2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 21, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree



To receive a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a student must complete all of the requirements listed below:

General Education Core Curriculum

The mission of general education at the University of Tennessee at Martin is to support life-long learning by helping students develop tools and resources to become critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and effec­tive communicators as they transform into responsible citizens.

A student seeking any bachelor’s degree at The University of Tennessee at Martin must satisfy the General Edu­cation Core Curriculum requirements outlined in this section. Specific degree programs may have additional general requirements and/or may restrict the options from which a student may choose in one or more of the categories of study. Any course in the General Education Core Curriculum will meet all of the outcomes within its respective category. Students should consult with their respective academic advisers to determine which combination of courses from the General Education Core Curriculum best meets their individual needs and the graduation requirements for their major.

  

  

  

  

  

  

UT Martin is committed to recognizing successful completion of general education requirements from schools within the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system. The learning outcomes for the UT Martin gen­eral education requirements incorporate many of the TBR general education goals with adaptations made as needed to accommodate differences that exist between the two sets of requirements. The following guidelines have been established to facilitate the transfer of TBR general education credits to satisfy the general education requirements at UT Martin.

If a student transfers from a TBR school to UT Martin and that student has taken, at a TBR school, all the courses within one or more of the six TBR general education categories and has therefore satisfied the TBR general education requirement within one or more of the categories, then that student will have satisfied the requirements for the corresponding general education categories at UT Martin. Specifically, satisfying the TBR general education category in either Communication, Mathematics, Natural Sciences or Social and Behavioral Sciences will automatically satisfy the corresponding general education requirements in Communication, Mathematics, Biological and Physical Systems or Social and Behavioral Sciences at UT Martin. Satisfying the TBR general education History requirement and the literature component of the Humanities and/or Fine Arts category will automatically satisfy the general education requirements in Humanities at UT Martin. Finally, satisfying the TBR general education requirement in Humanities and/or Fine Arts will automatically satisfy the general education requirements in Fine Arts at UT Martin.

If a student transfers from UT Knoxville or UT Chattanooga to UT Martin and that student has completed the course requirements for general education at the school of transfer, then the student will have completed general education requirements at UT Martin. If the student transfers to UT Martin before completing general education requirements, then the student will receive credit for having completed general education blocks that correspond to those at UT Martin.

Other General Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree

Curricular Requirements and Senior Testing

  1. File an application for a diploma with the Office of Academic Records, 103 Administration Building, before registering for final semester. This is an online process.
  2. Complete satisfactorily all requirements of the curriculum for which the student is enrolled, as described in the portion of this catalog devoted to the college or department offering the curriculum. A student is allowed to satisfy requirements for a bachelor’s degree under any catalog in effect within 10 years of the date of graduation and provided that he/she was enrolled at UT Martin or any accredited community college or university when the catalog was in effect. Continuous enrollment is not required and this does not obligate the university to offer a discontinued course.
    Notes:
    1. For students seeking additional bachelor’s degrees where a minor is required, students may not use the same minor for more than one degree.
    2. In programs that allow double majors, the second major can be completed in place of the required minor. Students cannot have a double major and a minor.
    3. Double minors are not allowed in any degree program. Not all programs allow double majors. Not all programs allow minors.
    4. All major and/or minor requirements must be completed using the same catalog.
  3. Complete satisfactorily the General Education Core (38-39 hours).
  4. Comply with General Assembly of the State of Tennessee’s law that one unit of American history from high school, a passing total score on the high school equivalency exam, or six semester hours of collegiate work be satisfactorily completed. Completion of six hours from HIST 201 HIST 202 , or HIST 331 will satisfy the requirement.
  5. Complete two assessment measures addressing general education and the major field of study. Proficiency core skill areas in general education will be assessed using a standardized test approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Proficiency in the major field will be assessed using a standardized or locally-developed comprehensive test or graded portfolio review approved by the Office of Curriculum and Assessment.

