Catalog Addendum

Catalog addendum that contains updated information or corrections of errors in the original catalog published.

Revisions

06/06/2019 - Updated the Department Chair’s information for the Department of Teaching, Leadership, and Technology to Dr. Jenifer Williams.

03/13/2020 - Spring Break extended (03/30/20 - 04/10/20) due to the Coronavirus pandemic. University Calendar ammended to reflect the extention.

03/30/2020 - Commencement moved from 05/02/20 to 08/07/20 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. University Calendar ammended to reflect move.

03/25/2020 - Adopted a P/F alternative grading option for Spring 2020 final grades:

As a university, we recognize that the past several weeks have been extraordinary and we have had to dramatically change the way we think and proceed to adapt to this new set of circumstances. We have been inspired by the collaborative spirit and innovative thinking so many of our faculty and staff have exhibited. We are incredibly grateful for this dedication to UM and our students.

We are especially aware that this has been a time of increased difficulty, uncertainty and stress for our students. Now more than ever, our entire university community needs to continue to show great compassion for our students. With this in mind, the university will provide the following opportunities to students for the spring 2020 term.

Implement a Pass/Fail (P/F) option policy for all undergraduate students. Graduate programs will make this decision for their individual programs.

Faculty will enter student letter grades for courses in the typical manner.
Once grades are posted, students will work carefully with advisors, Chairs and other key staff on campus like those in Student Aid and the Falcon Success Center to make the best decisions about converting any or all courses passed (with a D or higher) to a P by a date that will be determined and shared with all.
Grades of “D” or above can be converted to P/Pass.
A grade of “P will not count toward a student’s GPA but will count toward earned semester hours.
Grades of “P” will be allowed to fulfill degree and program requirements. In the case where a grade of “C” or better is required for prerequisite fulfillment or degree requirements, a grade of “D” will not fulfill this requirement unless approval is granted by the Department Chair.
We are committed to a flexible, understanding approach to Academic Standards Appeals, Standard Academic Progress appeals and scholarship renewals.
Inclusion on Dean’s and President’s Lists will be based on the recorded grades before the P/F.

04/03/2020 - Ammended the alternative grading option for Spring 2020 to include P/CR/NC:

We are especially aware that this has been a time of increased difficulty, uncertainty and stress for our students. Now more than ever, our entire university community needs to continue to show great compassion for our students. With this in mind, the University of Montevallo will implement the following alternative grading system for Undergraduate Students for the Spring 2020 semester:

For all courses, faculty will enter the letter grade earned by each student by the final grading deadline of Monday, 5/4/2020, at 10am. The original letter grade will be archived
Students may elect to keep one or more letter grades earned (A, B, C, D, P, S, F, NC) and the grades will be calculated into the semester and overall institutional grade point average (GPA). Grades of “P” and “D” or higher will apply to earned hours.
Alternatively, students may elect to convert one or more letter grades to the following non-punitive grades:
- Pass (P) - replaces earned letter grade of “C” or above. The course will count as credit toward degree requirements but the grade will not factor into the calculation of the student’s term and overall grade point average. A grade of “P” will be displayed on the academic transcript in place of the assigned letter grade.
- Credit (CR) - replaces earned letter grade of “D”. The course will count as credit toward degree requirements but the grade will not factor into the calculation of the student’s term and overall grade point average. A grade of “CR” will be displayed on the academic transcript in place of the assigned letter grade. Note: some courses and programs require a grade of “C” or higher and “CR” will not meet that requirement.
- No Credit (NC) - replaces earned letter grade of “F”. The course will not count as credit toward degree requirements and the grade will not factor into the calculation of the student’s term and overall grade point average. A grade of “NC” will be displayed on the academic transcript in place of the assigned letter grade.
- Note: Faculty entered grades of U (certain courses only) or NC (ENG 101, 102, 103, 104, MATH 131) are not eligible for conversion as they do not calculate into the semester or overall institution grade point average by default.
Students should consult carefully with advisors, chairs, program coordinators, certification officers (TES, VA, athletics, etc.), the Falcon Success Center, and/or the Associate Registrar (for graduation candidates) in order to make the best decisions before requesting grade conversion.
If a student chooses to convert one or more letter grades to an alternative grade, an official request must be made with the Registrar’s Office. A fillable PDF or link to an electronic form will be distributed to students by UM email prior to the end of the Spring Semester. The form or link will also be made available on the Registrar’s Office Resources page in Canvas (located in the Help menu for students).

