Academic Policies

Click here to view the complete list of University Policies from the current undergraduate catalog.

Academic Advising | Academic Bankruptcy & Forgiveness | Academic Grievance Procedure | Academic Standing

Admission to Speed School | Credit through Placement Exams | Catalog Year | Classification of Students | Class Attendance | Dean's List and Dean's Scholar

Course Audit | Course Load | Pass/Fail Course Policy | Course Repetition Policy | Dropping, Adding, and Withdrawing Courses

Final Examinations | Grading and Course Numbering Systems | Graduation and Degree Requirements | Internships, Cooperatives, and Independent Study | Registration Policy | Residency Status

Academic Advising

University Policy
University Philosophy of Academic Advising for Undergraduates
Academic advising at the University of Louisville is an on-going, intentional, educational partnership dedicated to student academic success. The University is committed to an academic advising system that guides students to discover and pursue life goals, supports diverse and equitable educational experiences, advances students’ intellectual and cultural development, and teaches students to become engaged, self-directed learners and competent decision makers.The University and its undergraduate academic units and advisors believe that student success is a comprehensive, campus-wide, process/effort/responsibility to express these values:

• Teaching and learning as an academic advising function.
• Fostering a community of respect.
• Encouraging the individuality/diversity of students and their unique educational/needs/experiences.
• Working collaboratively with others through shared challenges, achievements, ideas, and resources continuously to incorporate best practices into university-wide advising.
• Identifying a common goal of student engagement in learning and success.
• Using technological innovations that seek to improve the student experience/ academic advising experience.
• Promoting diversity as central to intellectual and cultural development.
• Developing student satisfaction with academic advising.

Additional Speed School of Engineering Unit Policy
The Academic Advising Center is the academic resource center for students in Engineering Fundamentals. The advising staff is a team of professional academic counselors who provide assistance in planning programs of study, coordinate registration of courses, and provide guidance and referral services.  Students who have been admitted  to Departmental Studies are expected to obtain advising from the faculty advisors in the department of their major. While your academic advisor will make every effort to guide you throughout your education, students are ultimately responsible for developing a familiarity of and adherence to University, college, and departmental policies and procedures.

Engineering Fundamentals Advising Requirements & Registration
All students in Engineering Fundamentals are required to meet with an academic advisor in the Academic Advising Center prior to registration. The academic advisor will set an advising code to clear the student for registration.  Advising appointments for registration should be made at the Center, located in J.B. Speed Building, Room 213. Advising office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:30. For further information about academic advising in the School of Engineering, call 502-852-6100 or send an email to ssadvise@louisville.edu.

Departmental Studies Advising
Requirements & Registration
After admission to Departmental Studies, the student is assigned a departmental advisor for the academic program of study. Students should contact their Department to determine the appropriate advisor and the advisor's office hours.

The Bioengineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science, and the Electrical and Computer Engineering departments require all of their students to be advised.  In these departments, it will be necessary for an academic advisor to set an advising code to clear the student for registration.

Students in the, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering departments are required to meet with an advisor the first semester after being admitted to the department. Once students earn 60 program hours in these departments they are not required to meet with an advisor in subsequent terms, but are strongly encouraged to do so.

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Academic Bankruptcy and Forgiveness

University Policy
Academic bankruptcy allows students who are returning to college after remaining out for an extended period to void one or more entire semesters of previous college work. Students considering this option are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor for guidance.If the student meets the following criteria and if the appropriate committee (located within the student's enrollment unit) finds there are extenuating circumstances that warrant such action, the committee may rule the student eligible to declare academic bankruptcy.

To be eligible, the student:

• must not have attended any college or university during a period of two calendar years immediately preceding this readmission; and
• must state in writing the intention to declare bankruptcy, specifically designating the term or consecutive sequence of terms to which the bankruptcy process is to apply.

The student must attain at least a 2.5 quality point standing (2.8 quality point standing or higher in the College of Business and Dental Hygiene programs) in all degree applicable courses while attempting the first 12 hours after readmission. (All courses taken during the term in which the twelfth-hour minimum is attained will be considered in determining eligibility for bankruptcy.) After these 12 hours have been attempted, the student must petition the appropriate committee for academic bankruptcy, designating the term or consecutive sequence of terms to which the bankruptcy process is to apply.

The voided grades and credit hours will not be considered for degree requirements or quality-point computations, but will remain on the student's transcript. Academic actions, such as probation or dismissal, recorded at the end of the voided terms, will also remain.

No student may declare bankruptcy more than once.  Bankrupt semesters will not apply toward enrollment semesters when determining catalog year.  No course taken during a bankrupted semester can be used to satisfy a requirement.

Students are advised that while bankrupted course grades are removed from the calculation, the course work does remain a part of their permanent record and that the bankrupted work may be considered for financial aid purposes, NCAA purposes, and may be evaluated if applying for honors or graduate study. No person using these bankruptcy procedures shall be eligible to participate in any intercollegiate competition until the specified grades and courses have been declared void.

Additionally, students must be aware that academic bankruptcy is an internal policy.  The University of Louisville cannot guarantee how the work will be viewed by another university should the student choose to transfer.

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Academic Grievance Procedure

Section 1: Introduction
This procedure is designed to provide fair means of dealing with student complaints regarding a specific action or decision made by the faculty or a faculty member. "Students who believe they have been treated unfairly, discriminated against, or have had their rights abridged may initiate a grievance" (The Redbook, Section 6.8.1).

The Unit Academic Grievance Committee has the power to hear all grievances involving academic matters other than substantive grade appeals. "Academic matters are defined as those concerning instructional activities, research activities, activities closely related to either of these functions, or decisions involving instruction or affecting academic freedom" (The Redbook, Section 6.8.3). The Unit Academic Grievance Committee may review allegations that a course grade has resulted from an unfair procedure. However, the committee should not substitute its judgment on their merits as an evaluation of academic performance. Where the dean concurs that procedural irregularities have occurred, the dean shall consult with an appropriate faculty committee as to the grade to be recorded on the student's official transcript. To assist the student, a Student Grievance Officer is provided, who is responsible for "informing students of their rights and obligations under the grievance procedure and especially the deadlines that have been established. The Student Grievance Officer shall seek to resolve informally as many grievances as possible" (The Redbook, Section 6.8.2).

Students are encouraged to seek the assistance of the Student Grievance Officer at any stage of the grievance process. Each unit shall establish an Academic Grievance Committee to carry out the procedures described below.

Section 2: Preliminary Steps
To pursue a grievance concerning academic matters within the academic unit, the following steps of the grievance procedure should be observed:

1. The student should first discuss the matter with the person involved and attempt to resolve the grievance through informal discussion.
2. If there is no resolution, the student should discuss the matter with that person's supervisor or the person to whom such person reports, who should attempt to mediate a resolution.
3. If the student has not been able to obtain a resolution, he or she may request the Student Grievance Officer (S.G.O.) to attempt informal mediation of the problem.
   
