Academic Policies and Procedures

Students are responsible and accountable for knowledge of the requirements, procedures and regulations set forth in the catalog. Advisors, counselors, faculty and administrative staff may assist students by explaining requirements and procedures in individual instances. However, the ultimate responsibility for compliance with procedures and requirements rests with the student.

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    Academic Advising

    Role of the Academic Advisor

    The academic advisor is a central figure in the development of the student's academic program at Detroit Mercy. In many departments students must consult with and obtain approval of an academic advisor in the development of their schedules for each term, when changing courses (adding or dropping), for clarification of academic policies and procedures and when contemplating changes in their major program or curriculum.

    Advisor Assignment

    For graduate students, advisors are drawn from the full-time faculty, department or program chairs and administrative personnel in the offices of the college or school dean. A good advising relationship requires that both the student and the advisor be comfortable with each other. Students who are uncomfortable or dissatisfied with their advising relationship may request a change of advisor.

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    Student Problems

    Students should consult with their advisor when they experience problems at Detroit Mercy. The academic advisor is well equipped to refer the student to the most appropriate campus resource. Students experiencing personal difficulties, whether related to the University or not, are encouraged to make use of the services offered by Personal Counseling, Student Affairs, University Ministry, the Psychology Clinic, Career Education Center or University Academic Services. Trained staff in these office may provide direct assistance to the student or referral to more specialized help.

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    Classification of Students

    Class Standing

    Graduate students are not classified based on the number of credit hours they have earned like undergraduate students are classified (freshman, sophomore, etc). Graduate students are all part of one category of students called Graduate Students.

    Full-Time Student

    To be considered a full-time graduate student, one must register for a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester. The normal maximum number of credits that a graduate student can register for each semester is 12 unless the student is enrolled in a program that requires more than 12 credits. Exceptions to exceed 12 credits must be granted by the student's dean's office. There are a limited number of graduate courses that are considered full-time regardless of credit hours. Those courses can be found in the each semester using the Advanced Search on Attributes Type equal to Full-Time course. Full-time students who drop below 9 credits during a semester may jeopardize their financial aid, athletic eligibility, veteran status or international student status.

    Part-Time Student

    Students are classified as part-time when they register for up to 8.5 credits per semester. Graduate students are considered half-time for financial aid purposes when they enroll in at least 4.5 credit hours during the semester.

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    Graduate Grading System

    Grading Scale

    Grade Quality Points Description Credit Earned
    A 4.0    
    A- 3.7   Yes
    B+ 3.3   Yes
    B 3.0   Yes
    B- 2.7 Below graduate standards Yes
    C+ 2.3   Yes
    C 2.0   Yes
    D 1.0   *
    F 0.0 Failing No
    I - Incomplete No
    P - Passing Yes
    W - Withdrawal (The grade of "W" is not faculty assignable.) No
    WF 0.0 Required to Withdraw-Failing No
    AUD - Audit No
    XF 0.0 No Record Failure No
    S - Satisfactory (Temporary) No
    U - Unsatisfactory (Temporary) No

    ("S" and "U" are temporary grades for research in progress, internships and practica.)

    *Policies relating to the applicability of courses towards graduation in which a grade of C or less is received are determined within each college.

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    Incomplete Work

    A petition for a grade of I, Incomplete, is required and may be approved or disapproved at the discretion of the instructor. This grade is only appropriate at the end of the term when the majority of the course requirements have been completed but for serious reason the student is unable to complete the remaining course requirements. Students may not sit in the class in a future semester to complete the work of the original course. Faculty are required to enter a Last Date of Attendance when an I grade is issued at the end of the semester. Failure to remain in the course through the end of the semester may impact your financial aid eligibility for that course.

    Graduate regulations require that the work be completed no later than April 1 for fall term courses and December 1 for courses in winter or summer terms. The instructor, the department, or the college may establish earlier dates for the completion of incomplete work. Students should acquaint themselves with the deadlines established by their programs. Students who fail to complete the course by the established deadlines lose the right to complete the course. The grade of I remains the grade of record on the permanent transcript. Some colleges/schools will issue a grade of "F" for failure to complete the "I" grade by the deadline.

    Students with an excused absence from a final examination must complete the examination within two weeks of the scheduled date, unless the appropriate college administrator permits a further extension of the deadline in writing.

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    Pass/Fail Grading

    A limited number of specific courses in some programs are graded on a Pass/Fail basis. The grade of P earns credit but is not counted in the calculation of the GPA. Pass/Fail option is determined by the course. Students cannot elect Pass/Fail in a graduate level course.

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    XF-No Record Grade-Failure

    A grade of XF will be assigned when the instructor has no record of a student ever attending class although the student is still officially registered for the course and has never withdrawn. XF grades are permanent grades and count in the student’s GPA as an F or failure for the course. These grades are used in the calculation for academic standing at the end of each semester and may contribute to academic warning, academic probation or academic dismissal from the program. XF grades will also impact financial aid because of non-attendance in the course.