Grade-Point Average

  1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on all college work attempted at all institutions attended.
  2. Maintain a GPA of at least 2.00 on all work attempted at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Residency

  1. Must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours toward a degree in an accredited four-year institution.
  2. Must complete at least 30 semester credit hours but no less than 25% of coursework in their degree (as stated in the catalog of graduation) at UT Martin. A minimum average GPA of 2.00 must be earned in these classes. All courses from an accredited college are accepted for transfer; however, a maximum of 9 upper-division credit hours only may be transferred from another institution to be applied toward a degree unless approved by the degrees’ committees. An applicant from a junior/community college must complete 60 semester credit hours toward a degree in an accredited four-year college or university.

Fees

  1. Satisfy all financial obligations (fees or fines) owed to the university.

Note: Some of the colleges and departments within the university have special requirements above and beyond those stated here and students are advised to consult the appropriate section of this catalog for any additional degree requirements.

American History Requirement

In order to receive a bachelor’s degree in the state of Tennessee, a student must have completed one unit of American history on the high school level, a passing total score on the high school equivalency exam, or six semester hours of collegiate American history (three semester hours of Tennessee history may be substituted for three semester hours of American history) as required by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee (Tennessee Code Annotated 549-3253).

Second Bachelor’s Degree

A student who holds a bachelor’s degree may receive a second bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin by satisfying the following requirements:

  1. meet all requirements for both degrees, as specified above.
  2. complete at least 30 semester hours beyond the total hours required for the first bachelor’s degree.

Degree Appeals (Special Requests)

Individual student petitions concerning deviation from degree requirements should be prepared in consultation with the student’s adviser on a Special Request form. Special requests are submitted to the student’s college degrees committee for approval. Special requests which are denied by the college committee may be resubmitted to the committee for a second and final judgment. Special requests which involve exceptions to university degree requirements must also receive approval from the Undergraduate/Graduate Council after receiving approval from the college committee. All Special Request forms must include verifying documentation to support the student’s request. This documentation should include:

  1. description of course(s) taken, or to be taken, that is sufficient in fulfilling the degree requirement, as verified by the student’s adviser, department and college;
  2. letters from Student Health and Counseling Center or private physician;
  3. letters from employer on company letterhead; or
  4. other written evidence which supports the student’s request.

If the Undergraduate/Graduate Council denies the student’s request, it may not be resubmitted to the council. Any appeal to the vice chancellor for academic affairs must be limited to an alleged procedural violation.

Grade Appeals

Students who wish to appeal a grade that is alleged to be lower than that academically earned must initiate the process within the first three weeks of the next semester.

The aggrieved student shall first discuss the matter with the teacher involved to see if there is some error or misunderstanding which can be resolved between them.

If the student and the teacher are not able to resolve the grade issue, then the student may take the matter to the department chair. See the Student Handbook for detailed information.

Credit Hours, Grades, Grade-Point Averages, and Examinations

The basic unit of credit at the University of Tennessee at Martin is the semester hour. This normally represents one hour of lecture or recitation or two hours of lab work per week. Each course at the university carries a number of semester hours of credit specified in the course description. At the completion of each course, a student will be assigned a grade reflecting the student’s performance in the course. Passing grades normally carry with them a certain number of quality points per semester hour of credit in the course. A student’s grade-point average (GPA) is obtained by dividing the total number of quality points the student has accumulated by the total number of GPA hours the student has attempted, not including hours for which grades of W, WD, WP, I, P, SP, S, AU, NR, and PP have been received. (See the next pages for explanation of these grades and grade calculation when repeating courses.)

Undergraduate students are graded on the following scale:

Grade Performance Quality Points Level Per Semester Hour of Credit
A Superior 4
B Good 3
C Average 2
D Below Aberage 1
F Failure 0

Failure (F). A student whose work is wholly unsatisfactory shall be marked “failure” with grade of F. To receive credit for a course in which he/she has made an F, a student will be required to register for the same course again and earn a passing grade. However, if a senior does not successfully pass one subject during the semester of his/her intended graduation, that student shall have the privilege of taking the examination at the opening of or during the next semester. If he/she is successful, he/she will receive his/her degree at the next commencement.

