Emmanuel College is an educational community committed to academic integrity, ethics and trust. All members of this community share in the responsibility for building and sustaining a culture of high academic standards.
View the full language of the Emmanuel College Academic Integrity Policy.
To achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress, a student must maintain a 2.0 (C) semester grade point average and must complete two-thirds of attempted credits during each academic year. For additional details, see Finances and Financial Aid.
Academic Probation: A student who achieves below a 2.0 grade point average in any semester will be placed on probation for the following semester. Students who earned a term GPA below 2.0 as a result of INC grades are also placed on academic probation, regardless of the reason for the INC grade. During this probationary semester, the student must not enroll in more than 16 credits nor receive any grades of INC. In addition, the student may not participate in an intercollegiate sports program, hold an elected position in the Student Government Association, or be involved in a leadership position in student activities. The student may be placed in a course designed to support academic success. Students on probation due to a(n) INC grade(s), who after receiving a final letter grade(s) for the courses in which INC grades were awarded, have an adjusted term GPA of 2.0 or above, will have the probationary status removed from their academic history. A student’s probationary status for a particular semester does not change when a credit deficiency has been processed affecting the original term GPA.
Academic Dismissal: If the student fails to achieve satisfactory academic progress (see definition of satisfactory academic progress above) at the end of this probationary semester, the student will be dismissed from the College.
Financial Aid Implications: The status of any student whose grade point average falls below a 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, regardless of his/her cumulative grade point average, is defined as unsatisfactory progress. After completing the second academic year, a student must maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average for Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students should refer to Finances and Financial Aid for information on loss of eligibility for financial aid due to unsatisfactory academic progress.
Students who have been dismissed from the College after two consecutive semesters of term GPAs below 2.0 may petition for reinstatement to return to Emmanuel at least one full academic semester after the dismissal. Students should consult with their academic advisor and/or the Associate Dean of Academic Advising to develop a plan to ensure their future success. Students who are dismissed at the end of the spring semester may petition to be re-admitted to the College for the following spring semester. Students dismissed at the end of the fall semester, may petition for re-admittance for the subsequent fall semester.
To be considered for re-admittance, students must demonstrate the ability to complete college-level work by completing four courses with a grade of “C” or better at another regionally accredited institution. It is advised that students complete two courses in the summer session and two courses in either the fall or spring semesters based on the term of dismissal. The student should complete a Study Off Campus Form and submit to the Office of the Registrar to have any potential off-campus coursework reviewed and approved for transfer prior to registration. Students dismissed at the end of the spring semester may not complete all four courses in summer sessions and return the following fall semester.
Dismissed students should follow the instructions for reinstatement in the procedures accompanying their academic dismissal letter. Official transcripts reflecting completed coursework should be sent to the Office of the Registrar.
Students should contact the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS) in the semester prior to re-admittance to ensure a plan for payment has been established before returning to Emmanuel. This includes verifying any financial aid eligibility. A student’s eligibility to return to Emmanuel does not guarantee eligibility for financial aid.
Students who are granted re-admittance to Emmanuel after a dismissal are placed on permanent academic probation until graduation and must adhere to the policies prescribed in the “Unsatisfactory Student Progress/ Academic Probation” section outlined in this catalog, including ineligibility to receive INC grades.
Students reinstated after an academic dismissal who earn a term GPA under 2.0 at any point after re-admittance, regardless of cumulative GPA will be permanently dismissed from the College without appeal.
The Academic Review Board reviews petitions for exceptions to academic policies and monitors satisfactory academic progress of students toward degree completion. Petitions are available in the Office of Academic Affairs.
Students wishing to change a course must secure the necessary forms and/or contact the Office of the Registrar in writing from their Emmanuel College email address. Undeclared students must seek written advisor approval to make any changes to their schedule after the online registration period. This must be done prior to the end of the add/drop period. Students may not enter a class after the add period, which ends after the first week of classes during the fall and spring semesters. Due to the accelerated nature of summer sessions, registration adds after the start date of the term are typically not permitted. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for add/drop deadlines. The drop period extends to the end of the second week of classes. Changes in courses are processed without charge during the first week.
Please note: Arts and Sciences Summer Session courses and Graduate and Professional Programs (GPP) follow a separate course withdrawal and refund policy. Please see specific dates under the GPP section of the website.
