Academic Policies
Grade Point Average
To compute a student’s grade point average (GPA), the total number of credit units is divided into the total number of grade points. “I”, “CR”, “NC”, “W” and “WF” carry no grade points and are not used in the grade point average calculations. If a course is repeated, the original grade is excluded from the GPA calculations.
Incomplete courses will not be considered complete until official grades are posted by the Registrar’s Office. Incomplete grades are not included in the calculation of grade point average and are not counted as passed/completed in the completion rate. Incomplete grades change to F grades if not completed within the required timeframe. The course(s) must be retaken. The maximum number of incompletes students are allowed to take during the course of the Academic Year is three (3).
A student must repeat a course in which a No Credit grade was received. Both original and repeat enrollments will be noted on a student’s permanent academic record; however, unit credit and grades are earned only once, and the units and grades earned for the repeated course will be used on the final transcript. Given the sequential structuring of and periodic revisions to the curriculum, course repetition may not always be possible. If scheduling or revisions prevent repetition of a course, a student may complete an Independent Study with the course instructor. Please see the Independent Study section for more information. An Independent Study fee will be assessed for this instruction.
- Incomplete Grade – I
Incomplete courses will not be considered complete until official grades are posted by the Registrar’s Office. Incomplete grades are not included in the calculation of grade point average and are not counted as passed/completed in the completion rate. Incomplete grades change to F grades if not completed within the required timeframe. The course(s) must be retaken. The maximum number of incompletes students are allowed to take during the course of the Academic Year is three (3).
- Credit – CR
- No Credit – NC
A student must repeat a course in which a No Credit grade was received. Both original and repeat enrollments will be noted on a student’s permanent academic record; however, unit credit and grades are earned only once, and the units and grades earned for the repeated course will be used on the final transcript. Given the sequential structuring of and periodic revisions to the curriculum, course repetition may not always be possible. If scheduling or revisions prevent repetition of a course, a student may complete an Independent Study with the course instructor. Please see the Independent Study section for more information. An Independent Study fee will be assessed for this instruction.
- Withdrawal – W
- Unofficial Withdrawal – WF
GRADING System
Instructors evaluate each student’s achievement of course and program learning outcomes throughout each course. Instructors submit evaluations the week following the last day of class to the Registrar’s Office using the learning management system, Populi. Grades are released to the students before the start of the next term. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all graduate work. A grade below B minus (“B- “) is not considered a passing grade. Students who receive a “C”, “D” or “F” grade in a required course must repeat the course. The “C”, “D” or “F” grade is calculated in the cumulative GPA until the course is satisfactorily repeated. The original grade is excluded from the GPA calculation but remains as part of the student’s official academic record.
Academic Probation and DISQUALIFICATION
A student on academic probation will be removed from probation when the cumulative grade point is average 3.0 or higher. The student will be notified in writing by the Registrar’s Office about a change of status. A student on academic probation is subject to academic disqualification if the student fails to raise the GPA to at least 3.0 or receives a grade of B- during the probationary period. A student who is disqualified from the PsyD program may not attend for the remainder of the year and will be withdrawn from the program (see Withdrawal Policy). Students who have been withdrawn must apply for readmission through the Admission’s Office to re-enter the program.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism Policy
The Reiss-Davis Graduate School is committed to the highest standards of academic honesty. Students are expected to complete all course assignments, exams, research projects, and their dissertation with honesty and integrity. Plagiarism is knowingly presenting the works of others without proper citation and is cause for disciplinary action.
Students in the RDGS PsyD program are expected to be familiar with and abide by the definitions of plagiarism provided in the current Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Using appropriate citation and referencing of sources will assist students to avoid the possibility of plagiarism. All assignments submitted in coursework are automatically scanned for plagiarism by Unicheck in Populi. Each instructor determines the use of Unicheck for specific assignments.
All instances of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism, cheating, and unethical computer use must be reported to the Dean. An act of academic dishonesty will be met with appropriate disciplinary sanctions, which may include a failing grade in a course, suspension, or being placed on academic probation as recorded by the Registrar’s Office pending a formal review by the Dean. Students may appeal the Dean’s decision to the Executive Director. All decisions made by the Executive Director are final. Plagiarism may also lead to immediate dismissal from the program. Evidence of plagiarism discovered after graduation may lead to the revocation of a student’s degree.
