Undergraduate Academic Policies

Academic Integrity

Candidates must accept the responsibility to be honest, and to respect ethical standards in meeting their academic assignments and requirements. Integrity in academic life requires that candidates demonstrate intellectual and academic achievement independent of all assistance except that authorized by the instructor. The use of an outside source in any academic assignment, paper, report, or submission for academic credit without the appropriate acknowledgment is plagiarism. It is also academically dishonest to submit anything in electronic form as one’s own, that is, the work, either fully or in part, of someone else. It is unethical to present as one’s own work, the ideas, words, or representations of another without the proper indication of the source. Therefore, it is the candidate’s responsibility to give credit to any quotation, idea, or data borrowed from an outside source. Candidates who fail to meet the responsibility for academic integrity subject themselves to sanctions ranging from a reduction in grade or failure in the assignment or course in which the offense occurred to suspension, dismissal, or expulsion from the University. Candidates penalized for failing to maintain academic integrity who wish to appeal such action may petition the department chair for a hearing on the matter. View the Pace University Academic Integrity Code (PDF).

Summary Of Criteria For Program Continuation, Completion, And Eligibility For Teacher Certification

Becoming a teacher is a complex process. Teacher education candidates must continue to demonstrate success in each of the essential aspects of the teacher preparation program:

• Understanding the theories and instructional practices presented in coursework,
• practicing teaching skills during fieldwork in the Centers for Professional Development (CPD),
• demonstrating the knowledge base of the program in coursework and examinations,
• and evidencing the dispositions required for teaching.

While successful teachers merge theoretical understandings and skills of practice in their classrooms daily, candidates preparing to be teachers must sometimes demonstrate their knowledge and skills separately. It is possible to be successful in coursework and not in fieldwork, or the reverse, or to be successful in both but not demonstrate the dispositions required to teach. Since teachers must be strong in knowledge, skills, and dispositions, candidates who are permitted to continue in the program must demonstrate their abilities in educational theory and practice as well as their content knowledge in the liberal arts and their certification area(s). Prior to student teaching, all candidates must take the Content Specialty Test (CST) in their certificate field(s). In student teaching, the components of content knowledge, educational theory, practice, and appropriate dispositions are combined. Successful completion of student teaching and passing scores on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) are required before a candidate is eligible for certification.

Success in coursework is defined as:

Freshman education majors must meet the following criteria to progress to the sophomore cohort:

• GPA of 2.50;
• Successful completion of the following: 6 credits of English and Speech/Com (any combination); MAT; UNV 101; TCH 201 (w the grade of B or better), and any remedial work.
• Fingerprint clearance.

Sophomore education majors must meet the following criteria to progress to the junior cohort and Teach Phase of their program:

• GPA of 2.75;
• Grade of B or better in all TCH courses;
• Successful completion of their Dyson concentration/major courses, and all remedial work (if applicable).

Junior education majors must meet the following criteria to progress to the senior cohort:

• GPA of 3.0;
• Grade of B or better in all TCH courses;
• Satisfactory evaluations in their clinical placement.

Senior education majors must meet the following criteria to progress to student teaching:

• GPA of 3.0;
• Grade of B or better in all TCH courses;
• Satisfactory evaluations in their clinical placement;
• Students on academic probation will be prevented from student teaching until the academic probation is removed.

Success in fieldwork observation is defined as:

• A grade of P (passing) from the CPD clinical faculty member. A grade of P in the CPD means that candidates have met all of the applicable CPD performance indicators at a level of competent (2) or exceeds expectations (3) for that semester.

Success in student teaching is defined as:

• Meeting the performance indicators for student teaching throughout the semester as defined on the assessment matrix.
• A grade of P in student teaching.
• A positive recommendation from both the Pace Supervisor and the Mentor Teacher.
• A passing portfolio, as defined in the portfolio guidelines

Success with the NYSTCE is defined by the scores established by New York State:

• Content Specialty Test (CST) in the certificate field(s)
• Educating All Students (EAS)

Academic Standards

Candidates are expected to attend every session of every course. Any absences can affect a grade. It is imperative to speak to the instructor if there are any questions about attendance or extenuating circumstances.

