Academic procedures
Admission
See admission procedures for each graduate program.
For questions about admission, please contact admissions@bluffton.edu or 419-358-3257
Conditional admission
When an applicant fails to meet the regular admission requirements and there is cause
for significant concern about the student’s success in the program, the program director
may recommend conditional admission for that applicant. A student who is conditionally
admitted must achieve a 3.0 grade point average during the first nine semester hours
of coursework in order to be removed from that status. A conditionally admitted student
who fails to achieve a GPA of 3.0 during the first nine semester hours of coursework
will be placed on academic suspension. At this point the regular suspension procedures
apply.
Add, drop, and non-emergency withdrawal deadlines
- For graduate level courses, the add deadline is 1/15th of the course (one week of a 15-week semester). The drop deadline is 2/15th of the course (two weeks + the weekend and Monday of a 15-week semester). The non-emergency withdrawal deadline is 7/15th of the course (7 weeks + the weekend and Monday of a 15-week semester).
- For graduate level courses which are 4 weeks in length, the add deadline would be the end of the second day, the drop deadline would be the end of the 4th day, and the non-emergency withdrawal deadline would be the end of the 13th day.
- For graduate level courses which are 6 weeks in length, the add deadline would be the end of the third day, the drop deadline would be the end of the 6th day, and the non-emergency withdrawal deadline would be the end of the 20th day.
- For graduate level courses which are 8 weeks in length, the add deadline would be
the end of the fourth day, the drop deadline would be the end of the 8th day, and
the non-emergency withdrawal deadline would be the end of the 26th day.
COURSE LOAD
A full-time load for graduate students is considered to be at least 6 hours per semester. Students enrolled for fewer than 6 hours in a semester are classified as part-time students. Graduate students enrolled less than 3 hours (half-time) are not eligible for Federal Direct Student Loans.
Credit by exam
Credit by exam is not generally allowed toward a graduate degree.
Credit for prior learning
Dietetics students may petition to be granted credit for practicum experience for
prior learning. These petitions will be reviewed by the program director.
Evaluation of student performance
Graduate students are evaluated utilizing a letter grade system with quality points.
To remain in good standing, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Graduate
students must earn a grade of C or above in all courses. They may repeat courses to
earn improved grades. Students must pay for courses each time they are taken.
Grades are calculated according to the following scale:
| Letter grade | Quality points per semester hour |
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| E | 0.0 |
Graduation
Students who plan to complete all graduation requirements by the end of the fall semester
of the same calendar year may participate in spring commencement exercises. Students
with a maximum of 12 credit hours remaining to complete at the end of the spring semester
are eligible to participate in the spring commencement exercises. The remaining hours
should be completed in the same calendar year and listed on the “Intent to Graduate”
form, which should be submitted by January 31 of the year in which the student intends
to participate in commencement exercises.
Incompletes
To receive an incomplete, a student must apply for and obtain permission from the
course instructor. It is expected that an incomplete will be removed within the first
two weeks of the semester or term following the one in which it was given. If not
removed by the end of the semester or term following the one in which it was given,
the incomplete becomes an E.
Probation
At the end of each course, the academic performance of all students in attendance
will be reviewed. Any time that a student's cumulative grade-point average falls below
3.0, degree seeking graduate students are placed on academic probation. Students placed
on probation must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 by the end of an additional nine
semester hours of coursework or they will be placed on academic suspension.
Reenrollment
Students who choose not to enroll for a period of 1 semester or less are not required
to reapply: Note that this does not apply to students who have been suspended or withdrawn
by Bluffton University. Students who have chosen not to enroll for a period of longer
than 1 semester must complete a reapplication to Bluffton University and must pay
a deposit prior to reenrollment.
Suspension
Students on probation whose grade-point average is still below 3.0 after completion
of 9 additional semester hours, as specified above, will be subject to suspension
through the following semester. Academic suspension requires the student to leave
the program for the equivalent of one complete semester.
Students who have been suspended may apply for readmission after the period of suspension has been completed. The program director will consider each request for readmission on a case by case basis. The program director may allow the suspended student to retake one course while on suspension.
The Suspension/Dismissal Committee, a subcommittee of the Graduate Academic Programs Council, consists of the registrar (who chairs the committee), the vice president and dean of academic affairs and/or his/her designate, the vice president for student life and dean of students, , the chairperson of the Graduate Academic Programs Council, and the director of the student’s graduate program.
Time Limits for Degree Completion
All work for a Master of Arts in Education must be completed within ten years from
the first graduate level course taken at Bluffton University.
All work for all other graduate degrees must be completed within six years from the date of matriculation to the graduate program.
To request an extension of the time limit, the student must submit a written request to the director of the graduate program specifying the amount of time needed and the reasons an extension is necessary. The director, in consultation with the program faculty, will notify the student in writing of the decision on an extension request.
Transfer Credit
Up to nine semester hours (or 13.5 quarter hours) of credit for the Master of Social
Work program or up to six semester hours (or nine quarter hours) of credit for all
other graduate programs may be transferred in from another accredited college or university
as long as the credit is at the graduate level, from an accredited institution, and
approved by the Bluffton content professor or a designee (core courses) and the program
director or designee (elective credit). In accordance with program policy, workshop
credits will not be transferable. In addition, for work to be accepted it must be
completed no more than 10 years prior to application. Other specific policies regarding
transfer credit apply to each program. See the respective handbook or talk with the
program director for more information.
Withdrawal
Students must notify the office of adult and graduate education in writing of their
intent to withdraw from courses. Neither notifying instructors nor failing to attend
courses constitutes withdrawal. Failure to complete appropriate withdrawal procedures
may yield failing grades for the affected courses.
June 2023