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    Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory

    The grades S or U may be used at the graduate level for practica, internships, thesis or dissertation research or for credits for experiential learning earned by examination. S or U grades are temporary and do not contribute to the GPA; an S or U does not earn graduate credit. The S grade indicates the student’s work, if continued, is equivalent to a B or higher; the U grade indicates the student’s work is equivalent to a B- or lower. The S or U grade will be converted to an appropriate traditional letter grade when the project/course is completed. A grade of "U" requires a Last Date of Attendance at the end of the semester when the grade is issued. Failure to remain in the course through the end of the semester may impact your financial aid eligibility for that course.

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    Attendance Policy

    The university does not have a university-wide policy on mandatory attendance and participation in classes. However, regular and punctual attendance is expected in all classes. Students are responsible for work missed because of late registration or for any other reason.

    Faculty may have specific attendance policies in their individual course sections which is detailed in their course syllabus. Faculty may recommend that a student withdraw from class when absence prevents the student from achieving the objectives of the course. The university has the right to administratively withdraw a student for non-attendance.

    The awarding and receipt of any financial aid may be negatively impacted by this non-attendance. If a recipient of Title IV funds withdraws or stops attending courses (including academic dismissal or expulsion) after beginning attendance for any reason he/she may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV Funds.

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    Withdrawal

    No record is made of individual course withdrawals during the first full week of courses that are more than 7 weeks long. If a course is 7 weeks or less a W will appear after the first day of classes. Students who withdraw after the 100% drop period will have a grade of W recorded. W grades appear on the student’s transcript, but are not counted in the GPA calculation. The last day to withdraw at 100% tuition refund is listed on each course section in the Schedule of Classes.

    A graduate student may withdraw from a course up to the point where 75% of the course has taken place. After that time the instructor and dean's permission is required for a graduate student to withdraw. This request to withdraw must be put in writing. The last day to withdraw for each individual course section is listed in the Schedule of Classes.

    Withdrawals are processed on a Change of Registration form available in the Office of the Dean, Registrar's Office, or online on the Registrar website under the . Upon completing the form and obtaining approval, it must be filed with the Registrar within one week. Failure to submit the form within the filing period will require new signatures and approval.

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    Audit

    Students who wish to audit a class must register for the course on an audit basis. There is no grade or credit earned for the course but it does appear on the student's official transcript as an audit. Courses taken on an audit basis do not meet any degree requirements. Normal tuition and fees apply for those who wish to audit a course. Students who register for credit and wish to change to an audit must make the change by the end of the add/drop period for that semester. Student who enroll on an audit basis cannot change to earn credit for that course. Attendance is required in order to successfully audit a course. Failure to attend audited classes may result in an administrative withdrawal from the class.

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    Alumni Audit

    The University permits alumni who have graduated from the Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ, Mercy College of Detroit and the University of Detroit to take classes on an audit basis after they have graduated on a space-available basis. The intent of this policy is to allow alumni to maintain professional competence after they have completed their degree at Detroit Mercy. Courses taken under the Alumni Audit Policy can be taken without applying to a degree program. Audited courses do not count towards any degree requirements. Space permitting, students may attend classes at the prevailing tuition rate without receiving credits or grades. Students who wish to attend a course without credit or grade may register for the course as auditors. At the conclusion of the course the grade of AUD will be recorded on the student record, which carries no credit or quality points. Students must attend in order for audit to appear on their academic transcript for the course. All normal withdrawal policies apply for audited courses.

    These classes may be tuition-free under the following conditions: 1) Alumni are limited to two audited classes per semester. There is no lifetime limit to the number of courses that can be audited. 2) All course prerequisites need to be met before taking a class that has prerequisites. 3) Audits can be taken in courses at or below the level of the degree earned at the undergraduate level. Courses at the undergraduate level are restricted to those courses that are part of the earned degree program or a closely related program. The University through the respective Dean’s Office reserves the right to determine which courses can be audited by alumni on a tuition-free basis. 4) Alumni may be required to wait until the first week of classes to enroll to determine if there are available seats in the course. No late registration charge will be assessed for this situation. 5) This audit policy covers tuition only. All other fees are paid by the alumnus including any applicable late payment fees, any specific course fees and any service charges that may accrue. 6) Alumni who are registered on an audit basis are expected to attend classes in conformance with the course syllabus in order for the audit to appear on their official transcript record.

    Students who do not attend class may be dropped by the University for non-attendance. If a class is full, the alumnus can be bumped to accommodate a tuition-paying student unless the alumnus wants to remain in the class and pay the appropriate tuition on an audit or credit basis. The tuition for an audited course is the same as tuition for a credit course.

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    Repeating a Course

    A student may, with the approval of the program director and dean, repeat a graduate course. When a course is repeated, both grades are used in computing the quality point average. All entries remain a part of the student’s permanent academic record. For a repeated course, credit toward graduation is received only once.

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    Grade Grievances

    In some instances a student may believe that the final grade received in a particular course is unjustified. In such cases the student may choose to appeal the grade received. Each college has published written grievance procedures that must be followed. A copy of this procedure should be obtained from the dean of the college offering the course. In general, students are advised to consult with the instructor concerned prior to beginning the appeal process.

