Academic Rules

This is the official version of the academic rules of Syracuse University effective for the 2024-25 academic year. The general rules contained in this section also apply to graduate students. Additional rules specific to graduate students appear in the Graduate Course Catalog in the section titled Academic Rules and Regulations for the Graduate School. Both undergraduate and graduate students will find that their individual school/college/department has additional rules that apply. In the case of graduate students, these rules may be more restrictive than the general University rules. Academic rules for the College of Law may be found at http://law.syr.edu/academics/academic-handbook/

Additional Sources for Information

There are a number of other sources for information and rules that are important for students. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

Syracuse University Policies
Financial Aid
Student Handbook
Syracuse Abroad
Tuition, Fees & Related Policies

Also see school, college, and academic department materials and websites.

Academic

1.0 Academic Integrity

Syracuse University’s Academic Integrity Policy and procedures are administered by the Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS) in the Division of Academic Affairs and may be found at https://class.syr.edu/academic-integrity/policy. (Please see supplemental policy and procedures for the College of Law at http://law.syr.edu/academics/academic-handbook).

2.0 Attendance in Classes

Attendance in classes is expected in all courses at Syracuse University. Students are expected to arrive on campus in time to attend the first meeting of all classes for which they are registered.  Students who do not attend classes starting with the first scheduled meeting may be academically withdrawn as not making progress toward degree by failure to attend. When a student has missed a significant portion of coursework, and they were not academically withdrawn from the class, they should confer with their instructor or advisor to explore options, including withdrawal from the course.  Instructors set course-specific policies for absences from scheduled class meetings in their syllabi. Students should also review the university’s religious observance policy and make the required arrangements at the beginning of each semester. https://policies.syr.edu/policies/university-governance-ethics-integrity-and-legal-compliance/religious-observances-policy/

2.1 Reporting Non-Attendance/Non-Participation or Stopped Attending

If a student never attends or stops attending a class, the instructor will report non-attendance/non-participation in Orange SUccess. A student who never attends a class will be flagged in Orange SUccess for non-attendance before the Financial Drop deadline and by the close date of the Early Semester progress report (ESPR). If a student stops attending a class, the student will be flagged in Orange SUccess for stopped attending by the close date of the Mid-Semester progress report (MSPR).

If a student is flagged for non-attendance in a class and does not drop the class by the Financial Drop deadline, the student will receive an NA “did not attend” grade on the official transcript. Reporting a student as never attended/participated may result in a change to the enrollment status and may impact student financial aid. Students not planning to attend a class are strongly advised to drop the class no later than the Academic/Financial deadline in the academic calendar.

3.0 Academic Renewal

Undergraduate students who are returning after an absence of seven years and are readmitted or admitted (for previously non-matriculated students) to Syracuse University with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 may apply for academic renewal. Academic renewal removes all previously taken classes from calculation, allowing the student a fresh start for their academic career. Before applying for academic renewal, the student should discuss academic consequences with an advisor in their school/college and discuss the process of academic renewal with a financial aid counselor if receiving or planning to apply for financial aid. 

During the first semester of re-admission or admission, a student must complete a contract with their school/college no later than the midterm date of that semester, as published in the academic calendar. Schools/colleges review main campus students’ academic renewal requests at the end of the first semester. Unless otherwise noted in the table below, a minimum semester GPA of 2.5 is required for a full-time course load with no I, F, NA, NG, P, V, WD, or missing grades. College of Professional Studies students must complete 12 credits within two years (four consecutive fall and spring semesters) and must have attained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, with no I, F, NA, NG, P, V, WD, or missing grades.  

If the student is approved for academic renewal all classes taken during the semesters prior to the readmission/admission will be flagged with the code “ar” and removed from the calculation in the cumulative credits and grade point average. If a previously taken class has a passing grade that can be used toward the degree program it may be brought in as transfer credit from the Syracuse University Undergraduate Record. If a student does not meet their home school/college requirements for academic renewal at the time of review, the student may not petition again.

4.0 Student Academic Work

Student work prepared for University courses in any media may be used for educational purposes, if the course syllabus makes clear that such use may occur. A student may grant permission to have their work used in this manner by registering for, and by continuing to be enrolled in, courses where such use of student work is announced in the course syllabus.

After the student has completed such courses, any further use of the student’s work will meet one of the following conditions: the work will be rendered anonymous by removing all of the student’s personal identification; or written permission from the student will be secured.

As a generally accepted practice, dissertations, graduate theses or research projects, honors theses, or other capstone projects submitted in partial fulfillment of degree requirements are placed in the library, University Archives, or department for public reference.

5.0 Research Involving Human or Animal Subjects

Syracuse University’s Office of Research Integrity and Protections supports the institution in ensuring the University’s solid commitment to compliance with all applicable regulations and accreditation standards.

The Office of Research Integrity and Protections provides assistance to faculty, staff and students who are working with animals or humans in research and provides administrative support for the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).  The policies for course related student projects may be found at http://orip.syr.edu/human-research/policy-for-student-projects/policy-for-student-projects.html and http://orip.syr.edu/animal-research/Policies-and-Regulations/policies-and-regulations.html

Academic Record

6.0 Transcript

Syracuse University maintains a permanent academic transcript showing complete course and grade-earned information for every student, matriculated or non-matriculated, who takes coursework through any Syracuse University program. The transcript may not be modified or selectively deleted for any reason, including ignorance of deadlines or academic rules. Once a degree is conferred, the transcript may not be changed except for subsequently discovered fraud or academic dishonesty, assessments that more accurately represent academic work completed prior to degree certification, or to correct administrative error. In extreme cases, such changes may include the rescinding of a degree.

Transcripts of courses taken and degrees received at Syracuse University are maintained by the Office of the Registrar in accordance with the policies of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Official transcripts show the entire record of all coursework, both undergraduate and graduate, matriculated and non-matriculated. Undergraduate and graduate transcript records print separately but are issued together for students with more than one Syracuse University academic career. Coursework is displayed chronologically within each career record, with one GPA calculation for the career (examples of a career: undergraduate, graduate, Law). However, within that distinction the transcript is not degree-specific: i.e., it does not designate courses that apply to multiple specific degree programs at the same level. Such information may only be obtained from the student’s school/college for undergraduate degrees; the academic department for graduate programs; or the College of Law for law degrees.

Coursework accepted as transfer from other institutions appear in a separate section above the Syracuse University semesters. Credit is displayed in alphabetical order by institution name along with total credits accepted per institution. Credit accepted as other credit types (AP, CLEP, IB A-Level, Military etc.) appear in the same area as transfer credit, listed by exam type or by other credit type and total credits accepted.

Syracuse University does not maintain a transcript record of Syracuse University courses taken by The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) students. For ESF students, ESF is the college of record. ESF courses taken by matriculated Syracuse University students appear on the Syracuse University transcript and calculate in the same way as Syracuse University courses, except for graduate students admitted to concurrent master’s degree programs.

Syracuse University cannot provide copies of transcripts it has received from other institutions to third parties. Students must request transcripts from the originating institution.

Access to transcripts and other student records is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

7.0 Courses

All courses at Syracuse University are taught in English unless otherwise specified. The present system of numbering courses prescribes that all courses use three digits to indicate the course level and/or type of course, and a three-letter subject to indicate the department or college as follows:

8.0 Credit

The unit of credit at Syracuse University is the semester hour. Each semester hour represents one class period of 50 minutes per week for 15 weeks, or the equivalent. The 15 week period includes final examinations.  Laboratory or field courses require a minimum of two or three class periods a week for each credit hour. Faculty are expected to assign students at least 100 minutes of work outside of class time per week for each credit hour and 150 minutes of time per week over a 15 week semester for lab or studio time.

Certain options for credit that may apply toward a student’s degree and certificate program include: transfer credit, experiential learning, external exams, and restricted graduate credit.  Students should confer with their academic advisors for a complete overview of credit requirements needed to fulfill their degree or certificate requirements.  Credit applied to an undergraduate major or minor may only be shared with one other major or minor.  Credit may not be triple counted.

