Academic Policies

Average Length of Degree Program

Undergraduate students who come to MIU with no transfer credit can expect to earn a 128-credit bachelor’s degree in three and a half years of study. An undergraduate student who attends year-round including summer term may graduate with a degree in a shorter length of time. Graduate students who attend full-time can expect to earn a 30-36 credit master’s degree in two semesters or less.

Successful completion of the minimum credit hours required for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree program does not guarantee a degree. A student must successfully complete all courses and electives required for the student’s degree program, including all required general education courses.

Full-time vs Part-time Study

Undergraduate students enrolled in twelve (12) or more credit hours per semester are considered full-time. International students studying at MIU on F1 visas must enroll full-time to maintain their student visa status.

Students with federal aid have their enrollment status, academic program, length of the program, and grade level reported monthly to the National Student Loan Data Service. For undergraduates, 32 credits are designated for grade-level progression (33-64 credits is second-year grade level). To maintain full-time status, undergraduate students must enroll in a minimum of 12 credits per semester.

Master’s degree students are full time with 6 or more credits per semester, half time with 4 to 5.75 credits, and ¼ time for fewer than 4 credits. Work or practicum credit is included, based on credits issued. Doctoral Candidates and Researchers are always full time, with no reduction or proration for credit load variations.

Block Scheduling

MIU on-campus students take one 4-credit course at a time for approximately 4 weeks followed by a short break of a few days. Courses meet for 4 hours in-class each day Monday thru Friday and spend a minimum of 2 hours on out-of-class preparation and homework Monday thru Saturday to cover the amount of material equivalent to a traditional semester course. At the end of the academic year, students will have taken the same number of courses as those with more traditional schedules, but in short, intense units rather than juggling 4-5 courses at any given time.

Block scheduling allows for deeper focus in some subjects and/or allow for more experiential activities. If a student does not like a class, or is not doing well in a class, that class is all there is so there is no relief. However, the class only lasts for a short period of time. There is less time to develop relationships with other students in the class, but those relationships that do develop may be more intense because of the intensity of time spent together. This type of class may be good for students who tend to procrastinate because there is no time to waste; however there is also no leeway, so true procrastinators may have no time to make up for delayed work. Because faculty members also teach only one course at a time, they also have an opportunity to immerse themselves in the subject matter along with their students. This can lead to very intense learning communities.

This type of scheduling allows for extended off-campus experiences and field trips, as neither students nor faculty members have competing classes. One element that may be lost as students and faculty participate in only one course at a time is the ability to find the interrelatedness of courses. Each course may be seen as an isolated element. Finding common themes and subject matter may be more difficult.

Definition of a Credit Hour

The U.S. Department of Education defines a credit hour as an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of-class student work for approximately 15 weeks for one semester hour of credit or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time or at least an equivalent amount of work for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internship, studio work, fieldwork, directed study and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Maharishi International University has established a definition of a credit hour that applies to both undergraduate and graduate courses in order to deliver intended learning outcomes and student achievement equivalent to the federal ED standard.

MIU operates on a One-Course-At-A-Time (OCAAT) block system that requires more in-classroom time delivered in an intensive block mode than the standard college semester. MIU establishes equivalency for learning outcomes and student achievement with an index called the “learning hour”. One learning hour is equivalent to one ED-standard 50-minute in-class hour of instruction. For on-campus students, one hour of out-of-class student work earns 0.5 learning hours. Thus, the equivalency with the ED standard of one 50-minute class hour per week for 15 weeks together with 2 hours of out-of-class work per week for 15 weeks is 15*50/60 + 30*0.5 = 27.5 learning hours, the standard for one semester-hour of credit at MIU.

Online courses are evaluated with special attention to the amount of faculty direction given for nonsynchronous assignments. If an assignment is short and well-focused by the instructor, it counts 1:1 in student work time-to-learning hours.

If an assignment is longer and more self-directed (as in a long reading or research project), the expected clock duration of the assignment is discounted appropriately in the calculation of its learning hours.

Standards of Academic Progress

To maintain satisfactory academic progress at MIU, students must meet the standards listed below, evaluated at the end of each semester. Please be sure to see the section below on Consequences of not meeting these standards.

Undergraduate Degree Standards

Undergraduate students have three standards to meet:

Standard #1 - Completion Rate (Cumulative)
You must earn credit in ⅔ of the course credits you attempt. Here’s how we calculate that:

• We start by adding up the number of credits you’ve earned in your undergraduate degree at MIU and in accepted transfer credits. Earned credits include credits for all courses for which you’ve received any of these grades: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, P. We do not include courses you’ve repeated for a higher grade. For repeated courses, we count only the higher grade as Earned. We do not count approved withdrawals (W, WH) as Earned.
• Next, we add up the number of credits you’ve attempted and in transfer credits. Attempted credits include credits for all the courses for which you’ve received a grade (except PW). We include Forest Academy course credits, credits for the lower grades of repeated courses (marked as repeated on transcripts), and approved withdrawals (W, WH) as Attempted. Then we divide the number of credits you’ve earned by the number you’ve attempted.

As you can see, we include accepted transfer credits as both Earned and Attempted.

Standard #2 - Quality Rate (Cumulative)
You must earn a satisfactory Quality Grade in 3/4 of the courses you take, counted in terms of credits. The Quality Rate is a bit more rigorous than the Completion Rate. Here’s how we calculate it:

• We take the credits you’ve earned and then exclude transfer credits and credits for MIU courses with the C-minus grade. These are your Adjusted Earned Credits.
• Next, we take the credits you’ve attempted and then exclude transfer credit, courses you’ve repeated for a higher grade, and credits for which you’ve received W, WH, and AU grades. These are your Adjusted Attempted Credits.
• Then we divide the number of Adjusted Earned Credits by the number of Adjusted Attempted Credits.
• The result is your Quality Rate.

This standard is also met by having no NP grades in the current degree program and a current cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00.

Standard #3 - Maximum Timeframe for Completion (Attempted Credits)
You may attempt a maximum of 192 credits enroute to earning the 128 credits you need to graduate. This includes transfer credits and credits toward a double major. If you reach 174 attempted credits, you will be placed on Academic Warning for the next semester. The warning is an alert that you are in danger of reaching the maximum allowable 192 total credits without completing sufficient credits within a major to earn a degree.

Graduate Degree Standards

You must earn a Quality Grade in all the courses you take each semester (100% Quality Rate).

• Quality Grades are P, PH or B (3.00 grade points) or higher, or if they have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 and no NP grades.
• We do not include grades of W, WH, AU, or the lower grades of repeated courses.
• This standard is also met by having no NP grades in the current degree program and a current cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00.
• If you don’t meet this standard, you’re placed on Academic Warning for your next semester. You must meet this standard during that Warning semester. (See further details below.)

Doctoral and MFA Programs

Terminal degree programs have a higher standard than master’s programs. The table below lists the standards for the terminal degree programs.

If a student drops below the passing threshold for their program (receives less than a B or no pass for a portfolio item), the course instructor(s) and the program director(s) will meet with the student to identify the reason their grade dropped below the threshold. The student, the course instructor, and the Program Director will create an academic improvement plan with clear milestones. The outcome of this meeting will be placed in the student’s file.

