Policies

Full policy and related FAQs available at: Using Email as Official Student Communication

The University provides students with an email account upon matriculation to the institution. This account is free of charge and remains available at minimum while  the student is enrolled or is active in their degree program.

The University-assigned student email account is the University's official means of communication with all students. Students are responsible for all official information sent to their University-assigned email account. If a student chooses to forward messages to another account, the student is still responsible for all information, including attachments.

Full policy and related FAQs available at: Expected Student Academic Work per Credit.

Student workload expectations per undergraduate credit. For fall or spring semester, one credit represents, for the average University undergraduate student, three hours of academic work per week (including lectures, laboratories, recitations, discussion groups, field work, study, and so on), averaged over the semester, in order to complete the work of the course to achieve an average grade. 

One credit equals 42 to 45 hours of work over the course of the semester (1 credit x 3 hours of work per week x 14 or 15 weeks in a semester equals 42 to 45 hours of academic work). 

Thus, enrollment for 15 credits in a semester represents approximately 45 hours of work per week, on average, over the course of the semester.

Full policy and related FAQs available at: Mandatory Attendance at First Class Session and Consequences for Absence

You must attend the first class meeting of every course in which you are registered unless you obtain approval for your intended absence before the first meeting. Without this prior approval you may lose your place in class to another student. If the first day falls during a recognized religious holiday, it does not require instructor approval, but the instructor must be notified in advance. 

How does this policy apply to online courses?
The policy extends to online courses as well as traditional in-person courses. Students must attend the first class meeting or obtain permission from the faculty member to be absent. In the traditional classroom courses, attendance means the student is physically present in the classroom. For online courses that are delivered asynchronously, instructors have discretion to indicate on the syllabus the specific action(s) a student would need to take within a specified time period in order to meet the mandatory first-day attendance requirement. Examples of specific actions students can be asked to complete to meet this requirement for online classes include posting an introduction to an online discussion group, initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about an academic course topic, submitting an assignment, or taking a quiz, etc.

IMPORTANT: PSEO students, as all other students, are expected to attend all class sessions and adhere to the attendance policy outlined in their course syllabus. Failure to attend class often results in automatic reduction in course point totals, and ultimately, the final grade. High school vacation days or trips that cause students to miss a class session are not excused absences for University courses.

All students must be aware of, and follow, University of Minnesota Morris policies and deadlines regarding their course registration.  Please review the UMN Morris Registration Deadlines for deadlines pertaining to adding or dropping classes.  

All UMN Morris Date and Deadlines can be found at UMN Morris One Stop Student Services. Consult the PSEO Adviser immediately if you wish to make a change in your course registration.

Full policy and related FAQs available at: Makeup Work for Legitimate Absences

Instructors may not penalize students for absence during the academic term due to unavoidable or legitimate circumstances.

• illness, physical or mental, of the student or a student’s dependent;

• medical conditions related to pregnancy;

• participation in intercollegiate athletic events;

• subpoenas;

• jury duty;

• military service;

• bereavement, including travel related to bereavement;

• religious observances;

• participation in formal University system governance, including the University Senate, Student Senate, and Board of Regents meetings, by students selected as representatives to those bodies;

• taking college entrance exams (PSAT, ACT, SAT) for Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) students that are provided at their high school; and

• activities sponsored by the University if identified by the senior academic officer for the campus or the officer’s designee as the basis for excused absences.

For other circumstances, the instructor has primary responsibility to decide on a case-by-case basis if an absence is due to unavoidable or legitimate circumstances. Instructors have discretion in these cases.

Student and faculty responsibility for Notification, Verification of Absences, and Make-up Work

Students must notify their instructors of circumstances leading to a request for makeup work as soon as possible and provide information to explain the absence.

The instructor has the right to request verification for absences and students must provide verification if requested. (See links at left for Morris offices that provide verification.)

The instructor may not penalize the student and must provide reasonable and timely accommodation or opportunity to make up missed work, including exams or other course requirements if the student: was absent due to circumstances identified above; has complied with the notification requirements; and has provided verification if the instructor has requested further information.

Note: Instructors are not obligated to accommodate students missing so much of the critical components of a course, even for legitimate reasons, that arrangements for makeup work would not be reasonable.

Appeals:  If a student believes they have been wrongly denied the opportunity to make up work due to disagreement with the instructor about the legitimacy or unavoidability of an absence, the student should pursue their complaint through their Division Chair and the Academic Dean.

