Academic Policies and Standards

Academic Advisement

Academic Advisement works closely with faculty, academic departments, and administrative and student support offices to assist with registration advisement and planning and provides continuing advisement for matriculated undergraduates. In its function as a central clearinghouse of academic information, it provides reliable up-to-date advisement through online advisement documents, the web page, and related informational sources. Academic Advisement also monitors curriculum declarations (e.g. declarations and changes of major) and other components of the advisement operation.

Advisement of New Students

All newly matriculated students are required to participate in orientation prior to their first semester at SUNY Oneonta. During this orientation, students may have opportunities to review and adjust their course schedules and/or degree plans with advisors.

First-year students may declare a major upon acceptance to the institution. Although they are not required to do so, declaring a major will provide the student and the advisor with more direction for course selection during the first year of study. Students must declare a major before they have earned 56 s.h. toward a degree. All first-year students are assigned a professional advisor from Academic Advisement for their first year, after which time they will transition over to a faculty advisor in their major department. Incoming transfer students are also assigned an advisor from Academic Advisement for their first semester, and if they have fewer than 30 credits, may remain with Academic Advisement for up to one year. Undeclared students will remain with Academic Advisement until a major is declared. Then, they are assigned an advisor from their major department.

Transfer students are admitted to SUNY Oneonta in a specific major. Transfer credit evaluations may impact initial course schedules, so it is essential that final transcripts of all previous college work be received well in advance of the registration date.

Because of the changing professional school requirements and the sequential nature of many required courses, students in Education, Pre-professional, and Cooperative Programs must plan their first-year courses very carefully (see “Special Academic Programs & Opportunities ” for information about these programs). Appropriate faculty advisors will help students in their planning.

Continuing Academic Planning

Academic planning and scheduling are ongoing processes. Students work with advisors and other campus personnel to craft academic plans that focus on degree completion, as well as career or graduate school preparation. Students can be proactive in this process by regularly reviewing their Degree Works, scheduling ongoing meetings with their advisors, and selecting a major early in their degree progress. Students’ responsibilities include:

1. Becoming familiar with requirements for their program of record. Students must use up-to-date information. Advisement documents (Degree Works) are available to students online through myOneonta.
2. Maintaining a record of the progress made toward the completion of program and degree requirements.
3. Initiating conferences with advisors to discuss academic matters.
4. Initiating and following through with the specified procedures for changes in schedule or program. And, if necessary, gaining credit through some means other than the completion of regularly scheduled courses at SUNY Oneonta.

Academic advisors are not able to offer advice regarding financial aid. Students should consult with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for this type of information.

Declaration of Curriculum Majors

In accordance with the policies of SUNY Oneonta, first-year and transfer students are admitted into their program of choice provided they meet admission requirements for the major. Students are cautioned that admission to a specific curriculum may be dependent upon additional criteria such as availability of classroom space, sequence of courses offered, and a grade point average (GPA) acceptable to the academic department. Continuing students must be in an approved major, with an assigned faculty advisor, before they have completed 56 s.h. toward a degree (including accepted transfer credits). Students majoring in one of the teacher education fields must be properly enrolled and have completed necessary requirements, including specified GPAs, for entry into the methods sequence.

Designation of Major for Transfer Students

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions evaluates transfer credit and makes assignments to specific programs based upon the student’s request. Requests are granted provided the student meets departmental criteria for entrance into the major. If departmental criteria are not met, the student is asked to designate another major.

Transfers who wish to have a course re-evaluated must provide the previous institution’s syllabus and course description from their college catalog.

Change of Major Curriculum

Requests for change of curriculum are made through Academic Advisement. When students transfer from one curriculum to another, their academic records are evaluated based on the new program requirements. This may result in a loss of credit. In general, it is the practice to approve a transfer of curriculum only if the student has at least a 2.0 GPA in the courses required in the new program. Students are expected to complete, with a minimum 2.0 GPA, the major requirements in effect at the time of matriculation. Majors in the fields of Education, Business, and Dietetics follow the requirements in place at the time of declaration. Some majors require higher GPAs. Students may choose to follow more recent major requirements. Students should work with their advisors for clarification of their specific degree requirements.

Declaration of More Than One Major

Students may declare as many as two majors if they meet all requirements for eligibility in both majors. They must subsequently meet the retention requirements of both majors, and all current policies relating to the satisfaction of degree requirements pertain. One major must be designated as the primary major and the other as the secondary major. Adolescence Education majors (except Adolescence Education: Social Studies and Family and Consumer Sciences Education) are automatically assigned the required dual major in the content area. An education major is always designated as the primary major. Financial Aid is usually determined upon the primary major requirements (dual majors are degree applicable for federal aid and Excelsior).

All requirements for both majors must be completed satisfactorily for students to graduate; however, only one degree will be awarded. To satisfy all requirements in some combinations, it may be necessary for a student to complete more than the minimum 120 s.h.

Dual-major students:

• must satisfy all requirements in both majors.
• must satisfy the degree requirements of the primary major, including the minimum number of liberal arts credits required by that major’s degree award.
• It is possible that the same course may be a requirement in each of the two major programs. If so, the credit earned in that course can be counted only once in total credit accumulations and GPA.

Criteria for Retention in the Major

The major is defined as the courses in the academic discipline or approved interdisciplinary sequence and does not include required supporting (“related area”) courses unless these courses are counted in the major.

In addition to the university retention standards, many departments require students maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in their majors as a criterion for remaining enrolled in that major. Students may be dropped from their major by their department if they fail to meet specific department standards for retention in the major and/or at the end of their junior year if they do not have a 2.0 GPA in their major. They may also be dropped from their major if they receive three initial grades of “D” or “E” in courses required in the major. Students will be informed of their status by their department. Students are responsible for officially changing their major after notification of not meeting required standards. Failure to complete necessary paperwork may result in the loss of financial aid. Students will not receive their degree unless they have achieved a 2.0 GPA in all work taken in their major as well as overall. Education and Dietetics majors are required to earn higher GPAs. See the department for information.

Departments wishing to impose standards that are not a part of any course, but that are related to competence or skills needed in the program, may submit proposals for inclusion of these standards to the Curriculum Committee.

Criteria for Completion of a Major

Students must complete all required courses in the major with a minimum major GPA of 2.0 (some majors require higher GPAs). One half of the major must be completed with Oneonta coursework. The established maximum number of credits in the major may not be exceeded. For Adolescence Education majors, the major field is the subject area. Students must complete a major, the Dragon Academy program, and any other established SUNY Oneonta requirements to be eligible for a degree. All courses in the major field must be taken for a letter grade unless offered P/F only. Related Work is part of the degree program, but is not calculated in the major GPA.

