Graduate Registration Requirements and Procedures

Academic Calendar and Course Scheduling

Campus-Based

The academic calendar includes the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The fall semester begins one or two weeks prior to Labor Day weekend and ends 16 weeks later. Classes are held on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend, but classes are canceled for the Labor Day holiday. A Fall Break is scheduled for mid-October (Columbus Day weekend) and runs from Saturday through Tuesday of that weekend. Thanksgiving break begins after classes end on the Tuesday prior to the holiday, and classes resume the following Monday. Commencement is scheduled for the Saturday after exams have been administered.

The spring semester begins on the second Monday of January. Spring Break is scheduled for the eighth week after the start of classes, running Monday through Sunday. Classes resume the following Monday and continue through Friday of the 15th week of the semester. Commencement is scheduled for Friday and Saturday after exams have been administered.

The summer semester begins the Monday after Spring Commencement; it has no commencement ceremony of its own.

ODUGlobal

Courses are offered on six 8-week terms each year: two in fall, two in spring, and two in summer. The start date of each first 8-week term aligns with the campus-based academic calendar. Please visit the academic calendar for more information.

Authorization to Enroll in Graduate Courses

Degree Seeking Students

All students who have been admitted in regular or provisional status to graduate degree programs must have the advisor block updated prior to registration each semester. Students should consult with their advisors to discuss their program of study and to schedule appropriate courses in advance of registration whenever possible.

Nondegree Seeking Students

Nondegree graduate students should seek advice from the department/school offering the course, or if registering for engineering or business courses, obtain permission of the department/school.

All nondegree graduate students who have completed six credit hours of graduate courses will receive an “advisory” notice upon attempting to register for additional graduate courses. This notice will advise the student to contact the Graduate School to obtain counseling and recommendations. This “advisory” notice will not prevent registration.

All nondegree graduate students who have completed or will exceed 12 credit hours will be blocked from registering or attempting to register for additional graduate courses. To remove this registration block, a student must contact the Graduate School for advice on gaining admission into a graduate program or to receive written permission to take additional hours as a nondegree student.

Students taking graduate courses for licensure, certification or professional development (e.g., Virginia Department of Education “endorsements”) will not receive the advisory notice and will be exempt from the registration block. Contact the department offering the program for specific registration information and procedures.

Students should consult the Registrar’s Office website at http://www.odu.edu/registrar each semester for the most current advising and registration policies.

Audit Status

The audit grading status is available for students who would like to enroll in a course for the knowledge gained or personal satisfaction, not for academic credit. Any course that is elected to be carried as an audit will be subject to the normal fees and regulations of the University. Regular attendance is expected, but neither tests nor examinations are required. No grade will be recorded, except that an instructor may assign a grade of "W&" to a student who misses an appreciable portion of the classes. The student’s record will be marked “audit” by the course so elected. A student may not audit a course and subsequently seek advanced placement credit for the same course. A student may audit a course and register for the same course for credit in a subsequent semester. Registration for the audit option must be selected by the end of the drop/add period in the given semester. Any course elected for audit cannot be changed to that of credit status after the end of the “add” registration period. Students receiving financial aid should be aware that registering for audit status may affect their financial aid eligibility. Selection of the audit status is accomplished through the normal registration procedures.

Graduate Numbering (Graduate Level)

Courses at the 500, 600, 700, and 800 levels are generally for graduate credit.

Courses at the 500 level are cross-listed to undergraduate 400-level courses, with additional work and higher-level outcomes required for 500-level courses.  Except in cases where topical content changes by each semester, cross-listed courses taken previously at the 400 level may not be retaken at the 500 level.  A limited number of 500-level courses may be used to satisfy the requirements for a master's degree, education specialist degree, or a doctoral degree.

Courses at the 600 level form the core of master's programs, including those taken in connection with a thesis, and they are not cross-listed with numbers at other levels.  A limited number of 600-level courses may be used to satisfy requirements for an education specialist degree or a doctoral degree.