For more information see the following:

• Major Personal/Family Emergencies, Extended illness, Religious Observation, Etc.

• Student Illness/Medical Conditions

• Participating in Official University Activities

• Makeup Work for Legitimate Absences

Auditing Courses

PSEO students may not audit courses.

Taking S/N Only Courses

PSEO students must consult with their high school counselor as to how an S/N (satisfactory/not satisfactory) course will transfer to their high school transcript and how it might affect their high school GPA.

Enrollment Limits

• First-semester PSEO students who plan to be full-time should plan on taking no more than 14 credits and taking only one math or science course if that science course is math, physics, biology, or chemistry. Exceptions may be made for students with considerable prior college course work such as AP/IB or prior PSEO. Check with your PSEO Adviser for more information.

• Students are restricted from taking more than 20 credits per semester. To enroll in over 20 credits, students must complete the Academic Policy Petition, complete area C, and submit the form to the Office of the Registrar. for Scholastic Committee consideration. Work with your PSEO Adviser. 

  • • • See UMN Morris Credits Maximum Policy.

Summer Term Courses

PSEO funding is provided by the Minnesota Department of Education for fall and spring semesters only. PSEO funding does not cover Summer Term courses, including those offered during May Session. PSEO students have the option to register for summer courses as a non-degree seeking student and pay out-of-pocket for courses during Summer Term. Summer Term courses are listed on the Summer Term webpage. Contact the PSEO Adviser if you have additional questions.

Repeating a Course

PSEO legislation only allows PSEO students to repeat courses in which they have received N, W, or F grades. This is more restrictive than for UMN Morris degree-seeking undergraduates. Additionally, the U of M has a course repeat policy that PSEO students must follow. Work with your PSEO Adviser if you are considering a course repeat.

Full policy and related FAQs available at: Grading and Transcripts policy 

Grade Basis

The University has two distinct grading scales: A-F and S-N.

Grading Scale (A-F)

The A-F grading scale allows for grades A-F with corresponding GPA points. UMN Morris does not award grades of A+ or D-. An F does not earn grade points or University credits; however the credit hours count into the GPA. The points awarded for each grade can be found in the Grading and Transcripts policy.

Grading Scale (S-N)

S-N stands for "satisfactory or non-satisfactory." PSEO students should only take classes on an S-N basis if that is the only way the class is offered. The S does not carry grade points and in not part of the GPA calculation, but credits will count toward the student's degree program if allowed by the college, campus or program.

• Many high schools do not count S-N courses towards high school requirements.

• Colleges look less favorably on S-N courses during the admissions process.

• Applying S-N courses towards future college degree requirements is difficult and risky.

Before contacting the PSEO Adviser, interested PSEO students should first check with their high school counselor to determine:

1.  Will the course count for high school graduation requirements?

2.  How it will appear on the high school transcript?

3.  How it will count towards the high school GPA? 

The PSEO Adviser evaluates S-N requests on a case-by-case basis. and will only approve an S-N grading basis (when A-F is offered) under rare and exceptional circumstances. 

Incompletes

An incomplete “I” grade can be assigned at the discretion of your instructor. According to University policy, incompletes may be assigned when extraordinary circumstances prevent you from completing your coursework on time. More information about when an incomplete grade is and is not allowed is below.

Incompletes appear on your transcript as the letter “I.”

Incompletes require a contract with your instructor

If you and your instructor have discussed and agreed to an incomplete grade, you are required to complete an incomplete contract. An electronic Incomplete Grade Contract is available online for you to use. It is your responsibility to initiate any electronic Incomplete Grade Contracts.

On the contract you will establish what work remains in order for you to finish the course and a timeline and deadline for you to complete the work. The final deadline must be within one term from the last day of final exams of the term you received the incomplete grade. Depending on your extenuating circumstances, you may be required to provide documentation.

Instructor and student responsibilities

You are responsible to complete the unfinished work by the established deadline. Your instructor is responsible for submitting your grade within four weeks of the date the work is completed.

If you do not complete the work or no grade is assigned, the “I” will lapse to an “F” or “N” consistent with the grade base of registration for the course.

Circumstances when an incomplete is appropriate

• You have an extraordinary circumstance (i.e. extended illness, serious accident, family emergency) as determined by your instructor that justifies extending the deadline of the class.