Curriculum Minors

A curriculum minor constitutes a program of study less extensive than that of a major. Minors are declared/changed through Academic Advisement. Although minors do not qualify as degree programs, approved minors are recorded on the transcript of a student who successfully completes the requirements. Minors are awarded only with the completion of a degree. Students may declare a maximum of two minors.

Minimum standards for completion of minors are the same as for majors. Specifically:

• one half of the minor requirements must be completed in residence,
• minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be earned in the courses used for the minor.

Minors serve a broad range of purposes; for example, minors may:

• provide an academic emphasis in a department or enable exploration in an interdisciplinary area,
• offer students an opportunity to pursue interests different from or complementary to their major field, and
• help students to enhance their job potential upon graduation.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Policy Statement on Mandatory Placement

SUNY Oneonta may require students to participate in testing to determine course placement in selected subjects. Based on performance indicators including testing results, the University may require students to complete identified courses. The Student Learning Center has the authority to determine mandatory placement for any student based on available records and materials, and other assessments. At present, testing and/or placement are carried out in the subject areas of writing, reading, mathematics, and English as a second language.

Dragon Academy (General Education Program)

All undergraduate students at SUNY Oneonta are required to satisfy the Dragon Academy (General Education) requirements. The requirements have been carefully devised to give students opportunities to enrich their own personal intellectual development and contribute to the quality of life of our larger community. Dragon Academy courses are designed to help students learn to appreciate a multiplicity of perspectives concerning a wide array of topics and issues while mastering the skills of effective thinking, problem solving, and communication.

Dragon Academy Requirements

Students are required to complete all areas listed below.  All courses must be taken for a letter grade. Courses may overlap with other degree requirements.

I. Red Dragon Seminar (DRGN 1000 ) is a foundational course intended to ignite intellectual curiosity and facilitate academic progress by helping students develop skills that will support them throughout their university studies and introducing them to the competencies they will acquire in other Dragon Academy courses. This course is typically completed in the student’s first year of study.

II. Knowledge and Skills Areas:

Oral Communication (OCOM attribute)

Written Communication (WCOM attribute)

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice (DESJ attribute)

Quantitative Reasoning (MAT attribute)

Scientific Reasoning (NSCI attribute)

Humanities (HUMA attribute) 

Social Sciences (SOSC attribute)

Arts (ARTS attribute)

U.S. History & Civic Engagement (UHCE attribute)

World History & Global Awareness (WHGA attribute)

World Languages (WLAN attribute)

III. Core Competencies:  

Critical Thinking and Reasoning (CTR attribute)

Information Literacy (IL attribute)

Global Literacy (GL attribute)

Dragon Academy Learning Outcomes and Requirements

General Education areas met at one SUNY institution will meet the same General Education areas at SUNY Oneonta. Note: Where courses/credits are listed, it is possible a requirement may be met via exam and/or waiver. In such a case, credit is not earned, but the requirement is considered met. Waivers to Dragon Academy requirements can be granted, when appropriate, to allow for seamless transfer of SUNY students. 

Red Dragon Seminar Students will begin to be able to identify, analyze, and evaluate ideas, data, or arguments; read and comprehend college-level texts; locate information with an awareness of authority, validity, and bias; discuss the historical or contemporary interdependencies between the Global North and South, such as global issues of sustainability or questions of social justice.

Oral Communication (OCOM) Students will research a topic, develop an argument, and organize supporting details; demonstrate coherent college-level communication (oral) that informs, persuades, or otherwise engages with an audience; evaluate communication for substance, bias, and intended effect; and demonstrate the ability to revise and improve oral communication.

Written Communication (WCOM) Students will research a topic, develop an argument, and organize supporting details; demonstrate coherent college-level communication (written) that informs, persuades, or otherwise engages with an audience; evaluate communication for substance, bias, and intended effect; and demonstrate the ability to revise and improve written communication.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice (DESJ) Students will describe the historical and contemporary societal factors that shape the development of individual and group identity involving race, class, and gender; analyze the role that complex networks of social structures and systems play in the creation and perpetuation of the dynamics of power, privilege, oppression, and opportunity; and apply the principles of rights, access, equity, and autonomous participation to past, current, or future social justice action.

Quantitative Reasoning (MAT) Students will demonstrate mathematical skills and quantitative reasoning, including the ability to interpret and draw inferences from appropriate mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables, or schematics; represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, numerically, or verbally as appropriate; and employ quantitative methods such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, or statistics to solve problems.

Scientific Reasoning (NSCI) Students will demonstrate scientific reasoning applied to the natural world, including an understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of data analysis or mathematical modeling; and application of scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural sciences.

Humanities (HUMA) Students will demonstrate knowledge of the conventions and methods of at least one of the humanities; and recognize and analyze nuance and complexity of meaning through critical reflections on text, visual images, or artifacts.

Social Sciences (SOSC) Students will describe major concepts and theories of at least one discipline in the social sciences; and demonstrate an understanding of the methods social scientists use to explore social phenomena.

The Arts (ARTS) Students will demonstrate an understanding of at least one principal form of artistic expression and the creative process inherent therein.

U.S. History & Civic Engagement (UHCE) Students will demonstrate understanding of United States’ society and/or history, including the diversity of individuals and communities that make up the nation; understand the role of individual participation in US communities and government; and apply historical and contemporary evidence to draw, support, or verify conclusions.

World History & Global Awareness (WHGA) Students will demonstrate knowledge of a broad outline of world history and/or the development of the distinctive features of at least one civilization or culture in relation to other regions of the world; and demonstrate an understanding of the structures, systems, and interrelationships among civilizations and cultures within historical and/or contemporary contexts, and their impact on wellbeing and sustainability.

World Languages (WLAN) Students will exhibit basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a world language; and demonstrate knowledge of the distinctive features of culture(s) associated with the language they are studying.

Critical Thinking and Reasoning (CTR) Students will clearly articulate an issue or problem; identify, analyze, and evaluate ideas, data, and arguments as they occur in their own or others’ work; acknowledge limitations such as perspective and bias; and develop well-reasoned (logical) arguments to form judgments and/or draw conclusions.

Information Literacy (IL) Students will locate information effectively using tools appropriate to their need and discipline; evaluate information with an awareness of authority, validity, and bias; and demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions of information use, creation, and dissemination.

