The College Catalog documents the approach to interactions between the College and students, administration, staff, and faculty. It provides guidance on how policies and processes function within the framework of an academic environment and supports students and faculty in understanding the protocols established by governance and regulatory agencies. Given this established purpose, additional guidance maybe required for specific situations and events. General information and definitions are provided below:
Appeal Process
When decisions are made and a dispute arises, students have the opportunity of seeking an appeal. For additional information on specific steps, review the information in the Student Handbook.
Admissions Appeal
Potential students have the right to appeal a decision in regards to his/her admission to the College. An applicant appealing a decision should submit a written request with a full description of the rationale and supporting evidence as to why an admissions appeal should be granted. Complete the Admissions Appeal form provided by contacting Enrollment or Admissions.
General Appeal
When a student seeks further discussion about a policy or procedural decision, the student should complete an appeal form found in the MyACE Portal, Student Commons, or ACE website. A written justification for the appeal is required. The appeal will be approved by the department leadership and escalated to the Academic Appeals Committee or senior vice president of academic affairs, whose decision is final.
Grade Appeal
Students at ACE have the right to appeal a final course grade that they allege to be the result of arbitrary or capricious grading. To do so, the student utilizes the appeal form available the MyACE Portal, providing a written rationale and documentation for the grade dispute after following prescribed steps outlined in the Student Handbook.
Complaints Process
Both informal and formal complaints exist which require appropriate attention. An informal complaint constitutes a difference of perspective or expectation, which can be resolved with additional communication through appropriate channels. More general concerns such as contacting a faculty member can be handled through Student Services while others may be appropriate for the Suggestion Box located on Student and Doctoral Commons.
Formal complaints are defined by regulatory agencies and require specific steps to ensure fair, consistent and equitable procedures are followed. These steps are addressed in the Student Complaint Policy in the Student Handbook.
For additional information (See “Student Complaint Policy ”).
Exception Policy
The College permits a student to request an exception to policies and procedures due to extenuating circumstances by completing an appeal form stating the reason the requested exception should be made, which does not constitute disparate (unfair or unequal) treatment or violates the intent of the policy or procedure. Documentation is required. In the case of exceptions, the senior vice president of academic affairs has the final decision.
Glossary
The table below provides definitions of terms used throughout this Catalog and related American College of Education documents.
| Term |
|
Description |
| Academic Dishonesty |
|
Academic dishonesty which includes but is not limited to plagiarism, collusion, abuse of resource materials, conspiracy to plagiarize, or cheating on an examination or other academic work is subject to disciplinary action. Student work created for a specific assignment in a course will be subject to plagiarism sanctions if reused for any other purpose.
Exception: If a student retakes a course, the student is required to meet all course requirements, including current discussion board postings. The student may resubmit assignments from the same course. All coursework in the retaken course will be reevaluated. The student is responsible for communicating with the instructor about the re-submission of assignments.
|
| |
|
|
| Administrative Withdrawal |
|
ACE-initiated separation from the institution due to non-payment, inactivity in the course, exceeding maximum extensions, violation of the admissions and/or registration requirements or failure to return from Leave of Absence. (Not applicable for newly admitted students. If in the first term, this student would be a CANCEL). Conditions for returning to the College are the same as those in “Withdrawn.” |
| |
|
|
| Admitted |
|
An applicant who has been reviewed and has met admissions standards for the program and term start date on his/her application. |
| |
|
|
| Active Waiting for Class |
|
Status that students are placed in if they are actively enrolled at ACE and do not have a current class. This is the result of a course drop or stop-out during the program. |
| |
|
|
| Appeal |
|
For candidates or students wanting to appeal a policy or decision at ACE. Can be used for admissions, grade, or general policies/decisions. |
| |
|
|
| Applicant |
|
An individual who has applied or is applying to a program or course of student at ACE. Someone in this status has not been admitted to the College yet and must be reviewed by admissions. |
| |
|
|
| Cancel |
|
A school status issued to new students who have enrolled at ACE and never start classes. The student may submit a cancellation form or can be administratively cancelled due to nonpayment or non- activity in his/her class. |
| |
|
|
| Collusion |
|
A scheme to defraud. |
| |
|
|
| Complete degree not conferred |
|
A school status issued to individuals who have completed their classes; but a degree cannot be conferred due to the individual not being in good standing with the College (financial). |
| |
|
|
| Conflict of Interest |
|
A situation in which an individual’s financial, personal or professional considerations may either directly or indirectly impact or appear to impact an individual’s professional judgment in carrying out any College duty or responsibility, including the conduct or reporting of research. |
| |
|
|
| Degree Conferral |
|
The recording of Graduate status from the College in the Student Information System (SIS). This is done after all academic requirements and financial obligations have been met. The student will be eligible to receive a diploma, verification, certification, etc. |
