Academic Policies

Course schedule information is published prior to the beginning of each registration period. Each student is responsible for completing their registration, conforming to all college regulations, and satisfying requirements.

Students may register on the dates indicated on the academic calendar. Students are encouraged to register on time to ensure the most flexible choice of program. A course may be canceled by New York Institute of Technology for any reason, including insufficient enrollment. The method of delivery (instruction mode) of a course may be modified at any time as permitted by governmental and/or accreditor regulations.

Advisors are available for help and guidance, and the advisor's approval is required for each registration.

Official registration in a course section is required to earn a grade for a class. Registration must be completed by the end of the add/drop period (see academic calendar). Students cannot be officially registered until all tuition and fees are satisfied. Attendance is not permitted in any class without official registration for that class. Students who have not officially registered for a course section will not receive a grade retroactively.

Prerequisite and Corequisite Courses

Many courses require prerequisite and/or corequisite courses. A prerequisite course is a course that must be successfully completed prior to taking the desired course, and a corequisite course must be taken at the same time (or in some cases taken before). The chairperson or dean of the program that offers the course may waive these course requirements under extenuating circumstances. Prerequisite and corequisite requirements are listed in the individual course descriptions of this catalog.

Each student is responsible for satisfying the necessary prerequisites and corequisites. If a student enrolls in a course but has not completed the prerequisites or corequisites for it, the department chairperson may administratively withdraw the student from the course. The student may also be referred to the Dean of Students' Office for failure to comply and adhere to the administrative action taken by the academic department in regard to the course.

Online Courses

Domestic students can register for online courses if they have achieved satisfactory academic status. Refer to the Academic Standing: Probation and Dismissal section (below) for the policy pertaining to satisfactory academic status.

For students on an international visa, the number of credits that may be taken online is based on the United States policy for international students and any applicable policies from their home country.

Additional Info: Office of the Registrar

Students are permitted to add and drop classes during the add/drop (change of program) period after consulting with an advisor. Adding and dropping courses is permitted within the first two weeks for fall, spring, and summer III terms (two class sessions for cycle, summer I and II courses; or within the first week for RN–B.S. Completion Program). After the first two weeks, students may withdraw from a class (as opposed to "drop"), which will result in the non-punitive grade of "W" recorded on the student's transcript indicating a course withdrawal. Refer to the academic calendar for specific dates.

A change in courses (not sections) may affect the tuition charged and financial aid eligibility. Undergraduate students may not register for graduate courses without permission because this may jeopardize their financial aid.

Additional Info: Office of the Registrar

An undergraduate student wishing to enroll in graduate coursework must obtain approval from both the student's academic department and the Office of the Registrar. Once permission has been granted, the course cannot subsequently be designated as a graduate course if/when the student officially enters a graduate program. In all cases, graduate-level coursework taken by an undergraduate student must lead to a degree in the enrolled program of study. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for more information about the impact on a student's financial aid.

Additional Info: Office of the Registrar

Students may "drop" a class without a transcript notation if done within the applicable add/drop period (see Adding and Dropping Courses above).

After that period, students wishing to exit a course may do so by requesting to withdraw from the course from the instructor. The decision to withdraw from a course should be made only after consulting with the course instructor and advisor, as withdrawing from a course may affect financial aid eligibility, as well as result in financial obligation to New York Institute of Technology. Consult with the Office of Financial Aid and the Bursar's Office for more information. To withdraw from a course, the student and the instructor must complete a withdrawal form, and the instructor must submit it to the Office of the Registrar within 48 hours. Upon receipt of the withdrawal, a grade will be assigned by the registrar.

Students can withdraw from a course from the end of the add/drop period through the week before finals to receive a grade of W. The W grade is not included in the computation of the cumulative GPA, but it may affect financial aid eligibility.

The withdrawal (W) grade will be assigned to students who officially withdraw from a class according to this schedule. The unofficial withdrawal (UW) grade may be assigned if a student has stopped attending class without officially withdrawing. The W and UW grades are not included in the computation of the GPA, but they may affect eligibility for financial aid.