4. If the matter has not been satisfactorily resolved through the informal process, the student shall submit a written statement of the grievance to the Unit Academic Grievance Committee through the Office of the Dean.

The statement shall contain:
a. A brief narrative of the condition giving rise to the grievance;
b. designation of the parties involved; and
c. statement of the remedy requested.

Section 3: Committee Action
Upon receipt of the written statement, the Unit Academic Grievance Committee, or its representatives, shall:

1. Contact the student and the Student Grievance Officer to obtain assurance that all steps of the above informal process were completed and that those  issues in the statement were discussed at all levels.
2. Notify the parties named in the statement of the grievance naming them; and send a copy of the statement to the named parties and to all committee members.
3. Notify the grievant and the respondent of the right to challenge committee members for cause, and request early notification of challengers to expedite the grievance procedure. Included in this notification will be a list of the names of all current, regular committee members.
4. Meet within twenty working days after receiving the written statement of any grievance and recommend to the dean of the unit whether sufficient grounds exist to accept a case for hearing. The committee shall hear the case when the dean concurs. The committee shall notify, in writing, all persons directly involved as to the reasons for its recommendation.
5. The action of the grievance committee as to whether to grant a hearing when accepted by the dean of the unit shall be final and binding on all parties except when subject to the condition of appeal.
6. If a hearing will be held, notify in writing all the parties involved, including any witnesses, of the date, time and place of the hearing at least ten days prior to the hearing date (which shall be within 30 working days of receipt of the written grievance).
7. Request in writing from all parties involved any pertinent material deemed necessary for review by the committee prior to the hearing. These materials, and any additional materials either party chooses to submit, must be submitted to the committee not later than four days prior to the hearing. Any person named in a grievance may submit a written statement to the committee outlining issues from that person's perspective.8. Maintain confidentiality throughout the entire grievance process. All communications among the committee, the grievant(s), and the person(s) named in the statement of grievance will be confidential.
   

Section 4: Hearing Process
All hearings conducted by the Unit Academic Grievance Committee shall be conducted confidentially in the following manner:

1. The grievant(s) and the respondent(s) must be present during the information gathering portion of the hearing. Witnesses will be available and will be called when needed. The committee reserves the right to allow the presence of a  secretary or a technical assistant.
2. All statements during the information-exchange phase of the hearing will be recorded. This record will be preserved in the University Archives for a minimum of five years and shall be confidential.
3. Any committee member may question any of the participants at the hearing.
4. The grievant will present his or her statements and/or witnesses to the committee.
5. The respondent will have the opportunity to question the grievant(s) and the witnesses about their statements.
6. The respondent will present his or her statements and/or witnesses to the committee.
7. The grievant will have the opportunity to question the respondent(s) about their statements.
8. After all information is exchanged, all persons except the committee members and the recording secretary will leave the committee room. The grievant(s), the respondent(s), and the witnesses will continue to be available to the committee should further information be needed.
9. The committee will meet in closed session to decide upon its recommendation(s) to the dean.
10. The committee shall submit its report with recommendation(s) and reasons for the recommendation(s), to the grievant(s), the respondent(s), and the dean. If the grievance directly involves the dean the report and recommendation(s) of the Unit Academic Grievance Committee shall be referred for decision to the University Provost.
11. The student's grievance will not be included as part of the student's record, unless it results in a change in student status or the student voluntarily inserts the information.
12. Until the grievance is resolved, the student may continue the natural academic progression through the academic unit subject to the requirements of Article 6.6, "Academic Review. Advancement, Probation, and' Dismissal of Students," and Article 6.7, "Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures," of The Redbook.

Section 5: Decision
The dean shall approve or reject the committee's recommendation(s) within 28 days after receiving it (them). If decision of the dean is not in accord with the committee's recommendation(s), the dean shall state the reasons for that decision, in writing, to all persons directly involved in the grievance and to the committee. The dean shall then take appropriate action to implement his or her decision after the time for appeal has elapsed.

Section 6: Rehearing
A grievance committee, within 21 days after delivery of its report, may be petitioned to reconsider its decision upon the basis of evidence of misrepresentation of materials, facts, or upon the basis of newly discovered evidence clearly not available at the original hearing.

Section 7: Appeal
Any party to the grievance may appeal to the University Student Grievance Committee within 21 days from the date of the final decision of the dean if the dean's decision does not concur with the recommendation of the grievance committee.

Student Grievance Officer
The Student Grievance Officer is a tenured faculty member who is responsible for informing students of their rights and obligations under the University Student Grievance procedure. The Grievance Officer will assist the student in efforts to achieve informal resolution in as many academic or non-academic complaints as possible. This service is available to all students.  E-mail Professor Brenda Hart at brenda@louisville.edu.

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Academic Standing

Speed School of Engineering Unit Policy
Students have the responsibility to know their current status. The School routinely notifies students when their status changes, but such notification may not be possible before the beginning of the semester. Notification of academic actions are officially made through the student's university email account. Decisions involving academic warning, probation, suspension, dismissal, honors and eligibility for graduation are defined by each academic  unit.  These decisions are based on the university grade point average (GPA), which is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. The number of hours attempted is computed by adding the hours for all courses in which the student has earned grades. The overall point standing takes into account all work taken at the University, excluding courses numbered below the 100 level.  Grades and quality points earned at other institutions are not incorporated into the university grade point average.

Good Standing
Undergraduate students who have not been admitted to a department are in good standing and are making satisfactory progress when they have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Students who have been admitted to a department are in good standing and are making satisfactory progress when they have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25.

Academic Warning
Undergraduate students who, after the first 12 degree-applicable semester hours at the university, have a GPA below 2.0 will be placed on Academic Warning. They will be notified that their achievement is below expectations and strongly encouraged to seek assistance. Students on Academic Warning are limited to enrollment for 13 credit hours (7 credit hours during the Speed School summer term). A student placed on Academic Warning will have the following semester to raise the cumulative GPA to at least 2.0. If that does not occur, the student will then be placed on Academic Probation.

Academic Probation
In any semester subsequent to that described in Academic Warning above, an undergraduate student who has less than a 2.0 GPA will be placed on Academic Probation for the next semester in which the student enrolls.  Students on Academic Probation are notified that their achievement is below expectations and are subject to course and/or credit hour limitations. During a semester on Academic Probation, no student may enroll in more than 13 credit hours (7 credit hours during the Speed School summer term).   Students on Academic Probation will have their records evaluated at the end of the probationary semester with one of the following outcomes:

• Student whose cumulative and semester GPA are both at or above 2.0 will be restored to good standing in the Speed School.

• Student whose cumulative GPA is still below 2.0 but who earned a semester GPA of at least 2.5 will be maintained on probation.