Students in the RDGS PsyD program are expected to be familiar with and abide by the definitions of plagiarism provided in the current Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Using appropriate citation and referencing of sources will assist students to avoid the possibility of plagiarism. All assignments submitted in coursework are automatically scanned for plagiarism by Unicheck in Populi. Each instructor determines the use of Unicheck for specific assignments.
All instances of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism, cheating, and unethical computer use must be reported to the Dean. An act of academic dishonesty will be met with appropriate disciplinary sanctions, which may include a failing grade in a course, suspension, or being placed on academic probation as recorded by the Registrar’s Office pending a formal review by the Dean. Students may appeal the Dean’s decision to the Executive Director. All decisions made by the Executive Director are final. Plagiarism may also lead to immediate dismissal from the program. Evidence of plagiarism discovered after graduation may lead to the revocation of a student’s degree.
Transfer Credit Policy and Process
The Transfer Credit Policy is part of the Reiss-Davis Graduate School admission requirements and procedures. RDGS uses the following criteria in determining whether academic credit is transferable to the PsyD program:
Applicants are encouraged to indicate their intention to request transfer credit at the time of application to the PsyD, but in all cases the official request must be completed within the first term of matriculation. Students apply to the Registrar’s Office for transfer credits by submitting:
The review of transfer credit requests must meet the expectations of the Dean and advising faculty who are familiar with the content of each course under consideration. There is no cost to the student for this process. Transfer of academic coursework taken after the student has matriculated in the PsyD is not permitted without prior approval of the Dean and Registrar. The student must complete and submit the Transfer Credit Request Form prior to enrolling in coursework at another institution. The criteria for review of possible transfer credit are identical to those for coursework taken prior to matriculation with the additional provision that students must be in good academic standing in the Reiss-Davis program at the time of the request.
In no case may students transfer in more than 24 quarter units (or the equivalent) either through coursework completed prior to or concurrent with enrollment at RDGS towards the completion of the 104 units of the PsyD. Dissertation development classes cannot be transferred. Academic units used to fulfill the requirements of an earned degree may not transfer to the RDGS PsyD.
Students who receive transfer credit for one or more courses may, as a result, register for less than a full course load during the term when the equivalent course(s) are offered. This may affect students’ full-time status and financial aid (both scholarship and external grants and loans). RDGS will make reasonable efforts to assist students, but it should be noted that the program operates on a cohort model. In general, students are expected to enroll in all courses in a given term for their particular cohort.
- Doctoral level credits may be accepted for transfer to the RDGS program if earned from an institution of higher education accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
- The courses requested for credit review must support the PsyD program and fulfill similar learning objectives of an existing course as determined by the Dean or faculty designee.
- To be considered for transfer credit, the transferring course must have been completed with a grade of “B” or better. (Coursework completed at an institution with pass/fail grading will be required to present information from the catalog or transcript that passing is equivalent to a letter grade of “B” or better.) Grades below a “B,” such as a “B-,” do not meet this criterion.
- Transfer credit is awarded for academic coursework completed no more than 10 years prior to student matriculation in the PsyD.
Applicants are encouraged to indicate their intention to request transfer credit at the time of application to the PsyD, but in all cases the official request must be completed within the first term of matriculation. Students apply to the Registrar’s Office for transfer credits by submitting:
- Transfer Credit Request Form as part of the application process,
- An official transcript(s) stating the course(s) to be considered and grade(s) received, and
- An official course description, which may be obtained from the university’s catalog or website. It is preferred, but not required, that a syllabus of the course accompany the request form.
The review of transfer credit requests must meet the expectations of the Dean and advising faculty who are familiar with the content of each course under consideration. There is no cost to the student for this process. Transfer of academic coursework taken after the student has matriculated in the PsyD is not permitted without prior approval of the Dean and Registrar. The student must complete and submit the Transfer Credit Request Form prior to enrolling in coursework at another institution. The criteria for review of possible transfer credit are identical to those for coursework taken prior to matriculation with the additional provision that students must be in good academic standing in the Reiss-Davis program at the time of the request.
In no case may students transfer in more than 24 quarter units (or the equivalent) either through coursework completed prior to or concurrent with enrollment at RDGS towards the completion of the 104 units of the PsyD. Dissertation development classes cannot be transferred. Academic units used to fulfill the requirements of an earned degree may not transfer to the RDGS PsyD.