04/03/2020 - Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy ammended:

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Students to Receive Federal Student Aid

Federal regulations require a student receiving Federal Student Aid to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) towards a degree. Eligibility is determined based on the student’s Qualitative measure (grade point average), Quantitative measure (pace of progress towards the degree), and the Maximum Timeframe (the total number of credit hours attempted). If the student does not meet all three of the SAP requirements, the student may no longer be eligible for Federal Student Aid.

Qualitative Measure (Grade Point Average GPA): Eligibility will be determined based on the student’s overall GPA hours (transfer and University of Montevallo) and the student’s University of Montevallo (UM) cumulative GPA.

If a Student’s Overall GPA Hours are:	Minimum Cumulative UM GPA Required:
0-29	1.50
30-59	1.70
60-89	1.90
90+	2.00

GPA hours are credit hours for which a standard letter grade is received (A, B, C, D, and F).

For example, a student has attempted 30 credit hours during his entire college career, 15 credit hours earned with a GPA of 2.00 from another college and 15 credit hours earned from UM with a 1.50 GPA for a total of 30 Overall GPA Hours. His overall GPA is 1.75.

The student is not meeting this measure since his cumulative UM GPA is 1.50 which is less than the minimum cumulative 1.70 UM GPA a student must earn based on 30 overall GPA hours.

Quantitative Measure (Pace of Progress towards a degree or percentage of hours earned):

Students must earn a minimum of 67 percent of all credit hours attempted, including transfer hours placed on the UM transcript and for UM classes for which the student received grades of W, I, IP, NC, CR and P. Earned hours include credit hours for which the student receives a passing grade (A, B, C, D, CR or P). This percentage may be rounded up to 67 percent from 66.66 percent.

For example, a student has attempted a total of 24 credit hours during her entire college career and passed 16 credit hours. The student passed 66.67% of credit hours attempted (16 divided by 24) which is less than the 67% required. However, the student is meeting this measure since the 66.66% may be rounded up to 67%.

Maximum Timeframe (Total hours a student may attempt and receive Federal Student Aid):

Students may not receive Federal Student Aid, which includes Federal Direct or Parent Plus loans, after attempting 150% of the hours required for completion of the degree. This includes transfer hours placed on the UM transcript and for UM classes for which the student received grades of W, I, IP, NC, CR, P, S, and U.

For example, a student must earn 120 credit hours to be eligible for a degree. Once a student attempts 180 credit hours (120 hours required for the degree X 1.50 = 180 credit hours) the student is no longer eligible for Federal Student Aid.

Incomplete grade - Grades of I and IP are included in hours attempted but not in GPA hours or GPA calculation until the student completes the course. If the student does not complete the course in the allotted time for which they received an I grade, the grade automatically becomes an F.

Withdrawals - Grades of W are included in hours attempted but not in GPA hours or GPA calculation.

Repeat Courses - The credit hours for every occurrence of a repeat course are included in hours attempted and GPA hours. The credit hours for only one occurrence of a repeated, previously passed course are included in earned hours.

Transfer Hours - All credit hours from other schools that are placed on the UM transcript will be included in hours attempted and credit hours from other schools for which a student received a standard letter grade (A, B, C, D, and F) will be included in overall GPA Hours. The credit hours for passed courses (and only one occurrence of a repeated, previously passed course) are included in overall earned hours.

Remedial Courses - Any remedial courses will be treated the same as regular courses.

Frequency of check - A student’s SAP will be checked at the end of each semester. Transfer students’ SAP will be checked after admission. If a student’s transcript from another college is received after initial SAP review, any transfer hours will be included in the next SAP check.