8.1 Advanced Credit Examinations

Advanced Credit Examinations provide matriculated students the opportunity to be tested on, and to receive credit for, knowledge and skills already achieved that would be covered by regular Syracuse University courses. A student must discuss the request with the appropriate academic department for approval to take an Advanced Credit Exam. The department is under no obligation to approve the request. Approval by the student’s academic advisor, appropriate department chair, and home school/college is required in order to take an Advanced Credit Examination. The student must earn a grade of C or higher to pass the exam. Advanced Credit Exams count toward the 30 semester hours maximum credits that will be accepted from a combination of Advanced Credit Exams, experiential learning, extra-institutional credit, and external examination programs toward the total number of credits required for graduation.

The exams are administered and graded by faculty. Each Advanced Credit exam carries a fee, at an amount published each year in “Tuition, Fees, and Related Policies.” For undergraduates, the student’s school/college may accept a maximum of 30 semester hours from a combination of Syracuse University advanced credit exams and any other credit (e.g., AP exams, experiential learning). Advanced Credit Exams

• must be associated with Syracuse University course subjects and numbers
• are not appropriate for all courses, such as Selected Topics and those that require a Proposal for Independent Study;
• may not be applied to the residency requirement;
• may not be taken in a course for which credit was already earned;
• are not considered as retaken courses for flagging purposes
• will be removed from the official transcript if an equivalent course is subsequently taken at Syracuse University and passed;
• are recorded on the transcript by credit hours and grade, and contribute to total credit hours earned and cumulative degree GPA; and
• a maximum of 66 credits from a combination of credit from a two-year college and any other credit (e.g., AP exams, experiential learning) will be accepted.

8.1.1 Credit for Extra-Institutional and Experiential Learning, and External Examination Programs

Following University rules and program requirements, Syracuse University schools/colleges and graduate departments may award credit for various external examinations and other types of extra-institutional and experiential learning. Such credit is evaluated only for the degree or certificate program to which the student is admitted and may change if the student moves into a different Syracuse University program. Credit is evaluated using the guidelines of the American Council on Education and the Council for Advancement of Experiential Learning, as well as institutional assessment. See TABLES A, B, C and D below for a listing of undergraduate-level exams that may qualify. For examinations or subject areas not covered in the listing below, the student should contact their home school/college or appropriate department to determine whether credit may be considered or if the student is a candidate for an Advanced Credit Examination. A student should also contact their home school/college to discuss other types of non-institutional experience, such as the military, business, or government, which may qualify for credit.

Undergraduate credit may also be awarded for some matriculation examinations and post-secondary educational experiences offered in other countries. Decisions about awarding such credit are made by the student’s school/college during the admissions process.

8.1.2 Portfolio Review

Upon departmental evaluation of the portfolio and related credentials, credit may be granted toward degree programs in the College of Visual and Performing Arts for students demonstrating extensive experiential knowledge directly related to course requirements.

8.1.3 External Examinations

College Board Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), A-Levels.
The student’s home school/college uses the rules in effect at the time the student matriculates at Syracuse University in order to evaluate and accept degree-program credit for AP and CLEP exams. The academic unit with principal responsibility for the examination subject recommends the minimum score for credit and Syracuse University course equivalency; however, the student’s home school/college may have higher score requirements and/or different qualifications, both for awarding credit and meeting degree requirements.

† Exam offered in Puerto Rico only.

8.1.4 Military Service Credit

Credit may be awarded for military-service courses and occupations having the appropriate content, scope, and rigor for undergraduate degree or certificate program to which the student is matriculated. Syracuse University may accept 30-credits of military-service experience as extra-institutional learning. Additional military-service credit may be awarded above the 30-credits if recommended as a semester hour (SH) and listed as upper (U) division or graduate (G) level credit. Military vocational (V) credit may be awarded if reviewed by the home school/college and approved.

Currently serving members of the military who are enrolled at Syracuse University in either a degree or certificate program may request to have new military courses and occupations evaluated for transfer credit by their home school/college in accordance with that school/college’s post-matriculation credit transfer policy.

8.2 Transfer Credit

In compliance with NYSED regulations, Syracuse University only awards transfer credit for courses that are an integral part of a Syracuse University degree program, as determined by the appropriate Syracuse University academic unit.

Generally, schools/colleges may consider accepting transfer credit from:

• institutions recognized by
  • regional accrediting commissions
  • national accrediting bodies
  • professional organizations that accredit free-standing professional schools and programs within multipurpose institutions *
  • institutions that are recognized candidates for accreditation
• recognized foreign tertiary-level institutions, chartered, and authorized by their national governments, generally through the Ministry of Education
• a formal transfer articulation agreement 

^* For students enrolled in an accredited program at a non-accredited institution, only courses within the discipline that is accredited will be considered for transfer credit. General education and other courses from the institution will not be considered.

Syracuse University grants transfer credit from official transcripts based on course content, the quality of the student’s performance, and applicability to the program. Transfer credit is evaluated only for the degree or certificate program to which the student is admitted and will be re-evaluated and may change if the student moves into a different Syracuse University program. A re-evaluation of transfer credit may also affect the student’s financial aid, especially if the student’s class standing alters. If all of the student’s previous work is not accepted for transfer, the student may enter Syracuse University at a different class level than the student had attained at their prior institution. A maximum of 90 credits of transfer credit or a combination of transfer credit and any other credit (e.g., AP exams, experiential learning) will be accepted.

Transfer credit will not be granted for undergraduate students taking courses abroad during the academic year while on a leave of absence. Students with interest in non Syracuse University abroad programs should reach out to Syracuse Abroad to explore their options.

If a student plans to take courses at another institution that will transfer back into their Syracuse University degree, the student must obtain home school/college approval before enrolling.

If a student takes courses at a two-year college before junior standing, the student may take approved coursework during a summer session or while on leave of absence.  After attaining junior standing, the only courses that will be approved will be those that fulfill lower-division requirements or free electives; a maximum of 66 credits from a combination of credit from a two-year college and any other credit (e.g., AP exams, experiential learning) will be accepted.

8.2.1 How Transfer Credit Applies Toward a Student’s Degree

Syracuse University transfer credit is measured in semester hours. If a student’s prior institution used a different credit hour system, credits accepted for transfer are converted to semester hours, e.g., credit from institutions on the quarter-hour system is converted to semester hours using the formula of one quarter-hour equals 2/3 semester hour.

Grades do not transfer and do not affect your Syracuse University cumulative GPA. If a student subsequently takes a course at Syracuse University for which the student had previously received transfer credit, the transfer credit will be removed.

Additional transfer credit rules are:

• grades of C- or below will not be accepted;
• “Pass” grades must be certified to be at a C level or higher and will normally be accepted only as elective credit;
• second undergraduate degrees carry additional restrictions; students should contact school/college for details;
• for students on academic probation in Public Communications, transfer credit will not be given until the cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher;
• College of Professional Studies students are not awarded transfer credit until their cumulative average is 2.0 or higher:
• if a student was previously matriculated at SUNY ESF, then subsequently matriculated at Syracuse University, coursework taken while an ESF student, including Syracuse University courses, is treated, and evaluated as transfer credit from ESF. Such Syracuse University courses do not appear or calculate into the Syracuse University transcript, except as they are included in a block of transfer credits, i.e., total credit hours accepted from SUNY ESF.
• a maximum of 30 semester hours from a combination of Syracuse University advanced credit exams and any other credit (e.g., AP exams, experiential learning) will be accepted.
• a maximum of 66 credits from a combination of credit from a two-year college and any other credit (e.g., AP exams, experiential learning) will be accepted.
• a maximum of 90 credits of transfer credit or a combination of transfer credit and any other credit (e.g., AP exams, experiential learning) will be accepted.

8.2.2 Calculation of Credit Hours

Letter grades and Incompletes calculate toward cumulative credit and grade totals on the student’s academic transcript. A course in which a “Pass (P)” was earned is included in total earned credits but not grade point calculations.

