Academic Policies

Any exceptions to policies stated in this catalog, purported to have been made verbally to a student by an official of the college, are null and void unless documented with a signed statement from the college official authorized to make the exception.

This catalog is not an unchangeable contract, but an announcement of the current policies. Implicit in each student’s matriculation at The Citadel is an unwritten agreement to comply with the institution’s rules and regulations, which The Citadel may modify to ensure the quality of its academic programs. When graduation requirements are changed, students will be informed in writing. Every effort will be made to ensure that the new requirements can be met by the student’s original expected graduation date.

Academic Awards

The Dean’s List recognition is given to undergraduate students who have earned 12 or more semester hours excluding Pass-Fail hours whose semester grade-point average is 3.200 or higher, with no grade of “I” and no grade below “C.”

A Dean’s list medal is given to cadets to be worn on their cadet uniform during the following semester. A Dean’s List certificate is awarded to non-cadet students who meet the requirements for Dean’s List for the work in a semester. Dean’s List is not issued for the summer semester.

Gold Stars recognition is given to those students on the Dean’s List who have made a grade-point average of 3.700 or higher for the work of a semester. Gold Stars will be worn on the cadet uniform in the semester after the cadet earned them. A Gold Star Recognition certificate is awarded to non-cadet students who meet the requirements for Gold Stars for the work of a semester. Gold Stars are not issued for the summer semester.

Academic Classifications

Undergraduate students’ academic classification is based strictly on earned credit hours. The table below reflects the required number of earned credit hours for each designated academic classification.

Academic classification is used by the Office of Financial Aid to determine loan eligibility.

Academic Criteria for Continuance

In order to be eligible to continue at The Citadel, a student must meet minimum standards for hours earned at The Citadel or properly transferred from another accredited institution and cumulative grade-point average maintained. These criteria are assessed initially after the cadet’s second semester at The Citadel and then at the end of each two-semester period.

Credits earned through AP or course work taken by an entering freshman in the summer prior to initial matriculation WILL NOT be used toward meeting the minimum standard for hours earned in an academic year. Although The Citadel will notify students who are deficient in either or both areas, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that these criteria are met. To avoid academic discharge, a student must meet both hour and GPA requirements concurrently either at the end of the fall semester, at the end of the spring semester, or in August, as appropriate.

A full-time student (one carrying at least 12 credit hours each semester) must pass at least 24 semester hours in each 12-month period after initial matriculation or readmission. If a previously passed course is repeated, the hours may be used only once toward meeting requirements for hours passed.

Part-time students must pass 50% of the hours attempted.

Each student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average as prescribed in the following table. This grade-point average is calculated as described earlier in this section.

The column labeled “Total Hours” includes 1) all credits attempted for which a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” was received at The Citadel, 2) course work transferred from other colleges, and 3) courses taken Pass-Fail or in which the grade of “U” was earned.

This table shows the minimum academic progress a student must make to continue at the College and to avoid academic discharge.

For the purpose of determining academic probation, criteria for continuance, dean’s list, gold stars, graduation, and other academic matters, the grade-point average will be computed to three decimal places.

Academic Discharge

A cadet’s academic record will be subject to formal review for purposes of academic discharge at the end of the second semester after initial matriculation at The Citadel. During these two semesters and the summer sessions after initial matriculation, the cadet must have earned at least 24 credit hours and must at the time of review meet GPA requirements for continuance. If these requirements are not met concurrently at that time, the cadet will be discharged for academic deficiencies.

Academic assessment for the purpose of academic discharge is conducted at the end of each two-semester period, and the associated summer sessions, after the student is admitted or readmitted. Under the Academic Discharge Policy, cadets may be discharged for academic deficiencies in January or in August of each year. Credits completed while a student is on academic discharge will not normally be accepted for transfer to The Citadel. Exceptions to this policy must have the approval of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

Summer session work cannot make students ineligible to enroll in the following fall semester, if they were eligible for enrollment at the end of the previous spring semester.

Minimum grade-point averages for the various categories are as shown in the section under Continuance; however, the minimum GPA required will not be raised as a result of summer school work. That is, students moving from one category to the next higher category as a result of credit hours earned in summer school at The Citadel or elsewhere will be required to meet the GPA minimum of the lower category of credit hours for continuance in the following fall term.

Students who voluntarily withdraw at times other than January or August or who are discharged for other than academic reasons will have their academic status assessed upon application for readmission.

Second Academic Discharge

A student who fails for a second time to meet minimum academic criteria for continuance will be awarded a Second Academic Discharge. The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs will review the academic record and any extenuating circumstances the student wishes to present in writing. Based on this review and in consultation with the faculty advisor and the department head or Associate Dean, the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs will determine the conditions under which the student may be considered for readmission after a second academic discharge.

“Academic Forgiveness” or “Fresh Start” Policy

Any undergraduate student who has been separated from The Citadel for 48 or more consecutive months is eligible to apply for Academic Forgiveness.

Upon readmission, a student seeking to apply for Academic Forgiveness must first complete 24 hours at The Citadel with a grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on those 24 hours in order to apply for Academic Forgiveness.

To apply for Academic Forgiveness, a readmitted student who has met the minimum GPA requirement on 24 hours must make a formal written request for an academic “fresh start” and must meet in person with the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs to discuss that application.

If a student is granted Academic Forgiveness, then all previous coursework completed at The Citadel will be treated as transfer credit (i.e., as pass/fail coursework) for the purpose of computing the student’s cumulative Citadel GPA and the student’s Major GPA; in addition, courses which the student previously passed at The Citadel with a grade of “D” will continue to be counted in the student’s total earned hours and will not have to be repeated. All previous grades will remain on the student’s permanent record, but they will not be computed in the student’s GPA. The transcript will contain this notation: “Academic Forgiveness was granted as of (date of readmission); grades earned at The Citadel prior to this date are not included in this student’s GPA calculation.” Students who have been granted Academic Forgiveness will not be eligible to receive graduation honors (e.g., cum laude, etc.).

Academic Probation

A student is placed on academic probation for any semester when the cumulative grade-point average based on courses taken at The Citadel fails to meet the requirements for continuance without probation as outlined in the following table. A student will be removed from academic probation after the semester in which the cumulative grade-point average meets the requirements set forth in the following table.

Audit Status

Any student who is eligible to enroll in a particular course may, with the approval of the instructor and the Registrar, audit that course for no credit. There will be no additional charge if the student is enrolled for credit in courses totaling 12 or more hours. For students taking fewer than 12 credit hours, registration fees and 100 percent of the tuition for the course will be assessed. The student may not change the decision to take the course on an audit basis rather than for credit after the first two weeks of the term. Grades will not be given for courses taken in audit status.

Cadets Moving to CTP (Non-Cadet) Undergraduate Degree Programs

Members of the SC Corps of Cadets may not transfer into any College Transfer Program (evening or online undergraduate programs) directly from the Corps of Cadets. Cadets must sit out a minimum of one full academic year – Fall, Spring, and Summer terms – from their last term of enrollment at The Citadel as a Cadet before enrolling as a student in the College Transfer Program. In addition, all current or previous cadets must be in good standing with the Corps of Cadets in order to be considered for transfer into an undergraduate evening or online degree program. Any returning, previously enrolled, undergraduate (cadet or student) does not submit an admissions application. They complete a readmission form through the registrar’s office.

Catalog of Record

The catalog bearing the number of the academic year in which cadets enter The Citadel will be their catalog of record for matters of academic policy (summer sessions will not be considered for this purpose).

When a cadet is readmitted after an absence of at least three academic semesters (summer sessions will not be considered as semesters for this purpose), the catalog bearing the number of the academic year in which the student is readmitted will be the catalog of record for matters of academic policy and graduation requirements. However, upon recommendation of the Registrar with approval by the Associate Provost, a different catalog year may be assigned.