• You have already completed a substantial portion of the coursework with a passing grade.

• You can complete the unfinished class work within a decided-upon time frame that is within subsequent regular (fall or spring) term from when you received the incomplete grade.

Circumstances when an incomplete is not allowed

• You are required to re-take or attend the whole course in order to resolve the incomplete grade. (You are not allowed to sit in a class without being registered.)

• You need to repeat the course. (You must not re-register for a course in order to complete an incomplete grade.)

• You cannot make up the work on your own without attending the class a second time.

For additional reference, see the University’s Grading and Transcripts policy.

Obtaining Grades & Transcripts

The PSEO Adviser does not send grades directly to students.

• Students who want to access their grades can view/print an unofficial transcript for free at any time.

• Students who want to send an official transcript must go through the UMN Morris Office of the Registrar.

Please be aware that neither the PSEO Adviser nor the Office of the Registrar can release grades to friends, parents, or other relatives unless they are your designated legal agent. Grades cannot be released to anyone but you, a designated legal agent, and your high school guidance counselor or other school official. We cannot release grades over the phone to anyone.

Dean's List

PSEO recognizes the academic excellence and notes the designation of Dean's List on your U of M transcript if you:

• achieve a semester grade-point average of 3.666 or higher

• complete a minimum of 12 credits on the A−F grading system 

• complete 12 credits with letter grades (a "W" symbol is allowed; no incompletes or "N" grades` are allowed)

Note: Students who have requested suppression of information at any level are not included in posted or publicized Dean's Lists. 

In the PSEO program, confidentiality is important to us, and most of your conversations (including email) with PSEO Adviser are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). As a result, these conversations are considered confidential, even from your parents or guardians. However, University policy, state, and federal laws place some limits on confidentiality and may require release information, without your permission, to designated authorities.

If you have questions about PSEO’s limits of confidentiality, please contact Chlene Anderson, PSEO Adviser, at anderchl@morris.umn.edu.

The PSEO Office/Adviser is required to take action if you:

• Report a credible and imminent threat of danger to yourself or another person(s).

  • • In the case of threat of self-harm, UMN Morris PSEO would break confidentiality in order to consult with Student Counseling Service or the police in order to prevent the person from harming themselves.

    • If a credible threat to others has been made, UMN Morris PSEO is required to consult immediately with the police, and the police may be required to notify the person who has been threatened.

• Report or describe, or suspect, any physical abuse, neglect, mental injury, or sexual abuse of children within the last three years (this includes the occurrence of abuse or neglect to yourself if you were under age 18 at the time of the abuse).

  • • UMN PSEO is required to report any physical abuse of a child or vulnerable adult to child or adult protection services. In these cases, UMN PSEO might also consult with Student Counseling Service and/or the UMN Morris Public Safety Office.

• Report sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, relationship violence, and/or related retaliation.

  • • In this case, a report will be made to the UMN Morris Title IX Office, which will reach out to you to share resources for personal support and information about how to initiate an investigation process or other responsive action.

PSEO is not for everyone. While our program attracts many gifted and talented students, many of the factors that determine success in PSEO are based on a student's personal responsibility and not on their academic skills. A PSEO student must be independent, highly motivated, assertive and adaptable. They must have strong time management and organizational skills, in addition to having confidence in their own abilities and the mindfulness to recognize when they need to ask for help. 

It's important to note that your U of M college GPA starts now! PSEO courses are part of your U of M transcript, and will follow you well beyond this experience. There isn't a separate PSEO transcript. Your U of M transcript looks like any other undergraduate at the U of M. Even if you don't attend the U of M as a first year degree-seeking student, you will need to send your U of M transcript to other colleges and universities when you apply. Furthermore, if you apply to a graduate program, MBA, or a professional program, like medical or law school, you will be required to send the school your U of M transcript. As a result, it's important to understand this PSEO experience can affect you well beyond high school!

The transition from high school to a college campus can be challenging even for an 18 year old first year student, so it is not surprising that a student who is going into their junior or senior year of high school may struggle to adjust to our on-campus learning environment. This transition's difficulties are why the UMN Morris PSEO program has high expectations for its students.

Below is a copy of the PSEO Student Expectation Agreement that all PSEO students are held to during their time in the PSEO program at the University of Minnesota Morris. If at any point a student feels that they are not able to meet the expectations outlined below, they should reconsider whether or not PSEO is the right place for them. Success in the PSEO program can help you forward your future undergraduate career, but poor performance in our program can have serious ramifications on future college admissions.