Conditional (E). A student whose work is unsatisfactory, but who, in the judgment of the instructor, is capable of removing the deficiency without repeating the work in class, shall be marked “conditional” with a grade of E. If a student is reported conditional in any subject, the conditional grade will be allowed to stand, but will be counted as a failure in computing the average until the E has been removed. It is expected that the student will remove the E during the next semester in which he/she is in residence, but no later than two years after he/she receives the conditional grade. The student need not be enrolled to remove the E grade. After two years, the work must be repeated in class if credit is to be gained. A senior conditional in any subject may be given the opportunity to remove the deficiency before the close of the semester, but no later than the last day before commencement, provided that successfully passing these courses will make him/her eligible for graduation.

Incomplete (I). The work of a student who is passing a course satisfactorily but cannot complete all of the requirements due to illness, accident, or unavoidable circumstances shall be reported as “Incomplete” with the grade of I. Any faculty member may give an I in any course to a student whom the faculty member regards as deficient in English in that course, but who is otherwise passing. The I will be removed when the Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages certifies to the instructor that the student has made the necessary improvement. It is expected that the student will remove the I grade by the end of the next full semester after it is received. The student granted a bona fide I by his/her instructor may have the next full semester to complete the work necessary to erase the I before it is computed as an F. Thereafter, it shall be computed as an F until changed by the original instructor as a result of student action within one academic year. If the work is not completed within that time, the I shall become a permanent F on the student academic record. The student need not be enrolled to remove the I.

Auditor (AU). Students may audit courses subject to the approval of the adviser and of the instructor whose class is visited. Instructors have the authority to drop a student who is auditing if the student does not satisfy the requirements as outlined by the instructor when permission is granted to audit a course. Auditors may take part in lab or fieldwork only by permission of the instructor, consistent with departmental policy. Students not registered for credit courses may be admitted as auditors only with the consent of the dean of the college in which the course is offered. Auditors are required to register, process appropriate paperwork and pay the regular fees prior to the end of the period designated for adding courses. An AU will be assigned instead of a grade.

Other Grades (NR, P, PP, S, SP, U). NR (not reported) is assigned if an instructor does not report a grade by the administrative deadline. The NR will calculate the same as an Incomplete. P (pass) designates a passing grade without further indication of performance level. The grade of P is also used to indicate satisfactory progress on graduate thesis and problems courses in lieu of thesis. PP (portfolio passed) is assigned to portfolio credit that has been awarded. Portfolio credit is limited to the B.I.S. degree area of interest and calculates the same as a P. PP credit does not count toward University of Tennessee at Martin hours, nor toward four-year institutional hours. S (Satisfactory) grades are limited to mid-term grading and Honors Seminar. When the Faculty Senate has approved extension of a one-semester course beyond one semester and the college cannot assign proportional credit and grades, the grade of SP (Self-Paced) may be recorded. The SP grade will be assigned to students not completing all required coursework for the semester, but satisfactorily completing a specified minimum percentage of the coursework. The minimum for each course will be determined by the department offering the course but will not be less than 50 percent of the work required for the full semester. A student receiving an SP grade will re-register for the same course and will be required to finish the remaining coursework during the second semester, at the end of which he/she will receive grades of A, B, C, D, or F. If a student receives an F after the second semester, he/she may register for the course a third time but must finish all work during that semester. If a student does not re-register for the course in which he/she received an SP grade, or if he/she does not return to UT Martin the next semester, he/she will receive an F at the end of that semester. The SP grade will not compute in the cumulative average. An S (satisfactory) grade will be assigned at the end of the first semester for a course which requires two semesters to complete. The hours credit will be counted in the course load but will not be counted in computing the grade-point average for the first semester. To receive credit in a course for which an S grade has been assigned, the student must complete course requirements during the next semester. At the end of the second semester, the student will receive a grade of P (Pass) or F (Failure). Use of the S grade is limited to Honors Seminar 108, 208, 308, 408 (Honors Seminar). U (Unsatisfactory) grades indicate unsatisfactory performance and are limited to mid-term grading.

