The process will be monitored by the NACTEL Academic Review Committee. Students penalized for failing to maintain academic integrity who wish to appeal such action may petition the Department Chair to request a hearing on the matter.

Affirmative Action Policy
The Affirmative Action Policy of Pace University is adopted pursuant to its commitment to the principles of equal opportunity for all minorities and women, which specifically pledges the University to a policy of nondiscrimination toward any person in employment or in any of its programs because of race, color, religion, disability, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, sex or marital status, to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students. It does not, and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, sex or marital status in employment, in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.


Disabilities
The University's commitment to equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities includes providing reasonable accommodations for the needs of students with disabilities. To request an accommodation for a qualifying disability, a student must self-identify and register with the Coordinator of Disability Services for his or her campus. No one, including faculty, is authorized to evaluate the need and arrange for an accommodation except the Coordinator of Disability Services. Moreover, no one, including faculty, is authorized to contact the Coordinator of Disability Services on behalf of a student. For further information, please see Pace's Resources for Students with Disabilities website


Grading System
A letter grade is awarded as a measure of student performance only by the faculty member assigned to teach a particular course and section. The spectrum of letter grades ranges from A through F, including plus and minus refinements to the letter grades, which are available to allow faculty greater flexibility in the measurement of student performance. The following describes the letter grading system and its descriptive and quantitative (percentage) equivalents. These equivalents are shown only as guidelines for faculty. The instructor in a given course should announce specific grading policies.

Quality Point System
Each letter grade translates into a numerical equivalent as cited below.

The quality point average (QPA) is obtained by dividing the total number of quality points by the number of credits attempted at Pace, including a grade of "F" or "I-F" but not grades of "W", "I-R", "K" or "P". A QPA of 2.00 is necessary for graduation.

Dean's List
Registered students who achieve a high standard of scholarship in a semester are named to the Dean's List, published at the end of each fall and spring semester. Honors are awarded as follows:

To be eligible for honors, students must complete 11 credits, excluding grades of P. Students who receive a D or F are ineligible for honors that semester. Students who attain a qualifying average through the removal of an incomplete grade after the six-week extension may not be included on the Dean's List. Eligible students are sent a Dean's List certificate by the Dean of their College/School.


Grade Appeal Process
As a general principle, the instructor has sole authority to establish standards of performance and to exercise judgments on the quality of student performance, but in a manner that reflects reasonable and generally acceptable academic requirements. Grades assigned in this fashion are final except as the instructor may wish to review them. No faculty member, administrator or other individual may substitute his or her judgment of the student's performance for the reasonable judgment of the instructor.

Students who believe that a final grade received in a course was not determined in a manner consistent with the principle described above may challenge that grade by first arranging, within a reasonable period of time (approximately 10 school days from the time that the student knew or should have known of the final course grade), to meet informally (via email or phone) with the instructor to establish a clear understanding of the method by which the grade was determined. Every effort should be made to resolve the matter at the level of the instructor and the student. Students who have difficulty arranging a meeting with the instructor should consult the Department Chair.

If after meeting with the instructor, the student wishes to continue the grade challenge, the student may appeal in writing via email, fax or regular mail (with copies to the instructor and the Dean of the school) within a reasonable period of time to the Department Chair. The statement should clearly state the basis for questioning the grade received in the course. It should be noted that if the Chair is the instructor, the appeal is to the Associate Dean.

The Chair's decision to have a grade reviewed or not is final. If the Chair decides that the method by which the student's grade was determined was not proper, the chair will apprise the instructor of the basis for questioning the grade and request that the instructor review the grade. If the instructor, for any reason, does not review the grade, the Chair will request that at least one other faculty member qualified to teach the course in question review the grade. In the process of such a review, the faculty member(s) is (are) authorized to assign a grade change and may, if necessary, require additional examination of the student's performance as a basis for the grade change.

Students may, at any point in this appeal process, solicit the advice and assistance of an individual faculty or staff member. This individual's authority in these matters is limited to mediating the relationship between the student and the instructor and/or Chair.


Incomplete Work
Inability to complete required course work or to take an examination may, at the discretion of the instructor, result in a grade of "I". A maximum of six weeks will be provided to allow the student to complete the required course work or examination. If the course requirements are not completed within the six-week period, the grade of "I" will automatically become an "I-F", Incomplete-Failure.

If, in the judgment of the instructor, the incomplete course work is so extensive that it cannot be completed within the allotted time, the grade "F" may be assigned immediately.


The "I-R" Grade and Referrals
A student in any course in the University who is found to be deficient in basic skills in English, speech or mathematics can be referred for remedial work.  In such an instance, the student will receive the grade of "Incomplete-Referral" (I-R) with a provisional letter grade. The I-R grade is for those students who have mastered course content to the level of C or better but who have limited writing and speaking deficiencies that can be remediated.


Change of Grade
The latest date for changing a 'K' grade will be one year from the end of the semester in which the grade was assigned. No grade will be changed beyond six months after the conclusion of the semester in which the course was taken, except with the approval of the Dean and the Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. No grade will ever be changed after a degree has been officially awarded.


Repeating a Course (Recomputation)
If a student repeats a course, only the grade and credits earned the last time the course is taken will be computed in the cumulative QPA. Students wishing to apply for recomputation of their QPA must complete the appropriate form. The QPA will be recomputed only for the semester in which the student repeats the course; the average of the semester in which the course was first taken will not be changed. If a student withdraws from the course during the semester in which it is being repeated, the cumulative QPA will reflect the original grade. No course may be recomputed after a degree has been officially awarded.

