t h e u n i v e r s i t yAcademic Policies and Procedures
Introduction
This section presents general information about what is expected of students and how progress toward matriculation is measured. For specific details on individual degree programs, students should consult their academic advisers.
The University assumes no liability for any delay in providing or failing to provide educational or related services or facilities due to causes beyond the reasonable control of the University. Causes include, but are not limited to, power failure, fire, strikes by University employees or others, weather damage, and acts of public authorities. However, when in its judgment it is appropriate to do so, the University will exert reasonable efforts to provide comparable or substantially equivalent services, facilities, or performance; but its inability or failure to do so shall not subject it to liability.
No faculty member, administrator, or other representative of the University shall make any representations to, or enter into any agreements with, or act toward any student or other person in any manner that is not in conformity with established University policies, practices, and procedures as expressed in this or any other official University document.
Attendance Requirements
The University expects students to meet attendance requirements in all courses to qualify for credit. Attendance requirements vary; it is the studentÕs responsibility to ascertain what each instructor requires.
Failure to meet attendance requirements may force a student to drop the course, as recommended by the instructor and with the approval of the Academic Standing Committee of the college.
Classes for day students are scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 5:10 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students should not make conflicting commitments until the class schedules for each quarter are final. Schedule changes to accommodate part-time work are difficult and rarely made.
Permission to make up work may be granted by instructors for reasonable cause. Requests must be made immediately upon a studentÕs return to class. Laboratory work can be made up only during the hours of regularly scheduled instruction.
Absence because of student activities. If students must miss classes to participate in athletic contests or other forms of scheduled intercollegiate activity, they are entitled to make-up privileges. Faculty members may require a written statement from the administrator in charge of the activity.
Absence because of illness. A student who is absent from school for an extended period of time must inform his or her college by letter, message, or telephone.
Absence because of religious beliefs. The University maintains the following guidelines regarding student absences because of religious beliefs. "Any student who is unable, because of his/her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement that he/she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such make-up examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of availing himself/herself of the provisions of this section" (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 151C, Section 2B, 1985).
Absence because of jury duty. Members of the University community are expected to fulfill their obligations to serve on a jury if called upon. A student selected for jury duty should inform his or her instructors and/or activity advisers. They will provide a reasonable substitute or compensatory opportunities for any required work missed. Absence will not be penalized in any way.
Class Schedules
All classes start promptly according to the class schedule shown. Students take classes grouped in sequences. Most of the classes at Northeastern are scheduled in the time periods listed during the fall, winter, and spring quarters.
Students may leave fifteen minutes past the scheduled opening of class if the instructor is not present. Students are expected to be punctual. Students who are late for classes should attend for the balance of the period. Instructors will not tolerate habitual tardiness.
Fall, Winter, and Spring Schedule
Sequence 1 MWTh 8:00Ð9:05 Sequence 2 MWTh 9:15Ð10:20 Sequence 3 MWTh 10:30Ð11:35 Sequence 4 MTTh 1:35Ð2:40 Sequence 5 MTTh 2:50Ð3:55 Sequence 6 MTTh 4:05Ð5:10 Sequence 7 TF
W8:00Ð9:05
1:35Ð2:40Sequence 8 TF
W9:15Ð10:20
2:50Ð3:55Sequence 9 TF
W10:30Ð11:35
4:05Ð5:10Sequence 10 TWF 11:45Ð12:50 Sequence A MW 8:00Ð9:40 Sequence B W
F1:45Ð3:25
8:00Ð9:40Sequence C MW 9:55Ð11:35 Sequence D TF 11:45Ð1:25 Sequence E TTh 1:45Ð3:25 Sequence F W
F3:30Ð5:10
9:55Ð11:35Sequence G TTh 3:30Ð5:10 Sequence H M
F3:30Ð5:10
1:45Ð3:25Sequence I M
W1:45Ð3:25
11:45Ð1:25Sequence J TTh 9:55Ð11:35 Sequence K TTh 8:00Ð9:40 Summer Schedule Sequence 1 MWTh 8:00Ð9:05 Sequence 2 MWTh 9:15Ð10:20 Sequence 3 MWTh 10:30Ð11:35 Sequence 4 MTh
W11:45Ð12:50
1:00Ð2:05Sequence 5 MTh
W1:00Ð2:05
2:15Ð3:20Sequence 6 MTh
W2:15Ð3:20
3:30Ð4:35Sequence A MW 8:00Ð9:40 Sequence B MW 9:55Ð11:35 Sequence C TTh 8:00Ð9:40 Sequence D TTh 9:55Ð11:35 Sequence F M
W1:45Ð3:25
2:15Ð3:55Sequence G TTh 11:45Ð1:25 Sequence H TTh 1:45Ð3:25 Sequence I TTh 3:30Ð5:10 Activities hours. Undergraduate activities hours are Monday and Thursday, 11:45 a.m.Ð1:25 p.m. during fall, winter, and spring quarters. Summer activities hours are Wednesday, 11:45 a.m.Ð12:50 p.m. No classes or other academic functions are held during these hours. Violations of this regulation should be reported to the Office of Student Affairs or to the Student Government Association.