Repeating Courses. A student may repeat a course in which he/she had earned a grade of D or F. Effective for courses taken beginning summer 1999, when a course is repeated, only the last grade earned will be counted in computing the GPA and in fulfilling requirements for a degree. A student who had earned an A or B in a course will be allowed to re-enroll in that course only as an auditor - any exception to this policy will require approval by the vice chancellor for academic affairs. A student earning C in a course may repeat the course with the approval of his/her adviser. Courses with an earned grade of A, B, or C that are repeated with approval will be evaluated by the same procedure as given for repeated courses with the grade of D or F.

Examinations. Examinations are held at the end of each semester.

Other Academic Matters

Academic Integrity

The University of Tennessee at Martin has chosen as its primary objective quality undergraduate education. Commitment to this objective must include an obligation by all members of the university community to promote and protect the highest standards of integrity in study, research, instruction and evaluation. Dishonesty or unethical behavior does not belong at an institution dedicated to the promotion of knowledge and learning.

Integrity of the academic process requires fair and impartial evaluation by faculty and honest academic conduct by students. A student may be found to have violated this obligation if he/she:

  1. refers during an academic evaluation to materials, sources, or devices not authorized by the instructor.
  2. provides assistance during an academic evaluation or assignment to another person in a manner not authorized by the instructor.
  3. receives assistance during an academic evaluation or assignment from another person in a manner not authorized by the instructor.
  4. possesses, buys, sells, obtains, or uses a copy of any materials intended to be used as an instrument of academic evaluation in advance of its administration.
  5. acts as a substitute for another person in any academic evaluation or assignment.
  6. utilizes a substitute for another person in any academic evaluation or assignment.
  7. practices any form of deceit in an academic evaluation or assignment.
  8. depends on the aid of others, in a manner expressly prohibited by the instructor, in the research, preparation, creation, writing, performing, or publication of work to be submitted for academic credit or evaluation.
  9. provides aid to another person, knowing such aid is expressly prohibited by the instructor, in the research, preparation, creation, writing, performing, or publication of work to be submitted for academic credit or evaluation.
  10. indulges in plagiarism by presenting as one’s own, for academic evaluation or assignment, the ideas, representations, or works of another person or persons without customary and proper acknowledgment of sources.
  11. submits the work of another person in a manner that represents the work to be one’s own.
  12. knowingly permits one’s work to be submitted by another person without the instructor’s authorization.
  13. attempts deceitfully to influence or change one’s academic evaluation or record.
  14. indulges in conduct that is so disruptive as to infringe upon the rights of an instructor or fellow students during a class or examination session.

For additional information, see the Faculty Handbook and Student Handbook.

Changing Rules and Procedures

The university reserves the right to change the rules regulating admission to the institution and any other regulations affecting the granting of degrees. The course offerings and requirements of the university are continually under examination and revision. This catalog presents the offerings and requirements in effect at the time of publication, but there is no guarantee that they will not be changed or revoked. Current information may be obtained from the following sources:

Admission Requirements Executive Director of Enrollment Services and Student Engagement
Course Offerings Department offering course
Degree Requirements Registrar, faculty adviser, or dean of college
Fees and Tuition Division of Finance and Administration

The university further reserves the right to refuse to release to any student his/her transcript, grade report, or degree for failure to return university property or failure to pay any accounts due the university.