Unless otherwise stated, students are expected to complete all degree requirements within a six (6) year period from the time of registration for the first course in their program. Students who are continuously enrolled and do not finish their degree requirements in the six-year time frame will be moved into the most recent catalog at the beginning of their seventh year and will be required to meet any new course and graduation requirements in the new catalog.

Change of Academic Major

Students who wish to change their major should consult with their academic advisors as well as with the associate dean or department head offering the new major. Forms for requesting a change of academic major are available in the Registrar’s Office.

Change of Grade

Outside of the Final Grade Appeal process, a change in a final course grade will be considered only in cases of instructor error. The change of grade must be made within one month after the beginning of the next semester following the recordeing of the grade and must be approved by the head of the instructor’s department or school and by the appropriate school dean. A grade change may not be based on work submitted after final grades have been submitted.

Civilian Students in Cadet Classes

With the exceptions of Day Students, Returning Veteran Cadets, no civilian students are permitted to take classes with the Corps of Cadets. These three student categories are defined below.

Class Attendance Policy

Class participation is important to a student’s success at The Citadel and is required by the US Department of Education for Title IV purposes. Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions, projects, quizzes and exams. Students may, however, need to miss class for authorized reasons such as athletic events, academic travel, special ceremonies, military obligations, etc. Illness and personal emergencies may also cause students to be absent for legitimate reasons and are considered excused absences. Students should not be penalized for excused absences and instructors should work with students in these cases to assist them in making up tests, exams, quizzes, and other work missed.

Class attendance at The Citadel is defined as active participation in a course.  For students enrolled in online courses, participation is determined by submitting assignments in a timely manner in the College’s learning management system (Canvas). Class participation is not simply logging into Canvas or the course but must include input of content by the student. Failure to submit assignments on the dates outlined in the syllabus without communication with the instructor will result in a student’s removal from the course.

Should it be necessary to miss a class for any reason, the student will, unless circumstances preclude it, notify the professor in advance and will be responsible for any material missed. Tests and labs are critically important and are scheduled well in advance. It is, therefore, imperative that these are missed only due to circumstances beyond the control of the student and that the student notify the instructor when missing a test or lab cannot be avoided.

Cadets are notified each time they are reported absent from a class and have 72 hours to make requests to their Academic Officer for adjustments. Faculty members may correct submitted class absence data for cadets for 6 working days after the day the class meets by sending this information to the Executive Director of Student Affairs and Academic Services. However, no late class absence submissions from the faculty will be accepted after the last day of classes each semester.

Participation Documentation

If a student has not participated in a class or stops participating, the Registrar’s Office shall be notified in writing by the instructor. It is best practice for faculty to notify the student in writing by email of their lack of participation prior to notifying the Registrar’s Office about non-participation. If nonparticipation continues, the faculty will report when a student never participates (NP) or stops participating (SP) to ensure that The Citadel is compliant with the US Department of Education’s Title IV regulations regarding student enrollment.

Never Participates (NP)

Faculty shall report when a student has not participated in class using the following criteria:

• Fifteen (15) week semester - faculty shall report when a student has not participated in class prior to the end of the first three (3) weeks of the term and has not provided the instructor with an excused absence.
• Eight (8) week or shorter term - faculty shall report when a student has not participated in class prior to the end of the first week of the term and has not provided the instructor with an excused absence.

This is done by entering a grade of NP on the mid-term grade roster in Banner Web. Students who receive a grade of NP will be dropped from their class and notified that they are no longer enrolled in that class.  Reinstatement into the class requires coordination with the instructor and approval by the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs.

Stops Participating (SP)

Faculty shall report when a student has participated in at least one class period and meets one of the following criteria:

• Fifteen (15) week semester - has more than two (2) weeks of consecutive non-participation and has not provided the instructor with an excused absence.
• Eight (8) week or shorter term - has more than one (1) week of consecutive nonparticipation and has not provided the instructor with an excused absence.

This is done by entering a grade of SP on the mid-term roster if the last date of attendance was prior to the withdrawal deadline for the course or on the final grade roster at the end of the semester if the student stops participating after the withdrawal deadline.  Faculty will be required to report the last date that the student attended class on the grade roster sheet when entering the grade of SP. 

Students who stop participating and receive a SP grade will be withdrawn from the class, earning a W grade on their academic transcript. Reinstatement into the class requires coordination with the instructor and approval by the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs. 

If it is determined that a student has stopped participating or has never participated in more than two courses in a single term or part of term, the Registrar’s Office will contact the faculty of any other classes that are in progress to determine if the student is attending.

If a cadet’s lack of attendance results in a reduction of credits below full-time status, they will be ineligible to remain in the barracks and must withdraw from the College.

Any change in a student’s enrollment may impact Title IV funding. Financial Aid will be notified when a student is impacted by this policy and may adjust a student’s financial aid. All students who receive VA benefits will need to coordinate with the Veteran Student Service Center.

Combining Courses

Courses may be combined to meet a maximum of one general elective requirement under the following circumstances:

1. The courses to be combined must be offered by the same department and must be related in some way.
2. The associate dean or department head of the student’s major school or department must provide a recommendation and rationale for combining the courses.
3. The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs must grant final approval for the combining of courses.

Commencement Honors

Commencement Awards are restricted to those graduates who have earned and are using to satisfy graduation requirements a minimum of 90 semester hours.

Annually, the Board of Visitors recognizes the two top graduates of the Corps of Cadets by presenting at Commencement the David Shingler Spell Honor Graduate Awards, honoring David Shingler Spell, Class of 1950. The First Honor Graduate receives the traditional Scholarship Medal and both the First and Second Honor Graduates receive an appropriately inscribed plaque and a stipend to be used for educational expenses at the graduate level or at the discretion of the recipient. These honors are awarded to the cadet graduates whose grade-point averages at The Citadel are highest and second highest among the graduating cadet class. In case of a tie, grades in courses taken under the Pass-Fail option are included in computing the grade-point average. In those cases where the grade-point averages are still identical, the total number of quality points earned is used to break the tie.

To be eligible to graduate with honors and to be eligible for departmental honors, a student must have earned at The Citadel at least half of the semester hours required in the major course of study.

A degree summa cum laude is awarded to those students in the graduating class who have achieved a grade-point average of 3.900-4.000.

A degree magna cum laude is awarded to those students in the graduating class who have achieved a grade-point average of 3.700-3.899.

A degree cum laude is awarded to those students in the graduating class who have achieved a grade-point average of 3.500-3.699.

School/Departmental Honors are awarded on the recommendation of deans/department heads to those students of the graduating class who have earned a grade-point average of 3.500 or better in at least 36 hours of work in the major completed at The Citadel.

Conduct Discharge

Cadets who have been suspended or dismissed or who leave the College with a disciplinary board pending are not eligible to attend any undergraduate class at The Citadel-day, evening, or summer-or to transfer credits back to The Citadel for any courses taken during the period of discharge.

Confidentiality of Student Records

The Citadel complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day The Citadel receives a request for access.

A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Citadel official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Citadel official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

A student who wishes to ask The Citadel to amend a record should write the official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.

If The Citadel decides not to amend the record as requested, The Citadel will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to provide written consent before The Citadel discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

The Citadel discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to “school officials” with “legitimate educational interests.” A school official has a “legitimate educational interest” if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for The Citadel. A “school official” is a person employed by The Citadel in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff), or a person or company with whom The Citadel has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using Citadel employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent). At The Citadel, “school officials” include the Board of Visitors; the faculty; and personnel in the Offices of the President, Provost and Dean of the College, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Associate Provost and Dean of The Citadel Graduate College, Registrar, Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs, Director of Athletics, Director of Admissions, and Commandant. In addition, the Provost (for academic records) and the Commandant of Cadets (for disciplinary records) may give specific cadets, by virtue of their cadet duty position, limited access to the educational records of other cadets. These cadets must first attend a FERPA briefing and sign a Statement of Understanding before being provided access to other students’ educational records.