700- and 800-level courses are generally, but not always, cross-listed.  700-level courses are generally reserved for master's students and 800-level courses for doctoral students.  When 700- and 800-level courses are cross-listed, additional work and higher-level outcomes are required for 800-level courses.  Except in cases where topical content changes, cross-listed courses taken previously at the 700 level may not be retaken at the 800 level.  A limited number of 700-level courses may be used to satisfy the requirements for a doctoral degree.

Course numbers ending in "29" at all levels are reserved for courses taken through the Virginia Tidewater Consortium Exchange Program.

Cooperative Education course numbers are generally 667 and 867.

Internship course numbers are generally 668 and 868.

Practicum course numbers are generally 669 and 869.

Seminar, Colloquium, and Capstone course numbers include 690, 691, 692, 693, 790, 791, 792, 793, 890, 891, 892, and 893.

Topics course numbers include 595, 596, 695, 696, 795, 796, 895, and 896. These numbers are generally to be used to designate topics courses taught as a class. The course title should be modified to include the particular topic for that semester when the course is scheduled. If a particular topic is offered more than three times, it should be submitted for approval as a regular course offering and assigned a course number.

Individual and Tutorial course numbers include 597, 697, 797, and 897. These numbers are generally to be used to designate courses involving individual or tutorial study within a discipline. These individually arranged courses will require prior approval by the department chair and/or instructor.

Research/Project course numbers are generally 698 for the master’s level and 898 for the doctoral level.

The Thesis course number is 699 and is reserved for the master’s thesis.

The Dissertation course number is 899 and is reserved for doctoral dissertation courses.

The Continuous Enrollment course number 999 is available for the purpose of maintaining active status at the doctoral level. This may be a discipline-specific 999 course or GRAD 999.

The Continuous Enrollment course number 998 is available for the purpose of maintaining active status at the master's level.  This may be a discipline-specific 998 course or GRAD 998.

Grading

System of Grading

Grade	Grade Points	Undergraduate	Graduate
A	4.00	Superior	Excellent
A-	3.70	Superior	Excellent
B+	3.30	Good	Good
B	3.00	Good	Good
B-	2.70	Good	Fair
C+	2.30	Satisfactory	Poor
C	2.00	Satisfactory	Poor
C-	1.70	Passing	Poor
D+	1.30	Passing	Not Used
D	1.00	Passing	Not Used
D-	0.70	Passing	Not Used
F	0.00	Failing	Unsatisfactory
WF	0.00	Unofficial Withdrawal	Unofficial Withdrawal
P	None	Pass	Pass
F (P/F)	None	Fail	Fail
O	None	Audit	Audit
I	None	Incomplete	Incomplete
II	None	Not Used	Incomplete not Subject to Time Limit
W	None	Official Withdrawal	Official Withdrawal
Q	None	Progress but not Proficiency	Not used
Z	None	No Grade Reported	No Grade Reported

The use of plus and minus grades is at the discretion of the instructor.

The grade point average is calculated by dividing the accumulated number of grade points earned by the accumulated number of credit hours attempted. Grades of F and WF and repeats are included, but official withdrawals, audits, and grades on noncredit courses and pass/fail degree courses are not included.  All undergraduate-level courses, including courses taken as a non-degree seeking student and courses taken after graduation, will be included in calculating the undergraduate cumulative grade point average. All graduate-level courses, including courses taken as a non-degree seeking student and courses taken after graduation, will be included in calculating the graduate cumulative grade point average.

For completion of an undergraduate degree or certificate, a student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of C (grade point average of 2.00) in all courses taken and a grade point average of at least 2.00 in the major except for those degree programs or certificate programs requiring grade point averages above a 2.00.

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 is required for the award of a graduate degree or certificate.

Grades in courses accepted for transfer credit are not counted in the computation of grade point averages.

Grades are available to students through the secure website. Grades are mailed to students only if a written request is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar.