Class Attendance Policy

Classroom attendance is an integral part of the educational experience; therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. The instructor of a course may determine his/her own attendance policy with the provision that the policy must be applied consistently to all students in the course. The attendance policy should be reasonable and it should be explicitly and unambiguously stated in each class at the beginning of each semester.

Faculty will monitor class attendance and report to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships any student listed on the class roll who has not started attendance. Reports will be made at the end of the second week of classes. These reports will be used to determine changes in the level of enrollment (full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, or less than half-time) for students receiving Federal Financial Assistance. Enrollment status for financial aid purposes is determined at the end of the drop/add period, which is the first week of classes during regular semesters. Thereafter, changes in enrollment status occur only for non-attendance as reported by the instructor.

Classification

All degree-seeking undergraduate students will be classified according to the following chart, which is based on number of hours earned:

Freshman 0-29.9
Sophomore 30-59.9
Junior 60-89.9
Senior 90 and above

Post-Baccalaureate. A person who has completed a baccalaureate degree may be enrolled as a post-baccalaureate student provided he/she does not wish to work toward a degree. (See Undergraduate Admission Procedures and Requirements .)

Special. A person (18 years of age or over) who does not meet entrance requirements may be enrolled and classified as a special student provided he/she does not wish to work toward a degree. (See Undergraduate Admission Procedures and Requirements .)

Courses

Course Numbers. Course numbers beginning with “0” or followed by a slash “/” or a pound sign “#” do not count toward degree requirements. Courses numbered in the 100 and 200 groups are lower-division courses, primarily for freshmen and sophomores. Courses numbered in the 300 and 400 groups are upper-division courses, primarily for juniors and seniors. Courses in the 500 through 700 groups are for graduate credit only.

Frequency of Course Offerings. Courses are offered in rotation. The frequency of course offerings is designated by (F) for fall semester, (Sp) for spring semester, (Su) for summer semester, or (as needed). If a course is offered only in odd- or even-numbered years, the designation will include “odd” or “even.” Frequency designations are located in Courses Offered by the Department at the end of each departmental section.

Minimum Class Size. Minimum class size is determined by the department chair and dean. A regularly scheduled course may not be given for fewer than five students except by permission of the vice chancellor for academic affairs. The university reserves the right to cancel, postpone or combine classes when necessary.

Physical Activity Courses. A student may elect a maximum of eight semester hours of physical activity courses to count toward degree requirements. ONLY two physical activity courses may be taken for credit during any given semester.

Upper-division Courses. To be eligible for upper-division courses, students (transfers as well as those having previous attendance at the university) must have attained sophomore status unless approval is granted by the dean of the student’s college.

Honors

University Honor Roll

Recognition is given to undergraduate students who complete a semester’s work with:

Honors 3.2 through 3.49 GPA
High Honors 3.5 through 3.79 GPA
Highest Honors 3.8 through 4.0 GPA

To be eligible for the university honor roll, a student must have carried 12 or more academic hours, not counting work taken for pass-fail credit.

Honors Graduation

The diplomas of graduating seniors show honors categories based on the following scale:

Cum Laude 3.2 through 3.49 GPA
Magna Cum Laude 3.5 through 3.79 GPA
Summa Cum Laude 3.8 through 4.0 GPA

To qualify for one of these honors categories, a student must complete at least four semesters (60 semester hours minimum) in The University of Tennessee system. These honors categories are based on a student’s cumulative average at the end of the semester preceding the graduation semester for the purpose of the commencement ceremony; however, a final check will be completed after the students’ final semester’s grades have been averaged into the cumulative grade point average for the purpose of the transcript and diploma. (Students transferring work from other colleges or universities must qualify on both their cumulative average and the University of Tennessee at Martin average. The honors designation is based upon the lower of the two averages.)

“University Scholar” Designation at Graduation

The 10 hours of the University Scholars curriculum are required for graduation with the designation “University Scholar.”

Phi Eta Sigma

Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society that recognizes high academic achievement in the freshman year. Students who achieve a 3.5 average at the end of their first year of study are eligible for membership.