PSEO Student Expectations Agreement

As a high school student registering in the PSEO program at the University of Minnesota Morris  (UMN Morris), I understand that there are policies and expectations to which I must adhere in order to maintain my enrollment status.

As a representative of the UMN Morris PSEO program, which is funded by Minnesota Department of Education, I recognize that this opportunity is a privilege and my participation is contingent on my conduct while in the program and adherence to all policies related to UMN Morris PSEO participation.

I UNDERSTAND:

• In order to participate in PSEO as a public school student, I must have a free period in my high school schedule. (Note: this does not apply to private school or homeschooled students.) See MDE PSEO Reference Guide.

• I must adhere to the University of Minnesota and UMN Morris academic policies and Student Conduct Code.

• I must comply with UMN Morris dates and deadlines including: academic calendar, registration/cancellation, student account billing (for expenses not covered by PSEO, and final exam times.

• Participating in the UMN Morris PSEO program means that I will meet the same expectations as an admitted college student; being a high school student is not an excuse for poor academic performance, conduct, or missing class due to high school events. See Nondegree Student Dismissal policy.

• There is a PSEO hold on my record preventing me from changing my registration on my own; all changes must go through the UMN Morris PSEO Adviser.

• The UMN Morris PSEO program will request the UMN Morris Office of the Registrar to send semester grades to my high school after grades are posted for each term I am enrolled.

•  I will adhere to all PSEO-specific policies and procedures as stated on the UMN Morris PSEO website and in the online UMN Morris PSEO Student Handbook, especially those related to course selection, course prerequisites, registration and academic probation and dismissal.

• When I drop a course after “the last day to drop a course without receiving a W (withdraw)” as per the registration deadlines for the semester, I will receive a W on my permanent University of Minnesota transcript.

• I must take initiative to seek assistance when needed.

• The UMN Morris PSEO Adviser and/or PSEO Review Team reserve the right to drop students from courses based on placement test results, required or recommended course prerequisites, or other factors that might put the student at risk of doing poorly.

• It is my responsibility to know my high school graduation requirements and work with my high school counselor to confirm that my UMN Morris PSEO courses will meet those requirements.

•  My enrollment in the UMN Morris PSEO program does not guarantee my registration in courses I need to meet high school graduation requirements. Given the timing of PSEO registration (after degree-seeking students), course availability may be limited or closed.

• I must consult with the PSEO Adviser and high school counselor when making any registration changes that deviate from the course selections agreed upon at my pre-registration appointment.

• I must activate my University of Minnesota (Morris) email account, and check it regularly.

• My University of Minnesota email account is the University’s official method of communication. See policy.

• I will not share my University of Minnesota email account username and password with anyone, including parents/guardians. You may grant access to one or more parents/guests using parent/guest access.

• I possess sufficient computer skill and have access to a computer and the Internet in order to successfully access online course materials (Canvas).

• I will check my Canvas course sites regularly.

• I must return my textbooks to the UMN Morris Campus Bookstore at the end of every semester, on or before the stated deadline.

• The textbook return deadline is the last day of finals exams. I will be billed for the used cost of any textbooks I do not return by that date.

• I am responsible for knowing the textbook deadline even if I do not receive it via email.

• Admission to the UMN Morris PSEO program does not mean I am automatically admitted to the University of Minnesota as an undergraduate student. The PSEO admission decision has no relationship to my admissibility to the University; however, the grades I receive in PSEO (and other high school) courses will be considered as part of my college application and can affect my admissibility. There is a separate application and review process for admission as a new degree-seeking student (first year student).

• Enrolling in the UMN Morris PSEO program does not exempt me from any New Student Orientation or Welcome Week events that are required of admitted UMN Morris first year students.

The academic standards of the UMN Morris PSEO program are rigorous due to the serious ramifications a poor PSEO performance can have on future college admissions prospects. The UMN Morris PSEO program has a responsibility to you, high schools, the University of Minnesota, and the State of Minnesota to maintain high academic standards. The UMN Morris PSEO Review enforces these policies to help ensure that students do not jeopardize their college aspirations and assure that the PSEO program will be allowed to continue.