Calculations made by schools/colleges to determine progress toward degree requirements may exclude courses appearing on the student’s transcript that are not applicable to the specific degree program. As noted under the flagging rules, courses may be removed from calculation under certain circumstances.

With the approval of the student’s home school/college, the student may apply as free elective credit up to six credit hours of college-level remedial and developmental courses (numbered 000-099) in which a passing grade was earned toward degree requirements.

8.3 Undergraduate and Graduate Coursework

Undergraduate (matriculated or non-matriculated) students who would like to take graduate-level courses at Syracuse University must petition to register for these courses. Such courses will earn “restricted graduate credit” should the student intend to use such courses toward a Syracuse University graduate degree. A graduate course taken by an undergraduate student is recorded on the undergraduate section of the transcript, and the course counts toward overall undergraduate credit and GPA calculations. However, a graduate-level course does not fulfill undergraduate degree requirements unless it has specifically been approved for that purpose, either as part of the degree program’s requirements or by petition prior to registration.

No credit that is applied to the undergraduate degree may be applied also to the graduate degree, unless such double-counting falls under the explicit articulation of a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program that has been approved by the University Senate and is in compliance with the current New York State Education Department (NYSED) regulations. The student must petition to flag the graduate courses intended for use in a graduate degree program once the grades have been posted and prior to the awarding of the undergraduate degree.

Once a student is officially matriculated into a graduate program at Syracuse University, they may request to transfer restricted graduate-level credits that were previously earned as an undergraduate. This transfer requires a formal petition and will require that these credits be flagged as graduate-level on their undergraduate transcript prior to the certification of the undergraduate degree. These courses will appear in a separate section of the graduate page of the transcript prior to the first semester of the graduate program with the header “Advance Credit Transferred from SU Undergraduate Record”. These credits will not be applied toward the Syracuse University undergraduate degree but will be applied to the graduate degree and be calculated in graduate credits and GPA.

8.3.1 Retaking Courses

Some programs require the retaking of courses in which unsatisfactory grades (as defined by the program) were earned. Retaking courses may also be prohibited under certain circumstances. 

• Language courses: A course cannot be retaken once a student has successfully completed a higher level course in the same language.
• Mathematics courses: A course cannot be retaken once a student has completed a higher level course in the same mathematics curriculum sequence with a grade of C or better.

Table E below describes other rules for undergraduates who want to retake courses. Also see “Flagging Courses That Have Been Retaken.“ Note that retaken courses may not count toward eligibility and satisfactory progress requirements for certain types of financial aid awards.

8.3.2 Flagging (Removing Courses from GPA, Credit and Degree Calculation)

When certain requirements are met, courses which have received a grade may be “flagged,” which excludes them from GPA and semester and cumulative credit hour totals. The flag symbol is noted on the official transcript. Flagging a course may affect financial aid eligibility e.g., flagging a course in which a passing grade was earned may alter the calculation of satisfactory progress. For additional information, students should see their financial aid counselor. 

Once a student’s degree has been awarded, the student may not request to flag courses taken before the degree date.

8.3.3 Flagging Courses That Have Been Retaken

To qualify for flagging, both the original and subsequent course must be taken at Syracuse University and have the same course subject and number.  International courses offered through Syracuse Abroad may qualify for flagging even though their titles and numbers may not be identical to the courses retaken on main campus.  To qualify, the relevant academic department must determine that the international courses are comparable to the ones retaken on main campus. A school/college may prohibit the student from flagging a lower level course after the student has completed a higher level course in the same subject with a passing grade.

If a course is no longer offered under the same subject and/or number, the student must petition the school/college in advance to retake the course that is a close equivalent in content and level.  Certification by the academic department that the course is a close equivalent–not just a substitution for the degree requirement–is required.

Except as noted in TABLE E, only the credits and grade received in the second course will count.

• Both the original course and the retaken course remain on the student’s official transcript.
• A course is repeatable if it may be retaken and counted more than once toward fulfillment of degree requirements. A student may not flag courses designated as repeatable, since course content is different each time the course is offered. The following are exceptions:
  • Selected Topics courses (with numbers ending in “00”) may be flagged if they have exactly the same title.
  • Proposals for Independent Study courses may be flagged when the course subject, number, description, and requirements are the same.
• Advanced Credit exams or courses that merely substitute for a degree requirement are not considered to be retaken courses for flagging purposes.
• Honors sections of courses are eligible for flagging.
• Additional course combinations may be flagged at the approval of the University Registrar.

Courses that have been retaken will be flagged according to the following school/college rules.

8.3.4 Flagging Courses When Changing School/College or Program

If a student is admitted through intra-university transfer (IUT) into a different Syracuse University school/college, the student may petition to flag completed courses that cannot be included in the student’s new program. The student must first meet minimum criteria for admission to the new school/college or program and can only petition the new school/college to flag courses after admission. If the student changes a program within their home school/college, in rare instances when the new program requires preparation distinctly different from that of the former program, the student may petition to have courses flagged that cannot be applied toward the new program. Simply changing majors does not qualify for flagging.

The College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School: Only D and F grades in non-Arts and Sciences courses that were required for the previous program may be flagged at the student’s request. A, B, C, and I grades in such courses cannot be flagged.

School of Education and Martin J. Whitman School of Management: If the student transfers into either of these schools and elect to flag courses that do not apply toward the new program, then the student must flag all courses that do apply.

8.3.5 Flagging Graduate-Level Courses Taken as an Undergraduate

If a student petitions to take graduate-level courses that will not apply to their undergraduate degree, the student must also petition to flag those courses so that they do not count toward their undergraduate record. This flagging must be accomplished prior to the certification of the undergraduate degree. These restricted graduate credits must be flagged before they can be applied to count toward the graduate degree requirements. 

8.3.6 Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) or Student Support Services Program (SSSP) Students

HEOP or SSSP students who receive grades of C-, D or F during the SummerStart program may petition to have these grades flagged to exclude them from calculation in the GPA and from the cumulative credit hour total for that summer semester.

8.4 Grades

¹Grades of D and D- may not be assigned to graduate students.
² Grade of D- is available only for Law students in LAW courses.

¹Law faculty offering courses on the Law Alternative Grading System may designate grades of High Honors (HH), Honors (H), Pass (P) or Fail (F). Law students will not receive academic credit for grades of “F”. 

P* is used to indicate exceptional circumstances, allowed only in specific academic terms identified by the University, and counts as a Pass (P).

8.4.1 Grades and Grading Symbols - Additional Information

Undergraduate students may have the option to elect a letter grade in a pass/fail-graded course. When permissible, students must select that option by the grading option deadline and may not rescind the selection after the deadline.

I (Incomplete)

A student may request an Incomplete if there are exceptional circumstances that have prevented them from fulfilling all course requirements on time. A student will need the instructor’s approval and will need to have completed enough course content to have a grade assigned based on the work to date. An Incomplete is not available if the student has not completed enough work on which to base a grade. If the student takes a leave of absence or is withdrawn from the University, the student cannot receive Incompletes for courses in which the student was registered.

An Incomplete calculates as an F in the student’s GPA. The instructor calculates a grade for the student based on work completed to date, counting unsubmitted work as zero.

I+Grade (Incomplete with Default Grade)

A student may request an Incomplete if the student has exceptional circumstances that prevent him or her from fulfilling all course requirements on time.  A student will need the instructor’s approval and will need to have completed enough course content to have a grade assigned based on the work to date. An Incomplete is not available if the student has not completed enough work on which to base a grade. If the student takes a leave of absence or is withdrawn from the University, the student cannot receive Incompletes for courses in which the student was registered.

An Incomplete with default grade calculates as the default grade in the students GPA. The instructor calculates a grade for the student based on work completed to date, counting unsubmitted work as zero.

Students participating in Syracuse Abroad Programs should not anticipate being able to finish a course remotely if they leave the program with over one-third of the semester remaining.

