Graduate Programs and Policies

Graduate Programs

Inventory of Graduate Programs Registered with New York State

Academic Policies and Procedures

Registration Policies and Procedures

Degree Requirements and Policies

Grading System

Graduate Programs

Through its graduate programs, Lehman College offers qualified students the opportunity to pursue the advanced study of academic disciplines in breadth as well as in depth. Emphasis is placed on scholarship, original work, and training in research.

The College offers over thirty master's degree programs in arts and sciences and in professional studies. Graduate enrollment is approximately 2,300 students of a total Lehman student body of almost 12,000. Most graduate students attend part-time, combining graduate study with a regular job or career. Graduate courses are generally scheduled late in the day to facilitate attendance.

The degrees offered are the Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Science in Education (M.S. Ed.), Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), and Master of Social Work (M.S.W.). Lehman also offers advanced certificates. Lehman faculty participate in most City University doctoral programs. In association with the New York Botanical Garden, a plant sciences concentration in the University doctoral program in biology is based at Lehman College.

Office Of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies

The Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies (Shuster Hall, Room 275, 718-960-8972) coordinates all graduate programs, policies, and procedures. The Graduate Studies Adviser supervises the office and is available to answer questions regarding graduate study and College-wide policies pertaining to graduate study at Lehman. Questions about specific academic programs or program requirements should be directed to the appropriate Graduate Program Adviser.

Departments Offering Graduate Programs

Graduate programs leading to a master's degree or advanced certificate are offered by the following departments: Art; Biological Sciences; Counselor, Leadership, Literacy, and Special Education; Early Childhood and Childhood Education; Economics, Accounting, and Business Administration; English; Health Sciences; History; Mathematics and Computer Science; Middle and High School Education; Music; Nursing; Languages and Literatures; Social Work; and Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. A detailed inventory of degrees, programs, and specializations is contained in this chapter of the bulletin.

Doctoral Programs With CUNY

Lehman College, in conjunction with the Graduate School and University Center, contributes faculty, and in some cases facilities, for the following doctoral programs of The City University of New York:

Anthropology

Art History

Biochemistry

Biology (Plant Science doctoral program at Lehman College)

Chemistry

Classics

Comparative Literature

Computer Science

Earth and Environmental Sciences

English

French

Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures

History

Linguistics

Mathematics

Music

Philosophy

Physics

Political Science

Psychology

Sociology

Speech and Hearing Sciences

Theatre

Urban Education

Education Programs

Designed primarily for students who have completed an undergraduate teacher-preparation program—including general education, academic specialization, and professional foundations—Lehman College's graduate programs in education extend the competence of the classroom teacher, school counselor, and school leader; provide training for specialized school personnel; and promote research for all school personnel. The programs focus on the mastery of academic disciplines, the development of education theory and practice, opportunities in field experiences, and research on issues of particular relevance to teachers, counselors, and leaders in urban schools.

Graduate programs in education are designed to develop school personnel able to serve students of diverse needs in urban schools. The education programs allow the prospective professional to specialize in such fields as Early Childhood and Childhood Education, Middle and High School Education (English, social studies, mathematics education, science education, foreign language education, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages—T.E.S.O.L.), counselor education, educational leadership, literacy studies (reading education), and special education.

A special program, designed for professional musicians, leads to the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) music degree and New York State certification as teacher of music.

The academic and education programs described in this bulletin are designed to fulfill the requirements for New York State initial or professional certification. Students who graduate from an education program may apply for New York State initial or professional certification, contingent upon their credentials.

Student Teaching/Internship/Practicum Requirements and Policies

Student Teaching/Internship/Practicum Requirements and Policies

In addition to the successful completion of a degree in an educator preparation program, supervised field experience or clinical practice (e.g., student teaching, an internship, or a practicum) is required for all graduate students applying for certification in New York State as a teacher, counselor, or school building/school district leader. Student teaching, internships, or practicums cannot be waived based on prior experience or other factors. Students must follow the attendance policy of each program. Unexcused absences from supervised field experience may be grounds for removal from the placement. Students may repeat student teaching, internship, or practicum only once. For specific program requirements, see the program advisor.