    All appeals should be filed within 30 days after the end of the semester in which the final grade was received. The decision of the college/school dean is final. Appeal to the academic vice president will be considered only on procedural grounds.

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    Grade Point Average

    The grade point average (GPA) is used to describe the general level of the student’s academic performance at the University. Grade points are assigned to each grade. By illustration: A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, etc. The number of grade points earned in a particular course is determined by multiplying the grade points assigned to the grade given, by the number of credit hours for the course.

    A grade point average is calculated by dividing the sum of the grade points earned by the number of credit hours attempted. The grades of I, S, P, U, W, and AUD are not included in the calculation. Grades earned at other institutions and transferred to the University are not shown on the transcript or used in the calculation of the GPA unless they are part of a specific consortium agreement with another institution.

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    Grade Reports

    Final grades are only available online through the self-service options in TitanConnect at . Access to TitanConnect is by usercode and password only. Students can view and/or print copies of their final grades anytime throughout the semester once final grades have been issued by the faculty member and have been uploaded to the student's official transcript. Students can also assign view access to their record to third parties through their TitanConnect account by using TitanConnectView.

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    Transcripts

    The permanent, official record of a student's academic performance and progress is maintained by the Office of the Registrar. Students can view transcripts online through the self-service features of TitanConnect at . Transcripts are $5.00 per copy and can be ordered in the following ways:

    ONLINE at the National Student Clearinghouse, using a credit card. The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide transcript ordering via the web. There is an additional $2.25 service charge per transcript for using this ordering service. This service is available to current students and alumni 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Orders processed after 5:00 pm will be processed beginning on the next business day by the University's Office of the Registrar. If you are a first-time visitor, you will be directed to create a personal profile and user ID/password, which you will use to place future orders. The site will walk you through placing your order, including delivery options and fees. You can order as many transcripts as you like in a single session. The consent to release form must be returned to NSC before orders are processed. Order updates will be emailed to you. You can also check order status or history online. Your credit card will only be charged after your order has been completed. Orders that cannot be processed due to financial holds will be held for 30 days and then cancelled. If you need help or have questions about the Clearinghouse's transcript ordering service, contact 703-742-7791 or transcripts@studentclearinghouse.org

    Electronic copies of transcripts are available as an option through the National Student Clearinghouse order site for an additional fee. Electronic copies are normally sent the same business day or the following day depending on when the order arrives in our office for processing. Only those students who have attended since 1988 have an electronic transcript and can order an online transcript be sent. Students who attended University of Detroit or Mercy College of Detroit do not have an electronic transcript. Attempting to order one may delay the transcript order because we will need to contact you regarding your order before it can be processed by sending a paper transcript.

    IN PERSON at the Office of the Registrar, McNichols Campus, Fisher Administration Center, Room 80. Business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Summer hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The Office of the Registrar can provide transcripts for you to pick up in person. You can call in advance to let us know you are coming or you can stop in the office and an On Demand transcript will be prepared for you for a short wait. Please be aware that many academic institutions will not accept a transcript as official that does not come directly from the Registrar's Office. Transcripts that you pick up will be marked "Issued to Student". Your picture ID is required at the time of pick-up.

    BY MAIL, by sending a handwritten or typed request to the Office of the Registrar. In order to comply with federal regulations the handwritten or typed request must be signed. It needs to include the following: Name you attended under if different from your current name, Social Security Number or student ID number, current address, birth date, daytime telephone number, institution attended (U of D, Mercy College or Detroit Mercy), year(s) attended or graduated, and complete address of where you would like the transcript sent if different from your home address. Please include the name of the institution, company or business as well as department, if this applies to your order. Check or money order made payable to the Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ, $5.00 for each copy that you order. Mail the signed transcript request along with payment to: Office of the Registrar Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà 4001 W. McNichols Road Detroit, MI 48221-3038

    BY FAX, by faxing a signed request that contains the information listed in the BY MAIL option above to (313) 993-3317. Fax orders must be charged to a credit card. We need the credit card number, expiration date, security code on the card and zip code of the card holder.

    Additional Information on Transcript Orders: Transcripts sent to you will be marked "Issued to Student". Transcripts that require additional attachment(s) sent with the transcript must be submitted in person, by FAX or by mail. Your request will normally be processed within 2 business days and sent via U.S. Mail. If you require faster delivery, we will send your transcript via Express UPS service after the two-day processing time. Fees for express delivery start at $20.00 for addresses in Michigan and go all the way up to $95.00 for international addresses. Please specify that you are requesting UPS express delivery. Please note that UPS cannot deliver to P.O. boxes. International addresses require additional fees which are determined once we have the international address. The Registrar is unable to release transcripts to individuals who have outstanding financial obligations to the University. Questions regarding financial obligations should be directed to the Student Accounting Office at 313-993-1420. No transcripts are mailed on days that the university is closed for holidays including MLK Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving and the break from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day. Please plan accordingly.

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    Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Studies (MIGS) Program

    The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà is one of many Michigan colleges and universities with graduate programs participating in MIGS. Graduate students who are in good standing in a Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà degree program are eligible to elect courses at any of the other participating graduate schools in Michigan with the approval of both the host and home institution.