AU (Audit)

A student may audit courses with instructor approval. A student must submit the audit option by the grading option deadline, and cannot rescind the option after the deadline. No credit is given for audited courses, they do not meet any degree requirements, and are not counted toward enrollment status. Instructors may record a grading symbol of NA instead of AU if the student never attends the class. The student may have limited access to Syracuse University library resources if auditing a class and not registered for any credit-bearing classes for the term. Courses taken in Winterlude, courses that require a Proposal for Independent Study, and studio art or applied music courses offered by the College of Visual and Performing Arts cannot be audited. Additionally, these types of courses taken through Syracuse Abroad cannot be audited: Signature Seminars and courses required for a Syracuse Abroad program (exceptions may be made for graduate students) and courses taken through partner universities abroad.

NA (Did not attend)

A student flagged in Orange SUccess who never attends a class and does not drop the class by the Academic/Financial Drop deadline, will receive an NA “did not attend” grade on the official transcript. The NA grade may impact enrollment status. Any changes to the enrollment status may affect student financial aid eligibility and can result in some/all return of federal aid. Students who stop attending their classes may risk failing the class and may be subject to return of Title IV calculations, which may result in return of some or all of federal aid. Therefore, students are advised to drop or withdraw from a class they do not intend to attend or stop attending as soon as they stop attending a class.

NG (No Grade) 

A student may receive an NG grade if a grade was not available by the grading deadline of the class. Without correction, NG grades default to “F” grades as outlined below.

Semester Calendar (including 8wk Sessions):

• NG grades received by students in a Fall semester will default to an F after the last day of the subsequent spring semester
• NG grades received by students in a Spring semester (this includes Winterlude) will default to an F after the last day of the subsequent Fall semester 
• NG grades received by students in a Summer semester will default to an F after the last day of the subsequent Fall semester

Quarter-Term Calendar:

• NG grades received by students in a Fall quarter session will default to an F after the last day of the subsequent Spring quarter session
• NG grades received by students in a Winter quarter will default to an F after the last day of the subsequent Summer quarter session
• NG grades received by students in a Spring quarter will default to an F after the last day of the subsequent Fall quarter session
• NG grades received by students in a Summer quarter will default to an F after the last day of the subsequent Winter quarter session

P/F (Pass/Fail)

Credit is earned for courses with a P, but not with an F.

An undergraduate student may have the option to elect a pass/fail grade for some classes and may elect a letter grade in a pass/fail class when permissible. The student must select this option by the grading option deadline and may not rescind the selection after the deadline. 

School/college-specific pass/fail rules are listed in the table below. Some additional points are:

• if a student selects a pass/fail option, grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, and D are converted to P. No grade other than P or F will be posted on the student’s record;
• if the student chooses to major in a field in which he/she previously took a course as pass/fail, the student’s home school/college and the chair of the department in which the student took the course will determine whether and upon what terms the course can be used to satisfy departmental requirements;
• Syracuse Abroad students are limited to one pass/fail course each semester;
• no more than 24 credit hours of courses taken pass/fail may be applied toward an undergraduate degree.

RM (Remedial)

RM courses count toward credit hours carried in a particular semester, and are included in the total credits earned but do not count toward credit hours earned for the degree program except by petition.

WD (Withdrew)

After the academic drop deadline, and until the withdrawal deadline for the term, a student may withdraw from a course and have a grading symbol of WD recorded on their transcript.

8.4.2 Reporting Grades/Grading Symbols

Instructors are required to submit grades or appropriate grading symbols for all students in their courses. If a student has not completed all course requirements by the time the instructor must report final grades, then the grade is determined based on work completed to date, counting work not submitted as zero, unless the student has made prior arrangements to receive an Incomplete.

8.4.3 Missing Grades

Missing grades and No Grades (NG) do not calculate toward the GPA. A student may not graduate with missing grades or No Grades (NG).  In the case of a missing grade or No Grade (NG) after the end of term in which the class was taken, students are strongly advised to contact their instructor or their advisor for the grade. All grades must be submitted in order for students to qualify for degree certification.

8.4.4 Changing Grades

An instructor may elect to submit a grade change after the grade has already been posted. An instructor may submit a grade change in MySlice for review and decision by the department chair, and/or the dean of the student’s home school/college if there is a calculation error, final work has been submitted by the student, or a grade appeal has been approved. An instructor may not submit a grade change for students who have graduated, or have withdrawn from the class or for NA, NR, or RM grades. The University Registrar has the final authority for review/decision of grade changes that involve grading symbols.

After a degree has been certified, a grade change may be submitted for review/decision by the University Registrar as a result of an error by the school/college or if the student’s home school/college determines that the student has completed all coursework, and only the evaluation and grade change submission occurred after that date.  

8.4.5 Removal of Incomplete

Incomplete (I) or Incomplete with Default grades may be removed prior to graduation in one of two ways:

• completion of the outstanding work specified on the Request for Incomplete Grade form by the agreed-upon date; or
• if a student fails to complete the work specified in the Request for Incomplete Grade form, the Office of the Registrar will post the letter grade indicated by the instructor, subject to any previous grading option that had been selected

A student may not register for a course a second time for the purpose of removing an Incomplete grade or Incomplete with default grade, an instructor may require the student to repeat certain elements of a course in order to remove the Incomplete or Incomplete with default grade.

Incompletes and Graduation
A student may not graduate with outstanding Incompletes/Incompletes with default grade. If the student has earned the required number of credits and met all degree requirements without the incomplete class, and if the student’s cumulative average equals or exceeds the minimum requirements of the school/college, the school/college will certify the completed degree and any outstanding Incompletes will be changed to the default grade prior to posting the degree.

If the class with the outstanding Incomplete is required for the student’s degree, the student’s expected graduation date will be moved to the degree date following the due date for completing the Incomplete and the student’s record will be reviewed for degree completion at that time.

8.4.6 Grade Appeals

Normal Practice for Course Grade Appeals The following set of general statements represents normal practice at Syracuse University* for a student seeking resolution to a grievance of a course grade.

1. The assignment of grades at Syracuse University is the responsibility of the faculty; once assigned by a member of the faculty, a grade cannot be changed without their consent, except by due process as detailed below. In cases where the instructor of record is not a member of the faculty, the faculty member charged with oversight of that instructor is ultimately responsible for the assignment of grades.
2. A course grade is based upon the instructor’s professional assessment of the academic quality of the student’s performance on a body of work. Such assessments are non-negotiable, and disputes about them do not constitute valid grounds for an appeal. Valid grounds can arise, e.g., when an instructor fails to provide or implement uniform and consistent standards or bases an assessment on criteria other than academic performance. *
3. Unless there are issues of a personal nature, the appeal process for a grade dispute begins with the instructor of record. Failure to comply with this may be grounds for denial of subsequent appeals. Any appeal beyond the instructor of record must be initiated in writing to the department chair before the last day of classes of the academic year semester immediately following the one in which the aggrieved grade was received by the Registrar. This written appeal should describe the basis for the grievance, the informal steps taken to resolve the dispute, and the remedies sought.
4. If satisfaction is not obtained at this or any subsequent level, the appeal always moves to the next level of authority. The levels in succession are: the instructor of record, faculty member in charge of the course, the department chair of the faculty member, (Center Director for courses offered through Syracuse Abroad Centers), the dean of the department chair, (Dean of the relevant college under which the course is offered for courses offered through Syracuse Abroad Centers).
5. At each level of appeal, a fair and thorough hearing of all views is sought before a decision is made. This may, but need not, require a face-to-face meeting of the parties directly involved in the dispute. A decision may be reached if both student and instructor agree. If such a decision cannot be reached, a panel designed by the college for this purpose shall hear the case. Details of the operation and manner of selection of this panel may vary by school or college**, but shall conform to the following guidelines:
   a. The panel shall have a quorum of at least three.
   b. All voting members of the panel shall be tenured faculty.
   c. No member of the panel shall hear a case who has been involved in a previous stage of the appeal.
   d. Membership of the panel shall be fixed and made public in a given academic year, though replacements may be made in the event of resignations.
   e. Membership of the panel shall be approved by the faculty of the school or college, or by a representative group of the faculty, in each academic year.
   f. The Senate Committee on Curriculum and Instruction shall approve the manner of selection and charge of a school or college’s panel before its first case. The committee shall also approve any subsequent changes in the manner of selection or charge of each college or school’s panel. The panel may, at its discretion, meet with the aggrieved parties either separately or together. The decision of this panel, either to deny the student’s original appeal or to authorize the Registrar to change the grade, shall be final. The panel shall inform both the student and the instructor of its decision in writing. The panel shall also summarize the case and its outcome in a written report to the Senate Committee on Curriculum and Instruction. Said committee may include summary statistics on grade disputes in its final report to the Senate.
6. The only grounds for any further appeal shall be irregularities in the above procedures.
7. In such cases, either party may appeal the final decision of the faculty panel to the Senate Committee on Curriculum and Instruction. The Senate Committee on Curriculum and Instruction may either deny the appeal or insist that the procedure begin anew at the point the irregularity occurred.
8. All stages of the appeal process shall be kept confidential to the maximum extent possible, consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