The Citadel may also disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless a student has advised The Citadel to the contrary. “Directory information” is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released. Directory information includes student name, local and permanent address and telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, class schedule, full or part-time status, Dean’s List and Gold Star List, ROTC branch, dates of acceptance and attendance, years in school, anticipated date of graduation, degrees and awards received, graduation honors, academic and military awards, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, cadet company and rank, duty status, class absence status, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, U.S. citizenship, extracurricular activities, and residency status.

The Citadel may disclose directory information to parents, the public, and outside organizations without prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. Students who do not wish to have directory information published must notify the Registrar within two weeks of the beginning of the fall semester each academic year. Requests to keep directory information confidential are valid only for the year in which they are made.

The Citadel will disclose to the alleged victim of any crime of violence the final results of any student disciplinary proceeding conducted by The Citadel against the alleged perpetrator of such crime. Both the accuser and the accused will be informed of the final outcome of any Citadel disciplinary proceeding based on an alleged sex offense.

The Citadel may also disclose to parents, without a student’s consent, alcohol or drug violations of either the College’s policies or local laws by students under 21 years of age.

The Citadel will also disclose, to the court, information from a student’s file if that student or the student’s parent has initiated legal action against the institution or if the institution has initiated legal action against the parent or student.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by The Citadel to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901

A copy of the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act,” as amended, and details of The Citadel policy on maintaining and disclosing student records may be obtained from the Office of the General Counsel.

Course Load Requirements

A full-time student must be enrolled throughout each semester in course work totaling at least 12 credit hours. A cadet must be a full-time student. Any cadet who drops below the 12-credit-hour minimum at any time during a semester is subject to discharge, unless there are extremely extenuating circumstances. Such circumstances must be presented in writing to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. Students and their parents should be aware that carrying fewer than 12 credit hours may affect insurance coverage with some insurance companies and may also affect eligibility for financial aid.

Course Overload

The maximum course load approved for either fall or spring semester is 21 credit hours. Under certain circumstances, students may request an overload of 22 to 24 credit hours. In no case, will an overload of more than 24 hours of academic course work be allowed. Students will be charged for the overload hours using the current in-state or out-of-state rate per credit hour based on student type.

To be approved for an overload, students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.000 on at least 24 credit hours of coursework at The Citadel or be a student within 24 credit hours of graduation. Students must have the approval of their academic advisor, department head, and the associate provost for academic affairs. Forms for requesting course overloads are available in the Registrar’s Office.

Course Substitutions

Course substitutions are made only when justified by extenuating circumstances. Such circumstances must be presented in writing by the student, and the requested substitution must have the support of the faculty advisor, the associate dean or department head, and the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. Forms for requesting course substitutions are available in the Registrar’s Office.

Degrees

The degree of Bachelor of Arts is conferred upon satisfactory completion of the appropriate program of study in chemistry, criminal justice, English, history, intelligence and security studies, modern languages, political science, or psychology. The Bachelor of Science degree is conferred upon satisfactory completion of the appropriate program of study in biology; chemistry; computer science; education; health, exercise, and sport science; mathematics, physics and sport management. Graduates in nursing receive the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Graduates in accounting, finance, management, marketing and business development, or supply chain management receive the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Graduates in civil engineering receive the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Graduates in construction engineering receive the degree of Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering. Graduates in electrical engineering receive the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Graduates in mechanical engineering receive the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

English Fluency Policy

In accordance with the laws of South Carolina, The Citadel ensures the English fluency of its teaching faculty through a two-stage review process.

1. During the interview process, each applicant will make an oral presentation before a group consisting of faculty members and students. Using the included form, each participant will evaluate the candidate’s English fluency and clarity of presentation. These evaluations will be a major factor in the selection process, and should a candidate who is ultimately selected be deemed by this evaluation to have a language problem, the extent of this problem, the support to be provided the candidate by the College in addressing this problem, and the expectations for improvement in English fluency will all be clearly stated in the offer of employment.
2. Should the English fluency of a member of the faculty be challenged by a student, standard procedures for student academic grievances as described above will be followed. If a review committee is called for, the native language of one of the faculty members will not be English.

Fifth Year Student Status

Cadets will normally remain in the Corps of Cadets until degree requirements have been met. Cadets who have completed eight semesters in the Corps of Cadets, all ROTC requirements, all LDRS course requirements, and all RPED course requirements and who have been cleared by the Commandant and the Student Business Services may apply for Fifth Year Student status through the Office of the Registrar.

Cadets who request Fifth Year Student status with the desire to participate in the Long Gray Line Parade and Corps of Cadets graduation ceremony must be certified as proficient in all pillars prior to becoming a Fifth Year Student. This is evaluated at the time of the cadet’s application by the Office of the Commandant.

If Fifth Year Student status is approved, the student must live off campus and may attend day classes with the Corps of Cadets or evening undergraduate classes. While on campus in Fifth Year Student status, students will wear civilian clothes, but their attire is expected to be compatible with the military environment established by the uniformed Corps of Cadets.

To satisfy the Commandant’s requirements for participating in the commencement ceremony, cadets in Day Student status must meet with the Commandant’s Sergeant Major no later than the Wednesday of commencement week and review all expectations. These include an inspection of all uniforms related to graduation and Height/Weight screening if necessary.

For Fifth Year Students, the following specific dress code is in force:

1. Regulations pertaining to body piercing and tattoos are the same as those for the members of the Corps of Cadets.
2. A broken uniform is unattractive anywhere, but it is especially unsuited for a military college campus or classroom. Portions of cadet uniforms are not, therefore, to be worn by non-cadets.
3. Hair will be neatly trimmed and styled; as will mustaches and sideburns if they are worn. Men will be permitted to wear beards only when required to do so for medical reasons, which must be explained in writing by a physician and submitted to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.
4. Students will wear business attire when attending formal occasions when the members of the Corps of Cadets are required to appear in full dress or white uniform.
5. Any student who is not in compliance with minimum standards for personal appearance will be required to leave campus until discrepancies are corrected. Repeated offences may result in discharge from the College.

Final Degree Conferral Policy

The Citadel officially awards degrees three times a year. Degree conferral occurs at the conclusion of the Fall semester, at the conclusion of the Spring semester, and at the conclusion of the Summer term. The conferral date is the date which will be posted on the diploma and on the official transcript.

Students must fill out a Graduation Application. Students may stay enrolled at The Citadel only as long as needed in order to complete graduation requirements or four years by request of a SCCC student. Students who do not complete degree requirements as anticipated by the end of the semester/term will earn their degree as of the next degree conferral date, provided successful completion of all requirements.

The Registrar’s office is in contact with students regarding diploma issuance. Diplomas are not released until the Registrar’s office confirms final degree requirement clearance. Students cannot remain enrolled at The Citadel after degree requirements have been completed unless they apply as a non-degree seeking student or to a new degree program. The conferral date will be the last day of the fall semester, last day of the summer term, and the day of commencement for the spring semester.

Final Examinations

Examinations are required at the end of each semester. Examinations will be given at the assigned time. If a faculty member has more than one section of the same course, students may, with the permission of the faculty member and providing that there is no conflict, take the final examination with another section.

Since no scheduling conflicts are possible, make-up examinations should not be necessary. Any examination which is missed due to an emergency should be rescheduled after the regularly scheduled examination period but not during a Reading Period, during ESP, or on a Sunday. If rescheduling is not possible prior to the deadline for submission of final grades, the instructor should award the student an “I.” Conflicts resulting from a student’s travel arrangements do not constitute an emergency and do not justify a make-up examination. Any exception to these policies must be requested in writing by the student and concurred with by the instructor and the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

The final examination schedule is published each semester on the Citadel web page.