    Students on a MIGS enrollment pay tuition and other fees charged by the host institution for the services rendered. All credits earned under a MIGS enrollment are accepted by the University pending the acceptable final grade. This type of enrollment is limited to six credits for master’s or specialist degree students and nine credits for doctoral degree students. Students are responsible for arranging to have official transcripts forwarded to their home institution upon completion of work.

    Students interested in this program should contact their advisor and the dean’s office of their college for further information and instructions.

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    Academic Standards

    Graduate student academic standing is left largely to individual graduate programs which act consistently with the norms of graduate education and University academic standards. To remain in good standing, a graduate student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 computed on the basis of all courses attempted for graduate credit, including thesis/dissertation, while enrolled in a particular graduate program. The following pertain to the maintenance of good academic standing.

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    Academic Warning

    Students whose grade point average falls below 3.0 in any term will receive an academic warning from the college in which they are enrolled. Such warning enables students to take early corrective action concerning their academic performance.

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    Academic Probation

    Students are placed on academic probation when it appears that their performance places their academic objectives in jeopardy. A student whose cumulative quality point average is below 3.0 is automatically placed on academic probation. Individual programs or colleges may establish additional criteria for placing a student on academic probation. A student who fails to raise the cumulative average to a 3.0 or satisfy the additional program/college criteria in the following term is subject to academic dismissal for poor scholarship. If a student has completed the requisite number of credit hours for his or her degree but he or she has failed to achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA, he or she may take up to six additional hours in an attempt to establish the necessary 3.0 grade point average.

    A dean may, at his or her discretion, establish specific requirements or conditions for a student on scholastic probation. The dean may require the student to enroll in particular courses, repeat courses, establish a maximum and minimum number of credit hours to be attempted or earned, and/or require a specific minimum quality point average for the next term. Failure to meet such conditions, when established, may lead to academic dismissal.

    Graduate students on academic probation have the option of applying for admission to another college or school within the University. If accepted by that school, the student may be admitted on probationary status.

    The Veterans Administration will be informed if a student receiving veteran’s benefits fails to come off probation at the end of the second term in this status.

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    Academic Dismissal

    Students may be academically dismissed from the college in which they are enrolled as a result of poor academic performance. Academic Dismissal may occur when a student has not achieved a 3.0 cumulative quality point average in the term following one in which he or she was placed on academic probation, when terms or conditions established for academic probation have not been met or when the academic record reflects poor performance.

    Students who wish to appeal an academic dismissal should contact the dean’s office immediately upon their receipt of notice that they have been academically dismissed. If first contact is made by telephone or in person, it should be immediately followed by a written statement of intent to appeal the academic dismissal. Each college has written procedures which govern appeal from an academic dismissal. These procedures will be explained to the student upon request.

    Students dismissed from one of the University’s colleges for academic reasons may be considered for admission to a different college within the University. Regular admission procedures must be followed. Academic Dismissal is entered upon the student’s permanent academic record.

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    Academic Integrity

    As members of the academic community engaged in the pursuit of truth and with a special concern for values, students must conform to a high standard of honesty and integrity in their academic work.

    Instances where academic misconduct occurs include, but are not limited to, falsification or misrepresentation of material used in the admission process, presenting the work of others as one’s own, theft, plagiarism and cheating. These actions pose a threat to the academic integrity of the University and its mission and will be treated accordingly.

    Academic misconduct is subject to disciplinary sanctions. These sanctions include, but are not limited to, reprimand, probation, suspension and dismissal. Students are required to familiarize themselves with the specific protocols of their school or college, available in each respective dean’s office or college/school Academic Policy Handbook. Students also have the responsibility to consult the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Student Handbook for further information on other academic policies and University procedures.

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    Degree Requirements

    The following are the minimum University standards for graduate degrees. Colleges and programs impose SPECIFIC requirements which the student must meet prior to a degree being conferred. Consult the program section of this Catalog for specific requirements.

    Earned Hours

    All master’s degree programs require a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate level. Students completing a thesis (elected or required) may use six hours of thesis credit toward the minimum total required. Not all master’s programs have a thesis option available.

    All specialist degree programs require a minimum of 60 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate level.

    All doctoral degree programs require a minimum of 48 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate level and a doctoral dissertation. Specific requirements are listed in each program.

    Graduate Courses

    Courses numbered 5000 and above are recognized as graduate courses. Courses below 5000 are not offered for graduate credit. Prior to Fall 2009-10 there were some 4000-level courses recognized as graduate level courses but that is no longer the practice.

    Residence

    The residence requirement for a master's program requiring 30 credits: a minimum of 21 semester hours of credit must be completed at Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ.

    The residence requirement for a master's program requiring more than 30 credits: a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit must be completed at Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ.

    The residence requirement for a specialist program or graduate certificate: at least two-thirds of the required credits must be completed at Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ.

    The doctoral degree requires a minimum of one uninterrupted year of full-time attendance.