• Student whose cumulative GPA is still below 2.0, and who earned a semester GPA at or above 2.0 but below 2.5, may petition for continuation on probation. The petition describing the student's plan of action to return to good standing must be submitted to the school's Standards and Admissions Committee.  Students who do not submit a petition will be placed on Academic Suspension.

• Student whose cumulative and semester GPA are both below 2.0 will be placed on Academic Suspension and will be required to sit out at least one semester. 

Academic probation will be considered a serious warning that the student is making unsatisfactory progress toward completion of the academic requirements for a particular degree program. Students on academic probation are ineligible to hold office in any campus organization or to represent the school or the University in any official capacity, except by special approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  Students who are on academic probation are not eligible for co-op assignments.

Limited Load

Although a student may be admitted to Departmental Studies and continue to maintain minimal academic standards, it is possible for individual performance levels to fall beneath the projected progress necessary for future admission to Graduate Studies.  A student enrolled in Departmental Studies who at the end of the semester or term has a cumulative GPA below 2.25 will be placed on Limited Load.  While on Limited Load, no student may enroll in more than 13 credit hours (7 credit hours during the Speed School of Engineering summer term).  A student will be continued on limited load until the cumulative GPA is raised to 2.25

Academic Suspension
Students suspended for unsatisfactory academic performance will not be permitted to enroll for academic course work for at least one semester. During this period, individuals should seriously reexamine their previous accomplishments in terms of their chosen career objectives.  After one semester, a student who believes that a reasonable opportunity for future successful performance exists may petition the school's Standards and Admissions Committee for re-admittance to the Speed School of Engineering.Readmission of suspended students is not guaranteed. The petitioner must submit an Application of Undergraduate Admission form to the University's Office of Admissions in addition to the written petition.  The petition for readmission of a student suspended for unsatisfactory academic performance must be received by the enrollment unit at least one month prior to the first day of classes for the semester in which the student seeks readmission.  The petition should address the student's perception of the causes of poor performance; the steps the student has taken to address those causes; and a plan of action to return to good standing.  Students who are granted reinstatement will be readmitted on academic probation.

Academic Dismissal
No student will be reinstated more than twice; the third suspension is an academic dismissal.  A student academically dismissed can only return through special permission from the enrollment unit. Students who are suspended or dismissed from the Speed School of Engineering are eligible to apply for admission to another U of L unit and may be admitted if they meet minimum admission standards of that unit.  Students who apply for admission to another unit may not enroll in any courses in the unit from which they were dismissed.

Academic Performance in Speed Graduate Studies
The minimum grade point average requirement for good standing and satisfaction of degree requirement is 2.75 for work completed while in graduate studies for M.Eng. programs.

Any student who does not satisfy the published performance criteria shall be placed in probationary status.  Any student who remains in probationary status for two consecutive terms may be considered for dismissal from the program. Students receiving graduate assistantships (teaching, research or service) shall be provided adequate training and shall be required to understand and adhere to University policies related to these areas. The performance of teaching, research and service duties by such students shall be periodically evaluated.  Students with teaching assistantships shall be evaluated annually.

Students who fail to meet performance goals or who do not meet other requirements as outlined in the admission letter, program requirements or the University catalog may be subject to academic dismissal from their programs.

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Admission to the J.B. Speed School of Engineering

Application Process
Students apply for admission to the J.B. Speed School of Engineering by completing a University of Louisville undergraduate application. The application and detailed directions are located online at the University admissions website.

Students are admitted to the School of Engineering on either a degree seeking or non-degree seeking basis. High School visitors, visiting students from other institutions, auditors, post baccalaureate students, and continuing studies students are considered non-degree seeking. All other students are considered degree seeking. Applicants will be notified by the University’s Office of Admissions of their status and of the conditions of their enrollment at the time they are accepted. Students planning to earn degrees from the School of Engineering must be degree-seeking in order for the credits they have earned to apply toward their degrees. Students remain in a degree-seeking status until they graduate, transfer to another college or university, or are suspended/ dismissed.

Freshmen Students
Admission requirements vary between the different schools in the university. A student is eligible for admission to the academic programs of the School of Engineering upon the basis of courses taken in high school, grade-point average, and test scores achieved on either the ACT or SAT. For unconditional admission, entering freshman students should meet the following requirements.

High School Curriculum Requirements: All schools require graduation from an accredited high school and completion of the Kentucky Pre-College Curriculum requirements. In addition, Speed School requires successful completion of the following courses in high school:

• English: 4 years
• Algebra: 2 years
• Geometry: 1 year
• Calculus or pre-calculus: 1 year
• Chemistry: 1 year
• Physics: 1 year
• Grade Point Average Requirements: A cumulative high school grade point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale (“B” average).
• ACT/SAT Test Score Requirements: ACT composite, mathematics, and science scores of at least 24; or SAT composite score (critical reading and mathematics) of 1090 and mathematics score of 560.

Transfer Students
Students with fewer than 24 transferable semester hours are considered in a similar fashion as freshman students and must meet the admissions requirements for new freshmen and have a 2.5 college grade point average. Students with 24 hours or more transferable semester hours must have a 2.5 college grade point average and no deficiencies in mathematics or science.

The Speed School of Engineering requires a minimum “C-” grade for any transferred course to be accepted as credit toward a degree.  A transfer student must earn at least sixty semester hours applicable toward the baccalaureate degree at a fully accredited four-year college or university.  Thirty of the last thirty-six hours semester hours must be earned at the University of Louisville.

Admission Status
Successful applicants who satisfy all Speed School requirements will be granted unconditional admission with a “Good Standing” status. If there is a deficiency in academic qualifications, successful applicants will be either admitted to Speed School on “Limited Load” status or to the School of Arts and Sciences in a pre-engineering curriculum.

Good standing
Freshman students (and transfer students with less than 24 hours) who satisfy all requirements will be granted unconditional admission into the Department of Engineering Fundamental with a “Good Standing” status. After one year in Engineering Fundamentals (31 credit hours), qualified students will be accepted into their major department. Transfer students who have completed all courses required by Engineering Fundamentals will be admitted directly into their major department.

Limited load
Applicants who have completed high school curriculum requirements, but whose high school cumulative grade point average is between 2.8 and 3.0, or whose ACT composite, mathematics, or science scores are 22 or 23 (SAT composite between 1020 and 1090 or mathematics score between 530 and 560), will be admitted to the Department of Engineering Fundamentals on “Limited Load” status. Transfer students who do not satisfy all requirements will also be admitted on “Limited Load” status. This restricts student load to 14 hours for fall/spring semesters and 10 hours for summer. Students will be removed from limited load after the first semester if they achieve a 2.5 grade point average (with at least 12 hours) or once they have a 2.0 in at least 24 hours.

