4.2 Academic Regulations and Procedures

Academic Probation/Dismissal

The Committee on Academic Review will monitor the academic progress of all Scripps students. At the end of each semester, the Committee will discuss any student whose semester or cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 (C) or who, in the judgment of the Committee, jeopardizes her progress toward the degree.

Academic Probation: A student will be placed on academic probation the first time her semester grade point average falls below 2.00 (C). Typically, to meet the terms of probation, a student must achieve a semester grade point average of 2.00 (C) and a passing grade in each letter-graded course while enrolled full-time in the first subsequent semester of enrollment. The Committee on Academic Review may choose to set additional or course-specific probationary terms. If the student meets all of the terms of her probation, but her cumulative grade point average remains below 2.00 (C), she will normally be continued on academic probation until her cumulative grade point average also reaches 2.00 or higher.

The Committee on Academic Review may establish specific probationary terms for any student who, in the judgment of the Committee, may be jeopardizing normal progress toward her degree. Failure to meet all of the terms of academic probation will normally lead to suspension or dismissal from the College (see below). At the discretion of the Committee on Academic Review, a student under exceptional circumstances may be continued on a second and final probationary period.

Academic Suspension: If a student fails to meet the terms of academic probation or completes a second semester with a grade point average below 2.00 (C), she will usually be suspended from the College. After at least one semester away from the College, a student who has been suspended may petition the Committee on Academic Review for readmission on probation. The Committee will evaluate the petition for readmission based upon evidence that the student will perform successfully if readmitted. Such evidence may include one or more full-time terms of successful academic performance in an equivalent academic environment, her academic history, positive changes in her health or personal circumstances, and/or recommendations from Scripps or off-campus faculty or other professionals. Such evidence, however, will not guarantee readmission by the Committee. If readmitted, the Committee will define the probationary terms under which the student may continue enrollment. Students who fail to meet the terms of academic probation following readmission will normally be dismissed from the College.

Academic Dismissal: If a student fails to meet the terms of academic probation or is otherwise not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, the Committee on Academic Review may dismiss the student from the College. Students who have been suspended from the College and unsuccessfully petition for readmission will be dismissed from the College. Only under extraordinary circumstances and after an extended period of more than one year away from the College may a student reapply to the College.

The decisions of the Committee on Academic Review with respect to Academic Probation, Academic Suspension, and Academic Dismissal may be appealed through the Petitioning Process described later in this section. Any Petition seeking to appeal a decision regarding Academic Probation, Academic Suspension, or Academic Dismissal must be submitted to the Committee on Academic Review within five (5) working days following email notification to the student of the decision being appealed.

Class Level

Class level is determined by the number of Scripps courses or course equivalents that have been completed as follows:

Course Numbering and Credit

Scripps courses numbered 1-99 are lower generally division; those numbered 100-199 are generally upper division. One Scripps course is equivalent to four semester units or six quarter units. Transfer credit will be equated to Scripps courses according to a standard mathematical conversion table available in the Registrar’s Office. Courses considered for transfer from a community college are lower division.

Grades

Academic evaluation at Scripps College is a system of letter grades with grade points assigned according to the following scale:

1. A grade point average of 2.00 (C) in each major, each (optional) minor, and cumulatively is required for graduation.
2. D- is the minimum passing letter grade for all courses.
3. Cumulative grade point averages are calculated only on courses taken as a Scripps student (including official Study Abroad and Global Education programs).
4. Letter grades on file with the registrar at the end of the semester are final unless an error in calculating the grade is discovered. Errors must be corrected within one year of the time the grade was recorded.

Credit/No Credit

• Courses which are normally letter-graded which students may request to take for non-letter grading. 
• A maximum of one course per semester may be taken Credit/No Credit with a maximum of four pass courses counting toward the 32-course degree requirement.
• Work must be C (not including C–) or above in quality to receive a passing grade (CR). 
• Credit/No Credit grades are not calculated into the cumulative grade point average.
• The decision by the student to take a course Credit/No Credit must be made and recorded in the Registrar’s Office by the last day to withdraw from a course; a change in registration form must be submitted.  A student may not change the grading option back to a letter grade.
• Courses used to meet any general requirement or courses in the major(s) or minor(s) may not be taken Credit/No Credit.

Pass/No Pass

• Courses which are defined as non-letter graded, for which students may earn credit toward degree completion, but no grade points. Examples of P/NP graded courses include independent internships, physical education, etc.
• Work must be C (not including C–) or above in quality to receive a passing grade of P; instructors may record high pass (HP) to denote achievement.
• Pass/No Pass grades are not calculated into the cumulative grade point average.
• Pass/No Pass courses will not meet any general education requirement, and require approval by major advisor for use in a program of study. 

