Academics

Classification/Class Standing

Undergraduate class standing (i.e., year in school) is determined by the number of credits completed, and it is based on credit hours earned, not merely credit hours attempted. The grades F and NP and the marks I and W do not contribute toward credit hours earned and thus are not considered in determining class standing. See Grades for information about the grading system at Iowa State University.

Class standing in all academic colleges, except Veterinary Medicine, is as follows:

Sophomore: 30 credit hours earned

Junior: 60 credit hours earned

Senior: 90 credit hours earned

Students who have a bachelor's degree and are working toward another undergraduate degree, licensure, or admission to a specific graduate or professional program, typically have a class standing of senior.

Transfer students without a degree will have a class standing on the basis of credits accepted by Iowa State University.

Veterinary medicine students are promoted from the first- to the second-, third-, and fourth-year classes based upon satisfactory completion of the required courses for each year. To be promoted to the second-year class, students must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 1.67 for all courses in the first year of the veterinary medicine curriculum. To be promoted to the third- and fourth-year classes, students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 for all courses in the professional curriculum.

A student, who is attending Iowa State and decides not to work toward an undergraduate degree, will be classified as a special (non-degree) student. Admission requirements and academic standards regulations are the same as regular students. Credits taken as a special (non-degree) student are applicable for undergraduate degree purposes if the student is admitted later as a regular undergraduate. Credits obtained as an undergraduate special student may not, however, be applied toward a graduate degree.

Degree Planning/Academic Progress Report

ISU Degree Audit / Academic Progress Report

In addition to being properly registered, students are responsible for knowing the requirements for their degree and planning their schedule to meet those requirements. One way to monitor progress toward a degree is with the academic progress report (APR).

Students may access their academic progress report in Workday. The academic progress report displays academic requirements the student must complete in order to complete their program of study. The APR shows courses that have been completed and how they are being applied to fulfill academic requirements as well as the students currently enrolled courses.

Students should use this information to help them review progress towards their degrees(s), plan their course of study to complete academic requirements, and plan for courses for the next term. Graduation evaluators in the Office of the Registrar use the academic progress report during the term a student will graduate to determine if the student will meet all academic requirements upon successful completion of the courses on the student's schedule that term.

Students may use the evaluate academic requirements task in Workday to determine their completion of academic requirements for any program of study available at Iowa State. This "what if" report will show how the student's completed and in-progress coursework applies toward other programs of study offered at the University.

For further information about how completed courses fulfill academic requirements or how other courses will apply toward their academic requirements, students should see their advisor.

Catalog in Effect (Academic Requirement Effective Date)

A student may choose to graduate under the catalog in effect at the time of graduation or a catalog for the previous six years, provided it covers a period of the student's enrollment at an accredited college or university. Full requirements of the chosen catalog must be met except that adjustments will be made in instances where courses are no longer available or where programs have been changed.

Bachelor's Degree

To receive a degree, a student must meet the requirements of the program of study in which the degree is to be awarded. Verification that the student has met those requirements is made by the dean of the college, who also has the authority to waive a requirement under exceptional circumstances.

A minimum of 120-semester credits and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in all work taken at Iowa State University is required for graduation.

A student admitted as a transfer student from another college or university is required to have a 2.25 cumulative grade point average at the time of entrance. A transfer student who has earned an associate degree is required to have a 2.00 cumulative grade point average at the time of entrance.

No more than 65 semester or 97 quarter credits earned at two-year colleges can be applied to a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University. There is no limit to the number of credits that may be transferred from a four-year institution.

To qualify for a bachelor's degree, a student must take a minimum of 32 credits in residence at Iowa State University. Also required is that the last 32 credits must be completed at Iowa State University, although under special circumstances, with prior written approval of the student's major department, six of the last 32 credits may be transferred and applied toward a degree at Iowa State University. Credits earned while students participated in an ISU Study Abroad or National Student Exchange program are exempt from this requirement.

A student who takes work at another college or university after having been enrolled at Iowa State must submit transcripts of all work attempted to the Office of Admissions at Iowa State. Failure to submit such transcripts will be grounds for dismissal.

