Policies and Procedures

Academic Policies and Procedures

A student enrolled in a course at Walsh College must observe all academic policies and regulations in effect and published in the current academic catalog and in other official publications. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of all changes in academic policy as implemented by Walsh College. Any student wishing to be exempt from a specific academic policy as outlined in the academic catalog or elsewhere must formally petition the specific administrative or academic department enforcing the policy.

Academic Conduct Policy

Walsh College students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is professional, ethical, honest, and in accordance with generally recognized standards of academic conduct. All coursework including, but not limited to, examinations, quizzes, homework exercises, projects, presentations, online discussion boards, papers or other assignments should reflect professionalism and appropriate academic standards.

By choosing to attend Walsh College, both students and faculty members agree to the provisions of the Academic Conduct Policy, including its rules, policies, and disciplinary actions.

Academic Conduct Standards

If any administrator, faculty, staff, or student body member suspects a student of engaging in academic misconduct, that person must report it to the Academic Conduct Committee. Academic misconduct is defined as any act of commission or omission by a student designed to affect the grade of that student or another student, where such act is unfair, unethical, or outside of the rules of Walsh College, the rules set by the academic department, or by a classroom instructor (for the instructor’s course).

Academic Misconduct includes but is not limited to:

1. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of another’s work, words, ideas, or images without properly citing the source and thereby representing this work as one’s own, whether the representation is oral or written, expressed or implied. Examples include:
   • Failure to give credit for work (including ideas and materials) taken from other sources (public or private), including quoting, paraphrasing, rephrasing, or condensing that work
   • The submission of one’s academic work from a previous course without prior written approval of the current instructor
   • Using graphics, graphs, images, tables, or other illustrative work without giving credit to the original source
   • Using materials that were assembled by or collected by others without acknowledging their contribution
   • Contributing to another student’s work or helping another to plagiarize
2. Cheating: Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following actions:
   • Unauthorized collusion on coursework, including two or more students working together to prepare and submit the same or substantially similar coursework, or portions of coursework, without the specific consent of the instructor
   • Sharing of completed or partially completed coursework which includes, but is not limited to, examinations, quizzes, homework exercises, projects, presentations, discussion boards, papers or other assignments, except where expressly allowed by an instructor for a particular course
   • Use of unauthorized aids while completing coursework
   • Failure to follow administrative instructions on exam-taking or other assessment procedures
   • Completing coursework, including taking an examination, for another student or asking or paying someone else to do the same
   • Allowing another person to access online coursework to review, copy, submit, or complete that coursework
   • The theft, sale, purchase, unauthorized procurement or possession of examinations or other coursework (or any attempt to do so)
   • Copying another student’s work
     Unauthorized distribution or uploading of Walsh College copyrighted materials to any non-Walsh College website, including but not limited to:
   • Any portion of course content such as lectures, presentations, videos, assignments, examination, or quiz questions, etc.
   • Library materials subject to copyright whether or not noted as “do not copy.”
   • Copying of library materials designated “do not copy”
     Damage, destruction, or modification to Walsh College computers/servers/printers including but not limited to:
   • Copying, modifying, or removing software
   • Unauthorized uploading of computer software and/or introducing a virus or malware
3. Misrepresentation or Deception: This includes intentionally lying to, deceiving, or bribing a member of Walsh’s faculty, staff, administration, or outside agency in order to gain academic advantage for oneself or another; or to misrepresent or in other ways interfere with the investigation of a charge of academic misconduct.

Penalties for Academic Misconduct

Formal documentation of the infraction will be noted in the student’s file and remain on record as long as the individual is a student at Walsh College. Additional disciplinary actions or sanctions include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

• Re-doing the assignment for a reduced grade
• A reduction in the earned grade on the assignment
• A directed zero on the assignment
• A reduction in the overall semester grade
• Loss of Walsh College-awarded scholarship money or awards
• A directed “F” in the course
• A review of all prior coursework completed at Walsh College, which may lead to new charges of misconduct should earlier violations have occurred, whether they were addressed at the time or not, up to and including possible reversal of grades earned in prior courses, or degrees revoked, if evidence is found indicating that misconduct was employed in the pursuit of those earlier grades or degrees
• Suspension from Walsh College
• Expulsion from Walsh College

Other Consequences of Academic Misconduct

A student being investigated for academic misconduct, or having been found responsible for academic misconduct:

• May not withdraw from the course at any time
• May not seek financial relief for withdrawal
• May not utilize the grade replacement feature of the Course Repeat policy
• A finding of academic misconduct will become a permanent part of the student record. Subsequent acts of any level of academic misconduct will be considered a basis for suspension or permanent expulsion from Walsh College

Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Designations

Disciplinary action for academic misconduct can take multiple forms. For academic misconduct, disciplinary action may include those listed in the Penalties for Academic Misconduct section. The most serious disciplinary procedures include suspension and expulsion, as defined below.

Suspension from Walsh College

A suspension will terminate the student’s status at Walsh College for a specified period of time, not to exceed one year. This may be posted on the student’s academic transcript at the direction of the dean of academics.

At the end of the specified period, the suspended student will be required to request reinstatement to Walsh College. If granted, the student will be admitted conditionally. Any additional act of academic misconduct committed during the remainder of the student’s academic program will result in permanent expulsion from Walsh College, without the possibility of appeal.

Expulsion from Walsh College

Expulsion from Walsh College will permanently and irrevocably terminate the student’s status at Walsh College. This may be posted on the student’s academic transcript at the direction of the dean of academics. An expulsion may not be appealed and the student will be permanently barred from earning a Walsh College degree.

Academic Conduct Process

The suspected misconduct should be reported promptly to the Academic Conduct Committee, which will examine the evidence, determine whether the student was a repeat offender, and impose the appropriate disciplinary action and/or remediation. Formal documentation of the infraction will be noted in the student’s file.

A student may appeal a finding of academic misconduct by applying in writing to the Academic Conduct Committee, AcademicConduct@walshcollege.edu, within fourteen (14) calendar days of notification. Appeals will be heard by the dean of academics who may, at their discretion, affirm, modify, or reverse the decision. The decision of the dean of academics is final in all instances.

Responsibility of Faculty Members

All faculty members must promptly report all apparent instances of academic misconduct to the Academic Conduct Committee.

Academic Honor Code

The Walsh College academic community will maintain the highest ethical standards in our quest for academic excellence. We will not lie, cheat, steal, bribe, or claim credit for the ideas and work of others. We commit to respecting the intellectual property of others and will always acknowledge the authorship of intellectual property in all forms.

Academic Recognition and Honors

Walsh College recognizes bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree seeking students for outstanding academic achievement. The names of students who attain these academic achievements may be published in the Walsh Journal. The Dean’s and President’s Honors Lists may also be submitted to local publications.

Bachelor’s Degree Honors
Bachelor’s degree seeking students who have completed a minimum of 12 semester credit hours in residence at Walsh College are eligible for honors recognition. At the end of each semester, enrolled bachelor’s degree seeking students who achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.500-3.749 are named to the Dean’s List. Those who achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.750-4.000 are named to the President’s List. This designation will be noted on the student’s academic transcript.

Students who complete a bachelor’s degree program and achieve high academic grade point averages are officially recognized by Walsh College upon graduation. The cumulative grade point average used for academic honors is computed at the time of graduation, is based upon all coursework included in hours attempted in residence at Walsh College and will be noted on the student’s academic transcript and diploma.

The following honors designations will be noted on the academic transcript and diploma:

In addition, honors recognition is given at Walsh College Commencement ceremonies. The cumulative grade point average used to determine academic honors eligibility, for the ceremony only, will be the cumulative GPA on record as of the last graded semester of attendance prior to the ceremony.

Bachelor’s degree honors graduates who participate in Commencement ceremonies will be recognized by the following honor cord color designations:

Master’s and Doctoral Degree Honors

Master’s and doctoral degree seeking students who have completed a minimum of 6 semester credit hours in residence at Walsh College are eligible. At the end of each semester, enrolled master’s and doctoral degree seeking students who achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.750-3.899 are named to the Dean’s List. Those who achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.900-4.000 GPA are named to the President’s List. This designation will be noted on the student’s academic transcript.

