Academic Honesty
Athens State University, like all communities, can function effectively only when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust.

Academic Dishonesty
It is the responsibility of every student at Athens State University to be familiar with the honor code. It shall be he responsibility of every student at Athens State University to obey and to support the enforcement of this honor code which prohibits lying, cheating, or stealing when these actions involve academic procedures, or when these actions involve any student or University personnel acting in an official capacity.

Class Attendance
It is accepted academic philosophy that sustained class attendance is essential to the overall educational value of a course of study in higher education. In order to achieve maximum benefit from educational activities, Athens State University expects regular class attendance from all students. Those students receiving veterans' benefits are required to attend classes according to the regulations of the Veterans' Administration.

The standard of performance to be met by each student, including specific attendance regulations for each course, will be set by each faculty member for his or her own course. Class attendance policies and other course requirements will be published in the course syllabus and will be discussed in detail by the faculty member on the first day of class each semester. A student's performance in relation to the established standards and class attendance regulations shall determine the student's grad in a course. Any student who must miss an examination has the responsibility for notifying the faculty member as soon as is practical. It is the decision of the faculty member whether exams may be "made up."

Class Hour Load
The class hour load for a full-time student is 12 to 19 semester hours per term including Summer Term, During semesters in which compressed sessions are offered, the institution reserves the right to further limit the number of hours for which a student may enroll. No student may take more than 24 semester hours per term. Students who wish to take more than 19 semester hours must secure written permission via an overload request form. This overload request must be signed by the advisor and the dean of the appropriate academic school prior to enrollment. Requests for exceptions will require written justification along with the following documentation and recommendation of your advisor: 1) advising worksheet, 2) transcript, and 3) proposed schedule.

Course Cancellation
Athens State University reserves the right to cancel any course.

Drop and Add
For a period specified in the University calendar immediately following registration periods, courses may be dropped and other courses added upon completion of the following requirements: 1) The student must complete the appropriate forms in the Admissions Office; and, 2) make payments as required in the Financial Affairs Office. The student is responsible for notifying the academic advisor of schedule changes. Prior to making a change in the schedule, students receiving veteran's benefits must see the Coordinator of Veterans' Affairs; those receiving other financial aid should check with the Director of Student Financial Services.

Withdrawal
A grade of “W” will be assigned to a student who officially withdraws before a date that is two (2) weeks prior to the first final exam date established for the semester. Specific dates for withdrawal will be included in the schedule each semester. A “W ” cannot be assigned after the official date established for withdrawal from a course. Absence from class does not constitute an official withdrawal.

Students can initiate the withdrawal process by emailing the Office of Admissions at drop.admissions@athens.edu using their Athens State email account, by FAX, by downloading the drop form from the Athens State website, or by coming into the Admissions Office. Information in the withdrawal request MUST include: Name; Student ID number; the course reference number, course abbreviation and number; and the instructor’s name. A reason for withdrawal from a class course must be included. The instructor MUST be included as a “copy to” on the email. Withdrawal from a class is not complete until the student has been cleared through the Office of Admissions. Special regulations pertain to those receiving veteran’ s benefits or financial aid, and those individuals should confer with the Coordinator of Veteran ’s Affairs or the Director of Student Financial Services prior to initiating a withdrawal action. A “W” cannot be changed to a grade, nor can a grade be changed to a “W.”

A student who enrolls in a course and does not complete the course will receive a grade of “F” unless this withdrawal process is followed.

Grading Policy
Letter grades of "A", "B", or "C" represent levels of accomplishment sufficient to allow students to make satisfactory progress toward graduation. "D" level work is considered inferior and the minimum-level accomplishment that will allow the students to continue their studies at Athens State University. A grade of "F" is assigned to the student who 1) fails to meet the minimum course requirements, or 2) voluntarily discontinues class attendance without officially withdrawing.

A grade of "W" will be assigned to a student who officially withdrawals from a course, see the With drawl policies for rules and regulations. A grade of "I" (incomplete) will be given only under extenuating circumstances. If an "incomplete" is given, the time allotted a student to complete he course is at the discretion of the instructor; however, a student receiving an "I" in any semester should be aware the "I" must be completed before the end of the next semester or the "I " automatically becomes an "F" unless extended by the instructor. For the purpose of computation "I" is always evaluated as "F" until a grade change is made.

Quality Points for Letter Grades
For each hour of credit in a subject, the letter grade is equated to grade points as follows:

Completion Requirement
A student may complete requirements for graduation as specified in the Athens State University catalog for the year of entry provided he or she does so within a period of five ears from the original date of entry. Once exception to the previous statement is the College of Education. The student considering the B.S.Ed degree should check the College of Education guidelines due to the "No Child Left Behind Federal Act of 2001" which states the programs listed may have changed. A student who does not complete requirements for the undergraduate degree within a period of five years from the date of entry must adhere to the undergraduate requirements of the catalog under which they begin the sixth year of enrollment. This process is repeated every five years until the student graduates.