Teacher Certification Requirements For Education Matriculants

Initial Teacher Certification. Matriculants who successfully complete graduate teacher education programs at Lehman are eligible to apply for New York State initial certification. Information about requirements for specific certificates may be obtained from the Division of Education's Certification Officer, located in Room B33 of Carman Hall.

Candidates for initial teacher certification must meet the State requirements for certification as follows:

• A bachelor's degree in liberal arts or science;
• Completion of N.Y.S. registered teacher preparation program (master's degree) in the field that a certificate is sought;
• Successful completion of internship or student teaching;
• Passing the New York State Certification Examinations: (a) the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (L.A.S.T.), (b) the Content Specialty Test (C.S.T.), and (c) the Assessment of Teaching Skills—Written (A.T.S.-W.); and
• Completion of the workshops on school violence prevention and child abuse identification.

Matriculants must file an application for initial teacher certification at the start of their final semester of graduate study. Filing instructions may be obtained from the Certification Officer, Room B33, Carman Hall.

The certification process is as follows:

1. The candidate completes the graduate education program and obtains the degree.
2. The candidate files for certification using the N.Y.S.E.D. Teach System with the Certification Officer.
3. The candidate contacts the Certification Officer when his or her record of graduation date is available on eSIMS.
4. The Certification Officer reviews the transcript to ensure that the candidate has met the New York State liberal arts and science requirements.
5. The candidate may need to take additional courses if there is deficiency in the coursework.
6. The Certification Officer enters an institutional recommendation for N.Y.S. certification.
7. The State Education Department mails the teaching certificate directly to the applicant in two to three weeks.

Professional Teacher Certification. Completion of a graduate program in education at Lehman College may lead to New York State professional certification. Students who wish to obtain professional certification in Special Education, Educational Leadership, Literacy Studies, Middle and High School Education (e.g., English, mathematics, social studies, T.E.S.O.L., science, and foreign language), or Early Childhood and Childhood Education must have earned an initial teacher certification. Information on requirements for professional certification is available from the Office of Teacher Certification. Lehman College recommends a student for professional certification only in the area of his/her master's degree. For example, a student who holds initial (provisional) certification in Childhood Education (Grades 1–6) may apply for professional certification in Special Education if his or her master's degree is in Special Education. Students, however, may apply on their own for professional certification in an area outside their master's degree specialization.

Inventory Of Graduate Programs As Registered With The New York State Education Department

The following list gives the titles of Lehman College graduate programs that have been registered with the New York State Education Department. The list may include programs not currently offered by the College; it is the responsibility of each student to determine which programs are currently being offered. Students are cautioned that enrollment in other than registered or otherwise approved programs may jeopardize eligibility for certain student financial aid awards.

Hegis Chart

NOTE: Changes in program requirements designated by the New York State Education Department for Teacher, Counselor and/or Administrator certifications occur from time to time. As such, students are advised to consult the office of the Division of Education, Room B-33 of Carman Hall, to determine the most current program requirements for certification. Students not seeking an institutional recommendation but who intend to apply independently for certification should consult with a departmental adviser prior to registration so that a course of study fulfilling state requirements may be planned. New York State may at some point end the independent transcript review route to certification. Students should consult the New York State Education Department website for updates or may check with the Division of Education's Certification Office to determine if a change in this policy has been adopted.

Academic Policies and Procedures

Degree Requirements And Policies

To earn a Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Science in Education, Master of Social Work, Master of Public Health, Master of Arts in Teaching, or Master of Fine Arts degree, a student must:

1. Be formally admitted to a degree program, i.e., be matriculated. (Students cannot be matriculated simultaneously in more than one master's degree program at Lehman College.)
2. Complete no fewer than 30 credits of graduate courses that are acceptable to the department of specialization.
3. Maintain a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0.
4. In most programs, write a thesis based on independent research, complete an appropriate special project, and/or pass a comprehensive examination. Departmental requirements are outlined elsewhere in this bulletin.
5. Complete all requirements for the degree within five years following matriculation.
6. Complete all departmental requirements for the degree.