In unusual circumstances, the Academic Standards Committees of the respective colleges may review and give further consideration to the records of students who, except for grade-point average, have satisfactorily completed all graduation requirements. If the appropriate college Academic Standards Committee considers that the educational and professional needs of such a student have been satisfactorily met, or can be satisfactorily met by imposing further conditions, the committee may recommend to the dean of the college that the student be graduated or that a supplemental program be accepted in place of the fully unqualified grade point average. The college Academic Standards Committee chairperson reports such exceptional actions to the Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Standards and Admissions.

Multiple Bachelor's Degrees

Students may receive multiple bachelor's degrees if the degree requirements for each major are met, including those for general education requirements. To receive multiple degrees, the majors must be of different degree types or from different colleges. A student may only pursue multiple degrees from the same college if the degree types are different (e.g. B.A., B.S.) and the degrees are different majors. Colleges and departments may be more restrictive in their requirements for multiple degrees. The diploma and academic transcript will designate each degree and major that are completed at the same time.

Students should request approval to pursue multiple degrees by completing the “Curriculum Change Form," available from advisors and classification offices. The appropriate department and college must approve each degree program.

One degree should be designated as primary for purposes of record keeping, but the student's rights and responsibilities are the same in both degrees. Students should have an academic advisor in each degree. The advisor of the primary degree will serve as the student's registration advisor, but each advisor will have access to the student's information.

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and wish to earn an additional bachelor's degree may be eligible for a college waiver of certain basic and general education requirements. Students should contact the department offering the major for advice and appropriate planning.

Specific requirements and/or restrictions are available from the colleges, departments or programs offering the degrees. Some students may have to exceed the graduation credit requirement set by their college in order to meet the requirements of the multiple degrees.

A student with multiple majors within the College of Engineering is permitted to earn only multiple degrees. All requirements for each major/degree must be met plus an additional 30 credits for each major/degree being pursued beyond the major/degree which requires the most credits.

If students pursue multiple degrees, they may no longer qualify for federal financial aid once they have completed all of the requirements for one degree. This means students should arrange their course schedule in such a way that they complete the requirements for all of the degrees at the same time.

Multiple Major

A multiple major is a program for a single bachelor’s degree in which all requirements for two or more majors have been met. The majors may be in different colleges or within the same college or department and may be the same or different degree type. The diploma and academic transcript will designate the degree of the primary major and all majors that are completed at the same time.

Students should request approval to pursue multiple majors by completing should complete the "Curriculum Change Form." This form, available from advisors and classification offices, should be completed at least one term prior to graduation.

Degree programs must be approved for each major by the appropriate department and college. One of the majors may subsequently be canceled using the same form.

One major should be designated as primary for purposes of record keeping, but the student's rights and responsibilities are the same in each major. Students should have an academic advisor in each major. The advisor of the primary major will serve as the student's registration advisor, but each advisor will have access to the student's information.

Specific requirements and/or restrictions are available from the departments or programs offering the majors. Some students may have to exceed the graduation credit requirement set by their college in order to meet the requirements of the multiple majors. 

Students in the College of Engineering are able to earn a degree with a multiple major as long as the additional major is within another college, meets all requirements of the additional programs and contains a minimum of 15 additional credits beyond the requirements for a B.S. degree in engineering for each additional major.

Students with a primary major in another college who wish to take an additional major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are not required to meet the Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education requirements. They must, however, meet all requirements for the major, including complementary courses. Students in the Bachelor of Liberal Studies curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences do not have majors.

All students pursuing multiple majors within the Ivy College of Business are required to have a minimum of 15 credits of coursework in each major that is not used in other majors. Students are limited to three business majors/certificates/minors within the Ivy College of Business. This limit is on business majors/certificates/minors only and does not apply to multiple majors/degrees/certificates/minors taken outside the Ivy College of Business.

If students pursue multiple majors or multiple degrees, they may no longer qualify for federal financial aid once they have completed all of the requirements for one degree. This means students should arrange their course schedule in such a way that they complete the requirements for all of the majors or degrees at the same time.

Secondary Major

A secondary major is a major that can only be earned in conjunction with a primary major. Requirements for a secondary major are specified by many departments and programs in the university. Students should check with the offering department
for the requirements for the secondary major.

The diploma and academic transcript will designate all majors that are completed at the same time.

