UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Academic Policies

General

Students are responsible for knowing and fully understanding the academic policies and procedures set forth by Northeastern University. The University-wide academic policies and procedures are published in both the Undergraduate Catalog and the Undergraduate Student Handbook & Planner.

Details about the following University policies are also available through the Registrar’s website:
www.registrar.neu.edu/courses/cat0405-014-022.pdf

Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy

Attendance Requirements

• Absence because of student activities
• Absence because of illness
• Absence because of religious beliefs
• Absence because of jury duty
• Absence because of military deployment

Class Schedules

• Fall and spring schedule
• Summer schedule
• Activities periods

Grading System

• Pass/Fail system
• Clearing an incomplete or changing other grades
• Credit hours
• Repeating courses
• Clearing an academic deficiency
• Dean’s list
• Grade point average
• Grade reports
• Transcripts

Examinations

• Conflicts with final exams

Academic Progression Standards

• Academic status
• Academic probation
• Academic dismissal
• Academic standing appeals
• Academic eligibility for participating in student organizations and athletics

Graduation Requirements

Registration Procedures

• Course prerequisites
• Overload policy
• Reduced load policies
• Declaring majors and minors
• Double major or dual degree, double degree, second Baccalaureate
• Internal transfers
• Transfer credits for current students
• Special students
• Taking a course while on co-op
• Dropping courses
• Late admission to a course

Personal Information

• Change of name
• Change of address

Access to Student Records

• The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and student records
• FERPA and the USA Patriot Act

University Withdrawal

Leave of Absence

• General leave of absence policy
• Medical leave of absence
• Leave of absence due to military deployment

Policies and Procedures Specific to the College of Criminal Justice

Meeting with an Academic Advisor

Students in the College of Criminal Justice are not assigned to a specific academic advisor. Instead, students are welcome to meet with the dean or advisor of their choosing. Individual half-hour appointments are scheduled Mondays through Fridays, from 9am to 4pm. Appointments are strongly preferred, but walk-in inquiries will be accommodated when time permits. Please contact the Dean’s Office at (617) 373-3327 to schedule your appointment.

Academic Probation

Students whose quality point average (QPA) falls below 2.000 will be placed on academic probation by the University. Students will be notified of this action in writing. Should you raise your QPA above the 2.000 minimum standard following your next academic period, you may petition the Dean’s Office to be removed from academic probation and become a student in good standing. Students who fail to raise their QPA above the required minimum will proceed to a second semester on academic probation. Students who have not attained the minimum QPA after two consecutive semesters on probation could be withdrawn from the University for low scholastic achievement.

Pass/Fail Option

Criminal Justice students not on academic probation may enroll in courses on a pass/fail basis as long as the following conditions are met:

• Freshmen are not eligible to enroll in courses on a pass/fail basis.
• Students may only take one four-credit course per semester on a pass/fail basis.
• All Criminal Justice courses must be taken for a letter grade.
• All required non-Criminal Justice courses must be taken for a letter grade.
• Students must meet with their Academic Advisor prior to taking a course pass/fail.

Returning From a Non-Academic Withdrawal

Students who withdrew from Northeastern University for reasons other than low scholastic achievement are welcome to return to the College and complete their studies. Contact the Criminal Justice Dean’s Office at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester you wish to re-enter. Working with an Academic Advisor, complete a petition form stating that you wish to return to full-time student status. If you have cleared your outstanding financial obligations and you were in good academic standing at the time of your withdrawal, you should encounter no problems returning to the College.

Graduating Senior Review

All seniors are required to meet with a Dean during their senior year to ensure that they will have the necessary courses completed by graduation. Students who fail to schedule senior review could have their final semester registration blocked until they are cleared to continue. The College of Criminal Justice will not be liable for deficiencies at graduation if students neglect to complete their senior review. Additionally, prior to the graduating semester, the University Registrar mails all seniors a transcript of their academic record. Students should carefully review their transcript and contact the Dean’s Office if there are any problems, questions or irregularities.

Directed Study Courses

Juniors and seniors wishing to independently explore a topic in criminal justice may create a directed study course under the direction of a criminal justice faculty member. The student and the instructor will work together to create a personalized syllabus for an independent four-credit course. The syllabus should detail overall learning objectives, outline specific assignments and projects, and list criteria for assigning a final grade. The final document must be signed by both the instructor and the student. The student will then schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor to complete the necessary petition form and receive course registration information.

Course Overloads

Course overloads may be requested by students who have completed at least one full semester at Northeastern University and have earned a QPA or 3.000 or higher. Permission to overload must be granted through the Criminal Justice Dean’s Office, and only a Criminal Justice advisor can enroll students for an extra four-credit class. Students will be charged the overload tuition rate for the additional class.

Enrollment in Graduate Courses

Enrollment in graduate courses may be requested by juniors or seniors who have earned a QPA of 3.000 or higher. Students should first meet with their Academic Advisor to receive initial approval and request a copy of their academic record. The student will then request permission to enroll directly from the graduate program director and/or the faculty member offering the course. All parties involved then sign a petition registration form, which will authorize the Registrar’s Office to enroll the student in the graduate course.

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