Students who complete a master’s or doctoral degree program and achieve high academic grade point averages are officially recognized by Walsh College upon graduation. The cumulative grade point average used for academic honors is computed at the time of graduation, is based upon all coursework included in hours attempted in residence at Walsh College and will be noted on the student’s academic transcript and diploma.

The following honors designations will be noted on the academic transcript and diploma:

In addition, honors recognition is given at Walsh College Commencement ceremonies. The cumulative grade point average used to determine academic honors eligibility, for the ceremony only, will be the cumulative GPA on record as of the last graded semester of attendance prior to the ceremony.

Master’s and doctoral degree honors graduates who participate in Commencement ceremonies will be recognized by the following honor cord color designations:

Awards

Walsh College students are eligible to earn the following prestigious academic awards. Award winners are presented with a certificate and a plaque is inscribed with their names and displayed at Walsh College.

Everett Hawley, Jr. Taxation Award

This award promotes excellence in the study of taxation in the Walsh College Master of Science in Taxation program. Named for the former chair of the Walsh College Board of Trustees, the award annually honors a graduate Taxation student for outstanding academic achievement.

The Financial Executives Institute Award

Each year, the Financial Executives Institute honors one outstanding bachelor’s degree and one outstanding master’s degree in accounting or finance student for academic achievement. The student is presented with a medal at a Financial Executives Institute Detroit chapter meeting.

The Walter B. Fisher Award for Excellence in Accounting

This award is given annually to one Walsh College bachelor’s degree student who demonstrates outstanding achievement in the Bachelor of Accountancy program. Those chosen for the award must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or better and must have contributed time or talent to either Walsh College or the accounting profession through tutoring, club leadership, community service, or other activities. The student is also presented with a cash award.

The Mark J. Solomon Capstone Award

This award promotes excellence and dedication to the study of taxation. Named for the former Tax chair at Walsh College, and the driving force behind the Walsh College Master of Science Taxation degree program, the award annually honors a Master of Science in Taxation student whose work in the MST Capstone class represents the effort, creativity, and technical excellence that Professor Solomon strived to instill in his students.

The Lee A. Sartori Tax Research and Writing Award

This award recognizes and promotes the importance of being able to effectively research and communicate difficult and ever-changing tax law in order to advocate, support, and achieve favorable outcomes. Named for a graduate and longtime adjunct professor in the Walsh College MST program, this award annually honors the student whose performance in the Walsh College tax research class reflects Professor Sartori’s high standards of competence and creativity in research and writing.

Academic and Professional Conduct

Walsh College students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to continued growth toward a business or professional career. A professional demeanor with a high degree of ethical conduct is expected. Written and oral communications, including paper and electronic, should reflect professionalism. All students are expected to attend classes regularly and be fully prepared. Students are responsible for being knowledgeable and observing all Walsh College policies and procedures.

Academic Records and Transcripts

A student’s academic transcript reflects all courses taken, credit hours attempted, and grades received while in residence at Walsh College; these are used to compute the student’s semester and cumulative grade point averages. An official transcript bears the Walsh College seal, the registrar’s facsimile signature and transcript issuance date. Academic standing designations such as probation, dismissal, president’s list, and dean’s list are noted on the student’s transcript.

Master’s level courses taken as part of the student’s bachelor’s level program are documented on the student’s bachelor’s degree transcript. All grades and credit hours attempted and earned will be used in computing the student’s cumulative grade point average for purposes of graduation, with the exception of those courses and grades that have been replaced under the Course Repeat Policy. Courses repeated under this policy will be excluded from the cumulative grade point average calculation. Bachelor’s level courses taken by a master’s level student will appear on a non-degree transcript and will not be computed into the student’s master’s program grade point average, with the exception of bachelor’s level courses required in the foundation of a master’s level program. These credit hours attempted and earned will be computed in the student’s master’s level cumulative grade point average.

Academic transcripts will reflect all courses taken, applicable credit hours attempted, and grades received while in residence at Walsh College for all students including those who are readmitted or who change majors or degree programs prior to graduating from Walsh College. Once a student graduates from a degree or certificate program, a new cumulative grade point average will be computed for the subsequent degree or certificate.

Academic transcripts are maintained in the Records and Registration office and are regularly audited and corrected as necessary. A student wishing to inquire about their record should contact the Records and Registration office at records@walshcollege.edu.

Academic Standing Policy

Grade point averages and academic standing designations are computed for each student at the end of each semester. Students enrolled in degree and certificate programs are required to maintain acceptable academic progress in accordance with the following definition:

Satisfactory Academic Progress

2.000 Cumulative Grade Point Average:

Bachelor of Accountancy Degree

Bachelor of Business Administration Degree

Bachelor of Science in Applied Management Degree

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Degree

3.000 Cumulative Grade Point Average:

Master of Business Administration Degree

Master of Science in Accountancy Degree

Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Degree

Master of Science in Data Analytics Degree

Master of Science in Finance Degree

Master of Science in Information Technology Degree

Master of Science in Management Degree

Master of Science in Marketing Degree

Master of Science in Taxation Degree

Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Finance Dual Degree

Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Management Dual Degree

Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Marketing Dual Degree

STEM Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Information Technology Leadership Dual Degree

Master of Science in Accountancy and Master of Business Administration Dual Degree

Cybersecurity Certificate

Data Analytics Certificate

Global Project and Program Management Certificate

Human Resource Management Certificate

Strategic Business Communication Certificate

Vehicle Cybersecurity Certificate

Doctor of Business Administration Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership

Doctor of Philosophy in Technology

Probation

A student will be placed on academic probation when their admission grade point average (GPA) does not meet the minimum GPA required for their chosen degree or whenever their cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below satisfactory academic standing; either a 2.000 or 3.000 cumulative GPA, depending on their academic program.

• Probation status is calculated based on cumulative credit hours attempted and grades received at Walsh College and are noted on the student’s academic transcript.
• Once a student’s cumulative GPA falls below the minimum required to maintain satisfactory academic progress, the student will be placed on academic probation.
  • Bachelor’s and master’s level students then have three additional semesters in which to improve their cumulative GPA to a satisfactory level.
  • If satisfactory academic standing is not achieved after four semesters of attendance, the student will be dismissed from Walsh College.
• New students admitted conditionally that do not meet satisfactory academic progress requirements for their degree/certificate after their first semester of enrollment will have two semesters remaining in which to improve their cumulative GPA to satisfactory level.
• Re-admitted students returning on academic probation or after academic dismissal will be placed on academic standing and must meet satisfactory academic progress.
• All graded semesters, including courses with grades of “W” are counted toward the maximum semesters of probationary status.
• Any semester in which a student has received all “AU, N or P” grades will not be counted as one of the four semesters.
• A student may elect to take a semester off while on academic probation.

Student’s academic advisor will contact student to review academic standing requirements and develop a course plan to improve their academic standing. Student is responsible for making any changes to their schedule prior to the end of the registration period for each semester.

When the student’s cumulative grade point average reaches the minimum GPA required for their degree program, the student will be in good academic standing and probation restrictions will no longer be applicable. However, all academic standing notation(s) remain on the student’s academic transcript. Students on academic probation who have not enrolled for four consecutive semesters (12 calendar months) must reapply for admission and, if readmitted, will be placed on the same level of probation as in their last semester of enrollment at Walsh College.

Doctoral students are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.000. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.000 for any given semester, the student will be placed on academic probation and will be required to meet with the doctoral program director to determine their continued viability within the program and any necessary remediation processes necessary to ensure student success.

Academic Dismissal

Bachelor’s and master’s level students whose cumulative grade point average remains below satisfactory academic standing for four semesters of attendance will be academically dismissed from Walsh College for a period of one year.

