2013-2014 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2013-2014 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Registration


 

 

Audit Status

With the permission of the instructor, full-time undergraduate and full-time resident graduate students are eligible to audit one undergraduate course per semester. There is no additional charge for this privilege. Part-time matriculated students also may register as auditors with the permission of the instructor and payment of tuition. In limited or sectioned courses, regularly enrolled Clark students are given preference for available openings.

Matriculated students who successfully complete audited courses (as determined by the instructor) will have the audited courses posted on their permanent records.

Credit/No Credit Option

An instructor or a department may, with the approval of the Undergraduate Academic Board, designate a particular course as graded either CR (credit) for work at a satisfactory level (C- or better) or NC (no credit) for work at an unsatisfactory level (D+ or less). A grade of NC is noted on your transcript and is computed as a zero into your GPA.

Consortium Registration

Full-time (registered for at least 3.0 units) Clark undergraduate day college students may take one course each fall or spring through the Colleges of Worcester Consortium. Consortium registration is not permitted for first-year students or transfer students in their first semester.

Courses in COPACE

Beginning in their sophomore year, undergraduate students may register online for a COPACE course that has been approved for day college credit. Students may take one COPACE course each semester during the academic year (fall and spring) up to a maximum of four courses toward their undergraduate program.  Summer COPACE courses limited to no more than 2 courses per semester and are not included in the four course maximum.

Fifth Course Approval

Juniors and seniors with a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA or a minimum of a 3.0 term GPA from the most recent completed full-time semester may register for a fifth course unit at no additional cost.  Sophomores with a minimum of a 3.6 cumulative GPA or a minimum of a 3.6 term GPA from the most recent completed full-time semester may also register for a fifth course at no additional cost.  The standard number of units that any student may register for in a given semester is 4.5 units; the fifth course approval will raise the allowable unit maximum for the term to 5.5 units.

General Registration

All students are expected to register in November for the spring semester and again in April for the following fall semester.  Students may add and drop courses during each semester’s add/drop period; schedules must be finalized by the end of each semester’s add/drop period.  Thereafter, a student may enter a course only with the permission of the instructor and the College Board.  Notification of the dates for registration is published by the Registrar’s Office and sent via email to all active students, therefore, and failure to register within the announced period results in a $100 late fee.

Grades

Grades are an indication of individual performance in each course taken at the University. At Clark, three grading options are currently in use:

  1. Graded courses: This option uses the symbols A, B, C, D, and F with the modifying symbols “+” and “-” for A, B, and C. The lowest passing grade is D.
    The faculty has approved the following qualitative description of grades:

    • A indicates work of distinction, of exceptionally high quality

    • B indicates good work, but not of distinction

    • C indicates average work and satisfaction of University degree requirements

    • D indicates marginal work

    • F indicates unacceptable work

  2. The Pass/No Record Option: This option uses the symbols P and NR. P indicates work at a level of C- or better. Neither the P grade nor its credit is included in the calculation of the grade-point average. Performance below a C- results in a No Record (NR) grade. NRs do not appear on students’ transcripts. Students must choose this grading option within the first three weeks of the semester. There is no limit to the number of NR grades that a student may receive. However, NR grades do not carry credit and are not counted toward graduation or University requirements. Many departments will not permit students to complete major courses with a P grade. Students must consider this before electing a P/NR grading option.

  3. The Credit/No Credit Option: This grading option, assigned by the University to a course, uses the symbols CR/NC. CR indicates work at a level of C- or better. The NC is treated like an F.

Grade-point averages are calculated by the University to determine academic good standing, semester academic honors, Latin honors at graduation and eligibility for various honor societies. The grade-point average is calculated as the average of grades earned in all Clark University graded courses. Neither external credit nor ungraded Clark University courses are included in this calculation.

To compute your GPA, use the scale below to assign a numerical value to each letter grade, then multiply that value by the number of units assigned to each course. Add all of the numerical values together and divide the sum by the total number of units taken.

A+ = 4.30               B+ = 3.30               C+ = 2.30               D+ = 1.30    

A = 4.00                 B = 3.00                  C = 2.00                 D = 1.00

A- = 3.70                B- = 2.70                 C- = 1.70                F = 0.00

 

Guest And Special Students

Guest students from other colleges and universities who want to study at Clark for one or two semesters, and special students who want to take only a few courses without enrolling as degree candidates, may seek approval to do so. Students who wish to enroll as guest students should contact the Admissions Office. Those interested in special student status should contact the Registrar’s Office.

Part-Time Status

In special circumstances, students may be permitted by the Dean of Students to register for a semester course load of fewer than three course units. These students are designated as part-time students for the approved term; approvals are given on a per-term basis.

Repeating Courses

It is the policy of Clark University to allow you to repeat a course if you have done poorly in it. However, you will only get credit for one of the courses. Both courses will appear on your transcript but only the higher grade will be computed into your GPA.

Withdrawal From Courses

A student may withdraw from a course at any time during the add/drop period without having a W recorded on his or her transcript. Students may withdraw from a class up until the end of the tenth week of classes, but any withdrawal after the add/drop period will result in a W being recorded on the transcript. Students compelled to withdraw from a course due to exceptional circumstances (e.g., serious illness) may petition the College Board for a WR grade (withdrawal with reason.)

Withdrawals for Failure to Register

Students who fail to enroll without taking a formal leave of absence will be administratively withdrawn from the institution. To be considered for readmission, students must apply to the Dean of Students.