Graduate Program Academic Policies

Graduate Outcomes (GOs)

Specific knowledge, skills, and values inherent as outcomes in Alvernia Graduate programs are organized into five competency areas:

Interprofessional collaboration

• Relationship management
• Decision making based upon theoretical concepts

Knowledge of discipline

• Evidence based knowledge and practice
• Continuous quality improvement to achieve outcomes
• Professional behaviors

Effective communication

• Advanced scholarly writing and oral communication
• Information management and technology skills
• Information literacy

Ethical considerations and leadership

• Advocacy - individual, organization, community, global
• Ethical and moral leadership
• Social justice

Research Skills

• Quantitative and/or qualitative methods

Student Responsibilities

Students are solely responsible for assuring that their academic program complies with the policies of the university. Advisors are provided to assist students in planning their academic program. Advisors are not authorized to change the established policy of the university. Alvernia University students should be familiar with and comply with all policies and procedures listed in their catalog and the appropriate student/program handbook.

The Alvernia University email system is the official communication channel for important information issued to students; students are responsible to check their Alvernia University email account on a regular basis. Failure to check this account is not an acceptable excuse for missing important information/deadlines that may be communicated by faculty or staff of Alvernia University.

Computation of Grades

At the completion of a course, each student is assigned a letter grade based upon the appropriate scale below:

*Less than 3.0 may = academic notice or dismissal.

Refer to program Handbook/Departmental Syllabi for possible approved adjustments related to the letter scale/grade computation.

Graduate Status

Alvernia will assess the candidate’s strengths and academic potential using information provided by the student. Applicants for degree programs will be admitted to full, pending, or non-degree status as described below:

Full Graduate Status

Full graduate status includes submission of all required documentation, including official documents verifying the earned baccalaureate degree is from an accredited college or university. Application materials are reviewed, and program acceptance granted by the Dean of Graduate and Adult Education and the faculty in the selected program. Students may opt for full-time or part-time enrollment.

Students with full graduate status must respond to a written offer of admission that specifies the date of entrance into one of the graduate programs. Students must notify the Graduate and Adult Education Office of their intent to accept, reject, or change the effective date of entrance. The admission letter will serve as a permit to register for courses. In most cases, students will be offered admission for a five-year period.

Non-Degree Status

Non-degree graduate student status allows enrollment in graduate courses to earn graduate credit for professional certifications or professional development activities in their chosen field. These students must have earned a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from an accredited college or university. Students may be admitted with non-degree status with the approval of the Dean of the College in which the program in housed. Students granted non-degree graduate student status are not eligible for Stafford Loans.

Applying Graduate Credits from an Undergraduate Transcript

Alvernia alumni who completed graduate work while completing their undergraduate degree may request to have the graduate courses applied to their graduate transcript if those credits were not used to fulfill any undergraduate degree requirements.

Re-entry Admissions Process

Students who have attended Alvernia previously and have left the University for at least one academic year but within five years of last enrollment must submit a Re-entry request form through Graduate and Adult Education. Students who have left the University beyond five years or who wish to change programs, must re-apply for admission.  Students who attended another institution during their leave must submit official transcripts to the University. Re-entry students should be in good standing to be considered for re-admission. Students will be readmitted under the curriculum in the current catalog. Students wishing to return to the University must submit the following:

1. Re-entry request form or Application for admission
2. Official transcripts of all colleges and universities attended since Alvernia. Credit may be given for coursework in which the student has earned “B” or higher.

Notification of Re-Entry Admission Process

Applicants are notified of an admission decision once all required credentials have been received and evaluated. All acceptances are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of all college coursework and maintaining the minimum GPA requirements.

Academic Notice/Academic Dismissal

Students enrolled in Graduate Programs must maintain a 3.0 grade point average throughout their program. Students who fall below a 3.0 grade point average after 6 attempted credits will be placed on Academic Notice and must meet with their advisor to select the appropriate courses to improve their academic standing. A student who has been on Academic Notice previously and falls below a 3.0 grade point average again after at least 6 more attempted credits will be Academically Dismissed. A student who has been Academically Dismissed may write an appeal letter to the Program Department Chair if extenuating circumstances warrant a review of the academic record. Appeal letters should include documentation of the extenuating circumstances and at least one letter of support from the advisor or an Alvernia instructor. A student who does not appeal or whose appeal has been unsuccessful will no longer be enrolled in a Graduate Program and will not be entitled to Financial Aid.

Additional standards may apply for specific graduate programs. In addition to this Catalog, refer to Program Handbooks or Policy Manuals for possible adjustments to the Academic Notice/Academic Dismissal policies as approved for specific programs of study as well as specific information on health checks and clearance requirements.

Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Academic Progress Policy:

• An individual athletic training course or required pre-requisite course must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. However, students must achieve an overall GPA of 3.0 to graduate from the MSAT program.
• Students may repeat/delete only one MSAT (AT) course throughout the athletic training program.
• Students who receive a grade of less than a “C” in an athletic training course may not progress in athletic training courses for which that course is a prerequisite.

Due to the nature of some clinical experiences (AT 520, 521, 610, and 611), a student may exceed the maximum number of required hours for these clinical practicum courses. The decision to exceed the maximum number of required hours should be made as part of a group process involving the athletic training student, the clinical preceptor, and the clinical education coordinator.

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

Entry Level Post Baccalaureate Academic Progress Policy:

The criteria for retention and progression in the entry-level MSOT degree are dependent upon:

• Achievement of final grade of “B” or higher in all graduate coursework taken at Alvernia University.
• Upon completion of five graduate courses (including the COR course) students with full graduate status must achieve and thereafter maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Review of the GPA occurs twice a year at the end of the fall and spring academic semesters.
• Students in the entry-level MSOT degree are permitted to utilize the repeat/delete option twice in total for all graduate courses taken at Alvernia University, but only one time for any individual course (COR or OT).
• To progress to level II fieldwork students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in all OT courses.
• Any student who fails a level II fieldwork practicum course may repeat the course one time only (this is included in the one course maximum). The course must be repeated at its next offering. The AFWC will schedule the fieldwork experience. The student must contact the AFWC within two weeks following written notification from the OT program of the failure in order to begin the development of an action plan and remediation. Please refer to the Alvernia University OT Student Handbook for full details of requirements and expectations. Any student who receives a grade of “F” after repeating either of the level II FW Practicum courses will be dismissed from the OT Program.
• Any time during FW, unsafe or unethical practice or student performance at the level of failure, as determined by the AFWC and/or the FW supervisor may result in immediate removal from the FW site and a grade of “F”.
  • Note: Many health work sites require criminal background checks, abuse history clearances as well as health and immunization status, and drug screens. Students who are unable to meet these requirements cannot progress in the program.
• Students will not be allowed to participate in the capstone activity for the degree unless their cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and they have earned a “B” or higher in all graduate work taken at Alvernia University.
• All coursework must be completed within 24 months of the start of the first level II fieldwork placement (OT 587 OT Fieldwork: Practicum I).

Post-Baccalaureate Track  Academic Progress Policy:

• Achievement of final grade of “B” or higher in all graduate coursework
• Upon completion of five graduate courses students with full graduate status must achieve and thereafter maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Review of the GPA occurs twice a year at the end of the fall and spring academic semesters.
• Students who do not earn the required “B” in coursework or “P” in fieldwork are permitted to utilize the repeat delete option. This option may be used only once for any individual course-/fieldwork seminar. If the student’s second attempt does not result in the grade required “B”/”P”, the student will be dismissed from the MSOT program. 
• To progress to level II field work students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in all OT courses.
• Any student who fails a level two field work practicum course may repeat the course one time only. The course must be repeated at its next offering. The AFWC will schedule the fieldwork experience. The student must contact the AFWC within two weeks following written notification from the OT program of the failure in order to begin the development of an action plan and remediation. Any student who receives a grade of “F” after repeating either of the level II fieldwork practicum courses will be dismissed from the OT program.
• Demonstration of unsafe or unethical practice/behavior at any time during fieldwork as determined by the AFWC and/or FW supervisor may result in immediate removal from the fieldwork site and a grade of “”F for the fieldwork practicum.
• Note: Many fieldwork sites require criminal background checks, abuse history clearances, as well as health and immunization status, and drug screens. Students who are unable to meet these requirements cannot progress in the program.
• Students will not be allowed to participate in the capstone activity unless their cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or higher and they have earned a B or higher in all graduate work taken at Alvernia University.
• All course- and fieldwork must be completed within 24 months of the start of the first level II fieldwork practicum.

Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) - Academic Progress Policy:

The criteria for retention and progression in the entry-level MACC degree are dependent upon:

• Students must achieve a grade of “B” (3.0) or better in the first six credits taken after acceptance into the MACC program to continue with the program.
• Students in the MACC program must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.
• Students receiving a grade of “C” or “F” in any one course are required to remediate the course and are responsible for any tuition and related costs associated with the remediation.
• Students who receive a second grade of “C” or “F” in any course are subject to academic dismissal from the program.
• Students on academic notice or with unfinished remediation plans for any course may not participate in Internship.
• Students must maintain acceptable ratings on the Professional Behavior Review.
• Students are responsible for obtaining, maintaining, and reporting any changes to required health checks and clearances.