Academic dismissal is calculated based on cumulative credit hours attempted and grades received at Walsh College. Academic dismissal is noted on the student’s academic transcript. A student who has been academically dismissed will be contacted by the registrar or designee, administratively dropped from all courses, and will be issued a full tuition refund including fees.

A bachelor’s or master’s level student may appeal an academic dismissal by submitting an appeal request. The appeal request must include supporting documentation and be sent to enrollmentappeal@walshcollege.edu. The Enrollment Appeal Committee will communicate the decision to the student.

A doctoral student who has failed to pass the Preliminary Exam and Proposal Presentation Defense after two attempts will be dismissed from the program. The student will be administratively dropped from all courses and will be issued a full refund including tuition and fees incurred that semester. The academic standing designation of dismissal will be noted on the student’s academic transcript.

Permanent Dismissal

A second dismissal from Walsh College is considered permanent. A permanent dismissal from Walsh College will terminate the student’s status at Walsh College and the student will be ineligible to enroll in courses, reapply for admission, or earn a Walsh College degree. A student who has been permanently dismissed will be contacted by the registrar and administratively dropped from all courses and will be issued a full refund including tuition and fees.

A bachelor’s or master’s level student may appeal a permanent dismissal by submitting an appeal request. The appeal request must include supporting documentation and be sent to enrollmentappeal@walshcollege.edu. The Enrollment Appeal Committee will communicate the decision to the student.

Applying for Graduation

Students are required to apply for graduation for degree and certificate programs five months prior to their intended graduation date. Applications for graduation are available through the Walsh College Student Portal. Once an application for graduation is submitted, a fee will be charged. A preliminary graduation audit will then be completed and notification of the status of the application will be sent to the student’s Walsh College email account.

Applications for graduation may be carried over to a future semester but are only valid for a total of four consecutive semesters. If an application for graduation has exceeded the four-semester limit, the student will be required to complete a new application for graduation and resubmit the graduation application fee.

A separate fee for the cap and gown is assessed for students who choose to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

Graduation Application Deadlines

Commencement Ceremony

Walsh College hosts one Commencement ceremony per year. Only students who have met all graduation requirements for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs are able to participate in the commencement ceremony. All eligible candidates/graduates will receive information concerning dates, cap and gown purchase, tickets, time, location, and other relevant information approximately two-three months prior to the ceremony.

Calendar

Walsh College operates on a semester calendar system. The academic calendar for all programs consists of four 11-week semesters per year. All courses and credit hours are stated in semester credit hours. The current academic calendars can be found in the academic catalog and on the Walsh College website.

Change of Major or Degree Program

A student who would like to explore adding or changing their concentration, major, or degree program should schedule an appointment with their academic advisor to discuss available options. A student desiring to add/change their concentration, major, or degree program will need to formally request this change by completing the Change of Program/Major form in the Walsh Student Portal.

A complete evaluation will be required to determine appropriateness and fulfillment of admissions criteria for the new degree or major. Students will have the option to remain on the catalog year in which they were admitted/enrolled or update to the most current program of study. An updated academic program plan will be created. All current admissions requirements and policies will apply. In addition, international students must see their international student advisor/designated school officer (DSO) so that proper changes can be made to their I-20s.

Course Delivery Options

Walsh College offers course delivery options designed to give students maximum choice and flexibility. Courses are small, averaging 25 students per class. All courses, no matter which delivery method used, incorporate various media and utilize the college’s chosen Course Management System (CMS), Moodle. Courses include a Help feature within Moodle that instantly pages the Online Learning technology staff, which typically resolves requests within 24 hours. To ensure success, students taking their first course at Walsh College must enroll in and successfully complete an online orientation. MDL 001 Orientation for Online Courses is free of charge. Students must have access to a computer that meets all hardware and software requirements.

Walsh College uses the following definitions to explain the difference between the delivery options available:

Online (V) course:

• Entirely remote/online, with no live attendance options.
• Students can access pre-recorded lectures, course materials, and assignments through the college’s learning management system (LMS). Students have the flexibility to study and complete coursework at their own pace within a set timeframe.
• Ideal for students with variable schedules and those who prefer maximum flexibility to learn at their own speed without the need for real-time interaction.

Interactive Online (VS) course:

• Entirely online, with live attendance options via Zoom.
• Courses are delivered through scheduled Zoom sessions where students can interact with instructors and classmates in real-time. Recordings of live sessions are also available in the course for later review.
• Ideal for students who benefit from the option of real-time interaction for specific subjects but still need the flexibility to attend classes remotely.

Hybrid Live (VH) course:

• Entirely online, with live attendance options via Zoom or on campus.
• This modality offers the most flexibility, allowing students to choose between attending live sessions via Zoom or in person on campus. The option to switch between online and on-campus attendance provides convenience and adaptability to individual schedules and preferences.
• Ideal for students who appreciate face-to-face interaction for specific subjects when possible but also need the option to attend remotely due to work or personal commitments.

Learning Community (VHL) course:

• On campus, with weekly live sessions in addition to online coursework.
• This modality provides an on-campus experience where students interact with an instructor and their peers. Students in various online courses attend the Learning Community sessions together. Students are not required to be enrolled in the VHL section to participate in the Learning Community. However, students who are enrolled in the Learning Community to fulfill on-campus requirements must attend the minimum number of required sessions. Learning Community sessions offer regular enrichment programming, followed by lab time to complete online coursework.
• Ideal for students who want face to face interaction and a presence on campus.

Course Numbering System

Courses Numbered 200-499

Courses with these numbers are bachelor’s level courses. Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and non-degree seeking students are eligible to enroll in these courses for bachelor’s level credit and are assessed bachelor’s level tuition rates.

Courses Numbered 500-699

Courses with these numbers are master’s level courses. Master’s degree, master’s level certificate, and non-degree seeking students are eligible to enroll in these courses for master’s level credit and are assessed master’s level tuition rates.

Bachelor’s level students cannot enroll in these courses unless permitted in their bachelor’s degree program. Master’s level courses taken by bachelor’s level students as part of their bachelor’s degree program will appear on their bachelor’s degree transcript. Students are responsible for paying master’s level tuition.

Courses Numbered 700-899

Courses with these numbers are doctoral level courses. Doctoral students are eligible to enroll in these courses for doctoral credit and are assessed doctoral tuition rates.

Clean Slate Policy

Bachelor’s, Masters’ and doctoral level students who have not attended Walsh College for at least one-year (12 consecutive months) and are reapplying for admission to any bachelor’s, master’s degree, certificate program, or doctoral degree may request a one-time review of their previous academic coursework for exclusion from the grade point average (GPA) calculation under their new program. Courses chosen to be excluded from GPA calculation will include all attempts of the course. Under this policy, all courses, grades, and academic standing notations will still appear on the student’s academic transcript, but the student’s cumulative GPA for the new program will only include previous coursework required or used as electives under the new program. Students are required to sign a Clean Slate Policy form and a notation that the Clean Slate Policy has been invoked will appear on the student’s transcript. After invoking the Clean Slate Policy, the student’s transcript will not be updated until the student registers under the new program. Courses used as part of Clean Slate, in a program in which the student graduated, cannot be used toward transfer credits, shared credit, waivers, or exclusions in subsequent programs.

This option allows courses and grades from the student’s previous bachelor’s, master’s degree, certificate program, or doctoral degree to be excluded from their new degree or certificate program with the following stipulations:

Previously completed courses will not be excluded from cumulative grade point average (cumulative GPA) calculations for the new academic program if the course meets one of the following criteria:

• Any course, including those which are dual listed, and all attempts of that course, which is a required course in the student’s new degree program
• Any course, including all attempts of that course, that the student has chosen to include as an elective course in the new degree program
• Any course that is being counted to reach the total number of required credit hours for a new bachelor’s, master’s degree, certificate, or doctoral degree
• Courses whose grades have been affected by findings of academic misconduct

Copyrighted Material Policy

Walsh College recognizes that there are legitimate uses for file sharing and does not seek to block or limit authorized and permissible collaboration. In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 with an implementation date of July 1, 2010, unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material by any means (including peer-to-peer file sharing) may subject an individual to civil and criminal liabilities in addition to violating Walsh College internal policies.