Final Grade Appeal Policy

The principle of academic freedom gives an instructor broad discretion in specifying the criteria by which student achievement is to be assessed and making decisions about the student’s accomplishments according to those criteria. Thus, except in unusual circumstances, an instructor’s decision about a grade may not be overruled. A student may, of course, request that his or her instructor review a grade for any required work in a course. Examples that can lead to a grade appeal include:
a. The instructor has miscalculated a final grade.
b. The instructor has violated the grading policies outlined in the syllabus.
c. The instructor has violated a college or departmental policy or procedure.

Other than the course instructor, only the Provost and Associate Provost may change a grade.

The following process outlines the formal Grade Appeals Process: Note: Students must submit their grievance to the instructor within three (3) weeks from the date that the final grade first appears on the student’s academic record.

1. The student presents his/her concerns in writing to the instructor and then discusses these concerns. The instructor will respond to the student within five (5) business days (Note: State of SC holidays are not accounted as business days). If the student’s concerns are not resolved or if the instructor fails to respond within the allotted time, the student can proceed to the next step.
2. The student presents his/her concerns in writing to the department head. (In the event the instructor is the department head, then the dean will play this role, and if the instructor is a dean, then the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs and Dean of General Studies will play this role.) The student then meets with the department head to discuss these concerns. The department head will respond to the student within five (5) business days. If the student believes that their concerns have not been addressed or if the department head fails to respond within the allotted time, the student can proceed to the next step.
3. The student presents his/her concerns in writing to the dean. (If the student is uncertain of who the dean is, he/she should contact the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs who will direct the student appropriately.) The student then meets with the dean to discuss these concerns. The Dean provides guidance on what can be considered under the appeal process. Examples that can lead to a grade appeal include:
   a. The instructor has miscalculated a final grade.
   b. The instructor has violated the grading policies outlined in the syllabus.
   c. The instructor has violated a college or departmental policy or procedure
   If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the discussion, the student can submit a grade appeal form to the dean or to the Associate Provost and provide required material within five (5) weeks from when grades were released.
4. The dean will form a grade appeal committee consisting of at least three (3) tenured or tenure-track faculty from the School, with at least one from the academic department in which the course was offered and at least one from outside that department.) The dean will provide direction to the committee, including emphasizing the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of the process.
5. The dean may request materials as needed from the instructor regarding the grade appeal, including but not limited to grades, syllabus, and assignments, for the grade appeal committee.
6. The dean may request additional information from the student as needed for the grade appeal committee, as well as ask the student to craft a detailed letter about why he/she is appealing the grade. Note: The grade appeal committee does not interact with the student or instructor. Any needed materials are to be gathered and disseminated by the dean.
7. The grade appeal committee submits its recommendation to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs no later than 15 business days after receipt of a grade appeal form. Potential recommendations that may be forwarded include, but are not limited to:
   1. Change of grade
   2. Late Withdrawal
   3. Change of grade to Pass/Fail option
   4. Appeal is denied
8. The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs will notify the student and instructor of the appeal decision within 10 business days of receipt of the Grade Appeals Committee’s decision. The names of the members of the grade appeal committee are not shared in the decision letter nor are they shared with the course instructor or the student.
9. If the decision results in a grade change, the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs submits a copy of the letter to the Registrar, requesting the grade change and a copy goes to the faculty member.

Grades

Only letter grades are given to evaluate a student’s progress. The following definitions of letter grades are applicable:

“A” Superior

“B” Very Good

“C” Satisfactory; Acceptable

“D” Marginal; Passing

“F” Unsatisfactory

“P” Grade assigned in pass/fail courses that do not carry credit hours to designate passing performance.

“S” Grade assigned in pass/fail courses that carry credit hours to designate that a grade of “A,” “B,” or “C” has been earned and credit has been awarded.

“U” Grade assigned in pass/fail courses to designate that a grade of “D” or “F” has been earned and no credit has been awarded.

“W” Withdrawal from a course prior to the official deadline. After that time, students will receive the grade of “F” should they fail to complete the course or complete it unsuccessfully. Under extenuating circumstances, the grade of “W” may be awarded after the official deadline at the discretion of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs after consultation with the instructor and requesting student. Supporting evidence is the responsibility of the student and must be submitted in writing to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

“I” An Incomplete is awarded when course requirements have been very nearly met but for authorized reasons (illness, injury, family emergency, etc.) cannot be completed during the current semester. To be eligible for the grade of “I,” students must be passing at the time they are forced to terminate their participation in the course. Students who are not passing at the time they are forced to terminate their participation will receive the grade of “F” in the course. The grade of “I” must be removed within the first thirty class days of the next full semester, or the “I” becomes an “F.” The summer session will not be considered a semester in this case. Under extenuating circumstances, an extension may be awarded by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs with the recommendation of the instructor. The removal of the Incomplete is the responsibility of the student. Students may not enroll in a course in which they currently have an “I.” A student is not eligible for Dean’s List or Gold Star awards until Incompletes are removed.

“IP” Grade assigned for courses in which requirements are not expected to be met in one academic term. The grade of “IP” must be removed in the next full semester, or the “IP” becomes an “F.” The summer session will not be considered a semester in this case. Under extenuating circumstances, an extension may be awarded by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs with the recommendation of the instructor. The removal of the “IP” is the responsibility of the student. Students may not enroll in a course in which they currently have an “IP.”

Should a student fail to complete a semester or summer session for any reason, the grade in each course in which the student is then enrolled shall be “F,” “I,” or “W” as determined by the individual faculty member in consultation with the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

No numerical symbol, bracket, or percentage is assigned the equivalent of any grade. Arbitrary distribution of grades according to some formula or curve is not permitted. However, by means of departmental supervision and consultation among instructors, every effort is made to obtain consistent grading standards within the department or school.

End-of-the-semester grade reports and midterm progress reports are made available electronically through BANNER Self-Service.

Grade-Point Average Computation

For purposes of ascertaining a grade-point average, grades are weighted as follows:

Grade - Quality-Points Per Semester Hour
A - 4
B - 3
C - 2
D - 1
F, I, IP, W, P, S, U - 0

The grade-point average for any semester is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of hours for which grades of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” were received.

The cumulative grade-point average on which graduation, academic probation, and academic discharge are based is determined by dividing the number of quality points earned at The Citadel by the number of quality hours attempted at The Citadel. For this purpose, the number of quality hours includes all credit hours attempted at The Citadel for which grades of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” were received. The number of quality points earned includes all quality points associated with quality hours earned at The Citadel. The Citadel does not recognize plus or minus grades in undergraduate courses.

Internships for Academic Credit

Academic Internships are extensions of classroom learning, with applied experiences, in a professional field (not to be confused with a “job” or “seasonal employment”). Internships should be clearly related to career interests, major, or minor. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 is required to participate in an academic internship for credit during the academic semester. Exceptions and overrides must be approved by Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

Internship Policies

Internships must meet criteria set by academic departments. Department standards can vary, but internships require a minimum number of hours worked per semester, typically between 90-120 hours over 16 weeks or 10-week summer session. Most departments require weekly journals, regular meetings with supervisors, and final presentations (written or oral) based on a topic related to the internship experience, and a final evaluation of performance from the site supervisor.

Students may earn a maximum of a 6 hours of credit from internship courses to apply to a degree program at The Citadel and may participate in only one internship during a semester.

This section describes the following procedures relating to internships:

1. General Guidelines
2. Policies and Procedures for Academic Internships for Credit
3. Administrative Guidelines
4. Special Circumstances.