Students who receive transfer credit for one or more courses may, as a result, register for less than a full course load during the term when the equivalent course(s) are offered. This may affect students’ full-time status and financial aid (both scholarship and external grants and loans). RDGS will make reasonable efforts to assist students, but it should be noted that the program operates on a cohort model. In general, students are expected to enroll in all courses in a given term for their particular cohort.
Transferability of Credits Earned at the Reiss-Davis Graduate School
NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDITS AND CREDENTIALS EARNED AT OUR INSTITUTION
The transferability of credits earned at the Reiss-Davis Graduate School is at the discretion of the institution to which students may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the credits earned at the Reiss-Davis Graduate School are at the discretion of the institution to which students may seek to transfer. If the credits earned at the Reiss-Davis Graduate School are not accepted at the institution to which students seek to transfer, they may be required to repeat some or all the coursework at that institution.
Experiential Learning
Due to the unique nature of the Reiss-Davis Graduate School's program and curriculum, its intensity, and the importance of continuity, it is the practice of the Reiss-Davis Graduate School that no credit towards completion of our degree program will be granted for prior experiential learning.
NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDITS AND CREDENTIALS EARNED AT OUR INSTITUTION
The transferability of credits earned at the Reiss-Davis Graduate School is at the discretion of the institution to which students may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the credits earned at the Reiss-Davis Graduate School are at the discretion of the institution to which students may seek to transfer. If the credits earned at the Reiss-Davis Graduate School are not accepted at the institution to which students seek to transfer, they may be required to repeat some or all the coursework at that institution.
Experiential Learning
Due to the unique nature of the Reiss-Davis Graduate School's program and curriculum, its intensity, and the importance of continuity, it is the practice of the Reiss-Davis Graduate School that no credit towards completion of our degree program will be granted for prior experiential learning.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
A student has the right to cancel his or her agreement for a program of instruction, without any financial penalty or obligations, on or before attendance of the first day of quarter term of the first academic year or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later. Cancellation may occur when the student provides a written notice of cancellation. This can be done by mail, by hand delivery, or by e-mail to the Registrar’s Office at Registrar@reissdavis.edu. The written notice of cancellation, if sent by mail, is effective when deposited in the mail properly addressed with proper postage or confirmed by e-mail to the Registrar. The written notice of cancellation need not take any particular form, and however expressed, it is effective if it shows that the student no longer wishes to be bound by the Enrollment Agreement. The student is eligible for a refund of the $250 enrollment fee if the cancelation was requested during the cancellation period.
After the end of this cancellation period, the student also has the right to withdraw from the program at any time. Should a student withdraw from the program, he or she will not be charged for future quarters. The percentage of the refund depends on the effective date of the withdrawal.
The student may withdraw from the school at any time after the cancellation period (described above) and receive a pro rata refund if the student has completed 60% or less of the scheduled days in the current payment period of program defined as a quarter term through the last day of attendance. The refund will be less a registration or administration fee not to exceed $250.00, and less any deduction for equipment not returned in good condition, within 45 days of withdrawal. If the student has completed more than 60% of the period of attendance defined as a quarter term for which the student was charged, the tuition is considered earned and the student will receive no refund.
For the purpose of determining a refund under this section, a student shall be deemed to have withdrawn from a program of instruction when any of the following occurs:
For the purpose of determining the amount of the refund, the date of the student’s withdrawal shall be deemed the last date of recorded attendance. For programs beyond the current “payment period,” defined as a quarter term, if the student withdraws prior to the next payment period, all charges collected for the next period will be refunded. If any portion of the tuition was paid from the proceeds of a loan or third party, the refund shall be sent to the lender, third party or, if appropriate, to the state or federal agency that guaranteed or reinsured the loan. Any amount of the refund in excess of the unpaid balance of the loan shall be first used to repay any student financial aid programs from which the student received benefits, in proportion to the amount of the benefits received, and any remaining amount shall be paid to the student.
If the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of moneys not paid from federal student financial aid program funds.
After the end of this cancellation period, the student also has the right to withdraw from the program at any time. Should a student withdraw from the program, he or she will not be charged for future quarters. The percentage of the refund depends on the effective date of the withdrawal.
The student may withdraw from the school at any time after the cancellation period (described above) and receive a pro rata refund if the student has completed 60% or less of the scheduled days in the current payment period of program defined as a quarter term through the last day of attendance. The refund will be less a registration or administration fee not to exceed $250.00, and less any deduction for equipment not returned in good condition, within 45 days of withdrawal. If the student has completed more than 60% of the period of attendance defined as a quarter term for which the student was charged, the tuition is considered earned and the student will receive no refund.