Grading System
Grades are officially recorded by letters, evaluated as follows.
Grades Numerical
equivalentStatus A 4.000 Outstanding achievement AÐ 3.667 B+ 3.333 B 3.000 Good achievement BÐ 2.667 C+ 2.333 C 2.000 Satisfactory achievement CÐ 1.667 D+ 1.333 D 1.000 Poor achievement DÐ Ê.667 F Ê.000 I Incomplete in a letter-graded course S Satisfactory achievement in pass/fail course; counts toward degree requirements U Unsatisfactory achievement in pass/fail course X Incomplete in a pass/fail course NE Not enrolled. Did not attend after the date of record, the start of the second full week. IP Course in progress. Intended for courses such as Senior Thesis or a project that extends over several quarters. An IP can be replaced by a regular grade with a standard change-of-grade card. The time restrictions on the I grade do not apply to the IP grade. While unchanged, it is not included in computing the GPA. If never changed, the course does not count toward graduation requirements. An I, IP, or X grade shows that the student has not completed the course requirements. An average grade of D or less is not acceptable and will not allow a student to continue at Northeastern University. Individual faculty may choose not to use plus or minus designations. If faculty elect to use only whole letters, they must announce this to the class at the beginning of the quarter.
Pass/fail system. The individual schools and colleges state how and when the pass/fail system may be used. An outline of the general system follows.
- Any student not on academic probation may, beginning in quarter four, register for one pass/fail course per quarter if permission is granted by the college in which the student is enrolled and if the course is offered on a pass/fail basis. Freshmen and upperclass students may take one-quarter-hour courses in physical education on a pass/fail basis in any quarter. Enrollment in these courses does not prevent upperclass students from electing an additional four-quarter-hour course on a pass/fail basis.
- Pass/fail courses are normally restricted to electives outside the major field. The college faculty, however, may choose to adopt the pass/fail system of grading when it appears pedagogically sound for required courses within a program.
- Individual faculty members may decide whether any of their courses may be taken on the pass/fail system of grading, except when uniformity is necessary. In such cases, the department and/or college faculty offering the course determine whether the pass/fail system is used.
- Grades recorded on the basis of the pass/fail system do not figure in the computation of the quality-point average. Satisfactory completion of all courses taken on the pass/fail system is designated on the studentÕs permanent record by the letter S. Unsatisfactory work is designated by the letter U. Any unsatisfactory grade must be handled according to the existing policy of the college but must never be cleared through the election of the same course pass-fail, except when this system is the only one used by the college for grading the course.
- An incomplete in a course taken on a pass/fail basis is designated by the letter X on the permanent record and treated according to the normal procedure for incomplete grades.
- To use the pass/fail system students must meet all prerequisites for the course. They have until the end of the second week of the quarter to declare their intention to receive a pass/fail grade. This deadline may be extended to the end of the eighth week at the option of the instructor.
Clearing an I or changing other grades. An incomplete (I) grade may be reported by the instructor when a student has failed to complete a basic component of a required course, such as homework, a quiz or final examination, a term paper, or a laboratory project. Students can make up an I grade by satisfying the requirements of the instructor or, if the instructor is absent, the chair of the department. Be aware that instructorsÕ policies on the granting of incomplete grades may vary, and that the final decision on an incomplete grade is up to the instructor. The period for clearing an I grade and for changing a grade other than an I or failure (F or U) is restricted to one calendar year from the date it is first recorded on the student's permanent record.