* For further guidance, consult the bylaws of the individual school or college.
** These procedures do not apply for students in the College of Law or students on Syracuse Abroad World Partner programs. Students participating in Syracuse Abroad World Partner programs should refer to and follow their individual World Partner program’s grade appeal process.

8.5 Registration

Students must initially register for the classes in which they wish to enroll prior to the beginning of each session, or the student will incur a late registration fee. Prior to registration, students should plan their program with their academic advisors. Students may make changes to their registration after the semester begins, by adding, dropping, or withdrawing from classes in accordance with published deadlines. Courses with nontraditional start and/or end dates have different deadlines than full-semester courses. While the student normally initiates registration and subsequent changes, the student’s school(s)/college(s) of enrollment may also initiate such actions.

Instructors may request the school/college to administratively drop students who do not attend the first week of classes (up to and including the add deadline); however, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure that the class is dropped if they do not intend to attend the class to avoid receiving an NA grade. (An NA grade impacts enrollment status which may affect financial aid).

Registration may be prevented for financial, academic or by other University administrative offices including the Health Center, Bursar’s Office, Student’s Rights and Responsibilities, and Academic Integrity.

No other University persons or units may make substantive changes to an undergraduate student’s schedule of classes without first securing the formal permission of the student’s home school/college.

Students must be officially registered in order to attend classes. Students may not attend, audit, be evaluated or otherwise participate in courses without being officially enrolled. An instructor should not allow a student to attend classes and/or submit work unless the student is on the official class list or unless the student is attending with the instructor’s approval for the purpose of making up an Incomplete.

Students cannot register or be registered for classes that overlap in time. Students are expected to attend each class for which they are registered and for the full duration of each class.

New students register just before the term begins. Returning students are eligible to register for the next semester during the registration period at the end of fall and spring semesters. Students on Syracuse Abroad Programs register through Syracuse Abroad following special registration procedures. Part-time students admitted through College of Professional Studies and non-matriculated students register through College of Professional Studies. Adding of courses or entire registrations after the add deadline and before the academic/financial drop deadline may be done only by approval of the University Registrar.

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and SUNY Upstate Medical University Courses: Because of the University’s relationship with SUNY ESF and SUNY UMU, a student may take courses at those institutions with the approval of the student’s Syracuse University school/college/academic department, subject to availability and fulfillment of any specific requirements. Conversely, SUNY ESF and SUNY UMU students who meet course requirements may take Syracuse University courses, subject to availability and in accordance with the rules and approval of their home institution.

Maximum Course Load (Fall and Spring/Winterlude)

Full-time undergraduate students typically register for 12-19 credits per semester. Students in good standing in the Renée Crown University Honors Program may register for more than 19 credits without approval of their home school/college. Other students may petition their home school/college to register for more than 19 credits. Undergraduates registering for more than 19 credit hours will be assessed the appropriate extra tuition charges unless they qualify for an overload rate exception.

Winterlude is a part of the Spring semester and the maximum load of 19 credits includes both spring and Winterlude classes. The maximum credit load for Winterlude is four credits.

Summer Registration

Students on Syracuse Abroad Programs register through Syracuse Abroad following special registration procedures. Matriculated Syracuse University students in good academic standing, as well as visiting and non-matriculated students, are eligible to register for summer sessions. Visiting students register through College of Professional Studies. 

Maximum Course Load (Summer)

Undergraduates may register for a maximum of 4 credits in Maymester, 7 credits in a six-week session, and a total of 14 credits across all sessions. Students may petition their home school/college to register for additional credits in a session or for summer semester. Due to the complexity of summer sessions, students should seek advisement when contemplating multi-session enrollment.

8.5.1 Changes to Registration

Students may not late add a class after the academic/financial deadlines. Under extenuating circumstances, students who wish to request a late add must obtain written permission from the instructor or department and approval by the University Registrar and Bursar. Payment must be made prior to the class being added. Approval is not guaranteed.

No student at any time may withdraw from courses to the point of becoming a part-time student (i.e., registered for 12 or fewer credits) without the permission of the College’s Dean. No student will be allowed to withdraw from a course in which they have been charged with an Academic Integrity violation.

Dropping or withdrawing from a required course may impact a student’s degree progress if the course is a pre-requisite.

International students are not allowed to drop and/or withdraw from classes if any of these actions bring their registration to lower than 12 credits, as they must keep a full-time status while studying in the U.S.

Students on Syracuse Abroad semester programs may not be allowed to drop and/or withdraw from classes if any of these actions bring their registration to lower than 12 credits when immigration requirements for their host country require full-time status.

8.5.2 Class Withdrawal

After the academic/financial drop deadline through the withdrawal deadline for a given term, students may request to withdraw from a class. The withdrawal effective date is the date that the student initiates the request. Classes from which students withdraw remain on the transcript record with the grading symbol WD and continue to carry credit. The WD does not calculate toward the grade point average; however, it may count towards satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Students should contact the Bursar’s Office and Office of Financial Aid for any financial impacts.

Students may file an Appeal to Late Withdraw from a class following the official deadline to withdraw from a class and within 30 days following the end of the current semester. Approval is subject to the decision of the Late Withdraw Committee and is not guaranteed. Students should continue to attend class until they receive a decision.

8.6 Consortium Agreements

Syracuse University has formal consortia arrangements through Syracuse Abroad, the Consortium for Culture and Medicine, and the Graduate Scholar Exchange Program. Except for these, Syracuse University does not allow students to enroll at other institutions under an individual consortium arrangement, nor does it award financial aid to students who choose to enroll at other institutions, e.g., while on a leave of absence.

If approved for a consortium agreement, credit earned through such programs is treated as Syracuse University credit. The student’s school/college and/or department will determine acceptable courses and how they will be applied.

Academic Status

9.0 Class Standing

Class standing is determined by the number of Syracuse University earned credits, plus credits accepted for transfer credit and other types of external credit, e.g., AP examination. Class standing is calculated as follows:

10.0 Grade Point Average

The Syracuse University grade point average (GPA) is calculated by taking the number of grade points earned and dividing by the number of credit hours carried toward the GPA. Various GPAs, e.g., cumulative GPA and semester GPA are calculated and used for a variety of purposes.  Schools/colleges can advise about GPA calculations used to determine satisfactory progress, etc. See TABLES F and G for grade and grade symbol listings and their associated grade point calculations. GPA is calculated to three decimal places. GPA is not rounded.

Undergraduate students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in order to be awarded a Syracuse University degree. Graduate students must earn a minimum average of 3.000 for work comprising the program for the degree or certificate and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.800.

11.0 Honors

The University recognizes exceptional undergraduate achievement through various honors. Certain honors are imprinted on transcripts and diplomas after degree certification.

Departmental Distinction
Students earn distinction in particular programs of study by meeting the specific criteria for distinction in that major. Departmental or program distinction recognizes exceptional achievement that exceeds normal expectations for graduates within the program. This will be noted on the transcript after the degree has been awarded.