Every candidate is required to earn a "B" or better in each education course for which she/he registers and maintain a cumulative grade point average of “B” (3.00). Depending on the degree of the academic deficiency, the candidate may also be required to repeat courses. Candidates who earn an “F” in an Education course will be placed on academic probation in danger of dismissal and must meet with an academic advisor. Given the urgency of repeating the course, a plan of studies will be determined.

Academic probation is valid for one semester only; candidates who fail to raise their GPA to minimum standards after completing the probation semester will be dismissed from the program. A candidate with a cumulative grade point average below 3.00 is considered academically deficient whether or not they receive written notification of this status.

Academic Review – Department Or School

A candidate who is dismissed for academic reasons may appeal the dismissal within 30 calendar days from the date of the dismissal letter. Candidates may not register for or attend classes while an appeal is pending. The Dean is responsible for deciding the merits of an appeal. The appeal must be in writing and addressed to Dean Tresmaine Grimes. The appeal should indicate in sufficient detail that (1) the candidate’s poor academic performance is due to unusual or non-recurring events, (2) there will be no recurrence of these events, and (3) the candidate has taken or will take appropriate action to ensure that his or her cumulative grade point average will reach the minimum 3.00 in no more than one semester. A candidate may submit additional written evidence or include any other information that may be helpful to the Dean in reaching a determination. The Dean of the School will consider the letter of appeal, any supporting evidence supplied by the candidate, and the candidate’s past academic record in reaching his decision. If the appeal is accepted by the Dean, the candidate will be placed on probation. All decisions made by the Dean are final.

Undergraduate Grading System

A letter grade is awarded as a measure of candidate performance only by the faculty member assigned to a particular course and section. The spectrum of letter grades ranges from A through C and F; in addition, certain plus and minus refinements to the letter grades are available to allow faculty greater flexibility in the measurement of candidate performance. Specific grading policies are established by the instructor in a given course. Each letter grade translates into a numerical equivalent or quality point as cited below:

SOE Grading Scale

Incomplete

Used at the discretion of the instructor, the grade of Incomplete can be given only in the case of an emergency. “I” becomes a failure, and a grade of “F” is assigned to the course unless removed within six weeks after the conclusion of the semester; candidates with an "F" grade will not be allowed to progress further in the program. If, however, in the judgment of the instructor of the course, deficiencies are so extensive that they cannot be made up within the allotted time period of six weeks, a grade of “F” will be assigned immediately at the end of the semester.

P Pass

Assigned to certain designated courses, candidates receive credits, when applicable, but no quality points are assigned.

Grade Appeal Process

As a general principle, the instructor has sole authority to establish standards of performance and to exercise judgments on the quality of candidate performance, but in a manner that reflects reasonable and generally acceptable academic requirements. Grades assigned in this fashion are final except as the instructor may wish to review them. No faculty member, administrator or another individual may substitute his or her judgment of the candidate’s performance for the reasonable judgment of the instructor. Candidates who believe that a final grade received in a course was not determined in a manner consistent with the principle described above may challenge that grade by first arranging, within a reasonable period of time (approximately 10 school days from the time that the candidate knew or should have known of the final course grade), to meet informally with the instructor to establish a clear understanding of the method by which the grade was determined. Every effort should be made to resolve the matter at the level of the instructor and the candidate. Candidates who have difficulty arranging a meeting with the instructor should consult the department chair. If, after the meeting with the instructor, the candidate wishes to continue the grade challenge, the candidate may appeal in writing (with copies to the instructor) within two weeks to the chair of the department. The statement should clearly state the basis for questioning the grade received in the course. It should be noted that if the chair is the instructor, the appeal is to the dean of the school. The chair’s decision to have a grade reviewed or not is final. If the chair decides that the method by which the candidate’s grade was determined was not proper, the chair will apprise the instructor of the basis for questioning the grade and request that the instructor review the grade. If the instructor, for any reason, does not review the grade, the chair will request that at least one other faculty member qualified to teach the course in question review the grade. In the process of such a review, the faculty member is authorized to assign a grade change and may, if necessary, require additional examination of the candidate’s performance as a basis for the grade change.