Freshmen with multiple course deficiencies, including incomplete (I) grades, do not have a calendar yearÕs time to rectify the deficiencies.
Students who make up an I grade by taking a different course or repeating the same course will be given a new grade and will be billed accordingly.
To clear an I grade, a student must obtain a triplicate form on which the precise agreement for clearing an incomplete (I or X) grade is specified and which is signed by the student and the instructor. Forms are available in the department office. The student must make an appointment with the instructor to arrange for clearing the I grade. He or she must then complete the form, sign the agreement, and obtain the instructorÕs signature; leave a copy with the instructor, take one copy to the deanÕs office, and retain a copy as a personal receipt. Any exception to this policy on change of grades must be recommended by the Academic Standing Committee of the college in which the course was offered and must be forwarded in writing by the dean to the registrar for implementation. (This process must be completed within one calendar year from the end of the quarter in which the course was offered.)
Commencing with grades given in the fall quarter of 1986, the University policy has been that any grade outstanding for twelve or more months cannot be changed.
Credit hours. Course credit hours are assigned to a course based on the established educational standard that one credit hour is equal to approximately three hours of student learning time per week over a period of a quarter, semester, or term (usually one hour of lecture or discussion, plus two hours of individual study outside class). When much individual study is involved, as in directed study or certain graduate courses, each additional hour of credit should represent at least three hours of student work.
Make up of deficiencies or failures. Students can make up failures by repeating the same course in the full-time day program. Both grades remain on the transcript but only the new grade is used for calculation of quality-point average. With permission from their dean's office, students may substitute an appropriate different course taken in the full-time day program or elsewhere. Credits earned elsewhere, including University College, are treated as transfer credits. Grades below C are not accepted for transfer credit.
Dean's list. A dean's list, or honors list, is issued at the end of each quarter containing the names of students who have a 3.25 quality-point average or higher with no I grade or grade below CÐ. Students who are on any form of probation, who are enrolled in a course on a pass/fail basis (except where there is no alternative or where required by the program), or who are not carrying a full load as determined by their undergraduate college are not eligible. With a few exceptions as approved by the respective colleges, a full load is considered to be four courses or sixteen quarter hours. Alternative-year freshmen are eligible for the deanÕs list when they become sophomores in one of the full-time day programs.
Remedial/compensatory courses. Remedial/compensatory courses are currently offered for credit through different programs and colleges. While credit for remedial courses may be given, not all colleges or departments will apply these credits to major, distribution, or graduation requirements. Students should consult their advisers for specific information.
Quality-point average. Numerical equivalents for scholastic averages are weighted according to the number of hours the course carries. For example, a grade of A in a course carrying 3 quarter hours is weighted at 12. A grade of C in a course carrying 2 quarter hours is weighted at 4. The quality-point average for both courses would then be 12 plus 4, divided by 5, or 3.2. Grades of X, I, IP, S, and U are not included in the calculation of the quality-point average.
Quarterly grade reports. Grades are mailed to students approximately three days after the end of each quarter. Grades are also available on the telephone response system, the student information kiosks, and the student self-service Web pages. A missing grade ("*" on grade report) means that none was turned in by the instructor.
Examinations
Final examinations are held during the last week of each quarter. An examination schedule is posted on the Web at http://www.nuway.neu.edu, on the registrar's official bulletin board, and in the student information kiosks. No examinations longer than one-half hour may be given in the week before final examinations. It is the student's responsibility to know the time and location of each of his or her examinations. Final exam conflicts, defined as two exams at the same hour or three exams in one day, will be resolved with the help of the Office of the Registrar, 120 Hayden Hall, but only if reported before the end of the second week of classes.
A list of rules of conduct during examinations follows.
- Students must concentrate on their own work.
- Under no circumstances may a student communicate in any way with another student during an examination.
- Each student must work in a manner that does not bother other students.
- No unauthorized material is allowed in the examination room.
- Unless otherwise specified by the instructor and so understood by the head proctor, students who bring such materials as books, notebooks, and papers into a final-examination room must leave them either at the front or rear of the room or against the walls, at the option of the head proctor.