With the approval of the instructor, students may designate a course as an audit by completing an Audit Course Form by the end of the add/drop period. Audited courses are recorded on the transcript with an AU notation. Neither a grade nor credit is given. The total course load taken for credit and audit in a semester cannot exceed the equivalent of five full courses. Audited courses are included in full-time tuition for students registered for 12-20 credits, inclusive of the audited course. Non-matriculating students will be responsible for the tuition charges associated with auditing a course.
Students are expected to attend class regularly. Each faculty member will state clearly on the course syllabus the relationship between class participation and course grade. Faculty members may take attendance.
Emmanuel College encourages students to visit classes with the instructor's permission. Registration is not necessary. Tuition is not charged and no official records are kept.
In the event that a class meeting must be canceled, staff in the Registrar's Office will post an official class cancellation notice.
Class standing is determined by the number of courses completed by the beginning of the first semester of the academic year. For sophomore standing: 32 credits; for junior standing: 64 credits; for senior standing: 96 credits; and for graduation: 128 credits.
Students should declare a major by March 1 of their sophomore year. Departmental academic advisors are assigned once a major is declared. Major declaration forms are available in the Office of the Registrar or here Major/Minor Declaration Form.
After the add/drop period and with approval of the student’s academic advisor, a student may withdraw from a course with a grade of W by completing the Course Withdrawal Form, also available in the Office of the Registrar. The dates for final withdrawal from courses can be viewed on the Academic Calendar. W grades are non-punitive and do not factor into the term or cumulative grade point average. Please note that non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal from a course; a student must contact the Office of the Registrar to officially withdraw. All requests for registration changes, including course withdrawals, must be in writing. Phone requests will not be accepted.
To withdraw from a course, students must contact the Office of the Registrar by completing the 7 Week Course Registration and Withdrawal Form or emailing regmail@emmanuel.edu. When communicating by e-mail, students must request confirmation from the Office of the Registrar. Students who do not officially withdraw will be responsible for the cost of the course. Students should reference the drop/withdrawal dates and refund policy for the 7 week courses on the GPP section of the website.
Courses may be repeated to replace an F (0), to meet college requirements or to improve a student's grade point average. The student must repeat the same course. Another course in the same department may be substituted only with the approval of the student's academic advisor and the chairperson of the department. Credit will be awarded only for one of the two courses and the higher of the two grades will be calculated in the grade point average. The original grade remains on the transcript. Should the original grade have resulted in the student being placed on academic probation, the new grade will not affect that status. The Student Information System will automatically perform a Credit Deficiency Removal for course repeats for which the same course was repeated and the original attempt earned credit. Students seeking to improve their GPA due to an F grade or for a course substitute should submit the Credit Deficiency Removal Form to complete this process. It is the student's responsibility to submit a completed Credit Deficiency Removal Form from the Office of the Registrar to complete the process.
One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester hour of credit. For accelerated courses, 15-20 hours of out-of-class student work each week. At least an equivalent amount of work for other academic activities, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
A degree application must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar via EC Online Services by September 15 for December completion and by February 15 for May completion. Failure to complete a degree application will delay a student’s ability to graduate. Participation in the May Commencement Ceremony will be allowed upon successful completion of all academic requirements and financial obligations. For more information regarding commencement degree requirements and the process to apply for graduation view the Commencement tab.
Emmanuel College confers degrees two times per year. The first conferral is on the date of the May commencement ceremony. The second conferral is December 31st. Students who do not complete all degree requirements by the spring semester grades due date will be considered December graduates. Written verification of degree completion is available upon request from the Office of the Registrar. The degree, including any major and minor declared at the time of conferral will be the student’s official academic program for that degree level.
Once a student’s degree is conferred, the student’s record for that academic program and level has permanently closed and changes will not be made to the record after the conferral date. Students will be asked to verify their degree and program in writing prior to the degree conferral. Any additional coursework completed after the degree conferral will not impact the credentials nor final cumulative GPA at the time of the conferral. Failure to notify the Office of the Registrar about any undeclared programs for which a student may have earned prior to conferral, will result in the academic programs declared at that time being the final academic record for that program for the student. Additional majors or minors will not be added to the student record retroactively.