Phi Kappa Phi

Phi Kappa Phi is a national honor society that honors students in all academic fields on the basis of excellent scholarship and integrity of character. Juniors and seniors may be accepted into membership in a number up to one-tenth of the graduating class.

Who’s Who

Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities is a national organization that publishes the names and records of outstanding college students from all over America. The selection is based on scholastic ability, citizenship and leadership. Any junior or senior is eligible for consideration. Selections are made by a special faculty and student committee.

Awards

An annual Honors Day Program in the spring gives recognition to students who have made outstanding achievements in scholarship, leadership and citizenship. In addition to more than 50 special honors and awards, college and departmental honors are given to outstanding students chosen by the college dean and chairs of the departments. Also included in the program are four awards presented to faculty for their outstanding teaching and advising.

Transcripts of Records

Any person who wishes to receive a copy of his/her academic transcript must place an order with the Office of Academic Records. Orders can be placed one of two ways: 1) in person in our office, or 2) online at the National Student Clearing House at www.getmytranscript.com. A transcript will not be issued unless the student’s record is clear with all offices of the university. It is recommended that a transcript be mailed directly from the Office of Academic Records to the official to whom it is to be sent. Many institutions will not accept a transcript from the student. There is a $5 fee for each transcript sent. Special Services, such as overnight mail, rush orders, etc., will incur additional fees.

Academic Continuation

Students are required to have a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.00 to receive the baccalaureate degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Academic standards of performance have been established to ensure satisfactory progress toward a degree. These performance standards form the basis for the following academic classifications:

  1. academically eligible
  2. academically eligible-warning
  3. academically ineligible

Guidelines and procedures for placing students in the previous classifications are explained in the following paragraphs.

Academically Eligible. A student is considered to be academically eligible so long as the number of quality points earned is equal to twice the number of GPA hours attempted. This is equivalent to a cumulative GPA of 2.00.

Academically Eligible–Warning. A student will automatically be placed on warning at the end of any semester if he/she fails to have a 2.00 cumulative GPA. If a student on warning fails to achieve a 2.00 cumulative GPA, the student may continue (on warning) as long as a semester GPA of 2.00 is maintained. Warning will be removed once a cumulative GPA of 2.00 is regained, indicating satisfactory progress. Should the student fail to demonstrate satisfactory progress after one or more continuous semesters of warning, he/she will be academically ineligible. Students on warning may not register for more than 16 credit hours per semester or eight hours per summer term without the written approval of the appropriate college dean. (See Undergraduate Admission Procedures and Requirements : Course Loads)

The student must enroll in a 1-credit hour Success Strategies course to develop a contract for improving his or her academic progress. In this course, the student will work on the established plan that will lead toward improved academic progress. This plan will be tailored to meet the individual needs of each student and may include supplementary work with reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills computer software, work in the Hortense Parrish Writing Center or the Math Lab, and/or work in a group of individual tutoring sessions.

Academically Ineligible. A student on warning for one or more continuous semesters will be academically ineligible for one semester unless one of the following occurs: (1) the cumulative GPA is raised to 2.00 or better; or (2) a 2.00 or better semester GPA is achieved. A student may appeal for reinstatement to the term immediately following his/her first academic ineligibility. The reinstated student will not be allowed to preregister for future semesters until his/her GPA meets at least one of the two conditions identified above. If the student is academically ineligible a second time, the student must leave the university for one academic semester, excluding summer, and may apply for readmission after the one-semester ineligibility. If the student is academically ineligible a third time, the student may apply for readmission after a minimum period of one calendar year.

Readmission following academic ineligibility is never automatic. The student must apply for readmission to the Office of Admissions no later than one month prior to registration for the semester for which he/she is applying. An academically ineligible student may not engage in correspondence study. Students who enroll at another institution while academically ineligible at UT Martin will not be readmitted to UT Martin until their cumulative GPA from all institutions attended meets the UT Martin continuation requirement of a cumulative GPA of 2.00.