Why MIU Uses Quality Rate

We use Quality Rate as an alternative to GPA, the traditional quality-related measure, because some MIU courses use narrative evaluation with P/NP grading. In undergraduate courses, a P letter grade is equivalent to a C letter grade (2.00 grade point) or higher. In graduate courses, a P grade is equivalent to a letter grade of B (3.00 grade point) or higher.*

*In the five years prior to implementing our Quality Rate, all undergraduate students with a 75% Quality Rate achieved a 2.00 or higher GPA, and the average undergraduate GPA was 3.51.

Consequences of Not Meeting These Standards
Students not meeting any one of these standards are placed on Academic Warning status for that standard for the following semester.

Undergraduate students not meeting Standards 1 or 2 by the end of the Academic Warning semester will no longer be eligible to attend the university.

Undergraduate students not meeting Standard 3 (students who have attempted 192 units and still have not graduated) are no longer eligible for financial aid.

Students on Academic Warning are not eligible for rotating university courses, directed studies, or internships except when required by the department for graduation. This is so that they can focus maximum time and attention on meeting the standard they have not met.

Appeal, Probation, Loss of Aid, Eligibility to Attend, and Reinstatement

If students who are placed on Academic Warning do not meet the relevant standard during that semester, they lose their eligibility to continue at MIU.

Students who wish to appeal must submit the appeal in writing to the Academic Standards Committee through the MIU Administrator for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Appeals will be granted only if students can demonstrate that the circumstance leading to their inability to meet any one of these standards was beyond their control and is unlikely to occur again.

If the appeal is granted, students will be placed on Academic Probation for the following semester. They will still be eligible for financial aid. But they must meet the standard by the end of that semester.

The Academic Standards Committee may specify a longer probation period for students with a specified academic plan to correct the problem - for example, distance education students whose course load requires more time to rectify the problem. Students may be reinstated after all standards applicable to their degree level have satisfactorily been met. For example, a student with an approved Late Work Contract may meet the applicable standard by completing the late work. Or a student may earn credit at another institution and thereby demonstrate that the difficulty causing the earlier deficiency has now been corrected.

Suspension

Students are eligible for suspension from the university if:

• They do not meet satisfactory academic progress as listed above.
• They violate the code of student behavior as outlined in the Maharishi International University Student Handbook.
• They don’t pay their outstanding charges as mentioned above.

The Student Handbook describes the code of behavior, the procedures that are followed when a student is reported to have violated that code, the possible results of a behavioral infraction, the consequences of suspension, and the policy for an appeal of a decision. The MIU Handbook may be found at www.miu.edu/handbook.

A suspended student must apply for readmission through the Office of Admissions and meet with the Dean of Students before returning to MIU. The application form is available at www.miu.edu/application.

Undergraduate Writing and Composition Requirements

All students are expected to achieve a beginning college level of writing ability before they begin taking courses in their major. Two college-level writing and composition courses required for all undergraduate students are offered both on-campus and online:

• WTG 191 - Writing For Career And Community 1  
• WTG 192 - Writing For Career And Community 2  

WTG 191 Writing for Career and Community 1
This 4-credit course is required for all undergraduate students. The requirement may be fulfilled with approved transferred credits from a prior college or university or waived by passing the writing placement examination.

• Requirement Fulfilled by Transfer Credit
  A student may transfer approved credits from a prior institution to fulfill the WTG 191  requirement. On the student’s transcript, the transferred credits are grouped with all successfully transferred credits from that institution. No letter grade is assigned.
  
  For the purposes of calculating the student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), the transferred credits are included in the student’s completion rate and maximum time frame as credits attempted and earned, however there is no impact on the student’s CGPA.
   
•  Waived by Examination
  If a student successfully passes the writing placement examination, WTG 191  will appear on the student’s transcript with a letter grade of PW, indicating the requirement to take WTG 191  is waived. A PW grade has no impact on the student’s CGPA, completion rate, or maximum time frame for the purposes of calculating SAP.

WTG 192 Writing for Career and Community 2
This 4-credit course is required for all undergraduate students. The requirement may be fulfilled with approved transferred credits from a prior college or university.

• Requirement Fulfilled by Transfer Credit
  A student may transfer approved credits from a prior institution to fulfill the WTG 192  requirement. On the student’s transcript, the transferred credits are grouped with all successfully transferred credits from that institution. No letter grade is assigned. For the purposes of calculating the student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), the transferred credits are included in the student’s completion rate and maximum time frame as credits attempted and earned, however there is no impact on the student’s CGPA.

Graduate Degree Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements

Graduate-level students who are not in a program that uses narrative evaluation must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students whose average drops below 3.0 are placed on Academic Warning status and have one more semester to bring their average back to the minimum 3.0.

At the end of the second semester, if the average is not at the required level, students are allowed to petition for a probationary semester. Probation is not automatically granted. If the student does not petition, or the student’s petition for a probationary semester is denied, the student will be asked to leave the program to which they were accepted, with return conditions determined by the program faculty on a case-by-case basis. Students in programs using narrative evaluation must pass all their courses in order to meet the requirements for graduation.

Doctoral Degree Dissertation, Exam, and Grade Requirements

To graduate with a PhD or EdD from MIU, students must meet the following requirements:

Course Grades
A grade of B (3.00 GPA) or higher in all courses.

Qualifying Examination
This examination assesses the ability of the student to pursue doctoral research. Based on successful completion of this examination, the student is advanced to PhD or EdD Candidate status.

Teaching and Research Experience
All doctoral students who have passed their qualifying exams may be asked to help teach courses and/or help as research assistants. These activities give students necessary experience and skills in academic teaching and conducting research necessary in the career path of PhD or EdD graduates. Students who have reached PhD or EdD Candidate status may be awarded a PhD or EdD Assistantship, which entails this teaching or research.

Advanced Coursework
Advanced courses may be prescribed by the dissertation advisor and dissertation committee to ensure that students have comprehensive knowledge of a major field and related subjects. The courses students are required to take will depend upon academic background in relation to their graduate program and area of research interest.

Dissertation Committee
A doctoral student must form a Dissertation Committee of at least four members including the dissertation advisor, a faculty member from the student’s department, a faculty member from another MIU department, and one faculty member from another university or research institution. Dissertation committee membership must be approved by the director of the doctoral program and the Dean of Faculty.

Dissertation Proposal
The student submits the completed dissertation proposal to their Dissertation Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School for approval. When the dissertation proposal is accepted, the student advances to PhD or EdD Researcher status to prepare an oral defense of the dissertation.

Original Research for a Dissertation
Each doctoral student must conduct original research as the basis for a dissertation that contributes significantly to knowledge. This research is guided by the dissertation advisor and the dissertation committee and requires their approval. All doctoral students must be registered during each block they’re working on their doctoral dissertation, whether they live on or off campus.

Written Dissertation and Abstract
Dissertation guidelines are online at www.library.miu.edu/dissertation-guidelines-for-phd-candidates/. Students should read these guidelines before beginning their dissertations. When writing a dissertation, students work closely with their dissertation advisor. At least four months before students plan to graduate, they should have the first version of their dissertation thoroughly checked by their dissertation advisor. Once the dissertation advisor has approved the dissertation, the student may submit the document to the other members of their dissertation committee. The committee members will review the document and give their comments in a timely fashion - within two weeks. After incorporating all comments, the student will send updated copies of the manuscript to all committee members at least two weeks before the dissertation defense.

Oral Defense of the Dissertation
The PhD or EdD Researcher must successfully complete an oral defense of the dissertation. The oral examination in defense of the dissertation is conducted and evaluated by the dissertation committee (supplemented by additional appointed faculty members, at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate School). The examination is scheduled for a date not earlier than two weeks after the dissertation and abstract have been submitted to the dissertation advisor and dissertation committee. The student must be registered during the block in which the final oral examination is taken.