This policy applies to all students of Walsh College.

Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws

Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see: Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.

Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.

For more information, please see the Web site of the U.S. Copyright Office at copyright.gov, especially their FAQ’s at copyright.gov/help/faq.

Walsh College will accept and respond to Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notices. Upon receipt of a DMCA notice from a business that tracks unauthorized use of its copyrighted materials to Walsh College servers, the user will be detected, the activity analyzed, and the individual may be contacted.

Summary of Walsh College Penalties for Unauthorized File Sharing of Copyrighted Material

Walsh College prohibits illegally copying, distributing, sharing, downloading or uploading copyrighted music, movies, software and games.

Upon a first offense, individuals will receive a written warning. If by nature of technology used the individual cannot be located, Internet access for the computer used will be suspended until a warning can be delivered.

Upon receipt of a copyright infringement notice, the alleged offender’s network access will be limited, and all web requests will be referred to the Walsh College Office of Information Technology.

Internet access will be restored once the form is complete, and the student agrees to abide by the terms of the policy.

Upon a second offense, a student may be subjected to the academic conduct committee for further evaluation and/or discipline.

Upon a third or subsequent offense, sanctions can include disciplinary probation, other sanctions as directed, and/or dismissal from the College.

Depending on the nature of copyright infringement and/or unauthorized file sharing of copyrighted material, the College reserves the right to report such infringement or unauthorized sharing to local or federal authorities, or the like.

Legal Sources of Online Content

EduCause maintains a list of legal sources of online content at educause.edu/legalcontent. Members of the Walsh community are encouraged to check that site to ensure they are compliant with the law.

Course Repeat Policy

The Course Repeat Policy will apply to all Walsh College programs.

Beginning Fall 2025, any eligible course, regardless of grade, may be repeated at Walsh College for a grade replacement. The highest grade earned from all attempts will be calculated into the GPA.

Courses that are not eligible for grade replacement:

• Courses that have been graduated in any program
• Courses for which transfer credit has been awarded
• Courses with grades affected by findings of academic misconduct

Students who repeat courses at other institutions will not receive transfer credit when Walsh College credit has been earned, nor will they improve their Walsh College grade point average. All grades will remain visible on the transcript. All academic standings originally calculated will remain visible on the transcript. In any one program, credit can only be earned once for any course. Withdrawn classes will not replace grades and a grade of “W” will appear on the transcript. Federal and/or state regulations for funding must be followed. Please see the financial aid and veterans’ sections of the academic catalog for details.

Credit Hour Policy

Credit Hour Definition

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) defines the credit hour as an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than 15 hours of instruction for each credit hour plus an additional two hours of out-of-class student work for each credit hour. In addition, an equivalent amount of work is required for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

The Walsh College credit hour policy complies with this DOE requirement for both undergraduate and graduate programs:

• For every credit awarded, Walsh College requires 15 hours of direct faculty instruction (plus an additional 30 hours of homework or out-of-class study).
• As an example, three credit courses will have 45 hours of direct faculty instruction (plus 90 hours of out-of-class study or homework)
• For a three-credit course offered in an 11-week semester, 4-5 hours of direct faculty instruction are required each week, regardless of delivery method
• Walsh College assumes that direct faculty instruction time may include breaks of up to 10-minutes per hour
• On campus or live synchronous courses (via Zoom, for example) will be scheduled for the required amount of time
• Online courses or online content will include the required amount of equivalent direct instructional time, as established by Walsh’s “Workload Calculator”
• Blended or hybrid courses will combine the direct faculty instruction time for both on-campus or live synchronous content together with online equivalent content as needed to meet the total number of credit hour required

“Direct faculty instruction” is defined as the amount of time the faculty member is personally interacting with students within the context of the classroom. These are activities the instructor would need to be a part of or present for in some way. Examples include lectures, group or class discussions, Q&A sessions, a quiz or exam, and explaining instructions or expectations.

“Homework” or out-of-class study is defined as any activity an instructor would not conduct during in-class time. Students are expected to do these activities independent of the instructor and regular class meeting time. Examples include textbook or outside readings, working on assignments, writing papers, research, practice quizzes, homework problems, or independent project construction.

The Walsh College “workload calculator” is used to verify online instructional parity to parallel on-ground instruction and ensure content meets quality standards of delivery, as follows:

1. In class / screen time activities:
   1. Lectures - calculate approximately 15 minutes per Word page-length lecture.
   2. Videos, Voice-over PPT, Camtasia - add the run time and multiply by 2. (Example: a 5-minute video = 10 minutes of screen/seat time, or 5 minutes times 2 = 10 minutes)
   3. Activities included in the weekly modules - test them out and determine length of time.
   4. Quizzes - add in the amount of time allotted for any quizzes. Approximately 1.5 - 2 minutes per question, based on a multiple-choice delivery. However, this may be longer for quantitative and qualitative type exams. (Professor and ID should discuss).
   5. Discussions - The instructor will need to determine how long he/she expects a student to spend on the discussion board each week and clearly communicate this information to students. “It is expected that to succeed on the discussion board you will spend a minimum of x-hours (i.e., one hour) interacting with your peers…. etc.”
   6. Web conferences / online chats - The professor will need to provide guidance as to the length of chat.
   7. Other activities as determined.

Degree Completion Policy

To graduate from Walsh College, bachelor’s and master’s degree seeking students must complete a degree program within 60 consecutive calendar months (five years) from the initial date of enrollment at Walsh College (as designated by the first semester attended on the student’s Walsh College transcript). Doctoral students must complete their program within 84 consecutive calendar months (seven years) from the initial date of enrollment at Walsh College (as designated by the first semester attended on the student’s Walsh College transcript).

Should it appear that this time limit might not be met, bachelor’s and master’s degree seeking students should immediately consult with their academic advisor to request an extension. This request will be forwarded to the academic department chair for review and approval. If an extension is requested and granted, coursework more than five years old may be reviewed for currency. Additional coursework may be required to complete the degree. If an extension is not granted due to an insufficient portion of the program requirements having been completed, the student must update to the current degree program. Credit may be applied toward a degree for coursework less than five years old in which the grade of “C” (2.000) or better has been earned.

Students on an academic program may choose allowable electives for the same academic program that are offered in future catalog years. Students are not required to update to the future academic program/catalog year to enroll in the new elective.

A readmitted bachelor’s or master’s level student who is granted credit for previously taken courses may be required to complete the program in a period of time less than 60 months (five years). The transcript of a readmitted student will reflect all courses taken, credit hours attempted, and grades received while in residence at Walsh College.

Doctoral students must successfully complete all coursework and final dissertation within a maximum of seven years (84 months) after commencing in the program. Any exceptions beyond the stated criteria will be determined by the doctoral program director. If a student is in good academic standing and stops out for medical or extenuating circumstances, the student may re-enter the program without reapplying for admission for up to one year from the stop out term.

Double Majors/Dual Bachelor’s Degrees

Dual degrees at the bachelor’s level are subject to the Shared Credit Policy (p. 250). Students pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration or Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree may select to add an additional major simultaneously, with the exception of General Business and General Information Technology.

All required professional core, major and/or required elective coursework within the bachelor’s degree and major(s) must be completed prior to graduation. In the case that a student chooses to double-major in one degree, the student will be awarded one degree, the Bachelor of Business Administration or the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and the student’s official transcript will reflect the two majors earned. To declare a double major, students are required to submit a request to their academic advisor.

General Education Requirement

Thirty semester credit hours are required in general education coursework to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Walsh College.

