University Handbook, Section F:
Instruction: Academic Procedures

(July 2006, 5/13/14, 6/13/17, 11/14/17, 2/13/18, 2/22/18, 5/8/18, 6/12/18, 10/9/18, 2/12/19, 5/14/19, 10/8/19, 12/12/19, 5/12/20, 11/10/21, 4/12/22, 5/11/22, 11/8/22, 1/24/23 (effective Fall 2024), 2/14/23, 4/11/23, 3/19/24, 6/11/24, 4/8/25, 6/10/25, 7/31/25, 9/9/25, 11/11/25, 3/10/26, 5/12/26, 6/9/26 revisions)

The Advising System

F1 Admissions advising and enrollment. The Office of Recruitment and Admissions provides admissions information and counseling for students and parents. Academic colleges and departments provide an advisor for each student. More information is available for undergraduate students at the admissions website; international students; military; and graduate students. Also see the K-State Salina Admissions website.

F2 New student enrollment sessions are scheduled by the Admissions Office. Students who have been admitted are assigned specific days to attend. For other enrollment dates and information, see the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. Also see the K-State Salina Admissions website.

F3 Students are themselves responsible for fulfilling all the requirements of the curriculum in which they are enrolled. All students are assigned to a qualified faculty or unclassified professional member at the beginning of the academic semester to assist in the careful planning of their academic program. Subsequent variances to a student’s program of study may be adopted with the appropriate departmental and college approvals.

F4 The advising program within each college is the direct responsibility of the college dean, although most advising is done at the departmental level. Colleges address student advising needs through a variety of means, such as teaching faculty, primary academic advisors, mentors, and student groups. Advisors are expected to be more than guides through routine scheduling difficulties and signing forms in order to drop and add classes. Advisors are to serve as a direct link between the students and the university and are encouraged to mentor students throughout their educational careers.

F5 Advisors must:

• Make themselves familiar with the curriculum and courses necessary to meet the program requirements within the college.
• Become acquainted with the various resources available under Student Life.
• Maintain and post reasonable office hours during which students may meet with them, as and when required, to discuss any aspect of their scholastic career, especially issues related to the student's progress and plans for subsequent work.
• Familiarize themselves with administrative, university, and departmental regulations, procedures, and scheduled activities relating to the advising process.

F6 Designated periods of time during the fall and spring are scheduled for students and advisors to meet and discuss program planning. Advising times will depend on the number of advisees and advising system in the appropriate college or department and may result in an increase of an advisor's normal office hours. For more information see Academic Advising. Also see the K-State Salina Academic Advising website.

F7 During the summer, advisors may be assigned on a temporary basis for enrolling students in order that overall course and curricular requirements may be explored. Whether a student is reassigned to a permanent advisor at the beginning of the academic semester will, again, depend on the advisory system prevailing in the student's particular college.

F8 Assignment of classes. In addition to consulting with their advisor, students should be familiar with the current undergraduate and graduate catalogs regarding assignments and curricula. The catalogs are the official source of information and are maintained on the university’s catalog website.

F10 Students cannot receive credit for courses in which they are not registered, and they may not register for or add individual courses retroactively without approval. Students should not attend classes for which they are not properly registered without the permission of the instructor. For more information refer to the Office of the Registrar: Enrollment website.

F11 Registration and assignment to classes take place on specific dates as shown on the academic calendar. No student may add a full-semester course after the seventh calendar day of the semester without the permission of the instructor. Students should enroll during the regularly scheduled registration periods in order to avoid late fees. More registration details, including dates for classes that run less than a full semester, can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

F12 An undergraduate student may not enroll for more than twenty-one (21) credit hours in a semester unless the student is granted permission to do so by the student's academic dean or the dean's representative.

F13 Certain courses for which the learning experience is based primarily on participation and/or attendance may be offered on a Credit/No Credit basis. Courses in research numbered 898 (report), 899 (thesis), and 999 (dissertation) are offered only on a Credit/No Credit basis. Letter grades may not be given for any other such Credit/No Credit courses offered by the university.

F14 Active-duty military personnel stationed in Kansas must meet the same requirements for undergraduate admission as Kansas high school graduates and Kansas transfer students.

• If ACT, Inc., results are not available, students can be admitted but requested to take the ACT at the next available time for use in advising.
• Transfer students are required to have official copies of their previous college academic work sent directly to the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. See more information for military transfer students.
• Official copies of high school transcripts are required, but to expedite admissions in cases of emergency, a transcript from the Army 201 file or an unofficial copy will be accepted pending receipt of an official copy to confirm decision.
• For students who have taken the GED, a copy of those results will replace the high school transcript requirements.
• See more information about military benefits.

Resources for Students and Faculty

F20 Educational and Student Services. Faculty and unclassified professionals have opportunities for advisory and professional contact with individual students and student groups. It is important to understand the full range of resources available to students to augment their personal growth and development. See the following for resource and referral information:

• Student Access Center for services to students with disabilities.
• Counseling and Psychological Services, for the Manhattan campus; K-State Salina Counseling Services, for the K-State Salina campus.
• Housing and Dining, for the Manhattan campus; K-State Salina Housing , for the K-State Salina campus.
• Civil Rights and Title IX.
• Career Center, for the Manhattan campus; K-State Salina Academic Advising Center and K-State Salina Career Services, for the K-State Salina campus.
• Student Support, for the Manhattan Campus, Student Support and Accountability; K-State Salina Student Life Center, for the K-State Salina campus.
• Academic Achievement Center.
• K-State Online Student Success and Advising; K-State Salina Professional Development and Training.
• Information Technology (IT) Service Desk.

F21 The Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students works with faculty, unclassified professionals, and administrative staff to interpret student needs and to provide services and educational opportunities necessary to attract, advise, and retain an active and successful student body. For units and services reporting to the Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students see Student Support and Accountability. Faculty and unclassified professionals are encouraged to call the Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students, or the director of any of the units if they have questions, special concerns, or wish to discuss any of the programs offered.

Course Syllabus Policy

Policy Title	Syllabus Policy
Policy Number	University Handbook, Section F, 25 - 26
Effective Date	June 10, 2026
Responsible Office	Office of the Provost with Faculty Senate
Applies to	All credit-bearing courses taught at Kansas State University
Policy Supremacy	This policy supersedes any and all previous academic policies, guidelines, procedures, or practices that are inconsistent with its provisions. In the event of a conflict between this policy and any earlier policy or unit level guidance, the provisions of this policy shall govern. Units may not adopt or enforce policies or practices that contradict this policy unless explicitly authorized in writing by the Provost.
Policy Type	This chapter is classified as an Academic Policy. This policy falls under the purview of shared academic governance. The following requirements apply to all future amendments: Faculty Senate Review Required: Any amendment, revision, or deletion of this chapter must be reviewed through the Faculty Senate governance structure. Compliance Review Required: All proposed changes must undergo review by the Office of Provost and Office of General Counsel to ensure alignment with KBOR policy, federal/state law, accreditation requirements, and university policy development protocols. Provost Approval Required: Final approval authority for publication or revision of this chapter rests with the Provost. No revisions to this chapter may be made without Faculty Senate review, compliance verification, and Provost approval. Note: this provision does not supersede the sunset clause.
Review Cycle	This policy shall remain in effect for a period of two (2) years from its effective date. At the conclusion of this period, the policy will automatically expire unless it is formally reviewed and affirmed before the anniversary date. Renewal of this policy requires: Review and endorsement by the Faculty Senate, and Review and approval by the designated policy owner. If the required review and endorsements are not completed prior to the expiration date, the policy shall lapse and no longer be in effect. A lapsed policy may be reissued only through the standard policy approval process.
Last Review	June 10, 2026
Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance Note	This policy has been developed to satisfy requirements of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Assumed Practice C.5 and Criteria for Accreditation (Criteria 3 and 4); the federal credit hour definition at 34 CFR § 600.2; Title IV student financial aid consumer disclosure requirements at 34 CFR Part 668, Subpart D; the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) Policy Manual, including system-wide transfer course and program quality provisions; the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), K.S.A. 45-215 et seq.; K-State Records Retention Schedule 0624-367; and the U.S. Department of Justice ADA Title II Final Rule requiring conformance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, effective April 24, 2027. All instructors and academic administrators responsible for preparing, reviewing, or overseeing course syllabi are expected to be familiar with this policy and its underlying regulatory basis.

25.1 Purpose and Scope

Kansas State University, as a next-generation land-grant university committed to inspiring learning, creativity, discovery, and engagement that positively impacts society and transforms lives, recognizes the course syllabus as a foundational teaching document. The syllabus communicates course content, expectations, grading standards, and key policies to students and provides a clear understanding of course structure while recognizing that effective instruction may reasonably evolve throughout the semester to meet student learning needs, respond to emerging scholarship, or reflect pedagogical best practices.

This policy establishes the minimum requirements for all credit-bearing course syllabi at Kansas State University and fulfills obligations under the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Assumed Practices (Part C) and Criteria for Accreditation (Criteria 3 and 4), federal regulations governing credit hours (34 CFR § 600.2) and student financial aid (34 CFR Part 668), Kansas Board of Regents Policy Manual, and the university’s generally applicable digital accessibility standards (i.e., U.S. Department of Justice ADA Title II Final Rule requiring conformance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, effective April 24, 2027).

Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted to require uniform pedagogical practices, identical course structures across instructors, or unnecessary restriction of instructor discretion in course design and delivery. K-State recognizes that effective teaching may require instructors to adapt course content, pacing, readings, assignments, and assessment methods in response to student learning needs, emerging scholarship, current events, or pedagogical best practices, and this policy shall be construed to support rather than constrain that professional discretion.

25.2 Definitions

Coursedog – The official university platform designated as the electronic syllabus repository for Kansas State University, effective Summer 2026. Syllabi submitted through Coursedog are automatically linked to the university’s retention and records management schedule.

Credit Hour – An amount of student work that reflects the federal definition set forth at 34 CFR § 600.2: a minimum of one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work per week for approximately fifteen weeks per semester, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time.

HLC – Higher Learning Commission, the regional accrediting body for Kansas State University.

Instructor – The Primary Instructor of Record for a credit-bearing course as listed in the official course schedule. For purposes of this policy, “Instructor” includes all faculty ranks, lecturers, and other individuals assigned primary instructional responsibility.

Instructional Modality – The mode of course delivery as reflected in the course schedule: in-person/face-to-face, hybrid/blended, distance/online, or guided study.

KBOR – Kansas Board of Regents, the governing board for Kansas State University and other state universities in Kansas.

Official Syllabi Statements – The mandatory university statements maintained and updated by the Office of the Provost. These statements must appear verbatim or be directly linked in every course syllabus. These statements are housed in the Coursedog Syllabus platform.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) – Clear, measurable statements describing what a student will know, value, or be able to do upon successful completion of a course. SLOs must align with program-level outcomes and, where applicable, system-wide transfer outcomes established by KBOR.

WCAG 2.1 Level AA – Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1, Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines define standards for digital content accessibility and are required by the U.S. Department of Justice ADA Title II Final Rule for state and local government entities, including public universities, effective April 24, 2027.

25.3 Applicability

This policy applies to all credit-bearing courses at Kansas State University, regardless of instructional modality (in-person/face-to-face, hybrid/blended, distance/online, or guided study.). This includes courses offered through all colleges, schools, and departments of the university, courses offered at regional campuses and extension sites, courses delivered via K-State Online or other distance education platforms, courses in collaborative or consortium arrangements for which K-State is the degree-granting institution (e.g. IDEA), and courses offered during all academic terms, including summer sessions.

