ACADEMIC POLICIES CONTINUED
Academic Integrity
Any student found guilty of being dishonest on any examination or academic assignment will be given a grade of zero for the work concerned, and will be reported to the College for further disciplinary action.
Transcripts
The College maintains a transcript service for students so that official student transcripts may be forwarded to other colleges and universities, state departments of education, certifying boards, or employers. Graduating students are entitled to one transcript without charge, and will be charged the current transcript fee for each transcript thereafter. The student must personally submit a written request to the College. Transcripts will not be released at the request of any other person or authority. No transcript will be released if a student has an outstanding student account. The cost of all transcripts must be pre-paid.
In conformance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Knoxville College has established a system to ensure that students have complete access to their educational records and the right to challenge information they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. Information about these procedures may be obtained from the College.
Amendments
Knoxville College reserves the right to change requirements for admission or graduation, to alter the content of courses, and to adjust tuition and other fees. Knoxville College further reserves the right to change any regulation, academic or non-academic, affecting the student body, to refuse admission to any student at any time, or to dismiss any student at any time through means affording due process.
Students are responsible for meeting, in full, the requirements for graduation set forth in the College Catalog in effect on the initial date of enrollment. A student who returns after an absence, and who has not graduated, may be required to fulfill the requirements on force at the time of re-admission.
Student Complaints and Grievances
Knoxville College seeks to resolve student complaints in an expeditious manner. As a matter of practice, Knoxville College subscribes to the philosophy that student complaints are best resolved on an informal basis.
Informal Complaint
When a student has a complaint, he/she should initially seek an informal resolution by raising the complaint directly with the relevant staff or faculty member. While students are encouraged to talk about their complaints directly with the person concerned, this approach may not always be appropriate. In circumstances in which students believe it is not appropriate to raise the issue directly with the person(s) of concern, they may make the complaint directly to:
Knoxville College
Office of the President
P.O. Box 52648
Knoxville, TN 37950
Telephone: (865) 521-8064
Formal Student Complaint
When informal procedures do not resolve concerns, for privacy and/or security reasons, all written complaints must be submitted through traditional or electronic mail to the Office of the President, who will determine the appropriate College personnel to review the complaint. It is expected that students making written complaints will demonstrate they have attempted to resolve their concerns through informal procedure.
The written complaint should include the name and contact information of the student filing the complaint, and a brief description of the complaint or concern. The student should receive written acknowledgement of the complaint with ten (10) working days. The complaint will be reviewed and a collaborative effort will be made to resolve the complaint. Within twenty (20) working days of receipt of the written acknowledgement of the complaint, the student will receive notification of the resolution of the complaint, or of the College’s position concerning the complaint, from the appropriate college representative.
If the student feels their grievance has not been resolved, they may take their complaint directly to:
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1900
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Telephone: (615) 741-3605
Any person claiming damage or a loss as a result of any act or proactive by the institution that may be a violation of the Tilke 49, Chapter 7, Part 20 or Rule Chapter 15300-01-02 may file a complaint with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Division of Postsecondary State Authorization.
Academic Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal
All students are expected to demonstrate academic progress toward completion of a given course of study each semester, to maintain a 2.0 ("C") grade point average and to have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for graduation. This policy is intended to assure that a student will meet the minimum grade point average requirement for graduation by the time the student has attempted all courses required for completion of a major. A student is considered in academic good standing if s/he maintains a cumulative grade point average and earns sufficient credit hours according to the following academic requirements:
Upon certification that a student has attempted the following:
1. 24 hours, s/he must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.40
2. 48 hours, s/he must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.70
3. 60 hours, s/he must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00
Full-time students must make passing grades in at least 20 credit hours by the end of first year (second semester) in which they are enrolled, and 40 credit hours by the end of the second year (fourth semester) in which they are enrolled.
Academic progress for part-time students is evaluated on a pro-rated basis using the same standards as full-time students. Academic progress for full-time students who attend the College for only one semester during a given academic year will be evaluated as part-time students.
A student who fails to maintain academic progress will be placed on academic sanction. All students are evaluated for academic sanctions (i.e., warning, probation, and suspension) at the end of the spring semester of each year.
Students will then receive additional academic assistance and counseling during this probationary period and may carry a maximum course load of 12-13 credit hours. Barring unusual circumstances, students will be allowed a maximum of two consecutive semesters on academic probation. All such unusual circumstances will be documented in student records. If a student’s grades fall below 2.0 for greater than two consecutive semesters, the student may be placed on academic suspension.
Unsatisfactory Academic Progress
Students who are identified as making unsatisfactory academic progress may continue to attend the institution under the guidance of designated personnel. Prior to the first day of attendance, each identified student will meet with the President (or designee) who will limit the student's enrollment to a maximum of seven (7) credit hours until such time as the student's GPA is brought back to satisfactory academic progress. The President (or designee) may also prescribe specific developmental or required courses for enrollment and specify the mechanism by which the course is delivered.
A student may be dismissed for poor scholarship (i.e., academic suspension) by the College. A student dismissed for poor scholarship may be reinstated by the College after the expiration of at least one year from the time of dismissal (See Readmission).
Academic Warning
The College believes that any student, whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.00, whether or not that student has been placed on academic probation, needs academic improvement. In an effort to assist students to raise their averages and to avoid academic sanctions, appropriate intervention strategies will be employed for all students whose grade point averages fall below 2.00.
Academic Probation
Any student whose cumulative grade point average falls below the satisfactory academic standing of 2.00 (at the end of the term of enrollment) may be placed on academic probation prior to the next term of attendance. Students on academic probation will be notified by the College and may continue their studies under the guidance of an academic counselor. Prior to the first day of classes, all students on academic probation must review their class schedule with a College counselor who may (1) limit their enrollment credit hours for the semester; (2) prescribe specific developmental or required courses for enrollment; or (3) specify the mechanism by which courses are delivered. Identified 31 students must report to a College counselor as often as is required throughout the semester.
Students may remain on academic probation for no more than two terms of enrollment before being classified as making unsatisfactory academic progress. Students who are identified as making unsatisfactory academic progress will be notified by the College.
Academic Dismissal
Probationary status is not a necessary prior condition for academic dismissal. The College may recommend that a student be dismissed for lack of progress regardless of cumulative GPA if there is no evidence of eventual academic success.
Readmission after Academic Dismissal
During the period a student has been suspended for academic reasons, s/he must provide evidence that s/he will be able to make satisfactory academic progress if readmitted. The following forms of evidence may be submitted:
• Grades of "C" or above from another institution;
• Letter of good standing from the Academic Dean/Vice President of Academic Affairs or the Dean of Students at another institution attended during the period of academic suspension;
• Letter of recommendation from an employer with indication of attendance and performance record; or
• Other evidence that would demonstrate determination to achieve academic success.
During the first semester of readmission, the student is on academic probation. The student must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0. If the student does not earn at least a 2.0, the student’s record will be reviewed and a recommendation submitted to the College as to whether or not the student will be permitted to continue at the College.
Appeal Process
Every student has the right to appeal their academic probation or academic suspension. The appeal should be made by the student in writing within ten (10) calendar days of notification of probation or suspension. The College will review the entire academic record of the student and other submitted materials.
Students requiring more information about the appeal process, or about any academic grievance, should contact the College. If a complaint is not settled at the institutional level, the student may contact:
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
404 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0830
Telephone: 615-741-5293