    Students may transfer up to 9 credits for a 30-35 credit hour master's degree and up to 12 credits for a master's degree program greater than or equal to 36 credit hours. Individual colleges/schools may have additional restrictions limiting the number of transfer credits. Exceptions to these limits may be made if a formal Articulation Agreement exists. Courses only transfer if taken for graduate credit with a grade earned of B (3.0) or higher. The approval of the program chairperson/direction is also required. Other restrictions may apply.

    Students may not earn more than 12 graduate credits towards a master's degree before formal acceptance into the program.

    The maximum number of credits a student can register for is 15 credits per semester. Some programs may restrict a student to less than 15 credits per semester.

    Requirements for Students Concurrently Pursuing Two Master’s Degrees:

    • Students may pursue no more than two master's degrees concurrently.
    • Students may pursue a master's degree and graduate certificate concurrently.
    • Only one major may be granted with each master's degree.
    • Students must be formally accepted into each program (this includes both the master's and graduate certificate programs).
    • Students may not earn more than 12 graduate credits towards a master's degree before formal acceptance into the program.
    • The maximum number of credits a graduate student can register for is 15 credits per semester.
    • Students may transfer up to 9 credits for a 30-35 credit hour master's degree and up to 12 credits for a master's degree program greater than or equal to 36 credit hours. Individual colleges may have additional restrictions limiting the number of transfer credits.
    • The student must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.00 and the GPA within each degree program or graduate certificate must be at least 3.00.
    • Overlapping course limits between two graduate degrees:
      • If both degrees are at least 36 credits, a maximum of 12 overlapping credits may be counted toward the two concurrent degrees if the overlapping credits are approved for both degrees. (Example, two 36 credit hour programs: minimum number of total graduate credits needed=60 credits.)
      • If either or both degrees are less than 36 credits, a maximum of 9 overlapping credits may be counted toward the two concurrent degrees if the overlapping credits are approved for both degrees. (Example, 36 credit hour program and 30 credit hour program: minimum number of total graduate credits=57 credits.)
      • Individual colleges may have additional restrictions limiting the number of overlapping credits. Formal joint programs may have other policies.

    Thesis Requirements - Plan A

    Master’s candidates in programs requiring a thesis and candidates in other programs who elect to write a thesis, as well as all doctoral candidates, must present a thesis or dissertation approved by their advisor and program director on some phase of their field of specialization. The thesis or dissertation must be written and typed according to the prescribed format, available in each college dean’s office, and be in accord with the other regulations of the University.

    The thesis or dissertation topic must be filed with the dean not later than the date determined by the specific program.

    All research which involves human subjects must be submitted to the Institutional Review Board before research can begin. Information about regulations governing research involving human subjects may be obtained from the Office of Academic Affairs, Room 500, Fisher Administrative Center.

    The thesis or dissertation must be completed, in accordance with all regulations, not later than two years after course requirements have been fulfilled. Master’s theses must be filed in duplicate and dissertations in triplicate with the McNichols Library, Technical Services not later than the date determined by the specific program. Note that some programs require shorter time limits.

    Non-Thesis Master’s Program - Plan B

    Several departments offer degree candidates an option to receive a master’s degree without requiring a thesis. See individual department listings for details.

    Time Limits

    The maximum time permitted for completion of a graduate degree is seven years from the time of admission. Some colleges may impose more restrictive time limitations than seven years. Students who need an extension may apply to the dean of the appropriate college before the seven year limit has ended.

    Comprehensive Examination

    The nature of the comprehensive examination is determined by each department where such examination is required. A candidate who fails the required comprehensive examination may repeat it once only at the next date determined by the college/school. Failure to pass the repeat comprehensive examination will result in the student’s termination from the academic program.

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    Student Outcome Assessment

    As part of the continuing effort to maintain the quality of academic programs, the University has implemented a system of student outcome assessment, in which students are required to participate. This program is designed to determine the growth of student achievement in general education, and changes in student attitudes and values. In addition, the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà also assesses achievement in the student’s academic programs.

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    Application for Degree

    Candidates for degrees must file their applications in the college office by the dates established in the Academic Calendar for the year in which they intend to graduate. Applications for a degree should be filed by October 1 for December graduation; February 1 for May, June, and August graduation. Application forms can be obtained in any College Office or the Registrar’s Office. Applications received after the deadline may result in denial to participate in the Commencement ceremony and/or delay in the date of graduation.

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    Degree Completion and Commencement

    Degrees are formally awarded only at the annual Commencement exercises of the University in May. Students who have completed their degree requirements at any point in the preceding academic year are invited to participate. Summer graduates may be permitted to participate in the May commencement ceremony if they are enrolled for all of the courses required to complete their degree by the end of the summer term. In some cases permission of their college is required. Students must submit their applications by the deadline in order to participate. Late applications may result in a delay in the date of the degree until the next available degree date.

    Degrees can also be awarded at the end of each month if a student's degree requirements are not complete at the end of the semester. An example is when a student is finishing coursework in which an incomplete had been issued at the end of the semester. Once all degree requirements are met the degree can be awarded on the last date of the month in which the requirements were met.

    A student's academic record is sealed when his or her degree is posted to their official transcript. With the exception of errors, omissions or documented discrepancies, changes to a student's major, concentration, or the removal and/or change of incompletes, grades or other components of the academic record are not permitted.