WF and W Grades. The grades of WF and W indicate withdrawal from a course only under those conditions described in the sections entitled Class Schedule Change Procedure and Grading Policy for Withdrawal From Classes.

Incomplete Grades. A grade of I indicates assigned work yet to be completed in a given course or absence from the final examination and is assigned only upon instructor approval of a student request. The I grade may be awarded only in exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control, such as illness, and only after 80% of the time allocated for the course has elapsed and substantial progress has been made toward completion of course requirements with the exception of courses that do not fit within the traditional semester calendar.

In cases of exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control, it is the responsibility of the student to approach the instructor to request an I grade and to provide documentation, including a written statement of when the work will be completed, to support the request. The authority to award an I grade rests with the instructor whose decision is final. Students whose requests for I grades are approved must not re-register for the class until the I grade has been resolved. The I grade becomes an F if not removed when grades are due the following term.

When there is an existing incomplete grade and the instructor who assigned the incomplete has left the university or is no longer available, the chair of the department or the program director will be responsible for making sure that the completed work is graded, and a final grade is submitted.

An I grade may be changed to a W only in very unusual circumstances and when the student’s situation has changed since the I grade was awarded. In these cases, the request for a change to a W must be in writing, documented, and approved by the instructor, department chair and dean. Students will not be allowed to graduate until all grades of I have been resolved.

In the case of courses that do not fit within the traditional semester calendar, the faculty member assigns the I grade. The time periods for the removal of I grades before they become grades of F are the same as those stated in the previous paragraph.

Extension of the I time limitation normally will not be approved except for reasons beyond the student’s control and only if the supervising faculty member is available and willing to supervise the work beyond the normal time limit. Students should submit the request to the instructor, who should submit approval, via the chair, to the University Registrar in order to retain the I. The approval from the instructor should designate the expiration date of the extension.

A grade of II indicates incomplete work not subject to the time limits described above for I grades. The II grade can be used only in those courses directly related to the research for and preparation of the graduate thesis/dissertation.

Z Grades. A grade of Z indicates that no grade has been reported by the instructor and will convert to a grade of F if not removed when grades are due the following term. Students will not be allowed to graduate until all grades of Z have been resolved.

Interim Academic Evaluation

Faculty teaching 100- and 200-level undergraduate courses will provide specific feedback regarding progress in the course in the fifth week of the semester in the fall and spring semesters. Providing timely information to students on graded work makes students aware of their performance so they can determine whether to seek additional help from the faculty member, tutoring services when available, their academic advisor, and/or withdraw from the course prior to the established deadline for withdrawal.

Mid-Semester Feedback

The University believes that regular assessment of students and feedback to them is essential to effective teaching and learning. Therefore, faculty members will provide all students with evaluation of their progress in a course prior to midsemester (or equivalent in a nonsemester course) so that students have information about their progress before the withdrawal deadline, which is the end of the tenth week of classes.

Registration

There are several registration options available to students: registration via the web at my.odu.edu, in-person on-campus registration, and off-campus registration.

Eligible students are encouraged to preregister in order to improve the likelihood of obtaining satisfactory schedules of classes. Preregistration is reserved for currently enrolled degree-seeking students. Eligible students will be assigned a “time ticket” four to six weeks prior to preregistration. Open registration begins immediately following the preregistration period.

Complete registration information, important deadlines, and the final examination schedule can be found at www.odu.edu/registrar. The course schedule is available at www.leoonline.odu.edu by March for fall semester classes, by October for spring semester classes, and by November for summer semester classes.

Priority Preregistration for Active Duty, Veterans, Reservists and Virginia National Guard Service Members

Code of Virginia § 23.1-904 (C) states that:

The governing board of each public institution of higher education shall, in accordance with guidelines developed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, implement policies that recognize the scheduling difficulties and obligations encountered by active-duty members of the United States armed forces.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in consultation with the Military Education Advisory Committee (MEAC) has issued guidelines that require state colleges and universities to establish course registration policies that provide reasonable accommodation to students who are active-duty military members, veterans, reservists and Virginia National Guard members. The policy can be found at the following link: https://www.odu.edu/about/policiesandprocedures/bov/board-of-visitors-policy-1418.

