Academic Policies and Procedures

Course and Credit System

Credit Hour

One credit hour consists of at least 50 minutes of classroom or direct faculty instruction (synchronous or asynchronous) each week for approximately 15 weeks; or

• At least an equivalent amount of work as above for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, field work, clinical work, studio work, and other academic work; and
• Each credit is an amount of work that is aligned with the intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement; and
• Regardless of their duration, all credit-bearing courses contain the same total number of hours as a 15-week semester. 

Maximum Credit Registration

Undergraduate students may register for up to 18 credits without permission. To register for more than 18 credits, students must have completed 12 or more credits at Oakland University and have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.60 to request registering for more than 18 credits.  To make a request, students must adhere to the following process:

• Student sends an email to the respective advising area to ask for permission
• If approved, the adviser sends the approval to the Office of the Registrar to process
• Once processed, an email will be sent from the Office of the Registrar to the student
• Guests, post-baccalaureate, and non-matriculate students will send their email request directly to the Registrar.

Class Standing

For university purposes, class standing is set at the following numbers of credit hours earned: 
 

Regulations Governing Courses

• Courses numbered 0000-0499 are designated for skill development courses specially designed to aid incoming students in preparing for courses numbered 1000 and above. Credits earned in these courses cannot be used to satisfy graduation requirements in any academic program. Grades earned in these courses, however, are included in students’ grade point averages.
• Courses numbered 0500-0999 are for courses specifically designed to enrich academic skills. No more than 16 credits in courses numbered 0500-0999 may count toward graduation requirements.
• Courses numbered 1000-2999 are introductory undergraduate courses primarily for freshmen and sophomores.
• Courses numbered 3000-4999 are designed for juniors and seniors.
• Courses numbered 5000 and above are primarily for graduate students. Qualified undergraduates may enroll in a class numbered 5000-5999 provided they have obtained an override from the department chair and the course instructor or have been accepted into a Combined Bachelor/Graduate Degree program .  
• Courses numbered 6000 and above are restricted to graduate students, but students admitted to a Combined Bachelor/Graduate Degree program  are eligible to enroll in a class numbered 6000-6999. Consult the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for the financial implications.
• The University reserves the right to cancel any course in which there is insufficient registration.
• It is the student’s responsibility to complete any course prerequisites prior to the start of the course and to register for co-requisites as indicted in the catalog. Departments may waive prerequisites in accordance with academic unit policy. See list of requisite definitions in the next section.
• Some courses are cross-listed among departments. In such cases, the course description is listed only in one department. The listing in the other department notes that the course is identical with the course in the primary department. When registering, students should select the listing under which they wish to receive degree credit.

Requisite Definitions

• Prerequisite Course - A course that must be successfully completed before taking the desired course. See course description for specifics.
• Prerequisite Course with Concurrency - A course that must be successfully completed before or at the same time as taking the desired course. See course description for specifics.
• Corequisite Course - A course that must be taken at the same time as the desired course. See course description for specifics.
• Restrictions - A requirement (other than courses) that must be met in order to take the desired course (e.g., a specific major, college, class standing, etc.).
• Permission - A requirement for which a student must receive approval from the listed person (e.g., instructor, department chair, adviser, etc.) before taking the desired course. Additional requisites may also apply.
• Linked Sections - Two or more sections of the same course (generally a lecture and lab) that must be taken at the same time.

Course Competency

Students may receive credit toward graduation designated as competency credit (graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) on their transcripts for Oakland University courses, subject to the following provisions:

• Pass an appropriate competency examination not more than six weeks after the term begins. Competency credit will not be permitted for a course when a student has received credit for more advanced courses in the same area.
• Course repeat rules apply, for any repeat of an exam (see Repeating Courses).
• Tuition charges apply as appropriate. Please refer to the Tuition Rates page for more information.
• To request approval to register, refer to the following:

Undergraduate: To register for competency credit, please consult with the academic department for which the competency exam is held under. The decision to grant permission is the discretion of the department. Competency exams must be taken within the first six weeks of the semester. For additional rules governing competency credit, consult the appropriate catalog.

Students may apply up to 60 credits based on non-classroom experience toward a degree program. Students seeking second degrees are limited to 16 credits of non-classroom experience. Students may apply non-classroom experience (course competency, Advanced Placement, IB, CLEP, and/or DSST credits) to satisfy General Education Requirements.

Dropping and Withdrawing from Classes

Courses may be dropped with full tuition refund through the 10th weekday of classes, in the 2nd week of a full semester class, and the 5th weekday, in the 1st week of a half semester class. Courses may be withdrawn without academic penalty through the 9th week in a full semester and the 5th week of a half semester. A W grade denoting withdrawal is recorded for courses withdrawn after the 2nd week in full semesters and after the 1st week in a half semester. Failure to drop/withdraw from a course on or before the appropriate deadline will result in the recording of an F grade on the academic transcript. Courses of other lengths have specific refund and withdrawal dates which are available online.

Auditing Courses

A formal audit option is available for students who wish to participate in a course on a non-graded basis. With permission of the instructor, students may register to audit a course during the late registration period for each semester or session. If given permission, please have the instructor provide a ‘PERM’ override in SAIL.  After the override is entered, you will receive an automated message to your OU email.  At this time, you may register in SAIL.  Audit registrations are governed by the following rules:

• Regular tuition applies to all courses.
• The Registrar will assign the final grade of Z to all formal audits.
• If a student pays tuition for regular credit, they cannot switch to auditing the course.
• Changes of registration from credit to audit or from audit to credit will not be permitted once the late registration period has ended for a given semester (2 weeks into the term).
• Students who wish to audit courses must have been admitted to the University by Undergraduate Admissions.
• Students whose entire registration for a semester consists of formal audits must register during late registration.

Repeating Courses

Students may repeat a course to improve the grade earned in a prior enrollment, but they must do so at Oakland University. Grade improvement would not apply for courses that are allowed to be repeated for credit. Check with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for ramifications of repeating courses. Most courses carry a limit of 3 attempts, including the initial attempt (excluding drops or withdrawals). The repeat course must be taken on the same grading basis (alpha or satisfactory/unsatisfactory) as the previous attempt which credit was earned. Since some programs have more stringent limits, students should consult their academic adviser before registering to repeat a course. Students should be aware that the most recent grade will be the grade of record whether or not it is the highest grade earned.

Students whose programs allow courses to be repeated at other institutions will not receive transfer credit if Oakland University credit was already earned, nor will it be calculated into their Oakland grade point average. Students must consult their academic adviser in their major program before registering to repeat a course elsewhere.

Oakland University transcripts will reflect grades earned in all Oakland courses. For repeated courses, the attempts excluded from the grade point average will be marked with an E and the grade of record will be marked with an I designating inclusion of the course in the grade point average calculation. Transfer students who successfully repeat a course at Oakland for which transfer credit has been awarded will lose the transfer credit when it exceeds the allowable maximum repeat credit for the course. Credit is not given for more than one course covering specific content, which means that most courses can be taken only once. Certain courses, however, generally representing special topics or independent studies, are designed to vary from semester to semester. The Undergraduate Catalog states the applicable credit limit for such courses.

Degree Requirements

Undergraduate degree requirements are of two kinds: university degree requirements determined by the University to be binding on all baccalaureate programs, and specific degree requirements established by the various academic units that offer degree programs. Degree seeking students may choose to meet graduation requirements as presented in any active catalog at Oakland University; providing their catalog is not more than 6 years old at the time of graduation.

Effective Catalogs

Prior to a change of curriculum, academic advisers review the student’s record to determine the most effective catalog related to the student completing their degree; typically, this matches the student’s initial catalog unless noted by the adviser.

Students changing from a pre-major to major standing in the same field of study are able to follow their initial catalog used for their pre-major. Information regarding applying for major standing is listed in the individual program entries of this catalog.

Students may follow separate catalogs for university and specific requirements if it is in their best interest as determined by their academic adviser.

Major Dependent Concentrations must align with the student’s catalog for their corresponding major. The catalog used for the addition of a Minor or stand-alone Concentration will default to the catalog for the student’s major, but can differ as long as it is within 6 years old at the time of graduation.

Degree requirements can be met in the following ways:

• Earning an appropriate grade in each course
• Passing a competency examination (if offered and approved) at Oakland University
• Receiving transfer credit from another institution
• Receiving credits from Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams

*Subject to university policies regarding credit limit from outside of Oakland University

In certain circumstances, a requirement may be formally waived through a successful Petition of Exception. Consult your academic adviser.

Final grades are part of the student’s permanent record and cannot be changed after degrees have been awarded.

All policies and procedures in this catalog reflect information as it was available on the publication date. Oakland University reserves the right to revise all announcements contained in this publication and at its discretion to make reasonable changes in requirements to improve or upgrade academic and non-academic programs.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Oakland University has established general degree requirements applicable to all candidates for all undergraduate degrees. To earn a bachelor’s degree at Oakland University, students must satisfy the following:

1. Credit Hour Requirement: A minimum of 120 credit hours; specific credit hour requirements can be found in the individual program entry or in each academic unit/department section.
2. Grade Point Average Requirement: Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in courses taken at Oakland University. In certain programs, additional GPA requirements must be met.
3. Residency Requirement: Students must successfully complete a minimum of 45 credits at Oakland University. Oakland University limits residency requirements for active-duty service members, including Reservists and National Guardsmen on active-duty, to no more than 25% of the undergraduate degree program. Some exceptions to this policy include specific Articulation Agreements. Upon request, this rule may be retroactively applied to a previous catalog.
4. Upper-level Credit Requirement: Students must have successfully completed at least 32 credits in courses at the 3000 level or above. Students transferring credits to Oakland University should consult the Transfer Student Information .
5. General Education Requirements 
6. Specific Requirements: Students must select a major or primary field of study, and for some programs (as described in relevant sections of this catalog), must be admitted to the major by the academic unit offering the program. Students must fulfill all specific undergraduate degree requirements appropriate to their chosen major(s) as stipulated by the various colleges, schools or other academic units empowered to present candidates for the undergraduate degree(s) over which they have authority. 

• Specializations are groups of related courses within certain major fields, and are options in some major programs. For other programs, students must select a required specialization as part of the major. At least 50% of the major with specialization requirements must be earned at Oakland University.
• Concentrations which are groupings of interrelated courses with an interdisciplinary focus, are optional in most programs but required in some. At least 50% of the concentration/major dependent concentration requirements must be earned at Oakland University.
• Minors, secondary fields or subject areas of study, are optional. At least 50% of the minor requirements must be earned at Oakland University. A student cannot declare a major and a minor in the same discipline (e.g. a BS in Accounting with a minor in Accounting).    

7. Graduation Application Requirement: Students must apply to graduate for each major/degree through SAIL based on dates/deadlines provided by the Office of the Registrar. Degree candidates must have any petitions approved and all official transcripts for coursework applicable to the degree submitted to Oakland University’s Office of the Registrar by the end of the second week of their intended graduation semester. Failure to do so may result in removal from the graduation list.

Writing Foundation requirements

The most up to date information is found at Department of Writing and Rhetoric.

Complete WRT 1060  (and any required prerequisites including WRT 1020 and/or WRT 1050) with a grade of C or better. (Note: Some majors require a higher grade. Please consult with your academic adviser.)

Additional Undergraduate Degrees and Majors

Under certain conditions, a student may earn either:

• an additional baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree
  or
• a single baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree with multiple majors.

Dual Degrees

In order to pursue 2 or more Oakland University bachelor’s degrees simultaneously, students must:

1. Have not already earned a baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree at OU or elsewhere.
2. Meet all specified requirements for each degree program.
3. Complete at least 32 credits at Oakland University beyond those required for the degree with the most credits.

• Of the 32 credits, at least 16 credits must be at the 3000 level or above.
• Ex: If a student is pursuing the Public Health, BS (120 credits) and Mechanical Engineering, BSE (128 credits) the student would be required to earn at least 160 credits (128 credits + 32 credits).

Students may earn 2 bachelor’s degrees in any combination (Ex: A BA and a different BA degree, a BS and a BFA degree, a BSE degree and a BA degree, etc.).

• The degrees may come from the same academic unit, or different units. Students may not earn 2 baccalaureate degrees of the same major, such as a BA in Economics and a BS in Economics.

Some program combinations limit the number of credits that can be applied to both degrees. A student should consult with their academic adviser to incorporate an additional degree to their academic record. Students who complete a dual degree will receive an individual diploma for each bachelor’s degree.

Double Majors

Students who meet the requirements for double majors, but do not meet the above conditions for a dual degree will receive a bachelor’s degree with both majors recorded on their official transcripts. A student who completes a double major will be awarded one diploma, listing both majors. 

• Ex: If a student is pursuing the Accounting, BS and an additional major in Marketing the student would earn one diploma which would note both majors. The official transcript would note a Bachelor’s of Science with an Accounting Major and a Certificate of Additional Major in Marketing.
• Students pursuing a double major under different degree types, will receive a diploma and a certificate.
  • Ex: a student earning a double major in Communication, BA and Musical Theatre, BFA would have a diploma for their primary degree (Communication, BA) and their Musical Theatre major would be listed on a certificate.

Some program combinations limit the number of credits that can be applied to both degrees. A student should consult with their academic adviser to incorporate an additional degree to their academic record.

Post-Baccalaureate (PB) Students

Students already holding a baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree who wish to earn an additional bachelor’s degree at Oakland University must:

1. Receive written approval from the college or school concerned (and, where appropriate, from the department) as part of the admission process to the new program.
2. Complete at least 32 additional credits at Oakland University.
3. Meet all specific requirements for the new degree.

PB students are exempt from Oakland University’s General Education requirements.

Students may enroll as post-baccalaureate students and have completion of an additional major recorded on the transcript. Such students must meet all requirements for the additional major.

Graduation Application Requirement: Students must apply to graduate for each major/degree through SAIL based on dates/deadlines provided by the Office of the Registrar. Degree candidates must have any petitions approved and all official transcripts for coursework applicable to the degree submitted to Oakland University’s Office of the Registrar by the end of the second week of their intended graduation semester. Failure to do so may result in removal from the graduation list.

Undergraduate Certificates

An undergraduate certificate is a curriculum designed within a specific body of knowledge. An undergraduate certificate is for students who meet undergraduate admission requirements and are enrolled at Oakland University or who have previously earned an undergraduate degree. A minimum of 12 and no more than 26 credit hours constitute an undergraduate certificate. Up to 50% of the credits for one certificate can be used toward the completion of other certificates. Students who have completed their bachelor’s degree at Oakland University require admission to the University to seek post-baccalaureate certificates. At least 50% of the certificate requirements must be earned at Oakland University. For a degree program that is built upon multiple certificates, all certificates must be completed in order to be awarded the degree. The Office of the Registrar is the only unit that awards and provides a copy of the certificate. The certificate appears on the official transcript.

Undergraduate certificates are not financial aid eligible as stand-alone programs.

Certifications are generally more recognized in professional settings than certificates because certifications are standardized and issued by nationally recognized organizations.

Graduation Application Requirement: Students must apply to graduate for each certificate through SAIL based on dates/deadlines provided by the Office of the Registrar. Certificate candidates must have any petitions approved and all official transcripts for coursework applicable to the certificate submitted to Oakland University’s Office of the Registrar by the end of the second week of their intended graduation semester. Failure to do so may result in removal from the graduation list.  

Petitions of Exception (POEs)

Any student may request a waiver or modification of specific degree requirements outlined in this catalog. The official request should be initiated on a Petition of Exception (POE) form available from the corresponding advising office.

POEs related to major requirements will be directed to the chairperson of the corresponding department, while those addressing university-wide undergraduate degree requirements will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar for processing after approval.  POEs related to General Education Requirements will be reviewed by the General Education Committee. Approved POEs are applied and noted on a student’s Degree Works Audit. The Office of the Registrar must receive approved POEs related to graduation requirements for a degree candidate no later than the second week of the semester of intended graduation. Failure to do so may result in postponing graduation.

English Proficiency Policy

Global Engagement Website

English proficiency is needed for students to be successful when completing an academic degree in the United States.  All international applicants, other visa holders, permanent residents, and applicants whose native language* is not English, must be proficient in English as a requirement to enroll in courses for credit at Oakland University.  Such applicants will be required to demonstrate English proficiency by meeting one of the following conditions listed below.

Some programs at Oakland University may require a higher level of proficiency than listed. Applicants should examine the program description for their field of study for information about additional English proficiency requirements and furnish proof as part of the admission process.  Please visit the ESL Institute website and Undergraduate Admissions for additional information.               

Full Admission

One of the following constitutes proof:

The following criteria only apply to students who do not hold and are not seeking an F or a J visa to study at Oakland University.     

1. Applicant has worked full-time in the United States for at least three years in an English speaking environment. Evidence must be provided such as a letter of support from human resources to confirm employment.
2. Applicant has worked full-time for at least three years in an English speaking environment outside of the United States.  Evidence must be provided such as a letter of support from Human Resources that confirms English as the primary language of written and oral communication. 
3. A letter of support or comment from the ESL Institute at Oakland University based on an interview and completion of the ESL placement test.

Admission with ESL coursework

Applicants, who are eligible for admission AND provide evidence of the following scores, will be permitted to enroll in the Global Achievement Pathway Program (GAPP) which permits students to simultaneously enroll in the ESL course sequence, as determined by the ESL Institute, and academic program courses.  Enrollment in GAPP will be for one or two semesters. Students must register for ESL courses as part of their coursework starting in their first semester of registration. The ESL instruction sequence designed by the ESL Institute is not negotiable.  Students not making satisfactory progress in the ESL course sequence or academic program are subject to dismissal from their program. 

Global Achievement Pathway Program for One Semester (GAPP - 1)

Students must register for ESL courses as part of their coursework starting in their first semester of registration. ESL placement is done by the English as a Second Language Institute (ESL Institute) using the ESL Online Placement Test and other assessment tools. During students’ ESL instruction sequence, students’ English Proficiency will be evaluated to determine whether adequate progress is being made and if additional ESL coursework is necessary to achieve English Proficiency. The ESL instruction sequence designed by the ESL Institute is not negotiable.

Satisfactory completion of the ESL instruction sequence is expected within one year, but ESL coursework is required until minimum proficiency is demonstrated.

Global Achievement Pathway Program for Two Semesters (GAPP - 2)

One of the following constitutes proof:

Admission to intensive English program

Prospective students who do not have adequate English proficiency for admission or admission with ESL coursework to the university can be admitted to the Intensive English Program. ESL placement is done by the English as a Second Language Institute (ESL Institute) using the ESL Online Placement Test and other assessment tools. During the students’ ESL instruction sequence, students’ English proficiency will be evaluated to determine whether adequate progress is being made and if additional ESL coursework is necessary to achieve English proficiency. The ESL instruction sequence designed by the ESL Institute is not negotiable.

Upon completion of the Intensive English Program, students may (re)apply for admission to Oakland University; applicants are evaluated using the admission criteria described above.

* A native language is a language that is acquired naturally during childhood and is usually spoken at home, as opposed to a language that is learned later in life, for example as a part of a person’s formal education. Students whose native language is not English are encouraged to visit the English as a Second Language Institute to discuss any language difficulties they may have while attending Oakland University.

Readmission

Click link for or information on Readmission policies.

Transfer Student Information

Transfer Practices

When students enter Oakland University, the Office of the Registrar evaluates all course-work previously completed with a C- (2.0 on a numerical scale) or equivalent grade at regionally accredited post-secondary institutions. Transferred courses may be used to satisfy credit and major requirements.  If otherwise transferrable, courses will be granted credit if graded on Pass/Satisfactory grade scale from the transferring institution. It will be up to the individual departments to determine if the course will be applied toward major requirements.  Credits are granted for courses taken at other regionally accredited post-secondary institutions in accordance with the transfer policies of this university and with the principles described below. Transfer credit will not be granted for course-work completed at another institution during any period when the student was suspended from Oakland University for academic misconduct.

Your GPA does NOT transfer from any two-year or four-year college or university. Only credits will transfer. Your GPA is based only on grades earned at Oakland. Some programs may use the grades from other schools in their particular internal admission criteria. Note: If you do poorly in an Oakland course, you should NOT retake that course somewhere else. If you retake it at any other institution, it will not replace the Oakland grade. That class will affect your GPA permanently on the transcript for Oakland University. 

Transfer practices for students from regionally accredited community colleges and four-year institutions

Oakland University’s baccalaureate programs are designed to accommodate students from community colleges and four-year institutions. For most Michigan community colleges, the university has prepared course equivalency guides that indicate courses fulfilling specific Oakland University requirements. Transfer students from community colleges are eligible for the same financial aid programs and other services available to students who enter Oakland University directly from high school. Transfer credits are accepted in accordance with the transfer policies of this university and in accordance with the principles described below. Some exceptions to this policy for religion courses offered by religiously affiliated post-secondary institutions apply.

Transfer practices for students from non-regionally accredited institutions

If a prospective student from a non-regionally accredited institution meets OU admissions requirements, they will be admitted to Oakland University. The student’s credits from prior non-regionally accredited colleges and universities will be accepted according to the following policy:

Oakland University may accept transfer credit (with at least an earned grade of C- or 2.0 on a numerical scale) from institutions with candidacy status from a regional accrediting agency or from other accredited institutions provided that:

1) the institution grants a baccalaureate or associate degree;

2) the institution is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA);

3) the courses presented for transfer are shown to have equivalency or are determined to be of traditional academic nature and are acceptable to an Oakland University department; and

Students who have questions should contact their academic adviser or the Office of the Registrar.

Transfer practices for veterans

Undergraduate students who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces of the United States are granted, upon application, four hours of undesignated free elective credits. The application for free elective credits can be obtained from Veteran’s Support Services.

Oakland University may accept transfer coursework completed in the Armed Forces of the United States and in programs of the United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) subject to the following conditions: 

1) the content of the courses must be comparable to those for which Oakland University normally grants transfer credit;

2) granting of credit for particular courses must be recommended by the American Council on Education;

3) the credits are acceptable to the appropriate academic department at Oakland University. Students who have questions should contact their academic adviser or the Office of the Registrar.

Transfer credit evaluation

Preliminary evaluations of transfer credits are emailed to students shortly after admission has been approved. Students can review their transcripts on SAIL to see the most updated information. If students have questions concerning courses at other institutions that may meet Oakland University’s General Education requirements, they should consult their academic adviser or submit the General Education Transfer Course Review Form.

Individual academic units may impose particular limitations on transfer credit. Students are advised to read appropriate sections of this catalog to learn the policies of schools in which they may be degree candidates.

Once transfer credits have been granted at Oakland University, a subsequent change of program or major may result in a change in the number of transfer credits accepted.

Study at a foreign university

Oakland University students who enroll directly in foreign universities may, upon their return, request academic credit. Such students must provide documentation of the content and scope of the work completed as well as official evaluations of academic performance. Students who anticipate requesting credit for foreign study should contact the Office of International Education, O’Dowd Hall, Room 328 (248) 370-2889, in advance of enrolling in a foreign university.

Transfer principles

Principles concerning the MTA and MACRAO agreements

Oakland University participates in the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) and Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (MACRAO) Articulation Agreement. Both agreements allow students to satisfy the university’s General Education requirements at a Michigan community college except as noted below.

After transferring to Oakland University, students must complete a Writing Intensive in the Major course and a Capstone course. Students who have satisfied the MTA or MACRAO agreement must also either transfer in a course that is acceptable for the Knowledge Applications (KA) requirement or take an approved KA course at OU after transferring. Under the MTA and MACRAO agreements, students from participating Michigan public community colleges must present for review a transcript bearing the “MTA Satisfied” or “MACRAO Agreement Satisfied” designation.

Principles concerning the Out of State Transfer Policy (OSTP)

Oakland University allows out-of-state transfer students to qualify for the Out of State Transfer Policy (OSTP).  This policy allows out-of-state students to satisfy the University’s General Education requirements if they have an awarded associate degree and meet the coursework requirements. The OSTP coursework categories include Composition, Communication, Natural Science, Mathematics, Social Science, Humanities and Fine Arts. Under the OSTP, the Office of the Registrar will designate if the policy has been satisfied. Only courses with a grade of “C” or 2.0 or higher can be used for this policy. Questions pertaining to the details of the OSTP requirements may be directed to transferhelp@oakland.edu.

After transferring to Oakland University, students must complete a Writing Intensive course in the major and a Capstone course. Students who have satisfied the OSTP must also either transfer in a course that is acceptable for the Knowledge Applications (KA) requirement or take an approved KA course at OU after transferring. In addition, Oakland University is recognizing the statewide General Education agreement from the state of Ohio. Out-of-state students awarded Ohio’s recognized statewide general education agreement will automatically qualify for the OSTP regardless of degree status. Eligible students must present for review a transcript bearing the satisfied designation.

General education requirements for transfer students

Transfer students may fulfill the General Education Requirements with courses from their former institution that have been approved for this purpose by Oakland University. In such cases, a three semester-hour transfer course may serve as the required course in a particular knowledge area, General Education credits, and all 10 knowledge areas must be represented for graduation. Transfer students must complete the Writing Intensive in the Major course and the Capstone course at Oakland University. However, transfer students are exempt from the Writing Intensive in General Education requirement.

Transfer students pursuing any major in the College of Arts and Sciences should refer to the Policies and Procedures section in the College portion of the catalog for College of Arts and Sciences Exploratory requirement  that must be met in addition to General Education Requirements .

AP, CLEP, DSST and IB Policies

The Office of the Registrar (AP, CLEP, DSST and IB Policies) evaluates and awards credit or exemption for certain scores on Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). You should apply for admission and be sure to have your scores sent directly to the Office of the Registrar (North Foundation Hall, Room 160, 318 Meadow Brook Rd., Rochester, MI 48309-4454) for evaluation. Please note, some secondary schools limit access to Google documents outside their organization. You may experience an error if trying to open these documents from a school account. Try logging out of your school account and accessing from a personal account. Follow link for a quick overview of AP/CLEP/IB/DSST Policies .

Physical Education Credits

No more than six credits in approved physical education courses will transfer to Oakland University.

Grading System

1.The basic undergraduate grading system at Oakland University is:
 

2. The first two weeks of a full semester, and the first week of first half and second half classes (varies for other parts of term), are a no record period for dropping courses. (No-record means that there will be no transcript notation showing enrollment in the course.) See Important Dates.

3. The meanings of other alpha grades are as follows:

• An Official Withdrawal (W) grade is assigned if a student initiates a withdrawal from a course between the end of the no-record period and the 9th week for full semester classes, and the 5th week for half semester classes (varies for other parts of term).
• An Incomplete (I) grade is temporary and may be given only by the request of the student and approved consent of the instructor.  I grades are intended for cases of severe hardship beyond the control of a student that prevents completion of course requirements.
  • A student who wishes to receive an I grade in a course must contact the course instructor after the deadline to request a W grade for the given semester and no later than the scheduled final exam date and before a final grade is entered. If an instructor agrees to an I grade, they will enter an I as the grade and set a deadline (not to exceed one year from the last day of the corresponding term.) for the student to finish the coursework.
  • I grades remaining past the one-year maximum period will automatically change to an F grade unless otherwise graded by the instructor.
  • Students are unable to be awarded a degree if there is an I grade on their record.
  • Graduating students requesting an I grade in the final semester should contact their academic adviser immediately.
• The Progress (P) grade is temporary and may be given only in a course that, by design, cannot be completed in one semester or session. Prior approval must be obtained from the dean of the appropriate school or college to assign P grades in a particular course.
  • The P grade is only given for course work that is satisfactory in every respect.
  • P grades must be resolved within two calendar years from the last day of the corresponding term. If this is not completed, the P will be changed to an F.
• The Satisfactory (S) grade implies a grade of C or better in courses approved for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading; such courses must be approved by the appropriate Committee on Instruction (COI). It also denotes satisfactory work in an alpha graded course elected by a student on an S/U basis. Under circumstances presented below, students may elect as an option to take an alpha graded course on an S/U basis.
• The Unsatisfactory (U) grade implies a grade of C- or less in certain selected courses approved for S/U grading; such courses must be approved by the appropriate Committee on Instruction (COI). It also denotes unsatisfactory work in an alpha graded course elected by a student on an S/U basis.
• A Temporary (R) grade is assigned by the Registrar in the absence of a grade from the instructor at the time of End of Term Processing.
• An Audit (Z) grade is assigned upon registration for an audited course. The student’s declaration of intention to audit and instructor permission are both required. No credit will be earned for the course. Please review the section on auditing detailed above.

4. All grades appear on student transcripts. However, only alpha grades are used to determine the grade point average, which is rounded at two decimal places.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading option

Undergraduates may elect to change their grade mode on standard alpha graded courses for up to 8 credits of course-work at Oakland University on an S/U grading basis.  These credits may only be counted as general elective credits.

S/U credits may not be used to satisfy the following:

• Major or minor course requirements
• General Education requirements
• Corequisites or Prerequisites
• CAS Exploratory requirements
• Any courses designated “No S/U”

Student’s that would like to pursue the S/U grade option for courses not already offered on the S/U grade mode must meet the following conditions:  

• Complete at least 28 credit hours toward graduation.
• All prerequisites for the intended S/U course have been met.
• The S/U option must be elected by the end of the late registration period by completing the appropriate form on the Registrar’s website. 

S/U Grading calculations

• ​S/U grades are not included in the student’s grade point average calculations.
• Courses that are repeated must be taken at the same grading basis as the first attempt.
• Students in all grade modes will initially receive an alpha grade from their instructor. Students who are approved to pursue the S/U grade option will have their alpha grades converted to S/U.
  • An alpha grade of C or higher will be converted to an S
  • An alpha grade of C- or lower will be converted to a U
  • S/U grade will appear on the student’s official grade report and transcript
• Courses that are designated S/U grade mode in the catalog:
  • Will not count toward the limit of 8 credits of course-work at the S/U grade mode per student

Can be used to satisfy any applicable academic requirement

Appeal of grade

Final Course Grade - Formal Grade Appeal Procedure

The evaluation of academic work is the prerogative of the instructor and the rules for determining final course grades should be established by the instructor and given to the students in a course syllabus at the beginning of the semester. All final course grades assigned by instructors are considered final, except Incomplete (I) and Progress (P) grades.

No changes to a final course grade will be approved on the basis of course improvement or re-examination.

The assignment of final course grades requires an appeal procedure to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of faculty and students are properly recognized and protected. The grade appeal procedure is not to be used to review the judgment of an instructor in assessing the quality of the student’s work.

The Office of the Registrar is authorized to change a final course grade provided the reason for the change is to correct a clerical or procedural error. It is the responsibility of the student who appeals a final course grade to demonstrate clerical error, prejudice or capriciousness in the assignment of the grade; otherwise, the judgment of the instructor is final.

A student who believes grounds exist for an appeal of a final course grade must complete the appeal process within the semester time limits specified in the table below AND within the time limits specified in the various steps below.

No changes to a final course grade will be approved on the basis of course improvement or re-examination.

These time limits represent the maximum time limit for a student to appeal a final course grade. In the event that a program publishes more stringent time limits, the program time limits will take precedence over the time limits in this document. Once the appeal process is initiated, the burden of proof is on the student.

Written verification of each step below is critical:

Informal Conference with Instructor
Step 1 - Student Contacts the Course Instructor

Student responsibility

Students who have questions about final grades for the semester are required to contact the instructor who issued the final course grade by email or in writing to request a review of the grade. Step 1, an informal conference with the instructor, must be initiated no later than 10 work days after final grades are posted on SAIL to determine if an error has been made.

If the instructor is on leave, on sabbatical, or is not currently on the faculty during the time range stipulated in Step 1, the student should contact the chair of the academic department that offered the course.

Instructor responsibility

The instructor must respond to the student within 10 business days of being contacted by the student and explain to the student how the grade was determined. If an error was made in calculating the grade, the instructor submits a Grade Change Request to the Office of Registrar modifying the final grade.

If a resolution with the instructor is not reached Step 1, the student can initiate a Formal Grade Appeal Review Step 2. The grade appeal procedure is not to be used to review the judgment of an instructor in assessing the quality of the student’s work. The burden of proof, however, rests with the student to demonstrate that the grade decision was made on the basis of any of the following conditions:

1. The student believes that the grade received conflicts with the grading policy on the syllabus;

2. The student believes that there is an error in calculation with the grade;

3. The student believes that the grade was given arbitrarily, or with capriciousness or prejudice.

Formal Grade Appeal Review
Step 2 - Chair of the Academic Department

Student responsibility

Step 1 review MUST be concluded before the student can initiate the Formal Grade Appeal Review

The request for a Formal Grade Appeal Review of a final course grade must be submitted to the chair of the academic department that offered the course no later than 10 days after contact with the instructor.
The student must identify one of the three reasons permissible for the grade appeal review, and submit the Grade Appeal form, along with the following documentation:

1. A thorough explanation of the reason identified for this review, including any relevant written materials - letters, memos, emails, or notes;

2. A brief outline of the outcome of the grade review contact/meeting with the instructor;

3. A copy of the course syllabus outlining assignments, tests, and examinations, along with their respective weights to the final grade calculation; and

4. A demonstration of the error in calculation by which the final grade was determined.

Since the written appeal will be the basis for the Grade Appeal Review, the student should ensure that it is clear, complete, and inclusive of all documentation the student wishes to have considered in the appeal process. It is the student’s responsibility to present written evidence that the instructor made an error or acted arbitrarily or capriciously in assigning the grade.

Chair responsibility

Step 1 review MUST be concluded before the student can initiate the Formal Grade Appeal Review

The chair of the academic department will discuss the Formal Grade Appeal with the instructor. In departments that have a committee charged with the responsibility of hearing student grade appeals, the chair may refer the matter to the committee. The role of the chair is to ensure procedural process, it is not to re-grade the work completed by the student for the course.

If the instructor is also the chair of the academic department, the dean of the school, or the dean’s designee, will discuss the Formal Grade Appeal with the instructor.

The chair of the academic department and the instructor of the course must review the Formal Grade Appeal before the Official Withdrawal date in the semester subsequent to the semester the final grade was posted in SAIL.
 

At the conclusion of this review, a written and dated decision must be provided to the student. If the student does not receive a response from the chair by the Official Withdrawal date, the student may advance his or her written grade appeal to the next level.

Step 3 - Dean of the School that Offered the Course

Student responsibility

Students who do not believe their final course grade concerns were resolved in review with the chair of the academic department, or academic department committee, may advance their written grade appeal to the dean of the school, or the dean’s designee, that offered the course.

The request for a Formal Grade Appeal of a final course grade must be submitted to the dean of the school that offered the course no later than 10 days after the written decision of the chair of the academic department.

Dean responsibility

The dean may utilize any resources available to resolve the grade appeal before the end of the semester class date. When appropriate, the dean shall convene a committee to review the case. Within the structure provided by the dean, the committee shall design its own rules of operation and select a chair other than a faculty representative from the department concerned.

If feasible, the committee should meet with the student and the instructor together in an attempt to resolve the difference. The committee shall consider all aspects of the case before making its recommendation. The committee shall make a written report with recommendations and provide copies to the dean. The dean shall make a final decision after full consideration of the committee’s recommendation.

The dean must provide a written, dated decision to the student, instructor and chair of the academic department before the end of the semester class date. The decision of the school dean is final and ends the grade appeal process for the student; there is no higher level of appeal.

Academic Records

Students are encouraged to order their transcripts through the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) if possible as this is the fastest mode of delivery, and electronic transcripts are preferred by most recipients. Transcripts may also be requested online through SAIL for current students.

Transcripts will not be issued for students who have delinquent indebtedness to the university or who are delinquent in repaying a Perkins Loan or Nurse Faculty Loan (NFLP).

Campus Security Policies, Crime Statistics and Crime Log

Information regarding public safety at Oakland University is provided in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The Security and Fire Safety Report includes crime statistics for the previous three years concerning certain crimes reported to have occurred on the University’s campuses; in or on non campus buildings, and property owned or controlled by Oakland University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The Security and Fire Safety Report also includes information about police and public safety resources, reporting crimes, coordination between law enforcement agencies, fire and medical emergencies, crime prevention, victim support services, the law and OU policies, campus facilities, residence hall security, timely warning and emergency notification policy statements, and the OU Alcohol and Other Drug Policy. Additional information regarding emergency action plans is available online and OU’s sexual misconduct policy can be found online as well. A crime log can be found online at the Oakland University Police Department. To obtain a paper copy of the Security Report or the crime log, contact the Oakland University Police Department at (248) 370-3331 or by emailing info@oupolice.com.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 pertains to confidential student educational records. This legislation allows students the right to view their own confidential educational records upon request and defines the use of these records by others. The dean of students is one of the University compliance officers for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Students who do not want directory information to appear on the Oakland University website can restrict release of such data by doing the following:

• Login to Sail
• Click on Login to Secure Area
• Complete the User Login
• Select Personal Information
• Select Directory Profile
• De-select the Display in Directory option for items you wish to not appear in the web directory.

Students who do not want directory information released in any other form should submit a request to withhold directory information. The form is available through the Office of the Registrar’s website. Upon receipt of the completed and signed form, directory information will be withheld until the student requests in writing that it be released. Any further questions can be answered by Registrar Services by phone (248) 370-3450 or email Registrar Services (regservices@oakland.edu).

The University considers student theses and dissertations to be public statements of research findings. Therefore, students who submit such work in fulfillment of degree requirements shall be deemed to have consented to disclosure of the work.

Any questions, grievances, complaints or other related problems may be addressed to the Dean of Students. A full statement of student rights is available in the Dean of Students Office, Oakland Center Suite 150, 312 Meadowbrook Road, Rochester, MI 48309-4454, (248) 370-3352 and/or filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Other Academic Policies

Honors

Academic Honors

At the end of each fall, winter, and summer semester, Academic Honors are awarded to undergraduates who meet the following criteria:

• Have earned a semester gradepoint average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher
• Have earnedat least 12 credit hours Standard Letter Grade Mode coursework(graded A through D) within the time constraints of the normal semester
• Have not received any of the following grades

o   (F)

o   (I) Incomplete

o   (P) Progress

o   (R) Temporary

• These credits must be earned within the time constraints of the normal semester.

Program, Departmental and School Honors

Program, departmental or school honors may be awarded to selected students when their degrees are awarded. Criteria for earning these honors are described in the corresponding section of the Undergraduate Catalog. Program, departmental, and school honors are recorded on students’ transcripts.

University Honors

Oakland University has 3 levels of University Honors that are given upon awarding of a degree. These honors are based only on the student’s Oakland University GPA and coursework. The student must earn at least 32 credits at Oakland University to be eligible for such honors.

Academic Conduct Policy

All members of the academic community at Oakland University are expected to practice and uphold standards of academic integrity. Academic integrity means representing oneself and one’s work honestly. Misrepresentation is cheating since it means the student is claiming credit for ideas or work not actually his or her own and is thereby seeking a grade that is not actually earned. All academic misconduct allegations are forwarded to the Dean of Students Office and adhere to the Student Code of Conduct.

Examples of Academic Dishonesty:

1. Cheating on assignments and examinations. This includes, but is not limited to, the following when not authorized by the instructor: the use of any assistance or materials such as books and/or notes, acquiring exams or any other academic materials, the use of any other sources in writing drafts, papers, preparing reports, solving problems, works completed for a past or concurrent course, completing homework or carrying out other assignments. No student shall copy from someone else’s work or help someone else copy work or substitute another’s work as one’s own. No student shall engage in any behavior specifically prohibited by an instructor in the course syllabus or class discussion.
2. Plagiarizing the work of others. Plagiarism is using someone else’s work or ideas without giving that person credit. By doing this, a student is, in effect, claiming credit for someone else’s thinking. This can occur in drafts, papers and oral presentations. Whether the student has read or heard the information used, the student must document the source of information. When dealing with written sources, a clear distinction should be made between quotations, which reproduce information from the source word-for-word within quotation marks, and paraphrases, which digest the source of information and produce it in the student’s own words. Both direct quotations and paraphrases must be documented. Even if a student rephrases, condenses or selects from another person’s work, the ideas are still the other person’s and failure to give credit constitutes misrepresentation of the student’s actual work and plagiarism of another’s ideas. Buying a paper or using information from the Internet without attribution and handing it in as one’s own work is plagiarism.
3. Cheating on lab reports by falsifying data or submitting data not based on the student’s own work.
4. Falsifying records or providing misinformation regarding one’s credentials.
5. Unauthorized collaboration on assignments. This is unauthorized interaction with anyone in the fulfillment of academic requirements and applies to in-class or take-home coursework. Individual (unaided) work on exams, lab reports, homework, computer assignments and documentation of sources is expected unless the instructor specifically states in the syllabus or verbally that it is not necessary. Collaboration can also include calculating homework problems with another person, having another help to rewrite a paper, sharing information/sources with others and checking coursework with others.
6. Resubmission of original work. When an instructor assigns coursework, the instructor intends that work to be completed for his/her course only. Work students may have completed for a course taken in the past, or may be completing for a concurrent course, must not be submitted in both courses unless they receive permission to do so from both faculty members.

Faculty Standards
Faculty members are expected to maintain the following standards in the context of academic conduct:

1. To inform and instruct students about the procedures and standards of research and documentation required to complete work in a particular course or in the context of a particular discipline.
2. To take practical steps to prevent and detect cheating.
3. To report suspected academic misconduct to the Dean of Students, 144 Oakland Center, for consideration by the Academic Conduct Committee of the University Senate.
4. To present evidence of plagiarism, cheating on exams or lab reports, falsification of records, or other forms of academic misconduct before the Academic Conduct Committee.

1. To be aware of and practice the standards of honest scholarship.
2. To follow faculty instructions regarding exams and assignments (including group assignments) to avoid inadvertent misrepresentation of work.
3. To be certain that special rules regarding documentation of term papers, examination procedures, use of computer-based information and programs, etc., are clearly understood.
4. If a student believes that practices by a faculty member are conducive to cheating, he or she may convey this information to the faculty member, to the chairperson of the department, or to any member of the Academic Conduct Committee, either directly or through the Dean of Students Office.

Academic Probation Policy

The following Academic Probation Policy applies to all undergraduate students.

Definitions:

• Cumulative GPA: In order to establish a cumulative GPA, a student must receive an alpha grade in at least one course at Oakland University, and in the computation of the cumulative GPA, only those courses at Oakland University for which a student has received grades A through F are used. The “honor points” for each course are computed by multiplying the honor points of the grade received by the number of credits assigned to the course. The cumulative GPA is determined by dividing the sum of the honor points for all courses receiving grades A through F by the total number of credits attempted in courses receiving alpha grades at Oakland University.
• Semester GPA: This is calculated based on alpha grades earned in one semester at Oakland University.
• GPA credit hours: Overall total credits of courses that carry honor points.
• Good academic standing: Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above (or those without an established cumulative GPA) are considered to be in good academic standing.

Students in good academic standing will be placed on probation at the end of a semester/session when their cumulative GPA is below 2.00. They will be allowed to remain at Oakland University on probationary status for at least one semester/session.

At the end of a probationary semester/session, the following actions will be taken:

1.  If the student’s cumulative GPA is 2.00 or greater, the student returns to good academic standing.
2. If the student’s cumulative  GPA is less than 2.00, AND

a.  the student’s semester GPA is 2.00 or greater, the student continues on probation.

b.  the student’s semester GPA is less than 2.00, AND

i. the student has less than 24 GPA credit hours, the student continues on probation.

ii. the student has 24 or more credit hours, the student is dismissed, unless their cumulative GPA exceeds the minimum in this chart, in which case the student continues on probation.

Academic Dismissal Policy

There are three academic dismissals that a student can receive based on the grade point average: First Academic Dismissal, Second Academic Dismissal, and Third Academic Dismissal.

First Academic Dismissal:

Students who did not earn the necessary GPA with the designated credits, as noted in the Academic Probation Policy, are academically dismissed for the first time and sent a notification to their university email account and by letter to their primary mailing address. First Academic Dismissal students must not enroll at the university for two semesters and apply for readmission to return. A student in this situation may choose to appeal immediately after the close of the semester in which they were dismissed.

Option One: Appeal the dismissal

Students who have been dismissed for the first time, may appeal their academic dismissal by completing the online Academic Dismissal Appeal Request form within the seven calendar day time frame as stated in their dismissal notification. Appeals are reviewed by the Committee for Academic Recovery and Success for a final decision. The decisions made by the Committee are final and cannot be appealed. The Office of the Provost notifies the students of the appeal decisions.

Students who are granted the Academic Dismissal Appeal are then placed on Returning Probation Status (RPS), which requires students to earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.00 every semester until their cumulative GPA places them back into good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. If a student does not meet the stipulations of RPS with a minimum semester GPA of 2.00, their first academic dismissal is reinstated with no option to appeal. 

Students who are denied the Academic Dismissal Appeal take the required two semester absence from the university and must reapply to be considered for readmission. The student will be withdrawn from all future OU courses, if applicable, and receive a tuition refund for these courses.  Dismissed students interested in readmission must meet with an OU academic adviser as soon as possible to make a plan for a successful return. If a student elects to take courses at another college while away from OU, they must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the other institution to be eligible for OU readmission.

Option Two: No appeal

A student who is academically dismissed and decides not to appeal the academic dismissal will have a two semester absence from the institution and must reapply to be considered for readmission. The student will be withdrawn from all future OU courses, if applicable, and receive a tuition refund for these courses. Dismissed students interested in readmission must meet with an OU academic adviser as soon as possible to make a plan for a successful return. If a student elects to take courses at another college while away from OU, they must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the other institution to be eligible for OU readmission. 

Students academically dismissed from the university may only apply for readmission after the required time away of two semesters (including summer semester). This means that a student academically dismissed after the fall semester may apply to be considered for readmission for the following year’s fall semester. A student dismissed after winter semester may apply to be considered for readmission for the following year’s winter semester. A student dismissed after summer semester may apply to be considered for readmission for the following year’s summer semester.

Second Academic Dismissal:

Students who were readmitted to the university and then dismissed a second time, are noted as having Second Academic Dismissal status. Students are sent a notification from the Office of the Provost to their university email account and by letter to their primary mailing address. The student will have a two semester absence from the institution with the option to reapply and be considered for readmission. The second academic dismissal cannot be appealed.

Third Academic Dismissal:

Students who were academically dismissed a second time then readmitted and did not earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.0 or higher are academically dismissed for a third and final time. Students are sent a notification from the Office of the Provost to their university email account and by letter to their primary mailing address.  The third and final academic dismissal cannot be appealed and signifies a departure from the institution academically.

Returning Probation Status

Returning Probation Status (RPS) is granted to students whose dismissal appeals are approved or to students who are readmitted following a previous dismissal for unsatisfactory academic progress. RPS offers students the opportunity to continue their education on a semester-by-semester basis as long as academic requirements are met. All students on RPS must have a minimum semester GPA of 2.00 in each enrolled semester/session until good academic standing is resumed. (Good academic standing is achieved when the cumulative GPA is 2.00 or above.) Failure to earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.00 results in reactivation of the dismissal, an action that may not be appealed. Students are sent a RPS notification from the Office of the Provost to their university email account.

Dropping and Withdrawing from Classes

Courses may be dropped with full tuition refund through the 10th weekday of classes, in the second week of a full semester class, and the 5th weekday, in the first week of a half semester class. Courses may be withdrawn without academic penalty through the ninth week in a full semester and the fifth week of a half semester. A W grade denoting withdrawal is recorded for courses withdrawn after the second week in full semesters and after the first week in a half semester. Failure to drop/withdraw from a course on or before the appropriate deadline will result in the recording of an F grade on the academic transcript. Courses of other lengths have specific refund and withdrawal dates which are available online.

Problem Resolution

Students may encounter problem situations during their course of study at Oakland University that require review by appropriate administrative or academic personnel. The University’s problem resolution procedure provides a fact-finding system for resolving problems between students and faculty or staff members when a review of the issues is not available through other established procedures. For some issues e.g. discrimination, harassment, specific university procedures must be followed. The Dean of Students, located in 312 Oakland Center, Suite 150, is always available to advise students on the alternatives that are available to resolve a concern.

Each student, faculty member, administrator and staff member has an obligation to resolve problems fairly through discussion between the aggrieved student and the specific university person involved with the problem.

Academic Concerns

Each academic unit has developed its own internal procedure for resolving complaints about classroom situations and will provide a copy upon request. Generally, a student must first contact the instructor. If the problem is not resolved between the instructor and the student, the student then contacts the department chair. The department chair may then hear the facts of the case or refer it to an internal unit committee. If the problem is not resolved at this step, the student may then contact the dean of the college or school to continue the problem resolution process. In the case of graduate students, the school or college dean shall consult with the Director of Graduate Study. For cases involving grade disputes and classroom procedures but not involving discrimination, harassment or illegal behavior, the process stops at the dean level.

In any case involving an academic concern, the student should be aware of the responsibilities of the instructor and of the student.

An instructor’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The instructor should hold classes and examinations when and where officially scheduled.

2. Each instructor should be available in his or her office for student consultation for a reasonable number of hours each week and make these hours known.

3. The instructor should make known at the beginning of each course the objectives and nature of the course, dates of important events e.g., tests, major assignments, and policies on grading, class attendance, tests, papers and class participation.

4. The instructor should ensure that the content of the course he/she teaches is consistent with the course description in the university catalog.

5. The instructor should adhere to University policies concerning students’ rights.

6. The instructor should attend the meetings as required by the procedures of the unit concerning student grievances.

A student’s responsibilities include, but are not restricted to, the following:

1. The student must know and adhere to the instructor’s policies concerning attendance, tests, papers and class participation.

2. The student must direct academic complaints about a class through the channels explained above.

3. Upon the request of his or her instructor, the student should consult with the instructor at a mutually convenient time.

4. The student should attend the meetings as required by the unit grievance procedures.

In the above process, a student may discuss the problem with the instructor. However, it is beneficial for the student to write out the concerns and state the suggested resolution to the problem. The complaint should be supported with facts. If the problem is not resolved at the instructor level and advances to the department chair, students must document their concerns to assist the chair or the unit committee to understand the problem.

Non-Academic Concerns

From time-to-time, students may experience concerns with their employment situation or service on campus. In these situations, the student may wish to contact the dean of students to discuss problem resolution steps. Generally, the procedure will involve presenting the facts to the immediate supervisor of the specific university employee involved. The student should clearly state the nature and basis of the alleged offense, the name of the person(s) who committed the offense, the specifics of the incident(s) involved and the names of any known witnesses. In handling such complaints, discretion will be exercised but no guarantee of confidentiality may be given, since an investigation will necessarily involve discussions with other parties.

The immediate supervisor of the person against whom the complaint was lodged must respond to the complainant within 30 days after the complaint was filed unless an extension for additional review or information gathering is authorized. If the complainant is dissatisfied a written appeal may be made to the next level of supervision. For non-academic complaints, appeals stop at the vice presidential level.

Concerns about Unlawful Discrimination or Harassment

Oakland University is committed to equality of opportunity for all persons. The University strives to build a community that welcomes and honors all persons and that provides equal opportunity in education and employment. As such, the University policy prohibits unlawful discrimination against any person on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, height, weight, disability, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, or veteran status.

Harassment based on a person’s race, sex, sexual orientation, age, height, weight, disability, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, or veteran status is generally prohibited by law and, therefore, is a form of discrimination prohibited by University policy.  Sexual harassment also includes conduct of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work, academic performance, or use of University services, or which creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working, educational or service environment.  Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to, sexual assault and unwelcome:  sexual propositions, sexually graphic comments about a person’s body, touching, patting, pinching, leering, persistent sexual jokes or comments, and displays of sexually graphic pictures.

The University prohibits retaliation against persons who lodge discrimination complaints under University discrimination policies and persons who serve as witnesses or otherwise cooperate with University discrimination investigations. This is true regardless of whether the University finds that unlawful discrimination occurred.

In cases involving alleged unlawful discrimination or harassment students should contact the following:

Between student and university employee: Office of Title IX and Compliance, 150 Oakland Center, 248-370-3496 

Between students only: Dean of Students Office, 150 Oakland Center, 248-370-3352

Time Limits for All Types of Concerns

In the interest of fairness to all parties, a complaint should be filed as soon as possible to assist in obtaining the facts related to the complaint. For this reason, a complaint generally will not be processed unless it is filed no later than sixty days after the student became aware or should have become aware of the incident leading to the complaint. However, the University may waive the 60 day rule based upon the facts and circumstances of the complaint and after giving due consideration to the protection of the rights of both the complainant and the individual accused.