Courses in the following disciplines will count toward satisfying this requirement in the Bachelor of Accountancy, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and Bachelor of Science in Applied Management programs:

• Communications
• Economics
• Ethics
• Mathematics
• Quantitative Methods

In addition, the following courses will also count toward satisfying this requirement:

• ACC 100 Small Business Accounting
• ACC 315 Ethics in Accounting
• FIN 412 International Economics and Finance
• FIN 419 Financial History of the United States
• IDS 400 Critical Thinking for Ethical Leaders
• IT 201 Introduction to Networking
• IT 202 Introduction to Databases
• IT 203 Introduction to Programming
• IT 204 Introduction to Security
• MGT 402 Business Ethics and Legal Issues
• MGT 462 Diversity and Inclusion

Grade Policies

Grading Scale

Courses taken at Walsh College are recorded by letter grade (A-F); the 4-point system (4.000) is used to compute the grade point average (GPA). Grades are awarded according to the following system:

THE FOLLOWING GRADES ARE COMPUTED IN GPA:

THE FOLLOWING GRADES ARE NOT COMPUTED IN GPA:

*Not included in computing hours, grade points or GPA. Included in computing hours, but not included in computing grade points or GPA.

For all bachelor’s degree programs, the grade of “C” (2.000) is the minimum acceptable grade for courses. As a graduation requirement, a bachelor’s degree seeking student must maintain a 2.000 for the overall cumulative grade point average and to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

For all master’s programs, including dual degree programs and master’s level certificates, the grade of “C” (2.000) is an acceptable grade for the purposes of course completion for all courses. However, a 3.000 overall cumulative grade point average must be achieved as a requirement for graduation and to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

For all doctoral programs, the grade of “C” (2.000) may be earned one time only. A second grade of “C” (2.000) will result in automatic dismissal. If there are extenuating circumstances, a student may appeal the dismissal. Reentry into the program will be determined by the Doctoral Program Committee.

GRADES NOT COMPUTED IN GPA

“AU” (audit) denotes that the student is enrolled in a course for no grade and no credit. Upon completion of the course, a grade of “AU” will be noted on the student’s academic transcript. The decision to audit a course should be made at the time of registration. Once the add/drop period ends, a student cannot change their registration status from credit to audit or from audit to credit. A student desiring to audit a class must pay full tuition and fees. A designation of “AU” will be allowed only once per course. A grade of “AU” will automatically be issued to a student who repeats a course in which they have previously received equivalency transfer credit, an exclusion, waiver or shared credit. After grade replacement, once a course has been completed at Walsh College with a grade of “C” or better, all subsequent attempts will receive a grade of “AU” and no credit.

“I” (incomplete) is a temporary grade used by an instructor in cases when the student is unable to complete course requirements because of illness or other justifiable circumstances.See the Assignment Extension and Incomplete Grade policy for details.

“NR” (no grade reported) is a temporary grade indicating the final grade has not yet been submitted. The “NR” grade will be replaced by the appropriate letter grade (A-F) when submitted by the instructor.

“N” (not passing) is only used in courses that are graded on a pass/no pass basis and indicates that the course has not been completed successfully.

“P” (passing) is only used in courses that are graded on a pass/no pass basis and indicates that the course has been completed successfully.

“W” (withdrawal) indicates the student has withdrawn from the course. This grade earns no credit for purposes of graduation and is not included in a student’s grade point average computation. However, the grade does appear on the student’s academic transcript.

Cumulative Grade Point Averages

A student’s cumulative grade point average is computed by dividing the total grade points earned to date by the total number of hours attempted. Grade point average calculations are carried out to the third position after the decimal point. Grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of credit hours for the course by the number of points earned on the grading scale. For example, a grade of B for a 3-credit hour course produces 3 (credit hours) x 3 (points for a grade of B), or 9 grade points. The grade of “F” (0.000) is included in the calculation of cumulative grade point averages. When a student repeats courses under the Course Repeat Policy (p. 231), all grades will appear on the academic transcript, but only the best grade will be used to compute the cumulative grade point average. Only courses taken at Walsh College are used to determine a student’s grade point average.

Semester Grade Point Averages

A student’s semester grade point average is computed by dividing the total grade points for that semester by the number of credit hours attempted. Grade point average calculations are carried out to the third position after the decimal point. The grade of “F” (0.000) is included in the calculation of grade point averages.

Viewing Grades

Grades may be viewed by clicking the Grades/GPA by Term link on the Academic Records card in the Walsh College Student Portal.

Assignment Extension and Incomplete Grade Eligibility

Assignment Extension and Incomplete Grade Eligibility

To ensure fairness, academic rigor, and timely academic progress, Walsh College maintains the following standards for assignment extensions and “Incomplete” grades.

Assignment Extension Policy

Assignment extensions may be granted under exceptional and documented circumstances (e.g., medical issues, emergencies, job-related conflicts), subject to instructor discretion, and the following requirements:

1. Timely Request
   Requests must be submitted prior to the assignment due date, or within 48 hours after the missed deadline, accompanied by valid documentation.
2. Minimum Completion Requirement
   To qualify for an extension, a student must have submitted at least 80% of all assignments due prior to the request. This includes any graded elements such as discussions, quizzes, projects, and written assignments.
3. Academic Standing
   The student must be earning a grade of “C” (2.000) or higher at the time of the request.
4. Documentation Requirement
   Appropriate documentation (e.g., medical note, employer verification) must be submitted with the extension request.

Incomplete Grade (“I”) Policy

An “I” (Incomplete) is a temporary grade assigned when a student is unable to complete the final portion of a course due to justifiable circumstances. Approval is at the discretion of the instructor and subject to the following criteria:

1. Coursework Completion The student must have completed at least 80% of the course requirements to be eligible.
2. Grade Requirement The student must have earned at least a “C” (2.000) in the completed coursework.
3. Remaining Work Limitation The incomplete work must constitute less than 30% of the total course requirements.
4. Completion Timeline A written agreement must be in place to complete all remaining work within four weeks after the term ends. If the work is not completed by the deadline, the “I” converts to a letter grade based on work completed, typically resulting in an “F.”
5. Initiation of Request The student must initiate the request prior to final grades being posted, and the agreement must be documented by the instructor.

International Partner-Initiated Requests

Walsh College values its international partnerships and recognizes that cultural and logistical factors may occasionally affect student communication. Therefore:

• International academic partners may formally request assignment extensions or incomplete grades on behalf of their students, provided the request is:
• However, students represented by international partners must still meet the 80% completion rule for any consideration to be given.
• Partner-initiated requests do not override academic eligibility requirements. The 80% threshold and minimum grade requirement remain non-negotiable for fairness and academic consistency.

Instructor Discretion and Appeals

Instructors are empowered to make the final decision regarding extensions and incomplete grades within the framework of this policy. Students or international partners may appeal a denied request, following the appeals process (p. 238), provided all eligibility requirements were met and documentation is submitted.

Appealing Final Grades/Grade Changes

A student who questions or wishes to clarify a grade must contact the instructor and provide specific arguments for the grade change to resolve the dispute within four weeks after the start of the next semester. A request by a student to dispute their grade after this four-week period will not be considered.

The acceptable reasons for a grade change dispute are as follows:

• The basis for the final grade was a result of something outside the student’s academic work/performance in the classroom
• The faculty member did not communicate the process or expectations for determining the final grade in communications or in the syllabus
• The faculty member did not follow the defined process to determine the final grade
• The assessment standards/rubric were not uniformly applied to all students

The student must complete the grade appeal form and provide evidence that one of the actions above has taken place for grade change consideration. Any requests for grade change outside of those listed above and without proper documentation will be returned to the student.

Grade change considerations, based on the acceptable reasons for a grade change, are first evaluated by the instructor. If the instructor is unable to resolve the complaint, the department chair will review the request. Final review may be conducted by the dean of academics. The decision of the dean of academics is final.

If an error has been made in calculating the final grade, the instructor must submit an official change of grade to the registrar and director of records and registration certifying reasons for the change of grade. Upon receiving documentation from the instructor, the registrar and director of records and registration will change the grade and post the grade on the Grades/GPA by Term on the Academic Records card in the Walsh College Student Portal. In exceptional or unusual circumstances, the registrar and director of records and registration may determine that additional signature approval must be obtained by the department chairperson and/or the dean of academics (or approved designee) prior to processing the grade change.