Students may earn two majors, but only one degree. Undergraduate students declared with two majors that are housed within different baccalaureate degrees (such as a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science) will be provided the option to choose the degree with which to graduate. Students must make this determination prior to the degree conferral. Students in this situation who do not confirm their preferred degree to be listed as their final academic record will graduate with the declared degree on file and the degree posted will not be adjusted at a later date.
The final official transcript includes the student’s posted degree and conferral date, major and any minors, language certificates, any honors awarded including Latin Honors and Distinction in the Field, and any Education certifications. The diploma lists the students name, degree, and any applicable Latin Honors for undergraduate students.
Student performance is evaluated at regular intervals throughout the semester. In particular, mid-semester grades are required for new students in their first two semesters at Emmanuel, athletes, and for students on academic probation. A final examination or an equivalent form of evaluation is required in each course and must be stipulated in the course syllabus. Final examinations must be administered on the officially designated days on the academic calendar. A student who has more than two final exams scheduled on the same day may reschedule the middle exam. The student must arrange for the change with the faculty member no later than the last day to withdraw from classes.
Full-time undergraduate students normally carry a course load of between 12 and 20 credits per semester.
Instructors submit final grades to the Registrar at the end of each course. Letters express the quality of the work and are correlated as grade point values as follows:
| Grades | Grade Point Value |
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.67(UG only) |
| D+ | 1.33 (UG only) |
| D | 1.0 (UG only) |
| F | 0.0 |
| INC | Incomplete (0.0) |
| IP | In Progress (used for two-semester long courses) |
| P | Pass |
| W | Withdrawn |
| UW | Unofficial Withdrawal (Assigned by faculty to students who stopped attending before the semester withdrawal date and did not officially withdraw. Students who attend or participate in a course, face-to-face or online, after the withdrawal date, will receive the letter grade earned and are not eligible for a UW grade). |
| AU | Audit |
| NG | No Grade was submitted by the faculty member |
| X | Non-credit item completed |
Read About the Dean's List and honors
GPA: A student's grade point average or credit ratio is the ratio of quality points earned to credits carried. Grades submitted at the end of a course are considered final. Only courses with a semester grade of 2.0 (C) or above are accepted for major courses and minor courses; grades of 1.0 (D) or above are accepted for other courses. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) is required for graduation.
Mid-semester grades: Mid-semester grades are submitted to the Registrar's Office for all students in their first two semesters at Emmanuel College, students on academic probation and athletes. Course warning forms may be issued by faculty at any time during a semester. A copy is also sent to the academic advisor. Mid-semester grades are used as an advising tool and are not transcripted as part of the permanent student academic record; however, they may be viewed by the student and advisor on Student Planning.
In exceptional cases, students who have been unable to complete the work of a course may request to receive a grade of INC. Such requests will be granted only for extraordinary reasons (e.g., serious prolonged illness). Incomplete grades are submitted to the Office of the Registrar via the online grading tool within ECLearn during the final grade submission. Faculty will complete the online Incomplete Grade Form in conjunction with the grade submission for each INC grade awarded.
An INC grade carries 0.00 quality points, until the faculty member has submitted a final letter grade to the Office of the Registrar and a grade change is processed. This may result in a term GPA below 2.0. Regardless of the reason for INC grades, any term GPA below 2.0 will place the student on Academic Probation.
If a student with an INC grade(s) is placed on Academic Probation for a term GPA below 2.0, and the final grade(s) submitted increases the term GPA to a 2.0 or above, the student’s probationary status for that semester will be expunged from the student’s record and academic history.
Incomplete grades must be replaced by final grades by February 1 for fall semester courses and October 1 for spring and summer courses. Incomplete grades not replaced by the deadline automatically become an F. In extraordinary circumstances, the Dean of Arts and Sciences, in consultation with the student and faculty member, may extend the INC, but not beyond the final day of that semester. A student on academic probation may not receive any grades of INC. A student with an INC grade in his or her final semester will not be eligible for degree conferral.