Incomplete (I)

An “Explanation of Incomplete” form must be filed for each incomplete grade assigned. An incomplete may be given at the instructor’s discretion, under the following circumstances:

• At least 75 percent of all course requirements to date has been completed; and
• The student’s work to date is passing; and
• Attendance has been satisfactory; and
• An illness or other extenuating circumstance legitimately prevents completion of required work by the due date (written verification by the dean of students or medical practitioner may be required); and
• The incomplete is not based solely on a student’s failure to complete work or as a means of raising her grade by doing additional work after the grade report time; and
• The instructor completes and submits the appropriate form, including the final grade to be assigned if the work is not completed on time.
• Students must complete all remaining work no later than the deadline to add classes (10^th instructional day) of the following semester (regardless of whether or not she is enrolled on campus the subsequent term).
• A deadline prior to the 10^th day of the subsequent semester is the discretion of the faculty, and shall be arranged between the faculty and the student.
• The instructor must submit a final grade no later than two weeks following completion of the work (end of the fourth week).
• Students must petition to the Committee on Academic Review to seek a deadline extension.
• If the work is not completed by the established or petitioned deadline, the final grade submitted by the faculty member on the basis of work previously completed will be recorded. If no default grade was submitted, a grade of F will be recorded.

In Progress (N)

For courses designed to extend beyond one semester such as some senior theses.

No Grade (NR, NG, or NGS)

This place holder will be used when no grade can be recorded before grades are available to students at the end of a semester, e.g., grades for the course were not yet submitted or a grade was omitted. As soon as the Registrar’s Office has obtained the appropriate final course grade, the student will be notified of the final grade and the corrected semester and cumulative grade point averages, and her transcript will be updated.

Dropping Courses/Withdrawal

A student may drop a course, except Core, during the first nine weeks of the semester and no record of that course is made on the transcript. After the last day to drop courses (the date is published each semester in the academic calendar), a withdrawal will appear on the transcript indicated as a grade of W.

No drop forms will be accepted after the 12th Friday of the semester except in cases of emergency by petition to the Committee on Academic Review.

Students must petition to the Committee on Academic Review to drop or withdraw from any of the three Core courses.

Student Disenrollment Policy

If a student fails to attend the first two meetings of a course (or one course meeting for courses meeting only one time per week) and the absences were not approved in advance by the instructor, the faculty member of record may ask the student’s Registrar to drop the student from the course. However, students will not automatically be dropped from a course they do not attend. The student may appeal to their home college for reinstatement into a dropped course when documented circumstances beyond the student’s control prevented the student from attending the course and communicating with the instructor before the add deadline.

Adding Courses

Students may add courses on the portal during the first ten instructional days of a semester. Students must petition to the Committee on Academic Review to add a course following the tenth instructional day.

Intercollegiate Agreement on Academic Dishonesty and Disputed Grades

A student charged with academic dishonesty in a course taken outside the home college shall be tried according to the procedures for handling such cases in the home institution. Faculty members are obliged to accept the decision of the student’s college and may not impose a penalty should the appropriate hearing panel fail to find guilt. Any student grievance concerning a grade given by an instructor as a result of such a hearing decision will also be handled according to the rules of the student’s home college.

All other grievances concerning grades are handled by procedure of the college sponsoring the course.

Transfer Credit

Liberal arts courses satisfactorily completed at colleges and universities external to The Claremont Colleges will be considered for transfer credit toward the Scripps bachelor’s degree upon receipt of an official transcript if they meet the conditions listed below. Grades earned will not be calculated in the Scripps cumulative grade point average, and individual courses and grades will not be listed on the official Scripps transcript.
[Advising Note: Be sure to verify the academic calendar of the transfer institution before determining equivalency to a Claremont course. For instance, “French 3” on the quarter calendar is the end of the first year of instruction in the language and is not equivalent to third-semester French.]

1. Courses will be considered for transfer credit only if they were completed through a comparable liberal arts college or university program and area also comparable to courses offered by, and within disciplines at, the undergraduate Claremont Colleges. Activity courses such as physical education, music ensembles, and theater workshops will not be considered for transfer credit. Students may be required to provide college catalogs, course syllabuses, and other documentation as evidence of comparability.
2. Courses completed at a community college will transfer only as lower-division credit and must be identified in the community college catalog as transferable to, and articulated with, the University of California or comparable out-of-state university toward a liberal arts degree at the baccalaureate level.