A secondary major has the following requirements and understandings:

1. All secondary majors require at least 24 credits, including
   1. at least 12 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above.
   2. at least 6 credits taken at Iowa State University.
2. Credits used to meet the secondary major requirements may also be used to satisfy the credit requirement of graduation and to meet credit requirements in courses numbered 3000 or above
3. Some students may have to exceed the graduation credit requirement set by their college in order to meet the requirements of both the primary major and secondary major.
4. Courses taken for a secondary major may not be taken on a pass-not pass basis.

If students pursue multiple majors, they may no longer qualify for federal financial aid once they have completed all of the requirements for one degree. This means students should arrange their course schedule in such a way that they complete the requirements for all of the majors or degrees at the same time.

Multiple Major Completed after the Bachelor's Degree

After receiving a bachelor's degree, a person may wish to complete all requirements for another major. Approval of the department of the additional major is needed before study for the program is begun. At the completion of the program a notation will be made on the academic transcript, but no change will be made on the diploma received at the time of graduation. A degree program must be approved for the multiple major by the department and by the college.

Changing Major

A student's freedom to change their major, and the procedure that should be followed, depend on the student's academic standing and on policies of individual colleges as approved by the provost.

If students have never been dismissed and reinstated, they may change their major by consulting first with their advisor. Procedures for changing their major are as follows:

1. If the change involves majors within the same college, they should check with the college office to obtain instructions as to how to make the change.
2. If the change involves majors in different colleges, they should obtain a Curriculum Change Form and their file from their advisor, present these materials to the student services office of their present college, then to the student services office of the college to which they are transferring, and finally to the office of their new major.
3. Students on academic probation (P) may be restricted by rules outlined in the section on Additional Academic Standards Regulations.
4. Students who have been reinstated may not transfer to another college within the university during the first term following reinstatement, and they may not at any time transfer back to the college that originally dismissed them without the permission of the academic standards committee of that college.

Undergraduate Certificate

An undergraduate certificate provides a way to give formal recognition of focused study in a specialized area that is less comprehensive than required for an undergraduate major. The requirements of the certificate program will determine if an associate or baccalaureate degree is required for the award of the certificate. 

Specific requirements and/or restrictions are available from the college, departments or programs offering the certificates.

An undergraduate certificate has the following requirements and understandings:

1. A student has received either an associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) degree or a baccalaureate degree from any accredited institution or will earn an ISU baccalaureate degree at the same time or before the requirements for the certificate are completed.
2. Admissions Criteria
   1. Students earning a certificate with a baccalaureate degree must meet all ISU admission requirements for either freshman (https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/freshman) or transfer students (https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/transfer)
   2. Students earning a certificate without an ISU baccalaureate degree apply as a non-degree seeking student and will be asked by Admissions if their intent is to declare a certificate. Students must have earned an associate of arts, an associate of science, or baccalaureate degree prior to being admitted to the certificate program. Students should refer to the admissions website (https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/nondegree/undergraduate_requirements) for admission requirements for nondegree undergraduate students. Students must meet any additional admission requirements for the certificate. 
3. Requirements for Certificates
   1. All certificates require at least 20 credits, including
      1. at least 9 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above.
      2. at least 6 credits taken at Iowa State University.
      3. all prerequisite requirements for the certificate must be met as part of fulfilling the requirements for the certificate. 
   2. Credits used to meet the certificate requirements may be used to satisfy the credit requirement for graduation and to meet credit requirements in courses numbered 3000 or above. 
   3. Courses taken for a certificate may not be taken on a pass-not pass basis.
   4. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 is required in all courses taken at ISU towards the certificate.
   5. A student may not receive both an undergraduate major and a certificate of the same name.
4. Awarding of Certificates
   1. The following criteria must be met prior to the award of a certificate:
      1. For students earning an ISU baccalaureate degree, a certificate is awarded concurrent with or after the ISU baccalaureate degree.
      2. For students that have received a baccalaureate, associate of arts, or an associate of science degree from any accredited institution, a certificate is awarded upon completion of the certificate requirements.
   2. A notation of a completed certificate will be made on a student's transcript and a printed certificate will be awarded.