Comprehensive Examination

In many master's degree programs at Lehman College, candidates are required to pass a comprehensive examination as part of their degree requirements. Students should consult the Graduate Program Adviser in the program in which they are enrolled to determine the precise requirements for the degree in that program.

Students not successful on the first attempt at the comprehensives are urged to discuss their examination with their Program Adviser before taking the examination a second time. Students unsuccessful after two attempts are dropped from the College. In order to take the examination a third time, students must appeal to the Graduate Studies Committee no later than the third week of the semester immediately following their second unsuccessful attempt. If their appeal is successful, students then should apply for readmission through the Office of Graduate Admissions (Shuster Hall, Room 150). Filing an appeal does not in itself guarantee that any student will be granted a third attempt at the comprehensive examination. No further appeals are possible after a third unsuccessful attempt to pass the comprehensives.

Graduate students planning to take the comprehensive examination must be matriculated and currently registered. Students taking no courses in the semester in which they take their comprehensives must register for maintenance of matriculation and pay the appropriate fee.

Thesis Or Project Report

In curricula requiring a thesis or project report, the thesis or report must be presented to the department chair or adviser in sufficient time to enable the work to be evaluated, corrected, amended, and the grade to be recorded before the date on which classes for that semester end. A candidate permitted to offer a thesis or project report must consult the adviser for departmental requirements for preparation of the thesis or report. The student must file with the thesis adviser the number of approved copies of the thesis or project report required by the program in which he/she is matriculated, along with a copy of the bursar's receipt for the binding fee.

Time Limit For Earning a Lehman College Master's Degree

Master's degree candidates must complete their programs within five years from the time they become matriculated students. Absence from the College for one or more semesters does not alter or affect the five-year limit (see Interruption of Studies below) for earning a degree. Graduate students who, due to unusual circumstances, are unable to complete their degrees within the five-year period may apply for an extension in the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies. Extensions must be approved by the Graduate Program Adviser.

Interruption of Studies

Although students are encouraged to make steady progress toward their master's degrees, absence for one or more semesters may be unavoidable. In order to resume their studies following an absence of any length, matriculated graduate students must contact the Office of Graduate Admissions (Shuster Hall, 150) to complete the application for readmission and pay the readmission fee.

Matriculated graduate students returning after an absence of two or more years are subject to any changes made to their master's degree program in their absence and must satisfy all degree requirements. In addition, returning graduate students must consult with their program adviser to determine if any of their previous coursework is out of date and to discuss their future course of study.

Following an absence of three or more years, matriculated graduate students must apply in the Office of Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies for an extension of the five-year time limit for completing their degree program prior to applying for readmission. Nonmatriculated graduate students must reapply to the College and pay the application fee following an absence from the College of any length.

Graduation Procedure

A student who expects to graduate at the end of a semester must file a formal application for graduation in the Office of the Registrar, Shuster Hall, Room 105, by the deadline published each semester in the Schedule of Classes. If the student does not graduate, he/she must refile for graduation in any subsequent semester in which graduation is anticipated.

Any incomplete grades (INC) on the graduate student's transcript must be resolved prior to the date of graduation. To resolve incomplete grades, students must either complete and hand in the missing work or, if the courses in question are not required for the degree, indicate to the Office of the Registrar that they do not intend to complete the work. Students who choose not to make up the missing work are required to sign a statement in the Registrar's Office indicating their awareness that INC grades remaining on the transcript can never be changed to letter grades.

This policy applies even if the course in question is not applicable toward the degree being awarded, and even if the one-year time limit for finishing incomplete grades has not expired. The transcripts of graduated students are sealed at the time of graduation, and no changes can be made after the graduation date.

Students cannot graduate if the indication "Z" appears in place of a grade on their transcript. The "Z" indicates that the faculty member teaching that particular course did not submit a grade to the Office of the Registrar. The student is responsible for contacting either the faculty member or the department chair to ensure that a grade is submitted.