1. General Guidelines to Secure Internship
   1. Student has secured internship independently, through The Career Center, from a referral from department advisor, or outside source that meets department internship guidelines.
   2. Once secured, an internship must be evaluated and approved by a departmental academic advisor to ensure it meets standards to earn academic credit.
   3. Student registers for internship course and completes Internship Agreement Form.
   4. The Internship Agreement Form should include work schedule, which must be submitted and approved through Cadet Accountability System (CAS) by the academic department. Orders are reviewed and approved/disapproved by the Provost and Commandant’s Department.
   5. Special circumstances are referred to the Career Center.
2. Policies and Procedures for Academic Internships for Credit
   1. Academic internships are for credit. These typically apply for academic juniors and seniors - see department advisor for exceptions.
   2. Minimum 2.5 GPA, approval from academic department, and student is at a place in academic studies where department encourages internships.
   3. Student registers for internship course and completes Internship Agreement Form, which includes:
      • Student contact information
      • Faculty advisor contact information
      • Internship site information
      • Internship description / learning objectives
      • Work schedule
      • Leave request (approved in CAS)
      • Internship guidelines
      • Waiver of Liability & Indemnity
      • Final signatures
   4. Student is under regular and direct supervision and must adhere to The Citadel’s Honor Code.
   5. Student must complete all academic requirements during the semester.
   6. Hours may include virtual or offsite work, as long as they do not interfere with academic or leadership duties.
   7. Cadet internships cannot interfere with academic classes, Leadership Training, or Friday Parade. Cadets may request special leave on occasion (White Book Chapter 6) to perform professional duties which are outside of special order through TACs, who have discretion for approval/disapproval. TAC and cadets should request Career Center assistance if there is confusion.
3. Administrative Guidelines
   1. Students are eligible to receive payment or a stipend for work performed if this is a standard practice in the professional setting.
   2. Students may not receive internship credit for previous work experience after the fact (example: a student may not participate in a summer internship and receive academic credit in the fall).
   3. After registration deadline has passed, student may register with permission from the academic department or Provost’s Office if he/she is able to meet requirements to earn academic credit.
   4. Internship may not conflict with academic coursework or Commandant’s schedule for cadets (see special circumstances).
   5. Students may complete up to two internships for academic credit at the discretion of the department.
   6. Students may register for a special topics course, in place of an internship, if a faculty advisor agrees to oversee the experience AND the special topic fulfills internship guidelines.
   7. Duplicate internships at the same site need to show evidence of increased responsibility or professional progression.
4. Special Circumstances
   Special circumstances are handled on a case-by-case basis and are reviewed by The Citadel Career Center with referral to the appropriate campus entity. These include:
   • Emergent leave situations associated with a full-time offer or internship interview (which may include interviews/training prior to internship start date, but before special orders are approved by the academic department.) These may also be submitted approved by a TAC officer in Cadet Accountability System (CAS).
   • Leave for drug tests or background checks.
   • Training associated with an internship or professional full-time offer (prior to graduation, but after internship has concluded).
   • Participation in professional development related to an internship (documentation needed from supervisor, in writing, with company’s domain name and supervisor’s contact).
   • Graduate school interviews for current seniors pursuing advanced degrees.
   • Internship opportunities not clearly defined or does not meet traditional academic guidelines.
   • Academic department is not offering academic credit (student may work to find a legitimate course substitute).
   • Student has completed internships for academic credit, but organization requires internship extension for training and continuity for a full-time offer.
   • Student is not eligible to earn academic credit but needs an internship for some specific purpose related to a job offer (needs documentation). These include shadowing hours needed to maintain security clearance where hours worked do not meet minimum internship standards or internship is with a federal agency that requires anonymity (ex. FBI).

Internship Special Order vs. Special Leave for Cadets

NOTE: SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES REFERRED TO THE CITADEL CAREER CENTER: Internships with reoccurring conflicts which may prohibit cadets from participating should be referred to careercenter@citadel.edu. Cadet will be asked to provide supervisor’s contact information and written documentation for review and referral to appropriate campus resource.

Laptop Policies

All cadets and students are required to have a personal laptop. Citadel students will need a personal laptop for use in a number of Citadel classes. Additionally, the Citadel is a Microsoft campus; computers must be compatible with Office 365. The Citadel recommends Windows laptops; Apple Macintosh laptops are acceptable when configured to meet the specified software requirements.
A note on Netbooks/Chromebooks: Netbooks are suitable for basic internet browsing and word processing. They do not satisfy the Citadel’s laptop policy. 

Leave of Absence Policy

There are times when students must take time away from school. A leave of absence is a way to take some time off from studies and return with minimal obstacles or penalties. A Leave of Absence is awarded for a period of up to one year defined as two full semesters not to include summer but may be extended no more than one additional year if there are extenuating circumstances.  Special consideration will be given to students whose leave is due to active military service when a copy of military orders is provided.

 A Leave of Absence request is a statement that a student will not be enrolling at The Citadel for a period of time but they plan on continuing their studies within one year. Students who have a Leave of Absence approved can return to The Citadel within a year without completing the readmission paperwork. They can continue in their academic program under their existing catalog year, will not lose access to their Citadel email address and, whenever possible, cadets will not lose their company assignment. The decision to grant the leave of absence is at the discretion of the Associate Provost. Students who request a leave of absence after the add/drop date during the semester may be responsible for at least a portion of the tuition for the classes in which they are enrolled. In such cases, students should consult with the Student Business Services as well as the Office of Financial Aid to determine if their time away from campus impacts their student loan eligibility.

Requirements for a Leave of Absence:

• Must complete the Leave of Absence request form located at the Registrar’s Office
• Must not have any financial obligations to the College
• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0 or higher.  Students who do not have a calculable GPA (i.e., no completed classes with standard letter grades) will not be considered for a Leave of Absence.
• Must not have any pending disciplinary action
• Must not have any pending CAT action.

For cadets, the same age requirements as stated for readmission must be met at the time the student returns from leave. (Student may not be older than 23 years of age on the first day of return if fourth-class requirements have not been met; student may not be older than 26 years of age on the first day of return if the student completed fourth-class requirements.)

To return from a Leave of Absence, students must contact the Registrar’s Office in writing 30 days prior to the start of the upcoming semester. A leave of absence request should normally occur prior to the add/drop date at the beginning of the term (first 8 weeks). If the student’s request is made after this deadline, a reasonable and compelling explanation for the delay must accompany the request. In such cases, supporting documentation (e.g. medical, mental health, deployment, temporary job transfer) should be provided with the request. Requests made after the deadline will be considered retroactive to the beginning of the term. All cadets who have been granted a leave of absence must provide medical documentation of a current physical examination (conducted within 3 months) to the MUSC Citadel Clinic prior to their return to campus.

A student who does not return within the Leave of Absence timeframe will need to apply for re-admission or re-enrollment per these policies.

Students on a Leave of Absence are expected to continue to uphold the Citadel principles of duty, honesty, loyalty, integrity and accountability.  Failure to uphold these principles while away from The Citadel may result in a termination of your Leave of Absence and you will be required to apply to The Citadel for readmission.

Non-cadet Enrollment in ROTC

Non-cadets are not permitted to enroll in ROTC classes unless they meet all the following conditions:

1. The individual must either be on active duty and on orders as a participant in a commissioning program for one of the armed services or be an enrolled veteran student.
2. The individual must be accepted as a degree-seeking student in the day program of The Citadel.
3. The individual must be enrolled as a full-time student in courses in the day program of The Citadel.
4. The individual must be provided leadership experiences outside the context of the Corps of Cadets.
5. ROTC classes will fulfill no degree requirements in a degree program of a non-cadet.
6. The individual must be in uniform while on campus.