- All written material must be kept on the right arm of the chair. (In rooms with tables, materials are to be kept in front of students.)
- Proctors cannot answer questions about the examination material; students should ask questions that concern only possible typographical errors in the text or missing parts of the examination.
- No student may leave the room during the first thirty minutes of the examination. Late students may not enter the examination room if any other student taking the examination has already departed. Late students do not get extra time.
- Material may not be borrowed during the examinations.
- Students may leave the examination room permanently after thirty minutes have elapsed, but during the last ten minutes of the examination no one will be allowed to leave the room. Students remaining until the end of the examination must cease work immediately when the head proctor announces the close of the examination and must remain quietly seated until all examination materials have been collected.
- Students who become ill during an examination and are unable to complete the examination must report to the Lane Health Center immediately.
- Students must turn in all examination materials before leaving the room unless the instructor indicates that copies may be retained.
- With permission of the instructor, students may submit a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the final examinations in order to receive grades early.
Academic Progression Standards
Each college establishes academic progression standards for its own undergraduate students. To progress from one academic year to the next, students must meet the minimum quality-point average(s) (QPAs) and number of earned quarter hours required by their college/program. In addition, many programs require that specific courses be successfully completed to progress to the next year. Students who do not make satisfactory progress will not graduate with their class and may be withdrawn. For more information about academic progression standards for each college, program, or major, please refer to curriculum guidelines, which can be found either in individual college guidebooks or in the college sections of this Undergraduate Catalog.
Academic eligibility for participating in student organizations. All students must have a minimum 2.0 overall grade point average in order to be eligible for an elected or appointed leadership position in any student organization.
Repeating classes to clear deficiencies. Students may, with approval, repeat a course or take a substitute course in the full-time day program to clear a deficiency. The final grade for this course replaces the former grade. Students who are repeating courses outside the full-time day program to raise their quality-point average or to clear a deficiency must attain an average of 2.0 in all repeated work.
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible to receive degrees, graduating students must clear all academic, financial, cooperative work, or disciplinary deficiencies. See individual programs for specific academic requirements for graduation.
Attendance at commencement is optional. Information concerning commencement is mailed to all graduating students during the spring quarter for June graduation or during the summer quarter for September graduation.
Seniors are notified by mail if they fail to qualify for their degrees. No special notice is sent to those who do qualify. Students who are in doubt should call their deanÕs office. The University has a residency requirement of a minimum of three full-time quarters at Northeastern immediately preceding graduation.
Graduation with honor and selection as the class marshal (June only) are reserved for students who have been registered at Northeastern University for at least seventy-two quarter hours.
Quality-point average Honor conferred 3.25Ð3.49 Graduation with honor (cum laude) 3.50Ð3.74 Graduation with high honor (magna cum laude) 3.75Ð4.00 Graduation with highest honor (summa cum laude) Students are expected to preregister for classes during the published registration time in the academic calendar. Freshmen are preregistered to make sure they get the courses they need. Most registration after the freshman year is accomplished through the Telephone Information System. Confirmations of class registrations are mailed to students prior to the start of classes. Students must complete "I Am Here" registration just prior to the start of classes in order to remain enrolled.
Registration Procedures
Students are expected to preregister for classes during the published registration times in the academic calendar. Freshmen are preregistered to make sure they get the courses they need. Most registration after the freshman year is accomplished through the Telephone Information System. Confirmations of class registrations are mailed to students prior to the start of classes. Students must complete "I Am Here" registration just prior to the start of classes in order to remain enrolled.
Course prerequisites. Students are expected to meet prerequisites as listed in the course description of each course in which they enroll. Grades of F, U, I, X, or W in prerequisite courses do not normally fulfill requirements. Exceptions must be authorized by the academic department offering the course and be approved by the office of the dean of the student's college.
Overload policies. Inasmuch as withdrawal from a course can be accomplished up to the eighth week, no rebate or credit is granted when a student voluntarily drops a course. An exception can be made if the withdrawal takes place during the first week, but a student should raise the issue at that time.
Students who enroll in overload courses will be billed at the overload rate, 1/16 of the tuition for that quarter, per quarter hour.