Ph.D. in Leadership - Academic Progress Policy:

The criteria for retention and progression in the PHD Program in Leadership are dependent upon:

• Achievement of a final grade of “B” or higher in PHD 701; students who earn a grade less than “B” in PHD701 are not allowed to continue in the program and will be Academically Dismissed.
• After successful completion of PHD 701 with a final grade of “B” or higher, students must achieve and thereafter maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher in all graduate coursework at Alvernia.
• Students achieving a GPA of less than 3.25 after attempting 3 credits will be placed on academic notice;
• Students maintaining a GPA of less than 3.25 after attempting 6 credits will be Academically Dismissed
• Students can utilize the repeat/delete option once in total for PHD graduate courses taken at Alvernia (the repeat delete option excludes PHD 701)
• Students earning a grade of “F” for a repeat/delete attempt will be Academically Dismissed.
• Students must maintain continuous enrollment in the program.
• Students must complete all degree requirements in seven years or less.

Dismissal for Non-Academic Reasons

Students may be dismissed from the graduate program for the following non-academic reasons:

1. Failure to respect the rights of others as evidenced by verbal, physical or mental abuse of others, harassment of any kind, assault, or any action, which endangers the rights of others.
2. Failure to abide by federal, state, and local laws, which prohibit the use, possession, and sale of illegal substances.
3. Failure to adhere to the various professional codes of ethics, such as the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics.
4. Failure to function appropriately within the site placement settings, internships, or practicums, as documented through evaluations by on-site supervisor and academic adviser. (Refer to the Practicum/Internship Manual for specific information on student requirements for the Master of Arts in Community Counseling.) Only the Provost may dismiss a student from the University for non- academic reasons. Students may appeal such a dismissal to the President.

ADA Accommodations

In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and Amendments Act (ADAAA), the university offers accommodations to students with documented learning, physical and/or psychological disabilities. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Accessibility Office for Academic Intervention, preferably prior to the beginning of each semester, to initiate the accommodation process so accommodations can be determined early in the semester. Academic accommodations are not retroactive. It is the responsibility of students to provide each of their professors with their letters of academic accommodations at the start of each semester/mod. Students needing assistance should visit the Academic Success Center (ASC) in BH 105c or call 610-568-1499.

Institutional Review Board

Graduate students wishing to conduct research involving human participants are required to abide by the policies and procedures of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). All researchers must submit a training certificate through Alvernia’s approved training program along with the completed application. Information about the required training, forms, policies, procedures, and deadlines can be obtained at the IRB’s website.

The researcher is required to complete an application which includes an abstract of the proposed research topic in which the following elements must be addressed: Description and Methodology, Risk and Benefit Consideration, Selection of Participants, Privacy and Confidentiality, Monitoring of Data, Conflict of Interest, and Informed Consent. Copies of all instruments used, including permission to use the instrument, as well as validity and reliability data of the instrument must be provided.

The application is initially submitted to the Office of the Provost. The IRB will then notify the researcher and faculty advisor concerning the receipt of the application, the status of the application, and the IRB’s decision on the application. If an application requires a full IRB review, the process can take up to four months after the IRB has received the completed application. The IRB will decide: Approved, Not Approved, Pending, or Exempt.

Research is approved for one year. Extensions may be requested. Any deviations from the approved research must be approved by the IRB. The IRB has the authority to stop any research that violates any IRB policies and procedures. Upon completion of the project, the researcher must submit a Study Completion form indicating the research has been completed.

Approval of the research by the IRB does not absolve the researcher from the responsibility to abide by the principles of Beneficence, Autonomy/Respect, and Justice or any federal, state, or local laws regarding research with human participants.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships are temporary employment positions within the University. These positions provide graduate students the opportunity to work with professionals in a variety of disciplines and assignments. In addition to gaining valuable professional experience, participating in interesting course offerings, graduate students are in a position to contribute significantly to their own intellectual development and the University as a whole. All graduate assistantship appointments require working 20 hours per week and provide a full tuition waiver for 9 credits in each contracted semester. Students seeking assistantships are required to meet the following criteria:

• Be accepted into the Graduate Program at Alvernia
• Must have a valid FAFSA on file.
• Maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average.
• Satisfy enrollment requirements.
• Make satisfactory progress toward a degree as defined by University policy.
• Meet the requirements to be eligible for employment in the United States.

Current Graduate Assistantship openings are posted on the University website under financial aid. Questions regarding graduate assistantships should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services at (610) 568-1554.

Alumni Association

All graduates of Alvernia University automatically become members of the Alumni Association and are encouraged to stay involved. There are more than 9,000 Alvernia alumni throughout the country. The Association promotes the interest of the University by organizing programs for alumni, informing them of changes on campus, and providing them with benefits and services. The Alumni Office enjoys connecting with alumni and hearing their stories, in addition to providing the services that allow them to stay connected to Alvernia even after graduation. Many events are held on and off campus for the continued engagement of Alvernia alumni. It is the Alvernia Alumni Association’s mission to cultivate a sense of pride and lifetime commitment to the Alvernia community: http://alumni.alvernia.edu