Academic Policies

Lesley University academic policies are designed to ensure academic quality and integrity.

Most of the following policies are located in our Online Academic Catalogue.

• Academic Advising

  Academic advising is a high priority at Lesley University. Each student has access to an advisor for their program.

  Graduate Academic Advising

  Undergraduate Academic Advising

• Academic Freedom

  Academic freedom is essential in higher education. It is the freedom to engage in teaching, research, scholarship, or other creative work as the basis for expanding knowledge, promulgating research findings, and teaching and learning in an atmosphere of free inquiry and expression.

  The rights of faculty and students to academic freedom carry with them duties and responsibilities.
  
  Faculty and students are entitled to freedom of inquiry and discussion in teaching and learning; freedom of investigation in research; and freedom of publication regarding research, scholarship, and creative work.

  Since discussing different points of view is an essential aspect of free academic inquiry and teaching, it is appropriate for faculty to incorporate both their knowledge and beliefs into their teaching. With these freedoms comes a commitment to accuracy and integrity.

  Faculty members are private citizens, professionals, and members of an educational institution. Faculty, recognizing that the public may judge an institution by their utterances, should indicate when they are speaking as official representatives of the University.

• Academic Grievance Policy

  We provide grievance procedures to give students a way to appeal academic decisions.

  Graduate Academic Grievance Policy

  Undergraduate Grade Grievance Policy

• Academic Integrity

  True learning can exist only in an environment of academic honesty and integrity.

  No student should knowingly perform an act of academic dishonesty. Examples include: Abuse of academic materials; cheating; complicity in another person’s academic dishonesty; fabrication/falsification; lying, tampering, or theft; or plagiarism, among other infractions.

  The Academic Integrity Policy applies to all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Lesley University.

  Academic Integrity Policy

• Academic Standards

  Lesley University is dedicated to providing a high-quality educational experience. The university expects students to maintain the academic and professional standards established for their programs of study.

  Graduate Academic Program and Review

  Undergraduate Academic Standards

• Add/Drop Policy

  Students wishing to add or drop a course or change course sections must do so during the add/drop periods

• Attendance

  Students are expected to attend and to participate fully in all class meetings.

  Graduate Attendance Policies

  Undergraduate Attendance Policies

• Audited Courses

  A student can audit most courses that are normally offered for credit, with permission from faculty.

  Auditing Graduate Courses

  Auditing Undergraduate Courses

• Class Standing

  The number of credits an undergraduate student needs to be considered a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior.

  Undergraduate Class Standing Definitions

• (Use of) Copyrighted Works Policy

  It is the Policy of Lesley University that all members—students, faculty, and staff–adhere to United States Copyright Law.

  Use of Copyrighted Works Policy & Fair Use Guidelines

• Course Sequences

  All degree, certificate, and certification candidates should confer with their academic advisor in determining their course of study. In some instances, courses need to be taken in a specific sequence.

  Graduate Course Sequences Policy

• Course/Studio Assistantship Policy

  An undergraduate student may serve as a Course/Studio Assistant in a particular course that the student has taken previously (or otherwise demonstrated competency).

  Undergraduate Course/Studio Assistantships

• Course Waiver

  When a student has successfully completed a course at another regionally accredited institution that is substantially the same as a required course in a degree or certificate program at Lesley University, we may grant the student a waiver.

  Graduate Course Waivers

  Undergraduate Course Waivers

• Course Withdrawal

  The policy regarding withdrawal from courses becomes effective after the drop/add period terminates.

  Withdrawal Policy

• Credit Hour

  Lesley University follows federal regulations and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) guidelines on the definition of a credit hour.

  Graduate Credit Hour Policy

  Undergraduate Credit Hour Policy

• Credit Loads

  Each type of program—graduate and undergraduate—has a maximum number of credits the student can take in a semester.

  Graduate Credit Loads

  Undergraduate Credit Loads

• Cross-College Registration

  All students may take advantage of the resources available in the other schools of the university. Students may enroll in appropriate courses in the other schools of the university, and in selected graduate-level courses.

  Undergraduate credits will count toward the baccalaureate degree. Graduate courses taken towards the baccalaureate degree cannot be counted again for graduate credit should the student wish to pursue an advanced degree.

• Degree Requirements

  An undergraduate student who satisfactorily meets the requirements is awarded a degree of Bachelor of Art, Bachelor of Fine Arts, or Bachelor of Sciences.

  Undergraduate Degree Requirements

• Double Counting

  The number of credits an undergraduate student can double count to satisfy coursework in more than one area.

  Undergraduate Double Counting Policy

• Grades

  All policies regarding grades, including the grades a student must earn for them to count toward degree requirements, how to resolve incomplete grades, and what the grades mean on the GPA point system.

  Graduate Grade Policies

  Undergraduate Grade Policies

• Graduation Requirements

  To be eligible for a degree, a student must satisfactorily complete all requirements for the specific degree program. And, to participate in Commencement, students must fulfill other requirements, such as declare their intent to graduate, settle their student accounts, etc.

  Graduate Graduation Requirements

  Undergraduate Graduation Requirements

• Independent Study Courses

  The option to design and complete a suitable independent project that does not duplicate an on-campus course offering is available in most degree programs.

  Graduate Independent Study Course Policies

  Undergraduate Independent Study Course Policies

• Intellectual Property

  Except as otherwise provided in a written agreement with the School, when Intellectual Property is created by faculty, staff, or students in connection with any School course, program, or other School-related project, with or without Substantial Use of School Facilities, the School shall have the perpetual, non-exclusive, non-transferrable, royalty-free rights to reproduce, display, perform, and otherwise use such Intellectual Property for all its educational, promotional, marketing, and other non-commercial purposes (collectively, the “Use Rights”).
  
  For the avoidance of doubt, the Use Rights shall not include the right to sell such Intellectual Property.

• International Student Records Policy

  Information regarding international student enrollment is reported to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). It is the student’s responsibility to maintain legal non-immigrant visa status.

  International Student Records Policy

• Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Policy

  When personal or professional circumstances preclude enrollment in classes, matriculating students must apply for a leave of absence. An approved leave of absence extends the time the student can complete their program of study.

  Graduate Leave of Absence Policy

  Graduate Withdrawal Policy

  Undergraduate Leave of Absence Policy

  Undergraduate Withdrawal Policy

• Licensure Program Policies

  Programs for teachers, guidance counselors, and education specialists lead to either a degree or licensure, and meet current Massachusetts licensure regulations.

  Students are required to register with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, for licensure, shortly after they are accepted into their education program.

  Graduate Licensure Policy

• Pre-Admission Course Enrollment Policy

  Prospective students with bachelor’s degrees who are considering application to a degree or certificate program at Lesley University may take courses for graduate credit.

  Pre-Admission Course Enrollment

• Program Change Requests

  Students who wish to transfer from one program to another may obtain the Request for Program Change Form from the University Registrar’s Office, their program office, or by mail.

  Graduate Program Change Requests

• Program Review Policy

  Lesley University engages in periodic review of programs and graduation requirements. Programs are subject to change without prior notice.

• Reinstatement Appeal Process

  Any student dismissed for poor scholarship may be eligible for reinstatement and may apply after one full regular semester has elapsed. Reinstatement appeals should be directed to the dean of the school.

• Requirements Completed Transcripts

  For salary increments and other purposes, a student may require confirmation of the completion of a degree program in advance of the official conferral date.

  Request a Requirements Completed Transcript

• Student Classification and Status

  Review the descriptions of what it means to be a degree student, certificate student, licensure student, non-degree student, and more. Review the number of credits a student needs to take in a semester to be considered full-time or half-time.

  Graduate Student Classification and Status

• Student Consumer Information Policy

  Lesley University, in keeping with accreditation guidelines, cannot guarantee that credits granted to students will be accepted for transfer into any other school, college, or organization.

  Learn more about the Student Consumer Information Policy

• Transcript Policies

  An official Lesley transcript is a record of all coursework a student has taken at Lesley (including the Lesley University College of Art and Design).

  Learn what’s included student transcripts, and more.

• Transfer of Credit Policies

  Policies regarding the number of credits an undergraduate or graduate student may transfer to Lesley University from another institution.

  Graduate Transfer Credits

  Undergraduate Transfer Credits & Transferring Undergraduate Credit

• Provision of Waiver

  Under extenuating circumstances, specific academic regulations may be waived by the appropriate department director. Undergraduate students requesting a waiver of academic requirements should petition the department director and provide a typewritten request that gives full particulars and justification for the request.