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    Certificate Standards, Policies and Procedures

    Certificate Standards

    Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà recognizes that a certificate is granted to a student who completes a well-defined program of study and is able to demonstrate specific competencies.

    Normally a minimum of 15 semester hours is required for a certificate at Detroit Mercy. No more than one-third of the total number of credits required for a certificate can be transferred from another institution to meet the requirements of their certificate unless a specific articulation agreement is in place. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average at the graduate level in order for the certificate to be granted. Prerequisites may be required for some graduate certificate courses. The published grading scale for graduate courses applies to courses taken for graduate certificate program.

    Certificate Policies and Procedures

    Normally a student is enrolled in no more than one certificate program at a time. Certificates will not be granted retroactively after students have earned a degree. This does not prevent students from returning after the degree to earn the certificate by taking additional coursework. Some certificates must be earned in conjunction with a degree program and others are earned on a stand-alone basis. For students who are not in a relevant degree program, they must declare their intent to complete a certificate prior to completing one-third of the total number of credits toward the certificate. There is an Application for Certificate that must be completed during the first week of the semester in which the student intends to complete all the requirements of the certificate.

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    Release of Student Records

    The University maintains the confidentiality of student records in accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended. At the University, the Registrar coordinates the inspection and review procedures for student records which include administration, personal, academic and financial files as well as cooperative education and placement records. No one outside the institution may have access to the student’s educational records without the written consent of the student except: officials of other institutions in which the student seeks to enroll; persons or organizations providing student financial aid; accrediting agencies carrying out their accreditation functions; persons in compliance with a judicial order or subpoena; and persons in an emergency in order to protect the health and safety of students or other persons.

    Educational records or components thereof may be made available without the student’s written consent to personnel within the University who are determined by the institution to have a legitimate educational interest.

    Students may review their educational records by making written requests to the Registrar. Students may not inspect financial information submitted by their parents; confidential letters and recommendations associated with admissions, employment or job placement or honors to which they have waived their right of inspection and review; or educational records containing information about more than one student. The University is not required to permit students to inspect and review confidential letters and recommendations placed in their files prior to January 1, 1975.

    The University may disclose the following categories of public or "directory information" for any purpose, at its discretion: Name, addresses, telephone number, dates of attendance, class, previous institutions attended, major field of study, awards, honors (includes Dean’s List), degrees conferred (including dates), past and present participation in recognized sports and activities, physical factors (e.g. height, weight of athletes), date and place of birth and photograph. Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of any such information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. To withhold disclosure, written notification must be received by the Registrar prior to the end of the first week of classes for each semester or period of study and remains in effect until the student submits a written request for the removal of the privacy hold.

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    Registering for Classes/Calendar/Credit Hour Definition

    The University operates on a semester basis. Within each semester, there are a number of shorter duration courses that are offered. These dates will be posted in the schedule of classes. The start and end dates of a course impact the dates to register, drop, and withdraw from a course as well as the tuition refund policy. Specific and current information on the policies, procedures, dates and deadlines governing class registration is provided in the online Schedule of Classes and Office of the Registrar website prior to each term. The Schedule of Classes is available on the University’s website at

    The U.S. Department of Education posted new regulations, effective July 1, 2011, that define a credit hour: instruct colleges and universities to establish policies and procedures for assuring conformity to the new definition for purposes of determining eligibility for federal program funding; and instruct the institutions’ accrediting agencies to conduct an effective review and evaluation of the reliability and accuracy of the institution’s assignment of credit hours.

    Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà subscribes to these regulations that define a credit hour as an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that as an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonable approximates not less than:

    1. One hour of classroom of direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks (including exam week) for one semester hour of credit; or

    2. At least an equivalent amount of work for other activities over a different period of time work as required in this definition, or the equivalent amount of work for other academic activities as established by the University including but not limited to internships, directed studies, practica, studio/work performance, and other work leading to the award of credit hours.

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    Registration

    Most students find it advantageous to register early for classes. Earlier registration improves the probability that students will be placed in the courses they prefer at the times most convenient for them. Some graduate programs require students to see their advisor before they are given access to use TitanConnect for registration each semester. Students with holds on their record may be prevented from registration until the holds have been cleared. Payment arrangements are required before classes begin each semester. Late fees are assessed beginning on the first day of the semester for late registration.

    Consult the section of this Catalog on "Tuition and Fees" for information on payment requirements, etc.

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    Late Registration

    Students who, for good and sufficient reasons, were unable to register during the regular registration period may register during the first week of class with a late registration fee. Students desiring to register late should report to their dean’s office as early as possible during the first week. Students who attempt to register after the first week of classes may not be allowed to register for that semester. Late registration fees are assessed on all students who register beginning on the first day that classes begin. Online registration and add/drop is available during the first week of classes for all full-semester courses or courses that don't start the first week of the semester. After the first week of classes all late registrations and add/drops must be processed on a paper Advising and Registration form with signatures by the instructors of each course and the dean's office. University policy prohibits unregistered students from attending classes.