Drop, Add and Withdrawal from the University

Note: Dropping coursework may affect financial aid awards, including Lottery Scholarships.

Drop Policy

Within First Eight Weeks. With permission of a student’s adviser, a course may be dropped during the first eight weeks of the semester. Drops executed during the first 14 days will leave no record on the student’s academic transcript. A drop executed after the fourteenth day through eighth week will result in a grade of W (withdrawal).

After First Eight Weeks. Courses may not be dropped after the first eight weeks of a semester unless it can be clearly demonstrated that one of the following exists:

  1. serious illness or injury of the student as verified by Student Health and Counseling Center or private physician;
  2. serious personal or family problems as verified by a minister, physician, or other appropriate professional; or
  3. necessary change in work schedule which conflicts with the class being dropped, as verified by the student’s employer submitted in writing on company letterhead.

In the event of such certification, and the approval of the student’s adviser and the registrar, the student will receive the grade of W. Under normal circumstances, a student may not drop a course after the last day of class or after administration of the final exam, whichever occurs first.

A student will not be permitted to drop a course after the first eight weeks of the semester simply to avoid a poor grade.

Summer Deadlines: Students should consult the summer term timetable for the appropriate summer deadlines.

Add Policy

Adding Courses. With permission of the student’s adviser, a course may be added through the first week of class for the fall and spring semesters. All course section adjustments must be completed during the first week of the semester. Students should consult the registrar’s Web site for all partial-term deadlines, as well as the appropriate summer deadlines.

Withdrawal Policy

Withdrawing from University. All official withdrawals (dropping the student’s entire schedule) from the university are processed by the Office of Academic Records.

Within First Eight Weeks. Withdrawals executed during the first 14 days of the fall and spring semesters will leave no record of the courses for which the student registered. Withdrawals executed after the fourteenth day through the eighth week of the semester will result in a grade of W (withdrawal) in all courses for which the student registered.

After First Eight Weeks. Withdrawals are not permitted after the first eight weeks of a semester unless it can be clearly demonstrated that one of the following exists:

  1. serious illness or injury of the student as verified by Student Health and Counseling Center or private physician;
  2. serious personal or family problems as verified by a minister, physician, or other appropriate professional; or
  3. necessary change in work schedule which conflicts with the class being dropped, as verified by the student’s employer submitted in writing on company letterhead.

In the event of such certification, and the approval of the vice chancellor for student affairs, the student shall receive a W in all courses for which the student registered. Under normal circumstances a student may not withdraw from the university after the last day of class or after administration of the final exam, whichever occurs first.

A student will not be permitted to withdraw after the first eight weeks of the semester simply to avoid a poor grade.

Summer Deadlines: Students should consult the summer term timetable for the appropriate summer deadlines.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) provides for the confidentiality of personally identifiable information contained in student records, including student academic records; however, FERPA also permits UT Martin to disclose certain information, called “directory information,” to a third party without a student’s written consent.

UT Martin has designated the following information as directory information: student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major, dates of attendance, degree and awards, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended, participation in school activities and sports, weight and height (for members of athletic teams), photograph, email address and classification. UT Martin may disclose directory information to a third party without a student’s consent unless a student, prior to the 14th day after each semester begins, notifies the registrar in writing of his or her desire to restrict directory information from being published. For more information on students’ rights under FERPA, refer to the registrar’s Web site at www.utm.edu/registrar or the Student Handbook at http://www.utm.edu/students.php.

EEO/Title VI, Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Statement

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admissions without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

Eligibility and other terms and conditions or employment benefits at the University are governed by laws and regulations of the State of Tennessee, and this non-discrimination statement is intended to be consistent with those laws and regulations.

In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the University.

Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 303 Administration Building, The University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN 38238, telephone 731-881-4889 (V/TTY available) or 731-881-3505. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity.