Effective Fall Semester, 2000, USF St. Petersburg faculty may use a plus/minus grading system to assign student grades. The use of the plus/minus grading system is at the discretion of the individual faculty member.

A student’s measure of academic achievement is recorded on the academic record based on the following grading system:

Plus/Minus Grades

Other Grades

Please note that the grade of C- will satisfy specified minimum requirements of the Gordon Rule courses and the common prerequisites unless otherwise specified in the Catalog.

Grade Point Average

The University uses the quality points listed above. The grade-point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total number of quality points by the total hours attempted at USF. The total quality points are figured by multiplying the number of credits assigned to each course by the quality point value of the grade given. Credit hours for courses with grades of I, IU, M, MU, N, S, U, W, Z, and grades that are preceded by a “E” are subtracted from the total hours attempted before the GPA is calculated.

Credit hours for repeated USF coursework will be awarded only once per course unless the course is a university-approved repeatable course. “D” and “F” grades, however, for repeated USF coursework will be counted in the computation of the student’s GPA as many times as those grades for that course are recorded. If a student originally earns a “C” or higher in a course that may not be repeated for additional credit and earns a “C” or higher on a subsequent enrollment the new grade is not computed in the USF GPA unless the forgiveness policy is being applied.

“I” Grade Policy

An “I” grade indicates incomplete coursework and may be awarded to graduate and undergraduate students. (Undergraduate rules apply to non-degree-seeking students.) It may be awarded to an undergraduate student only when a small portion of the student’s work is incomplete and only when the student is otherwise earning a passing grade. Until removed, the “I” is not computed in the GPA for either undergraduate or graduate students. The time limit for removing the “I” is to be set by the instructor of the course. For undergraduate students, this time limit may not exceed two academic semesters, whether or not the student is in residence, and/or graduation, whichever comes first. “I” grades not removed by the end of the time limit will be changed to “IF” or “IU,” whichever is appropriate. Whether or not the student is in residence, any change to “IF” grades will be calculated in the cumulative GPA and, if applicable, the student will be placed on appropriate probation or academically dismissed. Students are not required to re-register for courses in which they are only completing previous course requirements to change an “I” grade. However, if a student wants to audit a course for review in order to complete course requirements, full fees must be paid.

“M” Grade Policy

An “M” is automatically assigned as a default grade when the instructor does not submit any grade for an undergraduate student. (Undergraduate rules also apply to non-degree-seeking students.) Until removed, the “M” is not computed in the GPA. The time limit for removing the “M” may not exceed one academic semester (whether or not the student is enrolled) and/or graduation, whichever comes first. “M” grades that are not removed by the end of the next semester/term will be changed to “MF” or “MU,” whichever is appropriate. Whether or not the student is enrolled, any change to “MF” grades will be computed in the cumulative GPA, and, if applicable, the student will be placed on appropriate probation or academically dismissed.

S/U Grade System

No-option Courses. Certain courses have been designated as S/U courses. The “S” and “U” grades are used to indicate the student’s final grade. These S/U only courses are identified with (S/U only) after the course definition in this catalog. No grading system option is available to students or faculty in these courses.

Option Courses. Any undergraduate course may be taken on an S/U basis by a student under the following conditions and restrictions:

1. Required courses in the major may not be taken on an S/U basis.
2. Specifically designated required courses in the distribution requirements of the student’s college may not be taken on an S/U basis.
3. Courses to satisfy 6A-10.30 (Gordon Rule) may not be taken on an S/U basis.
4. Courses to satisfy USF’s B.A. foreign language requirement may not be taken on an S/U basis.
5. All elective courses for the major and all elective courses in the distribution requirements, and all other free elective courses may be taken on an S/U basis except where:
   1. The certifying college restricts the number of courses that may be taken on an S/U basis in any one or all of the above areas or restricts the total number of S/U courses that can be accepted for all of the above areas.
   2. The certifying college specifies that certain courses may not be taken on an S/U basis.
   3. The instructor of a course refuses to allow the course to be taken on an S/U basis.

Mechanism for Assigning S/U Grades. The method by which a student receives an “S” or “U” grade in an option course will consist of the following:

1. A written agreement signed by both instructor and student shall be filed with such offices as may be designated by the college. The college shall set the deadline (no later than the last day of classes for the term) for the student to decide if he/she wishes to take the course on an S/U basis.
2. The instructor shall assign final letter grades A, B, C, D, F, or I, but will transmit to the Registrar “S” or “U” consistent with the following:
   1. Letter grade, A, B, or C, shall be equivalent to a letter grade of “S.”
   2. Letter grades D or F shall be equivalent to a letter grade of “U.” “S” and “U” grades are not computed in the student’s GPA.