Maintenance of Matriculation Fee

Students not enrolled in courses in any semester, who need to maintain matriculation, are required to register for maintenance of matriculation in the Office of the Registrar (Shuster 114) and pay the appropriate fee in the Bursar's Office (Shuster Hall 031). Students should register and pay this fee during the semester of absence. In the semester in which the degree is to be awarded, students must be either registered in courses or maintaining matriculation. Maintenance of matriculation is paid in summer sessions only when the student expects to receive the master's degree the following September. Students who have paid maintenance of matriculation do not have to pay the student activity fee or the consolidated service fee. The maintenance of matriculation fee cannot be waived.

Registration Policies and Procedures

Academic Advising

For graduate students, academic advising occurs at two levels:

• Each graduate program at Lehman College has at least one academic adviser to help in planning students' programs. Graduate students should consult frequently with their Program Adviser for information regarding their specific master's degree program, and they MUST see their Program Adviser before registering each semester. Frequent advisement is critical for acquiring up-to-date information and for monitoring progress toward the master's degree.
• The Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies (Shuster Hall, Room 275), managed by the Graduate Studies Adviser, provides information and advisement regarding College-wide academic policies and procedures. Among the matters addressed by this office are appeals (except grade appeals), changes of grade, academic retention and probation, acceptance with conditions, academic standards, and transfer credit policies.

Registration Materials

Information for Web registration is mailed by the Office of the Registrar prior to the end of the current semester to all continuing graduate students who were registered at Lehman that semester. New graduate students or returning students who did not receive materials should obtain them from the Office of Admissions (Shuster Hall, Room 150) before the registration period.

Registration for Graduate Courses

Electronic course permission of the Graduate Program Adviser is required to register for any graduate course. Consult the department for registration advising hours.

Bursar's Receipt

The bursar's receipt is the only valid proof of registration in courses. Students are responsible for checking registration materials for any errors before submitting them to the Registrar for processing. For students registering by telephone, the system will repeat their course requests for verification. Report any error on the bursar's receipt to the Business Office immediately, accompanied by a request for a corrected receipt. Keep all bursar's receipts in case questions regarding registration arise at a later date.

Registration in Undergraduate Courses

Graduate students who are advised by their Program Adviser to register for undergraduate courses must also get permission from the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies. Upon receiving the required approval, they may register for such courses at the time of graduate registration. Graduate students may not register on the Web for undergraduate courses.

Credits earned in undergraduate courses that are not part of the graduate degree requirements do not count toward the graduate degree, and graduate students pay undergraduate nondegree tuition. Graduate students who register in undergraduate courses and who receive graduate credit for the courses must pay the applicable graduate tuition according to residency. A graduate student may not register in a given semester solely for undergraduate courses unless he/she obtains permission from both the Graduate Program Adviser and the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies.

Registration in Out-Of-Program Courses

A student who has been admitted to a specific graduate program, or has been given permission to take certain specific graduate courses, may not automatically register for other courses in other programs. Students may do so only if they obtain written permission from the graduate adviser in the second program and receive permission from the Graduate Studies Adviser.

Registration in Courses at Other CUNY Colleges

Matriculated graduate students may take courses at other CUNY colleges with the permission of the Graduate Program Adviser or department chair and from the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies. (See Courses Taken on Permit.) Permits and details regarding their use may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar, Shuster Hall, Room 106. Students must also contact the host college with regard to registration requirements. Graduate students from other CUNY colleges who wish to register at Lehman must file a nonmatriculant application with the Office of Graduate Admissions (Shuster Hall, Room 150) and submit a permit from the registrar of the home college.

The admission fee is waived for students attending Lehman College on permit.

Credit Policies

Residency Requirement

Graduate students in master's degree programs must complete as matriculated students at least one-half of the total graduate credits required to complete their Lehman College master's degree program, OR 18 graduate-level credits, whichever is greater.

Graduate students in certificate programs must complete at least one-half of the graduate-level credits required to complete their certificate program as matriculated students at Lehman College. This minimum number of credits to be taken after matriculation is known as the Residency Requirement. Due to the varied credit requirements of Lehman's graduate programs, students will generally have to complete somewhat more than the minimum residency requirement in order to graduate. No interpretation of this policy shall supersede the policy regarding Transfer of Credit outlined elsewhere in this graduate bulletin.