Bachelor’s Level Earned Credit Policy

Bachelor’s level credit is earned for a course only when the student is issued a grade of “C” (2.000) or better.

All grades from Walsh College bachelor’s level coursework will be used to compute the student’s bachelor’s level cumulative grade point average, except for those grades that have been replaced under the Course Repeat Policy. Grades replaced under this policy will be excluded from the cumulative grade point average.

Bachelor’s level students may enroll in approved master’s level (500 or 600 level) courses for up to 15 semester credit hours, per the Shared Credit Policy. All master’s level courses taken and grades received under this status will be reflected on the student’s bachelor’s level transcript and will be used in computing the student’s cumulative grade point average for purposes of graduation.

Students are responsible for paying master’s level tuition and course fees.

Please note that students cannot switch from the bachelor’s level version of a course to the master’s level version of the course after the add/drop period ends in any given semester.

A bachelor’s level student who wishes to take a master’s level course to fulfill their bachelor’s degree requirements should contact their academic advisor to determine if the course may be applied as advanced standing to any Walsh College master’s degree program.

Master’s Level Earned Credit Policy

Master’s level credit is earned for a course only when the student is issued a grade of “C” (2.000) or better.

All grades from Walsh College master’s level coursework will be used to compute the student’s master’s level cumulative grade point average, with the exception of those grades that have been replaced under the Course Repeat Policy. Grades replaced under this policy will be excluded from the cumulative grade point average.

A master’s level student may enroll in bachelor’s level courses. Students must complete a non-degree application for admissions to take a bachelor’s level course.

Grades received in a bachelor’s level course will be noted on a non-degree transcript. Only bachelor’s level courses required in the foundation of a master’s level program will be computed in the student’s master’s level cumulative grade point average.

Doctoral Level Earned Credit Policy

Doctoral level credit is earned for a course only when the student is issued a grade of “C” (2.000) or better.

All grades from Walsh College doctoral coursework will be used to compute the student’s doctoral cumulative grade point average. With approval of the Doctoral Program Chair, a doctoral student may enroll in a master’s level course. All master’s and doctoral level coursework will be computed in the student’s doctoral cumulative grade point average.

Residency Policy

Residency refers to the number of semester credit hours to be completed at Walsh College. Courses satisfying this requirement can be completed on campus, online, or in a hybrid format.

Undergraduate Residency Requirement:

• Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours at Walsh College, including at least 50% of major coursework.
• Concurrent enrollment - students may concurrently enroll in courses at Walsh College and another institution. However, the final 15 credits must be completed at Walsh College.

Graduate Residency Requirement:

• Students must complete a minimum of 50% of the required credit hours at Walsh College to earn a master’s degree.

Doctoral Residency Requirement:

• Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours, including dissertation work, at Walsh College.

A master’s level certificate candidate must complete the following minimum residency requirements at Walsh College:

• Students must complete a minimum 9 semester credit hours in residence in the certificate program at Walsh College.
  Note: International Partnership Programs may have different residency requirements specific to the program.

Student Classifications

An individual may attend classes at Walsh College only by making formal application and by being admitted to Walsh College under one of the student classifications listed below. All students, regardless of their classification status, are subject to the policies and regulations of Walsh College that are outlined in the academic catalog, published in subsequent bulletins, or posted at Walsh College.

Bachelor’s Degree Student

A student attending classes as a bachelor’s degree seeking student must meet the admissions requirements set forth in the section entitled Bachelor’s Degree Admission Requirements . The student must successfully complete all the prescribed coursework to meet the admissions requirements for a bachelor’s degree. A student entering Walsh College as a bachelor’s degree seeking student will be provided an academic program plan prior to registering for classes. Only a student officially accepted by Walsh College may enroll in classes. A bachelor’s level student is classified based upon the number of semester credit hours earned. A freshman is defined as a student who has completed 29 semester credit hours or less. A sophomore is defined as a student who has completed between 30 and 59 semester credit hours. A junior is defined as a student who has completed between 60 and 89 semester credit hours. A senior is defined as a student who has completed 90 or more semester credit hours.

Master’s Degree Student

A student attending classes as a master’s degree seeking student must meet the admissions requirements set forth in the section entitled Master’s Degree and Master’s Level Certificate Admission Requirements . Master’s level coursework successfully completed by a student while attending classes under this status is applicable toward the graduation requirements necessary for a master’s degree. Master’s degree seeking students will be provided an academic program plan prior to registering for classes. Only a student officially accepted by Walsh College may enroll in classes.

Master’s Level Certificate Student
An individual attending classes as a master’s level certificate seeking student must meet the admission requirements set forth in the section entitled Master’s Degree and Master’s Level Certificate Admission Requirements . Coursework successfully completed by a student while attending classes under this status will earn college credit and will be applicable toward the requirements necessary to earn a master’s level certificate. A student entering Walsh College as a master’s level certificate-seeking candidate will be issued a certificate program plan prior to registering for classes. Only a student officially accepted by Walsh College may enroll in classes. Master’s level certificate-seeking students will be required to meet all course prerequisites. Courses taken as a master’s level certificate student will be reflected on a non-degree transcript.

Doctoral Degree Student
A student attending classes as a doctoral degree seeking student must meet the admissions requirements set forth in the section entitled Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements . Doctoral level coursework successfully completed by a student while attending classes under this status is applicable toward the graduation requirements necessary for a doctoral degree. Doctoral degree seeking students will be provided an academic program plan prior to registering for classes. Only a student officially accepted by Walsh College as a doctoral degree seeking student may enroll in doctoral-level classes.

Non-Degree Student
A student attending classes as a non-degree degree seeking student must meet the admissions requirements set forth in the section entitled Non-Degree Student Admission Requirements . A student attending under this status will be required to meet all course prerequisites and will receive college credit for courses successfully completed in accordance with the Bachelor’s Level and Master’s Level Earned Credit policies. All courses taken and grades received will appear on a non-degree transcript. If credit earned as a non-degree student is later applied toward a Walsh College degree or certificate program, the credits attempted and grades earned will be considered Walsh College credit and will be computed in the student’s cumulative grade point average as part of the degree or certificate program academic transcript. Time limitations for transferability as determined by each academic area may apply.

Guest Student at Walsh College
Students pursuing a degree at another accredited institution may enroll in selected courses at Walsh College under the status of guest student. Accredited institutions are accredited by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) www.chea.org and U.S. Department of Education (USDE). Guest students will be considered non-degree students and must follow the requirements set forth in the section entitled Non-Degree Student Admission Requirements . It is the responsibility of the guest student to obtain home institution approval to accept the course and credits earned. Walsh College reserves the right to deny guest status and/or to limit the number of courses taken as a guest student. Accepted guest students may enroll in classes. Guest students will be required to meet course prerequisites or obtain approval. Courses taken as a guest student are reflected on a non-degree transcript. If credit earned as a guest student at Walsh College is later applied toward a Walsh College degree or certificate program, the credits and grades earned will be considered Walsh College credit and computed in the student’s cumulative grade point average as part of the degree or certificate program academic transcript. Time limitations for transferability as determined by each academic area may apply.

Guest Student at another Institution
Walsh College students may request to enroll in coursework at another accredited college or university under the status of guest student. The student must receive approval from their academic advisor for guest student status before enrolling in a course. Permission may be granted when a course is not available at Walsh College in a critical time sequence for the student to graduate. If approval is granted, the Michigan Uniform Guest Application will be signed by the director of advising or designee. It is the student’s responsibility to verify that the institution is accredited by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) (chea.org) and U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The student must complete the coursework in the semester specified on the approved guest application. The following criteria must also be met:

• Bachelor’s level students must earn a grade of “C” (2.000) or better to have the credits applied toward a Walsh College bachelor’s degree program. Credits earned as a Guest Student are considered transfer credit and will not be computed in the student’s cumulative grade point average.
• Master’s level students must earn a grade of “B” (3.000) or better to have the credits applied toward a Walsh College master’s degree program. Credits earned as a Guest Student are considered transfer credit and will not be computed in the student’s cumulative grade point average.
• It is the student’s responsibility to have an official transcript forwarded to Walsh College upon course completion at the guest college or university.

