Academic Polices & Procedures
Academic Polices & Procedures
Academic Calendar
The University Academic calendar can be found at www.registrar.neu.edu
Grading System:
A |
4.0 |
This grade is awarded to those students whose performance in the course has been of outstanding graduate caliber |
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A- |
3.667 |
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B+ |
3.333 |
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B |
3.0 |
This grade is awarded to those students whose performance has been at a satisfactory level. |
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B- |
2.667 |
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C+ |
2.333 |
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C |
2.0 |
This grade is awarded to those students whose performance in the course is not at the level expected in graduate work. This grade indicates significant and substantial gaps in the student's understanding of the subject matter and is generally predictive of problems in successfully completing the comprehensive examination.
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C- |
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S |
Satisfactory |
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U |
Unsatisfactory |
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I |
Incomplete |
In accordance with University policy, all incomplete grades must be completed within one academic year. The student must also have on file with the Graduate School Office a signed Incomplete Grade Petition Form. |
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F |
Failure |
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Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements
To remain in good standing, a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) is required. Students must have a 3.0 grade point average or higher to be certified for graduation from the program. Graduate or research assistants who do not maintain the minimum grade point requirements will be placed on academic probation, and will be in jeopardy of losing their funding. Finally, students must earn a 3.0 or better in all required courses. In cases where a student's grade falls below this threshold, the course must be repeated. Students will be provided only one opportunity to re-take a course.
In the Graduate School of Criminal Justice, not more than two courses or six semester hours of credit, whichever is greater, may be repeated to satisfy the requirements for the degree. Only such repeats will be counted in calculating the cumulative average requirement. No grade changes are permitted after the end of the final examination period one calendar year from the semester in which the student registered for the course. In calculating the overall cumulative average, all graduate-level course work completed at the time of clearance for graduation will be counted unless the student is continuing on for a PhD degree. Course work used previously toward a degree may not be counted again.
Academic Probation
Graduate students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to remain in good standing in the Graduate Program. Any graduate student who does not achieve the minimum grade point requirement will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. Due to the relative short duration of the Graduate Program, students will be allowed only one semester to achieve the minimum grade point requirement. Any student who fails to achieve a 3.0 grade point average at the end of the first semester on which they are on probation may be terminated from the Graduate Program.
Transfer Credit
A student may transfer up to six semester hours of credit from another institution, provided that the credits transferred consist of a grade of B (3.0) or better in graduate-level courses, have been earned at a U.S.-accredited institution, have not been used toward any other degree and have received approval from the Director of the Graduate School. Courses accepted for transfer credit must have been completed within seven years of the date the request is made to the Graduate School and been completed within the seven years prior to the awarding of the student's degree at Northeastern. Grades are not transferred. Upon completion of the course, students should submit a letter to the Graduate Office along with an official transcript. Generally, the Graduate School does not approve transfer credit for required courses.
Incomplete Coursework
During the course of the academic year, students may find the need to arrange for an incomplete course grade. Incomplete grades are strongly discouraged and should be incurred in only the most dire circumstances. Incomplete grades are awarded to students at the discretion of the individual faculty member/instructor of a particular course. Once a student has received the permission of the course instructor, he/she must complete the Incomplete Grade Petition Form available in the Graduate School office, on the Graduate Program website, as well as on the University Registrar's website. The individual student, the faculty member and the Director of the Graduate School must sign this form prior to the end of the semester and submission of grade sheets. Students are only permitted to carry 2 incompletes at one time and have 3 incompletes throughout the entire program.
In addition, it is important to note that both the student and the faculty member must establish a date by which all incomplete coursework will be completed. Students who do not file an additional incomplete form, or do not complete the required course work by the predefined date will be awarded a final grade based on the coursework completed to date. It is the sole responsibility of the student to ensure that all incomplete coursework is completed by the specified date. As specified by University policy all incomplete grades must be completed within one year.
Academic Advisor
It is highly recommended that students have chosen an academic advisor/mentor by the end of their first semester. The role of the advisor/mentor is to assist the student in planning their course of study while at Northeastern and to provide the student with both academic and professional advice. Students who have not been assigned an advisor previously should seek out a faculty member who shares their areas of interest and ask that faculty member if they would serve as their advisor.
Criminology/Criminal Justice Graduate Student Association (CCJGSA)
All graduate students are encouraged to participate in CCJGSA meetings and events. The CCJGSA seeks to foster a healthy graduate student culture in which students can develop academically as well as professionally while learning and establishing long-lasting relationships with fellow students and faculty. Their website is www.ccjgsa.neu.edu.
Registration
Students must register via the myNEU portal. Procedures to do so are available on the myNEU portal. Students must register within the dates and times listed on myNEU. Web registration is available during the first and second weeks of the semester for adding and dropping courses. Students who fail to register within this time frame will not earn credit or a grade for the course(s) in question.
To withdraw from a course after the first week of classes, a student must fill out an official course withdrawal form obtained at the Registrar's Office. Ceasing to attend class does not constitute official withdrawal. Notifying the instructor does not constitute official withdrawal. Please refer to the Registrar's website for additional information and timelines on course withdrawals. Course drop forms are available at www.registrar.neu.edu.
Part-time vs. Full-time Status
Students may be admitted as Full-time or Part-time students in the Graduate Program. In order to change status in the program a student must petition the College Graduate Committee and be granted permission to change status. The Graduate Committee has the sole authority to grant or deny any such requests. It is the responsibility of each student to assure that they remain in the appropriate status.