Undergraduate Minor

To declare a minor, students must submit a completed ‘”Curriculum Change
Form” to their college office at least one term before graduation. The minor may be from the catalog in effect at the time of graduation or a catalog for the previous six years, provided it covers a period of the student’s enrollment at an accredited college or university. A minor must be earned in conjunction with another degree. Requirements for an undergraduate minor are specified by many departments and programs in the university; a record of completion of such requirements appears on a student's transcript. Specific requirements and/or restrictions are available from the department or program offering the minor.

An undergraduate minor has the following requirements and understandings:

1. All minors require at least 15 credits, including
   1. at least 9 credits in courses numbered 2000 or above, of which at least 6 credits are in courses numbered 3000 or above.
   2. at least 3 credits taken at Iowa State University.
   3. at least 3 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. 
2. Credits used to meet the minor requirements may also be used to satisfy the credit requirement for graduation and to meet credit requirements in courses numbered 3000 or above.
3. Some students may have to exceed the graduation credit requirement set by their college in order to meet the requirements of both the minor and the major.
4. Courses taken for a minor may not be taken on a pass-not pass basis.
5. A student may not receive both an undergraduate major and a minor of the same name. 

Financial Aid Considerations

If students pursue multiple majors or multiple degrees, they may no longer qualify for federal financial aid once they have completed all of the requirements for one degree. This means students should arrange their course schedule in such a way that they complete the requirements for all of the majors or degrees at the same time.

Communication Proficiency Policy

Basic Principles: The faculty of Iowa State University believe that all educated people should be able to communicate effectively in a variety of settings and media, including electronic. Consequently, Iowa State University graduates are expected to develop competence in three interrelated areas of communication: written, oral, and visual.

This communication competence can best be achieved through the following five principles:

• Communication instruction and practice are distributed over the student's entire undergraduate experience, both in and out of the classroom, from the first year through the senior year.
• Communication instruction and practice are distributed across the curriculum, both in communication courses and in courses in the student's major.
• Active learning and higher-order thinking are fostered through communication.
• Faculty across the university share responsibility for the student's progress in communication practices.
• Both faculty and students engage in ongoing assessment for continuous improvement of the student's communication practices.

Iowa State University's communication curriculum, based on these five principles, seeks to enrich the student's understanding of the various subjects studied as well as prepare the student to communicate successfully in professional, civic, and private life.

Foundation Courses

To ensure that broad communication competence is addressed and developed at the beginning of a university career, all students will earn six credits in the two-course introductory sequence (ENGL 1500 Critical Thinking and Communication and ENGL 2500 Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition), normally taken in the first and second years. Students will focus on writing and critical reading, with complementary instruction in visual, oral, and electronic communication; they will concentrate on civic and cultural themes; and they will enter work in a communication portfolio to document their current level of proficiency.

Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement: At a minimum, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 2500; some majors/degree programs may set higher requirements for communication proficiency.

Upper-Level Curricula

Continuing development of communication skills will be directed by the student's major department. Using the university's basic principles as a guide, each department will specify a set of intended learning outcomes and design communication experiences by which students in the major can achieve the desired level of communication proficiency.

Departments may select from or combine a variety of communication options that best match their faculty, students, and curriculum:

• designated communication-intensive courses that integrate written, oral, and visual communication into a course in the major;
• a sequence of courses within the major that incorporates communication tasks of increasing complexity;
• linked courses—one in communication, one in the major—that integrate readings and assignments;
• advanced composition course(s) appropriate to the student's major and offering instruction in written, oral, and visual communication;
• communication-intensive activities within or beyond course work, such as communication portfolios, discipline- or course- specific student tutoring, community service projects, internships, electronic presentations, informational fairs, juried competitions, entrepreneurial projects, newsletters, Web sites.

Departments will retain the authority for regularly assessing the degree to which their students achieve the specified learning outcomes and for making curricular improvements based on departmental assessment data.

Non-Native Speakers of English: Students admitted to the university who are graduates from non-U.S. high schools and whose first language is not English are required to take the English Placement Test before the beginning of their first semester of enrollment as students at Iowa State. This requirement includes freshmen as well as those who have transferred credit from other institutions. The test is administered by the English Department and is offered before the beginning of each semester. Students whose performance on this placement examination is satisfactory will follow the regular university communication proficiency requirements. Students who have deficiencies will enroll in special English classes, as determined by the test results.