Students may not withdraw from classes during the final exam period.

The Department of Nursing has additional rules governing course withdrawals. For more information, read about them in the catalog's School of Health Professions, Nursing section.

Additional Info: Office of the Registrar

Students are expected to attend their courses in the modality assigned on a regular and punctual basis to obtain the educational benefits that each meeting affords. Students shall be informed by their instructors how latenesses or absences will be handled during the semester. Instructors shall inform students of the consequences of excessive absences and/or latenesses. In the event of a student's absence from a test, the instructor will determine whether the student will be allowed to make up the work. The privilege of taking a makeup examination is generally not extended beyond one semester from the original date of examination unless an incomplete grade has been granted. For confirmed health and emergency circumstances that may influence a student's attendance in classes, they should contact the Dean of Students immediately, so that faculty will receive notification of anticipated absence(s) via email from the Dean of Students. Students will be directed to talk with faculty about the most appropriate way to continue to participate in class and/or catch up on missed work.

The Department of Nursing has additional rules governing course, lab, and clinical attendance. See information in the catalog's School of Health Professions, Nursing section and the Nursing Student Handbook.

Additional Info: Office of the Registrar

Students who are enrolled for a degree but who are not taking coursework during a regular semester are required to maintain matriculation by registering to "maintain matriculation" in their program. This will keep records active and will entitle students to faculty consultations and use of general facilities of the college including the library. A maintenance of matriculation form is available through each program office.

Additional Info: Office of the Registrar

Undergraduate students wishing to change their major must complete the Application to Change Undergraduate Major form available online. To change your campus, complete the Application to Change Campus form, also available online. Changes of major or campus are made upon the recommendation of the dean (designee) and with approval of the registrar. No change of curriculum is effective without an evaluation of the student's credentials and approval by the new department. Changes are complete once recorded by the registrar. Students may view their major or campus change on my.nyit.edu.

In addition to a major, students have the option of declaring a minor. Just as an academic major gives an employer or professional school an idea of one's ability to specialize and to develop an in-depth understanding of a particular discipline, an academic minor provides an occasion to expand the breadth of a student's interests independently of the student's major. It demonstrates broad competence beyond a narrow specialization.

Typically minor courses shall be outside the student's major. Minors require between 15 and 21 credits. Students wishing to pursue a minor should consult with the advisor for that minor before completing the second course, and submit the Application to Declare an Undergraduate Minor. Upon approval, the Student Advisement Report (STAR) will be updated to include the minor course requirements. After declaration, students should periodically meet with the advisor for the minor to ensure they are on track to complete the minor requirements before graduation. Courses taken to fulfill the minor must be in addition to any courses taken to fulfill either core requirements or major requirements. A minimum of six (6) credits must be taken in residence at New York Institute of Technology and must be in excess of the requirements of all the student's majors and other minors. Departments/programs in which the minor resides may permit the inclusion of some major courses in fulfillment of the minor, where appropriate. Upon graduation, the student's transcript and diploma will reflect both the major and the minor earned. Students may declare up to two minors.

The minor declaration is complete once recorded by the registrar. Students may view their minor via my.nyit.edu.

To cancel a minor: Complete the Application to Declare Undergraduate Minor form and choose the option to cancel the minor, obtain appropriate approvals, and submit the application to the Office of the Registrar. The minor will be removed from the student's record.

Additional Info: Office of the Registrar

Full-time study in an undergraduate program is defined as 12 or more credits per term. All students in good standing may take a maximum of 18 credits per semester (including summer) without special permission, with the exception of students on the Dean's List, who may take a maximum of 21 credits per semester. Students may exceed this credit maximum with the permission of a dean. Except for graduating seniors, students taking less than 12 credits during a semester will not be certified as full-time students, which may impact financial aid eligibility. Check with the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Full-time Equivalent Enrollment Status

The following definition applies to the full-time equivalency (FTE) enrollment status.