3. Students admitted as new First Years: A maximum of the equivalent to 4.0 (four) Scripps courses, including a maximum of 4 (four) Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits, may be transferred to meet degree requirements. A maximum of the equivalent to 4.0 (four) Scripps courses may be transferred from summer sessions and university extension programs toward degree requirements. Courses completed through one of The Claremont Colleges during a summer term are resident credit and are not included in these transfer maximums.

4. Students admitted as: Transfer students: A maximum of the equivalent to 16.0 (sixteen) Scripps courses, including a maximum of 4 (four) Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits, may be transferred to meet degree requirements. No additional transfer credit is accepted. Courses completed through one of The Claremont Colleges during a summer term are resident credit and are not included in these transfer maximums.
5. Only courses graded C or above (not including C-) will be considered for transfer credit. Pass/fail or credit/no credit grades must be equated to C by the sending institution and will be elective credit only, not meeting any general education, major, or minor degree requirements at Scripps.
6. All transfer credit will be translated into equivalent Scripps course credits. One Scripps course is equivalent to four semester units or six quarter credits. To calculate approximate transfer credit, divide the total number of transferable semester units or quarter credits by four or six, respectively.
7. Courses approved as transfer credit may be applied toward general degree requirements and as elective credit upon initial evaluation at admission. They may only be used toward major or minor requirements when approved by faculty in the department of the major or minor as listed on an approval form. Work completed in a summer session or through a university extension program does not normally count toward the major or minor.
8. No transfer credit will be granted for courses challenged by examination at another college or university, even if that institution has given credit for courses so challenged. No transfer credit will be granted for experiential learning, although department faculty may allow registration into upper level courses based upon portfolios, auditions, or other department criteria. Such placement will not, however, constitute credit toward the minimum number of courses required for the degree, major, or minor.
9. International students requesting credit for college or university work completed outside the United States prior to admission may be required to pay for an official evaluation of the official foreign transcript through a service recommended by Scripps College.
10. Credit for courses taken in affiliated programs through the Scripps Office of Off-Campus Study will be determined by the Scripps registrar in accordance with established guidelines and procedures. Courses and grades completed through Scripps Off-Campus Study programs are considered to be resident credit, will be itemized on the Scripps official transcript, and will be computed in Scripps grade point averages. More information is available in the Office of Off-Campus Study and the Office of the Registrar.
11. Following initial entrance to the College, Scripps students will not be allowed to transfer credit from a college or university abroad or one with which Scripps has a formal exchange program unless enrolled through Scripps. Summer coursework abroad, as indicated on an official institutional transcript, will be considered for transfer credit only when offered through a comparable United States college or university liberal arts program or through a program with which Scripps is affiliated during the fall and spring semesters.

Transfer Credit and Concurrent Enrollment

Once a student has matriculated to Scripps, transfer credit will not normally be awarded for courses completed during the academic year (except via approved petition); summer transfer credit is permitted up to a maximum of 4.0 courses.

Online Course Policy

Successfully completed online courses will not be considered for transfer credit unless they meet either of the two criteria identified below.

1. The courses are on the UC ASSIST (http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html) list of approved courses;

OR:

    2. The courses were completed through a comparable liberal arts college or university program; and have been  
        approved for transfer credit by the chair of the relevant department or program at Scripps College.

Courses meeting either of these two criteria will be evaluated as follows:

Only courses graded C or above (not including C–) will be considered for transfer credit. Pass/fail or credit/no credit grades must be equated to C by the sending institution and will be elective credit only, not meeting any general education, major, or minor degree requirements at Scripps.

All transfer credit will be translated into equivalent Scripps course credits. One Scripps course is equivalent to four semester units or six quarter credits. To calculate approximate transfer credit, divide the total number of transferable semester units or quarter credits by four or six, respectively.

The College will accept no more than the equivalent of two Scripps courses from online courses as transfer credit toward the Scripps College bachelor’s degree.

Courses approved as transfer credit may be applied toward general degree requirements and as elective credit upon initial evaluation at admission. They may only be used toward major or minor requirements when approved by faculty in the department of the major or minor as listed on an approval form.

Exceptions to the above guidelines will be considered on an individual basis by petition to the appropriate committee—the Committee on Academic Review or the Committee on Study Abroad—with applicable department faculty review and recommendation. Questions regarding credit and transferability of courses should be directed to the registrar.