U.S. Cultures and Communities and International Perspective Requirements

One of Iowa State University's goals is to prepare its students to meet the challenges of responsible civic engagement and effective professional roles in a culturally diverse global community and workplace. To help achieve this goal, all undergraduate students must fulfill graduation requirements in two areas: U.S. Cultures and Communities and International Perspectives. At a minimum, students can fulfill this requirement with three credits of course work (or the equivalent in some alternative academic experience) for each area. In most cases, courses used to meet the U.S. Cultures and Communities and International Perspectives requirements can also be used to fulfill general education requirements of the student's college or requirements of the student's major. Students should consult with advisors for details of the requirements in particular majors.

The focus of the U.S. Cultures and Communities requirement is understanding the social complexity of human beings based on analytical categories such as race, ethnicity, or gender, and the ways those categories have excluded historically marginalized groups. Intersectional understandings of diversity consider other categories of identity (e.g. sexuality, culture, and religion) related to race and ethnicity. A diverse and robust education means exploring these social complexities in a structured learning environment to familiarize students with the historical, societal, and political contributions of diverse populations.

List of approved U.S. Cultures and Communities Courses - please refer to this list for the most up-to-date courses approved as U.S. Cultures and Communities (this list will continue to be updated following the publication of this document).

Through completion of the U.S. Cultures and Communities requirement, students will achieve at least three learning outcomes such as those listed below.

Students will be able to:

• Identify the experiences and contributions of underrepresented or marginalized groups and how they have shaped the history and culture of the United States.
• Understand the analytical concepts of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality and/or religion and be able to apply these concepts to an analysis of the United States.
• Analyze systemic oppression and personal prejudice and their impact on marginalized communities and the broader U.S. society.
• Evaluate important aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion so they can live, work, and collaborate with others in the 21st century United States.

The focus of the International Perspectives requirement is the global community. Its objective is to promote students' understanding of cultural diversity and interdependence on a global scale. A period of immersion in a foreign culture is often a particularly effective way of meeting these objectives, so Iowa State University encourages the use of study-abroad experiences as a means of fulfilling the International Perspectives requirement. International students, because they are "studying abroad" from their home country's perspective, are normally deemed to have met the International Perspectives requirement. The International Perspective requirement shall be waived for U.S. military veterans who have completed at least three months of service stationed outside of the United States.

List of approved International Perspectives Courses

Through completion of the International Perspectives requirement, students will achieve at least two learning outcomes such as those listed below.

Students will be able to:

• Analyze the accuracy and relevancy of their own worldviews and anticipate how people from other nations may perceive that worldview.
• Describe and analyze how cultures and societies around the world are formed, are sustained, and evolve.
• Analyze and evaluate the influence of global issues in their own lives.
• Describe the values and perspectives of cultures other than their own and discuss how they influence individuals' perceptions of global issues and/or events.
• Communicate competently in a second language.

Academic Grievances and Appeals

Students who believe a faculty member (in his or her academic capacity) has behaved unfairly or unprofessionally may have their grievance reviewed through the procedure described below. A student may not initiate an academic grievance more than one year following completion of the course, and may not initiate the grievance of a course grade beyond midterm of the semester following completion of the course.

Prior to initiating a formal grievance, a student may wish to discuss the situation informally with the Dean of Students or designee, who can offer advice as to the most effective way to deal with it.

Grievances arising out of classroom or other academic situations should be resolved, if at all possible, with the student and the instructor involved. If resolution cannot be reached, or if the grievance involves sexual or racial harassment and the student prefers not to deal directly with the instructor, the student should discuss the grievance with the instructor's department chair and submit it in writing to him or her. The department chair will investigate the grievance, including discussing it with the instructor involved and/or referring it to a departmental grievance committee. The department chair should respond in writing within five class days of receipt of the written notice of the grievance.

If the student is not satisfied with the resolution of the grievance proposed by the department chair, the student may appeal within 45 calendar days in writing to the dean of the instructor's college. (In the case of a grievance involving a Graduate College policy or procedure, an appeal of the chair's decision should be directed to the Dean of the Graduate College rather than to the dean of the instructor's college.)

The dean will hear the explanations of the department chair and instructor, and should respond to the student in writing within ten class days of receipt of the written notice of the appeal. If the grievance cannot be resolved with the dean, the student may forward within 45 calendar days a written appeal to the provost, who will convene a Committee to Review Student Grievances (see below) to consider the appeal within fifteen calendar class days of receipt of the written notice of the appeal.