Candidates may, at any point in this appeal process, solicit the advice and assistance of an individual faculty or staff member. This individual’s authority in these matters is limited to mediating the relationship between the candidate and the instructor and/or chair. Change of grades or withdrawals is not permitted once a degree has been awarded.

Repeat Grades

Grades earned in courses that are repeated are averaged in the same manner as that described under the heading “Graduate Grading System,” and all grades remain on the transcript. A candidate may request, however, on a one-time basis, that the repeat passing grade for a course in which the grade of F (or I-F) was originally received be the only grade for the course averaged in the calculation of the QPA. However, both grades (the original F and the repeat grade) will be shown on the transcript. Transcripts will be footnoted to indicate that the QPA has been recomputed. Candidates wishing to apply for re-computation of their QPA must file a written request with the Office of the Registrar. (Specific Departments may not allow repeat grades.)

Advisement

Academic advisement concerning programs of study, courses, and the relationship of graduate work to career goals is available to all candidates. Upon admission, all candidates are assigned an advisor. It is required that candidates meet with their assigned advisor prior to registration.

Program Load

All international students studying at Pace University on student visas are required to enroll for and complete a full-time course load each fall and spring semester in order to comply with the regulations of the U.S. Immigration Service.

Course Sequencing

Candidates must follow the School of Education scope and sequence sheet provided at New Student Orientation or during the first advisement meeting. Candidates progress through their programs as a cohort, and all candidates must enroll in full-time study to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Transfer Credits And Residency

Each candidate must satisfy the residency requirement of Pace University in order to qualify for a degree. The undergraduate degree at Pace requires candidates to successfully complete a minimum of 32 credits in residence at the University. Courses from other institutions taken prior to matriculation may be applied toward the bachelor’s degree, with a maximum of 68 credits earned at a two-year institution and a maximum of 96 credits earned at a four-year institution. The New York State Department of Education requires that Pace University consider grades earned for Study Abroad as if they were grades earned in residence. This pertains only to courses taken at those institutions with which the University has consortia and contractual agreements. Courses related in content and number of hours to those in the candidate’s program of study may be considered for transfer credit if they have been completed with a minimum grade of “C” at another regionally accredited school within the past five years.

Withdrawal Policy

Candidates receive no credit for courses they discontinue. All withdrawals are subject to the tuition refund policy cited in the class schedule. Withdrawal after the second week of class in a 14-or 15-week semester or its equivalent will result in a grade of “W,” which will not affect the student’s QPA. Withdrawals are permitted prior to the dates indicated below:

• Regular 14/15 Week Semester* - End of eighth week of class
• Two-Track (7 Weeks) - End of second week of class
• Four Week Term - End of second week of class
• Six Week Term - End of second week of class
• Six-Weekend Modules - End of second week of class
• Intensive Weekend - End of first week of class

*A withdrawal during the ninth and tenth weeks of a 14/15-week semester requires the permission of the instructor of the course and the Dean of the School in which the candidate is matriculated. Candidates who do not withdraw via the web or file for withdrawal with the Registrar’s office within these times will continue to be registered for the course(s) and will be assigned an “F” in the course(s) affected if they have not completed the course requirements. Under exceptional circumstances, a candidate may withdraw without academic penalty from a class after the established time limit, but only with permission from the school that administers the candidate’s program in consultation with the school from which the course originates.