Inactive Status
Students who have not registered for courses for a period of two academic years will be automatically placed on inactive status. Inactive students must reapply to the Graduate School of Criminal Justice to participate in the program.
Credits and Course Load
Please refer to the section particular to each degree for credit and course load requirements, as they differ by degree.
Directed Study
In order to pursue specialized interests not covered by the curriculum, both Master's and PhD students are allowed to enroll in directed study courses. Both PhD and Master's students may enroll in a total of two directed studies during their time in the graduate program. Students may submit requests to extend the number of directed studies beyond the two-course cap. These requests must be directed to the Graduate Committee in writing 30 days before the start of the new semester. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In a directed study, students are able to explore in-depth an area of literature or to conduct a small research project, under the close supervision of a member of the faculty. Whether one pursues library or original research, the student's work must be reflected in a final product (usually a paper) from the course. Directed Study Approval Forms may be obtained from the Graduate School Office or from the Graduate School website and must be signed by the faculty member with whom the student wishes to work, as well as by the Director of the Graduate School prior to enrolling in the course. This approval form does not automatically register the student for the course. Upon approval of the Directed Study Form and proposal by both the faculty member and the Director of the Graduate School, the student must complete a separate form available in the Graduate School Office to officially register for the course. Finally, directed studies that duplicate existing course offerings will not be approved.
Academic Appeals Process
In accordance with University policy, graduate students are encouraged, whenever possible, to follow the guidelines below to resolve grading disputes:
Step 1
Students must attempt to resolve any disputed grade with the individual faculty member assigned to the course. In the event that the situation is not resolved through this mechanism, students must submit a written summary of their concerns to the Director of the Graduate Program (if the Director is also the course instructor-proceed to Step 3).
Step 2
The Director of the Graduate Program will review any written request from students regarding the academic dispute and make a recommendation to the individual student and the faculty member involved as to the appropriate outcome measure to be taken. If the student is unsatisfied at this point, the Director of the Graduate Program will appoint an Ad Hoc Committee of two faculty members from the College of Criminal Justice.
Step 3
The Ad Hoc Committee will review the merits of the student's academic dispute, and report their conclusions and recommendations to the Graduate Committee. The Graduate Committee will convene and make a final decision as to the appropriate outcome measure to be implemented and report their decision to the Director of the Graduate Program.
Step 4
The Graduate Director will convene a meeting of both the student and individual faculty member involved to discuss the decision of the Graduate Committee. If at this point the academic dispute is not resolved, the student is welcome to pursue avenues as prescribed by the University's official policies and procedures regarding academic disputes.
Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy
Essential to the mission of Northeastern University is the commitment to the principles of intellectual honesty and integrity. Academic integrity is important for two reasons. First, independent and original scholarship ensures that students derive the most from their educational experience and the pursuit of knowledge. Second, academic dishonesty violates the most fundamental values of an intellectual community and depreciates the achievements of the entire University community. Accordingly, Northeastern University views academic dishonesty as one of the most serious offenses that a student can commit while in college.
The following is a broad overview of what constitutes academic dishonesty, and is not meant to be an all-encompassing definition.
Cheating
Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise.
Examples:
- Unauthorized use of notes, text, or other aids during an examination.
- Copying from another student's examination, research paper, case write-up, lab report, homework, computer disc, etc.
- Talking during an examination.
- Handing in the same paper for more than one course without the explicit permission of the instructor.
- Perusing a test before it is given
- Hiding notes in a calculator, PDA or other devise for use during an examination
Fabrication
Intentional and unauthorized falsification, misrepresentation, or invention of any information, data, or citation in an academic exercise.
Examples:
- Making up the date for a research paper.
- Altering the results of a lab experiment or survey.
- Listing a citation for a source not used.
- Stating an opinion as a scientifically proven fact.
Plagiarism
Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise without providing proper documentation of source by way of a footnote, endnote, or intertextual note.
The following sources demand notation:
- Word-for-word quotation from a source, including another student's work.
- Paraphrase: using the ideas of others in your own words.
- Unusual or controversial facts - facts not apt to be found in many places.
- Interviews, radio, television programs, and telephone conversations.
Unauthorized Collaboration
This refers to instances when students, each claiming sole authorship, submit separate reports, which are substantially similar to one another. While several students may have the same source material (as in case write-ups), the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of the data must be each individual's.
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty
Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to violate any provision of this policy.
Examples:
- Inaccurately listing someone as co-author of a paper, case write-up or project who did not contribute
- Sharing a take-home examination, homework assignment, case write-up, lab report, etc., with another without expressed permission from the instructor
- Taking an examination or writing a paper for another student.
Guidelines
According to the policy on academic dishonest developed and approved by the Student Government Association:
"All members of the Northeastern University community, students, faculty, and staff share the responsibility to bring forward known acts of apparent academic dishonesty. Any member of the academic community who witnesses an act of academic dishonesty should report it to the appropriate faculty member or to the Director of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. The charge will be investigated and if sufficient evidence is presented, the case will be referred to the Northeastern University Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. If found responsible of an academic dishonest violation, a minimum sanction of deferred suspension will follow. Repeat violations will meet with expulsion.'
In addition to what is stated in the Graduate Student Handbook, the College of Criminal Justice has established the policy that any instance of confirmed academic dishonesty in a particular course, may result in the failure of the course.