Warning Status - A student not meeting the Quantitative or Qualitative SAP measures will be assigned a SAP status of Warning for the next semester, meaning the student will be able to receive Federal Student Aid one more semester. If the student is not meeting SAP standards at the end of the next semester the student will not be able to receive Federal Student Aid.

Regaining Eligibility - Students who lose eligibility for Federal Student Aid by not meeting SAP measures may regain eligibility by getting back in compliance with the SAP measures explained above. Sitting out of college will not help a student regain Federal Student Aid eligibility.

Probation Status - A student not meeting the SAP standards and has had an appeal for financial aid suspension approved will be assigned a SAP status of Probation. The student must be meeting the SAP standards at the end of the next semester or meeting the requirements of an academic plan, as determined by the Student Aid Office, to be eligible for Federal Student Aid for the subsequent semester.

Appeal Process - A student who does not meet the requirements for SAP may choose to appeal to the Student Aid Office for an exception on the grounds that a special or extenuating circumstance contributed to his or her failure to meet standards and what has changed that will allow the student to regain SAP at the next semester. Such appeals must be submitted on the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form that is available in the Student Aid Office. The appeal should contain documentation, if available, to support the claim of extenuating circumstances. In addition, the student is required to provide an academic plan from the student’s dean or dean’s designee. Changes to an academic plan may also be appealed by the student by submitting the appeal form following the same appeal procedures.

Decisions made by the Student Aid Office relative to appeals, as well as changes in SAP status to Warning or Failure will be sent to the student through the student’s UM email or the student may check the status on Banner Self Service.

It is the responsibility of the student to initiate any appeal for reinstatement of federal financial aid eligibility. Academic reinstatement by the University Registrar or Undergraduate Admissions does not constitute reinstatement of aid eligibility.

Second Bachelor’s Degree - SAP for students pursuing a second Bachelor’s degree will be determined using the same requirements of this policy, with the exception of the 180 credit hour maximum timeframe. Students pursuing a second bachelor’s degree and who are meeting measures 1 and 2 above but have attempted 180 credit hours or more must provide an academic plan prepared by their dean or dean’s designee to the Student Aid Office showing the courses needed to complete the second bachelor’s degree after all other previous coursework has been applied towards the second bachelor’s degree. The plan will be reviewed at the end of each semester by the Student Aid Office and if the student is following the plan, the student will be eligible for Federal Student Aid.

Graduate Students - SAP for graduate students will generally be determined using the same requirements of this policy. In addition, students academically suspended are not considered to be meeting SAP requirements and are not eligible for Federal Student Aid. Students admitted unconditionally as a regular student in a graduate degree program will be given one year to complete any undergraduate pre-requisite courses. Students may earn more than one graduate degree and receive Federal Student Aid if they are in good standing with the UM Graduate program.

04/07/2020 - Moved the Last Day to Drop a class and the Last Day to Withdraw from the Spring 2020 semester to 04/25/20:

Good afternoon, Falcons! As we continue to support your successful completion of the Spring 2020 semester in these unusual and uncertain conditions, we have made the decision to move the last day to drop a class or withdraw from the semester to the last day of classes, Friday 04/25/2020.

Class drops are completed in Self Service on the Add/Drop Classes page. If you have a hold on your account or are an athlete, you may need to send an email to registrar@montevallo.edu from your UM email.

If needed, you’ll find the withdrawal policy and form here: https://www.montevallo.edu/about-um/administration/registrars-office/withdrawal-drop-policy/. For your convenience, we’ve attached a fillable PDF. Download the form to your device first, fill in (you can do this electronically), and save. Ideally, you will then print, sign, take a picture and email. If you do not have access to a printer, we will, during this semester only, accept a completed, unsigned form sent from your UM email.

Withdrawal forms must be emailed to finaid@montevallo.edu. The Student Aid office will verify and communicate any effect on aid and forward to the Registrar’s Office for processing.

Both the Registrar’s (registrar@montevallo.edu) and Student Aid (finaid@montevallo.edu) Offices are available via email.