You are responsible for monitoring your grades. Any student who does not maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (as defined below) needs to contact the UMN Morris PSEO Adviser and their high school counselor/homeschool administrator as soon as possible. The grades you receive are part of a permanent University of Minnesota transcript and will also appear on your high school transcript once grades are awarded at the end of the semester.

In order to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, PSEO students must maintain a cumulative AND term 2.50 GPA in their UMN Morris courses to stay in the program. 

• See UMN Morris Nondegree Student Dismissal Policy.

Dismissal

Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) and College in the Schools (CIS) students are required to maintain a 2.50 cumulative and term grade point average in the University of Minnesota Morris courses. Students who fall below this criterion will be prohibited from taking UMM courses (dismissed) for one semester. However, students may file a written appeal of the dismissal decision with the Scholastic Committee by the specified deadline. Typically , the strongest appeals are those  in which students present documentation of extenuating circumstances beyond their control.

Credit Reduction and Drop-Down

Students who receive a grade of "C+" or lower, including a grade of "N", in one or more courses or do not fulfill the terms of an academic contract, yet remain above the 2.5 criterion, may be advised to decrease their enrollment during the following term at the discretion of the Scholastic Committee of its designees. It is important that students understand that the Scholastic Committee and is designees have the right and responsibility to act in what they believe to be the students' and the program's best interests.

Academic Probation

You will be placed on academic probation if your term or cumulative GPA falls below 2.000. 

Suspension

You will be suspended if “at the end of the probation term (semester), both the term and the cumulative GPA are below 2.000, or the conditions of an academic contract are not fulfilled.” 

For more details about Probation and Suspension, see Academic Probation and Suspension for Undergraduate Students: Twin Cities, Morris, Rochester.

Discuss any academic difficulties you are having with your course with your instructor as soon as possible.  You must also discuss difficulties with the PSEO Adviser and your high school counselor. PSEO students enrolling in on-campus courses have access to academic support resources via the Student Success Center and are strongly encouraged to use these services when they might be of benefit.  Please see the PSEO Adviser if you need assistance in getting started.

You are responsible for keeping track of your grades in courses.  Not all University faculty use the Canvas grade book, so you may need to keep track of how you are doing through your graded assignments. The course syllabus will guide you on how exams and other assignments are calculated in the final course grade.  If you do not know how you are doing in a course, please ask your instructor.

UMN Morris also supports this GPA Estimator.

As a member of the University community you are expected to exhibit exceptional behavior in your classes, student organizations and other campus communities. As a result, all University of Minnesota students must adhere to the Student Conduct Code. You are responsible for knowing the content of the Student Conduct Code. 

Scholastic dishonesty includes cheating and plagiarism, which are treated as serious offenses at the University and may result in a sanction of an "F" grade in the course. Students may not withdraw from a class for any reason in order to avoid the consequence of a misconduct charge.

Alleged conduct code violations will be investigated by the Academic Affairs Office and/or the Office of Community Standards. Depending on the violation, disciplinary sanctions can range from a warning to dismissal from the PSEO program. In cases where laws have been broken, law enforcement officials will be alerted. Every effort is made to resolve a complaint during an informal hearing. However, a formal hearing may be required. Explanation of the discipline process can be found on the Office of Community Standards website.

Plagiarism

From the Student Conduct Code: 

Plagiarism shall mean representing the words, creative work, or ideas of another person as one’s own without providing proper documentation of source. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

• copying information word for word from a source without using quotation marks and giving proper acknowledgement by way of footnote, endnote, or in-text citation;

• representing the words, ideas, or data of another person as one’s own without providing proper attribution to the author through quotation, reference, in-text citation, or footnote;

• producing, without proper attribution, any form of work originated by another person such as a musical phrase, a proof, a speech, an image, experimental data, laboratory report, graphic design, or computer code;

• paraphrasing, without sufficient acknowledgment, ideas taken from another person that the reader might reasonably mistake as the author’s; and

• borrowing various words, ideas, phrases, or data from original sources and blending them with one’s own without acknowledging the sources.

Instructors are expected to provide clear standards regarding academic work expectations in the course syllabus. It is the responsibility of all students to understand the standards and methods of proper attribution and to clarify with each instructor the standards, expectations, and reference techniques appropriate to the subject area and class requirements, including group work and internet use. Students are encouraged to seek out information about these methods from instructors and other resources and to apply this information in all submissions of academic work.

See UMN Morris Campus Specific Policies