Grade Forgiveness Policy

USF St. Petersburg’s forgiveness policy permits an undergraduate to repeat a course and have the repeated grade computed in his/her GPA in place of the original grade, providing the repeat grade is “D” or higher (exception - see Honors at Graduation). A course that is repeated and the repeat grade is “F” will have both grades calculated into the GPA. Normally, grade forgiveness may only be applied to a specific course that a student chooses to repeat. No course taken on the S/U grade basis may have the grade forgiveness applied. Under unusual circumstances, a different but similar course may be used if the substitute course has been previously approved by the college dean and is on file in the Office of Admissions & Records.

The grade forgiveness policy cannot apply to any course in which the grade of “FF” has been recorded.

Any undergraduate or non-degree seeking student who wishes to implement grade forgiveness must:

1. Complete a “Grade Forgiveness Request Form” (available in the Office of Admissions & Records) for each course to be repeated.
2. Adhere to the following conditions:
   1. A limitation of applying grade forgiveness to three USF courses with no more than one repeat per course.
   2. With prior approval of the college dean, a course different from a course on the approved list may be substituted in the following cases:
      1. The substitute course is a change in prefix, number, hours, or title, but not a substantive change in content from the original course.
      2. The substitute course replaces a course no longer offered by the institution.
   3. The repeated course must be taken under the standard grading system (A-F) and the latest grade must be D/D- or higher (grades of S/U are not permitted).
   4. All grades remain on the transcript. The original course grade will be annotated with “E” to indicate that the course has subsequently been repeated and the original grade is not computed in the GPA.
   5. Individual colleges may have further restrictions; therefore, the student should consult with his/her college.

This policy is applicable to undergraduate and non-degree-seeking students only, and applies to 1000-to-5000-level courses. Once students have been awarded a bachelor’s degree from USF, they may not repeat a course and be forgiven the original grade, taken prior to graduation.

The first time the academic record of an undergraduate or non-degree seeking student falls below a cumulative 2.00 grade point average (GPA), counting only USF grades, he/she will be placed on Academic Probation (AP). If the cumulative GPA is not raised to 2.00 or higher at the end of the next term of enrollment, the student will be placed on Final Academic Probation (FP). A student on Final Academic Probation who fails to raise his/her cumulative USF GPA to 2.00 or higher at the end of the next term of enrollment will be Academically Dismissed (AD) from the university.

A student admitted to the university on probationary status will be placed on Academic Probation (AP) his/her first term with the above rules related to Final Academic Probation and Academic Dismissal applying. Academic advising prior to registration is mandatory until the student is removed from probationary status.

Any student who withdraws after the fifth day of classes while on Academic Probation will be placed on Final Academic Probation. Any student who withdraws after the fifth day of classes while on Final Academic Probation or who has been placed on Conditional Readmission by the Academic Regulations Committee will be Academically Dismissed.

The determination and notification of probationary status or academic dismissal will be made by the Office of Admissions & Records on the student’s semester grade report and academic record.

A student who attends another college or university during academic dismissal will be classified as a transfer student and readmission will be based on the total record accumulated from all colleges and universities attended.

If a student who has accumulated fewer than 60 semester hours is academically dismissed from USF or falls below a 2.0 GPA and subsequently achieves an A.A. degree or an articulated A.S. degree from a Florida public community/ junior college (or other SUS institution), that student, when returning to the University, will be automatically credited with a maximum of 60 semester hours and have his/her academic record cleared and the USF GPA will begin again.

If a student who has accumulated 60 or more semester hours is academically dismissed from USF falls below a 2.0 GPA and subsequently receives an A.A. or an articulated A.S. from a Florida public community/junior college (or other SUS institution), that student, when returning to the University, will not automatically have his/her record cleared. The student must consult with his/her Academic Regulations Committee representative and must either:

1. Request that his/her academic record be cleared. If the student chooses this option and the Academic Regulations Committee approves the request, the student will be credited with a maximum of 60 semester hours and the USF GPA will begin again; or
2. Request that the USF hours and GPA be retained and receive specific stipulations from the Academic Regulations Committee to clear the academic record.

In either case, the decision must be made in the term of USF St. Petersburg enrollment following the receipt of the AA degree and is considered to be a binding decision.