Publishing the Dissertation
When the dissertation committee has reviewed and approved the dissertation and the student has passed the dissertation defense, the student incorporates any further recommended changes and corrections before submitting the dissertation to the MIU Library. To aid in completing the final dissertation, students present an electronic copy of their dissertations one month before graduation to the MIU Library Director (even if the dissertation is not complete). The Library Director will give the student feedback on formatting the dissertation. One week before graduation, the student must give the Library Director a final printed copy of the dissertation and two copies of the abstract. Everything needs to be complete at this time.

All doctoral dissertations submitted to the Graduate School will be published. MIU subscribes to a service offered by Proquest ETD Administrator. Information about the publication procedures and fees may be obtained from the MIU Proquest ETD administrator website and from the MIU Library Director. Two copies of the dissertation will be placed in the MIU Library and will be available for interlibrary loan. The abstract will be published in Dissertation Abstracts, which announces the availability of the dissertation.

Doctoral Research Off Campus

Candidates for the doctoral degree may, with the approval of their dissertation committee, carry out all or part of their research work off campus. We try to help international students do their research in their home countries whenever feasible. All doctoral students must be registered during each block they’re working on their doctoral dissertation, whether they live on or off campus. Register by applying at the Enrollment Center.

Multiple Degrees, Majors, Specializations, and Minors

Double Majors

Undergraduate students may major in two disciplines by satisfying the departmental requirements for each, though they need only complete one senior project in one of the two disciplines.

Students may be approved to complete a double major if there is no overlap in upper-division courses at the 300 and 400 levels. Up to 16 credits of overlap may occur in courses at levels 299 and below, according to the published policies of both majors. Both majors will appear on the transcript and on the diploma.

If there is overlap at the 300 or 400 level, students may complete a secondary major, provided the secondary major involves at least 32 credits of coursework at the 300 and/or 400 levels outside the first major department.

If the requirements of the secondary major do not satisfy this 32-credit condition, the student may take additional courses at the 300 and/or 400 level from the secondary major department, if available, to make the total up to 32 credits outside the first major department and receive the secondary major.

The secondary major appears on the transcript but not the diploma. All coursework for both majors must be completed before the degree is conferred.

Multiple Baas Specializations and Minors

Students may pursue multiple BAAS Specializations of 30 or more credits or minors of 16 or more credits, as specified by the offering department. A major and a specialization or minor should overlap by no more than 8 credits (typically two courses).

Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students with a prior bachelor’s degree may enroll for a second bachelor’s degree. They may transfer up to one-half of the courses in the major on a course-by-course basis, to be determined by the academic department.

Students with a prior degree from MIU must complete the following to earn a second bachelor’s degree:

• All course, credit, and graduation requirements for the second major
• One Forest Academy course for each full-time semester
• Any general education graduation requirements added since they last attended MIU.

Students whose prior bachelor’s degree is not from MIU must complete the following to earn an MIU bachelor’s degree:

• The requirements of their new major (up to one-half of the credits may be transferred in)
• STC 108 - Exploring Consciousness   (the first course taken at the university and a prerequisite for all other courses)
• FOR 431 - Higher States Of Consciousness  (2 credits)
• One Forest Academy in each semester enrolled for at least three 4-week blocks.

Note: Senior assessment testing is not required.

Second Master’s Degree

Students with a prior master’s degree may enroll for a second if the degree is in a different field or, with the approval of the academic department, in the same field but with a different emphasis. A student may apply up to 8 credits from the first master’s to satisfy the degree requirements of the second if the credits are justified as contributing to the second degree.

Joint Degree Programs

Some departments offer students the opportunity to pursue a program of study toward two degrees in which the degree plans are explicitly coordinated to take advantage of topics in common to the two degrees. A joint degree program for two master’s degrees thus differs from a second master’s degree due to the element of advanced planning. With careful advanced planning, the joint degree program may require a total number of credits that is less than the sum of the credit requirements of each degree.

Academic departments may create joint master’s degree programs that allow for more than 8 credits to be common to the jointly planned degrees, thereby distinguishing this policy from that of the second master’s degree. In any event, for joint master’s degrees, the number of credits permitted to be common in the joint degree plan should be less than 20% of the sum of the ordinary credit requirements of each of the degrees.

For joint bachelor-master’s degrees, the number of credits permitted to be common should be less than 30% of the credit requirement for the master’s degree.

Second PHD or Doctorate Degree

Students with a prior PhD or professional degree who wish to pursue an MIU PhD or EdD program must follow these steps to determine their academic program:

• Admission is determined by the respective department.
• The student along with their chair forms a dissertation committee using the same criteria described above, with at least four members, including the dissertation advisor, a faculty member from the student’s department, a faculty member from another MIU department, and a faculty member from another university or research institution. Dissertation committee membership must be approved by the director of the doctoral program and the Dean of Faculty.
• The student works with the chair to develop the dissertation research, write the proposal, and defend it to the committee.
• The Dean of the Graduate School signs off on the proposal defense.

Maximum Timeframe and Time Limits

Declaration of Major

Undergraduate students must declare a major after taking 54 credits (generally three semesters.) Transfer students entering MIU with 36 or more credits must declare a major by the end of their first semester at MIU. Students who have not declared a major by this time will not be allowed to register for further coursework.

Maximum Timeframe for Bachelor’s Degrees

Students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree requiring 128 credits may attempt a maximum of 192 credits (150% of the required number), including transfer credit, to complete their degree. Students leaving the university for more than one year must meet the new graduation requirements listed in the current catalog when they return to the university. Financial Aid eligibility may terminate for the degree pursued immediately upon completion of all required coursework for that degree program.

Maximum Timeframe for Master’s Degrees

Master’s degree students must meet all graduation requirements for their degree within five years from the time of first enrollment in the program. Other restrictions apply for those receiving financial aid. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information. Students leaving the university for more than one year will be under the new graduation requirements listed in the current catalog when they return to the University.

Maximum Timeframe for Doctoral Degrees

Doctoral degree students usually take the qualifying examination for their degree program within one and a half years of completing the core curriculum. The maximum allowable time is two years. After completing the qualifying exam, students may take up to seven (7) years to write and defend the dissertation proposal, conduct research, and write and defend the final dissertation. Students passing the seven-year mark without completing the dissertation must petition their department and the Graduate Committee to continue their dissertation research, stating reasons for the delay and a target date for finishing. Students leaving the university for more than one year will be under the new graduation requirements listed in the current catalog when they return to the university.

Student Records and Transcripts

Students have access to their records through their Student Portal. To see MIU’s FERPA policies, please go to the bottom of MIU’s home page and then to “Consumer Information” > “Privacy” > “Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.”

An academic transcript is the complete record of a student’s academic life while at the university. It reflects all coursework, grades, major areas studied, degree(s) received, and academic progress. Requests for an academic transcript may be submitted online at www.miu.edu/transcripts.

MIU may withhold transcripts if any of the following apply:

• A student has an outstanding balance with the university.
• A student has borrowed property from the university (e.g., keys, library, or lab materials, etc.) that has not been returned or compensated for.
• A student has borrowed money in the form of a Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan and has left the university without completing the required Exit Interview.
• A student is past due or in default on their Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan payments.