The pass/fail option is possible for two elective courses that are neither in the field of the student's major concentration or minor, or among the general requirements. The pass/fail option is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. The pass/fail option must be finalized in the Office of the Registrar by October 1 or February 15 in the semester in which the course is taken. Students should refer to the 7-Week Policy for summer session pass/fail declaration deadlines. Grades for students so choosing are submitted only as pass/fail (P/F). A pass grade does not receive quality points and is not counted in determining the grade point average. Pass/fails may not be changed to a letter grade after the course is completed. Changes may not be made to the Pass/Fail designation once the Pass/Fail form has been submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Pass/Fail Forms are available here.
Changes in any assigned grade will not be made beyond one semester after the initial awarding of the grade. Grade change requests must be signed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs or the Academic or Associate Dean. A student who, after consultation with the faculty member, wishes to challenge a grade on a transcript or grade report should follow procedures outlined in the Release of Student Information Policy available in the Office of the Registrar.
A minimum of 128 credits is required for the undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) is required for graduation. Only courses with a semester grade of 2.0 (C) or above are accepted for major courses and minor courses; grades of 1.0 (D) or above are accepted for other course. A C- is required for any course designated as a prerequisite of another course.
For additional information on graduation requirements, degree application, honors, degree conferral and the final transcript please visit the Commencement Information page.
Massachusetts State law requires all college students registering for nine or more credits to show proof of the requirement immunization. Students may not register for classes or reside on campus unless these requirements are fulfilled. View the full list of undergraduate immunization requirements.
International students must carry a minimum of 12 credits per semester to maintain their Certificate of Eligibility.
A student may take a voluntary leave of absence for one semester after consultation with a member of the Academic Advising Office. During this time, a student ordinarily does not study at another college--such permission is granted only by the Associate Dean of Academic Advising. Students should consult with the Office of Student Financial Services before taking a leave of absence. International students should consult with the International Student Advisor before taking a leave of absence. Students may extend a voluntary leave of absence for one additional semester after consultation with representatives of the Academic Advising Office. Download the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Form.
Students may want to take a voluntary medical leave of absence (MLOA) during the semester as a result of medical or mental health reasons. A MLOA allows students whose academic progress and performance, or ability to otherwise function, has been seriously compromised by a mental health condition or a medical condition to take time away from the College without academic penalty. Such leave affords students time to pursue treatment and eventually return to the College with a significantly improved chance of academic and personal success. In some instances, a student may be required to take a required leave of absence (RLOA). The Dean of Students will review related materials to determine the need for a RLOA.
View the full Medical Leave of Absence Policy to learn more.
A course prerequisite is a requirement an academic department identifies as essential for a student to complete before taking a course. All prerequisites should be stated in the course description, on the course syllabus and included in the college catalog. Prerequisites may consist of one or more of the following:
Undergraduate students must earn a C- or better in any course which is designated a prerequisite for another course.
With the advice of their academic advisors, students register online through Student Planning facilitated by the Office of the Registrar each semester. Students who are already enrolled pre-register in April for the following summer and fall semesters and in November for the following spring semester. A student is officially registered for classes only after all financial obligations to the College have been met or an acceptable and approved deferred payment plan has been arranged with the Office of Student Financial Services. New students with outstanding final official transcripts will not be permitted to register for their second semester until these transcripts have been received by Emmanuel College.
A student in good standing who has voluntarily withdrawn from the College and who wishes to be reinstated should apply to the Associate Dean of Academic Advising at least one month prior to the beginning of the semester in which reinstatement is sought.
Final grades are available online on Student Planning at the close of the semester. All incoming students, all athletes, and upper class students on probation receive mid-semester grades. Mid-semester grades are associated with the electronic student record in Student Planning, but are not posted on the academic transcript. The College will withhold copies of grade reports and transcripts under certain conditions, such as outstanding financial obligations and non-compliance with Massachusetts Immunization Law. Official transcripts are provided at the hand written request of students or graduates at a cost of $5 per transcript.
Students must complete a minimum of 64 credits and 50% of major and minor requirements at Emmanuel College to receive a bachelor's degree. The student's final semester must be completed at Emmanuel College. The student's internship and senior capstone experiences must also be completed under the supervision of Emmanuel faculty.
Emmanuel College regulates access to and the release of a student’s records in accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (PL 93-380, Section 438, The General Education Provisions Act). The purpose of this act is to protect the privacy of students regarding the release of records and access to records maintained by the institution.