Within ten calendar days following the convening of the committee, the provost will make a decision with regard to the grievance and will transmit this decision in writing to the grievant, the dean, the department chair, and the instructor. An appeal of the provost's decision may be made within 45 calendar days to the president of the university. The time limit specified at each level may be extended by mutual agreement of all parties concerned.

The Committee to Review Student Grievances is composed of faculty members named by the president of the Faculty Senate and students named by the president of the Student Government. The provost may serve as a chairperson for the committee, or may designate another chairperson for a specific grievance hearing. A minimum of two faculty members, two students, and the chairperson shall constitute a quorum for the convening committee.

Attendance and Absences

Class Attendance

In order to attend a given class, a student must be registered for that class for credit or audit. Exceptions to this policy are at the discretion of the instructor of the course. See Index, Validating Enrollment for regulations concerning attendance to validate students' enrollment in a class.

Students are expected to attend class meetings as scheduled. Each instructor sets his or her policy with respect to class attendance, and excuses for absence from class are handled between the student and instructor. The instructor is expected to announce his or her policy at the beginning of the course.

Additional information regarding discretionary accommodation for disability and religion are available at http://www.hrs.iastate.edu/AAO/eod/reasonaccom.shtml

Veteran Attendance

In accordance with the requirements of the Servicemembers Improved Transition through Reforms for Ensuring Progress Act (SIT-REP Act, December 31, 2018), the University will not deny access to classes or facilities to a Veteran or eligible dependent due to a late payment from the Veterans Administration. This is only applicable to Veterans or eligible dependents who are receiving educational assistance under Chapter 31 (VR&E) or 33 (Post 9/11 and Fry Scholarship) of title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.). For the purposes of this policy, "Denial of Access" shall be defined as "to prohibit the entry, participation, or attendance to an event or facility otherwise afforded to all registered students." More information about this policy is available at https://catalog.iastate.edu/tuitionfees/#feepaymenttext.

Students who receive benefits from the Veterans Administration required by the V.A. to attend class regularly to maintain their V.A. eligibility. If the instructor knows that a student receiving V.A. benefits is not attending class, the instructor is obligated to notify the Office of the Registrar and a notification will be forwarded to the Veterans Administration. More information about veteran benefits is available at http://www.veterans.iastate.edu.

Field Trips/Curricular-Related Activities

Trips away from campus as part of a course are often appropriate educational experiences. They may not, however, take place during the first or last week of the semester, nor may they extend over more than two consecutive class days (Monday-Friday); these regulations may be waived only by special permission of the dean of the college in which the course is offered. Students should consult with instructors whose classes will be missed. If a mutually satisfactory agreement between the instructors and the student cannot be reached, the student cannot be required to attend the curricular-related activity or be penalized by the instructor for missing the curricular-related activity.

Special fees are often charged to cover the costs of field trips. Field trip fees are noted in the course section information in Workday and in the Schedule of Classes.

Excusable Absences for Non-Curricular Reasons

Students who miss class for non-curricular reasons are responsible for completing all assigned course requirements in a timely manner. Instructors should provide timely opportunities for students to make-up or replace missed scheduled examinations and/or assignments resulting from an excusable absence. While instructors are free to change the format of make-up examinations or assignments, students will be evaluated by the same standards as other members of the class.

In all cases, the person responsible for the event or activity should provide participants with a letter explaining the proposed absence and its duration including travel times for off-campus events and activities. Students must provide this documentation to instructors at least 10 days in advance of the activity or event, except when such notice is not possible.

Course instructors retain final authority regarding student absences and how they impact course grades and the acceptability of a student’s work toward passing their course. If a student must miss, for any reason, a portion of a course that, in the considered opinion of the course instructor, is critical to the student's ability to meet the course objectives, the instructor must recommend alternative actions to the student, which may include dropping the class.

Extra-Curricular Activities as a Representative of the University

Students may seek to or be asked to participate as an Iowa State University representative in non-credit events (competitions, conferences, presentations, programs, and performances) scheduled by academic or athletic units of the university at times that conflict with scheduled classes.