Undergraduate Students

Students may enroll in a course/internship/co-op experience that is the equivalent of 36 hours per week for 15 weeks (36 hours per week for 11 weeks in the summer term) to be considered a full-time equivalent for enrollment purposes.

Co-Op Requirements for International Students

International students on an F-1 visa are required to obtain work authorization, known as Curricular Practical Training (CPT), in order to participate in co-op. CPT allows students on an F-1 visa to engage in employment in the United States as long as it is an integral part of their curriculum. CPT must be secured for each co-op experience in the United States. Eligibility to work needs to be established by the Office of International Education prior to being assigned a co-op cycle and advisor. International students on a visa that is not F-1 need to contact their primary to determine whether their status allows for participation in the co-op program.

Additional Info: Office of the Registrar

All courses taken for credit at New York Institute of Technology, which are applied toward degree and certificate completion requirements, conform to applicable state and federal regulations concerning the assignment of credit hours. Calculation of credit hours for these programs follows New York State Education Department (NYSED) guidelines, which are consistent with the U.S. Department of Education's definition of a credit hour.

View information concerning credit hour assignment policies

Fall and spring semesters are approximately 15 weeks long. The number of semester hours of credit earned for a course corresponds to the number of academic hours of instruction in a standard week. Two, or in some cases three, academic hours of laboratory or studio work in a standard week during a semester constitute one credit for most programs. Summer session and Intersession classes are scheduled for an equivalent number of academic hours.

Semester hours of credit are granted for the grades A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, or P.

Undergraduate students receive one of the following grades for each course completed and/or registered for during each semester:

Graduate students receive one of the following grades for each course completed and/or registered for during each semester:

At the conclusion of the fall and spring semesters, two averages are computed for each student to indicate the general level of academic standing.

The first is called the grade point average (GPA), which indicates the scholarship level for the semester. The second is called the cumulative grade point average (CGPA), which indicates the scholarship level for all work taken at the college.

The GPA is computed by adding all the quality points earned for the semester and then dividing by the number of credits for those courses graded with an A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, or F.

The CGPA, computed in a similar manner, represents all the quality points earned during all the semesters the student has attended New York Institute of Technology, divided by the number of credits for those courses where the grade given is an A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, or F.

Quality points are awarded in accordance with the grade schedule above. For example, students who earn an A in a three-credit course accumulate four quality points per credit for a total of 12 quality points; a grade of B+ in a three-credit course would accumulate 3.3 quality points per credit for a total of 9.9 quality points; a grade of A in a two-credit course would accumulate four quality points per credit for a total of eight quality points. No quality points are awarded for grades of AU, F, I, P, PR, W, or UW.

The temporary grade of Incomplete (I) shall change to a Failing (F) grade if the student does not complete all work by the end of the allotted time. An F grade may not be challenged, and the course must be repeated by the student to receive credit.

The following policies shall guide the awarding and calculation of the I grade, and the change of the I grade to an F grade:

• The student must request additional time to complete a single project, report, or final examination.
• The grade of incomplete is to be assigned only to students who are otherwise passing the course at the end of the semester.
• The instructor has the right to refuse the request and may assign a final grade based solely on the work already completed.
• The grade of incomplete will change to a failing grade if the outstanding coursework is not completed in accordance with the schedule in effect at the time it was assigned, regardless of the average the student otherwise maintained in the class (see academic calendar for dates).
• A single short extension of the time period shall be granted only in exceptional circumstances by the vice president for academic affairs.
• The grade of incomplete will not be assigned to students with excessive absences, especially when those absences include the final sessions of the course, unless extenuating circumstances have been established.
• The incomplete grade is recorded by the registrar as "attempted credits," until the course is complete.
• The incomplete grade that changes to a failing grade will carry zero quality points.
• Students can advance if an incomplete grade is assigned to a prerequisite course for the term immediately following the assignment of an I grade but cannot advance after an I grade changes to an F.
• I grades may have an effect on the student's financial aid and/or student visa status. Students are encouraged to meet with the financial aid and/or international student advisor when requesting the I option.
• The grade of incomplete will also be assigned while pending the outcome of a hearing by the Student Conduct Panel due to an alleged violation of the Academic Integrity Policy. In such cases, the outcome of the hearing and completion of the academic integrity process will dictate the student's final grade for the course.