View the full policy and procedures surrounding privacy and student records.
Courses completed at regionally accredited post-secondary institutions that are comparable in content, scope, and rigor to course offerings at Emmanuel College will be considered for transfer credit. In general, courses must be 3-4 semester credits, or the equivalent, to transfer credit. Courses with credits in non-semester hours will be converted to equivalent semester hours. For undergraduate programs, no credit is given for courses below 2.0 (C). High school students with college level coursework completed while in high school will need to meet the criteria outlined in the section for the high school students outlined on the Transfer Page. The Office of the Registrar will review all off-campus work for transfer eligibility and assign equivalencies and credit designations. If a departmental review is necessary, the Office of the Registrar will facilitate the evaluation with the appropriate academic department.
Transfer students are expected to fulfill the regular requirements for the degree and meet the residency requirements of the academic program in order to receive an Emmanuel degree. Courses to be considered for transfer credit will only be reviewed once a student has been accepted.
Once matriculated, a student may obtain transfer credit for no more than one course for every full year completed at Emmanuel College as a full-time student, with a maximum of four courses eligible for transfer. This policy excludes courses completed via the official cross-registration process at one of the Colleges of the Fenway institutions and approved study abroad programs from the Office of International Programs and study abroad.
Students wishing to withdraw from the College must notify the Office of the Registrar and their academic advisor. The Withdrawal Form is available at the Office of Academic Advising of you may download the LOA/Withdrawal Form. Failure to register for courses for two consecutive semesters constitutes an automatic administrative withdrawal. Mere absence from classes and examinations is not a withdrawal, nor does it reduce financial obligations. Students who received a Federal Perkins Loan or Massachusetts No-Interest Loan must meet with the Office of Student Financial Services at the time of withdrawal. Students who are withdrawing due to financial concerns are also encouraged to meet with the Office of Student Financial Services.
Nick grew up in a family of medical professionals—his mother and grandmother are both nurses and his father is a paramedic. “I’ve always been surrounded with medical jargon and stories of health incidents, crises, and the rewarding benefits of providing care,” he said.
For Nadel, the stage is her “second home,” and the community she’s found within Emmanuel’s Theater program, a second family. While she originally thought she would pursue college theater as a hobby, she soon realized the work would define her student experience and provide a foundation for life beyond Emmanuel.
As a mathematics and economics double major with a concentration in statistics, Matt found actuarial work of calculating the financial consequences of risk for companies right in line with his interests.
Prior to coming to Emmanuel, Gianna had never heard of the field of sociology, but was very familiar and passionate about issues of crime and justice. Her time at Emmanuel helped her to not only put a name—but also, a purpose—to that passion.
Propelled by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, students and faculty in the Mathematics Department are studying the rate of evolution in spatially structured populations using evolutionary graph theory, which may inform the estimation of important events in our evolutionary past, such as when humans split from our closest primate relatives.
Assistant Professor of Communications and Media Studies Mark Flynn and Tristyn Suprenant ’20 take a look at food advertisements and the effects of mindfulness on television binge watching.
In collaboration with Emmanuel graduate, Kierstin Giunco ’17, Associated Professor of Education Christine Leighton and current student Kayla Balthazar '20 are working with local elementary students to deepen reading engagement and comprehension.
As her research in economics education has focused on innovation in the classroom and finding ways to help students apply economic theories to real-world situations, students are vital in every aspect to Associate Professor of Economics Rebecca Moryl’s work.
When choosing a college, Eileen knew two things for sure—that she would be able to get to know her professors and peers and that she wanted to be in an area in which she would have myriad opportunities in the research and medicine.
When Melissa started at Emmanuel, she chose what she believed to be two separate and distinct majors—studio art and history—to fulfill her both her personal and professional interests.
Kai has always had the inclination to try to make any situation better. When he was searching for colleges, Emmanuel's social justice mission resounded deeply with his ideals of supporting those who need the help.
Robert’s interest in the workings of the wider world grew in 2011 as the Arab Spring became international news. “I love history,” he said, “so knowing the history of the states as well as their current affairs made their actions and interactions much more interesting to me.”
Emmanuel is a place where students broaden their sense of what’s possible and prepare for inspiring careers in an ever-changing world. Be here.
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