Any upperclass student taking a full course load may elect to take an additional enrichment course without charge. No credit is given for this course. The procedure for taking this course is as follows: Confer with your dean or his or her designee to establish eligibility under the conditions that this course will (1) be a four-quarter-hour basic college course; (2) be the only such tuition-free course permitted during the upperclass academic year; (3) be in addition to the normal course load for the quarter; (4) be on a space-available basis on registration day, with priority given to tuition-paying students; (5) not contribute to fulfilling degree requirements or to the calculation of the quality-point average or total earned hours.
Should you later petition to have credits earned in this course apply to your degree, you must: (1) obtain the approval of your dean or his or her designee; (2) pay tuition at the rate current at the time of petition; and (3) complete the process by May 1 of your senior year. After you and the dean or his or her designee have filled out and signed the necessary form, take the appropriate copy to the Office of the Registrar no later than the second week of the quarter. Any student who registers for more quarter hours in a quarter than an existing curriculum allows is liable for the extra charges.
Declaring Majors and Minors
Undergraduate students generally declare their majors upon admission to the University or in the spring quarter of their freshman year. Majors are described under the various schools and colleges. Students may earn a minor in any undergraduate discipline that designates a minor. Students should declare their intent to earn a minor as early as possible, and no later than the end of the junior year, by applying to the minor department. During the final term, the department offering the minor ensures that it appears on the studentÕs academic record shortly after graduation by informing the registrar of the completion of the minor requirements.
Internal and External Transfer
To transfer to another college within Northeastern University or to change majors within the same college, students should contact the appropriate office for their academic level. Freshmen and upperclass students should consult the office of the dean of the college to which they want to transfer. A transfer to another college is not automatic but is based on a number of factors, including academic achievement and availability of space. Deadlines are at the discretion of the colleges.
External transfer students are those who previously attended a college other than full-time day college at Northeastern. At the time of their admission, external transfers are identified as either freshmen with advanced standing or upperclass transfer students. Freshmen with advanced standing are those accepted with less than the equivalent of sixteen quarter hours of transfer credit. They are included in the freshman class in quarter one, two, or three.
Upperclass transfer students have been accepted into a full-time day college with enough transfer credit to enable them to enter as sophomores, middlers, or juniors. Programs for upperclass transfers are generally planned with advisers in the offices of the department and dean.
Internal Transfer of Credits
With the approval of the academic dean a student in one of the full-time day programs may take courses in University College, the School of Engineering Technology, graduate school, or the part-time engineering program and have those courses and grades recorded on the permanent record. Degree credit may be granted for transfer work from other institutions; students should check with the deanÕs office of their college.
Special Students
Students not regularly enrolled in a full-time day college may, in certain instances, enroll on a quarter-by-quarter basis in some courses given in those colleges. Approval and further information must be obtained from the dean of the college offering the specific course.
Division Conflicts
Students who are in the wrong division for a given quarter will be purged from all preregistered courses for that quarter unless their division assignment is correct one month prior to the start of that quarter. Students must contact their college dean's office and/or Cooperative Education to correct their status.
Dropping Courses
To drop a course, students must first obtain a course drop form at the registrarÕs or college dean's office. Not attending a class does not constitute withdrawal. Students must fill out the course drop form and have it signed by their instructor and by a representative of either their college dean or the department that offers the course. After obtaining all required signatures, students must return the original copy to the Office of the Registrar and keep a copy for themselves.
Course withdrawals are permitted through the third week of the quarter without any grade recorded on the permanent record. Course withdrawals at any time during the fourth through the eighth week of the quarter are indicated by a W on the record. After the eighth week, no withdrawals are accepted for any reason. At this point, a letter grade is posted on the record. A faculty member may choose not to sign a course withdrawal form if the student was involved in any kind of academic dishonesty in the class.
Personal Information
Change of name. Report all name changes to the Office of the Registrar immediately. This is especially important when students marry and wish to use a new name on University records.