Six (6) credits of the Residency Requirement may be taken as permit classes at other CUNY colleges offering appropriate master's-level courses (see Permit Courses). Courses taken at non-CUNY institutions will not be counted toward the Residency Requirement. No part of the Residency Requirement may be satisfied using courses taken prior to matriculation at Lehman College or courses taken as part of a previously awarded master's degree program.

Exception:

Master's degree candidates from the Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York (CUNY Graduate Center) may transfer to a senior college and complete the requirements for a master's degree, receiving credit for all graduate work satisfactorily completed at the Center.

Transfer of Credit

• Courses applied toward a previously awarded graduate degree.
• Courses taken at Lehman College in a nonmatriculated status.
• Courses taken at other colleges where no degree has been awarded.

Students who wish to have graduate credits earned prior to matriculation at Lehman counted toward their master's degree should apply for transfer of credit during their first or second semester in attendance as a matriculated student, using the transfer credit form available in the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies (Shuster Hall, Room 275). All credits to be applied toward Lehman College master's degree requirements are subject to the approval of the graduate adviser (or department chair) from the student's particular academic program. Transfer of credit must also be approved by the Graduate Studies office. Transfer credits must conform to the regulations for the program and the curriculum in which the student is matriculated. Grades of B or better in courses taken outside of Lehman College are required in order for courses to be eligible for transfer.

The following regulations apply to all matriculated Lehman College graduate students who applied and were accepted into master's degree or advanced certificate programs in the Fall 2007 semester or later. Students who matriculated before that date should consult the Graduate Studies office to determine the regulations that apply to them.

With appropriate permission, matriculated graduate students may apply as transfer credit toward their master's degree a total of 12 credits of graduate courses. Students matriculated in Social Work may request transfer credits only toward the special topics/elective requirement. Students matriculated in advanced certificate programs may transfer previously completed graduate credits totaling the lesser of nine (9) credits or one-half of the total credits required for their certificate.

The credits transferred may include:

• Courses applied toward a previously awarded master's degree program at Lehman or at another accredited college (maximum 6 credits),
• Courses taken at Lehman in a nonmatriculated status; and
• Courses taken at other accredited colleges where no degree has been awarded.

Transfer credits are subject to the following limitations:

• Courses must be graduate-level and must be taken at accredited institutions offering master's degree programs.
• Courses taken five years or more prior to matriculation at Lehman are not considered for transfer. Exceptions to this time limit may be made only for compelling educational reasons. In such cases, the transfer of credit must be approved by the student's Graduate Program Adviser and the Graduate Studies Office.
• Only six (6) credits counted toward a previously awarded master's degree can be applied to any master's degree or advanced certificate earned at Lehman College.
• Graduate courses previously applied toward an undergraduate degree are not acceptable toward Lehman College master's degree programs.
• Where students have taken more than 12 credits prior to matriculation, courses taken at Lehman College will be given priority in counting toward the 12 credits transferable, provided they meet the College's requirements.
• Students who have taken more than the maximum allowable credits (12 credits) while in a nonmatriculated status must consult with their Graduate Program Adviser to determine which of those credits will count toward the degree. The program adviser will notify the Graduate Studies Office of this decision, using the transfer credit form.
• Graduate courses taken at any non-CUNY institution after matriculation into a graduate program at Lehman College are included in the 12-credit maximum allowable and must receive prior approval from the Graduate Program Adviser and the Graduate Studies Office. (See also Courses Taken on Permit at Other CUNY Institutions.)
• Theses and other culminating master's degree projects taken at Lehman College or at institutions outside of Lehman are not considered for transfer to Lehman College master's degree programs.

NOTE: Students who have completed nine (9) or more credits prior to matriculation at Lehman, as well as students seeking a second master's, are advised to fill out the application for matriculation at the earliest possible date.

Courses Taken on Permit at Other CUNY Institutions

With appropriate permission, matriculated graduate students may take master's-level courses on permit at other colleges of The City University of New York and apply the credit toward the Lehman master's degree. Grades earned in these courses are treated the same as grades earned at Lehman College and are subject to the same restrictions. Grades in courses taken on permit will be recorded on the Lehman College transcript and will count in the computation of the Grade Point Average. No more than six (6) credits taken as permit classes may be counted toward the Residency Requirement.

Permits and details regarding their use are available from the Office of the Registrar, Shuster Hall, Room 106. All courses taken on permit must be approved by the Graduate Program Adviser or the department chair and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Credit Loads

A full-time program of coursework for graduate students is a minimum of 12 credits in any semester. Students may take no more than 17 credits of graduate work in any fall or spring semester. During the summer semesters, graduate students may take no more than two courses in each session. Exceptions to these limits must be approved by the Graduate Program Advisor and the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies. The Graduate Studies Office will not approve credit loads of more than 16 credits in the first semester of graduate study. International students who have been admitted to the United States on student visas are required to complete at least nine (9) credits each fall and spring semester.

Grading Policies

Grades as submitted, to and recorded, in the Office of the Registrar are the sole judgment of the instructor. Grade changes resulting from personal appeals to the instructor and hardship claims are never honored. Students may not raise their grades by completing extra work after the final grade has been recorded. Occasional grading errors do occur, and these are always corrected promptly when properly certified to the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies. Students who believe a grade is unfair may file a departmental grade appeal (see "Appeals" in this chapter of the bulletin).

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Instructors, as well as departments or degree programs, may establish specific attendance requirements. It is the student's responsibility to ascertain the effect attendance may have on the grade in a course. Students receiving financial aid must be certified as attending classes regularly to maintain their eligibility.

Continuation

Students, once accepted to an academic program, are subject to any continuation requirements as determined by their academic department. Such requirements are outlined in the pages in this bulletin that relate to the academic departments. Continuation requirements may include, but are not limited to, minimum overall Grade Point Average, minimum semester Grade Point Average, minimum grades to be achieved in specific courses, completion of all prerequisite and corequisite courses, attendance and performance at fieldwork sites, purchase of liability insurance, and submission of required test scores. Failure to meet continuation requirements may result in additional required coursework over and above that outlined in the program requirements, repetition of designated classes for no academic credits, stopping out for one or more semesters, or termination of enrollment in the master's degree program.

Grading System

The following academic grades are given in Lehman graduate programs: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, and F.

AUD: Attendance credit.

W: The grade in any course from which a student officially withdraws prior to the published deadline, indicating that the withdrawal was without prejudice. Official withdrawal is accomplished by filing a withdrawal application in the Office of the Registrar.

WU: Any unofficial withdrawal from a course and any official withdrawal after the published deadline, unless the grade of W is recommended by the Office of Graduate Studies. A WU counts as an F in computing the Grade Point Average.

INC: The instructor may, at his/her discretion, assign the grade INC, meaning incomplete course work. INC grades must be removed by completion of course requirements within one year of assignment of the grade. If not removed within one year, the grade INC remains permanently.

WA: Administrative withdrawal (e.g., failure to comply with the State law on immunization).

Z: Grade not submitted by the instructor. Z grades must be resolved prior to graduation.

Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) Computation Formula

Quality points (QP) are calculated by multiplying the credit value of each course by the numerical value of the grade received, 4.0 to 1.7 for grades A through C-, and 0 for F or WU. (See the following table.)

• Add the number of credits taken, including those with F or WU grades.
• Divide the total number of quality points by the total number of credits attempted. This final figure is the G.P.A.

Both matriculated and nonmatriculated graduate students must maintain a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 to remain in good standing at Lehman College. Matriculants require a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 for graduation. Undergraduate-level courses and courses transferred from other institutions are not included in computing the G.P.A.

SAMPLE G.P.A. COMPUTATION

Number of credits taken = 31

Division of 85.9 (sum of quality points) by 31 = 2.77 G.P.A.)

INC Grades

A graduate student who receives a grade of INC (incomplete coursework) has one year from the time the grade was entered on the transcript to make up the work and have a change of grade submitted by the instructor. An INC grade entered in a fall semester, for example, must be completed before the end of the next fall semester. INC grades that are not made up within one year remain permanently on the record as INCs. They may not be made up at any later date unless the student successfully appeals for permission to do so. Permanent incompletes do not count in the Grade Point Average. INC grades cannot be made up after the student graduates (see also "Graduation Procedure" in this chapter of the bulletin).

Cumulative Grade Point Average

In order to be awarded a master's degree, a graduate student must finish his/her program with a cumulative Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 (B) or better. Grades counted in the cumulative G.P.A. must be earned in graduate-level courses taken at Lehman College or in graduate courses taken on permit at other CUNY institutions, and all courses must appear on the student's Lehman transcript.

All grades in graduate-level courses will be counted in computing the G.P.A. with the following exceptions:

• Grades earned in courses given by other institutions for which transfer credit has been allowed.
• Grades earned in undergraduate courses taken for undergraduate credit.
• Grades earned in graduate-level courses can be excluded from the Grade Point Average only through a successful appeal supported by the Graduate Program Adviser and submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee (see "General Appeals" in this chapter of the bulletin). Graduate courses taken five (5) or more years prior to the current matriculation, or grades earned in courses unrelated to the current master's degree program, are excluded only upon appeal.

Academic Probation

Low Grade Point Average

Graduate students whose cumulative Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation have one semester in which to raise their G.P.A. to 3.0. During this probationary period, students who make satisfactory progress maintain both their academic standing with the College and their eligibility for financial aid. Any student whose Grade Point Average remains below 3.0 at the end of the probationary period will be dropped from the College. To be allowed to continue, graduate students dropped from the College following a semester of probation must file a successful appeal with the Graduate Studies Committee. Graduate students with 9 or more graduate credits completed, and whose grade point average falls to 2.50 or lower (2.70 or lower in some programs), can continue in their graduate program only upon successful appeal to the Graduate Studies Committee. Such appeals must be accompanied by a letter of support from the academic department.

Admission with Conditions

Students matriculated with conditions may be subject to more stringent academic requirements, including (but not limited to) the denial of the probationary period and the need to maintain a Grade Point Average higher than 3.0. Applicable conditions are set forth in the student's acceptance letter.

Unsatisfactory Academic Progress

A graduate student is deemed not to be making satisfactory academic progress if he or she has accumulated more than two open grades (INC). INC grades in thesis and other culminating master's degree projects are not considered in determining satisfactory academic progress. Students placed on probation for unsatisfactory progress will be given a strict deadline for completing the open grades on their transcript. They also may be limited as to the number of credits for which they can register or may be prevented entirely from registering in any semester until letter grades are entered on their transcripts for the courses involved. The INC grades in question cannot be made up after the assigned deadline. After that date, any courses remaining on the transcript with INC grades will be permanent, and the work can never be completed.

Note: In order to receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid, a graduate student must at least meet the G.P.A. required for good academic standing at the institution (3.0 at Lehman) and with the Office of Financial Aid, and

1. Not have attempted more than 150% of the credits normally required for completion of the degree.
2. Accumulate credits toward the degree equal to or greater than two-thirds of the cumulative credits attempted at the institution.

Students whose financial aid is denied for reasons of insufficient academic progress may file a written appeal.

General Appeals

For a waiver of any of the College's regulations pertaining to graduate study, a student may petition the Graduate Studies Committee. Appeals are granted only for compelling reasons. To launch an appeal, students must submit a completed appeal form, available from the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies (Shuster Hall 275), including a complete explanation of the issues involved and any relevant supporting documents. Supporting documents may include birth certificates, death certificates, letters from physicians, letters of support from faculty, and any documents that bear upon the case in question.

Withdrawal from Courses

The grade of W (withdrawal without penalty) is assigned only when a graduate student officially withdraws from a course. Students must complete the withdrawal process themselves, since the procedure requires a signature. No faculty member or program adviser can withdraw a student from a course. Graduate students can officially withdraw by reporting with their bursar's receipt to the Office of the Registrar (Shuster Hall, Room 114) before the deadline published each semester in the Schedule of Classes. If in-person withdrawal is impossible, students can mail a signed letter to the registrar, including their name, Social Security number, the department that teaches the course(s) from which they wish to withdraw, the course number(s), and the section number(s). This letter must be accompanied by a photocopy of their bursar's receipt. Withdrawals by mail received after the withdrawal deadline will not be processed. This procedure applies to courses taught on- and off-campus.