Note: For some courses in the Health Professions programs, credit values differ from contact hours. See program descriptions.

Undergraduate students who have earned a C-, D+, D, F, W, UW, or PR in a course may retake the course for credit to earn a higher grade (see "Limitation on Repeating Courses" below). Only the higher grade will be used in computing the GPA and CGPA. The other grade(s) will remain on the student's record as a matter of information. Repeating courses may impact eligibility for financial aid. Students should consult with a financial aid advisor before registering for a repeated course.

An undergraduate student may repeat a course in which a GPA-relevant grade is earned (C-, D+, D, F) a maximum of two times. Grades of W, UW, and PR do not count toward the maximum of two repeats. Should a student wish to repeat a course more than two times, the student must receive approval from their department chairperson and be referred to the Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising. Certain majors have rules on repeating courses that are more restrictive than this one. The more restrictive rule takes precedence.

Note: Students who have changed majors should be aware that only quality points from the first degree program that are applicable to the present degree program are included. Students receiving financial aid should consult a financial aid counselor prior to changing majors to identify any impact this change may have on their financial aid.

Graduate students who have earned a grade of C or F in a course may retake the course to earn a higher grade. Only the higher grade will be used in computing the GPA; however, the original C or F grade will remain on the record as a matter of information. The only courses that may be repeated for credit are those that result in grades of C, W, F, or UW.

A student may register to audit a course after obtaining written permission from the appropriate dean. A previously audited course may be taken for credit at a later date but may not be challenged. A student who registers for a course on an audit basis cannot elect to change over to a credit basis after the session has started. Similarly, a credit course cannot be changed over to an audit course. All the usual tuition and fees must be paid for audited courses.

In cases where students change majors to a significantly different field of study, the student's record may be modified to remove grades for courses unrelated to the new major as determined by the department. Major modified courses are not included in the computation of the grade point average and have no credit value, but remain on the academic transcript. These courses have no credit value and do not satisfy degree requirements. Major modified courses must be approved by the dean/chairperson.

Credit for degree requirements and elective courses can be earned by obtaining satisfactory scores on proficiency examinations including challenge exams. New York Institute of Technology has developed its own challenge examinations in areas not covered by CLEP, DSST, or Excelsior. A student wishing to take a challenge exam should contact the department of the course they wish to challenge and obtain written permission in the form of an email or letter. The permission should be submitted to the Bursar along with payment of the exam fee.

Upon receipt of the written permission and proof of payment, the Office of the Registrar will complete the Request for Challenge Examination form and return it to the student. The student should submit the form to the department. Once the challenge examination has been taken, the department must submit the completed form and grade to the Office of the Registrar for processing.

Students must be matriculated to challenge a course. Challenge exam credit does not count toward the university's residency requirements. Students cannot challenge a course of a level lower than related course(s) they have completed, or in which they are currently enrolled. A maximum of 60 credits toward a bachelor's degree and 30 credits toward an associate degree may be achieved through proficiency exams. Students may challenge no more than three courses per term. For courses taken at New York Institute of Technology, only those courses in which a student earned a grade of F, W, or UW may be challenged. A course that is challenged and failed cannot be rechallenged. A course may be challenged only once. Challenge exams, if passed, are graded with a P grade. An F grade is not recorded. To earn a grade of P, the exam must be passed with a grade of C or better.

The continued registration of any student is dependent upon regular attendance, proper conduct, and achievement of passing grades. Any one of the following is regarded as sufficient cause for dismissal: irregular attendance, neglect of work, conduct deemed by the college not consistent with general good order, or failure to comply with the college's rules and regulations. The college reserves the right to terminate a student's enrollment at any time.

Every student has the right to petition the Admissions and Academic Standards Committee for redress of actions affecting academic standing.

A student must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to graduate. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be achieved at the end of each regular semester (fall and spring) to maintain satisfactory academic status at New York Institute of Technology.