University Scholars
The Syracuse University Scholars Selection Committee selects eight to 12 seniors each year as University Scholars. University Scholars do not appear on the transcript.

Renée Crown University Honors Program
Renée Crown University Honors will be noted on the student’s diploma and transcript if the requirements of the Honors Program are completed.

11.1 University Honors

University Honors are awarded upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree. They are not awarded with Associates degrees or Undergraduate Certificates. Student will receive their degree with University honors if their cumulative GPA meets the following standard:      

The cumulative GPA for University honors must be equal to or greater than those noted above; no rounding up is permitted. A minimum of 60 GPA calculated credit hours, including pass/fail grades, taken at Syracuse University is required for University honors. Syracuse University courses taken while a student at SUNY ESF are not counted in these hours as they are brought in as transfer credit and are not included in the GPA calculation. Students should check with their school/college Dean’s office to determine how their GPA will be determined.

11.2 Dean’s List

Undergraduate full-time students are eligible for the Dean’s list of their home school/college at the end of each semester.

12.0 Student Status

Syracuse University uses multiple criteria to indicate student status.

12.1 Enrolled Students

A student is considered enrolled at the University until one or more of the following occurs: (1) the student graduates; (2) the student takes a leave of absence; (3) the student is withdrawn from the University for academic, medical, or disciplinary reasons; (4) the student fails to register; or (5) the student’s registration is cancelled by the University.

Matriculated Students

A matriculated student is defined as one who has applied for, been formally admitted to, and has registered for one or more courses in the degree or certificate-granting program to which they have been admitted. Matriculation occurs on the first day of the term for which the student has been admitted. A student must be matriculated to receive a degree or certificate from the University. Students who take an official leave of absence maintain matriculation status.

Non-matriculated Students

A non-matriculated student is someone who registers for and attends Syracuse University classes without being admitted to a Syracuse University degree or certificate granting program. Taking courses through College of Professional Studies or Syracuse Abroad does not imply matriculation. A student must be formally admitted to a Syracuse University degree or certificate program in order to become matriculated. Non-matriculated students are held to the same academic standards as matriculated students.

Students who are withdrawn from the University are no longer matriculated. Upon readmission, matriculation status is regained.

Undergraduates who are academically dismissed from a school/college and accepted into College of Professional Studies as “special students” are considered non-matriculated.

12.2 Full-time and Part-time Status

The University’s certification of a student’s status is based solely on the criteria stated in this rule. Students who meet Syracuse University’s requirements for full-time or part-time status may not meet requirements for such status as defined by other agencies or institutions. Conversely, students who do not meet Syracuse University’s requirements for full-or part-time status may be considered full-time or part-time by other agencies. Student status is not the criterion for determining tuition charges for a specific term. Please refer to (Tuition, Fees, and Related Policies) for the specific academic year.

Full-time (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
Undergraduates are full time if registered for 12 or more credits during any semester. Registration for 6 credits in a six-week summer session confers full-time status for the session.

Part-time (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
Undergraduates enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours are considered to be part time.
Exception: Engineering and Computer Science Students registered in the Cooperative Education program for zero hours in semesters when they are on work assignments are considered to be full time.

The number of credit hours carried by part-time students may affect eligibility for University housing and financial aid. For purposes of financial aid, students registered for 9-11.99 credit hours are considered three-quarter time: students registered for 6-8.99 credit hours are considered half-time students; students registered for 0-5.99 credit hours are considered less than half time.

Academic Actions

13.0 Intra-University Transfer (IUT)

Students transferring to other schools/colleges within the University (Intra-University Transfer) must meet the admission requirements of the new school/college that were in effect at the time of matriculation into the University. The IUT application must be received before the financial drop deadline of the current term.  Any IUT received after the financial drop deadline will take effect the next semester.  Schools/colleges have the ability to set their own internal deadlines for processing and approval in order to meet this deadline.  Until an IUT is approved, students may not be able to register for courses in the new program. See Table H for school/college specific information. The new school/college of enrollment will re-evaluate all Syracuse University, transfer, and other credit that the student has received.

If a student previously transferred from SUNY ESF to Syracuse University and took Syracuse University courses while at ESF, the student’s school/college, at its discretion, may include those Syracuse University courses in manual calculations for determination of Intra-University transfer eligibility.

Matriculated undergraduate students may not undertake Intra-University transfer to College of Professional Studies from another school or college at Syracuse University, except to transfer to a College of Professional Studies part-time degree program. Full-time students who register on the main campus for a College of Professional Studies course are charged Syracuse University rates.

No student may transfer from main campus to College of Professional Studies to enroll in a non-credit course. Full-time students on the main campus must register separately at College of Professional Studies for these courses and pay the non-credit tuition in full.

14.0 Academic Probation and Suspension

Any student who has a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 and for whom a more serious action is not appropriate may be placed on probation. A student may also be placed on probation if their semester GPA falls below 2.0, or if the student fails to meet other criteria for good academic standing as established by the school/college. Each school/college reviews their students’ records and determines the appropriate probation actions to be applied from the categories listed below. School/college offices can provide more detailed information about academic policies. Academic probation may impact a student’s financial aid.

Syracuse Abroad applicants placed on academic probation prior to the start of their abroad program may be withdrawn from the program. Syracuse Abroad students placed on academic suspension prior to, or during, their abroad program will be withdrawn from the program, regardless of any college-level appeal granted.

The probation categories are described below and include College Probation; Probation, One-Semester Trial; and Academic Suspension. Schools/colleges may:

• apply any one of the categories at any time, depending on school/college policy and individual student records; categories are not necessarily applied sequentially;
• apply an action more than once to the same student

14.1 College Probation

This action applies to a student who has a cumulative average above 2.0, but who fails to meet other school/college criteria for good standing. These criteria include the following:

Probation, One-semester Trial

If the school/college determines that the student has serious deficiencies in progress toward degree requirements, usually including a cumulative GPA below 2.0, the school/college may impose a one-semester trial specifying that certain requirements be met by the end of the term. Failing to meet these requirements may result in suspension. Each school/college’s standards are available at the school/college undergraduate office.

Ineligible to Continue

If the student’s school/college sets specific conditions for continuing enrollment, this action may be applied to cancel early registration and/or prevent participation in registration for new coursework until the requirements are met. It may also apply in situations where full-time status is no longer allowed, but part-time status is permitted. A student who is ineligible to continue may have a GPA either above or below 2.0.

14.2 Academic Suspension

Academically suspended students are officially withdrawn from the University. Students face academic suspension for failing to meet the conditions established by any previous probation action or for seriously departing from standards required for good standing. The GPA may be either above or below 2.0 at the time of suspension. If a suspension action is taken, the school/college will send a letter specifying the reason for the action; and explaining appeal procedures. The next semester’s registration will be cancelled or prevented, and future semester registrations will not be allowed unless the student has successfully appealed suspension; or has been accepted to a new school/college as an internal transfer; or has been readmitted to the school/college that the student was suspended from. (See “Leave of Absence, University Withdrawal, and Readmission”).

15.0 Leave of Absence, University Withdrawal and Readmission

15.1 Leave of Absence

A leave of absence is a student initiated action in which a student elects to take time away from University studies with the intention of returning for a future semester. Students must initiate the leave of absence request process with a University designee in the student’s home school/college or academic department and are strongly encouraged to meet with an assigned academic advisor to discuss plans for degree completion. Leaves of absence which are medical in nature may be initiated by the Office of Student Outreach and Support (see below for more information).

For academic and financial purposes, the leave of absence effective date is the date that the student initiates the request with a University designee in the student’s home school/college/academic department or the Office of Student Outreach and Support the day after the end of the current semester if the student is completing the current semester and then leaving. Leave of absence requests are not retroactive.

As shown in Table I below, for leaves taken during the semester classes are dropped or withdrawn based on the effective date of the leave and the deadlines for each class. Leaves taken after the withdrawal deadline but before the end of the semester result in F grades for all classes. If the leave is taken after the end of the semester the classes are graded normally for the semester. Classes which end prior to the leave effective date are graded normally.