Students who receive permission to take a course, for which they failed to attain a passing grade at Pace, at another institution will have the credit earned at the other institution treated as transfer credit at Pace (provided they attain a grade of “C” or better). The course may not be used to recompute the failing grade at Pace.

Probation
Any student whose overall average falls below C or its equivalent (2.0 QPA) is automatically on probation. If satisfactory progress is not evident, a student may be dropped from the rolls of the University and the Pace University/NACTEL program.

Transcript requests will be available online for students who have access to MyPace Portal or via the National Student Clearinghouse link. Please note these links will not be available until October 26, 2016.

• To protect the privacy of educational records by limiting the release of records maintained by the University and information contained therein, without written consent of the individual student, with some exceptions in special circumstances (e.g., parents of dependent students).
• To establish the rights of students to inspect and review their educational records.
• To provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading information contained in such records through formal and informal hearings. In compliance with the provisions of this law, the University grants access to students requesting an opportunity to review records as provided in this legislation.

The law covers the educational records of all present and former students of Pace University. This includes part-time as well as full-time students. The term "educational records" includes all records, files, data and other materials that contain information directly related to a student and (that) are maintained by Pace. Not included among the materials to which a student shall have access are the following:

• Financial records of a student's parents.
  
• Confidential letters and statements or recommendations placed in an individual's file prior to January 1, 1975.
  
• Letters of recommendation in those circumstances specified by the Act, in which a student may waive his/her right of access.
• Records maintained solely for law enforcement purposes by Pace.
  
• Records of instructional, supervisory, administrative and certain educational personnel that are in the sole possession of the maker thereof, and are not accessible or revealed to any other individual except a substitute, who performs on temporary basis (defined in the institution personnel policy) the duties of the individual who made the record.
  
• Records relating to individuals, who are employed by the institution, which are made and maintained in the normal course of business, relating exclusively to individuals in their capacity as employees, and which are not available for use for any other purpose. (Records of individuals in attendance at an institution who are employed as a result of their status as students are education records-e.g., Work-study).

Any student who wishes to review his/her Official University Records is asked to file a written request with the administrator responsible for the record in question. All legitimate requests will be honored within 45 working days. Valid identification will be requested at the time of review and a University official will be present throughout the period of inspection. Copies of the material will be available for a fee.

After viewing the records, a student who believes that the information or data contained therein are incorrect, misleading or otherwise in violation of privacy or any other of his/her rights may request a hearing. Such a hearing enables the student to challenge the accuracy or appropriateness of the information contained in the records. The Dean for Students is responsible for arranging a hearing according to the procedures established by the University for this purpose. You can reach the executive director of Pace Online Dr. Nancy Hale (nhale@pace.edu) via email.

Pace University will disclose information from a student's education records only with the written consent of the student, except:

• To school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records.

  A.) A school official is:

  • A person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, legal or support staff position.
  • A person elected to the Board of Trustees.
  • A person employed by or under contract to the University to perform a special task, such as a consultant, attorney, auditor or collection agent.

  B.) A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official is:

  • Performing a task that is specified in his or her position description or by a contract agreement.
  • Performing a task related to a student's education.
  • Performing a task related to the discipline of a student.
  • Providing a service or benefit relating to the student or student's family, such as health care, counseling, job placement or financial aid.

• To officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks to attend or enroll.
• To certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the Comptroller General, and state and local educational authorities, in connection with certain state or federally-supported education programs.
• In connection with a student's request for or receipt of financial aid, as necessary to determine the eligibility, amount or conditions of the financial aid, or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
• If required by a state law requiring disclosure that was adopted before November 19, 1974.
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the University.
• To accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.
• To parents of an eligible student who claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
• To comply with a judicial order or a lawfully served subpoena.
• To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency.

In addition to the foregoing, the law provides that "Directory Information" may be released to all parties seeking this information without prior consent of the student unless the student has specifically requested that prior consent be obtained in all cases.

At Pace University, "Directory Information" is on file in the Registrar's Office and includes student's name, date of birth, major field of study, attendance dates, degrees and honors, and awards received.

Students who wish their prior consent to be sought before "Directory Information" is made available to third parties must file their written requests in the Registrar’s Office. For specific instruction on where to send your request, call the Registrar’s Office at 914-773-3431.

Pace will honor any student's request to withhold any or all of the "Directory Information" applicable to said student but cannot assume responsibility to contact that student for subsequent permission to release such information, regardless of the effect upon that student. Pace assumes no liability for honoring that student's instructions that such information be withheld.

Students also have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office (FERPA) concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the act.

A Pace University Policy Statement in connection with this Act may be obtained from the Office of the Dean for Students.


Graduation and Certificate Policies, Honors and Awards

Application for Graduation and Award of Certificates
Every candidate must file an application for graduation or for a certificate at the Office of Student Accounts and Registrar Services by March 15 for January graduates and by September 15 for June and September graduates. Students can access the Application for a Certificate or the Application for Graduation by logging into the Student Information Center, and accessing the Forms page which contains both application forms. Follow the instructions on each form.

Graduation Honors
The degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies, Bachelor of Science in Professional Computer Studies, the Associate in Applied Science and the Associate in Science degrees are awarded with distinction to students who complete 30-59 credits at Pace with a final QPA of at least 3.50.

Commencement for Degree Recipients
Commencement Exercises are conducted once a year in May for the Westchester campuses and the New York City campus. Degree recipients in January and students who are candidates for graduation in June or September of the same year are eligible to participate in the Commencement Exercises in May. Students who have filed an Application for Graduation at the Office of Student Accounts and Registrar Services by the filing deadline will receive information in late January regarding the Commencement Exercises.