TUA academic policies

GRADING

Students are graded according to the following Grade Point Average (GPA) system:

Used in GPA computation :

Note: Labs are graded on a pass/fail basis. 

Not Used in GPA computation : P = Pass; I = Incomplete; W = Withdraw

INCOMPLETE “I” GRADE

When a student is unable to complete the requirements of a course by the end of the program, the student may be given an “Incomplete” or a grade of “I”. The instructor will grant a grade of “I” if the student has valid reasons for not being able to finish the work. The student and instructor will complete an “Incomplete Grade” form, which stipulates the work to be completed for a grade. Students have 30 days from the end of the course to complete the coursework. If the coursework is not completed by the determined date, a failing grade for the courses will be assigned.

UNIT OF CREDIT

The Unit of Credit used at the school is a semester credit for degree programs. A semester credit is defined as:

1 Semester Credit Hour = 16 Theory Hours

1 Semester Credit Hour = 32 Lab Hours

Diploma programs are defined using clock hours. A clock hour equals 50 minutes of instruction with 10 minutes of a break per hour.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

Each letter grade has a point value. To compute the grade point value for a course, multiply the grade point value by the number of clock hours

For example: a “B” in a 24-hour course is equal to 72 clock hours. B = 3 points x 24hrs.
To calculate a GPA, add the total grade point values for all courses and divide that figure by the total number of hours attempted.

REPEATING COURSES

Students must repeat courses taken at TUA if they received a “D”, “F”, “W” or a NP grade. Students may repeat a course twice. Credit is given for the last grade earned when repeating a course. Repeated courses will appear on the student's transcript. The first attempt will also be shown, but the cumulative GPA will be re-computed to count the last attempt only.

ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings and to arrive on time. Students are expected to inform faculty in advance of any pending dates where a student may be absent. Excused and non-excused absences are considered the same when computing maximum number of allowable absences. Unsatisfactory attendance is when a student does not attend:

•  Seven consecutive days of scheduled classes;

•  Up to 20% of total hours scheduled for a semester

If a student has unsatisfactory attendance they will be placed on probation until the following conditions are met:

• The student establishes satisfactory progress or, meets the conditions of probation.
• The student has corrected the problem that caused unsatisfactory attendance.
• The student has satisfactorily completed worked missed because of the absence either by repeating the sessions missed or performing required work outlined by the instructor.

A student is terminated for unsatisfactory attendance if the student does not meet these conditions within a 30 days period.

MAKE-UP WORK

Students who have been absent from class for any reason or have been tardy are required to make up work missed from classes. The student is required to discuss make-up work opportunities with the instructor. Any hours that are missed must be made up. Excessive absences from assignments without prior notice may result in termination from the program. Hours of makeup work will not be accepted as hours of class attendance. Tests that are not taken as a result of an absence must be made up with in a timeframe established by the instructor. There is no additional charge for makeup work.

TARDINESS

Attendance and promptness reflect an individual's level of professionalism and work ethic. Since the school trains students for careers in a professional work environment, we believe our policies should reflect the expectations of clients and employers. Students are late after the professor takes attendance or after the first five minutes, whichever comes first. Three “Tardies” (late to class) equals one absence. More than three absences will result in an “F” for the course. Students who know that they cannot be on time for the course need to consult the professor immediately for instructions.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE POLICY

The leave of absence is intended to provide a short-term leave, not to exceed two calendar years, for students who plan to return to TUA.

An undergraduate student who has completed one full term at TUA may apply for a Leave of Absence during a term or within eight weeks after the end of the last term attended. If the request for leave takes place during a term, the normal procedures for withdrawal from the University must be followed. Leaves are not granted to first-semester freshmen or to students who have been suspended or dismissed from the University.

Students usually request leaves for medical reasons, financial difficulties, uncertainty about academic or career goals, personal considerations such as illnesses within families, or special educational opportunities not available at this University.

International students are not allowed to take a formal leave of absence unless they will be out of the country and have obtained prior approval from the International Student Coordinator.

The student initiates the process by obtaining a Leave of Absence Application from the Office of Academic Advising. The student completes the application, including a statement of reasons for requesting the leave of absence, and returns it to the Office of Academic Programs.

The student then discusses the leave with the Director of Academic Programs to clarify concerns, to confirm that the student understands re-entry procedures, and to ensure appropriate contacts with other offices of the University. The student is notified by letter of the final decision by the Office of Academic Programs. Copies of the letter are sent to other offices or faculty as appropriate.

The student must keep the Office of Academic apprised of his or her mailing address and must meet all regular University deadlines for registration. Students on leave are responsible for all arrangements with offices (Financial Aid, Student Accounts,) serving them in these matters. They are also responsible for giving at least one month's notice of intent to re-enroll to the Office of Academic in order that a registration appointment may be provided.

A student wishing to return to the University after his or her leave of absence has expired must reapply for admission through the Office of Admissions.

RETURN/RE-ENTRY TO THE UNIVERSITY

Students who have been absent from the University less than 24 months may be admitted as a returning student. Students must apply for reentry to the university. All international students must apply for reentry regardless of the time away from the university.

MAXIMUM TIME FRAME

Students must complete programs within 150% of the program length.

STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS

The “Standards of Academic Progress” establish a formal process through which the administration and faculty of TUA can identify and provide assistance to students who experience academic difficulty.

Students who experience academic difficulty are alerted through the standards of academic progress. It is the goal of the institution to support students in every academic phase of their attendance at TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA. When a student is not meeting the Standards of Academic Progress, the student will be placed an Academic Probation. TUA - faculty will conduct a formal meeting with the student in order to prepare a plan of improvement for the student and discuss the possible consequences that may occur if progress is not made.

The standards are not intended to discourage or penalize students who are sincerely trying to make good use of the school's instructional services. The standards reflect the commitment of TUA faculty and administration to provide students with as much assistance as possible to ensure success in achieving their educational goals.

The overall objective of the standards is to improve performance by students who are experiencing academic difficulty and to increase public support for TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, Inc. efforts to provide sound educational programs of the highest quality.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Consequences of sustained poor academic performance are summarized below:

Cumulative GPA Results

0.0 to 1.99 Academic Probation

Student must have a minimum of 2.5 overall GPA to graduate.

These measures are applicable at the end of each grading period.

ACADEMIC PROBATION

Academic Probation occurs when a student is not meeting Academic Standards (an average grade of C or 2.5). While a letter grade of “F” is considered failure, a letter grade of “D” is considered Not Meeting Academic Standards; therefore, students must maintain an average of “C” to meet Academic Standards. Students are required to retake courses they failed to meet satisfactory progress.

A student's continued inability to maintain satisfactory progress for one semester following announcement of probation normally results in dismissal on academic grounds. Application for special consideration may be made to the Administrative Director. A meeting will be held with the Administrative Director and the student to determine the cause and potential remedies to help the student maintain satisfactory academic standards.

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL/WITHDRAWAL

“Academic Dismissal” represents a separation of students from TUA for at least three (3) months. “Academic Dismissal” occurs after students fail to meet the minimum requirements during academic probation.

The student who withdraws voluntarily is called a “Withdrawn” student. The last physical date of attendance is considered the withdrawal date of the student whether the student is dismissed or withdraws. Any refunds due will be based on the last date of attendance.

Students are eligible to re-apply for enrollment to TUA after dismissal. This request will be on a petition basis. In order for re-enrollment to be approved, the petition must present evidence of some change in the student's circumstance. A withdrawn student may re-enter anytime.