After the published deadline, students wishing to withdraw from a course without penalty can do so only by appealing successfully to the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies, Shuster Hall, Room 275 (see "Appeals" in this chapter of the bulletin). When students withdraw unofficially, i.e., the student simply stops attending class without completing the withdrawal procedure, the grade of WU is assigned for the course. This grade counts as a failure in computing the cumulative Grade Point Average.

Grade Appeals

A graduate student dissatisfied with his/her course grade should first discuss the situation with the instructor who assigned the grade. If the student is still not satisfied that the grade is fair, he/she should then consult the Graduate Program Adviser for the department in which the course was offered. The Graduate Program Adviser will then attempt to resolve the disagreement.

If the student is still dissatisfied, or if the program adviser was the instructor who assigned the grade originally, the student should appeal in writing to the department chair. If the chair is the instructor of the course in question, the senior member of the department Personnel and Budget Committee will act for the chair.

The chair will appoint a Graduate Grade Appeal Committee consisting of three faculty members from the department, all of whom have taught graduate courses. The Graduate Program Adviser may not serve on this committee.

The committee will examine all materials relevant to the appeal, submitted by both the instructor and the student, and will prepare a written report of its findings, either sustaining the original grade or recommending a change.

The chair will notify the student, the instructor, and the Office of Graduate Studies of the Committee's decision. If the Committee recommends a grade change, the chair will forward that recommendation (A-1) with the decision.

Grade appeals must be initiated in the semester following the entry of a permanent grade, and no grades can be changed after the date of graduation. The decision of the Graduate Grade Appeal Committee is binding on all parties.

Academic Integrity

The most common but not the only forms of academic dishonesty are cheating on examinations and plagiarism, which is the appropriation of the words or ideas of another person, whether taken from print or electronic media, which are then passed off as one's own.

When academic dishonesty is suspected, the instructor will inform the student of his suspicions and the student's rights to:

• Receive any charges in writing;
• Remain silent without assumption of guilt;
• Receive from the instructor a copy of the Academic Integrity Statement; and
• Be advised of the instructor's intended sanction. The instructor and student may resolve the situation, either by agreeing that the suspicions are unfounded or agreeing upon a sanction. Any sanction agreed upon at this point must be reported, together with the charges, to the department chair and to the Office of Graduate Studies. The instructor must report these facts in writing. If no agreement is reached between the student and the instructor, the instructor must report in writing his intended sanction to the department chair and to the student as soon as possible. Then:
• The student may appeal in writing to the department chair within three weeks of receiving notice of the intended sanction. If the chair is the instructor in question, the senior member of the department's Personnel and Budget Committee will act for the chair.
• The chair will appoint a committee of three Lehman faculty members from his/her department to adjudicate the matter within three weeks by majority vote.
• The Committee will send a written notification of its decision to the department chair, the student, the instructor, and the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation/Graduate Studies.
• Either the instructor or the student has the right, within three weeks of receipt of notification, to appeal the department decision in writing to the Senate Committee on Graduate Studies. The decision of this committee is final. No further appeals are permitted. The committee will notify the department chair, the student, the instructor, and the Office of Graduate Studies of its decision. If any part of the three-week period falls outside the regular semester, the first three weeks of the next regular semester shall apply.
• The Office of Graduate Studies will keep all records of such proceedings on file until the student's graduation, at which time the records will be destroyed.

If the charge of academic dishonesty is upheld, disciplinary penalties may be recommended by the Vice President of Student Affairs to the hearing panel composed of members of the Faculty-Student Disciplinary Committee, pursuant to the due process provisions of the Board of Trustees' Bylaws (Article 15.3). Such penalties, which may be imposed only through the Bylaws process, include but are not limited to: 1) suspension from the College or 2) expulsion from the College.