Change of address. Notify the Registrar, Bursar, or Financial Aid Office promptly of any address change. Both the permanent home address and the local address are needed.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Student Records
Transcripts. To obtain an official transcript, students (and alumni/ae) must send a check in the amount stipulated by the Office of the Bursar, mailing instructions, and a disclosure waiver, if necessary, to the transcript office at 117 Hayden Hall. To request a transcript in person, first obtain an official receipt from the Office of the Cashier at 248 Richards Hall; then present the receipt and a valid photo ID at 117 Hayden Hall. Telephone and fax requests are not accepted, and no transcripts can be faxed from the University. Currently enrolled students can obtain unofficial transcripts in person from the student information kiosks located around campus. Students not currently enrolled can obtain an unofficial transcript in person only by presenting a valid photo ID at 117 Hayden Hall.
Notification of Rights under FERPA. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are:
- The right to inspect and review the student's education records within forty-five days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, or head of the academic department [or appropriate official] written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
- The right to request the amendment of the studentÕs education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
- The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the studentÕs education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interest. A school official is defined as a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. At Northeastern, the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs in room 104 Ell Building administers FERPA. Information concerning the following items about individual students is public and the offices listed below have the most accurate and up-to-date information:
Office of the Registrar (120 Hayden Hall) Full name, major field of study, dates of attendance, class year, degrees and awards received, most recent previous educational institution attended.
Department of Athletics (219 Cabot Physical Education Center) Participation in formally recognized University athletics, weight and height of members of athletic teams.
Student Activities (228 Curry Student Center) Participation in officially recognized University activities and student organizations.
University Withdrawal
Students seeking to withdraw from the University for any reason should contact the office of the dean of their college.
Students may be withdrawn from the University for financial, disciplinary, academic, or health reasons. In the last case, a committee will review the recommendations of the director of health services to determine whether the student should withdraw. The student has an opportunity to present his or her case to the committee. Withdrawals are made only when it is determined that the student is a danger to himself or herself or to other members of the University community, or when the student has demonstrated behavior detrimental to the educational mission of the University.
Leave of Absence
University leave of absence policy. Students considering taking a leave of absence are encouraged to apply for the leave by filing the proper petition with their college a month prior to the start of the effective quarter. The usual limit for a leave of absence is one or two academic quarters. A leave of absence, if approved, will be done so taking into account the following conditions: (1) students who are on an approved leave who do not return after the leave will be withdrawn for not registering and must submit a petition for subsequent readmission to the program; (2) students cannot return from a leave and participate in co-op during the quarter they return; (3) students must be currently enrolled in academic courses. If a student is withdrawn for any reason, a request for a leave of absence cannot be considered until the withdrawal is resolved; (4) students who receive financial aid should meet with a financial aid counselor before going on leave; (5) students in University housing should refer to the Housing Office for policy information; and (6) studentsÕ enrollment status cannot include more than one academic year of consecutive nonclass enrollments.
Returning from a leave of absence. Students returning from an approved leave of absence must submit a notification of intent to return to their college student services office or academic standing committee no later than one month prior to the start of the quarter in which they intend to return. Students are required to preregister for courses upon returning from a leave of absence.
Students who are withdrawn and are applying for commencement may be reentered on a leave of absence, pending the collegeÕs approval, prior to the quarter in which they will graduate.
Procedures for student leave of absence for medical reasons. After the eighth week of the quarter students may withdraw from coursework (leave of absence) only for medical reasons. A student taking a leave of absence from academic work for medical reasons must contact the deanÕs office of his or her college. Medical reasons are considered to include both physical and emotional well-being. A representative of the dean's office will discuss the situation with the student and refer the student to the Lane Health Center with a petition form. The petition for a medical leave of absence must be made prior to the end of the quarter. The studentÕs physician must provide appropriate medical information to the Lane Health Center physician. A student who is on co-op when he or she needs a medical leave of absence must contact the co-op coordinator.
A medical leave of absence may be effective for up to six months. During this period the student maintains all the rights and responsibilities of a Northeastern University student. If the student is covered under the Northeastern-sponsored Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance, it remains in effect. After six months the student must obtain reentry or be withdrawn from the University.
When the student is ready to return to the University, he or she must again contact the appropriate college representative, who in turn refers the student to the Lane Health Center. The center must be provided with medical documentation validating the treatment and the student's fitness to return to school. Strict confidentiality is maintained in all aspects of medical leaves of absence. Exceptions to these procedures are handled by the appropriate academic standing committee.