Syracuse University undergraduate students who take a leave of absence to study abroad for an academic year semester on a program not affiliated or approved by Syracuse University can not receive transfer credit.

Students may take a leave of absence for a period of up to two years. This leave is noted on the transcript as Leave of Absence - Student Initiated. Students who fail to return within the approved timeframe will have that notation changed to Student Initiated Withdrawal - Not Returning. Students who plan to return from a leave of absence or withdrawal must contact their home school/college/academic department to reapply for admission. Students on a leave of absence may register for the semester in which they are planning to return but will not be considered enrolled at the University until they have returned to classes.

Students returning from a Medical or a Personal Leave of Absence are eligible to study abroad during the semester immediately following their leave of absence provided they have worked with their school/college/academic department or with the Office of Student Outreach and Support and successfully completed all readmission requirements.

Students on a leave of absence are reported as withdrawn to the National Student Clearinghouse and other federal agencies.

Students requesting a leave of absence are advised to consult the Bursar’s refund policy to understand the impact on charges to their student account while on a leave of absence. Students receiving financial aid (grants or scholarships) are advised to contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss any financial aid implications of their leave of absence.

Students with pending disciplinary action are typically not eligible to request a leave of absence. Any requests for leave of absence for a student with pending disciplinary action will be reviewed by the Office of Community Standards to determine if there are extenuating circumstances. If deemed appropriated by Office of Community Standards, a leave of absence request may be considered with appropriate transcript notation.

Academic and Financial Implications of failure to request leave of absence 

If the student registers but then leaves without notifying a University designee in the student’s home school/college or academic department, the student will continue to incur tuition, room, board, and other charges.

Course registrations will remain, and any grades submitted by the student’s instructors will be recorded on the student’s transcript. A student cannot receive Incomplete grades for courses in which the student was enrolled if the student takes a leave of absence or is withdrawn before the end of the semester; only grades of WD or F can be recorded on the student’s transcript. If the leave is effective after the end of the semester, then Incomplete grades can be assigned. 

If a student registers for a future semester and subsequently takes a leave of absence or is withdrawn, then the student’s registration for that semester will be canceled. 

Students who do not register at all or drop all classes on or before the Add deadline are discontinued and the notation “Discontinuation - non-attendance” will also be recorded on their transcript.  Discontinued students must follow formal readmission procedures. 

Medical Leaves of Absence

A medical leave of absence must be initiated by the student with the Office of Student Outreach and Support. The last date that a medical leave can be requested is the last day of class for the semester in which the leave will be effective.

Students who need to request a medical leave are required to submit medical documentation to the appropriate health and wellness unit to confirm the medical leave request. Medical documentation supporting the need for a leave of absence must be received within 30 days of the student’s request for medical leave. Students who request a medical leave of absence and fail to submit supporting medical documentation within the 30 day deadline, will automatically be placed on personal leave of absence.

Military Leaves of Absence

Undergraduates being activated by the military should initiate a leave of absence procedure through their home school/college undergraduate office; graduate students should contact their academic department. The dean’s office or academic department will advise about options to drop courses, take class standing grades, or take Incompletes, as well as the academic implications of these options.

15.2 University Withdrawal

Syracuse University will officially withdraw students who are suspended for academic or disciplinary reasons; the suspending school/college or the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience, or the Center for Learning and Student Success will initiate the withdrawal. A student who chooses to leave the University rather than participate in the judicial or academic integrity review process will be classified as having been withdrawn for disciplinary reasons.  The University may also withdraw students for medical reasons, failing to attend classes, or for academic integrity violations. Officially withdrawn students lose matriculation status; however, matriculation may be reinstated if all requirements for readmission are met.

Enforced Medical Withdrawal  An enforced medical withdrawal may be imposed in situations such as, but not limited to, when a student fails to attend and participate actively in an appropriate assessment, educational program, or other intervention; and situations in which student behavior poses a significant health or safety risk to the student or others. The Senior Vice President of Enrollment and the Student Experience, or one or more of their designees will make the determination with appropriate professional consultation.

Transcript Notation and Effective Date  Leaves of absence and withdrawals will be noted by effective date on the transcript. The transcript notation for leaves of absence is “Leave of Absence– Student Initiated,” for students who intend to return and “Student Initiated Withdrawal - Not Returning”, for those who do not intend to return, and for withdrawals, “Withdrawal–University Initiated.” The transcript notation “Violation of Academic Integrity Policy” is permanently retained when an established violation results in expulsion and remains for the duration of a suspension. The transcript notation of “Academic Integrity Probation” lasts the length of the probation (either 6 or 12 months OR until graduation if that occurs sooner) when an established violation results in probation.  

The student is responsible for initiating any requests for refunds, including those that result from medical leaves. See TABLE I and Tuition, Fees and Related Policies for the complete statement of Syracuse University’s policy and requirements for refunds for withdrawals and leaves of absence.

 ¹ Federal regulations governing refunds and adjustments to federal financial aid, and adjustments to institutional scholarships and grants require careful review. Please see the current Tuition, Fees & Related Policies for details on Leave of Absence or Withdrawals from the University, including applicable fees.
 ² Classes completed before the effective date of the leave of absence or withdrawal may be graded.

To view the financial deadlines for enrolled classes, students can visit MySlice>Billing/Payments>Financial Deadlines.

To view academic deadlines, students can visit MySlice>My Class Schedule and click on the symbol under the “deadlines” heading.

15.3 Readmission

Students who plan to re-enroll at Syracuse University, must apply for readmission. Approval of the student’s readmission may be affected by any of the following conditions:

• the school/college and program must have available space to accommodate the readmission;
• the student may need to satisfy new requirements in their academic program or even change their major, depending upon curricular changes that may have occurred during  their absence. The school/college and/or department will determine the available options.
• the student must meet all outstanding Syracuse University financial obligations.

To be eligible for financial aid the student must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and should contact the Financial Aid office.

If the student’s leave/withdrawal was conditional, the student must resolve the appropriate issues and obtain readmission approval from the academic unit or office that authorized or required the leave/withdrawal.

If the student left the University without requesting an official Leave of Absence, the student must follow formal readmission procedures as set by the student’s school/college.

Readmission is effective the first day of the approved semester.

After the readmission has been approved and processed, the student may register for the readmit semester during the regular registration period, the schedule adjustment period prior to the start of the readmit semester, or on the registration day for new students at the beginning of the readmit semester.

If the student is applying for readmission following an academic withdrawal, the following conditions hold:

• School of Education, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics students are eligible to apply for readmission after one academic year from the date of an academic withdrawal. In addition, some David B. Falk College Sport and Human Dynamics students may be eligible for fast-track readmission https://falk.syr.edu/students/academic-probation-suspension-readmission/ 
• In the College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School, and the School of Information Studies, a student must have satisfied the terms designated at the time of their academic suspension in order to be readmitted to the college.
• Readmission requirements may vary among degree programs within the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Please confer directly with your academic department/school.
• Other schools/colleges allow readmission applications after one calendar year from the date of an academic withdrawal.
• The student’s school/college may place the student on academic probation for the first semester after the student is readmitted.

Students readmitted to Syracuse University will regain matriculation status unless they are readmitted to College of Professional Studies as a Special student.

Special student status: After an academic dismissal, with home school/college and College of Professional Studies approval, the student may apply for readmission and transfer to College of Professional Studies as a Special student. The College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School and School of Information Studies students must obtain permission from these colleges before applying for a Special student status through College of Professional Studies. This process requires an interview and a contract. College of Professional Studies Special students are limited to a maximum registration of six credit hours in the first semester at College of Professional Studies. Undergraduates who are academically dismissed from a school/college and accepted into College of Professional Studies as “Special students” are considered non-matriculated. The student may apply for readmission and transfer to a main campus school/college after earning a minimum of 12-15 credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Degree and Certificate Programs

16.0 Degrees

16.0.1 Residency Requirement

All students must complete a minimum number of credit hours at Syracuse University in courses offered through NYSED registered programs in order to be granted a Syracuse University degree. Undergraduate students must take at least 30 credit hours of coursework at Syracuse University to qualify for the degree; in most cases more than 30 credits will be required in order to fulfill degree requirements. In addition, undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 60% of their major program at Syracuse University, as well as the other requirements designated by your school or college as listed in Section 8.3 unless a waiver is granted by the appropriate major department.