| |
|
|
| Degree Seeking |
|
A student who has been admitted into an academic program that leads to an American College of Education degree. |
| |
|
|
| Dissertation |
|
The final documentation of a doctoral candidate, demonstrating scholarly expertise by completing an original research project. |
| |
|
|
| Dismissed |
|
ACE-Initiated separation of a student from the institution according to the Satisfactory Academic Policy (SAP), maximum time to completion policy, or academic integrity policy. Re-Application or Re-entry requirements are outlined in the SAP policy. |
| |
|
|
| Drop |
|
Student requests to drop current course after the register/unregister period -Week One. Course Drops must be submitted by Friday of Week 3 to be considered. Student stays in their program, earns a “W” in the dropped course and is still continuously enrolled in subsequent courses. Longer requests must be made by requesting a Leave of Absence. |
| |
|
|
| Engagement |
|
To maintain registration in the course, students must complete the Mandatory Attendance Verification form by Friday the first week. |
| |
|
|
| Enrolled |
|
An admitted student who has been registered in their program at ACE and course(s) for upcoming term(s) at ACE. |
| |
|
|
| Employment Verification |
|
Evidence of full-time teaching assignment from the chief academic/department head or human resources official of the school at their current employment. |
| |
|
|
| Enrollment Agreement |
|
The Enrollment Agreement is a legally binding contract between the student and American College of Education. It states the terms and provisions of the student’s enrollment in an academic program at the College. |
| |
|
|
| Field Experience |
|
A field experience requires a student to engage in an authentic setting for purposes expected by the degree including observation and/or participation. |
| |
|
|
| Focus of Study: Doctoral |
|
At the Doctoral level, a focus of study is a series of six 3-semester credit courses in an area of study, approved by ACE’s Curriculum and Assessment Committee. Upon completion of the degree requirements, including the focus of study and the dissertation, the Doctor of Education will be conferred. The focus of study will be listed on the transcript. |
| |
|
|
| Focus of Study: Masters |
|
A focus of study is comprised of a series of three or four 3-semester credit courses concentrated in an area of study, within a degree program approved by ACE’s Curriculum and Assessment Committee. Upon completion of the degree requirements, and the designated focus of study courses, a degree is awarded with the focus of study listed on the transcript. |
| |
|
|
| Fabrication |
|
Making up data or results and recording or reporting them. |
| |
|
|
| Falsification |
|
Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record. |
| |
|
|
| Incomplete |
|
An incomplete contract results in a grade of “I” being awarded. Incompletes are issued only in cases of extenuating circumstances, such as severe illness or life-impacting events. Incompletes are not issued in cases in which the student is simply unable to complete his/her work within the specified term. A student can have no more than two incompletes during his/her enrollment at the College. |
| |
|
|
| Leave of Absence |
|
Student initiated absence from the institution for extenuating circumstances and for a specified length of time. |
| |
|
|
| Major |
|
A major is comprised of six 3-semester credit courses in a specific area of study. If a program requires a major to be selected, these courses are required to be completed before the degree or certificate can be conferred. The major selected/earned will appear on the College transcript and diploma/certificate. |
| |
|
|
| Medical Leave of Absence |
|
A leave of absence that can be approved retroactively due to a medical reason. Reasons for approval are listed in the Medical Leave of Absence Policy. |
| |
|
|
| Non-Degree Seeking |
|
A student who has been admitted as a Student at Large or into a Certificate program at ACE. |
| |
|
|
| Payment Agreement |
|
Completed Agreement with the College indicated payment arrangements for tuition. |
| |
|
|
| Pending Graduate |
|
An ACE school status for students who have completed their courses at ACE and are awaiting for their degree to be conferred via the conferral process. |
| |
|
|
| Provisionally Admitted |
|
An applicant who has been reviewed by the admissions team and has been admitted to his/ her program as indicated on his/her application with conditions surrounding the admission that must be met (i.e. GPA in first two terms or official document provided by end of first term). |
| |
|
|
| Re-Entry |
|
Re-entry is a way for an individual who has withdrawn from the College to return without having to apply again. In order to be eligible to re-enter, an individual’s last date of attendance needs to be within 365 days of the expected return date. All other requirements outlined in the Re-entry policy will apply. |
| |
|
|
| Rubric |
|
A matrix which describes and defines criteria used to measure the quality of performance on a given task. |
| |
|
|
| Student |
|
ACE defines a student as someone who is currently enrolled for classes at ACE or who has ever been enrolled. For new ACE students, FERPA coverage begins on the first day of the first term for which they are registered for a class. |
| |
|
|
| Student Identification |
|
Students access courses through use of login usernames and passwords, which serve to verify identity. |
| |
|
|
| Unregister |
|
Process by which a student is removed from a course during the “unregister” period, the first week of a term. |
| |
|
|
| Withdrawn or Withdraw from the College |
|
Matriculated student initiated separation from ACE. Students can withdraw at any point after matriculation (first week of first course.) If received in week two or three, the student will be removed from his/her course(s) and receive a “W” in the course. If received after Friday Week 3, the student will remain enrolled until the end of the course and receive the grade earned in the course. |
|