Arts & Sciences pre-engineeering
Applicants who do not meet high school curriculum requirements for Speed School or are below grade point average or test score requirements, but still satisfy university admission requirements, will be admitted to Arts and Sciences in a pre-engineering curriculum. The pre-engineering curriculum prepares students for the mathematics and sciences courses in the Speed School curriculum. Students who complete the pre-engineering curriculum with at least C grades and have a cumulative grade point average above 2.25 can complete an intra-university transfer to Speed School.

Readmission
If a student has a break in enrollment of two or more calendar years, the student must apply for readmission by completing a University of Louisville undergraduate application. If admitted, the student will be subject to catalog requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

Non-degree Students
High School visitors, visiting students from other institutions, auditors, post baccalaureate students, and continuing studies students wishing to take courses offered by the School of Engineering must complete a University of Louisville undergraduate application. Upon admission, students may enroll in classes for which they have completed the prerequisites or by faculty permission. The credits earned by non-degree students typically will not apply towards program requirements if a student later becomes a degree seeking student.

Admission Requirements to Departmental Studies
A formal application for acceptance to Departmental Studies should be made during the semester in which the student will complete the 31 hours of core courses in Engineering Fundamentals.  The application form, which indicates the student’s choice of specialization, is available from the Engineering Fundamentals advising office and should be returned to the office. Students are notified after semester grades are posted and qualifications are confirmed.

Acceptance into Departmental Studies is based upon requirements in effect when the student is admitted to Engineering Fundamentals.  Current requirements are that a student must have a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in the prescribed set of core courses.  In addition, the student must be in good standing with the University, which requires an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Admission Requirements for Graduate Studies
Students desiring to pursue the Master of Engineering degree must formally apply for admission to Graduate Studies in the School of Engineering.  The application form is available from the Speed School Office of Academic Affairs and should be returned to the same office.  The application should be submitted prior to completion of undergraduate Departmental Studies, typically at the time of the degree application for Bachelor of Science.  Application may also be made prior to this time if an undergraduate student wishes to take courses which would apply toward their graduate degree.

Transfer credit
A maximum of six hours of graduate level courses taken as an undergraduate may be used to satisfy Master of Engineering degree requirements.

Academic Performance in Speed Graduate Studies
The minimum grade point average requirement and other performance criteria for maintenance of good standing and progress toward degree in the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and the individual academic programs are found in the university catalog, which is available at http://louisville.edu/graduatecatalog/academic-policies-and-requirements.

Any student who does not satisfy the published performance criteria shall be placed in probationary status.  Any student who remains in probationary status for two consecutive terms may be considered for dismissal from the program.

Students receiving graduate assistantships (teaching, research or service) shall be provided adequate training and shall be required to understand and adhere to University policies related to these areas. The performance of teaching, research and service duties by such students shall be periodically evaluated.  Students with teaching assistantships shall be evaluated annually.

Students who fail to meet performance goals or who do not meet other requirements as outlined in the admission letter, program requirements or the University catalog may be subject to academic dismissal from their programs.

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Catalog Year

University Policy
The catalog years for this catalog are Summer 2009 through Spring 2010. The requirements, rules and policies therein are generally applicable to students who enroll at the University beginning with the Summer 2009 semester through the Spring 2010 term. The University reserves the right to change programs of study, academic policies, academic requirements, fees, schedules of courses, or the announced academic calendar without prior notice. Students with continuous enrollment who transfer within the University will be expected to meet the general education requirements in effect the year they were admitted to the University. Students are responsible for knowing the catalog year policy for general education and the degree programs of the academic unit in which they intend to earn a degree.

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Classification of Students

University Policy
Undergraduate students are admitted to an undergraduate enrollment unit and classified as follows:

• Full-time students: those who are registered for 12 or more semester hours in a regular school session.
• Part-time students: those who are registered for fewer than 12 semester hours in a regular school session.
• Regular students: those who have satisfied the admissions requirements for the academic unit in which they are enrolled.
• Special students: those who do not satisfy the admissions requirements for the academic unit in which they are enrolled, but who are admitted by special consent.
• Visiting students: those regularly enrolled in other institutions who desire to register in one of the academic units of the University for one semester. Visiting students must be in good standing in their regular college or university.
• Freshmen: students who have fewer than 30 semester hours credit.
• Sophomores: students who have 30 or more, but fewer than 60 semester hours of credit.
• Juniors: students who have 60 or more, but fewer than 90 semester hours credit.
• Seniors: students who have 90 or more semester hours credit but have not received baccalaureate degrees.
• Post-baccalaureate: students holding baccalaureate degrees and taking further undergraduate work.
• Auditors: students enrolled in a class or classes on a noncredit basis.

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Class Attendance

Speed School of Engineering
The programs of the Speed School are uniformly rigorous and demanding.  Class attendance is expected and, if so indicated in the course syllabus, may be used  to partially determine the course grade. Moreover, class participation may be a factor in grading as well as taking examinations, completing homework assignments, and fulfilling other course requirements.

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Course Audit

Audit status is offered on a space available basis. For that reason, students may not register for a class in an audit status during early registration, nor may a student change from a grade status to an audit status during that period. 

Students may register for classes in audit status during regular registration (after early registration financial cancellations) and then only with written approval of the instructor of the course. Students are allowed to change from audit to graded status or from graded status to audit status at any time from the beginning of regular registration through the last day to add a class, as they have approval from the course instructor.  Students are advised that such approval is the instructor's prerogative and that audit status may have implications for financial aid eligibility.  Any change of status must be submitted on the form provided in the Registration Information newspaper. Forms must be submitted to the Registrar's Office by the required date.

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Course Load

Registration for 12 or more credit hours during a semester entitles an undergraduate student to full-time status. Students may take a maximum of 18 credit hours each fall and spring semester and 13 credit hours in the summer term. In special circumstances during fall and spring semesters, students may register for 19 credit hours with permission from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.Students on either limited load, academic warning, or academic probation status are limited to no more than 13 credit hours during fall and spring semesters and 7 credit hours during the summer term.

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Pass/Fail Course Policy

Students who have been admitted to Departmental Studies may take one course each semester on a pass-fail basis to the limit of three courses or nine semester hours in total (not including credit obtained for cooperative assignments). However, students on academic probation or limited load are not eligible to take courses on a pass-fail basis during the term of their probation. Courses used in fulfillment of general education requirements, courses specified by number and/or title in the student's curriculum and major-program electives may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.  A passing grade will have no bearing on the student's term average or cumulative average, a failing grade will be averaged in both the term and cumulative average on the same basis as any other grade of "F".Students may not change their registration, either from credit to pass/fail, or from pass-fail to credit after the first half of the semester. Credit earned for a co-op assignment is always on a pass-fail basis. All students are permitted to register for physical education courses on a pass-fail basis.