Syracuse University courses taken while a student is matriculated at SUNY ESF, because they are treated as transfer credit count toward the residency credits requirement, but do not count toward GPA. ESF courses taken while a student is matriculated either at SUNY ESF or at Syracuse University do not count toward the Syracuse University residency requirement.

College of Professional Studies candidates for Associate’s Degrees, Bachelor of Liberal Studies degrees, or Bachelor of Professional Studies degrees must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of Syracuse University coursework while enrolled as a part-time student at College of Professional Studies.

The types of degrees conferred, the minimum number of credit hours required for each degree, and the list of approved programs of study can be found in the Academic Offerings section of the Syracuse University Course Catalogs.  Students usually follow the curriculum requirements in place at the time of their matriculation to the University.

16.0.2 Curriculum Requirements

16.1 Undergraduate Degree and Certificate Programs

Within the bachelor’s degree there are four types of degree programs available to undergraduate students at Syracuse University: single degree programs, single degree programs with double majors, single degree programs with dual majors, and combined degree programs. Students must complete a prescribed course of study and minimum number of credit hours to complete a degree program.

* Students pursuing a B.S. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School must petition the department offering the major to be formally accepted as candidates.

16.2 Second Undergraduate Degrees

If you previously earned a bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University or another institution, you may or may not be admissible to a second undergraduate degree program, depending on the disciplinary and professional “proximity” of the completed and proposed programs. NYSED has ruled that “the conferral of two bachelor’s or associate degrees should be reserved as a means of recognizing that a candidate has competencies in two essentially different areas: when a second degree, as opposed to one degree with a double major, is academically justifiable and when the second degree requires one-fourth additional work (i.e., 30 credit hours for a 120-credit hour degree).”

The University Registrar, in consultation with the associate provost for academic programs and appropriate academic advisors, will decide whether admission to a second undergraduate degree program is in accord with NYSED’s criteria. If you earned a B.A. degree you will not be admitted to a second B.A. degree program that falls within the same Syracuse University school/college (or comparable school/college, if the first degree was earned elsewhere), due to the significant overlap of degree requirements. Approval for admission to a second B.S. degree program requires a significant difference in overall degree requirements between the two degree programs. Students who meet these criteria must also meet all admissions requirements of the program to which they apply. Students whose first degree was earned at Syracuse University must file an Application for Readmission, available from the admitting school/college office. Students with first degrees from other institutions follow the normal admission application procedure.

Students wishing to complete a second undergraduate degree must earn a minimum of 30 credits beyond the total credits required for the first Undergraduate degree. These additional credits must be Syracuse University credit, as defined under the Residency Requirement. Transfer and other credit may be accepted only in excess of the required Syracuse University credits for the second undergraduate degree.

At the time of matriculation in the second undergraduate degree, any courses previously taken as a non-matriculated student at Syracuse University will be entered on the undergraduate record if they do not already appear there. This coursework will calculate toward credit hour and grade point totals on the undergraduate record.

The official Syracuse University transcript record for students with a prior Syracuse University undergraduate degree is cumulative, i.e., courses and grades for all undergraduate work, regardless of the degree program to which they apply, appear on one transcript with cumulative totals. The home school/college for the second undergraduate degree manually maintains and monitors the record of work related to the second degree. Calculations for satisfactory academic performance, honors, etc., are derived from the school/college or departmental records and may not be reflected on the official transcript.

Students with a bachelor’s degree should contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss available forms of aid for a second undergraduate degree.

16.3 Undergraduate Certificate Programs

A matriculated student who is studying for a certificate must satisfactorily complete a program of study of not less than 12 credits that is approved by the academic unit and by NYSED.

16.4 Degree Certification

All students must complete the minimum number of credits required for their degree or certificate.  Undergraduate students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or better to qualify for graduation.  Graduate students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.800 overall, with 3.000 in their program requirements, to qualify for graduation.  The student’s school/college/graduate department may have additional degree specific requirements. School/college/graduate department officials provide certification to the Registrar’s Office that degree and certificate requirements have been met; this process generally takes four to six weeks after degree requirements have been satisfied. 

Students must apply for graduation through File Diploma in MySlice.  For the degree award date in May, students must apply for graduation in My Slice by March 1st.  For all other degree award dates (June/July, August, and December), students must apply no later than the beginning of their last semester of study. 

Students must have all requirements for the degree or certificate program completed and submitted before the degree date for which they have indicated they will graduate. No degrees will be certified with missing grades, incomplete/incomplete default grades, V grades or NG grades or outstanding holds designated as “Cannot be Certified”. If requirements are completed and/or submitted after the degree date, conferral of that degree or certificate will move to the next degree date. Degrees are not awarded retroactively. Degree award dates fall in May, June/July (depending on Summer Session I end date), August, and December. Degree award dates are published on the Registrar’s Office website each academic year. Schools and colleges may establish earlier deadlines.

It is the student’s responsibility to know and fulfill all degree requirements for graduation. Participation in convocation and commencement ceremonies does not indicate that degree requirements have been completed. Students who are suspended, dismissed or on a leave of absence may not participate in convocation and commencement ceremonies.

16.5 Diplomas and Certificates

Students must file a diploma request through My Slice no later than the beginning of their last semester of study.  Failure to apply for the diploma may postpone the student’s graduation.

Diplomas are ordered after program completion has been certified by schools/colleges and posted by the Registrar’s Office. Students will receive their diplomas/certificates four to six weeks after the certification/posting process has been completed. Diplomas are issued once. Diplomas can be reissued if lost or damaged. Syracuse University reserves the right to withhold diplomas/certificates from students with unsatisfied financial obligations to the University, or at the request of the Office of Community Standards, or the Center for Learning and Student Success.

Undergraduate diplomas:

• display the degree title;
• display University honors and “Renée Crown University Honors,” when awarded;
• do not list major or minor; and
• are signed by the Chancellor and the Dean(s) of the student’s school(s)/college(s)

Undergraduate Certificates:

• display the certificate title;
• list the area of study; and
• are signed by the Chancellor and the Dean of the school/college that awards the certificate.

17.0 Majors

A major consists of a minimum number of credit hours of courses in a formally approved program of study. The purpose of the major is to provide depth of knowledge and competence in a subject area of special interest. A student must declare a major and complete all requirements of the major in order to earn a Syracuse University degree.

Rules regarding the declaration of major are specific to each school/college and are detailed below in the Majors School/College Rules table. Undeclared students must apply for and be accepted into a major no later than the beginning of the semester in which they attain junior standing. Failure to do so will prevent registration for future semesters.

For the following schools/colleges, the indication of intended major on the application for admission and/or intra-University transfer is unofficial.

18.0 Minors

Minors provide a systematic opportunity to focus on an area of interest. Minors may be required as part of a degree program, or they may be selected voluntarily. Because of limited space in high-demand courses, admission to some minors may be restricted. The proportion of liberal arts and sciences courses required for the degree must be maintained, and minors that are too closely related to your major or certificate will not be approved. Minors require a minimum of 18 credit hours, 12 of which must be in 300- to 400-level coursework. No courses may be taken as pass/fail. Minors must be declared no later than the first semester of the senior year unless otherwise restricted by school or college shown in the table below. The declared minor must be completed by the time the degree requirements are completed. If they are not the minor will be removed and the degree awarded without the minor.

The department or school/college offering the minor determines the requirements, and any exception to the minor requirements must be granted by petition by the minor department and approved by the home college.  Once the student’s school/college has certified completion of both the degree and minor, the minor will appear on the official transcript.