to the pursuit of a specific graduate degree. Completion of the requirements for a concentration will result in an appropriate notation on the student’s academic record. The “Directory for Correspondence” in this catalog indicates which academic unit administers each concentration. Unless otherwise stated, the time period for the completion of course work for a concentration is the same as that for the degree to which it is linked.

See the individual concentration for other specific requirements.

The university offers several certificates of graduate study, which are listed in this catalog under “Graduate Concentrations and Certificates of Graduate Study.” A certificate of graduate study is a course of study, not linked to the pursuit of a degree, consisting of a coherent set of courses addressing a specific theme. Completion of the requirements for a certificate of graduate study will result in an appropriate notation on the student’s academic record. The “Directory for Correspondence” in this catalog indicates which academic unit administers each certificate of graduate study.

To pursue a certificate of graduate study, a student must be admitted to the Graduate School or to the graduate-level classification of student-at-large, and must have the approval of the individual responsible for administration of that certificate. Only courses taken at NIU for graduate credit may be applied toward a certificate, and a GPA of at least 3.00 must be earned in the course work used toward the certificate, all of which must be completed within the six years immediately preceding awarding of the certificate. With the approval of the student’s major department, courses used to satisfy requirements of a certificate may also be applied toward a graduate degree, unless this catalog indicates otherwise under the description of the specific degree or certificate.

See the individual certificate for other specific requirements.

Students are encouraged to attend classes regularly, but individual instructors determine attendance policies for their own classes. The university recognizes that on occasion examinations or other scheduled academic activities may conflict with the religious observances of some members of the academic community, and accordingly encourages the instructional and administrative staff to make reasonable accommodations to minimize the resulting difficulties for individuals concerned. Students faced with such conflicts should notify the appropriate instructor or administrative area as much in advance of the examination or other activity creating the conflict as possible. Students believing that they have been unreasonably denied an educational benefit due to their religious beliefs or practices may bring the matter to the attention of the department chair for resolution; if for any reason this route would not be appropriate, the matter may be brought to the college dean or dean’s designee.

A student who believes that special accommodations with respect to course work or other academic requirements may be appropriate in consideration of a disability must (1) inform the faculty in charge of the academic activity either at the start of the course or as soon as the student becomes aware of the activity or requirement in connection with which accommodation is sought, (2) provide the required verification of the disability to the Center for Access-Ability Resources, and (3) inform the latter office from which faculty member accommodations have been requested. If contacted by the faculty member, the staff of the Center for Access-Ability Resources will provide advice about accommodations that may be indicated in the particular case.

A wide range of services can be obtained by students with disabilities, including housing, transportation, adaptation of printed materials, and advocacy with faculty and staff. Students with disabilities who need such services or want more information should contact the Center for Access-Ability Resources, University Health Service, at 815-753-1303.

Protection of Human Subjects

Any Northern Illinois University student or faculty or staff member who proposes to undertake research involving human subjects is required by federal and university regulations to seek approval for the project from the Graduate School’s research compliance office. Examples of human-subject research include collection of data from humans or their body tissues or fluids (e.g., data from muscle, hair, saliva; or on height, weight, or pulse); collection of data on human behavior, emotional conditions, or responses, including data from questionnaires, tests, interviews, or observations; use of human-subjects data previously collected that now reside in private records or public sources. All such research must be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board or its chair. Each research project involving human subjects must receive formal approval or exemption from the Board or its chair, even if other persons have received approval for the same or a similar project.

The student must submit a completed departmental review form to the chair of the academic department under whose jurisdiction the research would be undertaken. The student should also ascertain from the department whether completion of the longer Application for Approval to Use Human Subjects in Research form is required. The department chair, or a designee, will review the submitted human-subjects form to determine if the project falls into a category requiring the approval of the NIU Institutional Review Board on the Protection of Human Subjects.

Departmental review forms and the Application for Approval to Use Human Subjects in Research may be obtained from most departmental offices or from the research compliance office within the Graduate School. Applicants are responsible for providing the information requested on the forms, for securing the required approval signatures, and for seeing that the completed, signed forms are received by the Graduate School. If research involving human subjects is part of a student’s degree requirements, then to ensure eligibility for graduation, the student is urged to complete these required forms as soon as possible after the topic and protocols of the research have been determined. In no case should research involving human subjects begin before all necessary institutional approvals have been given. Questions concerning human subjects review may be directed to the student’s faculty adviser or department chair, or to the research compliance office in the Graduate School.

Facilities for Experimental Animals or Recombinant DNA

A student or member of the faculty or staff who proposes to engage in research utilizing living animals or recombinant DNA should consult first with her or his academic department or the research compliance office in the Graduate School to determine the federal and university requirements for facilities in which such research subjects are to be housed and to obtain the approval forms required by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee or the Institutional Biosafety Committee, respectively.

Use of Radioactive Substances

A student who proposes to use substances emitting ionizing radiation must be supervised by a faculty member and must use such materials in a facility approved by the University Radiation Safety Committee; and such radioactive substances may be purchased only with the approval of the University Radiation Safety Officer.

A student who intends to graduate at the end of a particular term must have submitted to the Graduate School a completed graduation application, including the receipt for payment in the Bursar’s Office of the graduation fee, by the graduation-application deadline for that term. This deadline is available online at www.grad.niu.edu/audience/current_students.shtml.

All requirements for a graduate degree must be completed according to the schedule listed at the above website. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of these deadlines.

If a student applies for graduation in a particular term and fails to graduate at the end of that term, the student must submit a “Reactivation of Application for Degree Form” available at www.grad.niu.edu/audience/reactivate.pdf. That form must be received in the Graduate School at least three months prior to the commencement date.

After a student has applied for graduation and it has been verified that all degree requirements have been completed, an official “certificate of completion” can be issued by the Graduate School to the student or to another party designated in writing by the student. Such a certificate is commonly accepted as proof of completion in advance of issuance of the diploma and degree transcript.