No.4-2

Rev. 02-14-19

Date 4-9-96

 

 

 

I. POLICY

 

 

Weber State University students seeking a diploma, certificate or degree must meet the requirements for that diploma, certificate or degree as described in the appropriate catalog as defined below. However, the catalog is not to be considered a binding contract between Weber State University and any student or other institution. Weber State University reserves the right to change its degree requirements, course offerings and policies as conditions require.  The catalog used by the University is an electronic catalog that is updated effective summer semester each year.

II. PROCEDURE

A.  Undergraduate Students

1.  Catalog Selection

An undergraduate student's catalog will be the catalog in effect the fall semester of the academic year when he or she first enrolled at Weber State University.  However, an undergraduate student may complete requirements for graduation from two separate catalogs; one for General Education and a second for the major, minor, and university requirements under the following conditions:

a.  Undergraduate students who change their programs of study will follow requirements as noted in the catalog current at the date of the program of study change.

b.  A change of emphasis, track or concentration within a major will not initiate a change in catalog year.

2.  General Education

a.  Undergraduate students who change their programs of study will follow the General Education requirements as noted in the catalog current at the date of the program of study change.

b.  When an undergraduate student completes General Education requirements he or she may meet with the academic college within which his or her program of study (major) resides to have this portion of his or her degree requirements verified for graduation (See PPM 4-1, VIII Graduation Sign Off).

It is the responsibility of the academic dean or their designee to verify the completeness of General Education requirements and notify the Graduation Office that the General Education requirements have been met.

c.  Undergraduate students may also choose to select a more recent catalog from which to complete General Education requirements.

d.  When a student completes General Education requirements and the Graduation Office has been appropriately notified, this portion of the degree requirements will be considered fulfilled regardless of future changes to General Education, changes to the program of study, or expiration of the catalog under which he or she completed the General Education requirement.

3.  Catalog Expiration

a.  A student must complete graduation requirements within six (6) years for baccalaureate degree candidates or three (3) years for associate degree and institutional certificate candidates.

b.  Students who take longer than six years to complete a bachelor's degree or three years to complete an associate's degree or institutional certificate will be held to the major and/or minor requirements found in the oldest active catalog at the time of graduation.

B.  Returning Undergraduate Students

1.  Major, Minor, and University Requirements
Students who withdraw or are withdrawn for any reason from the University and are subsequently readmitted after an absence of two or more semesters, excluding summer, will be governed by the catalog expiration policy in Section II., A., 1, b above for major, minor, and university requirements.

2.  General Education Requirements

a.  A returning student who completed ALL of his or her General Education requirements prior to stopping out may meet with the academic college within which his or her program of study (major) resides to have this portion of his or her degree requirements verified for graduation.  (See PPM 4-1, VII Graduation Sign Off).

b.  It is the responsibility of the academic dean or their designee to:

• determine the process for reviewing General Education;
• verify the completeness of General Education requirements prior to the student stopping out; and
• notify the Graduation Office that the General Education requirements have been met.

c.  When a student completes General Education requirements and the Graduation Office has been appropriately notified, this portion of the degree requirement will be considered fulfilled regardless of future changes to General Education, changes to the program of study, or expiration of the catalog under which he or she completed the General Education requirement.

d.  If the student did not complete ALL of the General Education requirements prior to stopping out he or she will be assigned a catalog as outlined in Section II.A.2 above.

e.  The completion of the General Education requirements will be noted in the student's electronic record but will not appear on an official transcript, except as part of a completed degree.

3.  At the university there are no age limits on institutional courses.  Departments may seek approval, through the university curriculum process, to set age limits for the applicability of a course to a degree requirement.  Chairs of those departments that set age limits may make exceptions for individual students.  (See PPM 4-21a, III Transfer Credits)

C.  Graduate Students

Requirements for graduate students are defined in PPM 11-1.

D.  Exceptions

Specific exceptions to this policy regarding program of study (major, minor or emphasis) requirements may be requested through the waiver process at the appropriate academic college.  Application for any other exceptions to this policy should be made through the Office of the Registrar.