Policies and Procedures

Dean's List

At the end of each semester, students who have shown outstanding academic achievement are placed on the dean's list. To be included on the dean's list in HS&HP, a student must:

1. Earn a minimum grade point average of 3.50,

2. Pass a minimum of 15 credit hours,

3. Pass a minimum of 12 letter-graded credit hours,

4. Have no grades below C- and no incompletes, and

5. End the term in good standing in his or her major.

Students registered for more than 4 credits of student teaching, internship, fieldwork, or clinical education are not eligible for the dean's list for that semester.

Academic Status Policy

The general academic status policy of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance follows the all-College guidelines for warning, suspension, and dismissal as set forth in this catalog (p. 708). This policy applies to all students in the school except to the extent that other standards have been specifically established by individual programs. Special academic status policies exist for most majors in HS&HP.

To meet minimum academic standards, a student must maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA and pass at least 24 credits of coursework in any consecutive 12-month period.

Academic warning

A student who fails to meet any of the minimum GPA and credit-hour standards stated above and who is not suspended or dismissed will be placed on academic warning. Any student returning to the College after suspension or dismissal for academic reasons will also have this warning status for the first semester of reinstatement.

A student on warning must earn removal from this status by meeting all of the minimum requirements at the end of the following semester. Where a grade deficiency exists, the student must attain a semester GPA sufficiently above the 2.00 standard to result in a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 by the end of the following semester.

Suspension and dismissal

Failure to meet the standards necessary for removal from warning after one semester will render the student subject to suspension or dismissal from both the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance and Ithaca College.

After an official warning, a student may be dismissed from a degree program for failure to make satisfactory progress toward degree completion. Such a student may be admitted to another degree program in the School or College and has one semester in which to become enrolled in another major or be subject to suspension from the College.

A student will be suspended (rather than dismissed) only when it appears reasonably likely that previous weaknesses will be remedied and minimum requirements will be attained through the student's successful completion of prescribed remedial measures during suspension. A suspended student is eligible to resume academic work in the school only at the time and under the conditions specified in his or her letter of suspension.

A student who is dismissed by HS&HP will not be readmitted to a program of the School under any circumstances.

Attendance Policy

The College's policy regarding attendance (see p. 703) applies to students' class absences in the School of HS&HP. Professors, however, have discretion in interpreting and implementing this policy. Students who wish to participate in extracurricular or cocurricular activities that may necessitate absence from class should discuss the possibility of absences with their instructor at the beginning of the semester. The course syllabus should be consulted for the attendance policy of a particular class. Students should be certain that they fully understand each instructor's position on absence from classes.

Transfer into the School

Both internal and external transfer applicants are selectively admitted into HS&HP. A number of community colleges have transfer agreements with departments in the school. All students intending to transfer should first contact the department in which their intended major is offered. Those transferring from another Ithaca College department must meet with the department chair. Students from other institutions are encouraged to call ahead to arrange for a similar meeting when they visit the College. Satisfactory academic performance is the major requirement for acceptance. Upon request, a list of courses recommended for potential transfer students is available from the chair of each department.

Requirements for transfer

The following requirements must be met by students transferring from within Ithaca College. Students transferring from other institutions must satisfy these requirements in addition to the requirements for admission to Ithaca College.

1. The professional requirements in most programs in HS&HP demand a precise sequencing of courses. For this reason, early transfer into a program is encouraged. A late transfer may require a student to attend summer sessions or defer graduation. Ithaca College students who wish to transfer into any particular department may obtain a change of major/school form in the dean's office.

2. To be admitted to a department in HS&HP, it is generally required that the student have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 and have completed at least 24 credit hours in the preceding 12 months. However, most degree programs are much more competitive than this.

3. Specific departmental transfer requirements for the following programs exceed the general requirements:

Exercise and Sport Sciences --- For the athletic training/exercise science major or the clinical exercise science major, an Ithaca College student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 or 2.50, respectively. Additionally, the student must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 or 2.75, respectively, in the specific requirements of the major and selected exercise science courses that have been completed by that time, with no grade below C- in any of those courses. Transfer into athletic training is limited to available openings and is highly competitive.

Health Policy Studies --- In the health services administration program, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.30 is required; also required is a C+ or better in 377-10600 Academic Writing I and in 313-10500 Mathematics for Decision Making or minimum SAT scores of 500 each for the math and verbal components.

Health Promotion and Human Movement --- Admission to the following majors requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50: community health education, health education, health education and physical education, and physical education. Additionally, these majors require a 2.75 average in selected core courses specified in applicable special academic status policies, with no grade below C in any of these courses.

Occupational Therapy --- Because this is a freshman-entry program, openings for transfer students are limited and competitive. Applicants seeking to transfer into the occupational science/occupational therapy program should have a 3.00 minimum GPA and grades of B or better in all science courses, including secondary school biology and chemistry. They should have completed a total of 63 credits applicable to the occupational science degree, including the required college biology, chemistry, and primary human anatomy courses, or be in a position to do so by the end of the fourth semester. Early transfer is encouraged. Students transferring at the end of the sophomore year must take Introduction to Occupational Therapy and Human Development I and II in their junior year, if they have not already taken equivalent courses. Students interested in transferring into the department are encouraged to contact the department for an advising appointment as early as possible, to receive a list of specific prerequisite courses and assistance in academic planning.

Physical Therapy --- Because this is a freshman-entry program, openings for transfer students are limited and competitive. Applicants seeking to transfer into the clinical science/physical therapy program should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a 3.00 or better in all natural science coursework. Students must be in a position to complete all specified prerequisites by the end of the fourth semester. Prerequisites include 8 credits each in biology for science majors, chemistry for science majors, and physics, and 3 credits of anatomy. Applicants must also be in a position to complete all general education requirements (27-42 credits) by the end of the fourth semester and they must be in a position to complete a 9-credit liberal arts focus by the end of the junior year. Details of the general education requirements and the liberal arts focus may be found in the curriculum outline on pages 81-82. Specific information on transfer admission requirements, including those for clinical experience, non-native speakers, and letters of recommendation, is available from the Office of Admission and the Department of Physical Therapy.

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology --- Requirements for transfer into this department include a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and no grade below C- in any speech-language pathology and audiology course completed. Transfer after the first semester of the sophomore year may extend the student's program of study by at least one year. This is almost always the case for students preparing to be teachers of students with speech and language disabilities.

Sport Studies --- Students planning to transfer into either sport management or sports information and communication, when openings are available, should have at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA. Sport management applicants should demonstrate proficiency in mathematics; sports information and communication applicants should demonstrate proficiency in writing. Transfer into sport management, sports information and communication, and sport studies is limited to available openings and is highly competitive.

Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Services --- Acceptance to this program is based on a composite of factors including interest and proficiency in recreational service delivery, practical experience related to leisure services, and leadership potential.

Transfer Credit for Occasional Study at Another Institution

HS&HP students may take courses at another accredited college or university for transfer credit, provided prior written permission for the credit has been obtained. Petition forms for transfer credit are available at the registrar's office and must be fully completed, submitted, and approved to secure such credit. Regulations on transfer credit are given on p. 706.

Students who consider taking courses elsewhere should be aware that their last 30 credits must be taken at Ithaca College. This requirement is waived only in very special circumstances. Regulations concerning the petition for waiver of the senior credit requirement are given on p. 696.