Global Literacy (GL) Students will decipher the interdependencies, relationships, and linkages (historical or contemporary) that exist between the Global North and Global South; examine global issues of sustainability; interrogate global relations in terms of questions of social justice; be able to analyze the history and diversity of the U.S. and its relationship to the world.

Important Notes on Dragon Academy

• Only courses that carry an attribute in the Schedule of Classes in the semester they are taken may be used to satisfy Dragon Academy areas. Check the attribute column in the Schedule of Classes for Dragon Academy attributes.
• A course fulfills a Dragon Academy requirement if it carries at least 2.66 credits.
• Transfer courses that fulfilled SUNY General Education areas at another SUNY institution will fulfill the corresponding general education areas at SUNY Oneonta.
• SUNY Oneonta will allow waivers to local general education requirements to ensure a transfer student is not required to exceed the number of credits to graduation required of native students in the same program.
• Dragon Academy courses may overlap with major and minor courses unless specified otherwise in the major.
• Knowledge and Skills Area courses may overlap with Core Competencies. 
• Some Knowledge and Skills Area courses may fulfill more than one Core Competency.
• Dragon Academy courses must be taken for a letter grade.

General Undergraduate Degree Requirements – A Summary

Refer to the section on Academic Departments, Majors & Degree Programs  for specific major requirements.

Degree Credit

Credits for regularly scheduled courses satisfactorily completed at SUNY Oneonta are assigned on a semester hour (s.h.) basis. Other credits may be granted as shown below.

Imputed Credit: SUNY Oneonta offers developmental courses that carry imputed credit. These courses have course numbers that begin with a zero (PROF 0011 , COMP 0011 , MATH 0001 , etc.). They carry credit for the term and are used when calculating full-time status, tuition, and financial aid.  Once grades are assigned, the course converts to zero credits. Developmental courses may be required, but at no time do they earn credit toward degree completion. 

Transfer Credit and Grading Policies for Course Work Completed at Other Institutions

The transcript of each student who has completed coursework at another institution prior to admission to SUNY Oneonta is evaluated by the Admissions Office to determine the number of semester hours and the appropriate course equivalents. Only credit satisfactorily completed at regionally accredited institutions of higher education, institutions accredited by the New York State Board of Regents, or through approved external programs will be accepted. Credit is granted on a semester hour (s.h.) basis. Students transferring from institutions using a credit system other than semester hours will have their credit converted to semester hours. Credits transfer, but only grades earned at SUNY Oneonta are used in computing the Oneonta grade point average. Credit will be granted to a maximum of 75 s.h. when earned grades/scores meet the minimum standards:

• Traditional Courses: Credit will be granted for courses with passing grades (P; D- or higher). Note: Some programs require grades higher than those acceptable for transfer.  Students in such programs may need to repeat coursework to meet minimum grade standards.  In such cases, the transfer credit will be excluded from the record once the repeat is completed.  Minimum grade requirements may be found under each program’s requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog.
• Advanced Placement (AP): Credit is granted for AP exams where the grades earned are 3, 4, or 5.
• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP): credit is granted for scores that meet or exceed the American Council of Education recommendation for the exam.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): Students who have completed an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma will be awarded credit for all standard level and higher level exams with a grade of 4 or higher.  Students who have not completed an IB diploma will receive credit for higher level exams with grades of 4 or higher.
• NYS Seal of Biliteracy: Students earning the New York State Seal of Biliteracy will receive credit (three semester hours) equivalent to the fourth-semester class in the language designated by the Seal. Completing the Seal of Biliteracy will also fulfill the Dragon Academy World Languages requirement.  
• Armed Forces Credit: Some training courses provided by the Armed Forces may be equivalent to college courses and transfer credit may be granted by presenting certificates or form DD295 describing the training received. The American Council on Education Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services is used to determine the acceptability of satisfactorily-completed courses and the level they are to be accepted. Credit is granted only in disciplines where SUNY Oneonta has academic programs or departments.
• Noncollegiate-sponsored Instruction: Early in 1974, the New York State Education Department developed a system for evaluating formal learning experiences sponsored by non-collegiate institutions; that is, by organizations whose primary focus is not education. They include private industry, professional associations, labor unions, voluntary associations, and government agencies. The American Council on Education (ACE) and the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) administer an evaluation system and recommend the awarding of credit earned through these learning experiences. These guides are used to determine the acceptability of credit earned for successfully completed courses/learning experiences/training.
• International Coursework: Credit will be granted as approved by evaluations from a credential evaluation service that is a member in good standing with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). 

Students wishing to attend another institution while matriculated at SUNY Oneonta, must contact Academic Advisement to obtain prior approval. See restrictions under Post-matriculation Transfer Credit Policies.

Degrees and Dragon Academy (General Education): Students who have earned A.A. or A.S. degrees from a SUNY institution or a B.A. or B.S. from any regionally accredited institution will be considered to have completed the Dragon Academy program. 

SUNY Transfer Credit Appeal: This process is designed for pre- or post-matriculated students transferring from a two-year SUNY Associate’s degree program into a SUNY four-year institution. If you have questions concerning the evaluation of your credit and/or whether or not you qualify for the SUNY appeal process, please contact a transfer counselor in the Office of Admissions.

Post-matriculation Transfer Credit Policies

Students must obtain Prior Approval from Academic Advisement before taking courses through another institution. If students are taking courses through another institution during a fall or spring semester and are not registered in any courses at Oneonta, they must request an Academic Leave of Absence along with their Prior Approval. Prior Approval may be granted through the cross-registration  process or on a standard Prior Approval form.

• Students may take approved course work at any regionally accredited college provided the transfer of the course work is required and does not place the student in violation of SUNY Oneonta residency requirements:
  • 45 s.h. must be earned in residence.
  • 30 s.h. of the last 60 s.h. must be earned in residence.
  • At least one-half the credits required for a major must be earned in residence.
  • At least one-half the credits required for a minor must be earned in residence.

Note: Credit earned through a SUNY study abroad program is considered credit earned in residence.

• Students must obtain a grade of “D-” or higher for the transfer credit to be awarded.
• General Education categories fulfilled at one SUNY institution will be considered fulfilled at SUNY Oneonta regardless of whether transfer credit is granted.
• Students may not attempt to take courses for which credit has previously been earned at SUNY Oneonta.