Some institutions will not accept paper transcripts that have been in the student’s possession and/or if the envelope has been opened. If this is the case, students must request that the transcript be sent directly to the institution.

Transcripts from other U.S.-based schools required for admission to MIU cannot be copied. The student must order them directly from the other schools.

Delivery of Transcripts

Transcripts are processed in the order in which they are received. Please allow 2-4 business days for processing time and additional time for shipping. During peak request times, processing and delivery may take longer. Be aware that several departments must approve document content before a transcript can be released. Therefore, transcripts cannot be released the same day they are requested. International requests will be sent via FedEx unless this service is not available in the destination country.

Fees for Transcripts

Students will be prompted to make payment for transcript processing (and shipping charges if applicable) immediately after submitting a transcript request. Document processing and shipping charges must be paid at the same time, online. The processing cost is $10.00 per transcript. There is no charge for MIU faculty, staff, and their dependents.

Charges for Express Shipping:

• Within the U.S. = $25 per address
• Outside the U.S. = $35 per address

Note: Some countries do not accept FedEx delivery.

Registration and Enrollment

All students, including new, readmitted, and continuing students, are required to complete their registration online before the beginning of each semester. The MIU Registrar’s Office sends students instructions regarding the student portal and registration procedures just before the beginning of the school semester. Students authorized to begin classes later in the semester must complete registration before their first course begins.

Tuition Payments

All students must either make full payment or arrange for payment with the Enrollment Center at or before registration. Payment procedures and payment plans are described under the “Tuition and Fees” section in this catalog. A student whose payments are past due will not be permitted to enroll or continue in courses. Diplomas, certificates, or transcripts will not be issued to or for a student whose account is in arrears. Payments may be made at students.miu.edu/payment.

Course Enrollment

Enrollment Limits and Cancellation

MIU reserves the right to limit the enrollment in any course and to cancel any course if too few students have registered or due to other unforeseen circumstances.

Maximum Course Load

The recommended schedule for full-time study is 18 to 22 semester-hours (credits) each semester. However, some students may want or need to take coursework more than the recommended hours.

Consequence of a Quality Rate Below 75% for Online Undergraduates

All online undergraduate students who have a Quality Rate below 75% are restricted to taking only one course at a time.

Consequences of an Extended Late Work Contract

If any online undergraduate student is given an Extended Late Work Contract during a semester, then that student may be registered for only one course at a time during the period of the Late work Contract.

Requesting Excess Hours or Concurrent Enrollment

Students who wish to take a course from another university in conjunction with their MIU course schedule must:

• Be in good academic standing (see Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress and Eligibility to Attend the University).
• Select a credit-bearing, semester-long course offered by an accredited college or university.
• Secure prior approval from their academic advisor (who notifies the MIU Graduation Director).
• Meet with the MIU Graduation Director.
• Successfully petition the Academic Standards Committee to request an exception to the 18-22 semester hour maximum. Petitions are available in the Enrollment Center or online at https://students.miu.edu/appeals-petitions-proposals-and-other-forms-you-may-need.

Permission to take excess hours is not guaranteed. Students enrolled in ESL coursework will not be given permission for excess hours until the ESL courses have been completed successfully.

Prohibition of Double Registration or Full-time Work While in a Standard Course

Since all day-program university courses require full-time effort and attention, students may not register for more than one standard course at a time. (Professional development programs and distance education programs with courses offered over several months may be subject to different rules and constraints.) Similarly, students should not plan on pursuing full-time or nearly full-time employment while they are registered for an on-campus day course. They will not find it possible to complete the required work during the course.

Auditing a Course

To formally audit a course, students must have the written approval of both the instructor and the Registrar. Forms are available in the Enrollment Center or online at https://students.miu.edu/enrollment-center-forms.

Visitors or guests of the faculty may sit in on a few lectures in a course with only the consent of the instructor and without the formal arrangement with the Registrar’s Office. All other auditing arrangements are approved by the teaching faculty together with the Registrar.

An auditor participates in all aspects of a course determined appropriate by the faculty teaching the course, usually including all written assignments and sometimes exams as well. The auditor does not receive credit for the course and cannot use an audited course to meet a major or general education requirement. An audited course will be recorded on an MIU transcript, and the completion of the course will be indicated by a grade of AU. A student who does not satisfactorily complete the class, according to the teaching faculty, will not receive a grade of AU.

Students are required to pay full tuition for all audited classes. They should check with the Financial Aid Office to see whether their aid can cover the audited class.

Directed Study for Required Courses

Directed study is allowed only in special cases, e.g., when a course required for graduation is not offered when the student can take it. Students may apply no more than eight credits of directed study in total to their graduation requirements. To apply for a Directed Study, students fill out a Directed Study Proposal Form with the instructor who will supervise the course. Forms are available at the Enrollment Center or online at https://students.miu.edu/enrollment-center-forms.

Policies for Requesting a Course by Directed Study

• Directed Study may be used only for a course required for graduation.
• Students cannot take a course by directed study if the desired course is available at another time in the year unless it is their final year at MIU, and two required courses occur at the same time.
• Directed studies are not independent studies. Directed study teachers are required to meet with the student at least three times per week for an hour each time to review progress and provide feedback.
• Faculty teaching a day program course cannot also teach a directed study course at the same time.
• Students who have skipped a required course to take a non-required course are ineligible to take the required course as a directed study.
• Students may take up to 16 units of directed studies and internships, but not more than 8 units of directed studies.

The Directed Study form must be signed by the supervising instructor and by the department chair of the supervising instructor. The form must be submitted to the Registrar in the Enrollment Center at least two weeks before the directed study is to begin and must be approved by the Academic Standards Committee. Directed Study forms submitted after the block begins are generally not accepted.

Internships

Internships must meet the MIU Internship Guidelines, be supervised by a faculty member, and approved in advance by the Director of Career Services and the Registrar. Internship proposals are available at the Enrollment Center, Career Services, or online at https://students.miu.edu/enrollment-center-forms. An internship proposal must be submitted to the Registrar at least four weeks before the internship is to start. Proposals submitted after the block begins will not be accepted.

On-campus internships for full-time students require the payment of tuition, room and board. Students must already be living on campus and may not use the 18-hour/week work program to cover room and board charges.

Undergraduate students are limited to a combined total of 16 credits of directed study and internship credit as part of their 128 required course credits for graduation.

Standard Enrollment

Students in day programs normally register for 1 unit of credit per week. All students are expected to be enrolled in every block. Enrollment in professional development and distance education programs varies from program to program.

Enrollment of Undergraduates in Graduate Courses

In their senior year of college, with the approval of the academic department and the Dean of the Graduate School, students may take up to four graduate-level courses (16 credits) before completing requirements for the bachelor’s degree. These undergraduate students are not eligible for graduate assistantships, other forms of graduate student financial aid, or services and rights normally reserved for graduate students. Students enrolled in graduate classes while enrolled in an undergraduate program have undergraduate status until they receive their baccalaureate degrees.

After a student receives their baccalaureate degree and has been accepted into a master’s program, the graduate department may accept up to 16 credits of graduate coursework completed with a B grade or better while the student was enrolled as an undergraduate student at MIU if those credits had not been used to fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements.

Additional Courses Required for Graduate Students

Graduate students may be admitted on the condition that they fulfill one or more undergraduate prerequisites to a graduate program. Credits earned in these courses generally do not count toward the minimum credit requirements for the graduate degree but may be eligible for financial aid.