Probation I: The first time a student's cumulative GPA falls below the minimum required, the student shall be placed on Probation I for the next regular semester. The student will receive an email from the Office of the Registrar outlining available academic support services and requiring the student to meet with an advisor from the Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising.

Probation II: When a student's cumulative GPA falls below the minimum required for two regular semesters (not necessarily contiguous), the student shall be placed on Probation II for the next regular semester. The student will receive an email from the Office of the Registrar outlining available academic support services and requiring the student to meet with an advisor from the Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising. A student on Probation II status cannot register for more than 16 credits until the student is removed from Probation II status.

Dismissal: When a student's cumulative GPA falls below the minimum required for three regular semesters (not necessarily contiguous), the student will be dismissed from the institution.

Students who have been dismissed may appeal to the Committee on Academic Probation and Dismissal and must do so no later than three weeks after the last day of the semester in which they were dismissed. On the basis of the appeal and other relevant information, the committee may uphold the dismissal decision or may recommend reversal of the dismissal decision and impose additional conditions for continued enrollment. The committee's decision is binding and final. Failure to submit an appeal by the given deadline will result in automatic upholding of the dismissal.

Dismissed students are ineligible to pursue credit-bearing courses at New York Institute of Technology for a period of one year or until a minimum GPA of 2.5 is earned for the most recent 12 credits completed at another accredited U.S. institution of higher education, and until they receive approval from the Committee on Academic Probation and Dismissal. To obtain approval, the student must submit an appeal letter to the committee no later than two weeks prior to the start of the semester for which the student is reapplying. The committee will make the admission decision and if readmitted, the student will be placed on Probation II.

In the case of global campuses with dual-degree partnerships, dismissal decisions will be overseen by the campus dean. Please refer to the Global Faculty and Student Handbooks for further information.

A student must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better to graduate. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 will be placed on academic probation.

The first time a student's cumulative GPA falls below the minimum requirement, the student shall be placed on Probation I for the next regular semester. When a student's cumulative GPA falls below the minimum requirement for two regular semesters (not necessarily sequential), the student shall be placed on Probation II for the next regular semester. When a student's cumulative GPA falls below the minimum requirement for three regular semesters (not necessarily sequential), the student's record will be reviewed by the academic department, and they may be dropped from the program.

Some academic departments have stricter program-related policies. Please refer to the specific academic school within this catalog for more details.

In the best interests of the student and the college, a maximum of five years is allowed for completion of degree requirements. Under exceptional conditions, an additional year may be permitted upon formal request to the appropriate graduate chairperson and approval by the dean of graduate studies.

Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly work in an open, honest, and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity, and all members of the university community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Academic integrity includes a commitment to engage in academic work that adheres to the highest standards of academic honesty. These standards include purposeful avoidance of plagiarism, cheating, misrepresentation, unauthorized collaboration, or any efforts at facilitating any academic deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental and ethical principles of the community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.

If a faculty member determines that a student has committed academic dishonesty by plagiarizing, cheating, or in any other manner, the faculty member may report the allegation of misconduct for follow-up by the Dean of Students pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct's Academic Integrity Policy – U.S. Campuses.

Each student enrolled in a course at New York Institute of Technology agrees that by taking such a course, they consent to the submission of all required papers for textual similarity review to any commercial service engaged by the university to detect plagiarism. Each student also agrees that all papers submitted to any such service may be included as a source document in the service's database, solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers.

An undergraduate student who earns a place on the Dean's List is a full-time matriculated student who has attained a minimum grade point average of 3.5 or higher in any semester in which they completed 12 or more credits without any incompletes (I), or a part-time matriculated student who has attained a minimum grade point average of 3.6 or higher in any semester in which they completed six or more credits without any incompletes (I). Students who meet the same standards and earn a 3.7 or above are placed on the Presidential Honor List. Notification of these awards is sent to students, and the appropriate honor is recorded on their transcripts.