*Effective Fall 2020: In light of circumstances related to COVID-19 pandemic, the Scripps Faculty approved a policy change through Fall 2023 to permit new and continuing students to earn a maximum of the equivalent of 16.0 Scripps courses of transfer credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities in fulfillment of a Scripps degree, whether the mode of delivery was in-person or online.​ There is no distinction for transferability as it relates to entrance type (i.e., transfer student of first time first year), and no distinction for transferability as it relates to mode of delivery (i.e., in -person, online, hybrid, etc.). The College reserves the right to revisit this policy exception prior to Fall 2023. In Fall 2022, the Scripps Faculty voted to continue this policy change beyond Fall 2023. It may be reviewed at a later time.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate

Students who have taken Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate high school courses followed by matching examinations will receive one elective course credit for achieving exemplary scores; no additional credit will be granted for subscores. (For example, a Calculus AB subscore of 4 or 5 on a Calculus BC exam will not earn credit, regardless as to whether or not the student earned a 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC exam to which the subscore is attached.) For Advanced Placement courses and examinations, scores of four or five on the examination will be considered for credit. For International Baccalaureate courses and examinations, scores of five, six or seven on higher-level examinations will be considered for credit. A maximum of four such elective course credits will count toward the degree, but may not be used toward the 16-course residence requirement. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate examinations in the same subject with only one matching high school course will be considered as one.

The appropriate Scripps academic department will determine waiver of major requirements or placement into advanced courses based upon Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses and scores. The Scripps mathematics general elective requirement will be met with scores of 4 or 5 in AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC. No other general education requirement, major, or minor requirement can be satisfied by AP or IB credit. Elective credit granted for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate in any other subject or discipline will not meet other general education requirements.

Auditing Courses

Regularly enrolled students and members of the Claremont community may register as auditors only on a space-available basis and only with written permission of the instructor. Core, writing, studio art, and music performance courses may not be audited. Forms to request to audit courses are available in the Registrar’s Office. Audited courses do not earn credit and may not be used to meet any degree requirement. Instructors have the option of dropping auditors who attend fewer than half of the class meetings, and such dropped courses will not appear on student transcripts. Auditors may not change their enrollment status to receive credit after the last day to add classes; credit enrollments may not be changed to audits after the last day to drop classes. Regularly enrolled students pay no additional fees to audit courses. Applicable fees for members of the Claremont community to audit courses are indicated in the Scripps Catalog.

Faculty members should contact the Associate Dean regarding the special senior audit program of the Claremont Joslyn Senior Center—for which no record is kept by the Registrar.

Leaves of Absence

Voluntary Leave

Leaves of absence for up to two semesters are permitted for students for personal, medical, financial, or other reasons. Students interested in taking time away from Scripps College should consult with the Registrar and the Dean of Students to determine which type of leave best suits their needs. Students attending Scripps on an F-1 or J-1 visa must consult with the DSO and Registrar prior to requesting a leave and prior to returning from it so that they understand the effect a leave has on their visa status.

Students may take either a personal leave or a medical leave:

• Personal leaves of absence are appropriate when a student needs time away from the College to pursue personal or family matters, military or religious obligations, employment, or enrichment opportunities. Contact the Registrar to effect a personal leave of absence.
• Medical leaves of absence are appropriate when a student needs time away from Scripps to pursue treatment for a physical or psychological condition. Contact the Dean of Students to effect a medical leave of absence.

A student who initiates a leave of absence after the last day to drop courses and prior to the course withdrawal deadline will be assigned a grade of W for each current course enrollment. The timing of a leave may have financial consequences, thus students requesting leaves are advised to make their plans known as far in advance as possible. Students are advised to confer directly with Student Accounts and Financial Aid to understand the financial implications of their choices. Refer to the Expenses section of the Catalog for possible refund information. 

Campus email address, academic portal access, and campus mailbox are retained during the leave of absence.

While on leave of absence, a student may not reside in campus housing, nor attend courses at The Claremont Colleges. 

Scripps College allows enrolled members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components and National Guard, to be readmitted if such members are temporarily unavailable or must interrupt enrollment by reason of serving in the Armed Forces. The College will accommodate short absences for such services in the Armed Forces. 

Students who plan to attend and transfer credit from another college are subject to Scripps transfer credit policies. Students must confer with the Registrar for any questions regarding transfer credit policies and procedures. Students will not receive credit from a study abroad program completed outside the purview of the Scripps Study Abroad and Global Education Office while on a leave of absence from Scripps.

Students wishing to extend a leave of absence beyond two semesters shall notify the Registrar in writing of their plans. Students on leave beyond four semesters are subject to administrative withdrawal.

Questions regarding taking a leave of absence should be directed to the Registrar at registrar@scrippscollege.edu and the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudentsoffice@scrippscollege.edu.
 