Staff in the Office of the University Registrar, Military Connections Center, and the Office of Admissions will be trained to communicate the policy to students who may be qualified for this benefit.

Dropping, Adding, and Withdrawing From Classes

See the academic calendar in this Catalog or the Registrar’s Office website at http://www.odu.edu/registrar for deadlines for adding or dropping classes. For information regarding the refund schedule, see the chapter on Financial Information or go to the Office of Finance’s web page at http://www.odu.edu/finance.

Class Schedule Changes and Drop/Add Procedures

During the fall, spring and summer semesters, students may add and drop classes within the first 10 calendar days after the first day of classes for the semester (for full semester classes). Please refer to www.odu.edu/registrar and click on the link to “Academic Calendar” for the dates to drop classes in courses not spanning the full semester.

Once registered, a student must drop or add classes via the secure website at https://portal.odu.edu, click LEO online or submit a completed drop/add form to the Office of the University Registrar. The date the form is received in the Office of the University Registrar or processed via LEO determines tuition adjustments, if applicable. If needed, drop/add forms can be downloaded from the Registrar’s Office website: http://odu.edu/registrar/forms and submitted electronically to register@odu.edu.

First-year students are strongly encouraged to seek advising before dropping or adding any class. Students enrolled in degree programs in which sequencing is critical are urged to consult their academic advisors before scheduling changes. In such programs, dropping of courses without prior consultation with academic advisors may necessitate additional time to complete University and/or departmental degree requirements.

See the academic calendar in this Catalog or at https://www.odu.edu/academics/calendar and click on the link to “calendars” for the dates for adding or dropping classes. For information regarding the refund schedule, see the chapter on Tuition, Fees and Financial Information or go to the Office of Finance’s web page at www.odu.edu/finance. There may also be financial aid implications to dropping or withdrawing from a course. For more information about how financial aid could be impacted, seek advice from a financial aid advisor or visit the Office of Financial Aid website at www.odu.edu/finaidoffice/manage/dropping-a-class.

ODU does not automatically drop or withdraw students from classes for failure to attend or failure to pay tuition.  The student must initiate the process to withdraw from classes.

Withdrawal From Classes or From the University

Policy for Dropping and Withdrawing From Classes

Dropping Classes

Prior to the start of and during the first 10 calendar days of the semester, a student may drop a course; during this period no grade will be assigned and no record of the course will be entered on the student’s permanent academic record. Please refer to www.odu.edu/registrar and click on the link to “Academic Calendar” for the dates to drop classes in courses not spanning the full semester.

Withdrawal from Classes

After the first 10 calendar days of the semester, a student may withdraw from any course through the end of the twelfth week of classes of a regular semester not including the exam period.  For all other non-standard semester courses (i.e., Summer Sessions, Maymester, Winter Session, or eight-week sessions), a student may withdraw after the drop/add period through the day prior to the last day of classes for that session.  A grade of W will be assigned during this period.  However, some degree programs have withdrawal, continuance and progression policies that supersede this policy because of the nature of the professional standards and practices underlying the specific curriculum.  Students should consult with their advisor or student success coach (for online students) to determine if there are more stringent requirements for withdrawing from courses in specific majors.

Withdrawal from a course after the twelfth week of a regular session (or its equivalent in a non-­semester course) is usually not permitted. However, in the event of an illness or other severe hardship beyond the student's control, the student should submit, no later than the last day of classes, a written petition for permission to withdraw to the instructor. If permission is granted, a grade of W will be recorded. If permission is not granted, the student will not be allowed to withdraw from the course. Any appeal of decisions should be brought to the department chair.

Please refer to www.odu.edu/registrar and click on the link to “Academic Calendar” for the dates to withdraw from classes in courses not spanning the full semester. Information on tuition refunds can be found on the Office of Finance website at https://www.odu.edu/tuition/refunds.

Students are encouraged to contact their instructor, advisor, and Student Success Director (for online students) to discuss the implications of withdrawing. Prior to withdrawing from any course, students receiving financial aid should consult their financial aid counselor. Course withdrawal may adversely impact satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes and limit the student's ability to continue receiving financial aid.

Withdrawal from a course after the last day of classes of a regular semester (or after the day prior to the last day of classes for non-semester courses) is not permitted.

Students who have a financial hold on their record are not able to withdraw from classes online.  However, they may withdraw by the published deadline at the Registrar’s Office between 8:00 a.m. and  5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday or by email to register@odu.edu.  The office is located at 1009 Rollins Hall.

A student who stops attending classes without withdrawing from the course will receive a grade of WF, except if the student’s performance was an F at the time the student stopped attending class, in which case a grade of F will be assigned. The grade of WF will carry no grade points, and will be computed in the grade point average as a grade of F.

ODU does not automatically drop or withdraw students from classes for failure to attend or failure to pay tuition.  The student must initiate the process to withdraw from classes and file a Tuition Appeal if applicable.  Tuition Appeal forms and full details are available from the Office of Finance web site: https://www.odu.edu/tuition/refunds/appeals.

Drop and Withdrawal Deadlines

Specific deadline dates for dropping and withdrawing from classes can be found on the Academic Calendar at https://odu.edu/academics/calendar.

Administrative Withdrawal From the University

During the course of any semester, there will be situations, such as severe illness, death in the immediate family, or disciplinary actions, which will require that the University initiate an administrative withdrawal from the University to assist a student or to implement a University-imposed sanction. The following procedures will be used.

1. The request for withdrawal is initiated either by the student because of an extenuating personal situation or by the University because of a disciplinary situation.
2. This action will normally be handled by the Vice President for Student and Campus Life or designee. If the student initiates the withdrawal, the Office of the Vice President for Student and Campus Life will determine what verification is necessary and document the situation.
3. A request will be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar to withdraw the student from all classes.
4. The student’s instructors will be notified. If the student is withdrawing after the last day of classes, part of this notification will include the opportunity for the faculty member to raise objections if the student’s classroom performance is such that a withdrawal (W) would not be appropriate. If a faculty member objects, the faculty member will inform the University Registrar and the original grade assigned by the faculty member will stand.
5. The request for withdrawal must be initiated by the student within one calendar year counting from the first day of classes of the term for which administrative withdrawal is sought. Requests for withdrawal that have the necessary documentation but are received after the one-year deadline may be reviewed by an appeals committee consisting of at least three members and including both faculty and administrators, to be convened by the Dean of Students. These requests must include clear and compelling reasons for not submitting the request within one calendar year.
6. Tuition refund appeals are handled separately and must be submitted to the Office of Finance. Students submitting requests after the one-year deadline are not eligible for a tuition appeal.
7. Students receiving financial aid should consult their financial aid counselor prior to submitting a tuition refund appeal.

Any exceptions for undergraduate students must be approved by the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs or designee.  Exceptions for graduate students must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Sudden Withdrawal and Prolonged Absence Due to Military Mobilization

Guidelines are provided for students whose service in the armed forces of the United States has required their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from enrollment at Old Dominion University. The policy can be found at the following link:

https://www.odu.edu/about/policiesandprocedures/bov/board-of-visitors-policy-1416

Guidelines and Procedures for Grade Adjustments for Nonacademic Reasons

1. Students are responsible for notifying the faculty member of errors in the assignment of grades (e.g., a C received instead of an A) immediately upon receipt of the grade. If confirmed, the instructor will submit a grade change using the “Report a Change of Grade” link in the Faculty & Advisors menu in Leo Online. If the grade is older than two semesters or has previously been changed, the instructor should complete the electronic Grade Change Form available via the MyODU portal. Once submitted, the grade change request is forwarded to the chair or program director for consideration. If the chair or program director approves, the form will be signed electronically and forwarded to the Office of the University Registrar for processing.  If the chair or program director does not approve, they should notify the instructor of the reasons for denial.
   