Course Challenges

SUNY Oneonta recognizes that some students have acquired knowledge and skills equivalent to those normally acquired through course work. In such cases, students may receive credit for appropriate classes by “challenging” those courses. To challenge a course, students must be full-time, matriculated students and must apply to the department chair. Each department decides under what circumstances a course may be challenged, as well as the time of course challenges. Students are encouraged to obtain a course outline or prospectus before challenging.

Course challenge requirements are prepared by the instructor and subject to approval of the department or a subgroup thereof. The passing or failing of a challenged course is determined by the instructor and reported to the Registrar. Credits granted on the basis of course challenges are acknowledged on student transcripts with a grade of CH. Credit earned for challenged courses does not count toward full-time enrollment status.

Students may not challenge particular courses more than once. Students may not challenge a course and then enroll in it for additional credit; nor may they earn credit for a course and then challenge it to earn additional credit. Students also may not challenge a course in which they have already taken and received a failing grade.

If students transfer from institutions where credit has been given on the basis of course challenges, such credits will be reviewed and evaluated in the same manner as other transfer credit.

Grading System

Within each course, the instructor determines the basis for evaluation and the system used is founded upon academic performance professionally judged and not on matters irrelevant to that performance such as personality, race, religion, degree of political activism, or personal beliefs.

Grading Scale

Quality Point System (or Grade Point Average)

Academic standing is based on the cumulative quality point index or grade point average (GPA), which is determined by assigning a numerical value for each letter grade earned. For each semester, grades of “A” through “E” yield the quality points listed above. No other grades carry quality point values.

The GPA for one semester is determined by dividing the number of quality points earned during the semester by the number of credit hours carried during the semester for all courses in which weighted grades were received. 

The cumulative GPA is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credit hours carried for all courses in which weighted grades were received.

Passing (“P”), failing (“F”), pending (“PEN”), incomplete (“I”), and withdrawal (“W”) grades are not computed in the GPA. When “PEN” or “I” grades are replaced by a permanent grade, the semester and cumulative GPAs are recomputed. Only grades earned for coursework completed at SUNY Oneonta are included in the computation of the GPA. GPAs are truncated, not rounded. For example, a 2.64666 mathematical computation means the student’s GPA is 2.64.

GPAs in the Major and Minor

The major GPA is calculated using the highest grades earned to fulfill the requirements of the approved curriculum, excluding related course work. Students must earn a minimum 2.00 GPA in their major. Individual programs may require higher GPAs. 

The minor GPA is calculated using the highest grades earned to fulfill the requirements of the approved curriculum. Students must earn a minimum 2.00 GPA in their minor. Minors are only awarded if they are completed at the time the degree is awarded.

Incompletes

Incomplete grades may be assigned only on request by the student and only under the following conditions:

• A majority of the course work has been completed
• Completion was not possible due to circumstances beyond the student’s control
• Course work can be completed without additional faculty instruction.

Faculty may not assign an incomplete in circumstances where the student’s performance to date clearly indicates an inability to pass the course as originally structured in the syllabus. Faculty may not assign an incomplete grade in place of a failing grade or because the student stopped attending class.

An example of acceptable circumstances would be a student who missed the final exam or final paper because of an illness or family emergency that can be documented.

Faculty may not assign an incomplete grade without the student’s knowledge.

An understanding of the remaining course requirements and the deadline for completion of them must be established between the student and faculty member prior to assigning the incomplete.

Faculty must complete an Incomplete Grade Agreement Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office at the same time end-of-term grades are submitted.

Students must not re-register for the course in order to complete the course work. If they do, a failing grade will be assigned for the first course registration.

Deadlines for completing incompletes are determined by the course instructor. However, they must be within the designated deadlines noted below.

• For incompletes received in spring or summer terms, the deadline for completion is usually in November unless course instructor determines an earlier date.
• For incompletes received in fall or winter terms, the deadline for completion is usually in April unless course instructor determines an earlier date.

Specific dates are posted in the Key Dates and Deadlines which are on the Registrar’s website.

Extension of the deadline beyond the designated one should not be necessary. However, under extreme circumstances, a student may submit a Petition for Extension of Incomplete form. The petition must state reasons for the request, and contain documentation supporting the request. The student submits the petition to the course instructor and advisor for signature indicating support of the request. The petition is then submitted to the school’s dean for final approval. The approved forms are submitted to the Registrar for recording.

The Registrar will send notification of outstanding incompletes to students and their instructors, indicating specific deadlines and any approved extension dates.

Any incomplete grades not resolved by the University deadline via incomplete extension form or grade change form will be converted to failing grades. These failing grades will not be changed back to incomplete grades, so both faculty and students must be attentive to these deadlines.

Incomplete grades may not be changed to “W” grades at a later date.

Degrees will not be awarded to students who have Incomplete grades. The student must opt to change the Incomplete to an “E/F” or complete the course work and reapply for the degree during the semester in which the course requirements are completed.

Pending

The grade “PEN” indicates that the course work has been satisfactory but there is some persistent inadequacy in writing or reading. Instructors should refer a student to the Student Learning Center as soon as a problem is discovered and not wait to assign a “PEN” grade at the end of the term.

The “PEN” grade may be used when an instructor discovers a specific skill or deficiency (writing or reading) in a student’s work, but not in place of an “E” grade or an “I”. Students who receive a “PEN” grade are required to start remediation during the next semester in residence.

When a “PEN” grade is given in a course, the deadline for completion of the course is the same as that for an Incomplete. The date by which an Incomplete must be made up falls in November for the fall semester and in April for the spring semester. Failure to complete the “PEN” by the deadline would result in a failing grade for the course. With the student’s consent, an instructor may extend the “PEN” grade whenever there is an educational advantage in doing so.

A form that specifies the remedial work that must be undertaken by the student must be filled out by the instructor for that course. The faculty member issuing a “PEN” grade must provide a brief, but clearly written statement of the exact skill to be mastered in order to pass a course. Students are not permitted to graduate with a “PEN” grade. Upon notification of the completion of a referred remediation, it is the instructor’s responsibility to remove the “PEN” grade via a grade change form.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals from individual courses: The deadline for withdrawing from a semester-length course is one week after the published mid-semester date. A “W” will appear on the transcript. After the above date no individual course withdrawals will be permitted; students are committed to each of their courses for the remainder of the semester and will receive grades in them. Equivalent dates apply to mini-courses and half-semester courses.

Exceptions to this policy in individual circumstances for personal (nonacademic) reasons may be granted by the Student Development Office, in consultation with the instructor. Under such circumstances the determination made by Student Development and the instructor is final. 

The provisions of this section do not apply to students who withdraw from SUNY Oneonta.

Non-attendance — First Week of Classes

• Students must attend one of the first two class hours in each course as well as the first laboratory (if applicable) or the instructor may declare the student’s place in a course “vacant”.
• If an illness or unavoidable circumstance prevents the student from meeting this attendance requirement, the student must notify the instructor or the academic department office of his/her intention to attend the course. If neither can be reached the student may ask the Office of Student Development to notify the instructor or department office. Such notification must occur during the first three class days of the semester.

Flagrant Non-Attendance

• Students missing 25% or more of class, any time from the second week of class up until the last day to withdraw from an individual course (see Key Dates and Deadlines for specific dates) may be removed from the course by the instructor.
• This removal from the course is accomplished by notifying the Registrar via e-mail or via faculty web.
• Registrar will assign “WI” (Involuntary Withdrawal).
• E-mail is sent to instructors approximately two weeks prior to the deadline for this action with a reminder to take action, if appropriate.
• Students appearing on the final grade webpage must be assigned a final grade (not a “W”, Incomplete or Pending grade), regardless of student’s class attendance.

Pass/Fail

Grades of “P” or “F” are assigned when such grades are authorized in accordance with faculty-established policy. That policy is as follows:

Faculty Option: A department may designate a course or courses in which only the Pass/Fail grading system shall be used. A department may designate a course or courses in which only the conventional letter grading shall be used. (Not subject to student option.)

Student Option: A student may elect to receive Pass/Fail grading in a course, provided the following conditions are met:

• A student must have successfully completed one full semester’s work at SUNY Oneonta.
• Except in courses for which a department has designated only Pass/Fail grading, a student may elect only one course per academic semester or summer session for a total of four such semester or summer session courses for the student’s entire academic program.
• A student may not elect Pass/Fail grading for required courses in their major or specialization, minor, courses taken to satisfy a General Education requirement, or for courses designated by a department as not subject to student option.
• A student may take a Pass/Fail option in a required supporting course that is not listed as part of the major field requirement.
• A student who has completed their major field requirement may take additional hours in their major department for Pass/Fail credit.
• The student must request Pass/Fail grading during the designated Add/Drop period. A student indicating Pass/Fail status may change to a graded basis by requesting this change from the instructor before two-thirds of the course has been completed. The final date for these changes shall be set by the Registrar. (See Key Dates and Deadlines, a list of important dates published each semester.)
• The criterion for a “P” will be achievement of the minimum requirements of the course.
• The “P” or “F” will be entered on the student transcript and hours successfully completed will count as credits for graduation. Hours graded “P” or “F” will not be included in the computation of the student’s GPA.

Pass/Fail Grading and Dragon Academy

Courses taken to satisfy the Dragon Academy requirements must be taken on a letter grade basis only.

Undergraduate Course Repeat Policy

For a course initially taken prior to Fall 1994 and subsequently repeated, the transcript will reflect both courses and grades; both grades will be calculated in the grade point average.

For a course initially taken in the Fall of 1994 or thereafter and subsequently repeated, the transcript will reflect both courses and grades; only the higher grade will be calculated in the grade point average.

In both cases, credit will be granted only once. In courses that are allowed to be repeated (e.g., COMP 1000  to a maximum of 6 semester hours), the repeat rule will be applied after the maximum credits are achieved. Exceptions to this may be directed to the Committee on Student Progress and Status Committee via the University Registrar.

Students may not repeat a course using the Pass/Fail grading option, a course challenge, or with an individual course enrollment registration. Students may not use transfer courses to replace a grade at SUNY Oneonta.

Students will be permitted a maximum of one repeat per course. Only the higher grade will count in the student’s GPA. Credit will be earned once. 

Appeals: Students who wish to appeal the repeat rule may do so in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor. Students will use the Appeal to the Undergraduate Course Repeat Policy Form to outline their request. The student’s faculty advisor and the chairperson of the student’s major each review the form and make recommendations. The Student Progress and Status Committee makes the final decision.

Repeating courses may have an impact on financial aid. Students considering repeating courses should discuss it with their financial aid counselor.

Grade Change Policy

Letter grades on file with the Registrar at the end of a semester are final unless an error in calculating the grade or a data entry error is discovered. If so, the instructor must file a grade change request, explaining the error. This request requires the approval of the department chair and is then processed by the Registrar’s Office. Grade changes not consistent with academic policy will be reviewed by the appropriate dean. The student will receive an email alerting them to the grade change. Permitting a student to submit missing work or extra credit to improve a grade is not acceptable.

It is the student’s responsibility to call the instructor’s attention to a possible grading error in a timely manner, typically during the semester following that in which the questioned grade was received. If twelve months have elapsed since the grade was issued, no grade change will be made.

Academic Grievance Policy

A grievance may only be submitted when a specific academic decision or action has affected the student’s final course grade and has:

1. violated published university policies and procedures,
2. departed from the criteria for determining grades as described in the course syllabus, and/or
3. been applied to the student (grievant) in a manner different from that used for other students.

A final course grade is not grievable based merely on a student’s perception of course difficulty, or dislike of teaching method or course content.

Step 1: Informal Attempt to Resolve a Final Grade Concern

A) Concerns about final course grades must be communicated through email to faculty members within 10 business days of course grades being posted. Faculty members are expected to respond in a timely fashion.

B) Should students not be satisfied with the faculty response, or should 10 business days pass without any faculty response, students may express concern through email to the department chair.

C) Should students not be satisfied with the chair’s response, or should 10 business days pass without any chair response, students may express the concern—through email—to the academic dean (of the school that houses the department delivering the course), who will attempt to facilitate a resolution.

Step 2: Formal Grievance Process

Students dissatisfied with the results of Step 1 may submit a formal grievance by completing the Student Academic Grievance Form and submitting the form to the Provost’s Office. Students are responsible for describing grievances and desired outcomes in as much detail as possible, and they are responsible for submitting all supporting materials, such as course syllabi, medical excuse notes, graded assignments/exams, as well as any relevant e-mails concerning the grievance. Inadequate documentation may result in the denial of the appeal.

In cases with extraordinary extenuating circumstances or extreme time sensitivity (e.g. a grievance occurs in a class needed for degree completion), if it is established that the Subcommittee on Student Academic Grievances cannot be convened quickly enough to make a recommendation to the Provost, the school dean may do so instead. In all other cases, the dean must refer grievable cases to the Provost’s Office so that the Subcommittee may be convened.

The Subcommittee on Student Academic Grievances, consisting of three teaching faculty members elected through a University Senate voting process, the Vice Provost (ex-officio), and two undergraduate representatives, typically meets when classes are in session. Upon receiving a grievance, the Subcommittee reviews the supporting materials for the grievance, including typically syllabi, course assignments or exams, gradebooks, and any relevant correspondence between the instructor and the student. Sometimes it is necessary for the Subcommittee to ask for additional information from the grievant or professor to determine a fair outcome. Faculty teaching the course are assumed to be experts within their own fields.

After reaching its decision, the Subcommittee makes a recommendation to the Provost, who issues the final decision on the grievance. The Provost’s decision is final.

The student, as well as the members of the subcommittee, will be notified via email of the Provost’s final decision. 

Interim Progress Reports

Each term faculty are required to rate student progress in semester-length courses. This process takes place near the midpoint of the term. The results are available to students by logging into my.oneonta.edu. In addition to the Interim Progress Reports, faculty may send individual mid-term warnings to students.

Grading Scale for Interim Progress Grades

3  - Exceeds minimum requirements* (Grades of “A” through “C” and “Pass” for Pass/Fail grading)

2  - Meets minimum requirements* (Grades of “C-” through “D-“)

1  - Below minimum requirements* (Grades of “E” and “Fail” for Pass/Fail grading)

0  - Faculty unable to provide evaluation

*minimum requirements for earning credit for a course; individual majors may require higher grades in specific courses or for courses serving as a prerequisite.

Academic Progress

It is the responsibility of all students to be aware of the quality of their academic work and to maintain satisfactory progress toward curriculum completion. When students are in doubt concerning the quality of their work, they should request a conference with the instructor(s) concerned.

Although students are encouraged to complete their undergraduate programs in four years, SUNY Oneonta sets no time limit on the number of semesters a continuously enrolled student may spend in pursuit of a degree. Students can accelerate and complete their programs in a shorter time if their personal circumstances and the availability of offerings permit.

Class Year Definitions

The following defines class year by completed semester hour(s):

Probation or Academic Dismissal

Student academic performance is evaluated by the Committee on Student Progress and Status. The evaluation is used to determine a student’s eligibility to continue at SUNY Oneonta.

At the end of each semester (Fall and Spring), the records of all undergraduate students are reviewed. Students who are not making progress toward completing their declared degree program, as determined by their failure to meet established minimum grade requirements (see table below), are reviewed for dismissal from the University. First semester students earning a 0.00 GPA will be reviewed for academic dismissal. First semester students earning a GPA between 0.01 and the established minimum grade requirements will be put on probation and required to make use of institutional support services. Students who have been at Oneonta for more than one semester and have not previously been on probation, and do not meet the minimum grade requirements, will be placed on probation. Students previously placed on probation, and not meeting the minimum requirements for retention, will be reviewed for academic dismissal.

Additionally, any student whose semester GPA is below a 2.00 will be placed (or continued) on probation, regardless of their cumulative GPA. Students who have been on probation for three or more semesters will be reviewed for dismissal, even if their cumulative GPA exceeds a 2.00.

Students may be dismissed whenever they fail to make reasonable progress toward the completion of the requirements for graduation in the program for which they are registered, even if their cumulative GPA is above 2.00.

A comprehensive review of a student’s education record while on probation will be considered when determining whether a student is eligible to continue at the University.

The following cumulative GPAs are the minimum retention standards used by the University:

*Exception: Readmitted students – refer to the section on “Readmission.”

Students’ GPAs are calculated using grades earned at Oneonta. Transfer grades do not affect the Oneonta GPA.

Academically dismissed students may submit an appeal. This appeal must be submitted to the Student Progress and Status Committee and must contain a description of documented extenuating circumstances contributing to poor academic performance. Students whose appeals are not granted and those who do not appeal their dismissal are eligible to possibly return to the University after one full calendar year. Refer to the section on “Readmission” for policy details and deadlines.

Superior Performance

Dean’s List

Students achieve the Dean’s List if they earn a 3.5 or higher term GPA for any semester in which a minimum of 12 s.h. of work are completed with a qualitative (A-E) letter grade and no more than one incomplete or pending grade. The student receives a congratulatory letter from the Provost of SUNY Oneonta recognizing the achievement.

Honors Degree

To be eligible for honors designations at graduation, SUNY Oneonta students must complete 45 A-E graded semester hours in residency and earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The three categories of honors designations are:

Academic Department Honors

Graduating students who meet all degree and major requirements, who also have a 3.50 or higher major grade point average may be recommended by the department chair for department honors. Students awarded department honors in their major will have the comment “Department Honors in [major]” placed on their academic transcript. Students may not qualify for department honors in an academic area other than their declared major(s).

Pre-enrollment

Pre-enrollment is a procedure that allows students to select a schedule of courses prior to actual registration. The procedure includes consultation with the assigned faculty advisor to ensure proper selection of courses. Pre-enrollment is limited to 17 s.h.

Pre-enrollment appointment hours are scheduled in descending order on “semester hours completed” basis. Essentially, it is a seniority system allowing upper class students who have progressed further in their programs to have first access to their specific remaining degree requirements.

Registration

Registration is comprised of paying all obligations to SUNY Oneonta and making any necessary changes before the end of the Add-Drop period. During this period, matriculated undergraduates may register for a up to 18 s.h. without additional permission needed. See Schedule Changes for more details.

All students (including student teachers, interns, etc.) are expected to go through the registration process.

Registering properly establishes the student’s status as one of the following:

• Full-time degree candidate: a student who has been accepted by this university as a degree candidate and is enrolled for 12 or more s.h. of undergraduate/graduate work.
• Part-time degree candidate: a student who has been accepted by this university as a degree candidate and is enrolled in less than 12 s.h. of undergraduate/graduate course work.
• Non-degree: a student who is being permitted to take courses but who has not been accepted as a degree candidate. Enrollment as a non-degree student does not guarantee nor does it imply that the student will be accepted as a degree candidate if application is made.

Schedule Changes

Students are encouraged to make the correct course choices at pre-enrollment. This is the time when the individual has the highest priority and best access to the courses needed. Course additions are not normally made after the deadline dates established for the semester; see Key Dates and Deadlines, a list of important dates published each semester. Courses less than a semester in length (half-semester courses, mini courses, etc.) should also be chosen at pre-enrollment. While students may sign up for them later, they have to compete with other students who may have a higher priority.

The following applies to students’ total course enrollment whether the registration is at Oneonta, through another institution with Prior Approval, or any combination thereof. Maximum hours permitted for enrollment overall do not override the rules regarding contact hours for internships; all rules regarding contact hours for internships apply.

Matriculated undergraduate students may register for a maximum number of credits as follows:

• Fall and Spring semester
  • 18 s.h. when the student has a cumulative GPA below 3.00.
  • 21 s.h. when the student has a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and receives approval of the Department Chair of their major.
• Summer and Winter terms (Each 3 s.h. limit usually represents one course. For traditionally offered courses that carry 4 s.h., these are permissible as meeting the one course limit. Internships, Independent Studies, and Individual Course Enrollments are not considered regularly scheduled courses.)
  • 3 s.h. for sessions less than 5 weeks.
  • 6 s.h. for 5-week sessions and/or overlapping session.
  • 13 s.h. for an entire summer term.

Non-Degree undergraduate students may register for a maximum of:

• Fall and Spring semester
  • 12 s.h.
• Summer and Winter terms (Each 3 s.h. limit usually represents one course. For traditionally offered courses that carry 4 s.h., these are permissible as meeting the one course limit. Internships, Independent Studies, and Individual Course Enrollments are not considered regularly scheduled courses.)*
  • 3 s.h. for sessions less than 5 weeks.
  • 6 s.h. for 5-week sessions and/or overlapping session.
  • 13 s.h. for an entire summer term.

Note: Students who fail to register or take a leave of absence will be administratively withdrawn from SUNY Oneonta and will risk losing scholarships, social security benefits, or other financial aid. Students who have been administratively withdrawn must apply for readmission through the Admissions Office. Applications are reviewed by Academic Advisement.

Applying for a Degree

In order to receive a degree, students must file a Diploma Application in the semester prior to the one in which the degree will be awarded. Normally this would occur when there are 16 s.h. or less to complete toward the degree. It is the student’s responsibility to confer with an advisor, determine the remaining requirements and file the application by the proper time. Early attention to this procedure allows final semester schedule adjustments to be made.

Leave of Absence

Academic leaves may be granted to students who are interested in academic pursuits at an institution other than SUNY Oneonta. To be eligible for an academic leave, the student must be matriculated, have completed at least one semester at SUNY Oneonta, and have at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA. For more information, an application, and Prior Approval, contact Academic Advisement.

Non-academic leaves may be granted to students for reasons deemed financial, military, health, or personal. Information and applications are available in the Student Affairs Office or at suny.oneonta.edu/division-student-affairs/leaves-and-withdrawals.

SUNY Oneonta adheres to the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act of 2003 by ensuring that service members have flexibility toward obtaining a degree when the pursuit of the degree is interrupted by military service. Course extensions and/or course withdrawals will be processed as appropriate for activation or deployment. Students called to service will be placed on a non-academic leave for the entire period of deployment and their degree requirements will remain unchanged. Active duty students will have access to advisement and registration throughout their absence. For more information on HEROES and call to duty, see:

http://www.finaid.org/military/heroes.phtml

https://www.edvisors.com/student-employment/military/heroes-act/

https://www.dodmou.com/InstitutionViewSignature/GetFile?institutionId=2319

Withdrawal from the University

Student-Initiated or Voluntary Withdrawal

Liability for certain expenses begins on the first day of classes. Students who withdraw are entitled to refunds of personal funds paid according to set schedules determined by appropriate offices (e.g., Student Accounts for tuition liability; Residential Community Life for room liability, etc.). Specifics are available from the Student Accounts Office.

Voluntary Withdrawals. Voluntary withdrawals should be pursued if a student is transferring to another college, will be absent for more than one year, or has decided not to continue their education at Oneonta. This does not prevent such student from applying for readmission to SUNY Oneonta. Students who do withdraw and who subsequently wish to return to the University must follow the procedures for “Readmission”.

Students leaving SUNY Oneonta who do intend to return after one semester should check the criteria for Leaves of Absence (academic and non-academic) which do not require readmission.

Students who find it necessary to withdraw from the University must do so by filing a “Voluntary Withdrawal” form with the Student Affairs Office, Netzer 119. Information and applications are also available at suny.oneonta.edu/division-student-affairs/leaves-and-withdrawals.

Withdrawal Prior to Midterm. If a student officially withdraws from SUNY Oneonta prior to the deadline for individual course withdrawals, “W” grades will be assigned to all courses. No credit is earned for a grade of “W”. Mini courses and half-semester courses that end prior to withdrawal will be graded.

Withdrawal After the Midterm. If a student officially withdraws from SUNY Oneonta after the deadline for individual course withdrawals and up until two weeks prior to the beginning of final exams, they will receive a “W” with a parenthetical grade for each course, indicating the quality of their work up to the time of withdrawal. No credit is earned for a grade of “W”. Mini courses and half-semester courses that end prior to withdrawal will be graded.

Deadline for Withdrawal from the University. Full-time students who are eligible to be enrolled during a semester, but have not done so, and have not notified the Registrar’s Office that they are pursuing their degree on a “part-time” basis (nor have they graduated, withdrawn, or taken a Leave of Absence) will be “Administratively Withdrawn” by the Registrar’s Office. Students who are administratively withdrawn and who wish to return must follow the procedures for “Readmission”. Note: Students in some majors, by virtue of program registration with the State Education Department, may be required to fulfill the most recent program requirements. Administrative Withdrawal may impact a student’s financial aid. Students should contract the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (Netzer 123, 607-436-2532) if they have questions.

Readmission

Students who have not earned a SUNY Oneonta degree and who withdrew, were administratively withdrawn, or were academically dismissed must apply for readmission to be considered for enrollment at the University. Readmission is not guaranteed. Education records, availability of courses, and University and program enrollment capacity are all considered.

Applications for readmission are available on the Admissions website under Readmission. Questions regarding readmission may be directed to Academic Advisement or Undergraduate Admissions. Applications and the associated fee must be submitted by the established deadlines.

Readmitted Students and their Degree Requirements

Students who are readmitted will be required to complete the degree requirements in place at the time of their readmission. If no more than two years have elapsed since the student’s last attendance at SUNY Oneonta and the student needs six or fewer credits for degree completion, then the student may return under the previous requirements unless the student is a major in an Education program, Dietetics, or Business. Students must meet the requirements for admission to the chosen major. Decisions regarding readmission will be made upon a complete application and receipt of all final transcripts of coursework taken since separation from SUNY Oneonta.