Involuntary Leave

When, in the judgement of the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, it is determined a student poses a health or safety risk to themself, others, or the Scripps community, an involuntary leave may be required. Consult the Guide to Student Life and Code of Conduct (GTSL/COC) for full policy details. 

Withdrawal from the College

If for unanticipated reasons a student requests to withdraw from the College before the end of the semester, the student must contact the Dean of Students Office and the Registrar. Any student who initiates a withdrawal from the College after the last day to drop courses will be assigned a grade of W for each current course enrollment; students who withdraw from the College after the published course withdrawal deadline are responsible for grades earned in courses. (Refer to the Expenses section of the Catalog for possible refund information.) Withdrawing from the College is effected by submitting a Withdrawal form to the Registrar.

• A student may voluntarily withdraw from Scripps by completing a Withdrawal form available at the Registrar’s Office. Once submitted, this information is shared with offices who need to know, such as the Dean of Students, the Registrar, and the Office of Financial Aid, Student Accounts, etc. Refund deadlines and policies apply; contact the Office of Student Accounts for details. 
• Transcripts of students who withdraw from Scripps by the last day to drop from courses without academic penalty will reflect no enrollment for that semester. Transcripts will show non-punitive grades of W in courses for students who withdraw after the deadline to drop from classes and not later than the course withdrawal deadline.
• Campus email address, academic portal access, and campus mailbox are inactivated following withdrawal from the College.
   

Administrative Withdrawal for non-attendance

Scripps College reserves the right to withdraw students from the College for non-attendance. Students shall confirm their enrollment at Scripps or one of its approved off-campus study programs each semester by attending all registered courses and communicating with College officials. Students who fail to satisfy these responsibilities are subject to administrative withdrawal from the College for non-attendance as of the tenth instructional day of the semester. 

Questions regarding withdrawal from the College should be directed to the Registrar and the Dean of Students Office. Withdrawing from the College may have implications for financial aid recipients. See the Financial Aid section of the Scripps Catalog for more information.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all classes and not to absent themselves without adequate reason. The regulation of class attendance is ultimately the responsibility of the faculty. It is particularly important that students attend classes immediately preceding and following vacation periods.

Low Grade Notices: Reporting Academic Deficiencies During the Semester

Faculty members are encouraged to send academic advisories or low grade notices to students and their advisors using their academic portal accounts. Low grade notices are appropriate any time during the semester and may be submitted more than once, and they are encouraged to do so to allow the student time to determine if they can improve their performance, drop, or withdraw from the course by published deadlines.  

Academic Dishonesty

It is the responsibility of the student to know the definitions of plagiarism and cheating. The Guide to Student Life gives a general description of plagiarism. If a student is in doubt, she should consult her instructors. If a student cheats or plagiarizes, she can be held accountable for violation of the System of Responsibility and the Guide to Student Life.

It is the responsibility of the faculty member to be alert to possibilities of plagiarism and/or cheating. If he or she encounters either, it is his or her responsibility to initiate and follow the policy outlined in the Guide to Student Life.

Refer to Faculty Handbook 4.4  for further information concerning academic dishonesty.

Reading Days

In the fall semester, the Wednesday prior to finals week is designated the last day of classes at Scripps College. In the spring semester, the Wednesday prior to finals week (the last day of classes) is designated as Capstone Day. Thursday and Friday of the last week of classes each semester are designated as Reading Days. Classes are suspended but professors may hold study sessions, critique sessions, or reviews during normal class times. No new material may be introduced at these sessions or exams given (except for graduating seniors).

Examinations

Each semester closes with a period of final examinations. The final examination schedule is standardized for the five undergraduate colleges, and the following information is published in registration materials each semester:

1. Examination times for “arranged” classes, as well as for classes which meet at times different from the Standard Class Times must be scheduled by mutual agreement of the instructor and the students; classroom space must also be specially arranged.
2. Final examinations will be in the same rooms assigned for regular class work unless other arrangements are made with the Registrar’s Office. In the event that another room is used, the instructor will announce the change.
3. To be counted as work completed in the course, all papers, reports, drawings and other assigned material must be submitted to instructors before the scheduled date of the final examination, unless an earlier deadline is given.
4. In the spring semester, seniors completing requirements for graduation must take final examinations during the last week of regularly scheduled classes.

In addition, the following applies to Scripps:

1. No changes in scheduled examinations may be made except by petition to the Committee on Academic Review.
2. In order to protect students from the excessive academic pressure of being examined during the last week of classes, it is urged that all faculty give their examinations within the published final examination period. If, for emergency reasons, the final examination has to be given earlier, the examination must be confined to the hours during which the class is scheduled to meet.
3. Because grades in the spring semester for graduating seniors must be reported to the Registrar on the final reading day; seniors completing requirements for graduation may not take final examinations during the regular examination period.