For the purpose of determining a refund under this section, a student shall be deemed to have withdrawn from a program of instruction when any of the following occurs:
- The student notifies the institution of the student’s withdrawal or as of the date of the student’s withdrawal, whichever is later.
- The institution terminates the student’s enrollment for failure to maintain satisfactory progress; failure to abide by the rules and regulations of the institution.
- The student fails to return from a leave of absence.
For the purpose of determining the amount of the refund, the date of the student’s withdrawal shall be deemed the last date of recorded attendance. For programs beyond the current “payment period,” defined as a quarter term, if the student withdraws prior to the next payment period, all charges collected for the next period will be refunded. If any portion of the tuition was paid from the proceeds of a loan or third party, the refund shall be sent to the lender, third party or, if appropriate, to the state or federal agency that guaranteed or reinsured the loan. Any amount of the refund in excess of the unpaid balance of the loan shall be first used to repay any student financial aid programs from which the student received benefits, in proportion to the amount of the benefits received, and any remaining amount shall be paid to the student.
If the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of moneys not paid from federal student financial aid program funds.
Withdrawal Policies
Withdrawal from a Course
Due to a sequential nature of RDGS curriculum students are discouraged to withdraw from courses. If withdrawal from the course cannot be avoided, a student needs to either retake the class once it is available with the next Cohort or to take an Independent Study to complete the course. The Independent Study must be completed by the end of the next quarter term.
A student who does not attend class and has not been approved for a Leave of Absence, will be placed on inactive status and will be subject to administrative withdrawal from the program.
The percentage of the refund depends on the effective date of the withdrawal.
Withdrawal From the Program
A student who wishes to withdraw from the RDGS program is strongly advised to speak with the Dean or Registrar’s Office. A student wanting to voluntarily withdraw from the RDGS program must complete the Withdrawal from the Program Request form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. The withdrawal request is reviewed by the Dean, and if approved, the academic record will show the date of withdrawal and a standing of "W" will be recorded in all courses not completed on that date. The academic record will indicate "Voluntary Withdrawal".
Students who fail to withdraw but stop attending class are considered unofficial withdraws and are assigned a grade of ‘WF’.
A voluntary withdrawal cannot be retroactive. The effective date entered into the student's record by the Registrar’s Office is the date of approval. The student will remain financially and academically responsible for any courses enrolled in until the date of withdrawal. The student is responsible for returning all library books and other borrowed materials. The student will no longer have access to electronic resources, including the school e-mail account.
Students who have been withdrawn must apply for readmission through the Admission’s Office in order to re-enter the program. If they are readmitted, students will be subject to the degree requirements and catalog policies, including tuition and fees, in effect at the time of their readmission.
The percentage of the refund depends on the effective date of the withdrawal.
Due to a sequential nature of RDGS curriculum students are discouraged to withdraw from courses. If withdrawal from the course cannot be avoided, a student needs to either retake the class once it is available with the next Cohort or to take an Independent Study to complete the course. The Independent Study must be completed by the end of the next quarter term.
A student who does not attend class and has not been approved for a Leave of Absence, will be placed on inactive status and will be subject to administrative withdrawal from the program.
The percentage of the refund depends on the effective date of the withdrawal.
Withdrawal From the Program
A student who wishes to withdraw from the RDGS program is strongly advised to speak with the Dean or Registrar’s Office. A student wanting to voluntarily withdraw from the RDGS program must complete the Withdrawal from the Program Request form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. The withdrawal request is reviewed by the Dean, and if approved, the academic record will show the date of withdrawal and a standing of "W" will be recorded in all courses not completed on that date. The academic record will indicate "Voluntary Withdrawal".
Students who fail to withdraw but stop attending class are considered unofficial withdraws and are assigned a grade of ‘WF’.
A voluntary withdrawal cannot be retroactive. The effective date entered into the student's record by the Registrar’s Office is the date of approval. The student will remain financially and academically responsible for any courses enrolled in until the date of withdrawal. The student is responsible for returning all library books and other borrowed materials. The student will no longer have access to electronic resources, including the school e-mail account.
Students who have been withdrawn must apply for readmission through the Admission’s Office in order to re-enter the program. If they are readmitted, students will be subject to the degree requirements and catalog policies, including tuition and fees, in effect at the time of their readmission.
The percentage of the refund depends on the effective date of the withdrawal.