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Course Repetition Policy

Undergraduate students may repeat to replace a maximum of four (4) courses with grades of C or below.  Students in Graduate Studies may repeat to replace one course with a grade of C or below. For these repeated courses, only the last grade attained will be used in the grade-point average calculation. Courses in which a grade of C or D was originally attained may be repeated only once under the repeat-to-replace option. Students are not required to repeat an F grade unless the course is specifically required for graduation. Students should be aware that all grades are displayed on the official transcript even after the repeat. All Schools and Colleges within the University will honor any previously granted repeats from other Schools and Colleges within the University. A repeat form must be filed to activate this option. For courses retaken for which this option is not requested, both grades will be used in the grade point average calculation, but students cannot receive double credit in hours required for the degree. Permission will not be granted for a student to repeat lower level courses after a higher level course in the sequence has been passed.

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Dean's List and Dean's Scholar

Undergraduate students in Engineering Fundamentals and Departmental Studies who complete twelve or more (nine or more in summer terms) graded credits are eligible for the Dean's List and designation as Dean's Scholar. The following distinctions are made:

• Dean's List
  GPA > 3.5, with no grades of "I", "X", "U", "D", or "F"
• Dean's Scholar
  GPA = 4.0, with no grades of "I", "X", or "U"Grades of "P" are not prohibited in Dean's List or Dean's

Scholar qualifications, but cannot be used to meet the graded-credits minimum requirement. Honor certificates for those receiving these distinctions are available online through the student's ULink account.

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Dropping, Adding, and Withdrawing Courses

University Policy
A student's drop/add form must be approved according to the procedure for the academic unit in which the student is enrolled. Students may consult the Registration Information newspaper for detailed information concerning unit procedures for drop/add and for permission to enter closed classes.  If the addition of courses increases the tuition for the student, the student will be required to settle their account by the end of the first week of classes.A grade of "W" will be reflected on students' official transcripts for all courses officially dropped after the last day of drop/add.Students who make a complete withdrawal from all courses for a particular semester must process this in accordance with the procedures established by their academic unit.Late complete withdrawals are those requested after the official deadline to withdraw has passed. Proper documentation of special circumstances must accompany the petition for a late complete withdrawal, which the student shall submit to the appropriate official or committee of the enrollment unit. The enrollment unit shall request and consider all instructors' recommendations in deciding on the petition.

Withdrawal Policy
The effective withdrawal date is the date on which the Registrar's Office, or its designated representatives during evening hours and at external campus offices, receives the appropriately signed drop form, or the date the drop/withdrawal is processed through the web. This date is used in calculating any refund or tuition reduction due if withdrawal deadlines are met. The last day to withdraw for each semester is published in the Registration Information newspaper, and for normal duration courses in the Fall and Spring semesters, is set in the eighth week of the semester. A grade of "W" will be reflected on students' official transcripts for all courses officially dropped after the last day to drop/add. Students who make a complete withdrawal from all courses for a particular semester must process this in accordance with the procedures established by their academic unit. When a student officially withdraws (see definition of effective withdrawal date above) from the University or from any course, or courses, for which hourly rates apply, tuition will be adjusted in the following manner:

Tuition Charge/Credit
Withdrawal through the first week of semester: 0% / 100%
Withdrawal during second or third week of semester: 50% / 50%
Withdrawal during fourth week of semester: 75% / 25%
Withdrawal after fourth week of semester: 100% / 0%

Summer terms and some regular semester courses vary in length and the percentages of refunds are modified. Effective dates are printed for special terms and courses in the Registration Information newspaper or are available from the Registrar's Office. Special course fees are refundable only with 100% adjustment.

Additional Speed School of Engineering Unit Policy
Students wishing to alter their schedule of courses in any way must do so officially through the online registration process or on a drop/add form, available in the Office of Academic Affairs.  Signatures are not required to drop or add if done before the last official day to drop/add a course. Students may add courses to their schedules only within the first week of the semester. The last day to add is also the last day to delete a course from your record. After that date, a grade of "W" is assigned for all withdrawals during the first half of the semester (each semester the registrar will set and publish the actual withdrawal deadline). No student may withdraw during the last half of the semester. Failure to complete this official change or withdrawal process will result in a grade of "F" in each course in which the student is officially enrolled and not attending.After the deadlines pass, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may grant a student's request to delete or withdraw courses because of sickness or conditions beyond the student's control.   Students may appeal decisions on late withdrawals by petitioning the Standards and Admissions Committee.  Click here to download the SAC petition.

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Final Examinations

University Policy
If a final exam is required for a course, the date and time is determined by a University-wide schedule based on the days of the week and times the course meets. Click here to review the current semester's final exam schedule.

Additional Speed School of Engineering Unit Policy
The final examination is defined as the last examination in a course administered during the appropriate period in the published Final Exam Schedule. Click here for the approved policy on final examinations.

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Grading and Course Numbering Systems

University Policy
Undergraduate grading system
The University awards letter grades which are translated into quality points to determine the grade point average or point standing. The "+/-" grading system may be used to help students understand their performance more accurately. Under this system, quality points are assigned as follows:

• A = 4.0
• A- = 3.7
• B+ = 3.3
• B = 3.0
• B- = 2.7
• C = 2.0
• C- = 1.7
• D+ = 1.3
• D = 1.0
• D- = 0.7
• F = 0.0

The grade of A+ is given for extraordinary work and appears on the transcript with the "plus" qualification, but it awards no additional quality point value in the calculation of the grade point average."F" means Not Passing and earns neither semester hours toward graduation nor quality points; however, the number of semester hours attempted is computed into the point standing, so that "F" has a negative effect on the point standing.Other letter grades include the following:

"AU" means Audit and does not enter into the point standing.

"I" means 'Work in Course is Incomplete. This grade does not enter into the point standing. The grade and quality points awarded when the incomplete is made up (or the "F" that is given by default if the incomplete is not made up by the last day of final examinations of the next fall or spring semester) become part of the point standing at that time.

"P" means Passing in a course taken on a pass-fail basis. A grade of "P" is given for achievement equivalent to the standards for the grades "A" through "D" in the same course. A "P" does not enter into the point standing, but earns the designated number of semester hours.

"S" and "U" mean Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory.

These grades are used only for certain courses, and are not available by student option. Courses using these grades will earn semester hours, but those hours may not be counted toward the minimum number of hours required for graduation or a degree. "S" and "U" do not affect the point standing.

"W" means Withdrew and does not enter into the point standing.

"X" means the work is not finished because of the nature of the study. This grade is available only for graduate level courses.All missing grades change to failing grades one year after the completion of the semester in which the course was taken.

University grade point average (GPA)
The student's grade-point average is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. The number of hours attempted is computed by adding the hours for all courses in which the student has earned grades. The overall point standing takes into account all work taken at the University. Courses numbered below the 100 level (000–099) taken in the 1998 Fall Semester or after will not be used in the earned hours or University Grade Point Average calculations. However, decisions involving probation, dismissal, honors and eligibility for graduation are defined by each academic unit. Grades and quality points earned at other institutions are not incorporated into the university grade point average. Students should review the unit sections to determine how their enrollment unit uses transfer credit grades in the calculation of the grade point average.

Course numbering system
Each course has an alphabetic subject area code and a three-digit number. Within each department these numbers are used to identify the courses.

Freshman courses are numbered 100 to 199.

Sophomore courses are numbered 200 to 299.

Junior courses are numbered 300 to 399.

Senior courses are numbered 400 to 499.

Senior and graduate courses are numbered 500 to 599.

Graduate courses are numbered 600 to 799.In registering to enroll for courses during a particular term, students are required to use a unique four digit course code, available in the university course schedule, to designate the particular course section in which they seek to enroll.

Additional Speed School of Engineering Unit Policy
Decisions involving academic warning, probation, suspension, dismissal, honors, and eligibility for graduation are defined by each academic unit. These decisions are based on the university grade point average, which is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. The number of hours attempted is computed by adding the hours for all courses in which the student has earned grades. The overall point standing takes into account all work taken at the University, excluding courses numbered below the 100 level.

Grades and quality points earned at other institutions are not incorporated into the university grade point average.Courses with numbers from 500 to 599 may be open to both undergraduate and graduate students and can be taken by graduate students for graduate credit. Those numbered 600 and above are primarily for graduate students. Graduate students who wish to receive graduate credit for 500-level courses must demonstrate a level of mastery of the course material substantially above that required for undergraduate credit. This mastery must be verified in writing by the instructor if graduate credit is requested after course is completed. Demonstration of an appropriate degree of mastery may include term papers, independent study, comprehensive examinations, or other more stringent requirements than those applied for undergraduate credit. The nature of the differences between the requirements for graduate credit and those for undergraduate credit must be described in course syllabi. Students are advised to consult their department for information on any particular 500-level course.

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Graduation and Degree Requirements

University Policy
The conferring of degrees by the University of Louisville is conditional upon completion of all requirements in the opinion of the Dean/Director and faculty, regardless of the students' participation in Commencement or any other representations by University employees. The student is responsible for submitting an application for a degree in a timely manner to be considered for a degree.Commencements are scheduled for May and December. Commencement information and current schedules are available online at http://louisville.edu/commencement. Graduates participating in the commencement ceremonies must order academic apparel before the deadline stated on the website.All graduating students must apply for their degrees online according to deadlines declared by the Registrar's Office at http://louisville.edu/student/services/registrar/degreecomm.html.

Additional Speed School of Engineering Unit Policy
Grade Point Average
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree must have a minimum final cumulative grade point average of 2.0.

Second Bachelor's Degree
To be awarded a second bachelor's degree, students must earn a minimum of thirty additional semester hours from the School of Engineering.  For students pursuing two degrees simultaneously, these thirty hours will be added to the minimum total of semester hours needed for the degree seeking the least number of hours.  In addition, satisfaction of the requirements for co-op must have approval of both departments.

Graduate Level Studies
A maximum of six hours of graduate level courses taken as an undergraduate may be used to satisfy Master of Engineering degree requirements.  The minimum grade point average requirement for good standing and satisfaction of degree requirements is:a)3.00 for work completed while in graduate studies for M.S. and Ph.D. programs, b)2.75 for work completed while in graduate studies for M.Eng. programs

Candidacy Requirement
A student becomes a candidate for the Master of Engineering degree upon admission to Graduate Studies and initial registration as a graduate student. A candidate for the Master of Engineering degree who does not register for credit hours must maintain active registration by paying a fee each semester for M.Eng. residency until the degree is awarded, i.e. the candidate must maintain continuous registration in Graduate Studies. Failure to pay the M.Eng. residency fee will be cause to cancel a student's candidacy. In order to be restored to candidacy, the student must have the recommendation of the
department chair, receive the approval of the Associate Dean and pay the fee for each of the semesters during which the candidacy was void.

Graduation with Academic Honors
Students who have completed one-half of the credit hours required in their undergraduate degree program while enrolled in the Speed School of Engineering will be eligible to graduate with Honors. Eligibility for Master of Engineering degree graduate honors is based upon the grade point average for the five year degree program and not just courses taken while in Graduate Studies. Speed School has the following distinctions:
Degree with Honors: 3.25
Degree with High Honors: 3.50
Degree with Highest Honors: 3.75

Incomplete Course Work
University Policy
In the event a student is unable to complete the course requirements by the end of the semester, the instructor has the option to award "I" in place of the grade. "I" means work in course is Incomplete and does not enter into the grade computations until a grade is awarded or it becomes an "F". The student has until the end of the next Fall or Spring semester to complete the required course work. If the work is not completed by this deadline, the grade will automatically change to "F".Units may have additional policies, please refer to unit information below.

Additonal Speed School of Engineering Unit Policy
In reporting the grade "I", instructors shall state the nature of the work that is lacking. The deficiency must be made up within the school's next academic term. Failure to complete the work within this period will result in a grade of "F" being recorded against the student. When the required work is completed, the instructor will submit a grade authorization form changing the "I" to the letter grade earned.  When the grade of "F" is given in any required course, the student shall repeat the course or take an approved equivalent at the first opportunity.

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Internships, Cooperatives, and Independent Study

Correspondence courses
For any student enrolled in the Speed School of Engineering, a maximum of three (3) courses (10 credit hours maximum) may be taken by correspondence from an accredited institution. These courses may be only from the areas of Arts, Humanities, Social and Cultural Studies, and must fulfill all requirements stipulated for such courses. Currently enrolled students must have the permission of their department chair in order to enroll in a specific correspondence course during a particular semester. This policy also applies to students transferring into the School of Engineering.

Independent study courses
Enrollment in an independent study course provides the opportunity for the student, under the supervision of a sponsoring faculty member, to pursue individualized study related to research and/or the practice of engineering that is not included in courses in the curriculum. The student must present an approved written plan that includes the purpose, rationale, activities planned, and expected results. A title for this individualized study course will be assigned by the supervising faculty member and will appear on the student's academic record. An independent study course is not permitted to duplicate an existing lecture course. Independent study enrollments will not be included in the assigned instructional workload of faculty, because of difficulties encountered in evaluating percentage instructional effort and performance in this category.

Cooperative education
The principal purpose of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering is to give the student a thorough, well-balanced training in engineering and applied science as preparation for entry into the profession of engineering. By pursuing an integrated program of both on-campus and employment learning experiences, a student has the opportunity to observe and participate in the practice of engineering. The Engineering Office of Career Development assists each student in obtaining a suitable cooperative work assignment in business and industry or government locally, statewide, regionally, and nationally. During each co-op assignment, students work full-time and receive a salary from their employer. 

Objectives of Cooperative Education

• To provide students with experience in the job search process.
  
• To provide an opportunity for discipline related learning experience in the work place to expand and enrich the student's academic training.
  
• To provide an opportunity to integrate classroom theory with workplace practice.
  
• To provide an opportunity for students to assess engineering as a career choice relative to their individual skills and interests.
  