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    Changes in Registration

    Registered students may change course registration in TitanConnect until the end of the first week of classes for all full-semester courses or courses that don't begin the first week of classes for the semester. After the first week of classes a paper Change in Registration form is required. Forms are available online, in the Registrar's Office or in the college office. These forms require appropriate signatures. To be official, completed Change in Registration forms must submitted to the Office of the Registrar within 24 hours. Forms can be brought in-person or faxed to 313-993-3317 or scanned to registrar@udmercy.edu Students should be aware that any change which affects a student’s status as full- or part-time may have an impact on his/her financial obligations, athletic eligibility, veteran status, financial aid and/or visa status. Important dates pertaining to the changes in registration described below are listed in each term’s

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    Adding a Course

    Any course added requires the signature of the instructor as well as signatures required by the student’s college (advisor and/or dean) after the first week of classes.

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    Dropping a Course

    Students may drop a course from their schedule online during the first week of classes if the course is within the 100% drop period. After the 100% drop period the course can only be dropped by obtaining the signatures required by their college on the Change in Registration form and filing that form in the Registrar’s Office. Online drops in titanConnect are not permitted past the 100% drop period, If a course is dropped during the 100% drop period, no record of enrollment for the course will appear on the student’s transcript. The 100% drop period for courses 7 weeks or less is the first day of the class. The 100% drop period for courses more than 7 weeks long is the first week of the class. Withdrawals after the 100% drop period will result in a grade of W. The last date to drop a course with a 100% refund is listed online in the Schedule of Classes within each course section and coincides with the last day to drop without a grade of "W".

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    Forced Withdrawal

    In some cases a "Change in Registration" may be initiated by the University to remove a student from a class (or classes) in which he/she is registered. This action may be taken when a student has failed to follow the procedures, regulations or requirements of the University or college, or when the student has gained registration in a particular class or classes by misrepresentation. This can also occur when a student fails to attend classes and doesn't withdraw on their own. The University may also remove a student from online course(s) when the student is a resident of a state from which the university does not have authorization to offer online program to citizens of that state. When such actions are taken, the course instructor and the student are notified.

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    Repeated Withdrawal

    Students who repeatedly withdraw from all of their classes may be denied permission to register for future semesters. Repeated withdrawals in two consecutive semesters or in any three non-consecutive semesters will result in a written notification and registration hold unless the withdrawals are a result of circumstances beyond the student's control and have been brought to the attention of their college office. Should such withdrawal occur again, the student will be denied permission for future registration.

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    Accreditations and Memberships

    Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a Member of the North Central Association, 230 North LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60602-2504. 1-800-621-7440

    The University is a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Conference for Mercy Higher Education, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education and the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

    The School of Architecture is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, the only accrediting agency for architecture in the nation. It is a member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.

    The College of Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB).

    The School of Dentistry's Doctor of Dental Surgery program, Dental Hygiene program, graduate programs in Endodontics, Periodontics, Orthodontics, and the Advanced Education Graduate Dentistry program are accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation.

    The College of Engineering and Science curricula leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Architectural Engineering, Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, and Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Bachelor of Science program in Chemistry is certified by the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Professional Training. The Bachelor of Science program in Biochemistry is within the guidelines stipulated by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

    In the College of Health Professions, the Physician Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. The Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesiology program is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

    The Bachelor of Science degree, Master of Science in Nursing degree, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ, McAuley School of Nursing are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle NW Suite 530, Washington, DC  20036.  Telephone:  (202) 887-6791.

    The School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools and the Association of the Religiously Affiliated Law Schools.

    In the College of Liberal Arts & Education, the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association; the School Specialist program is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP); and the Developmental Psychology bachelor degree program is recognized by the National Council on family Life (NCFR) as preparation to become a Certified Family Life Educator. The Michigan State Board of Education has authorized the College to recommend applicants for certificates to teach in the private and public schools of Michigan. The State Elementary and Secondary Certificate, Provisional and Professional, are issued by the State Board of Education, on the recommendation of the University. The Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The Master of Arts programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling are accredited by the Council for Accreditation for Counseling and Related Education Program (CACREP).