If a student is academically dismissed or falls below a 2.0 GPA from USF and subsequently receives a BA/BS from another four-year institution, that student, when accepted to the University with the post-baccalaureate status, will have his/her academic record cleared.

USF St. Petersburg recognizes that not every student’s academic record is flawless and that many times students get off to such a poor start that their future academic opportunities are limited. USF St. Petersburg can offer many of those students a second chance. The University’s Academic Renewal policy allows students, who provide evidence that they might now achieve academic success, to renew their pursuit of baccalaureate degrees without the burden of having to overcome the effects of low grades and low grade-point-averages that reflect academic work attempted years earlier. To facilitate this opportunity, students who qualify for Academic Renewal may, with the approval of the Academic Regulations Committee, have portions of their academic record not counted in the determination of their grade point averages (GPAs) for graduation purposes. Their entire academic record, however, will continue to be reflected on their transcripts even though a selected portion will not be counted in their GPAs.

Academic Renewal I – Students with fewer than 60 credits: Students who were academically dismissed or on formal academic probationary status (institutional cumulative GPA of less than 2.0) but who otherwise were eligible to return from USF St. Petersburg or other institutions of higher education prior to their successful completion of 60 transferable credits, may be admitted to the University with Academic Renewal after completing all requirements for the Associate in Arts degree or equivalent (including general education, Gordon Rule and CLAST requirements) at a two-or four-year college. Academic Renewal I students will enter USF St. Petersburg as juniors and their USF grade point average will be calculated from that point forward. Such students will be required to earn 60 credits from USF, with a grade point average of at least 2.0 subsequent to the AA degree, in order to graduate from USF St. Petersburg. They also may be excluded from admission to limited access programs. Further, students who exercise the Academic Renewal policy will not be considered for University Honors at graduation unless they meet the criteria using all grades earned.

Academic Renewal II – Students with 60 or more earned credits: Students who were academically dismissed (but who otherwise were eligible to return) from USF St. Petersburg or other institutions of higher education after the successful completion of 60 transferable credits may be admitted to the University with Academic Renewal II if they are able to provide convincing evidence of changes that indicate they might be successful given a new opportunity. Normally, such students will have been engaged in successful non-academic activities such as work or the military for at least five years. Academic Renewal II students will be offered an opportunity to enter USF St. Petersburg with all coursework and grades from any three academic semesters (or equivalent) prior to their academic dismissal dropped from consideration in grade-point-average calculations at the University. Students who elect to exercise the Academic Renewal policy will not be allowed to use any credit earned during the academic terms from which courses are dropped from grade-point-average consideration toward meeting degree requirements at the University* and they may be excluded from admission to limited access programs. Further, students who exercise the Academic Renewal policy will not be considered for University Honors at graduation unless they meet the criteria using all grades earned.

Colleges may determine and implement standards of academic progress for undergraduate students (majors in the college) in addition to those established by USF St. Petersburg. Students who do not meet the academic standards of progress set by their colleges will be placed on probation and may be disenrolled. The college dean is responsible for implementing standards of academic progress and for notifying students of their probationary or disenrollment status.

Colleges may restrict the course selections and the number of hours a student may take that do not apply toward completion of degree requirements. Students who exceed this limit may have part or all of their registration canceled.

Examinations in academic subjects are, for most courses, an integral part of the learning process and one part of a procedure for evaluating student performance and determining grades. USF St. Petersburg requires certain standards for the examination process in order to protect the academic integrity of courses and the best interests of both the student and the instructor.

Testing in General: In each academic course, the student is expected to undergo a meaningful testing and evaluation that will reveal the student’s intellectual growth in the subject matter covered or otherwise reflect the achievement of the course objectives.

The instructor has the responsibility of maintaining a fair and impartial testing and examination procedure, has the right to define and structure the testing process, and shall not be restricted as to form, style or content of the examination. It is the policy of USF St. Petersburg that all students facing an examination (of any type) shall have equal advance notice of the form and content of that examination. The University regards the routine use of all or part of the same formal examination for successive academic terms as unsound policy except when used with adequate safeguards such as a random selection of questions from a large pool.

The Academic Regulations Committee (ARC) meets regularly to review petitions submitted by undergraduate students to waive University academic regulations. Students must petition and secure approval of the committee to return to the University after having been academically dismissed or to waive academic deadlines.

Effective Fall, 1998, the University has implemented a statute of limitations on student petitions for retroactive adds, drops, withdrawals, and registration. A student will be limited to two calendar years (six academic semesters/terms) for such appeals whether the student is in attendance or not.

Student academic grievance procedures exist at USF St. Petersburg to provide students the opportunity for an objective review of facts and events pertinent to the cause of academic grievances. Such review is accomplished in a collegial non-judicial atmosphere rather than an adversary one and allows the parties involved to participate.

An Academic Grievance Committee, composed of an equal number of faculty and student members, exists in each undergraduate college for the general purpose of considering student academic grievances and making recommendations based on these considerations to the Dean of the college in which the alleged grievance occurred.

Alleged violations of academic dishonesty or alleged disruptions of academic process will be handled initially by the instructor, who will discuss the incident with the student. It must be noted that the Faculty Senate considers the traditional relationship between student and faculty member as the primary means of settling disputes that may arise. If the instructor observes the alleged dishonesty occurring during an examination, he/she should, with discretion, notify the student of the fact before the student leaves the examination. In all cases, the instructor must attempt to schedule a meeting with the student to discuss the alleged dishonesty or disruptions.

After the discussion, if the student and instructor have reached a mutual agreement as to the solution, the instructor shall file a statement with the chairperson of the department or equivalent, e.g. campus dean, responsible for the course outlining the facts of the incident and the agreed-upon solution signed by both the instructor and student. A copy of this statement shall be given to the student. If no solution is reached, the matter should be referred to the chairperson of the department or the equivalent, e.g. campus dean, for attempt at resolution.

Academic Dishonesty and Disruption Of Academic Process

Students attending USF St. Petersburg are awarded degrees in recognition of successful completion of coursework in their chosen fields of study. Each individual is expected to earn his/her degree on the basis of personal effort. Consequently, any form of cheating on examinations or plagiarism on assigned papers constitutes unacceptable deceit and dishonesty. Disruption of the classroom or teaching environment is also unacceptable. Academic dishonesty cannot be tolerated in the University community and will be punishable, according to the seriousness of the offense, in conformity with this rule.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as “literary theft” and consists of the unattributed quotation of the exact words of a published text, or the unattributed borrowing of original ideas by paraphrase from a published text. On written papers for which the student employs information gathered from books, articles, web sites, or oral sources, each direct quotation, as well as ideas and facts that are not generally known to the public at large, or the form, structure, or style of a secondary source must be attributed to its author by means of the appropriate citation procedure. Only widely known facts and first-hand thoughts and observations original to the student do not require citations. Citations may be made in footnotes or within the body of the text. Plagiarism also consists of passing off as one’s own segments or the total of another person’s work.

1. Examples of proper citation (footnote format) are as follows [Footnoting/citation styles will depend upon those used by different academic disciplines. Many disciplines in the Natural Science areas, for example, will cite the sources within the body of the text.]
   1. “Plagiarism, from a Latin word meaning ‘kidnapping,’ ranges from inept paraphrasing to outright theft.” 1[Direct quotation] 1Harry Shaw, Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms (McGraw-Hill, 1972), pp. 209-210.
   2. As Harry Shaw states in his Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms, “Plagiarism, from a Latin word meaning ‘kidnapping,’ ranges from inept paraphrasing to outright theft.” 1[Direct quotation with an introductory statement citing the source.] 1(McGraw-Hill, 1972), pp. 209-210.
   3. Plagiarism is literary theft. To emphasize that point, Harry Shaw states that the root of the word comes from the Latin word meaning “kidnapping.” 1[Paraphrasing] 1Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms (McGraw-Hill, 1972), pp. 209-210.
   4. In defining plagiarism, “Strategies for Teaching with Online Tools” suggests that visibility makes intellectual theft less probable. 1[Paraphrasing a Web site] 1http://bedfordstmartins.com/technotes/hccworkshop/plagiarism.htm

2. Examples of proper citation (in body of text):
   1. Shaw (1972) states that the root of the word comes from the Latin word meaning “kidnapping.” [Paraphrasing; complete information about source will be cited in a section at the close of the text.]
   2. Shaw (1972) was correct when he stated that “plagiarism, from a Latin word meaning ‘kidnapping,’ ranges from inept paraphrasing to outright theft.” [Quotation; complete information about source will be cited in a section at the close of the text.]
   3. Plagiarism.org suggests that a searchable database of papers might assuage what Shaw called a “kidnapping” of intellectual content. [Paraphrasing of a Web site; the complete information on the Web site will appear in the works cited section.]

3. The following are examples of plagiarism because sources are not cited and appropriate quotation marks are not used:
   1. Plagiarism, from a Latin word meaning “kidnapping,” ranges from inept paraphrasing to outright theft.
   2. Plagiarism comes from a Latin word meaning “kidnapping” and ranges from paraphrasing to theft.
   3. Plagiarism ranges from inept paraphrasing to outright theft.
   4. Visibility online makes plagiarism much more difficult for the would-be thief.

Punishment Guidelines:
Any student who submits a plagiarized subject paper, lab report, etc., shall receive an “F” with a numerical value of zero on the item submitted, and the “F” shall be used to determine the final course grade. It is the option of the instructor to fail the student in the course.

Cheating

Cheating is defined as follows: (a) the unauthorized granting or receiving of aid during the prescribed period of a course-graded exercise: students may not consult written materials such as notes or books, may not look at the paper of another student, nor consult orally with any other student taking the same test; (b) asking another person to take an examination in his/her place; (c) taking an examination for or in place of another student; (d) stealing visual concepts, such as drawings, sketches, diagrams, musical programs and scores, graphs, maps, etc., and presenting them as one’s own; (e) stealing, borrowing, buying, or disseminating tests, answer keys or other examination material except as officially authorized, research papers, creative papers, speeches, etc. (f) Stealing or copying of computer programs and presenting them as one’s own. Such stealing includes the use of another student’s program, as obtained from the magnetic media or interactive terminals or from cards, print-out paper, etc.

Punishment Guidelines for Academic Dishonesty:
Punishments for academic dishonesty will depend on the seriousness of the offense and may include assignment of an “F” or a numerical value of zero on the subject paper, lab report, etc., an “F” or an “FF” grade (the latter indicating academic dishonesty) in the course, suspension or expulsion from the University. A student who receives an “FF” grade may not use the university’s Grade Forgiveness Policy if the course is subsequently repeated. An “FF” grade assigned to indicate academic dishonesty is reflected only on internal records and prevents the student from repeating the course using the Grade Forgiveness Policy. If a student who has been accused of academic dishonesty drops the course, the student’s registration in the course will be reinstated until the issue is resolved. Procedures for student notification concerning the academic dishonesty remain with the instructor and/or department chair. (See Procedures for Alleged Academic Dishonesty or Disruption Of Academic Process.) Notice that a student has been dismissed for reasons of academic dishonesty will be reflected on the student’s transcript with the formal notation:

For the first “FF” recorded in a student’s USF academic record, the student will receive a letter from the Dean of Undergraduate Studies informing them of appeal rights and placing him or her on “Academic Warning” for the remainder of enrollment at USF. Students with any “FF” grade on record will not be eligible for honors at graduation.

For the second “FF” recorded, the student will be suspended for one full semester and readmitted only after writing a clear statement indicating remorse, understanding of the seriousness of the offense, and understanding of the importance of integrity in all areas, including academic work. A letter informing him or her of this action and appeal rights will be sent from the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

For the third “FF” recorded, the student will be permanently dismissed from the university for violations of academic integrity and with notice of that dismissal as a part of the formal record and transcript.

Note that the maximum penalty for receipt of any FF grade may be permanent dismissal from the university for violations of academic integrity and with a notice of that dismissal as a part of the student’s formal record and transcript: Dismissed for Academic Dishonesty.

1. For observation of or exchanging test information with other students during the course of a classroom test, the students who receive or give such information may receive an “F” with a numerical value of zero on the test, and the “F” shall be used to determine the final course grade. It is the option of the instructor to fail the student in the course.
2. For the use of any prohibited device, such as a cheat sheet, recording, calculator if forbidden on exam, etc., during the course of a classroom test to assist the student or other students, the student using such prohibited device may receive an “F” in the course.
3. For the use of another student, a stand-in, to take an examination for the enrolled student, it is suggested that the enrolled student receive an “F” in the course and be suspended from school for one year and that the stand-in, if a University student, be suspended from school for one year.
4. For stealing, borrowing, or buying of research papers, creative works, speeches or tests and other exam materials, or the dissemination of such materials, or the manipulation of recorded grades in a grade book or other class records, the student, if enrolled in the course, may receive an “F” in the course and may be expelled from the University.
5. It is suggested that students who receive or give stolen computer programs receive an “F” with a numerical value of zero on the program or programs, and the “F” be used to determine the final course grade. It is the option of the instructor to fail the student in the course.