Readmission

Students who have been away from the university for one semester or longer, or have officially withdrawn from the University, or who have been suspended from the university must apply for readmission by completing an “Application for Readmission” form with the Office of Admissions. Readmission is not automatic; applicants are subject to admissions review. The application form is at https://www.miu.edu/application.

Class Selection

Class selection is held each spring for the next academic year. All returning students must meet with their Academic Advisor to complete their class schedule by May 31st.

Course Codes

Course codes are alphanumeric with a letter prefix indicating the area of study and the number indicating the level.

A more detailed description of the academic expectations of courses at these levels is available from the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

Changing, Dropping, and Withdrawing From Courses

It is important for students to start the course on the first day to hear the overview of the entire course on the first day. After the first day, later topics will be connected back to this overview. To minimize changing, dropping, or withdrawing from courses, students should meet with their advisor before the start of the semester and plan a full year of courses using the schedule of available courses at www.miu.edu/classes. If you are a US student, withdrawing or dropping a course may affect your federal financial aid and delay your award disbursement.

Changing a Course

Any student who wishes to change from one course into another must consult their academic advisor and notify the Enrollment Center (Email: withdrawals@miu.edu). On-campus students must be attending the new course by the afternoon of the second day of class. Not all courses may be joined after the first day of class. Professors reserve the right to require attendance on the first day of their course.

Dropping an on-campus Course

A student in an on-campus course may drop the course for any reason by 4:00 p.m. Central Time of the second day of a course by informing the Enrollment Center by email at withdrawals@miu.edu.

Any student who lives on campus and drops a course without replacing it must either move off-campus for the remainder of the course or engage in a purposeful, constructive activity as approved by the Dean of Students.

Dropping an Online Course

A student may drop an online course without penalty for any reason by Day 7 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time by informing the Enrollment Center by email at withdrawals@miu.edu. If this criterion is met, the course is removed from the student’s academic record. The Course Drop or Withdrawal Form can be obtained from the Enrollment Center or downloaded online at https://students.miu.edu/enrollment-center-forms.

Withdrawing From a Course

Once a course has begun, and after the deadline for changing or dropping a course, a student may withdraw from one course a semester for any reason, as long as the Enrollment Center is informed by these deadlines:

• 4:00 p.m. CT on the second Monday of a campus (full-time) course or a two-week online course. (i.e. 8 days)
• 4:00 p.m. CT on the third Monday for an online course longer than two weeks. (i.e. 15 days)

If the Enrollment Center is notified on time, the student will receive a grade of W (withdrawal), which will not affect their GPA.

Any student who lives on campus and withdraws from a course must either move off-campus for the remainder of the course or engage in a purposeful, constructive activity as approved by the Dean of Students.

Students may receive a grade of W (withdrawal) for only one course per semester. If a student withdraws from another course in the same semester, other than for documented health-related reasons, they will receive a grade of NW (no credit, withdrawal) which will affect their GPA.

A student may request a grad of WH (health-related withdrawal) from their professor for a withdrawal due to illness or a family emergency that occurs at any time during a course. The request for a grade of WH must be made within fourteen days after the last day in which the student was present in class in an on-campus course or demonstrated active participation in an online course. The student may be required to provide documentation (nurse or doctor’s note, etc.) to verify the reason for the withdrawal. If the student is not able to provide verification of the illness or family emergency, a grade of NW (no credit withdrawal) may apply.

For all course withdrawals, students should send an email to withdrawals@miu.edu.

Withdrawing From the University

Students who wish to take a break from their studies must inform their academic advisor before leaving campus. The Enrollment Center will remove the unattended class(es) from the student’s record and fill out a University Withdrawal or Change in Charges form for the student as appropriate if an adjustment of charges and/or refund is warranted. Students who officially withdraw from the university, who have been suspended from the university, or who have been away for one semester or longer must apply for readmission through the Office of Admissions when they wish to return. The application form is at https://www.miu.edu/application.

Withdrawal Refund Policies

For on-campus Credit Courses

• To withdraw from the course before it has started, notify the Enrollment Center (email: withdrawals@miu.edu).
• To withdraw after a course has started, notify the course instructor and the Enrollment Center within three days of the last day of class attended. Please give complete information including the reason for withdrawal and the last date of class attendance.
• It is your responsibility to inform your instructor of your intention to withdraw within three days of your last day of class attendance. If you are absent longer than three days, the instructor may assign a grade of NC.

Follow these procedures to apply for a refund:

• Be sure to complete the above instructions. Refunds are based on the last date of class attendance.
• File a request for a refund at the time of withdrawal from the course at the Enrollment Center. Refunds are given only to those who officially withdraw from a course within three days of the last date of class attendance.
• A student who withdraws after the first day of the course will be charged a minimum of 50% of the course fee. After 25% of the course has been taken, there is no refund.

Course Participation Policy

On-campus Course Participation Policy

Classes in on-campus day programs generally meet Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. CT to 3:15 p.m. CT with an hour break for lunch, and from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Because of the importance of the classroom experience, attendance at all classes is required, and points may be deducted from a student’s grade for unexcused absences. Professional development and distance education programs have their own class schedules.

Punctuality

Because every minute of learning time in each class is precious, and as a courtesy to the faculty and students who try to be in class on time, we emphasize being on time for every class. Most faculty will reduce a student’s grade for late minutes.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend and participate in all sessions of an on-campus course, except when they are sick, have a family emergency, or cannot be in class due to compelling reasons beyond their control. A session is a morning or afternoon meeting of a day program course. Taking a class day off for other reasons will usually lead to a reduced final grade. Students should be especially vigilant with respect to days before or after holiday breaks. Airline travel should be scheduled around class attendance hours.

Students who, for whatever reason, miss more than two sessions for a 1-credit course, four sessions for a 2-credit course, or six sessions for a 4-credit course, or eight sessions of a 6-credit course are subject to withdrawal from a class. A grade of NW (no credit withdrawal) or WH (health-related withdrawal) will be issued depending on the reason for the absences.

Excused Absences, Illness, and Withdrawal

Absences due to unexpected circumstances such as illness, family emergency or other compelling circumstances beyond the student’s control, are considered excused absences. If a student’s absences exceed the limits described above and are due to any of these unexpected circumstances, the student is subject to withdrawal from the class with a grade of WH. The student may audit the remainder of the course but will not receive credit for it. Parents with young children at home are given more leeway.

In the case of illness, students in on-campus courses should notify their faculty immediately by email or telephone and may be required to have the illness confirmed in writing by the MIU campus nurse or a licensed healthcare professional. In the case of a family or other emergency, students should notify their faculty or a member of the Department of Student Life. If students do not tell their instructor why they’re absent, the instructor will presume the absence is unexcused.

Unexcused Absences and Withdrawal

Unexcused absences are absences due to any reason other than illness, family emergency or other compelling circumstances beyond the student’s control. Unexcused absences in an on-campus course usually lead to a reduced grade. If a student’s absences exceed the limits described above and are unexcused, the student is subject to withdrawal from the class with a grade of NW.

The Parental Exception

Students in on-campus courses who are parents with children at home are given more leeway. Parents may miss without penalty as many as 11 sessions (5.5 days of a four-week on-campus block) due to a child’s illness or other events causing the child to be at home, as long as the parent stays in contact with the professor and keeps up with the work. Parents will still be graded on all assessments in the course.