    Memberships and Professional Organizations

    • Academy for the Study of the Psychoanalytic Arts
    • Academy of Finance
    • Academy of Management
    • Accounting Aid Society
    • Actors Equity Association
    • Actors Guild
    • American Academy of Physician Assistants
    • American Academy of Religion (AAR)
    • American Accounting Association
    • American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
    • American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
    • American Association of Individual Investors
    • American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
    • American Correctional Association (ACA)
    • American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
    • American Counseling Association
    • American Economic Association (AEA)
    • American Evaluation Association ()
    • American Finance Association
    • American Forensic Association (AFA)
    • American Historical Association
    • American Institute of Architects (AIA)
    • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
    • American Library Association (ALA)
    • American Marketing Association
    • American Mental Health Counselor Association
    • American Psychological Association (APA)
    • American School Counselor Association
    • American Society for Bioethics and the Humanities (ASBH)
    • American Society for Quality
    • American Society of Trial Consultants (ASTC)
    • American Statistical Association
    • American Studies Association
    • Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL)
    • Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
    • Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development
    • Association for Psychological Science
    • Association for Specialist in Group Work
    • Association of American Law Schools
    • Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
    • Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
    • Association of Computing Machinery (ACM)
    • Association of Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Applied Computing (ACM SIG SAC)
    • Association of Consumer Research
    • Association of Directors of Psychology Training Clinics (ADPTC)
    • Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan
    • Association of Information Systems
    • Association of Information Technology Professionals
    • Association of International Educators (NAFSA)
    • Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU)
    • Association of Marketing Science
    • Association of Michigan School Counselors
    • Association of Religiously Affiliated Law Schools
    • Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors
    • Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan
    • Broadcast Education Association (BEA)
    • Buddhist Peace Fellowship
    • Business Leadership Network of Michigan
    • Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work
    • Canadian Psychology Association (CPA)
    • Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA)
    • Center for Ethics and Religious Values, Notre Dame University
    • Central States Communication Association (CSCA)
    • Chi Sigma Iota
    • Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education
    • College Media Advisers (CMA)
    • College Theology Society (CTS)
    • Collegium Michigan Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters
    • Conference for Mercy Higher Education
    • Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIAC)
    • Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology Programs (CUDCP)
    • Council on Social Work Education
    • Decision Sciences Institute
    • Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Member-State Navigator Initiative
    • Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET)
    • Detroit Executive Service Corps
    • Dharma Drum Mountain Cultural Center
    • Director of Independent Libraries in Michigan (DIAL-M)
    • Economic Club of Detroit
    • Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP)
    • Financial Education Association
    • Financial Executives International
    • Financial Management Association International
    • Global Jesuit Business Alumni Association
    • Global Jesuit Business Student Association
    • Greater Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
    • History of Economics Society
    • Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
    • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE)
    • International Association for Business and Society
    • International Association of Addiction and Offender Counselors
    • International Association of Jesuit Business Schools
    • International Federation for Psychoanalytic Education (IFPE)
    • International Listening Association (ILC)
    • International Network of Engaged Buddhists
    • International Society of Feminist Theologians
    • International Transpersonal Association
    • Jane Austen Society of North America
    • John Courtney Murray Theology Group
    • Marketing Management Association
    • MBAA Academy of Finance
    • Medical Ethics Resource Network of Michigan (MERN)
    • Medical Library Association (MLA)
    • Medieval Academy
    • Metropolitan Detroit Medical Library Group (MDMLG)
    • Michigan Academic Library Council (MALC)
    • Michigan Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
    • Michigan Association for Specialists in Group Work
    • Michigan Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Educators
    • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
    • Michigan Association of Colleges of Nursing
    • Michigan Association of Industrial/Organizational Psychologists (MAIOP)
    • Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists
    • Michigan Business Leadership Network
    • Michigan Career Educators and Employers Alliance (MCEEA)
    • Michigan Collegiate Press Association (MCPA)
    • Michigan Council of Federal Depository Libraries (MCFDL)
    • Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners
    • Michigan Counseling Association
    • Michigan Health Science Library Association (MHSLA)
    • Michigan Hispanic Fund
    • Michigan Library Association (MLA)
    • Michigan Psychological Association
    • Michigan Religious Roundtable
    • Michigan Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (MSPP)
    • Michigan Teachers of English as a Second Language (MITESOL)
    • Michigan Academy of Physician Assistants
    • Middle East Studies Association
    • Midwest Cooperative Library Services (MCLS)
    • Midwest Economics Association (MEA)
    • Midwest Finance Association
    • Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA)
    • Midwestern Psychological Association
    • MiJob Coalition
    • Mobilization of Disabled Youth Leadership
    • National Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors
    • National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE)
    • National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
    • National Association of Social Workers - Michigan
    • National Association of Workforce Professionals
    • National Communication Association (NCA)
    • National League for Nursing (NLN)
    • National Organization of Nurse Practitioners
    • New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NYNATAS)
    • Online Computer Library Center (OCLC)
    • Organization of American Historians
    • Phi Alpha Delta
    • Physician Assistant Education Association
    • Pi Sigma Alpha
    • Production and Operations Management Society
    • Sakyadhita: International Association of Buddhist Women
    • Screen Royal Historical Society
    • Servicemembers Opportunity College
    • Small Business Institute
    • Social Enterprise Alliance
    • Society for Biblical Literature (SBL)
    • Society for Business Ethics
    • Society for Historians of the Early Republic
    • Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology
    • Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers
    • Society for the Advancement of Management
    • Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
    • Society of Christian Ethics (SCE)
    • Society of Estimators and Cost Analyst
    • Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
    • Southeast League of Libraries (SEMLOL)
    • Southwestern Finance Association
    • Special Library Association (SLA)
    • State Bar of Michigan (SBM)
    • State Bar of Michigan Real Estate Section (SBM RES)
    • Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants
    • Teachers of English as a Second Language (TESOL)
    • The Association of Korean Political Studies
    • The Clute Institute for Academic Research
    • The Korea America Economic Association
    • The Korea America Finance Association
    • Theatre Communications Group
    • Turnaround Management Association
    • United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship
    • US Department of Transportation Center (MIOH-UTC)
    • Women's Economic Club