Information Specific to Academically Dismissed Students

Students who were academically dismissed must meet one of the following:

1.  At least one full calendar year will have elapsed between the date of dismissal and the beginning of the term of readmission AND a minimum of 12 s.h. of college coursework will have been completed with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA at another regionally accredited institution. If more than 12 s.h. are completed, all coursework will be considered in the application review.

2.  At least two full calendar years will have elapsed between the date of dismissal and the beginning of the term of readmission AND the student provides evidence of alternative actions taken that demonstrate the capacity to succeed at SUNY Oneonta. If any college coursework was completed since dismissal, the grades earned will be considered in the review process.

After meeting these conditions, academically dismissed students may seek readmission under one of two options:

• Option I — Reinstatement Record: Previously earned grades will be forgiven as necessary to raise the cumulative GPA to 2.00. If grades of D- to C- are forgiven, students will forfeit the credit earned in those courses. 

• Option II — Original Academic Record: Readmission is based on the previously-earned cumulative GPA with all semester hours earned counted toward the degree. The cumulative GPA is not recomputed.

The process for how decisions are made for forgiving grades is outlined on the Student Progress website.

All courses in a student’s academic record remain on the transcript. Grades removed from the cumulative GPA are noted with a Z in front of the original grade.

Readmitted students who were previously academically dismissed must maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA in all coursework taken since readmission and must complete a minimum of 12 s.h. of coursework at Oneonta (post readmission) to be eligible for degree candidacy. Failure to maintain this GPA will result in a second dismissal. Students who are academically dismissed after readmission will not be eligible for readmission in the future.

Students who decline their readmission will have their Oneonta academic record returned to the academic record in place at the time of their last attendance at the University.

Course Auditing

The auditing of courses is considered most appropriate when used to expand the educational experience of enrolled students, faculty, staff, and members of the community.

The priority of auditors shall be as follows: SUNY Oneonta students; SUNY Oneonta employees; others. A $50.00 course audit fee will be charged for each course audited. Those exempt from the course audit fee are SUNY Oneonta employees, currently enrolled SUNY Oneonta students, and persons aged 55 and over. Course audit fees are not refundable. Course audit requests must be filed with the Extended and Community Learning Center, 215 Hunt Union, and must be approved by the appropriate academic department and the ExCL Center. Course auditing is not an option in the winter or summer terms. More information regarding auditing and the audit form can be found at: suny.oneonta.edu/admissions/extended-learning/auditing-course.

University Policies

SUNY Oneonta enforces the following policies regarding course auditing:

1. Prospective auditors must have the permission of the instructor of the course and the department chair.
2. Students may not audit a course to prepare for subsequent enrollment in that course.
3. Students may not audit a course to make up work as a result of an incomplete.
4. Students will be assessed a course audit fee if they are not enrolled at SUNY Oneonta at the time that they audit a course.
5. Course auditors will not be required to meet the requirements of the course, will not be officially enrolled in the course, will not be listed on the course roster, will not earn any credit for the course, will not earn a grade for the course, and will not receive recognition for the course.
6. Course auditors will not ordinarily be permitted to audit studio courses or the laboratory or field work portion of courses, or other course experiences which require individual attention or special arrangements.
7. Course auditors may not register as an auditor until regular registration is completed and may not use space or equipment needed by regularly enrolled students.
8. High school students may not audit courses without specific written permission from high school authorities and a parent or guardian’s signature, if under the age of 18.
9. Course auditors not affiliated with SUNY Oneonta will have only the privileges of library visitors; they may qualify for “community borrower” status.
10. Matriculated SUNY Oneonta students may not audit study abroad courses.
11. Course auditing is limited to fall and spring semesters.

Those who audit courses must also purchase a parking permit.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses

An undergraduate student who has senior standing and has a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 may take up to twelve credits of graduate coursework. Graduate-level course expectations and grading policies apply.

The graduate course(s) may be used toward overall undergraduate graduation credits and/or the undergraduate degree program requirements subject to undergraduate degree program review. Additionally, if the student is accepted within seven years to the graduate program to which the courses apply, those course(s) will apply toward that graduate degree.

Students choosing this option should understand that this does not admit them to graduate study in a graduate program and that some graduate-level courses may not be open to undergraduate students under any circumstance.

Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 permits current or former students to inspect certain college educational records pertaining to them as individuals and to obtain copies for a fee. Students are also accorded the right to question the content of a record and to receive a formal hearing if dissatisfied with the responses to such questions.

Written consent from a student is required before personally identifiable information can be released from the individual educational record in all cases except tuition and fee obligations and those specifically exempted by law.

There is certain directory information which the University may release without the student’s permission. Directory Information at SUNY Oneonta is defined as the following:

• student name, postal addresses (not residence hall addresses), phone numbers and electronic mail addresses
• major field(s) of student, class year, academic advisor, dates of attendance, full/part-time enrollment status; degrees and awards received
• previous educational agencies or institutions attended
• participation in officially recognized activities and sports; height, weight, and photographs of members of athletic teams.

A student wishing to prevent directory information from being released must contact the University Registrar, in writing or in person, to request that a “confidential” flag be placed on their record. These confidential flags will be placed within 48 hours of receipt of request and will be in effect until the student provides the University Registrar with a written request to remove it or no longer attends the institution. 

The Institutional FERPA Policy Statement, containing complete policies and procedures for exercising student rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, is available from the University Registrar. 

Transcripts

Copies of student transcripts sent from colleges previously attended become the property of SUNY Oneonta. They are used for admissions decisions and transfer evaluations. Students are advised to retain their own copies of academic work taken prior to their admission. The Registrar’s Office cannot transmit academic records from another institution in a secondary manner.

Complete official copies of the student’s record (transcript) are provided only upon signed (physical or through secured website) request from the student. Copies to be issued to third parties must also be accompanied by signed releases from the student. SUNY Oneonta does not issue unofficial transcripts.

Absence from Class (Religious Beliefs)

224.a. Students unable because of religious beliefs to attend classes on certain days.

1. No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that he is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirements on a particular day or days.
2. Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements.
3. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study or work requirements which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
4. If classes, examinations, study or work requirements are held on Friday after four o’clock post meridian or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study or work requirements held on other days.
5. In effectuation the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section.
6. Any student, who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative official to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section, shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the supreme court of the county in which such institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his rights under this section.
   6-a. A copy of this section shall be published by each institution of higher education in the catalog of such institution containing the listing of available courses.
7. As used in this section, the term “institution of higher education” shall mean schools under the control of the board of trustees of the State University of New York or of the board of higher education of the city of New York or any community college.