Non-Cadet Veteran Day Program

An eligible non-cadet veteran is defined to be an individual who provides evidence through a Department of Defense Form DD 214 of honorable discharge from one of the Armed Services indicating a minimum of 90 consecutive days of full-time federal active service, other than active duty for training. If a veteran has been discharged more than once, all discharges must be honorable.

Academic Requirements:

Veteran applicants are civilians and will not be subject to academic requirements specific to the Corps of Cadets. The curricular requirements pertaining only to members of the Corps are described on pages 105-107 of this catalog.

Official Communications

Each Citadel student is assigned a Citadel e-mail address. Official communications are often sent electronically, and these communications will be sent to the cadet’s Citadel e-mail address. It is the responsibility of each student to check his/her Citadel e-mail regularly to ensure receipt of all official communications.

Ordering and Receiving a Class Ring

While any rising senior cadet may in the spring of the junior year be measured for and order a class ring, to be eligible to receive a class ring, a cadet must meet these two conditions: (1) have an academic classification of 1A and (2) have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.000. To participate in the Ring Ceremony, the cadet must (3) have passed the Corps Physical Fitness Test as outlined in Chapter 5 of the White Book. Cadets who have met academic requirements to receive the ring but have not met the Commandant’s Physical Effectiveness Requirements to participate in the Ring Presentation may pick up their rings on the Monday following Parents’ Weekend at the Holliday Alumni Center. If a cadet fails to meet requirements to receive the ring with his/her class, the Alumni Association will normally hold the ring until the end of the following spring semester. If the cadet has not met requirements to receive the ring by that time, it will be returned to the manufacturer. The cadet may not order the ring, again, until all requirements to receive the ring have been met. The eligibility of cadets who failed to meet ring eligibility in October of their senior year will be checked again in January. Cadets who have not yet received their rings but will receive their diplomas in May or will be eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony will be cleared to receive their rings before commencement. No other cadets will be cleared to receive their rings until after commencement.

These are minimum requirements and will not be waived. Students should see the Registrar to confirm eligibility.

Pass-Fail

Juniors and seniors with cumulative grade-point averages of 2.00 or higher may take elective courses on a Pass-Fail option. Normally no more than one course may be taken under this option each semester, and no more than four courses taken under this option may be used to meet graduation requirements. Students may not change their decision to take a course on a Pass-Fail basis after the first two weeks of the term. Courses taken Pass-Fail carry graduation credit, but no quality points are awarded. Such courses are not included in GPA computations except in determining the First and Second Honor Graduates of the graduating cadet class.

Instructors report grades as usual, “A” through “F.” The Registrar’s Office translates an “A,” “B,” or “C” as an “S” (meaning “satisfactory, credit awarded”). Grades of “D” or “F” are translated as “U” (meaning “unsatisfactory, no credit awarded”).

Cadets who are taking a course under the Pass-Fail option and who wish to be considered for Dean’s List or Gold Star honors must satisfactorily complete the Pass-Fail course and must earn the appropriate GPA on 12 or more semester hours in addition to the Pass-Fail course.

In determining the GPA for the position of First and Second Honor Graduates, courses taken under the Pass-Fail option will be included.

Students desiring to take a course on the Pass-Fail option should contact the Registrar’s Office.

Pursuing a Double Major

Under certian circumstances, a student may wish to pursue no more than two different majors concurrently within the same baccalaureate degree (that is, for instance, two majors resulting in a B.A. degree, like English and History, or two majors resulting in a B.S. degree, like Computer Science and Mathematics). This will be permitted under the following conditions:

1. Students must declare their intentions to the registar no later than the fall semester of the junior year.
2. Both majors must be offered under the same baccalaureate degree.
3. Students must complete all requirements for each major.
4. Students, in addition to meeting a minimum overall grade-point average, must achieve the minimum grade-point average requirements for each major.
5. Requirements for both majors must be completed concurrently within the same grading period. Finishing one or the other major first essentially completes the degree, so the student graduates without completing the second major.

A student who has met these requirements will have both majors indicated on the transcript.

Pursuing a Second Baccalaureate Degree

Under certain circumstances, a student may wish to pursue two different baccalaureate degrees concurrently (as, for example, a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Political Science.). This will be allowed under the following conditions:

1. The student must complete all requirements of each degree.
2. The student is normally expected to complete requirements for the second degree while pursuing the initial undergraduate degree.
3. Any remaining requirements after the initial degree has been completed may be addressed in the Citadel’s summer school, in The Citadel Graduate College, or in Day Student Status.

Readmission

A student who is discharged for academic reasons for the first time may apply for readmission after being out of school for one semester. Summer school does not constitute a semester in this instance. Students who are discharged for academic or disciplinary reasons may not, during the period of discharge, take courses for transfer to The Citadel. The deadline for the receipt of an application for readmission for Maymester and summer School is March 1st, for the spring term is October 1^st, and for the fall term is June 1^st.

When a cadet is readmitted after an absence of at least three academic semesters (summer sessions will not be considered as semesters for this purpose), the catalog bearing the number of the academic year in which the student is readmitted will be the catalog of record for matters of academic policy and graduation requirements. However, upon recommendation of the Registrar with approval by the Associate Provost, a different catalog year may be assigned.

In addition to any specific readmission requirements stated at the time of discharge, applicants for readmission to the South Carolina Corps of Cadets must meet the personal and physical fitness requirements for current cadets (see updated Application for Readmission on the Registrar’s website). These include the following:

1. Applicants for readmission must meet the U.S. Army standard for height and weight (Army Reg 600-9) and must be physically qualified as determined by the Citadel Surgeon. Applicants who fail to meet the height/weight standards can gain readmission by meeting the Citadel body-fat standard. Height/weight and body-fat standards for current cadets are detailed in the White Book, Chapter 5. These standards are more stringent than those for initial applicants.
2. Applicants for readmission may not be married nor have childcare responsibility for any minor child related to him or her by blood or marriage.
3. Applicants must not have a record of conviction of a criminal offense showing poor moral character.
4. Applicants for readmission must be less than 26 years old on the first day of classes in the semester of their readmission. Applicants for readmission who have not completed their fourth-class system requirements must be less than 23 years old on the first day of classes in the semester of their readmission.

If approved for readmission after an academic discharge, the student will be readmitted on academic probation. Cadets who have been approved for readmission may or may not be assigned to their former cadet company.

Requirements for Degree Completion

Academics: A student must complete one of the major courses of study outlined in the catalog of record and must achieve a minimum grade-point average of 2.000 based on all quality hours attempted and all quality points earned at The Citadel. In addition, each student must achieve a minimum grade-point average of 2.000 based on all quality hours attempted and all quality points earned in major coursework at The Citadel.

Students majoring in education or in the teaching track of health, exercise and sport science must achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.750 and a grade-point average of at least 2.750 on all professional education courses; and must have on file in the Registrar’s Office at The Citadel passing scores for the appropriate PRAXIS II and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Examinations.

If a student is pursuing a minor, a grade-point average of 2.000 must be achieved in all coursework completed in that minor.

All students, including transfer students from other colleges, are required to earn at The Citadel a minimum of one-half the semester hours prescribed for their major course of study.

The student’s school or department is responsible for ensuring that the student’s knowledge in the major is current. Cadets who have met the overall grade-point average and major coursework grade-point average requirements and who are conduct proficient but who have not completed all course requirements for graduation may take not more than two courses totaling 7 semester hours at another institution for transfer to The Citadel in order to complete major requirements. Prior approval of these courses is mandatory.

ROTC: ROTC course work plays a major role in The Citadel’s mission to educate and prepare graduates to become principled leaders and is essential for students seeking to receive a commission in one of the armed forces. All cadets must satisfy an ROTC requirement (either ROTC course or fulfillment course) for every semester during which they are enrolled at The Citadel or until they have completed eight semesters or met graduation requirements.