Certain courses, such as independent study, internships, practicum, and clinical courses, must also comply with this policy, with the understanding that certain elements (e.g., formal attendance policies, course schedule) may require adaptation to fit the nature of the course experience. In such cases, Instructors should consult with their department head or dean for guidance on appropriate implementation, which should allow flexibility for evolving instructional content and individualized learning activities.

Zero-credit hour courses are addressed specifically in Section 26.2.

This policy does not apply to noncredit continuing education or professional development offerings unless those offerings are specifically designed to carry or convert to academic credit.

25.4 Official Syllabus Repository

Effective Fall 2026, Coursedog is the official university repository for all credit-bearing course syllabi. The Coursedog platform integrates with the university’s records retention schedule and serves as the primary source of syllabus evidence for HLC accreditation reviews, program assessment activities, and institutional research. Prior to Fall 2026, the official university repository for all credit-bearing course syllabi is Microsoft SharePoint.

Submission Requirement

The Instructor must provide the syllabus to every enrolled student—either in hard copy or via the course management system—by the end of the first class session. The Instructor must also submit the electronic copy of the final course syllabus via Coursedog no later than:

• The tenth (10th) day of the semester for a standard 16-week course;
• The fifth (5th) day of the session for an 8-week course;
• The third (3rd) day of the session for a 4-week course; or
• The proportional equivalent for any other course length.

A course syllabus submitted to Coursedog constitutes the official syllabus of record and is subject to the university’s records retention schedule and the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), K.S.A. 45-215 et seq. As records of a public institution, syllabi submitted to the repository may be subject to open records requests. Substantive revisions to a syllabus after submission must be documented and communicated to students in writing, with a dated addendum retained in the official record.

Accessibility of Syllabi

To support student transparency and informed enrollment decisions, K-State will make prior-term syllabi stored in the Coursedog syllabus repository accessible to students during the enrollment period for the upcoming term. Access to prior syllabi – not newly authored syllabi for the upcoming term – allows students to understand course structure, expectations, and requirements before enrolling. Students will be notified at the point of access that the syllabus displayed reflects a prior term and that course content, expectations, structure, sequencing, assignments, and requirements may differ in the upcoming offering at the discretion of the course instructor. This practice does not impose any obligation on instructors to author or submit syllabi for future term prior to the normal submission timeline established under Section .040

This institutional transparency practice aligns with HLC Assumed Practices (Part C) and the university’s consumer information responsibilities under 34 CFR Part 668, Subpart D, and supports students’ ability to make informed academic planning decisions.

Retention

Syllabi submitted to Coursedog are retained in accordance with the Kansas State University Records Retention Schedule (0624-367) and applicable Kansas state records laws. These records support ongoing program assessment, HLC comprehensive evaluations, and responses to student or third-party inquiries regarding course content and expectations.

26.1 Required Syllabus Elements

To meet the HLC Criteria for Accreditation (Criteria 3 and 4), Assumed Practices (Part C), federal credit hour requirements (34 CFR § 600.2), and University Handbook standards, every syllabus must include, at minimum, the elements described below. Elements are organized into five categories: Course Information, Learning Outcomes and Assessment, Course-Specific Policies, Course Schedule of Activities, and Mandatory University Statements. The purpose of this section is to establish the minimum required elements necessary to support student success, institutional compliance, and accreditation expectations. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require uniform pedagogical approaches, identical course structures across instructors, or limitation of instructor discretion in course design and delivery. Different instructors teaching the same course may appropriately utilize different instructional approaches, assignments, readings, pacing strategies, and pedagogical methods while still supporting shared curricular goals and learning outcomes consistent with K-State’s Next-Gen strategic commitment to inspiring learning and student success.

1. Overall Course Information

   Basic Course Details. Course title, prefix, number, section number, credit hours, meeting days, times, and location as listed in the official course schedule and university catalog. For distance/online and hybrid/blended courses, the virtual meeting format or asynchronous nature of the course must be clearly noted.

   Instructional Modality. The instructional modality of the course as reflected in the course schedule (e.g., in-person/face-to-face, hybrid/blended, distance/online, or guided study).

   Instructor Information. Instructor name, K-State email address, office location or virtual office link, and office hours or drop-in availability, consistent with University Handbook Section D12. For team-taught or multi-section courses, the Primary Instructor of Record must be clearly identified, along with the role of any co-instructors or graduate teaching assistants (e.g., co-instructor responsible for Wednesday lectures and grading; graduate teaching assistant responsible for lab sections; course coordinator — contact for grade disputes and enrollment issues).

   Course Description. The official course description as it appears in the Kansas State University Catalog.

   Supplemental Course Information. If applicable, instructors may supplement the catalog description with additional context but may not substitute different language in place of the official description. An applicable example would be a special topics course.

   Required Materials. A complete list of required textbooks, course packets, software, equipment, or other materials students must obtain to succeed in the course, consistent with University Handbook Section F67. The list must include title, author, edition, and ISBN (where applicable). Students must be informed of any technology requirements and associated costs (e.g., special course apps). Instructors are encouraged to identify Open Educational Resources (OER) as an option where appropriate.

   Course Management System (Canvas). Kansas State University uses Canvas as its official learning management system (https://k-state.instructure.com). If the course uses Canvas to post materials, announcements, grades, or other course communications, the syllabus must include a statement directing students to the course Canvas site. If the course does not use Canvas, the syllabus must clearly state the alternative means by which students should communicate with the Instructor and access course materials, including at minimum the Instructor's official K-State university email address. Use of personal or third-party email accounts as the primary communication channel is not permitted (e.g., PPM 3410).

   Student Resources Available. Every syllabus must include a statement directing students to key university support resources. At minimum, syllabi must reference mental health and counseling services, student support and well-being resources, and IT support services.

2. Learning Outcomes, Assessment, and Evaluation Methods

   Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). Clearly stated, measurable goals for what students will know, value, or be able to do upon successful completion of the course. For courses required within a degree or certificate program, SLOs must align with program-level outcomes as required under HLC Criterion 4.B. For all courses listed in the KBOR system-wide transfer framework, the syllabus must also clearly state the agreed-upon system-wide student learning outcomes as established by the Kansas Board of Regents.

   Grading Scale and Evaluation Criteria. A clear explanation of how student learning will be assessed, including the percentage weight or point value of all graded components (e.g., assignments, exams, participation, projects, lab work), the grading scale used to convert numeric scores to letter grades, and the basis for final grade calculation. Grading criteria must be sufficient for students to understand how their performance will be evaluated throughout the term. Rubrics, scoring guides, and other evaluation criteria are not required in the syllabus, but should be posted or distributed with the individual assignments throughout the term. Refer to Section F80 in the University Handbook for grading scale guidance. The grading scale and criteria may not deviate from the approved option passed via the curriculum submission for all sections of the course (e.g., one may not offer a section approved for standard grading – A, B, C, D, F – as a CR/NC offering). This does not forbid offering retake assignments or exams, nor does it forbid setting extra-credit assignments, as the instructor may deem appropriate in achieving learning outcomes.

   Proctored and Online Examinations. If a proctored or remotely proctored examination is required for an online or hybrid course, the syllabus must note the due date, format, any technology or identity verification requirements, and any direct cost to the student associated with proctoring services.

   Common Examinations. If common exams are administered across multiple sections of a course, the syllabus must clearly list the scheduled dates, times, and locations of all common exams. Information about conflict accommodation procedures (see F70 – F76 in University Handbook) must also be provided.

3. Course-Specific Policies

   Attendance Policy. Expectations for physical or digital presence, including how absences—whether excused or unexcused—may affect the student’s final grade. Attendance policies must reference University Handbook Section F62 and must accommodate absences for university-sanctioned activities, religious observances, and other absences protected by university policy or applicable law.

   Late Work / Make Up Class Policy. A defined policy regarding the acceptance and grading of late submissions, including whether late work is accepted, any grade penalty applied, and any deadlines beyond which work will not be accepted. Instructors have full discretion in determining the terms of this policy, including whether late work is accepted at all, any penalties assessed, and applicable deadlines, but whatever policy is established must be applied consistently and equitably to all students in the course in accordance with the university's non-discrimination obligations.

   Artificial Intelligence and Technology Use. Explicit guidance on the permissible use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and other external digital resources in completing course assignments. This guidance must specify which tools (if any) are permitted, under what circumstances, and what constitutes academic misconduct in the context of AI use. This policy must be consistent with the K-State Honor and Integrity System.

   Physical Touch Policy. If a course requires physical contact between participants (e.g., fitness, performing arts, health professions instruction), a required physical touch disclosure and consent policy must be included in the syllabus.

   Specialty Accreditation Requirements. If a course is delivered within a program subject to external specialty accreditation (e.g., AACSB, ABET, ACPE, CAEP, CCNE), any syllabus content requirements imposed by that accrediting body must also be included.

   Instructor-Specific Course Policies. Instructors may include additional course-specific policies governing electronic device use, laboratory safety, field experience conduct, or other course-relevant matters. Such policies must be consistent with university policy and applicable law.

4. Course Schedule of Activities

   Every syllabus must provide students with a general course roadmap that communicates the anticipated structure, major topics, and expected pacing of the course in a manner appropriate to the instructional format and discipline. The level of specificity may vary by discipline, course type, instructional modality, and pedagogical approach. The schedule helps communicate anticipated course organization and student expectations. Further, it supports credit hour documentation consistent with 34 CFR § 600.2 and HLC Criterion 3.

   Different instructors teaching the same course may appropriately use different instructional approaches, assignments, readings, pacing strategies, examples, and pedagogical methods while still supporting shared curricular goals and learning outcomes.

   For purposes of this section, an instructional unit means any meaningful segment of course organization used by the instructor, including but not limited to a week, module, topic sequence, project phase, clinical rotation, field experience, studio cycle, laboratory sequence, milestone, or individualized learning plan.

   Required Schedule Elements. At a minimum, the course schedule must provide an anticipated roadmap organized by week, date range, instructional unit, module, course phase, competency, milestone, or other structure appropriate to the course design. Instructors are encouraged, where practicable, to include projected schedules, readings, and assignment timelines. For each segment, the schedule must identify, in a level of detail appropriate to the discipline, instructional modality, course type, and pedagogical approach:

   • Week or date range – the week, date range, instructional unit, module, phase, competency, milestone, or other organizing segment covered;
   • Topics or course content – the major topics, themes, learning modules, competencies, activities, or course content to be addressed; and
   • Due dates for major graded components – anticipated dates for exams, major assignments, projects, or other graded components that substantially contribute to the final course grade. This does not preclude adjustments being made throughout the semester to meet the needs of students.

   Minor assignments, formative assessments, participation activities, quizzes, pop quizzes, adaptive instructional activities, and similar pedagogical tools are not required to be listed individually in the syllabus, but should be described generally in the grading criteria, course procedures, or through the course management system as appropriate.

   Courses using mastery-based, project-based, studio, laboratory, clinical, field-based, independent study, guided study, or other adaptive formats may satisfy this requirement through a schedule organized around modules, competencies, milestones, project phases, individualized learning plans, or other appropriate instructional units rather than calendar weeks.

   Schedule Changes. The course schedule is a planning document and may be adjusted as the term progresses. Course schedules, readings, instructional activities, and assignments may evolve during the semester in response to student learning needs, student progress, disciplinary developments, weather disruptions, current events, or other pedagogically appropriate considerations. Reasonable instructional adjustments are a normal component of effective teaching and do not require formal syllabus revision.

   For purposes of this policy, substantive changes are significant modifications affecting grading structures, major assignments, exam date changes, the overall attendance policy, or core course expectations communicated at the outset of the term. Routine instructional adjustments—including updated readings, revised discussion topics, pacing changes, individual due date extensions, and minor scheduling modifications—do not constitute substantive changes and do not require a formal addendum.