   When a grade change is needed and the instructor who assigned the grade has left the university or is no longer available, the student should contact the chair of the department or program director who will be responsible for verifying the change and submitting the electronic Grade Change Form to the Office of the University Registrar.
   
   Students are responsible for notifying the Office of the University Registrar of administrative errors immediately upon receipt of the grade.
    
2. Students are notified via email when a change of grade is processed by the Office of the University Registrar.

Grade Appeals: Appealing Final Course Grades

I.  Purpose

The grade appeal procedure serves graduate and undergraduate students who believe that they were awarded a final course grade unjustly by a faculty member acting prejudicially or capriciously. This policy applies to the final grade for the award of academic credit and does not apply to graduate and undergraduate examinations that are administered as part of the degree progression and certification processes (such as comprehensive examinations and candidacy examinations at the graduate level). This policy does not apply to final MD program course grades, which are governed by the School of Medicine policies.

II.  Expectations

Students must initiate the appeal within 45 days of the official end of the term in which the grade was awarded. For grades awarded and appealed from the fall and summer terms, the entire appeal process must be completed before the official end of the next term; the entire appeal process for grades awarded and appealed from the spring term must be completed before the official end of the next fall term. At all stages of the grade appeal processes outlined below, the instructor of record (hereafter, “instructor”) and the student shall be notified of any actions recommended or taken by the chair/director, the Grade Appeal Review Committee, the dean, and the appropriate executive vice president (EVP).

III.  Appeal Procedures

A.  Informal Resolution

Prior to initiating a formal appeal, the student must attempt to consult with the instructor to request an explanation of the method of evaluation and to determine whether an error has been made. Efforts to consult with the instructor must be documented by the student. The outcome of the meeting must be documented by the faculty member. The appeal process will end if both the student and the instructor agree on the assigned grade. For all other stages in the appeals process, see below.

B.  Formal Resolution: Step 1

1.  If the student is not satisfied with the results of the consultation with the instructor or the instructor is not available, then the student may submit a grade appeal to the chair/director of the department/school/program in which the instructor is teaching. The chair/director will conduct the first review of the student’s appeal unless the instructor is the chair/director. The student’s case must be presented on the Grade Appeal Form with supporting documents/explanations to the instructor’s chair/director within 14 days of the consultation with the instructor. If the instructor is the chair/director, the student will submit the Grade Appeal Form and documents to the dean (or designated associate dean), who will conduct the first review. If the instructor is a dean or EVP, the student will submit the Grade Appeal Form and documents to the chair/director of the department/school/program in which the dean or EVP is teaching the course.

2.  The student’s Grade Appeal Form should (1) state specific reasons and give examples of faculty prejudice or caprice, (2) show that prejudice or caprice affected the awarding of the final course grade, and (3) be presented as a complete package and include all other supporting documentation.

3.  The chair/director shall notify the instructor of the appeal and provide them with copies of the form and other documents that were submitted. The chair/director shall also request a response from the instructor that should include, at least, the course syllabus, grade distribution for the course, attendance policy, the grading plan for the course, and other grading rubrics.

4.  The chair/director shall review all documents and may hold a hearing where both the instructor and student are present. No other persons will attend the hearing, and the hearing must be recorded.

5.  If the chair/director concludes that there is no cause for complaint, the student and the instructor will be notified in writing of the decision within seven days of receipt of the request for an appeal and the supporting documents. The student may request a second review of the appeal.

C.  Formal Resolution: Step 2

1.  If the student requests a second review, the chair/director will notify the college/school Grade Appeal Review Committee of the need for a review and submit all documents to the committee. The instructor and the student will be notified of this action.

2.  The chair/director will ask the Grade Appeal Review Committee to select the reviewers within five working days.

3.  The faculty and the student who form the Grade Appeal Review Committee will notify the instructor and the student involved in the appeal when the review will take place and request the needed documents.