The ROTC requirement for cadets is explained below:

• Every freshman and sophomore cadet (i.e., all those who are classified 4A, 4B, 3A, or 3B) must enroll in and pass an ROTC class during their freshman and sophomore years. The ROTC classes are offered by the Departments of Aerospace Studies (AERO), Military Studies (MLTY), and Naval Studies (NAVL).
  • Cadets who are pursuing a commission in one ROTC program and who then decide to pursue a commission in another ROTC program must have the approval of the head of the ROTC program they are leaving and the head of the ROTC program they wish to join. When cadets are changing to another ROTC, they are not, without the permission of the head of the ROTC Detachment, permitted to enroll in an ROTC class at a level lower than their academic classification. For example, a member of the sophomore class who wishes to change to another ROTC must enroll in a sophomore-level course in the new ROTC unless the head of the ROTC Detachment authorizes the enrollment in a lower-level course.
  • Cadets who wish to move from one ROTC program to another but do not wish to pursue a commission must have the approval of the head of the ROTC department they wish to join, academic advisor, and the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.
  • If a cadet finds that he or she is not able to register for an ROTC class or that he or she must withdraw from an ROTC class, the cadet must have the permission of the head of that ROTC Detachment (for students pursuing a commission) or the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (for those not pursuing a commission). Failure to complete an ROTC class does not reduce the number of semesters in the ROTC requirement.
  • Study abroad cadets will complete ROTC requirements via independent study or online.
• Junior and Senior cadets (i.e., those who are classified 2A, 2B, 1A, or 1B) who wish to pursue a commission in the Armed Forces upon graduation are required to enroll in and pass an ROTC class in every semester during which they are enrolled at The Citadel or until they have completed eight semesters or met graduation requirements.
  • Upon the recommendation of the head of the appropriate ROTC department and with concurrence of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, training experiences may be accepted in lieu of ROTC coursework. When approved, the designated ROTC courses will be recorded on the student’s Citadel transcript as exempted military credits.
• Junior and Senior cadets (i.e., those who are classified 2A, 2B, 1A, or 1B) who are not pursuing military careers will not take the traditional junior and senior-level ROTC courses designed for cadets who will be commissioned at graduation. These cadets will, instead, fulfill the ROTC requirement by enrolling in a 3-hour ROTC-fulfilment courses until they have completed eight semesters or met graduation requirements. This ROTC-alternative program for juniors and seniors provides a more relevant set of leadership-oriented courses/experiences for cadets who are not going into the U.S. military and allows the ROTC detachments to focus their resources on cadets who are pursuing a commission.
  • Non-commissioning students will be responsible for taking one ROTC-fulfilment course each semester. All students are required to take LDRS 371 . The remaining courses may be chosen from a wide variety of classes in the Leadership Studies minor, leadership-oriented courses in students’ major fields, and other high-impact practice courses such as internships or undergraduate research courses. Please visit the Leadership Studies Department webpage for a list of ROTC Fulfilment courses.

ROTC classes (i.e., those designated AERO, MLTY, or NAVL) may not be used to satisfy elective requirements in any course of study.

Physical Education: The required physical education program for cadets is designed to provide an exemplary environment and experiences which contribute to an improved quality of life for the student. The program offers basic instruction in adult and lifetime physical fitness, healthful living, physical activities and recreational sports which are of immediate and lasting value. Each student is required to complete RPED 260 - Physical Fitness, Resiliency, & Wellness  (3 cr. hours), as well as two different RPED activity courses (0 cr. hours each).

Residential: Students pursuing a cadet degree must reside in the Corps of Cadets for at least six full semesters or five semesters with one semester of approved study abroad. For this policy, summer does not count as a semester.

Requirements for Participation in Commencement Exercises

Students who have not completed all degree requirements may participate in the May Commencement if the following conditions are met:

1. The student has earned at least a 2.000 cumulative GPA and 2.000 GPA in the major. For Education majors and Physical Education (Teaching Track) majors, the cumulative and professional education grade-point averages must be at least 2.750.
2. The student must be no more than 15 credit hours short of meeting degree requirements.
3. The student must be cleared by the Student Business Services.
4. The cadet must have completed all tours and confinements and must have passed the Corps Physical Fitness Test as outlined in Chapter 5 of the White Book.
5. The cadet must have met all ROTC and RPED requirements.
6. The cadet must be eligible to complete degree requirements without returning to the Corps of Cadets since participation in commencement is the final act of a cadet.

Student Academic Grievances

The academic grievance process of the college is reserved for the most serious alleged offenses. These matters deal not with differences of opinion, but with violations of due process; denial of individual rights; or unequal treatment or discrimination based on sex, race, color, or national origin. Students who feel that they have an academic grievance are directed first to confer with the instructor or other individual(s) involved. Where this does not result in satisfaction or if this step is not feasible, the student should present the grievance in writing to the lowest appropriate level not involved in the grievance, department head or associate dean.

If the matter remains unresolved, the student may present the grievance and the attempted solution in writing to the appropriate dean. If deemed appropriate, the dean may appoint a review committee consisting of three faculty members, with one designated as chair and a student in good standing from the same student category as the grieving student. This committee shall have the authority to interview individuals who may have information pertaining to the grievance and to request records and materials pertaining to the grievance. In a grievance procedure, all employees and students are obligated to provide requested information to the dean/associate dean/department head, or review committee. The committee shall forward its findings and recommendations to the convening dean who shall decide the case. The student may appeal that decision to the Provost who has the authority to settle all student grievances.

Students Called to Active Duty

This section pertains to Citadel students who are in the National Guard or Reserves or are active-duty personnel who may be called/recalled to active duty or have active-duty assignments significantly changed unexpectedly.

The Citadel recognizes and appreciates the important contributions made by these men and women to our country. In support of these students, The Citadel has developed the following procedures to provide each college with maximum flexibility in assisting these students. Students who are activated for full-time military service during a time of national crisis (SC Code of Law 59-101-395), with activation orders or other official documentation, will be provided the following options:

1. Withdraw from all classes and 100% of the tuition and mandatory fees would be refunded and the students will be awarded “W” grades for each course. In addition, cadets would be given a pro-rated refund of all auxiliary fees.
2. Student arranges with his/her instructor(s) for a grade and/or an incomplete (to be made up in the specified time period) in the course(s). The registration would remain intact and tuition and mandatory fees would be assessed in full.

If arrangements are made with only some of the student’s instructors for a grade and/or an incomplete, the registration for those courses would remain intact and tuition and mandatory fees would be assessed for those courses. Any courses for which arrangements cannot be made for a grade and/or an incomplete could be dropped and the tuition and mandatory fees for those courses would be refunded.

To be eligible for any of the above options, a copy of activation orders or other official documentation must be provided to the Office of the Registrar.

Financial aid is refunded in accordance with existing Citadel and Federal policies for each of the above situations. Inquiries should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid.

These procedures do not apply to national guardsmen or reservists who are fulfilling their annual two-week active-duty training, or to students that enlist into active duty during the semester/term.

Questions regarding this policy or for assistance in withdrawing may reach out to the Office of the Registrar or the Veteran Student Success Center.

Students with Documented Disabilities

The Director of Services for Students with Disabilities is responsible for determining if a student has a documented disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and for determining appropriate accommodations and services. Students with disabilities are encouraged to self-identify to the Director upon admission to The Citadel. If the Director determines that a disability warrants substitutions for courses required in the areas of foreign language and/or mathematics, all grades of “F” earned in previously completed courses in that discipline will be changed to “U” and will not be included in computing the student’s GPA. Grades of “A,” “B,” “C,” or “D” made by students in previously completed courses in that discipline will not be altered.