Audit Student
An individual who does not qualify for admission to either the bachelor’s or master’s degree programs at Walsh College or who wishes to take courses on a no-grade, non-credit basis can enroll under the status of audit student. Enrollment in courses as an audit student is subject to class availability. Only a student officially accepted by Walsh College may enroll in classes. A student attending under this status will be required to meet all course prerequisites. Courses taken as an audit student are on a no-grade, non-credit basis, and college credit will not be granted. An audit student pays the same tuition and fees as one who takes the course for credit. Courses taken as an audit student will be reflected on a non-degree transcript.

International Student
After being admitted to Walsh College, a student who attends school on an F-1 visa and requires an I-20 Form should contact their international student advisor/DSO for specific requirements. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) requires a student on a non-immigrant student visa to pursue full-time enrollment in a specified bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree program. International students should refer to the International Student  section of this academic catalog for additional requirements.

Student Enrollment Classification

Academic Course Load

Walsh College expects its students to be able to balance their educational, professional, and personal schedules and does not restrict the number of credit hours that a student may register for in a given semester. Students with questions on the appropriate number of credits to take in a given semester should discuss their proposed schedule with an academic advisor. International students should contact the international student advisor/DSO for visa status compliance.

Walsh College uses the following criteria for enrollment certification, financial aid, scholarships, and veterans’ payment eligibility:

Bachelor’s Students

Non-Degree, Certificate, and Guest Students

Enrollment verification will be determined based on course level enrollment (bachelor’s or master’s) and classification based on number of semester credit hours taken.

College Credit Acceptance Policies

College credit acceptance policies are a set of guidelines and regulations established by educational institutions to determine which courses, examinations, and/or prior learning experiences will be recognized to grant college credit. These policies enable students to maximize their professional and previous educational experience to potentially reduce the number of courses taken within a program. The following credit acceptance policies are currently in effect at Walsh College.

Shared Credit

Concurrent Enrollment

Course Waivers

Exclusions

Fast Track Program

Military Credit

Transfer Credit Policy

Advanced Placement Credit Policy

CLEP Credit Granting Policy

Transfer Credit Policy

Walsh College supports the academic mobility of students through transparent and consistent policies for accepting transfer credits. These policies are designed to uphold academic integrity and rigor, ensure student success, and align with the guidelines set forth by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Walsh College accepts transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions and other institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or equivalent foreign accrediting bodies. All transferred credit is evaluated for equivalency, level, and content.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit

• A maximum of 90 semester credit hours may be transferred from a regionally accredited institution.
• Only courses with a grade of “C” (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better are eligible for transfer.
• Transfer credit must be applicable to the student’s declared program of study.
• Course expiration may apply to specific disciplines, per program requirements in academic catalog.

Residency Requirement:

• Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours at Walsh College, including at least 50% of major coursework.
• Concurrent enrollment - students may concurrently enroll in courses at Walsh College and another institution. However, the final 15 credits must be completed at Walsh College.

Graduate Transfer Credit

• A maximum of 15 semester credit hours may be transferred from a regionally accredited institution.
• Only courses with a grade of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better are eligible.
• Courses must have been completed within the last 5 years.

Residency Requirement:

• Students must complete a minimum of 50% of the required credit hours at Walsh College to earn a master’s degree.

Doctoral Transfer Credit

• Due to the specialized and advanced nature of doctoral education, transfer credit at the doctoral level is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Only doctoral-level coursework with a grade of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better, completed at regionally accredited institutions, may be considered.
• Transfer credit must demonstrate alignment with program learning outcomes and academic rigor.

Residency Requirement:

• Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours, including dissertation work, at Walsh College.

Extra-Institutional Credit
Walsh College recognizes that students may acquire college-level learning outside of traditional academic settings. Extra-institutional credit may be awarded for validated learning experiences such as:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• ACE-evaluated military or corporate training
• Industry certifications
• Professional licensure or credential evaluations

Conditions for Awarding Extra-Institutional Credit:

• Credit is awarded in accordance with ACE recommended guidelines, regionally accredited college acceptance of credit, and/or academic department evaluation, and must align with course outcomes in the student’s program of study.
• Students must submit official documentation (e.g., exam scores, transcripts, certifications) for evaluation.
• A maximum of 30 credit hours of extra-institutional credit may be applied to an undergraduate degree.
• At the graduate level, extra-institutional credit is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.
• Extra-institutional credit is not applicable toward residency requirements.

Transcript and Evaluation Process

• All transfer and extra-institutional credit must be supported by official transcripts or records.
• Evaluations are conducted by Admissions, in collaboration with academic departments.

Advanced Placement Credit Policy

Advanced Placement (AP) credit is awarded based on transfer institution and/or American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations. Unofficial transcripts may be used to complete an initial evaluation. An official College Board transcript or a regionally accredited institution’s transcript reflecting the AP score is required.

Equivalency Exam AP Guide

CLEP® Credit Granting Policy

College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) credit is awarded based on transfer institution and/or American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations. Unofficial transcripts may be used to complete an initial evaluation. An official College Board transcript or a regionally accredited institution’s transcript reflecting CLEP score is required.

Computer Based Testing (CBT) and Paper and Pencil Testing

Military Credit Policy

• Walsh College will grant academic credit for military experience and DANTES/DSST exams based on American Council on Education (ACE) recommended guidelines and requirements.
• Walsh College may determine possible equivalency credit through ACE recommendations, accredited community college acceptance of credit, and/or department chairperson review.
• ACE recommendations for military credit is listed on an official JST (Joint Services Transcript), CCAF (Community College of the Air Force), or CGI (Coast Guard Institute) transcript. Transcripts from the United States Coast Guard may be evaluated using ACE identifiers and/or SOC/DANTES.
• Unofficial copies of transcripts may be submitted for initial evaluation with official transcripts required for full admission.
• Credit hours categorized as L - Lower Level; U = Upper Level; and G = Graduate Level are acceptable and may be reviewed for possible equivalency.
• Credit that is listed under “Other Learning Experiences” tend to be very specialized and often do not have college credit recommended by ACE. To be considered for equivalent credit, submission of documentation detailing the experience is required for consideration through the Extra Institutional Credit policy and department chairperson review.
• Course descriptions for specific military credit recommendations are found in The ACE Military Guide or the DANTES Independent Study Catalog.

Shared Credit Policy

This policy outlines the conditions under which credit may be shared between academic degrees at Walsh College. It ensures academic integrity, consistency across programs, and compliance with Higher Learning Commission (HLC) guidelines.

This policy applies to:

• Combined, integrated, or accelerated degree programs (e.g., bachelor’s to master’s, master’s to doctoral)
• Dual/double degrees (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral)

This policy does not apply to:

• Stackable credentials (e.g. certificates embedded in degree programs)

General Principles

1. Minimum Degree Requirements Maintained
   Credit sharing may not result in any credential being awarded with fewer than the minimum number of required semester credit hours:
   • Bachelor’s degree: 120 credits
   • Master’s degree: 30 credits
   • Doctoral degree: 60 credits
2. Foundation Courses
   • Foundation courses that a student is required to take that are not allowed to be included in other degree requirements (as electives, concentration courses, etc.), are not counted in shared credit calculations. Students who are excluded from foundation course requirements (due to prior coursework, etc.) will not have those exclusions count towards shared credit limits.

1. Unique Credits
   • Once a course has been shared between two academic degrees, it cannot be applied as shared credit towards a third degree.
2. Expiration of Credits
   • Credits are not eligible for sharing after 5 years from course completion.