Granting of Degrees

Students are granted the degree in May or on October 18 or December 30, depending upon when all requirements are completed. All students graduating during the academic year are invited to participate in May commencement.

Thesis Regulations

The Senior Thesis will be undertaken after consultation with the student’s advisor and will be carried out under the direction of an instructor in the area of the student’s major field of study. Each thesis will be evaluated by the director in consultation with a second reader of the student’s choice. At least one of the two thesis readers must be on the faculty at Scripps. The Dean of Faculty must give approval for two off-campus readers. Senior Thesis submission deadlines are determined by each department.

In case of disagreement in evaluation between the director of a thesis and a second reader, a third reader will be requested by the Dean of the Faculty to act as arbiter.

Cross-Registration at The Claremont Colleges

Students may cross-register without the express permission of the instructor if off-campus courses fall within the guidelines below. Students are normally expected to enroll on the home campus for courses offered at more than one of The Claremont Colleges. Cross-registration may be limited or prohibited in certain courses.

1. First-year students are encouraged to register for their entire first-semester program at Scripps.
2. There is no additional tuition for enrolling in courses at the other Claremont Colleges.
3. Department of Natural Sciences courses and courses in joint or cooperative programs in which Scripps participates are considered as courses offered by the home campus.

Requirements for the Major

Before pre-registration in spring of the sophomore year, each student must declare a major by submitting a Major Declaration Form to the registrar’s office. Forms are found here: http://inside.scrippscollege.edu/registrar/registrar-home/forms/major-forms. At the same time, the student will select a faculty advisor within the major field who will assist the student in planning their future program, and inherit the role of primary advisor. Students who plan to complete two majors must also declare the second major by submitting a second approved Major Declaration Form assisted by a faculty member in the second field. Students planning to complete a minor are encouraged to formally declare the minor at the end of the sophomore year, and not later than the add deadline of their penultimate semester of enrollment.

A major is an integrated program of study composed of courses and independent work within a discipline or interdisciplinary program. It should have an inner rationale and coherence of structure. The basic educational policy of Scripps is to enable students to think independently and critically. In planning her major, a student should implement this policy by seeking to fulfill the following goals:

1. Mastery of (a) skills and methods, (b) principles and theory and (c) essential materials in the field. This mastery will usually be accomplished by successfully completing certain courses or a combination of courses and supervised independent study as determined by the department faculty. Passing the required courses for the major, a minimum of eight semester courses or their equivalent and senior thesis, with at least a 6.0 (C) grade point average is the basis for this standard.
2. Demonstration of competence in the field. In the areas of Music, Dance and Theatre, a senior performance or a thesis is required as a demonstration of competence. In Studio Art and Digital/Electronic and Film/Video tracks of Media Studies, a senior project is required. In all other fields, competence must be demonstrated by writing a senior thesis. Senior theses are normally supervised by two members of the Scripps College faculty: the director of the thesis and a second reader chosen in the relevant field. Options consistent with the basic educational policy of the College may be considered equivalent to the thesis upon approval by two faculty members and petition to the Committee on Academic Review. Due dates for senior theses are determined by the faculty of each discipline and published by the Registrar each semester. The senior thesis will be graded in the same manner as every other course; a minimum grade of D- is required for the senior thesis/project for graduation.

During September of the senior year, in consultation with the major advisor, the student submits an approved senior major form in the Registrar’s Office for each major the student anticipates completing (forms are found here), indicating those courses which the student plans to use to complete the major requirements. Seniors will be held to the specific courses indicated on the senior major form. Written requests on a course substitution form to change these intended courses must be approved by the major advisor and forwarded to the Registrar.

Choices for Majors

Scripps major requirements must be met if the major is offered at Scripps.