   When substantive changes are made, the Instructor should communicate the update to students in writing as soon as practicable through Canvas or official K-State email. The official syllabus serves as the foundational course overview. Instructors may use Canvas or other approved university systems to communicate evolving schedules, supplemental readings, assignment details, and instructional updates throughout the semester.

5. Mandatory University Statements

   The following statements must be included in every course syllabus verbatim or through a direct, accessible link to the Provost’s Office Official Syllabi Statements page. The Office of the Provost maintains and updates these statements and will communicate changes to faculty. Instructors must use the current version of each statement as posted on the Provost’s webpage:

   Academic Honesty. Reference to the K-State Honor and Integrity System and inclusion of the Honor Pledge: “On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work.” Instructors may supplement this required statement with additional course-specific academic honesty policies, such as expectations regarding the use of artificial intelligence tools, collaboration between students, or discipline-specific standards of academic conduct.

   Students with Disabilities. Information regarding the Student Access Center (SAC) and the process for requesting academic accommodations. This statement supports K-State’s obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and KBOR accessibility requirements.

   Classroom Conduct. Expectations for student behavior as governed by the K-State Student Governing Association and the Student Judicial Conduct Code.

   Mutual Respect and Inclusion. A statement affirming the university’s commitment to a culture of dignity and respect in all learning environments, consistent with the university’s Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Non-Discrimination policies.

   Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Harassment. Guidance on reporting obligations and available resources through the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX. Instructors who are designated Responsible Employees under Title IX must include a statement clarifying their mandatory reporting obligations.

   Campus Safety and Emergency Procedures. Information regarding emergency notification systems, evacuation procedures, and the university’s concealed carry policy, as required by university policy and Kansas state law.

   Additional required statements may be added by the Office of the Provost in response to evolving legal, accreditation, or university policy requirements. The current, complete list of required statements is maintained at the Provost’s Office Official Syllabi Statements page.

26.2 Zero Credit Hour Courses

Zero credit hour courses required for degree completion are subject to the same institutional, accreditation, and regulatory obligations as credit-bearing courses with respect to communicating expectations, documenting student learning outcomes, and assessing student performance. While these courses do not generate credit hours under the federal definition at 34 CFR § 600.2, they remain subject to HLC requirements governing learning outcomes and assessment (Criteria 3 and 4; Assumed Practices) and must meet all applicable University Handbook standards.

In recognition of their distinct structure, syllabi for zero credit hour courses must include the following minimum elements:

Basic Course Details. Course title, prefix, number, section, meeting format, and term.

Instructor Information. Instructor name, K-State email address, and office hours or availability, consistent with University Handbook Section D12.

Course Description. The official course description as it appears in the Kansas State University Catalog.

Student Learning Outcomes. Clearly stated, measurable outcomes describing what students will know, value, or be able to do upon successful completion. For courses required within a degree or certificate program, SLOs must align with the relevant program-level outcomes as required under HLC Criterion 4.B.

Completion Requirements. A clear explanation of what students must do to satisfy the course requirement, including any attendance, participation, or assignment expectations, and the basis on which CR/NC or Pass/Fail is determined.

Mandatory University Statements. All required statements as maintained on the Provost's Office Official Syllabi Statements page apply equally to zero credit hour courses.

The remaining elements required under Section 26.1 — including the full grading scale, course schedule of activities, and proctored examination disclosures — are not required for zero credit hour courses unless the nature of the course makes them applicable.

26.3 Digital Accessibility Requirements

Electronically distributed syllabi are subject to K-State’s university-wide digital accessibility standards, which require conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA consistent with the ADA Title II Final Rule (effective April 24, 2027). The specific technical requirements are governed by the university’s Digital Accessibility Policy and supporting guidance maintained by the Office of Academic Affairs and Innovation. Instructors should consult that policy and the accessible syllabus templates available through Coursedog and the Provost’s Office for compliance guidance. This section does not impose obligations beyond those that apply to all university electronic documents under the Digital Accessibility Policy.

All syllabi submitted to Coursedog, posted in Canvas or other course management systems, or otherwise distributed digitally must conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. The four foundational principles of WCAG 2.1—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR)—apply to all electronic documents.

Required Accessibility Practices for Syllabi

Document Structure. Syllabi must use proper semantic heading structure (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2) to support navigation by assistive technologies. Headings must reflect logical document hierarchy and must not be simulated through bold or enlarged text alone.

Accessible File Formats. Syllabi distributed as PDF files must be properly tagged with structural tags (headings, lists, paragraphs, tables) to enable screen reader navigation. Image-only or scanned PDFs are not accessible and are prohibited as the primary distributed format. Microsoft Word documents with proper heading styles, list formatting, and alt text satisfy accessibility requirements and are an acceptable format.

Color and Contrast. Text must meet a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 against its background for normal-sized text, and 3:1 for large text (18pt regular or 14pt bold). Color must not be used as the sole means of conveying information (e.g., grading policies must not rely on red/green text alone).

Alternative Text for Images. Any image, chart, graph, or non-text element included in a syllabus must include meaningful alternative text describing the content or function of the image. Decorative images must be marked as such.

Hyperlinks. All hyperlinks must use descriptive link text that conveys the purpose of the link when read out of context. Generic phrases such as “click here” or “learn more” do not satisfy this requirement. For example, rather than writing "For the university's academic honesty policy, click here," the link text itself should be descriptive: "Review the K-State Honor and Integrity System policy."

Tables. Data tables must use proper header rows and column structure to convey relationships between data. Tables must not be used for visual layout purposes.

Support Resources. The Office of Academic Affairs and Innovation provides accessibility review tools, templates, and consultation services to assist instructors in creating conforming documents. Provost’s Office Accessibility Guidance page is available to all faculty. Accessible syllabus templates will be maintained and made available through Coursedog and the Provost’s Office.

26.4 Roles and Responsibilities

Instructor (Primary Instructor of Record)

The Instructor is responsible for preparing a complete and accurate course syllabus that meets all requirements of this policy; distributing the syllabus to all enrolled students by the end of the first class session; submitting the final syllabus to the Coursedog repository by the applicable deadline; ensuring the syllabus is in an accessible format conforming to WCAG 2.1 Level AA; and communicating any substantive mid-semester revisions to students in writing with a dated addendum.

Department Head / School Director

The Department Head or School Director is responsible for ensuring that all Instructors within the department are aware of and comply with this policy; reviewing syllabi for assigned courses to confirm credit hour workload documentation meets federal standards (34 CFR § 600.2); ensuring that syllabi for courses in the KBOR transfer framework include system-wide student learning outcomes; and supporting Instructors in accessing accessible syllabus templates and resources.

Dean

The Dean is responsible for monitoring college-level compliance with this policy; ensuring that syllabi submitted to Coursedog are reviewed as part of ongoing program assessment and accreditation preparation; and reporting compliance concerns to the Office of the Provost.

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

The Office of the Provost is responsible for maintaining and updating the Provost’s Office Official Syllabi Statements page; coordinating the Coursedog repository and ensuring its integration with records retention systems; providing accessible syllabus templates and compliance guidance to faculty; communicating policy updates to academic units; and reporting institutional syllabus compliance to HLC and other accrediting or regulatory bodies as required.

Office of Academic Affairs and Innovation

The Office of Academic Affairs and Innovation is responsible for providing training, tools, and consultation to assist Instructors in creating digitally accessible syllabi; maintaining and disseminating WCAG 2.1 AA-conforming syllabus templates; and conducting accessibility audits of documents in the Coursedog repository as requested.

Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate, in coordination with the Office of the Provost, participates in the annual review of this policy and may propose amendments through the shared governance process consistent with the University Handbook.

26.5 Policy Review and Maintenance

The Office of the Provost, in coordination with the Faculty Senate, will review this policy on an annual basis to ensure alignment with updated University Handbook sections, evolving HLC accreditation standards, federal regulatory changes, KBOR policy updates, and digital accessibility requirements. Substantive changes to this policy will be communicated to all academic units channels no later than June 30 preceding the academic year in which the changes take effect, providing instructors with sufficient lead time to incorporate any required updates into their syllabi prior to the start of the fall term.

This policy will be reviewed for compliance with the ADA Title II Final Rule’s WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements no later than April 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to ensure ongoing conformance as accessibility standards evolve.

26.6 Compliance Reference Summary

The following table summarizes the primary external requirements addressed by this policy:

Requirement	Citation	Policy Section(s)
HLC Assumed Practice C.5 – Syllabus Requirement	HLC Assumed Practices, Part C	.010, .040, .070.A
HLC Criterion 3 – Teaching Quality & Consistency Across Modalities	HLC Criteria 3.A	.050.A, .050.B, .070.A
HLC Criterion 4 – Assessment & Evaluation	HLC Criteria 4.A, 4.B	.050.B, .070.A
Federal Credit Hour Definition	34 CFR § 600.2	.020, .050.A, .070.B
Title IV Student Financial Aid Compliance	34 CFR Part 668, Subpart D	.040, .070.C
Distance Education – Regular & Substantive Interaction	34 CFR §§ 600.2, 668.10	.050.C, .070.C
Kansas Board of Regents – Transfer Courses	KBOR Transfer Policy	.050.B, .070.D
Kansas Board of Regents – Program Quality	KBOR Policy Manual	.040, .070.D
ADA Title II – WCAG 2.1 Level AA (eff. April 24, 2027)	DOJ ADA Title II Final Rule (2024)	.060, .070.D
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act	29 U.S.C. § 794	.050.D, .060
University Handbook – Credit Hours & Course Requirements	University Handbook F62, F67	.050.A, .050.C
University Handbook – Instructor Responsibilities	University Handbook D12	.050.A

Student Academic Ethics, Behavior, and Grievance Procedures

F30 Kansas State University Honor and Integrity System and University Handbook Appendices F, O, and V.

The policies and procedures of the Honor and Integrity System apply to all full- and part-time students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate courses on-campus, off-campus, online, and distance. The Honor and Integrity System applies to all assignments, examinations, and other course work undertaken by students. For more information see Honor and Integrity System website.

F38 Student Discrimination Complaints. The Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Stalking, and Procedure for Reviewing Complaints can be found in the Policy and Procedures Manual and is administered by Civil Rights and Title IX.

Students

F40 Classification of students. A student who is a high school graduate, or who offers fifteen (15) acceptable units of high school work, is classified as a freshman. A student is advanced to a higher classification upon successful university completion of sufficient credit hours as listed below:

Undergraduate Student Classification:

0-29 credit hours	Freshman
30-59 credit hours	Sophomore
60-89 credit hours	Junior
90-119 credit hours	Senior
120+ credit hours	5th Year Senior

Graduate and Veterinary Medicine Student Classification:

Graduate	Masters
Graduate	EDD
Graduate	PHD
Special	1st Year Veterinary Medicine
Special	2nd Year Veterinary Medicine
Special	3rd Year Veterinary Medicine
Special	4th Year Veterinary Medicine

F41 Student records. Kansas State University is in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended; this law established specific guidelines concerning the release of information and the students’ privileges to inspect and review their own educational records. The Kansas State University FERPA - Student Records Policy can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website. For additional information about student records see Student Confidentiality.

F42 Directory information. See the FERPA - Student Records Policy.

F43 Grades are electronically available to students via the student information system (KSIS).

F44 In the case of a student who is delinquent in an account to the university, including unpaid traffic or parking violations, or about whom official disciplinary action has been taken, the appropriate university official may request that the student's record not be released. The effect of this action is that academic transcripts and diplomas would not be released and future enrollment may be withheld. In order for the action to be rescinded, the hold must be cleared via the student information system (KSIS), indicating that the student has met/satisfied all obligations. For more information about when records may be withheld, see the FERPA - Student Records Policy.