• To encourage development of critical competencies such as communication, teamwork, and management skills.
  
• To enable students to develop a knowledge and understanding of engineering applications in business.
  
• To assist students in developing an understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities.
  

Engineering Cooperative Education

In order to qualify for the Bachelor of Science degree, students must successfully complete three co-ops within an area directly related to their degree specialization. 

Eligibility for Co-op
Co-op eligibility is dependent upon the student's admission to an academic department, being in good standing within Speed School, and upon completion of pre- and co-requisites for the Co-op 288 Seminar. In addition, transfer students must have completed at least one semester of full-time coursework in Speed School including the Co-op Seminar (288) before their first co-op. Required Cooperative Education Seminar (non-credit): Students must be enrolled in Departmental Course 288 the semester preceding their first cooperative work assignment. The course description is available in this Catalog.

Student Responsibilities

• Students will alternate co-ops with semesters of full-time class work.
• Students are required to register for the co-op prior to the beginning of each work term.
• Students are expected to work the dates of co-op designated by the Engineering Career Development Office.
• In order to achieve the objectives of Cooperative Education, all co-op work terms will be conducted with the same employer.
• Students are employees of the company or organization while they are on co-op and are subject to employer rules and regulations. Students are expected to maintain the highest performance and behavioral standards while on co-op.
• If a student is terminated from cooperative employment or otherwise disciplined for any reason, it must be immediately reported by the student to the co-op coordinator. A student who is terminated for any reason other than the employer's business conditions will receive an "F" grade in co-op and, in addition, may be subject to academic sanctions as well as disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct. 

The University is not liable for any accident  or injury involving a co-op student. However, it is the responsibility of the student to see that any serious accident or injury is reported, at the earliest opportunity, to the co-op coordinator. Students are required to sign and abide by the policies and procedures set forth in the Cooperative Education Student Agreement provided in the co-op seminar.

Salary

In general, students are classified as temporary full-time employees and are paid on an hourly basis while on co-op.  Pay rates vary according to employer and location.

Length of Employment
In order to be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Science degree, all candidates must have completed three alternating cooperative semesters, totaling one year's duration.

Course Enrollment During Co-op
In general, academic coursework is not allowed during the co-op work period.  In some instances, with approval, a student may enroll for academic coursework not exceeding four semester hours during any co-op period. Approval will be given only for academic coursework that is taken outside normal working hours (8:00 – 5:00) and which does not interfere with the co-op work assignment.  Permission to take a course must be obtained prior to the beginning of the co-op period. Request forms are available from the Engineering Office of Career Development and on the co-op website.

Evaluation and Academic Credit
Co-op students are graded on a pass/fail basis and earn two semester hours of credit for each completed co-op, for a total of six semester hours. At the conclusion of a co-op semester, each student is evaluated by the appropriate employer representative. This evaluation will assist in the development and counseling of the student and will become a permanent part of the student's file.  Each student is required to submit
a written report along with the employer evaluation at the end of each co-op period. The report will be reviewed by the co-op coordinator and graded by faculty in the student's major department.

Advanced Credit
Advanced credit for co-op may be awarded upon approval of the department chair, the Director of Career Development and the Dean for Academic Affairs. Students who performed full-time work of a technical nature before entering Speed School and students who have had military experience are eligible. A letter is required from the employer verifying the dates and the nature of the employment. In the case of military experience, veterans may submit a copy of their separation form in lieu of the employer's letter. Students who participate in ROTC or military summer camp may receive credit for one co-op (2 hours). Forms for advanced credit are available from the Engineering Office of Career Development. Part-time work or work performed subsequent to entering Speed School will not qualify for advanced credit. If the work, however, was comparable to a co-op assignment and was performed during a semester in which the student was enrolled for no more than four semester hours, then the student may be eligible, upon approval, for back registration.  The student must pay tuition for the two hours of credit and will be expected to fulfill normal course requirements for co-op, including submission of a co-op report and employer evaluation.

Employment Opportunities
Securing a co-op position is affected by general economic conditions and particular employer specifications. 

Therefore, the University cannot guarantee employment. However, every effort will be made to assist students in finding cooperative assignments appropriate to their specialization and personal preference. Students who obtain their own co-op employment must have the approval of the cooperative education coordinator and are subject to the policies and procedures stated herein and the Cooperative Education Student Agreement.

Waiver Policy
Although three semesters of co-op are required for the Master of Engineering degree, a student exiting with the Bachelor of Science degree may substitute three semester hours of coursework for the third and final co-op. The three semester hours must be in addition to courses required for the baccalaureate degree and must be approved by the department chair. When a co-op coordinator experiences extreme difficulty in placing a student on one or more co-ops, that student may seek an administrative waiver from the department chair and the co-op coordinator. Waiver recipients are required to complete a minimum of two semester hours of additional courses for each cooperative period waived. These additional courses will be specified by the department chair.

International Students Exemption
A student who holds a student visa is exempt from the mandatory cooperative education requirement. The six semester hours of co-op work experience will be replaced by six semester hours of courses approved by the department.

Graduate Career Employment
Graduating students and alumni should register with the Engineering Career Development Center for job search assistance. On-campus interviews, individual counseling, and group information sessions are conducted throughout the year.

Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is prohibited at the University of Louisville. It is a serious offense because it diminishes the quality of scholarship, makes accurate evaluation of student progress impossible, and defrauds those in society who must ultimately depend upon the knowledge and integrity of the institution and its students and faculty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:

A. Cheating:

1. Using or attempting to use books, notes, study aids, calculators, or any other documents, devices, or information in any academic exercise without prior authorization by the teacher.
2. Copying or attempting to copy from another person's paper, report, laboratory work, computer program, or other work material in any academic exercise.
3. Procuring or using tests or examinations, or any other information regarding the content of a test or examination, before the scheduled exercise without prior authorization by the teacher.
4. Unauthorized communication during any academic exercise.
5. Discussing the contents of tests or examinations with students who have not yet taken the tests or examinations if the instructor has forbidden such  discussion.
6. Sending a substitute to take one's examination, test, or quiz, or to perform one's field or laboratory work; acting as a substitute for another student at any examination, test, or quiz, or at a field or laboratory work assignment.
7. Conducting research or preparing work for another student, or allowing others to conduct one's research or prepare one's work, without prior authorization by the teacher. Except when otherwise explicitly stated by the teacher, examination questions shall become public after they have been given.

B. Fabrication:
Inventing or making up data, research results, information, or procedures, such as:

1. Inventing or making up data, research results, information, or procedures.
2. Inventing a record of any portion thereof regarding internship, clinical, or practicum experience.

C. Falsification:
Altering or falsifying information, such as:

1. Changing grade reports or other academic records.
2. Altering the record of experimental procedures, data,or results.
3. Altering the record of or reporting false information about internship, clinical, or practicum experiences.
4. Forging someone's signature or identification on an academic record.
5. Altering a returned examination paper in order to claim that the examination was graded erroneously.
6. Falsely citing a source of information.