1. Requirements for majors at Scripps College are defined by departments and are listed in the catalog under the descriptions of the departmental programs. All majors consist of a minimum of eight semester courses or their equivalent, and a senior thesis (or senior seminar or project). At least half of these courses must be taken at Scripps, except where this regulation is specifically waived. Courses that fulfill major requirements will be chosen by the student in consultation with her advisor and listed on her approved senior major form.
2. A dual major must fulfill all of the major requirements for each of two disciplines (unless an exception is specified in the catalog) and complete a senior thesis that integrates the skills and knowledge of both fields. The two thesis readers are from the faculty of the two fields represented by the dual major. Normally, students who undertake a dual major would be required to complete only one senior seminar, but two may be taken for credit if the thesis readers recommend it. In the case of a dual major where each department requires participation in a senior seminar, and in the event these seminars meet at the same time, the student, with the assistance of advisors from each department, will determine the senior seminar in which she will enroll. Courses to fulfill each major requirement will be listed on each of two senior major forms as approved by her advisor in each field.
3. A double major must fulfill all of the major requirements for each of two disciplines and complete two theses, one in each of the two subject areas. Courses that fulfill each major requirement will be listed on each of two senior major forms as approved by the student’s advisor in each field.

In exceptional cases a student may petition the Academic Policy Subcommittee of the FEC for approval of a self-designed major. The major must consist of a minimum of ten semester courses or their equivalent (including senior thesis); these courses should allow the student to acquire mastery of the skills, methods, principles, theories, and history related to the course of study. The major will culminate in a thesis that will allow the student to demonstrate the acquired expertise. To plan the course of study the student will work closely with a Scripps academic advisor with experience and fluency in the field. The petition for this self-designed course of study must include:

• A description of the major and its learning objectives.
• An explanation as to why/how proposed major is an intellectual course of study with a unified and coherent subject matter.
• An explanation as to why proposed area of study cannot be accommodated by existing majors, minors, and electives and/or any combinations thereof.
• Statements from at least two faculty members who will be working with the student, defending and supporting the petition. These statements must include a detailed explanation of the basis for this course of study and why the area of study cannot be served by existing 5-C majors, minors, or a combination thereof.
• A signature of a Scripps faculty member who agrees, barring unusual or unforeseen circumstances, to serve as a reader for the thesis and, if this Scripps faculty member cannot serve as first reader, then the proposal must, in addition, be signed by a Claremont Colleges faculty member who agrees, barring unusual or unforeseen circumstance, to serve as first reader for the thesis.
• Initially, a student major petition form must be signed by individual faculty members whose courses are being counted towards the self-designed major. Subsequent changes to the proposed major requires only the major advisor’s signature.

Up to two courses (including prerequisite courses) may double count towards each of two majors (but not also a General Education Requirement). Students may exceed this double counting limit if the total number of unduplicated courses on the approved Senior Major Form for each major (excluding senior seminar and thesis) is at least six courses.

Majors are offered in fields in which the senior thesis can be supervised by a member of the Scripps faculty. If the major is offered at Scripps or is an intercollegiate major in which Scripps participates, the Scripps major requirements must be met and a Scripps faculty member must serve as the major advisor. If a student wishes to major in a field for which no provision is made at Scripps (for example, sociology), she may complete her work in part or entirely at one or more of the other Claremont Colleges. In this case the student must meet the specific requirements of the other colleges for the major, to include at least eight courses, and also write a senior thesis. A Scripps faculty member must serve as a thesis reader. Off-campus majors require the on-campus advisor’s signature of approval plus the signature of the off-campus advisor in the major field on the senior major form. All majors are subject to review by the dean of the faculty and the Committee on Academic Review.

Minors

Scripps minor requirements must be met if the minor is offered at Scripps.

Students planning to complete a minor are encouraged to declare the minor formally at the end of the sophomore year. A completed form for declaring a minor, including the approval of the student’s advisor and a professor in the designated minor area of study, must be submitted to the registrar no later than the deadline to add classes in their penultimate semester of enrollment. Satisfactory completion of a minor will be measured by passing grades in all required courses with a minimum grade point average of 6.0 (C) or higher.

Requirements for minors at Scripps College are defined by departments and are listed in the catalog under the descriptions of the departmental programs. All minors consist of a minimum of six semester courses or their equivalent. Up to one course may double count between a major and a minor or between two minors (but not also a General Requirement). Students may exceed this double counting limit if the total number of unduplicated courses on the approved declaration form for each minor is at least five courses. At least half of these courses must be taken at Scripps, except where this regulation is specifically waived.

Honors in the Major

If an honors program in the major is offered at Scripps, the Scripps honors requirements must be met. When the Scripps major does not offer honors, a student may discuss with the department/program chair the possibility of creating an honors program.

[See the current catalog for honors in off-campus and self-designed majors as well as intercollegiate programs.]

