<div dir="ltr"><h1 id="blox-asset-title"><span class="">Proposal could clarify language in academic clemency policy by fall</span>
</h1>
<p class="">The policy would guarantee
students who left the university and returned at least five years later
the ability to petition poor grades from past years</p>
<div class="">
<div class="">
<a class="" rel="nofollow"><div class=""><span style="vertical-align:bottom;width:124px;height:20px"></span></div></a>
</div>
<div class="">
</div>
<div class="">
</div>
<div class="">
</div>
<div class="">
<a class=""><span></span></a>
</div>
</div>
<div id="blox-story-frame" class="">
<div id="blox-story-media" class="">
<div class="">
</div>
<div class="">
</div>
<div class="">
</div>
</div>
<p class="">
Posted: <span class="" title="2015-03-04T01:55:00-05:00">Wednesday, March 4, 2015 1:55 am</span>
</p>
<p class="">
</p>
<div class="">
<br><ul><li>
<p class="">by
<a href="http://www.diamondbackonline.com/users/profile/Rokia%20Hassanein">
<em>Rokia Hassanein</em>
</a>
</p>
</li></ul></div>
<div id="blox-story-text" class="">
<div id="paging_container" class="">
<div class="">
<span class="">
<span class=""><p>Officials have
proposed revisions to clarify the language in the Academic Clemency
Policy, which allows undergraduate students returning to this university
to request the removal of poor grades previously received in courses
taken here.</p></span>
</span>
<span class=""><p>The University
Senate plans to review these changes in fall 2015, including
guaranteeing students the clemency option and limiting which grades can
be petitioned for removal, said Undergraduate Studies Dean Donna
Hamilton, who proposed the revisions.</p></span>
<div class="">
<div id="in-story">
</div>
</div>
<p>In order for this proposed policy to benefit
students, Hamilton said, the student must be returning to this
university after spending at least five years away from the school.</p>
<p>This policy would guarantee those students the
ability to petition for clemency and allow them to petition to have the
poor grades removed during the student’s first semester back. Students
would be able to have a maximum of 16 credits removed.</p>
<p>According to this university’s current policy,
the requirements for obtaining academic clemency include being
readmitted or reinstated at this university, being registered for
classes at this university and not having enrolled in any other
four-year academic program during the five years spent away.</p>
<p>“The current policy says that the clemency
options are not guaranteed,” Hamilton said. “The [proposed] policy would
limit grades and courses affected to those with grades of D and F.”</p>
<p>In addition to limiting removal to grades D-plus,
D, D-minus and F, as well as guaranteeing clemency for students,
revisions also suggest that previous grades achieved would not impact a
student’s chances for academic or Latin honors.</p>
<p>Hamilton said this proposal comes after officials
reviewed a wide range of policies put in place several years ago and
found that some language might be unclear. The current policy was
approved in 1991, according to the policy document.</p>
<p>“We are concerned about inconsistency in the way
policies are implemented on campus,” she said. “We prefer more
consistency and clarity for students.”</p>
<p>University Registrar Adrian Cornelius wrote in an
email that he believes the proposed revisions to the Academic Clemency
Policy would create consistency and clarity across all colleges and
departments at this university.</p>
<p>“The language in the proposed policy is clear and
concise, which will enable a more accurate operationalization of the
policy,” Cornelius wrote. “Since the policy would clearly stipulate that
clemency will only be granted for D+, D, D- and F grades, students
won’t have to decide on whether to get rid of their other passing
grades, and this will be very satisfying to our students who are
returning after five years with increased optimism to complete their
degrees.”</p>
<p>Lisa Kiely, undergraduate studies assistant dean,
echoed this tone, saying that the new policy would provide better
structure and clarity.</p>
<p>“The changes are excellent,” Kiely said.
“Students who are returning after five years understand that they will
be able to use this policy. I’m very pleased with what has been
proposed.”</p>
<p>Hamilton said the University System of Maryland encourages institutions in this state to have an academic clemency policy.</p>
<p>“Many universities have policies that give
students a chance to repair a past weak academic record,” Hamilton said.
“The goal of such policies is to support students in earning a degree
without compromising academic standards.”</p>
</div></div></div></div><br clear="all"><a href="http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/article_b4f4964a-c204-11e4-8c10-077d8cc25755.html">http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/article_b4f4964a-c204-11e4-8c10-077d8cc25755.html</a><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
</div>