Summer School

The Citadel has summer school sessions, with online classes and face-to-face classes offered both in the day and evening. Over a summer, a student will not normally be permitted to enroll at The Citadel in, or transfer in from another accredited institution, more than 16 credit hours. As with all transfer courses, prior approval is required for transfer of summer courses taken at another accredited institution.

Taking Graduate Courses

Without being admitted to an accelerated Master’s program, academic seniors with a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least a 3.20 may take up to twelve hours of CGC graduate credit, with no more than six hours of graduate credit in any one full semester (Fall, Spring, Summer), when space is available. These courses may provide students a head start on earning a graduate certificate or a graduate degree, but graduate courses may NOT be used to meet undergraduate degree requirements and will NOT be used to compute undergraduate GPA. Students must have the permission of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

Undergraduate juniors and seniors accepted in an accelerated program at The Citadel may take and share up to twelve hours of structured graduate credit between the graduate and undergraduate majors. Refer to specific accelerated program requirements for total hours permitted to share.

Taking or Repeating Courses to Improve the GPA/Grade Replacement

A student may not take or repeat a course which is taught at a lower level than, or serves as a prerequisite for, a course which the student has already completed.

Courses may be repeated under the following conditions:

1. No course may be repeated once a grade of “B” or higher has been earned.
2. If a course is repeated, the last grade of record is used to determine whether course requirements for graduation have been met.
3. If a previously passed course is repeated, the hours may be used only once toward meeting requirements for total hours passed.
4. When courses are repeated under the conditions described above, the original course grade may be replaced by the newer grade when calculating students’ grade-point averages (GPAs), quality hours, and earned credit hours. Both the old and new grades will appear on students’ transcripts, but only the newer grade will be used in calculating GPAs. It is the student’s responsibility to complete Grade Replacement Request Forms in the Office of the Registrar in order to have the new grade replace the older grade(s).
5. The maximum number of hours for which Grade Replacement will be allowed over the course of a student’s undergraduate career is 16. If a student repeats more than 16 hours of credit, both the old and the new grade will be used to calculate the student’s grade-point average (GPA), quality hours, and earned credit hours. Grades of “S” earned when a student elects to take a course on a Pass-Fail basis may not be used to replace older grades(s).
6. For the purpose of determining graduation honors (e.g., cum laude, etc.), both the old grade and the new grade will be used in making the GPA calculation to determine honors eligibility.
7. A student is not eligible for grade replacement after he/she has completed their degree program.
8. Once grade replacement has been requested and applied, it cannot be reversed.

Title 38 USC 3679 (e) Compliance

The following policies and procedures are of primary concern to veterans, servicepersons, members of guard and selected reserves, and other eligible persons who receive VA educational benefits while enrolled at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina.

Please note: Academic standards of progress and attendance are covered under school standards of progress as specified by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, License Division, and are required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment.
• Assess a late penalty fee.
• Require student secure alternative or additional funding.
• Deny their access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Provide Chapter 33 Certificate of Eligibility (or its equivalent) or for Chapter 31, VA VR&E’s contract with the school on VA Form 28-1905 by the first day of class.

Note: Chapter 33 students can register at the VA Regional Office to use va.gov to get the equivalent of a Chapter 33 Certificate of Eligibility. Chapter 31 student cannot get a completed VA Form 28-1905 (or any equivalent) before the VA VR&E case-manager issues it to the school.

• Provide their VA Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of classes.
• Provide written request to be certified for enrollment.
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.
• Students are required to pay their portion of the total bill by bill due date.

Transfer Credits

The appropriate deans or department heads have responsibility for considering all transfer courses. Normally, only courses taken at an accredited institution which are comparable in content and credit hours to specific courses offered by The Citadel and in which grades of “C-” or better have been earned will be considered for transfer. However, the appropriate dean or department head may accept for transfer to meet General Elective credits, courses that are not offered by The Citadel but which are considered to be worthy of credit as electives and in which grades of “C-” or higher have been earned. In those cases where a course has been taken in a department or school not represented at The Citadel, the dean of the school or head of the department in which the student is majoring will determine if the course in question may be accepted for General Elective credit.

To ensure that courses taken away from The Citadel will be accepted for transfer, students must obtain written prior approval through the Office of the Registrar. Grades earned in courses transferred from another college will not be computed in the student’s grade-point average at The Citadel. Courses previously passed at The Citadel will not be accepted for transfer. All transcripts sent from another college to The Citadel become the property of The Citadel and cannot be issued to the student or a third party.

Cadets who have been given Academic or Conduct Discharges from The Citadel or who leave The Citadel while their conduct status is in question may not enroll in courses at The Citadel during that period of discharge nor may they transfer back to The Citadel courses taken during that period of discharge. Cadets who have resigned in lieu of a conduct discharge will be treated as if they have committed the offense with which they have been charged and have been given the most severe consequence available for that offense. Courses these cadets may take during the period of that consequence will not be considered for transfer back to The Citadel. Cadets who have been discharged for reasons other than academic or conduct may transfer back to The Citadel no more than one semester of academic work successfully completed during the period of discharge.

During the fall and spring semesters, a cadet may not take a course offered at another institution, classroom or online. Academic juniors or seniors may, in certain circumstances and with the approval of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, take one Citadel Graduate College online, undergraduate course per semester when space is available.

Veteran Cadet Program

Effective with the fall 2008 semester, cadets who have begun their pursuit of the cadet degree and have elected to pursue or have been called to active military service will be provided the following options if their tour on active duty was not for training purposes and they have been discharged honorably with full rights and privileges of a veteran.

Option 1. If they are eligible, they may return to the Corps of Cadets to continue to pursue the cadet degree.

Option 2. They may enroll as civilian students in classes with the Corps of Cadets to pursue a non-cadet degree with non-cadet diploma and ring (the same diploma and ring available for current Active Duty Students and students in The Citadel Graduate College.)

Eligibility Criteria

• must have been sworn into the Corps of Cadets at The Citadel
• must have been honorably discharged from active duty with the full rights and privileges of a veteran
• must meet academic and disciplinary criteria for readmission to The Citadel

Students electing this option

• may enroll in civilian status in classes with the Corps of Cadets
• may enroll in evening classes in The Citadel Graduate College
• are eligible to earn the non-cadet degree/diploma and receive the non-cadet ring currently awarded to Active Duty students and students in The Citadel Graduate College
• may not return to the Corps of Cadets but will be allowed to participate in Cadet Commencement in cap and gown.

At its 14 June 2008 meeting, the Board of Visitors approved the pursuit of the Cadet Degree, Diploma, and Ring through the Veteran Cadet Program under the following conditions:

1. The former cadet has received while on active duty and in combat an injury that precludes readmission to the Corps of Cadets; or
2. The former cadet has served at least four semesters in the Corps of Cadets prior to moving to Veteran Cadet status.

Former cadets who are approved to pursue the Cadet Degree in Veteran Cadet status will be awarded credit for appropriate ROTC courses 301, 302, 401, and 402 based on their active duty service, and requirements to complete two RPED activity courses, and LDRS courses will be waived.

Through these options, The Citadel is attempting to address the needs of those students who have formally joined the Corps of Cadets but prior to completing the cadet degree have been called to active duty or have elected to serve on active duty that ends with an honorable discharge as a veteran.

Veteran Students Policy

1. All veteran students must declare either the day/cadet or Evening Undergraduate College Transfer Program when they begin taking classes at The Citadel. Veterans who declare themselves day students must follow the South Carolina Corps of Cadets general education requirements and attend the day program commencement ceremony. Veterans who declare their status as evening students must meet Evening Undergraduate Studies general education requirements and attend the Citadel Graduate College commencement exercises.
2. Veterans may change their official student status once in their time as a student at The Citadel. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.
3. Veteran students may enroll in day or evening classes.