4.  The Grade Appeal Review Committee will review the documents, consult with relevant parties as needed, and determine if there is sufficient evidence in the documents to support the student’s appeal or if more information is needed, in which case a hearing with the student and instructor may be held. The review and hearing must be scheduled within 15 working days of the committee receiving the materials.

5.  If the instructor is the chair/director of the department/school/program, the student will submit the Grade Appeal Form and documents to the dean (or designated associate dean), who will conduct the first review. 

6.  If the instructor is a dean or EVP, the student will submit the Grade Appeal Form and documents to the chair/director of the department/school/program in which the dean or EVP is teaching the course.

D.  Decision and Action

1.  Findings of the Grade Appeal Review Committee will be submitted to the chair/director and dean. The decision and rationale must be provided in writing to the instructor. The outcome of the committee’s review will be documented and communicated to the instructor, the student, the chair/director, and the dean.

2.  If the Grade Appeal Review Committee finds on behalf of the instructor, the original grade will stand, and the instructor and the student will be notified.

3.  If the committee finds that there is sufficient evidence that the grade was awarded with prejudice or caprice, the chair/director will consult with the instructor to suggest a grade change and provide a rationale for that decision. In the event of an instructor’s refusal to accept the recommendation of the committee or the chair/director’s recommendation, the dean will make a recommendation to the appropriate EVP to award the recommended grade. The appropriate EVP will submit the recommended grade change to the University Registrar. Only the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs or the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences is authorized to change an instructor’s grade. The instructor, chair/director, student, and dean will be notified. This decision will be final.

4.  If the instructor is unavailable due to death, serious illness, or any other cause that prevents participation in the appeal process, the dean will consult with the chair/director and will make a recommendation to the appropriate EVP to award the grade recommended by the committee. This decision will be final.

IV.  Grade Appeal Review Committee

A.  Committee Composition and Duties

1.  Each college/school will create a Grade Appeal Review Committee that has one representative from each department/school/program in the college/school and a list of potential student members. If an appeal is heard, the dean will select two faculty members and one student from these lists.

2.  Representatives must be full-time faculty in an academic department/school/program elected by the department/school/program faculty. No administrator may serve on a Grade Appeal Review Committee. Chief departmental advisors or graduate program directors shall not be eligible to serve on the committee involving students from programs they serve.

3.  Terms of service will be for two years. Members may be re-elected for an additional two-year term.

4.  At the beginning of each academic year, each department/school/program in the college/school will submit a list of full-time students eligible and willing to serve on the committee. This list will be formulated each year. When needed, one student will serve on a review committee.

5.  The committee will select its own chair.

6.  Two faculty members and one student selected from the names submitted by each department/school/program will review the appeal, including documents from the student filing the appeal and the instructor of record. Neither the faculty members nor the student member shall be from the instructor’s or the student’s department/school/program.

7.  Both the instructor and the student will have the right to challenge, for valid cause, any or all the members of the committee, and in that event, replacements will be appointed, and no further challenge will be permitted.

V.  Instructors' Responsibilities and Rights

A.  The following are guides for the instructor’s responsibilities and rights.

1.  Instructors have a duty to meet with students to explain the course grading procedure and the process for determining the final grade.

2.  When requested, instructors must provide the documents requested for review at all levels. These documents will include at least the course syllabus, grade distribution, attendance policy, and grading procedures for course tasks with rubrics. Other documents may be included or requested.

3.  Instructors must participate in a grade appeal.

4.  No instructor shall be forced or coerced into making a grade change.

5.  If a finding of prejudice or caprice is determined, the dean may seek further action. 

VI.  Procedures for Hearings

A hearing involving the faculty member and the student may be held at any level of appeal.

A.  After the Grade Appeal Review Committee reviews the appeal form and supporting documents and the instructor’s documents, a hearing may be held to clarify issues and/or to receive further evidence. Both the student and the instructor may submit additional materials at the hearing.