F45 Kansas State University uses enrollment holds to prompt specific action from students related to a narrow range of circumstances. Continued enrollment is both expected and encouraged for all students in compliance with University policy and practices. Restricting enrollment requires justification and review according to this policy and should be used as a path of last resort. Enrollment holds prevent a student from enrolling in a course(s) or from altering enrollment. This policy applies to all undergraduate, graduate, veterinary medicine, and non-degree students.

Only in rare and specific circumstances is an enrollment hold appropriate. Holds prompt students to take action to comply with essential requirements or to receive appropriate guidance. Broadly, enrollment holds may be appropriate to ensure students:

1. comply with federal or state laws or regulations,
2. pay a balance due on their student account,
3. are complying with health, safety, and behavioral expectations,
4. receive support related to degree progress, or
5. engage in activities linked to strategic University priorities. {FS 04/12/22}

Classes

F50 Class schedule. The head/chair of each department, in consultation with the faculty, is responsible for the preparation of the official schedule of classes and teaching assignments. This class schedule lists all courses to be offered, with hours, rooms, and, if known, instructors for each section. Class schedules are available to the faculty and students prior to each enrollment period. A course not yet approved by the faculty senate may not be listed in the class schedule. Each departmental schedule shall provide courses that are distributed throughout the day and the week so that classroom availability is optimized.

F51 Course Description Key.

000-099:	No credit toward degree requirements
100-299:	Lower division undergraduate, designated as freshman-sophomore courses
300-499:	Upper division undergraduate, designated as junior-senior courses
500-699:	Upper division undergraduate, primarily for juniors and seniors, with enrollment of less than 50% of master’s students
700-799:	Graduate and upper division, primarily for graduate level. For master’s students primarily; with enrollment of less than 50% undergraduate students.
800-899:	Graduate master’s and professional course beyond the undergraduate level
900-999:	Graduate level, primarily for doctoral students

(Courses numbered 500 may be taken for graduate credit only in a minor field. Courses numbered 600 may be taken as part of a graduate student's major field.)

The course numbering system for Kansas Regents institutions is defined in the Kansas Board of Regents’ Policy and Procedures Manual, Chapter 2, Section A.2 (pdf).

F52 Class size. It is expected that scheduled classes will be offered. If enrollments are below minimums, classes are subject to cancellation and students enrolled in these classes should be notified. Any classes below the minimum size that are recommended for continuation must be justified by the department head/chair and approved by the dean and the provost. The following are the established minimum enrollments:

F53 Classes or sections, under a single instructor, in basic freshman subjects may not be continued when the enrollment is below fifteen (15).

F54 Classes for courses above the basic freshman level, if neither vocational in character nor laboratory courses, should have an enrollment of ten (10) or more in order to be continued.

F55 Laboratory courses or courses that are vocational in character should have an enrollment of seven (7) or more for undergraduate credit or three (3) or more for graduate credit to be continued.

F56 Classes or courses numbered from 500 through 799 may be continued regardless of class size if 50 percent or more of the students enrolled are graduate students, provided the number of graduate students is more than two.

F57 Classes for courses numbered 800 to 999 have no minimum enrollment limit.

F58 Courses scheduled as Individual Instruction, Problems, Research, etc., and taught by appointment are not restricted by a minimum enrollment limit. However, students may not be registered for these to evade minimum class-size provisions.

F59 Maximum class sizes are governed by the requirements of optimizing teaching and learning conditions and frequently by the physical facilities available.

F60 Duration of class. Class and lecture periods normally last 50 or 75 minutes in the regular semester and 60 minutes during the summer term. Longer periods are sometimes provided, particularly when fewer meetings in the week are scheduled. Graduate seminars are commonly scheduled for longer periods, at the discretion of the department. Distance and other courses without standard meeting times require regular and substantive interaction, which may be formally defined for each such course by the instructor. For more information, refer to Implementing the Credit Hour definition section of the curriculum website.

F61 Absence of instructor. An instructor will not be absent without notification unless the situation is an emergency. Arrangements will be made for a substitute or some other procedure when the instructor knows in advance that he/she will be unable to meet the class.

F62 CLASS ATTENDANCE AND COURSEWORK

K-State respects its instructors’ need to establish attendance policies for each course and that only through attending class do students receive the fullest educational experience. The K-State attendance policy establishes the following:

• Students are expected to attend class meetings as scheduled.
• Instructors announce their attendance policy at the beginning of the course.
• Excuses for absence from class are handled between the student and instructor, except when other University offices are involved in the approval process, as explained below.
• Students are responsible for all missed learning and coursework stemming from any absence.

K-State recognizes that activities outside of the classroom also help students achieve success and other circumstances might make an absence necessary. Students’ University representation, activities and other circumstances may directly conflict with their presence at scheduled class periods.

This policy establishes that certain absences are University Excused Absences.

When a student provides reasonable advance written documentation of the need for a University Excused Absence, in accordance with the provisions below, instructors shall provide the opportunity to either make up or excuse, at the instructor’s discretion, any missed assignments, activities, and/or attendance-specific points that contribute to the course grade. The following sections describe common University Excused Absences and corresponding processes.

UNIVERSITY EXCUSED ABSENCES

Extra-Curricular Activities as a Representative of the University

Students may seek to, or be asked to, participate as a Kansas State University representative in credit or non-credit events scheduled by academic or athletic units of the University. Instructors may require students to provide University documentation verifying the University-scheduled activity and the student’s representation of the University. When these result in a student missing class, that is a University Excused Absence. Some examples of University Excused Absences within this category are:

• Academic or professional conferences and workshops, including ROTC,
• Intercollegiate athletic, academic, and judging competitions,
• Musical, theatrical, dance and other artistic performances, and
• Presentations or programs given to external audiences.

Please see “ABSENCES EXCUSED AT INSTRUCTOR’S DISCRETION” for extra-curricular activities that are not sponsored by a unit of the University.

Military Service

Students performing required National Guard or other United States military service obligations qualify for a University Excused Absence when those obligations require the student to miss class. In cases of annual training or active duty for more than two weeks, the student shall coordinate with their instructors, advisor, and Student Support and Accountability well in advance of such absences, in close temporal proximity to when the student receives the military orders. For more information, see the Military Affiliated Resource Center website.

Court Appearances

Students may request a University Excused Absence through Student Support and Accountability when the absence is necessary because of a mandated court appearance or other lawfully mandated appearance. Student Support and Accountability will evaluate the request and determine whether to approve. Instructors are required to adhere to attendance accommodations that are approved by Student Support and Accountability.

Disability Reasonable Accommodations

Students may request a University Excused Absence through the Student Access Center when the absence is related to disabilities. The Student Access Center, in accordance with applicable laws, will evaluate the request and determine whether to approve. Instructors are required to adhere to attendance accommodations that are approved by the Student Access Center.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, or Adoption

Students may request a University Excused Absence through Student Support and Accountability when the absence is related to pregnancy, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, or adoption. Student Support and Accountability, in accordance with applicable laws, will evaluate the request and determine whether to approve. Instructors are required to adhere to attendance accommodations for students that are approved by Student Support and Accountability.

Religious Observance

Students may request through Student Support and Accountability a University Excused Absence to accommodate their religious observances for a sincerely held religious belief in circumstances where class attendance would interfere with the students’ ability to practice their religion. Student Support and Accountability will evaluate the request and determine whether to approve, in accordance with applicable laws. This means that in evaluating the request, Student Support and Accountability will balance the attendance requirement’s burden on the student’s practice of sincerely-held religious beliefs against any hardship to the University caused by the student’s absence. Instructors are required to adhere to attendance accommodations that are approved by Student Support and Accountability.

Specialist Appointments

Students may request a University Excused Absence through Student Support and Accountability when the absence is related to an appointment with a medical specialist due to complex, non-routine medical concerns (examples may include appointments with Veteran Affairs, consultations with specialized doctors, etc.). Student Support and Accountability will evaluate the request and determine whether to approve. The student shall coordinate with their instructors, advisor, and Student Support and Accountability in advance of such absences, or in close temporal proximity to when the student receives information regarding the scheduled appointment.

Severe Health Concerns, including Hospitalization

Students may request a University Excused Absence through Student Support and Accountability when the absence is related to a documented severe health concern, including hospitalizations. Student Support and Accountability will evaluate the request and determine the appropriate approval. In cases of extended required absences, the student shall coordinate with their instructors, advisor, and Student Support and Accountability. In the event a student has missed too much work to complete the course successfully, faculty can communicate with Student Support and Accountability to pursue other options, like a late drop, withdrawal, etc.

Weather

The University may cancel classes due to severe weather and will make this known through inclement weather announcements. Absences resulting from cancelled classes and campus closure are University Excused Absences.

Special Programming and Events

The University may cancel classes due to special programming and events and will make this known through University-wide announcements. Absences resulting from cancelled classes are University Excused Absences.

ABSENCES EXCUSED AT INSTRUCTOR’S DISCRETION

K-State recognizes that students may miss class for other reasons and that other absences may be in the best interest of students’ academic and professional development. On a case-by-case basis, instructors are encouraged to allow students to make up graded work from an absence.

While not required, students and instructors may also consult Student Support and Accountability, Department / Unit Head or Chair, and College Dean’s Office for assistance with absences beyond the student’s control, but that are not University Excused Absences within this policy, such as when an absence results from a personal emergency, non-disability related health issue, or Affiliated Student Organization related participation.

In the case of a disagreement with the instructor, students are encouraged to contact the Department / Unit Head or Chair, and College Dean’s Office.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY EXCUSED ABSENCE POLICY

A limited number of programs across campus have strict attendance policies to achieve programmatic accreditation. In all such cases, students and faculty shall adhere to the programmatic attendance policies in place in those units.

F63 Class dismissal. Each year Kansas State University schedules and sponsors various convocations, lectures, and similar functions considered to be of significant educational value to students and faculty. The determination of whether or not to dismiss classes to allow students to attend these events is made by the class instructor.

Dropping and Adding Courses; Changing Colleges; Withdrawing from the University

F64.1 During the regular session, if a student wants to drop or add a course or if an instructor recommends a change, the student should confer with an advisor.

F64.2 No student may add a course with seventy (70) or more calendar days (ten (10) or more weeks in length) after the seventh (7^th) calendar day of classes without consent of the instructor.

F64.3 An instructor may drop a student from any or all components (e.g., lecture, recitation, lab, etc.) of a course if the student is absent at the beginning of the first class period of any component of the course. Students who cannot be in attendance should arrange prior permission from the instructor in order to avoid being dropped. For purposes of this procedure, enrollment in and payment of fees for a course do not constitute sufficient notification of intent to take a course.

F64.4 The last day for dropping courses with seventy (70) or more calendar days (ten (10) or more weeks in length), without a "W" being recorded is at the thirty-sixth (36) calendar day (typically week six (6)) of the term. After the sixty-eighth (68^th) calendar day (typically week eleven (11)) of the term, courses may not be dropped/withdrawn. For courses less than seventy (70) days (ten (10) or more weeks in length), the drop/withdrawal dates are prorated. For more information see Enrollment Resources on the Registrar’s Website.

F64.5 A student may transfer from one college to another with permission from the dean or the dean's representative of the college into which the student proposes to transfer. For more information see the Program Changes website.

F64.6 If a student disenrolls from all courses in a given term, on or after the first day of the term beginning, this action constitutes an official university withdrawal. A university withdrawal may affect tuition refunds, financial aid eligibility, visa status, athletic participation, and other academic or financial considerations. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor and the Office of Student Financial Assistance before withdrawing.

Certain student populations may be restricted from completing full withdrawal due to federal, visa, or regulatory requirements. These students must continue to work with designated university offices to initiate a withdrawal. Specifically:

• International students on F1 or J1 visas and NCAA student athletes must complete withdrawals through their college dean’s office with the support and review of the appropriate compliance office to ensure required approvals related to visa status or athletic eligibility.
• Students receiving military benefits will have a withdrawal hold applied and must contact the Office of Veterans Affairs before withdrawing to ensure compliance with benefit regulations.

Students who are not restricted may initiate and complete a full withdrawal directly through the student information system. For more information, students should refer to the Office of Student Financial Assistance for guidance on Dropping All Classes or Withdrawing from K-State and the Drops and Withdrawals website under the Office of the Registrar.

F64.7 If a student withdraws during the first thirty-six (36) calendar days of a seventy (70) or more calendar day course (approximately ten (10) or more weeks in length), no mark will be recorded on the student’s transcript. Thereafter, a mark of withdrawn or a “W” is recorded; a course less than seventy (70) calendar days (approximately ten (10) or more weeks in length), is prorated. The deadline for withdrawing is the end of the sixty-eighth (68^th) calendar day of the term; for a course less than seventy (70) calendar days (approximately ten (10) or more weeks in length), the withdrawal date is prorated.

Retake Policy

Undergraduate

F65.1 Students may retake courses in order to improve the grade. If a course is retaken, the original grade is noted as retaken and removed from the cumulative grade point average. Retakes can be accomplished only by re-enrolling in and completing a Kansas State University course. Courses originally taken on a letter grade basis may be retaken on an A/Pass/F basis if appropriate, or if originally taken on an A/Pass/F basis may be retaken on a letter grade basis. The retake grade will always be used in the cumulative grade point average computation regardless of whether it is higher or lower than the original grade. The original course remains on the academic record. Although there is no limit to the number of times a course may be retaken, a student may retake a course with subsequent removal of the prior grade from calculation of the grade point only once for each course, and only for the first five retaken courses during the student's academic career at K-State. Any grades obtained from retaking courses beyond these limitations will be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. A retaken course will count only once toward meeting degree requirements.

Any course retaken after completion of a bachelor's degree will not affect the credits or the GPA applied to that degree.

Graduate

F65.2 If the student received less than 3.000 in a course, the student may retake the course with the approval of the major professor and the supervisory committee. If the course is retaken by the direction of the major professor and the supervisory committee, the original grade is noted as retaken and removed from the grade point average. The retake grade will always be used in computing the grade point average regardless of whether it is higher or lower than the original grade. The original course remains on the academic record. A student may retake a course with subsequent removal of the prior grade only once for each course and for a total of two courses in the program of study. An approved program of study must be on file in the Graduate School at the time the retake request is submitted. Retake requests must be made prior to enrolling in the course.

F66. Auditing Classes

F66.1 Definitions and Permissions.

• Auditing is defined as regular participation in a course (attending lectures, discussion, etc.) without submitting required course work or examinations, and without earning academic credit.
• Students wanting to audit a class must request permission from the instructor and obtain approval from the dean of the college offering the course (or the dean’s designee).
• Audit status must be approved at the time of enrollment; changes from credit to audit (or vice versa) after the audit deadline are at the discretion of the instructor and dean, and subject to any additional administrative requirements.
• Any student attending a class without enrolling or for audit will be required to leave the class until enrollment is complete

F66.2 Eligibility and Enrollment Requirements.

To audit a course under this policy, the individual must satisfy the following conditions:

1. Admitted as a Non-Degree Seeking or Degree Seeking Student
   • An individual may not be admitted as a non-degree seeking and a degree seeking concurrently.
   • Admission criteria, fees, and deadlines for non-degree seeking students shall follow standard university procedures as managed by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions or the Graduate School.
2. Course Enrollment and Audit Fees
   • The student or learner must enroll in the course (i.e., register for the section) by the regular enrollment deadlines.
   • The student or learner must pay tuition and fees applicable to audited courses (unless exempt under a senior-citizen audit provision, see below).
   • Audit students or learners are subject to the same course enrollment capacity constraints and prerequisites (if any) as credit-seeking students.
3. Restrictions on Audit
   • Certain courses such as laboratories, studios, activities, or performance-based courses may not be audited unless specifically authorized by the instructor and dean.
   • An audit is recorded on the student’s academic transcript (i.e., a grade of ‘AU’ and credit is posted).
   • The student may not later convert the audit into credit unless permitted under special petition and within deadlines approved by instructor and dean.
4. Deadlines and Changes
   • Changing status to audit: The deadline for selecting audit status, including changing from credit to audit, must be done no later than day 5 of the semester (e.g., through the first week of the term or an equivalent percentage of course length).
   • The audit deadline for shorter or accelerated courses shall be prorated accordingly.
   • After the audit deadline, changes in audit status require approval of the instructor, dean, and Office of the Registrar and may incur additional administrative steps.
5. Space-Available Basis
   • Enrollment of audit students is permitted only on a space-available basis, after all students registering for credit have been accommodated.

F66.3 Lifelong Learners.

Kansas residents who are 60 years of age or older and who present proof of age, are eligible to audit courses on a space-available basis without payment of tuition. Applicable registration or special course fees still apply.

• Residents may hold degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking status for auditing purposes.
• Residents may not hold non-degree seeking status and degree seeking status concurrently.
• All determinations of residency, age eligibility, and space availability shall be administered by the Office of the Registrar.

Additional Conditions of Eligibility:

• They are Kansas residents for tuition purposes.
• They are at least 60 years of age.
• They are admitted to K-State as a degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking undergraduate.
• They only enroll in courses numbered below 800.
• They enroll in six (6) or fewer hours per semester.
• They agree to receive a grade of “AU” (Audit) for all classes for any semester in which they are applying for the lifelong learner waiver.
• They understand that services supported by the student services fees cannot be utilized when those fees are waived.
• They must submit the Lifelong Learner Waiver Request Form no later than the 30th calendar day after the first day of classes for each semester requested.

F66.4 Administrative Oversight and Coordination.

• The Office of the Registrar is responsible for defining the registration deadlines for auditing status, communicating audit options to students, and enforcing capacity constraints.
• The Office of the Registrar shall coordinate with Admissions areas to ensure that non-degree seeking students once admitted are properly coded in student systems.
• Departments and colleges offering courses must decide in a timely manner whether auditing is acceptable in specific courses.
• The instructor’s decision on whether to permit auditing in a course is subject to appeal through the departmental or dean’s office. The appeal decision is final.

KBOR / Regulatory Cross-Reference

• This policy is implemented in accordance with KBOR Board Policy Manual, Chapter II, Section B (1)(c), which addresses tuition waivers for senior citizen auditing and the university’s authority in applying such waivers.
• It also aligns with K.A.R. Article 88-29c, especially the definitions and residency requirements in K.A.R. 88-29c-1 (defining “Kansas resident” and “non-degree seeking student”) Kansas Regents, as well as the requirement that institutional admission and policy must not conflict with K.A.R. 88-29c (see K.A.R. 88-29c-9).

Textbooks and Supplies

F67 Instructors are responsible for indicating the required textbooks and essential supplies for courses they will teach. In the case of multiple sections with several instructors for the same course, the department may make a uniform adoption resulting from the deliberations of all participating instructors. Faculty must respond to requests for textbook information from the organization or individuals, who will post the information online in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act {refer to the Federal Textbook Requirement}. Students have no obligation to purchase books not listed as required.

Examinations

F70 Semester final examinations are scheduled by the Office of the Registrar based on guidelines provided by the Committee on Academic Policy and Procedures. Once the final examination time for a course is published in the Course Schedule it may be changed only with the concurrence of the Provost and Executive Vice President. Faculty members may assign take-home examinations, projects, papers or other media in lieu of a written final examination. In such instances, the deadline for submittal of the alternative assessment may not be earlier than the end of the scheduled final examination period for the course. Course schedules can be found on the university’s Office of the Registrar’s website.

Except for honors, problems, seminar, reports, research, laboratory practical, language, non-standard courses (less than the full 16-week fall/spring semesters), studio and fine arts performance classes, the last examination (either unit or comprehensive) must be given during the final examination period. No examination (unit or final) may be scheduled seven (7) calendar days prior to the first scheduled day of semester examinations. (FSM 5/13/03)

F71 Faculty members may not give the final examination at a time other than that published in the class schedule. The final examination may be given to an individual student under special circumstances at another time during final examinations. In particular, students who have more than two examinations scheduled in a 24-clock hour period (a 24-hour period starting at any time) and students who have conflicting exam times may petition the instructor(s) of the highest numbered non-group exam course(s) and schedule an alternate time for taking the final examination(s) at some other time during final examinations. If a student is unable to arrange the necessary rescheduling through the instructors involved, then the dean will resolve the overload problem, if all the scheduled examinations are within the same college. If the examinations in question are within the jurisdiction of different colleges, decisions regarding rescheduling shall be made by the Provost and Executive Vice President. (FS 2/12/08, revised)

F72 University-sponsored events, on- and off-campus (such as extracurricular events, social activities, athletic events, and field trips) shall not be scheduled between twenty-four (24) hours before the first scheduled final examination and the end of the last scheduled final examination. In addition, off-campus events shall not be scheduled to prohibit a student from being on campus between twenty-four (24) hours before the first scheduled final examination and the end of the last scheduled final examination.

F73 Exceptions to the scheduling restrictions for university events can be made under the following conditions:

• Approval for events must be obtained from the Provost and Executive Vice President and President of the Faculty Senate.
• For events scheduled well in advance, the approval must be obtained at least eighteen (18) weeks in advance.

Consideration may be given to approval of events whose scheduling is not known as long as it is at least eighteen (18) weeks in advance.

F74 Students who plan to participate in approved events which conflict with final examinations may obtain from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President a statement certifying their participation in the event. Faculty may choose to make special arrangements for final examinations for students who are involved in such approved events.

F75 Credit for standardized national exams. Any admitted student at Kansas State University is eligible to gain undergraduate credit for prior learning from standardized national exams, which include Advancement Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES, and International Baccalaureate (IB). A fee may be charged for such exams. Students who take standardized national exams should have the results sent to the Office of Admissions. For more information see the Office of Recruitment and Admissions – Academic File Completion .

Beginning summer 2017, students who have submitted standardized national exam scores will have a grade of ‘EP’ (exam pass) recorded on the academic record. A grade of ‘EP’ will have no impact on the K-State grade point average.

F76 Credit by department examinations. Specific exams prepared and administered by KSU academic departments may carry letter grades of A, B, C, or D, or a notation of “credit” as determined by the academic department. Credit may be granted for any course with the consent of the head/chair of the department offering credit for that subject. The credit will be treated as resident credit and will be computed into the student’s K-State grade point average.

Grades

The Grading System: Grades and Grade Points

F80 The University uses the following grades:

Grade	Description	Grade Point
A	Excellent work	4.000
B	Good work	3.000
C	Fair work	2.000
D	Poor Work	1.000
F	Failure	0.000
XF/XNC	Honor Code Violation	0.000
AU	Audit (coursework not to be evaluated)	N/A
CR	Credit in courses for which no letter grade is given (non-graded courses)	N/A
EP	Exam Pass of standardized national exams	N/A
I	Incomplete	N/A
IH	Incomplete Hold	N/A
NC	No credit in courses for which no letter grade is given (non-graded courses)	N/A
NH	Non-reported Hold	N/A
NR	No Grade Reported	N/A
P	Grades of B, C, or D in courses taken A/Pass/F courses	N/A
W	Withdrawn	N/A

F81 Beginning in Spring 2012, all grades of “F” (Fail) and/or “NC” (No Credit) will require a Yes/No statement as to the student’s participation in Academic-related activity {Faculty KSIS Help for guidance}. This statement is required due to federal mandate regarding the issuance of federal financial aid.

Grade changes are submitted directly into the student information system (KSIS). Grade Change Rosters will remain open for five years from the original posting date to submit changes. Online changes to certain grades such as “W” and “XF” will not be allowed, nor to grades related to a completed program of a graduated student. Any changes not accommodated by KSIS must be handled by submitting a Grade Change Memorandum form to the Dean of the College.

F82 Grade points are assigned to determine graduation requirements, academic warning and dismissal levels, and scholastic honors.

F83 The instructor will make an appropriate report on any student who does not complete a course in accordance with these definitions:

• If a drop in a full-semester course occurs in the first thirty-six (36) calendar days, no grade is reported. The deadline for other courses will be pro-rated based on the course length.
• If a student drops a full-semester course after the first thirty-six (36) calendar days, but before the start of the eleventh (11) week, a withdrawn (W) is reported. The deadline for other courses will be pro-rated based on course length. See Academic Calendar for details.
• After the tenth (10) week of classes, a course may not be dropped/withdrawn.
• The grade of incomplete (‘I’) is a temporary grade given at the discretion of the faculty upon request of the student. An incomplete grade is appropriate when verifiable circumstances beyond the student’s control prevent completion of course requirements by the grade submission deadline, and the student was engaged and participating in the class prior to the circumstances that prevented completion of course requirements. The grade of incomplete is not to be used to avoid assigning a poor grade that results from unsatisfactory academic work.

In most instances, the requirements for completion of a course are detailed in the original course syllabus. It is in the student’s best interest to confirm in writing with the faculty member the remaining requirements to be completed in order to replace the grade of incomplete. If the faculty member requires anything other than the syllabus requirements or chooses to have a time frame for completion other than the end of the next regular term, the faculty member must provide written notification to the student. Refer to the sample Incomplete Agreement form. Typically, requiring student participation in the entire course in a subsequent semester without enrolling is not an appropriate means to satisfy requirements for the incomplete.

Incompletes are expected to be finished by the conclusion of the next regular academic term (fall or spring), or the student’s graduation term – whichever is earlier. Any incomplete remaining after the next regular term is reassigned to an ‘F’ or ‘NC’, based on the course grading basis (regardless of student’s enrollment status) and will be computed in the student's GPA, weighted at 0.000 points per credit. In extreme cases, a student may be granted an extension of an incomplete beyond the next regular term. To request such an extension, the student must complete with appropriate signatures the Incomplete Extension Request Form. Refer to the incomplete extension form.

Undergraduate research courses, internship courses, theses, dissertations, directed research courses, and other courses with the “IH” grading option are exempt from the one regular term limit for completion.

A student with incompletes (‘I’ or ‘IH’) will only be cleared for graduation if receiving an ‘F’ or ‘NC’ in every incomplete class earned Fall 2018 or later will satisfy the requirements for graduation. Upon approval for graduation, all grades of incomplete (‘I’ or ‘IH’) earned Fall 2018 or later remaining on the record will be changed to grades of ‘F’ or ‘NC’ as applicable.

F85 During the fifth (5^th) or sixth (6^th) week of classes, the primary instructor of record for undergraduate, fourth (4^th) and fifth (5^th) year APDesign, and concurrent degree students shall provide performance feedback via Progress Reports in the student success management system.

F87 The instructor reports semester grades to the university registrar. Instructors should leave grade books in their departments when semester grades have been submitted. The head of the department keeps a copy of all grade books/assessment records per the University Records Retention Schedule. {Refer to Coursework Assessment Records – Series ID: 0025-367}

F88 In case of absence from the final examination, no semester grade will be reported until the reason for such absence has been learned. If the student's absence is not excused by the dean, a semester grade will be reported on the basis of zero for the final examination; if the absence is excused, a reasonable time, usually not over one month, is allowed within which the examination may be taken.

F90 Change of grades. An instructor may change a grade by completing the appropriate grade change procedures as directed in the student information system (KSIS). Falsified reports are a violation of the Honor and Integrity System.

F91 A/Pass/F policy. Undergraduate students, except first semester freshmen and students on probation, may enroll in certain courses for which they have the normal prerequisites under the A/Pass/F option. Under the A/Pass/F option, students earning a grade of A in a course will have an A recorded on the transcript for that course; a grade of B, C, or D will be recorded as Pass; a grade of F will be recorded as fail.

F92 Students should be aware that some schools, scholarship committees, and honorary societies do not find work taken on a non-graded basis (Pass) acceptable. Furthermore, many employers do not view non-graded (Pass) course work in a favorable manner. All students, especially those without a declared major, should be very cautious in using the A/Pass/F option.

F93 Each department or division may specify which courses its majors may take under the A/Pass/F option consistent with the university requirements listed below:

1. Students may enroll under the A/Pass/F option for any free elective course offered under this option. Courses that are specified by name or number, and courses that meet general distribution requirements are not considered free electives. Students should not choose this option for any course related to the curriculum plan.
2. Students may enroll under the A/Pass/F option for any general distribution requirement offered under this option, provided that the course is in the upper division level (300 and above). General distribution requirements consist of those courses which are listed by areas, for example, three courses in the humanities.
3. Students may not enroll under the A/Pass/F option in any course that is required by name or number as part of their degree programs. It is the responsibility of students requesting enrollment under the A/Pass/F option to be sure that such an enrollment is valid in their degree program. A course originally completed under the A/Pass/F option may only be converted to a graded basis with the consent of the instructor and academic dean. Undergraduate students may submit Pass hours for graduation requirements up to and not exceeding one-sixth of the total number of hours required for a bachelor's degree. Students may request the A/Pass/F option for eligible courses at the time of enrollment through the third and fourth weeks of each regular semester or during the second week of the summer semester. Deadlines for courses running on other calendars (e.g. intersession) will be pro-rated. Students requesting the use of the A/Pass/F option must obtain their advisor's signature. The decision by a student to use the A/Pass/F option is treated with strict confidentiality.

F100 Academic deficiencies. Undergraduate students are notified of their academic status on the student information system (KSIS) and by the appropriate academic deans from information supplied by the Office of the Registrar. The academic record of each undergraduate is evaluated twice yearly -- at the end of the fall semester and at the end of the spring semester. The student's academic status does not change as a result of work taken in summer term or intersession.

Undergraduate students are placed on academic warning or dismissal according to the following two sections:

F101 Status of students who earn less than a 1.000 GPA in a given semester. Students who earn less than a 1.000 GPA in any semester are considered to have neglected their academic responsibilities.

F101.1 Any student (freshman or transfer) who earns less than a 1.000 GPA in the first semester at Kansas State University will be dismissed.

F101.2 Any continuing student enrolled at Kansas State University not dismissed by university academic standards policies but who earns less than a 1.000 semester GPA will have an academic hold placed on their account pending review by the academic dean of the dean's representative(s).

F102 Academic warning. Undergraduate students are placed on academic warning or removed from it as follows:

1. Students who earn less than a 2.000 Kansas State University semester or cumulative GPA, excluding transfer credit, will be placed on academic warning.
2. Students will be automatically taken off academic warning when the Kansas State University semester and cumulative GPA reaches the required level (2.000) in Spring or Fall end-of-term grade posting.

F103 Academic dismissal. Undergraduate students (excluding students in the College of Veterinary Medicine) are placed on academic dismissal or removed from it as follows:

1. Credit hours used to determine the appropriate threshold will include a maximum of sixty (60) hours of transfer credit hours accepted, Kansas State University graded credit hours, and miscellaneous credit hours completed.
2. Credit hours used in calculating semester and cumulative grade point averages will include only Kansas State University graded credit hours. Grades for courses accepted in transfer from another institution will not be used in the grade point average calculation.
3. Students with a cumulative GPA of 1.000 or greater will not be dismissed until they have accumulated at least twenty (20) semester credit hours as defined in 1) above. (Exception: A student who earns less than a 1.000 semester GPA in the first semester at Kansas State University will be dismissed.)
4. Students must be on academic warning the semester prior to dismissal. (Exception: A student who earns less than a 1.000 semester GPA in the first semester at K-State will be dismissed.)
5. Students will be academically dismissed if their Kansas State University cumulative GPA is below the following threshold values:

Total hours accumulated*/Kansas State University GPA

Credits	GPA
20-29	1.500
30-45	1.750
46-60	1.800
61-75	1.850
76-90	1.900
91-105	1.950
106+	2.000

*Defined in Item 1 above

6. Students who earn a Kansas State University semester GPA, excluding transfer credit, of 2.200 or more on twelve (12) or more graded hours (or the minimum grade point average established by the student's college, if higher) during the semester in question will not be dismissed.
7. Students who neglect their academic responsibilities may be dismissed at any time on recommendation of the academic dean.
8. Dismissed students will be readmitted only when approved for reinstatement by the Academic Standards Committee of the college the students are attempting to enter. Normally students must wait at least two (2) semesters before being considered for reinstatement and are on academic warning at the time of readmission.
9. Students who have been dismissed or have had their registration withheld will receive a letter providing a contact person and information about reinstatement or registration procedures.
10. In such instances where an undergraduate student is dismissed from the university and is subsequently admitted into a Kansas State University graduate program, graduate program admission supersedes the need for a student to complete the undergraduate reinstatement process. Such students may be admitted to degree-seeking undergraduate programs without the consent of the Academic Standards Committee.

Readmission procedures for graduate students are described in the Graduate Handbook Appendix C.

F104 Academic Fresh Start and Academic Forgiveness GPA Policies {FS 11/09/21 - Effective Spring 2022}

Purpose: The Academic Fresh Start and Academic Forgiveness Policies enable an undergraduate degree-seeking student to neutralize, in part, the grade impact of prior academic performance. Academic Fresh Start and Academic Forgiveness provide for the computation of an alternative GPA and for the use of that GPA in most academic situations. A student may apply only once, and to only one or the other. The process cannot be reversed. A student may not apply for either policy until they are 1) an active student, and 2) meet the enrollment conditions for each individual policy.

Academic Fresh Start is intended to assist a student with a poor academic record to recover, without penalty, and have a fresh start upon readmission to resume their education.

Conditions for a readmitted student to be eligible to apply for Academic Fresh Start are:

1. 1. The student was not enrolled in a K-State course for two (2) calendar years prior to readmission (fall, spring, summer or twenty-four (24) months consecutively).
   2. The student must be an undergraduate student seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
   3. The student has not earned a baccalaureate degree from K-State or another institution.
   4. Prior to requesting the Academic Fresh Start, the student must have earned at least 12 credit hours over one or more terms with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.200 or higher since being readmitted to K-State. Academic Fresh Start may be applied to up to five (5) consecutive terms of coursework not to exceed a maximum of sixty (60) consecutive hours of course work. The coursework from these terms is excluded from the university undergraduate cumulative GPA calculation.
   5. The choice of the starting point is designated by the student at the time of application for Academic Fresh Start. This starting point will be reviewed and approved by the Academic Standards Committee of the college or its equivalent.

Academic Forgiveness is intended to assist a student who has had poor academic performance due to a documented extenuating circumstance during their time at K-State.

Conditions for a student to be eligible to apply for Academic Forgiveness are:

1. 1. The student experienced one (1) or more extenuating circumstance, which caused a drastic change to the student's academic performance in one (1) or two (2) terms.
      • Extenuating circumstances are defined as circumstances which are unexpected, significantly disruptive and beyond a student’s control, and which may have affected their academic performance.
   2. The student must be an undergraduate student seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
   3. After the term(s) affected by the extenuating circumstance, the student earned a K-State GPA of 2.200 or higher at the end of the academic term in which the twelfth credit hour was earned.
   4. Grades from up to two (2) consecutive terms may be excluded from the regular cumulative GPA calculation. Summer may be excluded as a consecutive term.
   5. Documentation confirming the extenuating circumstance must accompany the student’s application, to the Academic Standards Committee or its equivalent in the college Dean’s office.

Additional Policy Conditions:

1. 1. All coursework, grades and cumulative undergraduate GPA will remain on the academic record with a notation on the transcript that the Academic Fresh Start or Academic Forgiveness has been granted for each term approved.
   2. The transcript will clearly indicate the starting point of the Academic Fresh Start/Academic Forgiveness as well as the Academic Fresh Start/Academic Forgiveness GPA.
   3. Only K-State coursework is eligible for Academic Fresh Start or Academic Forgiveness through this policy.
   4. All credit hours affected by Academic Fresh Start or Academic forgiveness may be used to satisfy degree requirements and earned hours, even though they are not included in the student's cumulative GPA. Specific degree requirements will still apply.
   5. To be eligible for university academic honors, students must complete a minimum of forty-two (42) hours in residence, with at least thirty (30) hours in graded courses after the Academic Fresh Start or Academic Forgiveness begins. Other academic policies will not be affected.
   6. The granting of Academic Fresh Start/Forgiveness does not adjust the GPA, credits attempted, credits completed, and grades earned that are applicable to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for federal financial aid eligibility purposes and does not supersede federal financial aid policies.
   7. Once a bachelor’s degree is awarded by K-State, any K-State course(s) completed prior to the completion of that degree will not qualify for academic fresh start/forgiveness. Once a student has received their first bachelor's degree, this policy will not apply.
   8. University-wide academic policies based on a cumulative GPA generally will use the Academic Fresh Start or Academic Forgiveness GPA. However, some academic programs are unable to use the Academic Fresh Start or Academic Forgiveness GPAs due to accreditation or regulatory compliance reasons. Some programs, such as those granting graduate school admissions or those leading to teacher licensure, may use all grades for the calculation of the GPA.
   9. Academic Fresh Start/Forgiveness policies are K-State only. As such, students should be aware it may not be recognized by other institutions or agencies.

Procedures for applying for Academic Fresh Start or Academic Forgiveness:

1. 1. Students should discuss their desire to pursue Academic Fresh Start/Forgiveness with an academic advisor in their college.
   2. A student applies for Academic Fresh Start GPA or Academic Forgiveness GPA through the Academic Standards Committee or its equivalent in the college in which the student is enrolled.
   3. A student must apply no later than the academic term prior to the one when the degree will be granted. (Students wishing to apply are encouraged to do so as soon as possible after qualifying.)
   4. When applying, the student must indicate the point at which the Academic Fresh Start or Academic Forgiveness GPA should begin.
   5. For students who experienced extenuating circumstances and are applying for Academic Forgiveness, the term(s) will be selected in consultation with the Academic Standards Committee of the college or its equivalent.

F110 Scholastic honors.

Graduation Honors

• Bachelor degree candidates who will have completed a minimum of sixty (60) undergraduate hours at Kansas State University with at least forty-two (42) credit hours in graded undergraduate courses at Kansas State University, are considered for graduation with honors as follows:

Students with a 3.950 or above K-State cumulative grade point average are designated as Summa Cum Laude.

Students with a 3.850-3.949 K-State cumulative grade point average are designated as Magna Cum Laude.

Students with a 3.750-3.849 K-State cumulative grade point average are designated as Cum Laude.

• Graduation honors for undergraduate students are based on undergraduate coursework. Any concurrent graduate or professional credit earned is excluded from the calculation of bachelor degree graduation honors.
• Students seeking a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree are eligible to receive graduation honors based on courses completed in the professional program.
• For the purpose of the commencement ceremony, unofficial graduation honors are recognized for Bachelor degree candidates who possess the required K‐State cumulative grade point average prior to the start of the semester in which they plan to participate in the commencement ceremony, and have completed or are currently enrolled in enough credit hours to satisfy the credit hour requirements.

Semester Honors

• Students with at least twelve (12) graded hours whose semester grade point average for a given semester is 3.750 or above will be awarded semester honors.
• Graduate School and Veterinary Medicine students are ineligible for semester honors.

F115 One Credit Hour: the amount of effort required to attain a specific amount of knowledge or skill equivalent to three (3) hours of effort per week for fifteen (15) weeks. Any combination of contact time and effort outside of class is allowed. Common practice is for one (1) academic hour of credit to be composed of a lecture or class to meet for one (1) hour (fifty (50) minutes) per week, with two (2) hours per week of outside assignment and study effort expected each week for fifteen (15) weeks. A laboratory class period equivalent to an academic hour (1) of credit would either meet for one (1) three-hour (3) period each week for fifteen (15) weeks with all effort by the student expected to be completed during the laboratory period; or one (1) two-hour (2) laboratory period with one (1) hour of student effort expected outside the class period, each week for fifteen (15) weeks. Shortened academic sessions (including condensed semesters, intersession classes, or summer classes) and all other modalities (online, distance, etc.) are expected to maintain an equivalent amount of time (contact and outside of class time) as those classes in the fifteen (15)-week semester. It should be noted that the judgment of the amount of academic effort that comprises one (1) hour of credit for any class is ultimately a faculty decision, from the development of the course syllabus to the approval through Faculty Senate. Additional time outside of class may be required for graduate coursework. For further detail please see Course Scheduling in the Department Head’s manual. (addition, FS 2/14/12)

F115.1 One-Half Credit Hour: the amount of effort required to attain a specific amount of knowledge or skill equivalent to 22.5 hours of effort. Any combination of contact time and effort outside of class is allowed. Academic sessions, including full or condensed semesters, intersession classes, summer classes, or other defined periods of time, as well as all other modalities (e.g., online, distance, etc.) are expected to maintain an equivalent amount of time (contact and outside of class time). It should be noted that the judgment of the amount of academic effort that comprises one-half hour of credit for any class is ultimately a faculty decision, from the development of the course syllabus to the approval through Faculty Senate. Additional time outside of class may be required for graduate coursework.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

F120 College and program requirements can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog. The K-State Core requirements follow the KBOR General Education Framework passed by the board on June 15, 2022.

Beginning in the Fall 2024 semester, The K-State Core serves as the general education program at Kansas State University and follows the KBOR framework, including relevant Systemwide Transfer Courses. The six credit hours of “Institutionally Designated Area” will be comprised of elective credit hours at the 100- and 200-level. Courses that fulfill the K-State Core requirement are listed in the Undergraduate Catalog.

F121 Requirements for a bachelor’s degree from K-State are listed below. Colleges and departments may have requirements that exceed these minimums. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Audit (DARS) to review degree requirements. To graduate, a student must complete an approved curriculum and the degree audit must indicate all requirements have been completed. Courses applied to degree requirements must be completed no later than the term in which a degree is awarded. Under special conditions, substitutions to the curriculum are allowed if approved by the department head and dean. Please consult the individual departments for details. Professional curricula may impose additional degree requirements. {FS 02/14/23 - Effective Fall 2023}

Minimum Credit Requirement:

A bachelor’s degree requires a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) semester hours; in an approved program; however, individual programs in some colleges and departments may exceed the minimum.

Minimum Grade Requirement:

There are two-grade point averages a student must meet to be awarded a degree

1. at least 2.000 on Kansas State University graded courses that are applied toward the degree and,
2. at least 2.000 cumulative GPA for all graded courses taken at Kansas State University

At least eighty-three percent (83%) of the credit hours taken at Kansas State University and applied toward a degree must be graded hours (e.g., one hundred (100) credit hours of one hundred and twenty (120) credit hour bachelor's degree program). Required courses of an internship or practicum nature or credit by examination, offered on a Credit/No Credit basis only, are to be considered as graded hours in implementing this requirement.

Upper-Division Credit Requirement:

A minimum of forty-five (45) credit hours must be at a course level of 300 or above to meet the upper division course requirements established by KBOR {KBOR Policy Manual, Chapter III, Section A(9)(b)}.

In-Residence Requirement:

Each student must complete at least twenty-five percent (25%) or a minimum of thirty (30) credits in-residence at Kansas State University to be considered for a degree {per HLC requirements}.

Resident work includes all K-State scheduled course instruction (e.g., course component types), given by the university faculty.

Senior Year Requirement:

Of the last thirty (30) semester credits earned (course level 300 or higher), at least fifteen (15) must be completed at K-State. Credits earned in an authorized education abroad program and designated or approved domestic exchange programs or agreements may apply to this requirement. Courses in the student’s major field shall be taken at Kansas State University unless an exception is granted by the major department on the petition of the student. That department shall have jurisdiction over the acceptance of major courses by transfer for fulfillment of the major requirement.

Exceptions to the senior year requirement may be made by the Dean of the college and the department head in the student’s major program with submission to the Office of the Registrar and Provost Designee for approval. Exceptions may be requested if the student has completed a total of three years of work acceptable to Kansas State University.

University Requirements:

1. No more than seventy-five semester hours may be transferred as credit from a community college in accordance with the definition of a baccalaureate degree in KBOR policy manual, Chapter III, Section 9b part ii (2).
2. No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of credit hours applied to degree requirements may be from Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) sources. CPL may include standardized national exams, recognition of military or workforce training, or portfolio assessment (e.g., thirty (30) credits of CPL for a one hundred and twenty (120)-credit hour bachelor’s degree program) {per HLC requirements}.

Exceptions to university requirements listed in this section may be made by the Dean of the college and the department head in the student’s major program with submission to the Office of the Registrar and Provost Designee for approval. The decision of the exception request is final and not appealable.

Standing

A student must meet all university academic standing requirements as established in section F100-103 to receive a K-State degree. Accordingly, any student who is subject to dismissal or suspension for scholastic or disciplinary reasons will not graduate until the conditions of the dismissal or suspension have been satisfied.

The individual whose education has been interrupted may have to meet new degree requirements if a change has occurred in the approved curriculum.

Off-Campus Completion of Degree Requirements:

It is the student’s responsibility to be certain that transcripts from all transfer institutions are on file and have been articulated/reflected in the Degree Progress Audit (DARS) within the semester the degree requirements will be completed and no later than the deadline date designated on the Academic Calendar.

F121.1 Intent to Graduate

Students must file their intent to graduate via the application for graduation in KSIS. The priority deadline for students to declare their intent to graduate must be submitted no later than the fourth (4^th) week of the semester (first two (2) weeks for summer semester) in which the degree is to be completed. Students are prompted to verify their curriculum, their correct graduation term, and to give their desired name (within reason) for the commencement program as well as their diploma.

F121.2 Graduation Application for Completion of a Major, Minor or Certificate

Graduation applications reflect the most updated version of the Degree Progress Audit (DARS), which is used for final graduation certification. Graduation applications are reviewed electronically within KSIS. Students seeking to graduate should review their Degree Progress Audit (DARS) in KSIS to ensure all requirements are in progress or complete. Review of Graduation applications showing an approval status must be completed by the degree conferral deadline of the student’s graduation term.

Commencement (Graduation Ceremonies):

Students may graduate in the Fall, Spring or Summer semesters. K-State celebrates Commencement Ceremonies twice a year, at the end of each Fall and Spring semester. Candidates for spring graduation should attend the spring commencement exercises in May. Fall graduates are asked to participate in the fall commencement exercises in December. Approved summer degree candidates may participate in the fall or spring exercises.

Graduation (degree awarding/conferral) occurs when students complete all degree requirements, and this completion is confirmed and certified. The degree is then officially posted to a student's academic record (official transcript).

Commencement is a formal ceremony celebrating the graduation of K-State students twice a year. When students participate in Commencement, they are considered candidates for graduation but attendance at the ceremony does not certify that a student has officially graduated from K-State.

F122 Non-Permissible Changes to Academic Record After Degree Posting

• Grade changes may not be made after a degree has been posted, for courses taken prior to that degree posting. (i.e., degree = major, minor, certificate)
• Registration transactions, including but not limited to, backdated drops/withdrawals, repeated coursework coding, A/Pass/Fail changes, etc. will not be processed after a degree has been posted, for any term prior to that degree posting.
• Career changes (i.e., undergraduate to graduate, graduate to undergraduate, etc.) will not be processed after a degree has been posted for courses taken prior to that degree posting.

These requirements are for ALL courses, regardless of degree applicability or application to the degree that was posted.

F123 Modification of Graduating Requirements for Students with Disabilities. A student may request a program modification if there is documentation of a disability that directly impairs the capacity to meet the normal requirements of the program. Students must contact the Student Access Center or the K-State Salina Student Accommodation Services unit for assistance. {FS 02/14/23}

F124 Dual degrees. A dual degree is two unique degree types that a student has elected to pursue at one time (e.g., BS in Mathematics and a BSBA in Management). The requirements for both degrees must be satisfied. {ARN Manual – FS 05/12/92}

F124.1 Double Major. A double major is two majors in the same degree type being pursued by a student at one time (e.g., BS in Mathematics and BS in Geography). The requirements for both degrees must be satisfied. {ARN Manual}

F124.2 Secondary Major. A secondary major is typically an Interdisciplinary major which must be completed along with a primary major course of study, such as a secondary field of specialization, an interdisciplinary program of study which is completed in addition to a major. Secondary majors cannot be earned outside of completion of the primary major. {ARN Manual}

Course Accessibility Standards Policy (FS 6/12/07, addition of policy)

F125 Scope. Federal law requires that Universities provide equal educational opportunities for all students, including students with disabilities. This Course Accessibility Standards Policy provides guidance for ensuring that all course delivery methods utilizing technology (eLearning) are accessible to student with disabilities.

F125.1 Background. Many of the courses offered at Kansas State University use technology to enhance course delivery, both on-campus and through distance learning (referred to as eLearning). The United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has stated that eLearning must be designed and delivered in such a way that all students, including students with disabilities, have equal access to course content.

In 2001, Kansas State University developed a memorandum detailing the University's responsibility for creating accessible administrative, college, and department web pages. Accessible templates were developed for this purpose. Since 2001 the use of websites, web-based course management systems, and various technologies to routinely provide instruction to students has grown exponentially. Therefore, the Course Accessibility Standards Policy extends beyond the 2001 Web Accessibility Memorandum to include distance education and instructional websites as well as all eLearning course content.

F125.2 Legal Requirements. Collectively, State and Federal regulations require equal access to resources and materials for students who are otherwise qualified to enroll in the course. Furthermore, accessibility must be built into eLearning; OCR interpretation states that a University violates its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act when it responds only on an ad-hoc basis to individual requests for accommodation. Finally, this instruction must result in a course-taking experience that is similar to that of students without disabilities.

Applicable legislation includes:

• Federal Law:
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which ensures that federally funded institutions such as Universities provide equal access to all services and programs, with or without accommodations.
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, which requires electronic and information technology to be accessible to persons with disabilities.
• State of Kansas Information Technology Policy 1210 – State of Kansas Web Accessibility Requirements. This document is based on the Priority levels developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for developing accessible web sites.
• Kansas State University Memorandum outlining webpage accessibility requirements for administrative websites.

Meeting Course Accessibility Standards for eLearning is best accomplished through the application of the principles of Universal Design to course development. Universal Design refers to the design of products, environments, and services to be “usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for specialized design.” Much like curb cuts benefit more than mobility-impaired persons, electronic curb cuts provide benefits for the larger student population as well.

Often, providing a single accommodation (such as a transcript for an audio course segment) provides benefits to many different persons with different disabilities and/or learning styles. The resulting Universal Access is effective for all students and is the best way for eLearning at Kansas State University to meet the needs of students with disabilities and to meet the demands of current and future technology.

F125.3 Policy. This policy applies to all faculty and staff developing courses or course management systems for K-State or affiliates. All course delivery mechanisms and course content must be made accessible. This policy refers to new courses, new materials added to existing courses, and “retrofitting” of existing courses. In addition, software that is purchased and utilized in a course must also be accessible. Making courses accessible may include such actions as saving documents in a universal format such as Microsoft Word, providing a written transcript of audio content, or embedding a text description of graphics inserted into a PowerPoint slide or website. By making courses accessible to students who are sight or hearing impaired, you are also making the same course accessible to students with a wide range of other disabilities.

F125.4 Responsibilities. All University administrators, faculty, and staff who are involved in course development and delivery share the obligation to ensure that eLearning is accessible to students with disabilities. The Dean of each College will be asked to review for compliance with this policy any new course approval or course alteration. The Office of the Provost will make reasonable efforts to provide professional development, training, and technical support for faculty and staff involved in the creation of accessible eLearning.

F125.5 Implementation. Faculty and staff who need technical help implementing this policy may contact Information Technology Assistance Center or Student Access Center.

Graduate Degree Requirements

F130 The graduate faculty's general requirements for graduate degrees are contained in the Graduate Handbook. Additional degree requirements, specific to each discipline, are set by the faculty in each program and are available in published form.

Honorary Degrees

F140 Regents' institutions may award honorary degrees upon approval by the Kansas Board of Regents {Board of Regents Policy and Procedures Manual, Chapter III, Section 9b(6)}.

Posthumous Degrees and 'In Memoriam' Recognition {FS 11/08/22}

F150 Posthumous Degree.

• Kansas State University seeks to extend sympathy and compassion to families of deceased students nearing completion of their degrees, to recognize the academic achievement of students who would have fulfilled the requirements of the degree, as well as to honor the memory of deceased students whose degrees were in process. These actions must also balance the need to uphold academic and institutional integrity in the awarding of degrees. Students who die while actively pursuing a degree are eligible for a posthumous degree if they are in the last year of their program.
  • The last year of the program includes but is not limited to undergraduate students in their senior/5^th year standing; graduate students within 1-2 semesters of completion; or students with a minimum threshold within 75% of degree completion.
  • Due to the close cohort nature of the DVM professional program, College of Veterinary Medicine students who die while actively pursuing a degree in any year of the program, and who were in good academic standing at the time of death, are eligible for consideration for award of a posthumous DVM degree.
• In good standing, both academically (e.g., a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA for undergraduate students and a minimum 3.000 cumulative GPA for graduate students), and with respect to conduct (e.g., academic integrity violations, student conduct violations, etc.).
• For doctoral degrees, in addition to the requirements above, successfully completed a preliminary exam, proposal defense, and/or a practicum requirement (if applicable).

Recommendation for the award of an undergraduate degree shall be approved by the department head/chair, school/college dean, and then submitted for consideration/approval by the appropriate Academic Affairs Committees and Faculty Senate.

Recommendation for the award of a graduate degree shall be approved by the school/college dean and Graduate School and then forwarded to Faculty Senate.

Recommendation for award of a posthumous DVM degree shall be approved by the CVM Dean and majority vote of the CVM faculty and then forwarded to Faculty Senate.

If approved, the posthumous degree will be eligible for recognition at a commencement ceremony and will be noted on the transcript and diploma as a posthumous degree.

Exceptions to the eligibility list above may include but are not limited to 1) an interruption in the student’s continuous enrollment or withdrawal due to injury, illness, and/or service in the armed forces, or 2) on university approved leave (i.e., Undergraduate Planned Leave, Graduate Leave: Graduate Handbook, Chapter 1; DVM Student/Faculty Handbook; etc.).

F151 'In Memoriam' Recognition

An ‘In Memoriam’ recognition is issued to acknowledge a deceased student’s progress toward the degree and to honor the student’s memory as a member of the K-State community. Any student who was enrolled at the University at the time of their death and who does not meet the requirements necessary to be awarded a posthumous degree may be awarded an in-memoriam recognition.

To be considered, a student must have been enrolled in a program at the time of their death and be deemed to have been in good standing or warning, both academically and with respect to conduct. The university may choose to give this award to other deceased previously enrolled students. A recommendation for recognition may be initiated by a friend or family member upon confirmation of a student's passing. The request must be sent to the Office of the Registrar for review and approval.

‘In Memoriam’ recognitions for students are not included in the official count of degrees and shall not be considered a conferral of a degree, and students are not typically recognized at a commencement ceremony.

Undergraduate Academic Minors

F160 Undergraduate minors are a sequence of related courses which, upon completion provide a student with limited competency in a designated field of study. Minor programs of study are optional and are offered only at the undergraduate level.

General Requirements:

• A minor program will require completion of at least fifteen (15) designated credit hours of required course work outside of the major.
• Courses forming a minor may be used to satisfy the general requirements of a major curriculum, including free electives.
• No more than six hours of transfer courses may be used for the minor.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 is required on courses applied to a minor.

Students who have declared an approved minor and completed all requirements for it will receive official recognition for that emphasis upon completion of the degree requirements in the major field of study and the minor field of study. The minor will be recorded on the students’ academic record (official transcript) at the time of degree posting.

A higher cumulative grade point average or minimum course grade of “C” or higher may be specified.

• Apart from “credit for prior learning,” all courses applied to the minor must have letter grades.

View the current policy regarding course and curriculum changes. (FSM 4/13/93, FSM 3/09/10, FS 04/12/22)

Undergraduate Academic Credit Certificates

F170 A Kansas State University Undergraduate Academic Credit Certificate emphasizes a focused specialty area of study. The program must increase the knowledge and skills of individuals. The program must be validated by a specified assessment process.

Undergraduate academic credit certificates require approval through the Faculty Senate curriculum approval process. The department and college that propose an undergraduate academic credit certificate program must provide for approval the following information:

1. Purpose (clear and appropriate educational objective)
2. Evidence of demonstrated need or demand for proposed certificate
3. Requirements
4. Desired outcomes
5. Assessment procedures
6. Estimated budget and staff required

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Certificates will require no fewer than twelve (12) credit hours.
• At least twenty-five percent (25%) of total credit hours required for the certificate must be from Kansas State University.
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 is required on courses applied to a certificate.

A higher cumulative grade point average or minimum course grades of “C” or higher may be specified.

• Apart from "credit for prior learning," all courses applied to the certificate must have letter grades.

The department and college should also indicate whether or not the certificate can be obtained only as a credential on its own or only in combination with a degreed-credential. If a specific degree program is required, it should be specified.

All certificate programs obtained as a credential on their own will share the following admission process and criteria unless additional/higher criteria are specified by the department and college.

ADMISSION

Students seeking a certificate program obtained as a credential on its own must apply for admission as a non-degree, certificate-seeking student and submit the admission application, application fee, and transcripts. Applicants must provide documentation of high school graduation or completion of high school equivalency and, if college courses have been attempted, official transcripts demonstrating a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or higher for all post-secondary coursework. {FS 04/12/22}

Microcredentials

F180 Microcredentials comprise relevant, high-quality market-aligned short units of learning and offer pathways to achieve affordable, accessible, focused and immediately acknowledged learning opportunities. Microcredential offerings can be credit bearing or noncredit bearing and have the following characteristics:

• focused on learners, based on their interests, needs, skills and career goals;
• awarded based on demonstrated skill or competency in a specific area(s);
• developed, approved, and endorsed by the university;
• gained in a shorter or more flexible time period;
• stand-alone or stackable, with stackable offerings combined to count toward a higher education qualification (e.g., certificate, degree, etc.).

Major academic units may propose microcredentials, which are reviewed and approved through the Microcredential Approval Process using Curriculog. At a minimum, credit microcredentials may be .5 credit hours with the maximum of 11.5 credit hours.