Petitioning Process

A. Petitions to the Committee on Academic Review

Students who seek an exception to academic policy or procedure must file a petition for the Committee on Academic Review (CAR):

1. To petition exceptions to any published deadline including change in registration or drop.
2. To enroll for independent study or independent internship credit.
3. For waiver of, or exception to, any stated academic regulation.
4. To enroll in six or more courses in any one semester.
5. To participate in a Scripps/Claremont Graduate University or other accelerated program. (See Combined Degree Programs in Scripps Catalog.)
6. To postpone required first-year courses, including Core I, and Core II, as well as Core III in fall of the second year.
7. To change a scheduled examination.
8. To receive transfer credit for College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Subject Examinations.
9. Appeal of a decision by the Committee on Academic Review with respect to Academic Probation, Academic Suspension, or Academic Dismissal (must be submitted within 10 days following email notification to the student of the decision that is the subject of the Petition).

Petition forms may be obtained at the Registrar’s Office or printed from the registrar’s home page on the Web and must carry the signature of the student’s advisor and, where relevant, of the supervising instructor. Advisor and instructor comments are encouraged. All Petitions must include the student’s current email address and telephone number.

Once the Committee on Academic Review (CAR) has made its final decision on a petition, a student may appeal the decision on one or more of the following grounds: (i) the procedures set forth by the College to adjudicate petitions were not properly followed by CAR; (ii) new information relevant to the case has since become available; or (iii) CAR’s interpretation of the relevant College policy or policies was erroneous. For purposes of this provision, “new information” is information that is directly relevant to the issue under consideration and could not with reasonable diligence have been located or obtained by the student at the time the student submitted materials to CAR. Any such appeal must be initiated by submitting a written statement to the Dean of Faculty within five (5) working days following email notification to the student of CAR’s final decision. The statement to the Dean must set forth the CAR decision being appealed and the reason(s) the student contends the decision should be overturned or modified. Within five (5) working days of receipt of the appeal, the Dean of the Faculty, in consultation with the Chair of the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC), shall initially determine whether the appeal satisfies the foregoing requirements. If the Dean decides that the appeal does not satisfy the requirements, the Dean shall inform the student in writing of the appeal’s deficiencies. If the Dean determines that the appeal satisfies the requirements, the FEC shall consider such appeal at a regularly scheduled FEC meeting. While the College is in session, such meeting shall be no later than fifteen (15) working days following submission of the appeal. If an appeal is submitted while the College is not in session or after the last regularly scheduled FEC meeting of a semester, the appeal will be considered at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the FEC during the next semester. Any members of FEC who participated in the CAR decision that is the subject of the appeal will recuse themselves from the FEC appeal vote. To evaluate such an appeal, the FEC may request additional information from the student and/or the College’s faculty and staff, and the FEC may extend the period to consider the appeal, at its discretion, to accommodate its request(s) for additional information. In the event the FEC finds merit in one or more bases of the appeal, the FEC, at its discretion, may remand the matter back to CAR to reconsider the matter based upon procedural clarification from the FEC, new information, or policy interpretation clarification from the FEC. In the event the FEC remands the matter to CAR for further consideration, CAR shall report back to the FEC in writing within ten (10) working days stating whether CAR has modified its position on the matter. The FEC shall then make its final determination within five (5) working days of receiving CAR’s report. The decision by the FEC with respect to any appeal of a CAR decision is final.

B. Petitions to the Faculty Executive Committee

Petitions are submitted to the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC) for the following requests:

To petition that a course fulfill a General Education requirement for which it is not already listed (including courses that meet the Race and Ethnic Studies or Gender and Women’s Studies requirements) or to get approval for a self-designed major (see criteria above under “Choices for Majors”).

Petitions for General Education requirements may be obtained from the Registrar’s home page on the Web, must be approved by the student’s advisor and, where relevant, of the supervising instructor. The Registrar will forward the petition to the appropriate FEC subcommittee (Academic Policy Subcommittee, Race and Ethnic Studies Committee, or Gender and Women’s Studies Committee), which will forward its recommendation to the full FEC.

To participate in commencement exercises before completion of all graduation requirements. Students who have completed their 3 years of Scripps College requirements in the 3/2 engineering program and students within 4.0 courses of completion do not need to petition to process in commencement exercises. However, they must provide a detailed plan of action for completion at Scripps, consistent with the residence requirement, to the Registrar’s office not later than the Friday before the last day of instruction. The plan must be reviewed and approved by the student’s academic advisor and the Registrar.

Students who do not meet this criteria may submit a petition to the Registrar’s Office. The petition will be forwarded to the Dean of Faculty, who will bring the request to the FEC for consideration. Such requests must be received not later than the Friday before the last week of classes and must explain the reason for the petition in detail. Petitions must include what requirements remain outstanding and a plan of action for how to fulfill these along with the timing for completion.

Petitions to the FEC are not normally subject to appeal.