B.  Hearings may be held at any level only when the instructor and the student can participate. No other persons may attend this hearing without the approval of the Grade Appeal Review Committee.

C.  The conclusions, decision(s), and a rationale for these must be disseminated in writing to the instructor and to the student.

VII.  Records

A.  All Grade Appeal Review Committee hearings will be recorded. 

B.  All documentation of the grade appeal process, including recordings, will be kept in a secure location in the dean’s office for a minimum of one year.

Transcripts

Transcripts are provided by the Office of the University Registrar and are issued only as requested through LEO Online. Official electronic transcripts (PDF) can be ordered through Parchment, the University's electronic transcript service provider. Transcripts should be requested at least five business days before the date needed to allow for processing and delivery. Students picking up transcripts must present valid identification. Students may access and print unofficial transcripts for personal use through LEO Online at no charge.

All grades, academic standing, degrees awarded, and degree honors are included on the transcript. Recent graduates that need to show proof of the degree earned should confirm that the graduation status in Leo Online shows "Awarded" prior to ordering a transcript.

An official transcript carries the University Seal and an authorized signature. Official transcripts are usually mailed directly to educational institutions, employers, etc. Any transcript mailed to or given directly to a student will be marked, “Issued to Student.” Partial transcripts are not issued; each transcript must include the student’s complete record at Old Dominion University. A transcript of work completed at any high school or at any college other than Old Dominion University must be obtained directly from that institution.

Graduation Information

All students must apply for graduation during the semester prior to the expected completion of degree requirements. The deadline to file the intent to graduate is generally the last day of November, February, and June for the following semester. Specific deadlines are published on the Registrar’s Office website, http://www.odu.edu/registrar.

Students can view their application and degree status in LEO Online, via https://my.odu.edu. Once the application has been processed, the student’s graduation status appears as “pending.” The status changes to “awarded” once the degree is conferred. Awarded status may take up to four weeks following the published degree conferral date.

Applications, complete instructions, and deadlines regarding graduation are available on the Registrar’s Office website at http://www.odu.edu/registrar. A separate application for each degree is required if the student is pursuing more than one degree.

Students who do not complete degree requirements as expected must reapply for the next graduation date.

Application for Graduation for Graduate Students

Graduate students should apply online at https://my.odu.edu. Graduation staff members will coordinate the evaluation process with the appropriate graduate program advisor.

All outstanding work and incomplete or unreported grades must be completed or resolved before the degree will be conferred. Master’s level and doctoral students must have submitted the thesis (if required) or dissertation to the Registrar’s Office no later than the Friday one week before commencement as well as evidence of successful completion of oral, written or other degree requirements. Graduate students should confer with the graduate program director and review materials available on The Graduate School's website for complete information (http://www.odu.edu/graduateschool).

Commencement

Commencement exercises are intended for students who are eligible and reasonably expect to complete degree requirements to graduate from the University within the current or following graduation period.

Commencement ceremonies are managed through the Commencement Office. Information about requirements for participation in commencement ceremonies is available at https://www.odu.edu/commencement. To be eligible to participate in ceremonies, candidates must indicate their intent when they apply for graduation; any change, including changes to graduation dates, must be communicated to the Commencement Office.

May commencement ceremonies are intended for candidates graduating in May and students who expect to complete studies in August. December commencement ceremonies are intended for candidates graduating in December and students who completed studies the preceding August.

Students who expect to attend commencement ceremonies must have applied for graduation. Tickets will not be provided by the Commencement Office to students that have not applied. Participation in commencement ceremonies does not confirm that a degree has been (or will be) conferred. Degree conferral may take four to six weeks from the date of the commencement ceremony. With the exception of doctoral degrees, diplomas are not distributed at commencement.

Diplomas

Diplomas are mailed to the student's permanent address in Banner approximately 6-8 weeks after graduation. Students should verify address information in LEO when applying for graduation. 

The student’s legal name (as maintained in the official student record), the degree title (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc.,) and the major appear on the diploma. The minor will not appear on the diploma but will appear on the transcript.