D. Multiple Submission:
The submission of substantial portions of the same academic work, including oral reports, for credit more than once without prior authorization by the teacher involved.

E. Plagiarism:
Representing the words or ideas of someone else as one's own in any academic exercise, such as:

1. Submitting as one's own a paper written by another person or by a commercial "ghost writing" service,
   
2. Exactly reproducing someone else's words without identifying the words with quotation marks or by appropriate indentation, or without properly citing the quotation in a footnote or reference.
3. Paraphrasing or summarizing someone else's work without acknowledging the source with a footnote or reference.
4. Using facts, data, graphs, charts, or other information without acknowledging the source with a footnote or reference. Borrowed facts or information obtained in one's research or reading must be acknowledged unless they are "common knowledge". Clear examples of "common knowledge" include the names of leaders of prominent nations, basic scientific laws, and the meaning of fundamental concepts and principles in a discipline. The specific audience for which a paper is written may determine what can be viewed as "Common knowledge": for example, the facts commonly known by a group of chemists will differ radically from those known by a more general audience. Students should check with their teachers regarding what can be viewed as "common knowledge" within a specific field or assignment, but often the student will have to make the final  judgment. When in doubt, footnotes or references should be used.

F. Complicity in Academic Dishonesty: Helping or attempting to commit an academically dishonest act. The academic units may have additional guidelines regarding academic dishonesty.

It is the student's responsibility to check with their teachers and academic units to obtain those guidelines.

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Registration Policy

University Policy
Continuing Registration
Currently enrolled students are expected to register for the upcoming semester or term during the current semester by participating in continuing registration. During this period, students generally have a better chance of getting the courses they want at the desired time periods. The Registration Information newspaper and web have instructions for advising and registering via the web.

Open Registration
Students who do not participate in Continuing Registration may register by web in the days immediately preceding the start of the semester. Students should consult the appropriate unit section for procedures for students wishing to register in this fashion. A late payment fee of $50.00 may be assessed when student accounts are not financially settled by the end of the first week of classes.

E-Mail Notification
The university will use the e-mail system to remind students of some academic and financial deadlines as well as notification of cancelled courses. Please plan to check your campus e-mail account regularly, especially the week prior to the beginning of classes and the first several weeks of each semester.

Metroversity Registration
Kentuckiana Metroversity Inc., is a cooperative effort of seven institutions: Bellarmine University, Indiana University Southeast, Jefferson Community Technical Colleges, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Spalding University, and the University of Louisville. A full-time student at any one of these schools enjoys the opportunity of cross-registration, double-degree programs, library privileges, innovative off-campus experiences, and extracurricular activities on the other campuses of the consortium. Full-time University of Louisville students wishing to take courses at another Metroversity school should consult their academic advisor in the unit in which they are enrolled, as well as the

Registrar's Office, to ensure proper enrollment and recording of courses. Cross registration is permitted on a space available basis at the discretion of the member institutions.

Additional Speed School of Engineering Unit Policy
Concurrent registration in another institution

Students in the College of Engineering who wish to enroll in a course or courses at another institution must obtain prior permission. Such students should contact the Associate Dean of Academics for that permission.

Undergraduates taking graduate courses

Undergraduate students who are within 6 semester hours of completing baccalaureate requirements may register in 600-level graduate courses, with the permission of the instructor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  It is understood that such courses will replace courses in the normal undergraduate curriculum and therefore cannot be used for subsequent graduate credit.

Awarding of Credit through Placement Exams

University Policy
Advanced Placement Examinations of The College Board
In accordance with Kentucky Senate Bill 74, the University of Louisville awards credit for scores of 3 on all Advanced Placement Examinations of the College Board. A higher score may be required to receive credit for specific courses within certain disciplines. Elective credit will be awarded for Advanced Placement Examinations not listed or for scores of 3 when a higher score is required for specific course credit. Scores should be submitted to the Office of Admissions as soon as they are available.Advanced placement scores and course equivalencies are available from the Office of Admissions.

Program of The College Board
The University awards credit on the basis of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) administered by The College Board. CLEP examinations may be taken at any national test center, including the University of Louisville Testing Service. Prior arrangements with the testing center must be made, and there is a fee for the general examination and for each subject examination. A CLEP Bulletin of Information for candidates may be obtained from most testing centers, or by writing the following address: CLEP, Box 1821, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.

Scores obtained should be sent to the Office of Admissions. Areas of study, the amount of credit allowed, and minimum scores are determined by the Office of Admissions. Credit earned through CLEP does not count as credit earned in residence at the University of Louisville.

International Baccalaureate
The University awards academic credit to entering freshmen who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Credit will be awarded for certain IB Higher Level examinations completed with a score of 5 or higher, up to a maximum of 24 semester hours. There is no provision for awarding of credit for IB Standard Level examinations.

Scores and course equivalencies are available from the Office of Admissions.

Foreign Language Advanced Standing
Students who wish to continue the study of a foreign language begun in high school must take placement examinations in order to be placed at the appropriate level. To receive university credit for language study completed at the high school level, the placement examination is required before attempting university language study.

The placement exam is administered via the Internet, and can be completed at the Department of Classical and Modern Languages website.

The placement tests may not be used to earn credit if the student already has received college or university level credit in that language elsewhere or has enrolled in a course in that language at this university.

When a student places into a course higher than 121, credit toward graduation will be awarded for those elementary or intermediate courses by-passed only if the student completes successfully the language class into which she/he is placed. A student placing in the 300 level will receive 12 hours of "pass" credit for 121, 122, 123, or 221 (depending on the language) upon successful completion of a 300-level class in the language. (Eighteen hours of credit by placement are available in Spanish for students who test into 321, 322, or 355.) Any credit earned by placement testing will be posted on the student’s record only after completion of a regular semester of full-time study (or 12 semester hours) at the University of Louisville. Students should not enroll for credit in a course they have successfully bypassed through examination.

A student who has earned college credit for work done in high school may choose whether to use that credit OR the credit earned through the placement examination program described above. These regulations also apply to Metroversity students.

For foreign students whose previous academic work has been in a language other than English, the foreign language requirement for graduation will be waived automatically. No credit will be granted for 100- or 200-level language courses to any student for whom this is the native
language. Students may obtain credit for courses in linguistics, culture, or literature numbered 300 or above in their native language by extramural examination or by taking the courses.

For information about placement examinations in American Sign Language, contact the coordinator of the Interpreter Training Program, 300 Robbins Hall, (502) 852-4607.

Residency Status

University Policy
Students earning baccalaureate degrees are required to complete 30 of their last 36 semester hours at the University of Louisville. Students earning associate degrees are required to complete a minimum of 15 of their last 18 semester hours at the University of Louisville.