Visiting students (non-degree-seeking students) are limited in the total number of credit-bearing courses they may take. Graduate students may not take more than nine credits, and undergraduates may not take more than 24 credits without matriculating.

Students who have been attending graduate courses under conditional status and who have completed the first four graduate courses with a quality point average of 3.0 or better may apply to the director of the program for a change of status to fully matriculated. Non-degree students and/or students in graduate certificate programs who wish to pursue a degree program must make a formal request for admission and matriculation to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Any required documents not previously submitted must also be received.

Matriculated students in good academic standing who are currently enrolled at New York Institute of Technology may take courses at another accredited institution for credit. Since not all courses will be accepted for credit toward a degree, students must complete the Permission to Take Courses at Another College form, which is available at the Office of the Registrar, and abide by the university's residency requirements (see section regarding transfer credits). A course may be taken at another college only when it is unavailable at New York Institute of Technology during the specific semester.

Upon completing the course, students must provide the registrar with official transcripts used to enter credit in their records. An official transcript must be received by New York Institute of Technology no later than one month after the course is completed. A grade of C- or better is required for credit. Transfer credit grades are not calculated into a student's GPA. Students on probation may not take courses at another college. Students with 70 cumulative credits (including transfer credit and credits in progress at New York Institute of Technology) must take courses at a senior-level institution.

Teacher education candidates who are given permission to take an education course at another college may be required to submit additional documentation demonstrating achievement of specific knowledge or skills related to the course not taken at New York Institute of Technology. This documentation may include keystone assignments, lesson plans, field experience logs, essays, or student work samples.

For matriculated students, transfer credit evaluation guidelines are instituted by each academic department, in consultation with the Office of the Registrar, and are applicable for all course delivery modes including online courses.

The decision to withdraw from a course is a serious matter and should be made only after consulting with an instructor and faculty advisor. Withdrawing from a course may affect eligibility for financial aid. For details, visit nyit.edu/finaid.

To withdraw from a course, students must fill out a withdrawal form and have the course instructor sign and submit it to the Office of the Registrar.

Students can withdraw from a course from the end of the add/drop period through the week before finals to receive a grade of W. The W grade is not included in the computation of the cumulative GPA, but it may affect financial aid eligibility.

The withdrawal (W) grade will be assigned to students who officially withdraw from a class according to this schedule. The unofficial withdrawal (UW) grade may be assigned if a student has stopped attending class without officially withdrawing. The W and UW grades are not included in the computation of the GPA, but they may affect eligibility for financial aid.

Students who wish to withdraw from the college may initiate an official withdrawal by contacting the Office of the Registrar and obtaining a withdrawal form.

Depending on the circumstances, the student's withdrawal date will be recorded as the date they began the withdrawal process or the date they notified the college of intent to withdraw. Tuition and financial aid refunds, if any, will be based on the withdrawal date. For an explanation of what happens to a student's financial aid when they withdraw from the college, visit the Office of the Registrar or read more at nyit.edu/finaid.

In the case of complete withdrawal from the college, students who were awarded federal Title IV financial aid will be subject to proration of the awards in accordance with applicable federal regulations. The application of federal refund provisions may result in an outstanding balance owed to the college and/or the U.S. Department of Education. Details of the adjustment to federal Title IV financial aid awards will be provided to the student following the withdrawal process.

New York Institute of Technology recognizes that students who are also in the Armed Forces Reserve are subject to call-up for active duty. It is our policy to make every effort to support and assist students who are in this situation. Students who have been called for active duty must present a copy of their duty assignment orders to the registrar and may select one or more of the following options:

1. Withdrawal from all courses: Students may withdraw from all of their courses and receive a full tuition refund regardless of the number of weeks that have expired in the term. They will receive a W for all their courses regardless of their current class averages. The student must file a Withdrawal from the College form with the Office of the Registrar. Upon return from active duty, the student shall be readmitted without paying the rematriculation fee.
2. Withdrawal from individual courses: Students may withdraw from one or more of their courses and receive a W grade regardless of the number of weeks that have expired in the term, or of their current class averages. They may be entitled to a tuition refund depending upon the number of credits they have withdrawn compared to the number of credits they have not withdrawn. To do this, the student must file a Withdrawal from a Course form with their instructor, who will submit this form to the registrar. The student is responsible for both the grades and the tuition for the courses in which the student remains enrolled.
3. Transfer to online courses: Students may transfer one or more of their lecture courses from on-campus sections to online sections if appropriate instructors and course materials are available. There will not be an additional fee charged.
4. Incomplete grades: Students may request an incomplete grade from their instructors in one or more courses. Instructors are not required to grant the grade of incomplete but are encouraged to give due consideration to the student in such circumstances. If an incomplete grade has been assigned, the student must complete the course requirements within two complete semesters following deactivation from duty (an additional semester extension with approval by the dean and the vice president for academic affairs or designee may also be given).

Students who elect to withdraw from one or more courses should first consult with a campus financial aid advisor. Additionally, students can view the reserve/guard financial aid resource page on the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators website at nasfaa.org.

All students who wish to be considered candidates for graduation must file an application for graduation with the registrar by the date indicated on the academic calendar. Applications may be completed online at my.nyit.edu. Students are required to complete all program requirements to be eligible for graduation. See the graduation section of this catalog for guidelines used to evaluate students for graduation. Please note that some programs have specific requirements, which supersede these guidelines.

New York Institute of Technology does not rank students.

Diplomas are held in the Office of the Registrar for a period of two years from the date of graduation. After two years, a replacement diploma must be ordered, and the new diploma will bear the names of current officials in office at the time the replacement diploma is produced. The cost for a replacement diploma may be found online.

Requirements for Graduation

All students who wish to be considered as candidates for graduation must file an application for graduation with the registrar by the date indicated on the academic calendar. Applications can be completed online by accessing my.nyit.edu. To be eligible for graduation, students must complete all program requirements. The following graduation guidelines will be used to evaluate students for graduation. Please note some programs have specific requirements that supersede these guidelines.

Graduation Evaluation Guidelines¹

Academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of Higher Education. Academic degrees for undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, as well as advanced diplomas and certificates/advanced certificates, may be conferred on matriculated students upon the successful completion of all program requirements.

New York Institute of Technology academic program requirements are uniform at all campus locations and can be changed only with the approval of the Academic Senate, and if necessary, with approval of NYSED.

Students are responsible for ensuring that all degree requirements listed in the catalog in effect on the date of their admission/readmission are fulfilled. Errors on degree maps or degree audit advisement reports do not constitute a basis for waiving degree requirements. Discrepancies in documents will be addressed by the academic dean responsible for the program.

New York Institute of Technology faculty will review students' academic records and recommend them for graduation by signing and submitting a degree audit evaluation to the Office of the Registrar. An audit of the academic records of students recommended for graduation will be conducted by the Office of the Registrar, which will notify the deans, department chairpersons, and students of the outcomes.

The criteria used to evaluate students for graduation are uniform at all campus locations and are as follows:

• Students will be matriculated in an academic program, have all transfer credits posted to their academic record, and have all admissions and prerequisite requirements satisfied. Students will be evaluated for graduation using the program requirements in effect at the time of their most recent admission/readmission into the program. Students readmitted after a break of five years or less (undergraduates must be within 30 credits of degree completion) may request approval to follow the program requirements in place at the time of their readmission. The academic dean responsible for the program will decide this matter. Students readmitted after a break of more than five years (undergraduates must be within 30 credits of degree completion) may request approval to follow the program requirements in place at the time of their readmission. The vice president of academic affairs (or designee) will decide this matter. In all cases, NYSED regulations will guide these decisions.
• For most programs, the undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) will be a minimum of 2.0 and the graduate cumulative GPA will be a minimum of 3.0. Some programs require a higher minimum cumulative GPA. These minimum cumulative GPA requirements cannot be waived, and New York Institute of Technology does not round the cumulative GPA.
• All undergraduate courses in which the grades of A–D (inclusive of + and - grades) and F, and graduate courses with grades of A–C (inclusive of + and - grades) and F, will be used in the computation of the cumulative GPA unless a course is major modified² or complies with the university repeat policy.
• All required and elective undergraduate courses (or approved course substitutions) must be completed with a minimum grade of D or P. Graduate courses (or approved substitutions) must be completed with a minimum grade of C or P. Courses that have specific grade requirements will be considered completed only when the required grade is achieved. Effective 2002, prior to graduation, all outstanding coursework must be completed and a grade recorded.
• To be eligible for graduation, undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 30 credits toward their degree. A minimum of 15 credits in the major must be taken in residence at New York Institute of Technology. At least nine credits must be advanced-level courses (300 or higher) in the major field of study. Graduate students will satisfy the residency requirements specific to the academic program.
• Upon satisfactory completion of program requirements, students will be awarded a certificate or degree for the program in which they matriculated. A second certificate or degree will not be awarded for programs whose requirements are a subset of the program in which the student is matriculated. A second certificate or degree can be awarded after all program requirements for the second certificate or degree are satisfied or as specified in the academic catalog.

Modifications to program requirements are managed as follows:

The number of credits required for academic programs is specified in the academic catalog. A maximum of two elective credits can be waived by the dean or designee responsible for the program. However, the total number of credits required to graduate will not be less than required by NYSED.

General education course requirements cannot be waived. Course substitutions within the general education requirements may be approved by the dean or designee for the discipline responsible for the general education requirement.

Major course requirements cannot be waived. Course substitutions for major courses and program electives can be approved by the dean or designee responsible for the academic program.

The number of course substitutions within the major are limited to three to avoid changing the focus of the program. More than three substitutions require approval of the dean responsible for the program.

Retroactive graduation will be considered only if all program requirements have been completed and course substitutions approved as of the requested retroactive graduate date. The dean of the program will consider the request and make a recommendation to the provost and vice president for academic affairs, who will decide the matter.

Degrees with Distinction

A graduating undergraduate student who has achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7 receives the baccalaureate degree summa cum laude; at least 3.5, magna cum laude; and at least 3.2, cum laude. A graduating graduate student who has achieved a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA will graduate with distinction. Undergraduate and graduate certificate students and associate degrees are not eligible for honors. These distinctions are noted on students' diplomas as well as on their transcripts.

Students must complete 55 percent of all coursework at New York Institute of Technology. If 55 percent of the coursework was not taken at New York Tech, grades for all courses accepted as transfer credit will also be included in the calculation of academic honors. Students must first receive at least a 3.2 GPA at New York Institute of Technology before transfer credits are included in the cumulative average. Fifty-five percent of all college course grades must be in the form of letter grades from either New York Institute of Technology or a former college. Students who do not have at least 55 percent of their credits in courses for which letter grades have been given are not considered for honors.

Notes:

[1] As approved by the Academic Senate and submitted by the Admissions and Academic Standards Committee.

[2] Major modified courses are not included in the computation of the cumulative GPA but remain on the academic transcript. Major modified courses must be approved by a chairperson/dean.

Students who already hold a bachelor's degree may earn a second bachelor's degree by satisfying the following requirements:

1. Upon application to the Office of Admissions, the student should be directed to seek formal advisement from the department. With this advisement on record, the student may proceed and be reviewed for acceptance into the program.
2. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 must be earned in the courses taken at New York Institute of Technology for the second degree.
3. Work toward a second degree must be completed in a major or program distinctly different from the major or program of the first degree.
4. A student must complete all core requirements of a bachelor's degree. The work in the major area of concentration must be completed in accordance with the requirements listed in the applicable catalog.
5. A minimum of 36 credits over and above any used to satisfy the requirements of the first bachelor's degree must be completed at New York Institute of Technology. A minimum of 18 of these 36 credits must be in the new major field of concentration. Students must be aware that completing a new major field of concentration may require significantly more than 36 credits. Students may not retake courses previously completed toward the first degree.

Students should have an approved degree map on file showing an academic plan at the start of their studies.