Student Responsibilities and Privileges

Academic Integrity

University of Indianapolis students are expected to adhere to the ideal of academic integrity in all academic work. Academic honesty and respect for the work of others are considered inviolable tenets of an institution of higher education.

Plagiarism and cheating are contrary to the ideal of academic integrity and are not tolerated. Plagiarism is defined as presenting the work of someone else as one's own. Cheating is defined as dishonesty of any kind in connection with assignments or examinations; it applies to both giving and receiving unauthorized help. Students guilty of plagiarism or cheating are subject to disciplinary action that may include failure in the course involved or expulsion from the University. The disciplinary action depends on the judgment of the instructor and the provost.

Some faculty members encourage collaborative work and make assignments that require cooperative effort. Authorized collaboration should not be confused with plagiarism or cheating.

Regulations concerning academic misconduct are described in detail in the Student Handbook, available from the Office for Student Affairs.

Student Academic Responsibility

Although the University provides academic advising services through faculty and key advisors, it is ultimately the responsibility of the students to monitor their own progress and to fulfill all graduation requirements, including submission of the application for graduation. Students are encouraged to consult faculty members and advisors and to use the catalog, school and departmental brochures, and curriculum guides in scheduling classes and planning for graduation.

Class Attendance Policies

Class attendance is an important part of the academic process. Students are expected to attend classes regularly and to manage their schedules in order to meet the demands of their courses and other activities. In addition to jeopardizing course grades, failure to attend classes may adversely affect a student's financial aid, eligibility for athletic competition, or other cocurricular programs.

Faculty establish, publish, and enforce attendance policies for their classes. Faculty take attendance and report absences to the registrar. Faculty may request reasonable documentation or verification of claims regarding absences. Students may be administratively withdrawn from class because of excessive absences.

Sometimes students will miss classes as a result of their involvement in University-sanctioned activities such as athletic or speech contests, theatrical or musical performances, or academic field trips. Students engaged in such activities are responsible for alerting faculty in advance of their absences. Students are likewise responsible for arranging makeup work, assignments, and tests to be completed prior to the absence or immediately upon return to class. Faculty are expected to make reasonable accommodations for makeup work for students engaged in such activities.

Students should report absences that result from illness directly to the professor and arrange to make up work, tests, and other assignments. The Student Health Center does not issue absence notes or verify the extent of an illness or the appropriateness of a student's missing classes. The Center can provide verification of an office visit or other appointment, however.

Funerals, jury duty, and military duty, while not University-sponsored activities, are nonetheless reasonable absences and students should be afforded the same consideration given to those involved in sanctioned activities.

Withdrawal Policies

University of Indianapolis withdrawal policies are as follows.

  1. The student has the responsibility of initiating official withdrawal from a course or from the University by completing the necessary forms. Discontinuing class attendance is not considered official withdrawal.
  2. Official withdrawal must be made in person in the Office of the Registrar or in a letter addressed to the registrar. The deadlines for official withdrawal are as follows.
    Semester I or II: Withdrawal permitted up to and including Friday of the week prior to the last week of the semester. No withdrawals are permitted during finals week.
    Spring Term: Withdrawal permitted up to and including Monday of the second week of Spring Term.
    Summer sessions, workshops, accelerated terms, and accelerated classes within regular semesters: Withdrawal permitted up to and including Friday of the week prior to the last week of the session.
  3. Changes from credit to audit must be done within the time periods listed above. They must be done in person in the Office of the Registrar.
  4. Day students who withdraw from all classes during Semester I or II or Spring Term must initiate a complete withdrawal by meeting with the registrar or associate registrar.
  5. Withdrawal from a music ensemble or music organization requires written permission from the chair of the Music Department. Failure to obtain written permission to withdraw from an ensemble or music organization will result in failure in the course.
  6. The University reserves the right to withdraw a student administratively for cheating or plagiarism, excessive absences, or misconduct of any kind. A grade of WN (withdrawn administratively) will appear on the transcript.

Withdrawal from a course has a number of implications for students living in University housing, receiving financial aid, or participating in intercollegiate athletics or other activities. Students should consult with the appropriate University officials — academic advisors, coaches, financial aid staff — before withdrawing from a course or courses. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to discuss the matter of withdrawal with their instructors before making a final decision.

It should be noted that withdrawal from several courses over the period of a college career may have the serious consequence of delaying one's graduation. In order for a full-time student to complete degree requirements in the prescribed period (four years for a baccalaureate degree and two years for an associate degree), the student must earn between 15 and 16 hours per semester. Withdrawal from courses will reduce that number, making it necessary for the student to take overload or attend summer school or additional semesters to complete a degree.

Student Petitioning Process

University of Indianapolis students have the privilege of submitting petitions requesting special permission for exceptions to regulations and policies. These petitions are considered by the Academic Petitions Committee, a standing faculty committee that meets once each month, usually on the first Tuesday. All student petitions are considered on an individual basis, with attention being given to the student's academic record and the reason for the request. Student petition forms, available in the Office of the Registrar, must be submitted to the receptionist in that office by the 25th of the month for review the following month. Please note: Students submitting petitions are responsible for obtaining all necessary signatures on the form before submitting it to the Office of the Registrar

Students who have been declared academically ineligible have the privilege of submitting petitions requesting permission to return to the University after an absence of one regular semester (Semester I or II). These petitions for readmission must be submitted to the Academic Petitions Committee. Petitions for readmission are available in the Office of the Registrar and should be submitted to the receptionist in that office by the 25th of the month for review the following month.