Disruption of Academic Process

Disruption of academic process is defined as the act or words of a student in a classroom or teaching environment which in the reasonable estimation of a faculty member: (a) directs attention from the academic matters at hand, such as noisy distractions; persistent, disrespectful or abusive interruptions of lecture, exam or academic discussions, or (b) presents a danger to the health, safety or well being of the faculty member or students.

Punishment Guidelines for Disruption of Academic Process:
Punishments for disruption of academic process will depend on the seriousness of the disruption and will range from a private verbal reprimand to dismissal from class with a final grade of “W,” if the student is passing the course, shown on the student record. f the student is not passing, a grade of “F” will be shown on the student record.

Procedures for Handling Student Violations Involving Alleged Academic Dishonesty and Disruption of Academic Process

Alleged violations of academic dishonesty or alleged disruptions of academic process will be handled initially by the instructor, who will discuss the incident with the student. It must be noted that the Faculty Senate considers the traditional relationship between student and faculty member as the primary means of settling disputes that may arise. If the instructor observes the alleged dishonesty occurring during an examination, he/she should, with discretion, notify the student of the fact before the student leaves the examination. In all cases, the instructor must attempt to schedule a meeting with the student to discuss the alleged dishonesty or disruptions.

After the discussion, if the student and instructor have reached a mutual agreement as to the solution, the instructor shall file a statement with the Dean of the college responsible for the course outlining the facts of the incident and the agreed-upon solution signed by both the instructor and student. A copy of this statement shall be given to the student. If no solution is reached, the matter should be referred to the dean of the college for attempt at resolution. If no resolution is reached, the matter should be referred to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for attempt at resolution. If no solution is reached, the associate vice president shall appoint a student/faculty committee consisting of an equal number of students and faculty to hear the two sides of the incident and to advise the Dean regarding the disposition of the case.

Academic Committee Pre-Hearing Procedure.

Within a reasonable time following the failure of the student/instructor/dean meetings to bring about a solution, and in no event later than three (3) months after such failure, the Dean shall cause formal charges to be filed with the appointed academic committee. The charged student shall be provided a written notice of charges, in sufficient detail to prepare for the hearing, no less than three (3) days before the hearing, except in cases of emergency as specified below.

Hearings

Emergency Hearings. An expedited emergency hearing may be held before an academic administrator appointed by the dean or by the appointed academic committee in cases which involve the safety, health or welfare of any student or staff member.

Non-Emergency Hearings. Non-emergency hearings are held before the Academic Committee.

General Principles for Non-Emergency Hearings

Burden of Proof. The burden of proof shall be on the complainant. The standard of proof for decision shall be “substantial evidence,” that is, whether it is reasonable to conclude from the evidence submitted that the student did commit the violations for which he/she has been charged and shall not be the strict criminal law standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Record. The proceedings of all hearings shall be recorded.

Inspection of Evidence. The student may inspect the evidence that will be presented against him/her.

Present Evidence. The student may present evidence on his/her own behalf.

Question Witnesses. The student may hear and question adverse witnesses.

Self-Incrimination. The student shall not be forced to present testimony that would be self-incriminating.

Advisor. The student may have an advisor of his/her choice present; however, the role of such a person is as an advisor to the student only. The advisor may speak to and consult with the student but may not serve as the student’s advocate, question witnesses or otherwise participate in the proceedings.

Decision Based on Evidence. The decision of the academic committee or appointed academic administrator shall be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing.

Decision in Writing. The decision of the academic committee or appointed academic administrator, including findings of fact and a determination of penalty or sanction if any, shall be presented to the student in writing within a reasonable period of time following the hearing.

Enrollment Status. The student’s enrollment status will remain unchanged pending final decision, except in cases of emergency, as described above. If the issue remains open at the end of the semester, the instructor shall give the student an “I” grade in the course until all issues are resolved.

Closed Hearings. All hearings shall be closed unless specifically requested otherwise in writing by the charged student prior to the hearing.

Failure to Appear. If a student against whom charges have been made fails to appear, the academic committee or academic administrator may proceed in his/her absence.

Hearing on Appeal. The charged student may appeal the decision of the academic committee or appointed academic administrator within thirty (30) working days of decision to the Vice President of USF St. Petersburg. The record of the initial hearing may be considered on appeal and the student is entitled to access the record when appealing. The decision of the Vice President of USF St. Petersburg is final.