Online Course Participation Policy

Students taking online or distance education courses are required to participate regularly in the course. In the online context, participation is defined as submitting assignments, taking quizzes or tests, or participating in online discussion forums, or any other activity specified in the course syllabus. E-mail correspondence with the course instructor about course content or administration does not qualify as active participation.

The 7-Day Rule: Initial Participation in a Course

Online students must participate in at least one academic assignment for the course (e.g., a quiz, forum posting, essay, or other assignment specified in the course syllabus) by 11:59 pm Central Time on the first Sunday (day 7) after the course-begin date published in the Schedule of Courses or the MIU Academic Calendar. An online student who does not participate in at least one academic assignment by this deadline will be withdrawn from the course.

The 14-Day Rule

During the length of the course, a student must participate as required in the course syllabus on a weekly basis. A student who does not participate in the course by submitting at least one course assignment (e.g., a quiz, test, forum posting, or written assignment) within any 14-day period will be withdrawn from the course.

Access and Deactivation Policies

An online student will have access to their courses via MIU’s LMS system for one year after their graduation date, after which the student’s account in the LMS may be deactivated. Students who withdraw from a program will be deactivated in the courses they withdraw from but will have access to their previous courses. Students who are on suspension will be deactivated in the courses they are suspended from but will have access to their previous course

Supporting a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment

Students on a college campus do not study in isolation. Every student is a part of a face-to-face or virtual learning community represented by the teacher and the other students in their class.
We expect students to enthusiastically advance their points of view on any subject while also respecting the right of others to hold different, sometimes conflicting, points of view. The teacher is responsible for upholding a safe and respectful learning environment for discussing challenging topics, and we expect all students to support this responsibility. If the teacher believes a student is not respecting them or other students, the teacher will seek immediately to resolve this with the student, with the help of other MIU faculty and administrators as needed.

Examinations

Students may not take examinations early except for compelling reasons beyond their control. All students are required to complete each course fully, including taking the final examination on the date scheduled. Students must have the prior approval of the course instructor and the Academic Standards Committee before finalizing travel plans for an early departure. Students are required to submit a “Petition to Academic Standards Committee” and include a note of approval from the course instructor before the final week of the course.

A similar policy applies to taking examinations after the last class session - prior approval must be secured from the course instructor. (See Policy for Late Work at the End of a Course below.)

Late Work Policies

Policy for Late Work During an on-campus Course

Departments may set their own late work policy, with the basic premise that late homework does not receive the same amount of credit as homework turned in on time. Departments may vary their expectations for graduate and undergraduate programs.

Late Work During an Online Undergraduate Course

Unless otherwise noted in the course syllabus, late work in online undergraduate courses will be assessed a grade penalty equivalent to 1 point per day on a 100-point scale. Late work may be submitted up to the end of the course. If a student clearly documents an illness or emergency or other unanticipated factors beyond their control, which made it not possible to complete an assignment on time, the student will not have lateness points deducted from the assignment.

Policies for Late Work at the End of Courses

Late Work at the end of On-Campus Courses
The final assignments for a course are due on the last day of the course. Students may not hand in assignments after the last class session of a course unless they have made arrangements with the course instructor prior to the end of the course (see Late Work Contract Policy below). All students in on-campus courses are given a grade at the end of the course based on 1) completed work, 2) in-class performance, and 3) work not yet completed. A zero (0) for the uncompleted work is figured into that grade.

Late Work at the End of Online Courses
Final work for a course is due on the last day of the course; however, students in online courses may have until Sunday 11:59 p.m. Central Time to submit their final assignment(s) (for any reason) without penalty. If a student needs more than those 3 days, then the criteria for a Late Work Contract apply (see below). All students in online courses are given a grade at the end of the course based on 1) completed work and 2) work not yet completed. A zero (0) for the uncompleted work is figured into that grade.

Categories of Late Work Contracts

Standard Late Work Contract
The student and professor agree in writing or by email that the incomplete assignment(s) is to be completed within 10 days of the end of the course - specifying the assignment(s) that need to be completed and the due date(s).

Extended Late Work Contract
If the student is sick or incapacitated during the 10 days after the course ends, they may request an Extended Late Work Contract. This contract gives students in on-campus courses up to 32 days from the end of the course, and students in online courses six weeks (42 days) from the end of the course, to submit work - except when that 42-day period would run more than 14 days after the end of the semester, in which case the extension is only to 14 days from the end of the semester, because the final grades must be submitted two weeks after the last day of the course. The instructor may request documentation of the illness or other emergency. The instructor must submit a Late Work Contract to the Enrollment Center, which will notify the Enrollment Center that a change of grade is to be expected.

Eligibility for a Late Work Contract

The petition for a Late Work Contract is only to cover the final assignment(s) of a course (typically in the final week) that cannot be submitted on time due to unanticipated circumstances such as illness, family emergency, or other compelling circumstances. This petition should not be used generally in the case of students who miss more than three full days, or six sessions, of a four-week on-campus course (or two days for a two-week course) or students who do not meet the Course Participation Policy for Distance Education Students stated above. These students should be given an NW, W, or WH, depending on the circumstances. Nor should it be used when the student would like to re-do work for a better grade.

A Late Work Contract may be issued only if student has been diligent with steady progress in meeting deadlines in their work and has submitted assignments for 70% of the grade or three-quarters of the assignments due as of the two final weeks of the course.

Consequences of an Extended Late Work Contract

If any Online Undergraduate student is given an Extended Late Work Contract during a semester, then they may be registered for only one course at a time during the period of the Late Work Contract.

Grading Work Under a Late Work Contract

Interim Grade - Students eligible to submit final assignment(s) after the last day of a course (see criteria below) will be assigned an interim grade for the course based on 1) Completed work, 2) In-class performance (for on-campus courses) accumulated by the end of the course, and 3) Work not yet completed. A zero (0) for the uncompleted work is figured into the interim grade. If the student submits the final assignment(s) in accord with the above contract, the resulting score(s) will be factored into the final grade for the course.

Grade for Completing a Standard Late Work Contract
If the required work is submitted as specified in the contract before the professor must turn in the grade (generally ten days after the end of the course), the student will receive the grade they earned through their in-class work and assignment(s) done during the agreed-upon extension.

Grade for Completing an Extended Late Work Contract
All required work must be submitted by the end of the Extended Work Period - 32 days from the end of an on-campus course, 42 days from the end of an online course, or 14 days from the end of a course when the course ends at the end of a semester. If the work is submitted during that period, then in keeping with the contract, the instructor will change the student’s grade from what it had been at the end of the grading period to what the student has earned by the end of the agreed upon time.

Students attending a course that ends at the end of a semester, students on Warning or Probation status, and MIU distance education students may have different late work submission deadline requirements. Contact the Registrar for more details.

Grading Policies

Evaluation of each student’s abilities and achievements is an essential aspect of learning. The faculty evaluate class participation, oral and written examinations, projects, and papers. In addition, to receive academic credit for any course, students are expected to attend all classes and participate fully. Students can view their grades and enrollment history in their MIU student portal. Students unable to access their portal should notify the Registrar’s Office. Although professors may apply different standards in their courses, the faculty have agreed upon the following general descriptors for grades given for assignments, examinations, and courses at the university.

Grade Criteria

Grade Changes

A course instructor may submit a change of grade to the Registrar’s Office through the online grade submission system within 32 days from the end of the course for on-campus courses (42 days for students in online courses) - except when the course ends at the end of the semester, in which case the final grade must be submitted two weeks after the last day of the course.

Honors for Undergraduates

An Honors Component may be available for undergraduate courses. Successful completion of the Honors Component and a grade of A is required to receive the Honors designation. The Honors grade will be reflected on the transcript. Undergraduate students achieve the President’s Honor Roll for each semester in which they complete at least 12 credits of instructional coursework with a grade point average of 3.70 (“A-“) or higher and receive no NC, NW, or NP grades. Graduation honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) are given to undergraduates based on the student’s academic excellence and holistic development.

Appeals, Repeats, and Retests

Appealing a Grade

Students who are not satisfied with a grade awarded them should first discuss the matter with the course instructor. If that does not settle the appeal satisfactorily, then the student has 30 days after the last day of the course to file a written appeal with the department chair for the program under which the course was taken, and, if still not satisfied, after another 15 days, with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (for undergraduates) or with the Dean of the Graduate School (for graduate students).

Repeating a Course for a Higher Grade

Repeating a course for a higher grade is permitted with the approval of the Registrar and the course instructor. Credit is given only once, but the registration and grade for both courses will appear on the transcript. Only the higher of the two grades is used in calculating the GPA beginning with the semester in which it is earned.

Students may attempt to repeat a course in which they earned an NC only once. If they did not pass the course either time, they need to contact the Registrar at registrar@miu.edu to repeat the course another time.

Resubmitting an Assignment, Examination, or Paper for a Higher Grade in a Course

If extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness or family emergency) contributed to a poor course grade, the student may ask their instructor if they resubmit one assignment if:

• The assignment constitutes at least 20% of the course grade
• The student received a grade of less than a B but higher than an NC on the assignment
• The nature, extent, and preparation for the assignment is determined on a case-by-case basis by the course instructor
• The assignment is resubmitted within 30 days after the exception was granted
• If the instructor gives the resubmitted assignment a sufficiently higher score, the instructor will increase the course grade appropriately.

Academic Honor Code

Personal integrity, honesty, and honor are essential qualities of an ideal student and a developing leader. MIU has established an Academic Honor Code that sets forth the standards of academic honesty and personal integrity expected of all students.

Academic Honor Code Guidelines

Students learn and grow when they receive feedback on their own thinking and its products, and when they use that feedback to improve their knowledge and skills.

Students experience progress when something they themselves have composed receives confirmation or correction, whether it be from a classmate or a professor. Consequently, the following principles govern the assessment of student work at the University.

• Any work submitted for course assignments or assessments must be the product of one’s own thinking and research. This applies to all assigned work, including papers, examinations, quizzes, and oral presentations. In composing papers, students are encouraged to seek feedback from others on the work in progress but are expected to do the writing and solving themselves. Use of resources outside of class lectures, discussions, and instructor notes is acceptable only if that use is explicitly allowed in the assignment. The resources used must be clearly labelled as such, from collaborators, Internet, text, online sources, or other software tools including any material that is partially derived from such sources.
• Any ideas drawn from sources other than the syllabus itself must be properly credited, regardless of whether they are quoted verbatim or paraphrased. This includes ideas drawn from other course syllabi, video lectures, and other University-related publications, other than those assigned in the current course. Furthermore, all sources used verbatim, including unpublished work, should be formatted as quotations. Students are responsible for the accuracy of all citations. (For further details see plagiarism guidelines below.)
• Work submitted in one course cannot, without prior faculty approval, be submitted again in a subsequent course without substantial rewriting. Students may choose to write on the same topic they have researched previously but may not submit the same paper or intellectual product. If a student intends to rewrite a previous paper, they should check with the course faculty to obtain guidelines.
• If a student knowingly allows another student to copy their work, that student will be subject to the same consequences as the student who did the copying.
• Students who report their attendance or any other records contributing to the final course grade are required to be faithful and accurate in their reporting. Students should not report in for other students except through prior arrangement with the course faculty.
• Students who become aware of a failure to uphold the standards of the Academic Honor Code should notify the faculty member teaching the course.

The standards of the Academic Honor Code apply to Forest Academy courses as well. Any action that misrepresents a student’s attendance during group meditation or group program is not honest. Some examples of dishonesty in this area are as follows:

• Passing one’s ID badge through the bar code scanner and not attending the full group meditation or group program.
• Having another student pass one’s badge through the scanner.
• Passing another student’s ID badge through the scanner.

Definitions and Consequences of Plagiarism

It is of the utmost importance that students reference all textual material used in their writing done for class, and that specific words borrowed from other writing are always properly cited and referenced - in homework assignments, examinations, and projects completed for a class. Any work used in whole or part and presented as one’s own is considered plagiarism. Equally unacceptable is “patchwriting,” in which one copies the concepts and structure of another work but inserts words to make it appear one’s own.

Consequences for plagiarism vary with the levels of severity described below. Five factors considered in the determination of severity are:

• The length of the borrowed material,
• Whether the misrepresentation was intentional or not,
• Whether the quote is central to the argument being made,
• Whether the plagiarism was substantive or semantic only (using others’ words but not their ideas) or both, and
• Whether the student has had prior violations of the Academic Honor Code for plagiarism.

Level 1 Plagiarism
Accidental, involving two or three sentences at most.

• Definition - Plagiarism that involves lifting anything from a phrase to a few sentences from another source and neglecting to cite that source, not realizing the significance of the offense, not remembering that the idea was borrowed, or simply forgetting to cite the source.
• Consequence - Leads to a meeting with the professor and a warning. The Chair of the department offering the course is also notified, as well as the Dean of Assessment and Undergraduate Studies, who maintains a log of such violations.
• Deciding Agency - Classroom professor

Level 2 Plagiarism
Accidental, but longer passages; or contributions intentionally attempting to misrepresent another’s work as one’s own, from a phrase or a sentence to a paragraph or two; or an idea claimed as one’s own; or a repeat in the same or a subsequent course of a Level 1 mistake.

• Definition - A full paragraph or more, even when claimed to be accidental, requires more attention to accomplish and therefore has more serious consequences. A more severe instance is inserting several sentences or a paragraph with the intention to claim another’s work as one’s own. Or the student presents an idea as one’s own when the same idea is clearly presented elsewhere by another writer.
• Consequence - Anything from NC on the assignment to an NC in the course and academic probation, depending on the length, intentionality, and substantive nature of the offense. A faculty facing this kind of violation will decide the proper consequence with the program director and department chair and notify the Dean of Assessment and Undergraduate Studies.
• Deciding Agency - The professor in consultation with the program director and department chair.

Level 3 Plagiarism
Submitting another’s paper or work as your own; a repeat in the same or a subsequent course of a Level 2 offense while a student is on academic probation for a prior offense.

• Definition - A student presents a paper, project, or other intellectual property as one’s own, which is subsequently established to be borrowed, stolen, or purchased from another author.
• Consequence - Suspension immediately and continuing for two semesters after the semester in which the student is enrolled; on-campus students must leave campus.
• eciding Agency - The Department with the Academic Standards Committee.

Consequences of Academic Honor Code Violations Other Than Plagiarism

For reported Academic Honor Code violations other than plagiarism, the alleged violator will meet with the course instructor and/or the program director, and/or the department chair, at the discretion of the course instructor, and, for more severe or repeated reported violations, with the Academic Standards Committee or a subcommittee thereof (“the Committee”) and the course instructor.