Instructors shall excuse students who miss class while representing Iowa State University in official department-or university-sponsored activities, including:

• Academic or professional conferences and workshops

• Intercollegiate athletic, academic, and judging competitions

• Musical, theatrical, dance and other artistic performances

• Presentations or programs given to external audiences.

Other Extra-Curricular Activities

Instructors will determine whether other absences not officially sponsored by a unit of the University (e.g., conference attendance, job interviews), will be treated as excused.

Military Service

Instructors shall excuse absences due to Veteran or military service obligations (including service-related medical appointments, military orders dictating appointments, and National Guard Service obligations). When a student's military or veteran obligations are for more than two weeks, the student should meet with their advisor to discuss the situation and academic options and work with their instructors to discuss potential accommodations. University procedures are in place for such situations and should be followed. In all instances, students have a responsibility to communicate with their instructors to ensure they are continuing to meet course expectations and requirements. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to utilize the Military-Affiliated Student Center and review information at veterans.iastate.edu.

Court Appearances

Instructors shall excuse absences due to officially mandated court appearances including jury duty.

Graduation

Seniors must file a graduation application with the Graduation Office, 214 Enrollment Services Center. Students will be notified of their graduation status approximately mid-semester of their graduation term. For graduation application instructions and deadlines, see the Graduation and Commencement website.

Iowa State University commencement ceremonies are held at the end of fall and spring semesters. Undergraduate students expected to graduate at the end of summer semester are invited to participate in the spring ceremony preceding their graduation term or the fall ceremony following their graduation term. In addition to the formal University commencement ceremony, the undergraduate colleges host graduation activities take place at the end of fall and spring semesters. For more information, see the Graduation and Commencement website.

Verification of satisfactory final grades will be completed approximately two weeks after the end of the semester and diplomas will be mailed to all successful degree candidates. Students must ensure the following before they can graduate:

1. The date of graduation is correct on the student's academic record.
2. Sufficient credits, acceptable toward graduation, have been earned to meet the minimum requirements for their program of study. (Some examples of credit not acceptable toward graduation are: elective credits beyond those allowed in a program of study, credits earned in passing the same course more than once, more than four credits of Athletics 1010, and credit in two courses for which the catalog states that only one may count toward graduation.)
3. They have achieved a set of communication competencies established by the department as appropriate for the major.
4. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 was earned in all work taken at Iowa State; and student has met all special grade point average requirements established by their college, department, or program in specified courses.
5. Students who have taken work at another college or university prior to or after having been a student at Iowa State, must have submitted a transcript of all such college study attempted to the Office of Admissions. Failure to submit such a transcript is grounds for dismissal.
6. Incompletes in courses required for graduation have been removed by midterm of the term of graduation.
7. At least 32 credits have been earned in residence at Iowa State University, and the final 32 credits were taken at Iowa State. (Six of the last 32 credits may be transferred to Iowa State, with prior permission of their major department.) Iowa State University must receive an official transcript of all transfer work by midterm of the term of graduation.
8. Outstanding financial obligations owed the university have been paid in full. Students who owe an outstanding obligation to the university will have a hold placed on their records and they will not receive their transcripts. If students have questions about this policy, they should contact the transcripts area of the Office of the Registrar.

Posthumous Degrees 

To provide survivors of deceased students with a meaningful acknowledgement of the student's accomplishments and legacy at Iowa State University, the University may grant degrees posthumously. 

Consideration for a posthumous degree may be initiated by student's department/graduate program, by the Office of Student Assistance and Outreach, or by family members or other survivors. The student's death should be reasonably proximate to their enrollment at Iowa State; special consideration should be granted for circumstances such as departure due to military deployment or critical illness or injury. 

For undergraduate and professional students, the student's College may recommend conferral of the posthumous degree, which will be forwarded to the Provost for consideration and a final decision. 

For graduate students, their department or interdepartmental graduate program may recommend conferral of the posthumous degree to the Graduate College. The Graduate College will review the request with the disciplinary college of the student and forward the request to the Provost for consideration and a final decision. 

After a request is approved, the University can issue the diploma to the survivors of the deceased student. The student's permanent record, and the commencement program, will indicate the degree was conferred posthumously, but no notation that the degree was awarded posthumously will be made on the diploma. 

Grading

Detailed information on grading can be found here: catalog.iastate.edu/academics/grading