A course instructor may decide to lower a grade on an assignment, even to a “No Credit” (NC), the program director and the department chair may decide to give a student an NC for a course. The instructor will notify the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, who keeps a record of all such violations. The decision to suspend a student can only be made by the Committee, which will review the situation and determine the remedies based on the facts and circumstances of the behavior.

Academic Honor Code Violations Referred to Academic Standards Committee

When a reported Academic Honor Code violation is referred to the Academic Standards Committee or a subcommittee thereof (“the Committee”) for consideration, the student will be notified of the time of the meeting and the nature of the concern. The student may invite their academic advisor and/or one member of the Student Government to join the Committee (optional). The student may also invite a parent, or one other MIU student, faculty member, or administrator to attend; however, this person will not be a member of the Committee. Individuals with relevant information may be invited to attend.

The Committee reviews any observations, statements, or reports of Code infractions, and confers with the student for an explanation about them. The student and those not on the Committee then leave the meeting, and the Committee then determines 1) if it is more likely than not that any Code infraction appears to have occurred, and if so, 2) what measures, if any, should be taken. Only the Committee members are eligible to vote on any measure proposed by one or more of its members. If the student in need of attention elects to not attend the meeting, the Committee will meet without the student and decide what corrective measures if any, the university should take.

The Committee will determine the appropriate consequence, which may, among others, include warning, grade reduction on the assignment or course, probation, or suspension.

The Committee’s decision will be communicated to the student in writing and will include the reasoning behind the decision. If the student is placed on either probation or suspension, the terms and period will be noted. A copy of the letter will be placed in the student’s file in the Enrollment Center. Warning, probation, and suspension information will not be placed on the student’s transcript.

In case of suspension, any student residing on campus must move off campus within 48 hours. The Committee may require an earlier departure or approve a later departure considering the circumstances. Students suspended from the university must check out with Housing (see Housing: Room Check-Out Procedures section in the Student Handbook www.miu.edu/handbook), the Graduation Director, and Financial Aid, and are subject to the university’s refund policies.

Students who have been away from the university for one semester or longer and students who have been suspended for any reason must apply and be accepted for readmission by completing an “Application for Readmission” form with the Office of Admissions. Readmission is not automatic; applicants are subject to admissions review. The application form is at www.miu.edu/application.

Appeal Process

Students may file appeals if they believe that significant substantive or procedural error significantly affected the outcome of the meeting, that significant evidence has been overlooked, that the Committee’s conclusion is not supported by the facts, or that new and significant evidence has become available. Appeals must be made in writing within 72 hours of receiving the Committee’s written notification. The appeal should outline the basis for it considering the above criteria. Appeals of decisions made by the course instructor and or program director are submitted to the department chair for final review. Appeals of decisions made by a department chair are submitted to the Academic Standards Committee for final review. Appeals of decisions made by Academic Standards Committee or a subcommittee thereof are submitted to the Dean of Faculty for final review.

Suspension

Reasons for suspension from the university include but are not necessarily limited to the following:

• The student did not meet the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for two successive semesters.
• The student violated the code of student behavior as outlined in the Maharishi International University Student Handbook.
• The student didn’t pay their outstanding charges.

The Student Handbook describes the code of behavior, the procedures that are followed when a student is reported to have violated that code, the possible results of a behavioral infraction, the consequences of suspension, and the policy for an appeal of a decision. The MIU Handbook may be found at www.miu.edu/handbook. A suspended student must apply for readmission through the Office of Admissions and meet with the Dean of Students before being readmitted to MIU.

Policies for Guest Students

Policies on Admissions and Enrollment for Guest Students

Guest Students are those who have not matriculated into a certificate or degree program. Non-degree-seeking Gues students may apply to audit or enroll in an MIU online or on-campus course for credit. Guest students who wish to attend a course for credit must complete an application for single-course enrollment online at www.miu.edu/application by choosing Single Course in the dropdown for Degree or Program you are applying for.

Guest Students who take a credit-bearing course are expected to participate fully in the course, including taking the final exam. Guest students’ grades are recorded on an MIU transcript. If the student does not complete all requirements of the course, a grade of “NC” or “NW” may be given for the course, and the NC or NW will be included in the student’s grade-point average if they later seek a degree.

8-credit Limit for Guest Students

A maximum of eight credits taken as a Guest Student may later be applied to a degree program. After completing eight credits, Guest Students are required to register as a degree-seeking student and declare a major. New degree-seeking students may only be allowed to enroll at the beginning of a semester.

STC 108/FOR 500 is Recommended as the First Course for Guest Students

When planning to take credit-bearing courses, it is recommended that Guest Students take STC 108  or FOR 500  first.

Graduation Policies and Requirements

The university faculty determines when students are qualified to graduate. Graduation qualifications for a student’s degree program, including major(s), minor(s), specialization(s), track(s), and certificates of completion, are based in part on satisfactory completion of all published academic and course requirements.

Students have the right to graduate under the degree requirements that are either (1) published in the MIU Catalog in effect at the time they are admitted or re-admitted to their degree program or (2) published in the MIU Catalog in effect for the semester in which they graduate.

Program and Policy Changes

The university reserves the right to change, at any time, without prior notice, programs of study, course offerings, academic requirements, the academic calendar, codes of student conduct, tuition, room and board charges, and other fees, policies, and procedures. The University will determine the times at which all such changes are effective. Changes may apply not only to prospective students but also to those who are already enrolled in the university.

At Least 60 Days Prior to Graduation:

1. Submit the Application for Graduation to the Graduation Director in the Enrollment Center
2. Pay graduation fees

At Least 3 Days Prior to Graduation:

Confirm the following with the Registrar:

1. All academic requirements for the degree program(s), major(s), minor(s), and specialization(s) have been satisfied.
2. Final letter grades and/or confirmation by faculty of a passing grade have been received and recorded.
3. All tuition, fees, and other charges incurred have been paid.
4. All borrowed materials have been returned.
5. All undergraduate assessments administered by the Office of Evaluation have been completed.
6. If the student is a recipient of Title IV financial aid, complete an Exit Interview with the Financial Aid Office.

Students whose academic records are not complete three days prior to the graduation ceremony will not receive their degrees with that graduating class.

Degree Awards and Graduation Ceremony

Degrees are awarded twice a year, at the end of Fall and Spring semesters. One graduation ceremony is held each year at the end of Spring semester.

Undergraduate Degree Graduation Requirements

To graduate from MIU with a bachelor’s degree, a student must complete a total of 128 semester credit hours. inclusive of the following:

• Three required undergraduate courses:
• STC 108 - Exploring Consciousness  (4 credit hours)
• WTG 191 - Writing For Career And Community 1  (4 credit hours) (May be fulfilled with approved transfer credit from a prior institution or waived by examination.)
• WTG 192 - Writing For Career And Community 2  (4 credit hours) (May be fulfilled with approved transfer credit from a prior institution.)
• Up to 90 approved transfer credits from a prior institution(s)
• Up to 16 total credit hours for directed study and/or internship courses

Undergraduate Major Requirements

Completion of requirements for a major field of study, listed under Academic Programs. A maximum of 50% of the credits required for a major may be transferred. Undergraduate students may declare a major at any time, but to continue their registration, students must declare a major after taking 54 credits (generally three semesters) or, for transfer students entering with 36 or more credits, by the end of their first semester at MIU. Students declare their major by submitting a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s office in the Enrollment Center.

Access to Course Materials for Former MIU Students

MIU students will maintain access to their courses in the Canvas Learning Management System for one year after graduation or for one semester after withdrawing without graduating.