1. Academic Rigor and Learning Outcomes
   Courses counted toward multiple degrees must demonstrate equivalency in learning outcomes, depth of content, and methods of assessment for each program. Academic rigor shall not be compromised in the pursuit of efficiency. No credit may be double-counted in a way that dilutes curricular content or reduces academic expectations. While graduate-level courses may count toward undergraduate requirements, undergraduate courses cannot be applied to graduate programs. Master’s and doctoral courses are both considered graduate-level and may be shared in either direction between those programs.
2. Institutional Approval Required
   Shared-credit arrangements are approved by the following bodies, where applicable:
   • The curriculum committee or faculty governance body
   • The Dean, Assistant Dean, or designee
     
     No approval is necessary if the programs require the exact same course in the catalog.

1. Transparency and Advising
   Shared credit pathways will be clearly communicated in catalog descriptions, advising materials, and degree audits.

Shared Credit Limits by Program Type

Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis, with documented academic justification and approval by the Dean or designee..

Residency and Institutional Credit

Regardless of shared credit:

• Students must meet Walsh’s residency requirements, completing a minimum number of credits at the institution.

Fast Track Program

The Walsh College Fast Track is an accelerated program that enables students to take up to five advanced degree courses.

Bachelor’s Degree to Master’s Degree Fast Track

Master’s Degree to Doctorate Degree Fast Track

Bachelor’s to Master’s Fast Track Program
Walsh College allows bachelor’s degree seeking students to complete up to five master’s level courses as part of their bachelor’s degree requirements.

Bachelor’s degree seeking students taking master’s level courses must successfully complete the approved courses with a grade of “C” (2.000) or higher in order to be considered for credit in the chosen master’s degree or certificate, if applicable. All master’s level courses taken and grades received will be reflected on the student’s bachelor’s level transcript and will be used in computing the student’s cumulative grade point average for purposes of graduation. Students are responsible for paying master’s level tuition and course fees. Refer to the Shared Credit Policy to determine the maximum credit allowable in the master’s degree or certificate program. A student must be in good standing to pursue the Fast Track program. Completion of master’s level courses does not guarantee admission to master’s level programs.

The following courses are approved Fast Track course options:

Master’s to Doctorate Fast Track Program

Walsh College allows master’s degree seeking students to complete up to five doctoral level courses as part of their master’s degree requirements.

Master’s degree seeking students taking doctoral level courses must successfully complete the approved courses with a grade of “B” (3.000) or higher in order to be considered for credit in the chosen doctoral degree. All doctoral level courses taken and grades received will be reflected on the student’s master’s level transcript and will be used in computing the student’s cumulative grade point average for purposes of graduation. Students are responsible for paying doctoral level tuition and course fees. A student must be in good standing to pursue the Fast Track program. Completion of doctoral level courses does not guarantee admission to doctoral level programs.

The following courses are approved Fast Track course options:

Concurrent Enrollment

Admitted Walsh College students may be eligible for concurrent enrollment while taking classes at Walsh. Concurrent enrollment allows new students enrolled at a transfer institution to complete credits while attending Walsh College. Concurrent enrollment may affect a student’s ability to receive financial aid; students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid office prior to concurrent enrollment to complete a consortium agreement. Upon admittance to Walsh College, a student interested in concurrent enrollment is required to meet with their academic advisor to create a concurrent enrollment agreement. The concurrent enrollment agreement lists the courses the student is still eligible to transfer in from the community college. The Concurrent Enrollment Agreement form must be signed by the student prior to the end of their first semester of attendance at Walsh College. The Concurrent Enrollment Agreement must be signed for each semester of concurrent enrollment.

Course Waivers

Students may be eligible to receive waivers for required and/or elective coursework in a master’s degree or certificate program. Students will not receive credit for a waiver. A waiver requires the applicant to replace the waived course with an allowable elective course. Waivers may be awarded for coursework that is determined to be equivalent to courses required in the master’s degree or certificate program. Courses must have been completed at Walsh College or at another institution prior to admission to Walsh College. If the student desires to take a course that has been waived for a grade, they must contact their academic advisor.

Eligibility for a course waiver requires:

• The coursework must be equivalent to a course offered as part of a Walsh College master’s degree or certificate program.
• The coursework must have been completed with a grade of “C” (2.000) or better, from a college or university accredited by an approved accrediting body as noted for admission.
• The coursework must have been completed within 60 calendar months (five years) preceding the date of initial admission.

Exclusions

Exclusions may be granted for foundation or prerequisite courses within a master’s degree or certificate program and may be granted for equivalent coursework/prior experience (including bachelor’s level coursework) with evaluation at the point of admission. Courses must have been completed at Walsh College or at another institution prior to admission. Excluded foundation courses do not have to be replaced by another course in the student’s master’s degree or certificate program.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program

Walsh College is committed to promoting a healthy and safe learning and work environment in which students and employees can thrive as they pursue their educational and career goals. Additionally, the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program (DAAPP) helps ensure Walsh College remains compliant with the federal consumer information disclosure requirements. The purpose of this program is to educate the Walsh College community about the standards of conduct; associated federal, state, and institutional sanctions; health risks; and prevention, counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation services associated with student and employee abuse of drugs and alcohol.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Walsh College will support activities and requirements of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act. It is a violation of Walsh policy for students, employees, or visitors to engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of a controlled substance on Walsh property. Walsh policy prohibits illegal use of alcohol on Walsh Property.

The prohibition against the manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of a controlled substance includes cannabis. While cannabis use for medicinal or recreational purposes is not currently illegal under Michigan state law, cannabis remains a schedule 1 controlled substance under Federal law and, as such, its manufacture, distribution, possession or use at Walsh is prohibited.

WALSH COLLEGE SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

Students in violation of these policies may face disciplinary action, including dismissal from the institution and/or appropriate criminal charges. Employees who are convicted of any criminal drug statute may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment and/or be required to satisfactorily complete an approved drug abuse program at the employee’s expense.

See also:
Walsh College Substance Abuse Policy
Walsh College Tobacco, Smoke and Vape Free Policy

SANCTIONS UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAW
Violations of laws and ordinances relating to drugs and alcohol also may result in misdemeanor or felony convictions accompanied by the imposition of legal sanctions, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Fines as determined under federal, state, and local laws;
• Imprisonment, including up to life imprisonment, for possession or trafficking in controlled narcotics;
• Forfeiture of personal and real property;
• Loss of driving privileges;
• Required attendance at substance abuse education or treatment programs

Federal Drug Sanctions
A full description of federal sanctions for drug offences can be found at Federal Trafficking Penalties.

Michigan Drug and Alcohol Sanctions
Under Michigan law, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase, consume or possess, or have any bodily content of alcohol. The following summarizes some of the potential legal consequences for violating state law.

• A first-time conviction for possession or use of alcohol as a minor may result in a fine, substance abuse education and treatment, community service and court-ordered drug screenings. 1st Offense Civil infraction/$100 fine 2nd Offense 30-day misdemeanor/$200 or both 3rd Offense or more 60-day misdemeanor/$500 or both
• There also is a provision for possible imprisonment or probation for a second or subsequent offense.
• The use of false identification by minors in obtaining alcohol is punishable with a fine, loss of driver’s license, probation, and community service.
• Individuals can be arrested and/or convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at .08 or higher. If a student is under 21, there is a “zero tolerance” law in the state of Michigan, and any blood alcohol level of .01 or higher can lead to a minor in possession (MIP) citation as well as being cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, if applicable. This is in addition to suspension of driving privileges in the State of Michigan.

Michigan Underage Drinking Penalties
Michigan Impaired Driving Law and Penalties
Michigan Controlled Substance Offences and Penalties

Local Sanctions Oakland County Ordinance Search

HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE Considerable health risks are associated with substance and alcohol abuse. Substance abuse dramatically impairs student and employee performance, contributes to absenteeism, and presents safety risks for not only the abusing individual, but also to others within the College community. The following are general descriptions of some of the health risks associated with substance abuse.

ALCOHOL Loss of concentration and judgment; slowed reflexes; disorientation leading to higher risk of accidents and problem behavior; risk of liver and heart damage, malnutrition, cancer, and other illnesses; can be highly addictive to some persons.

AMPHETAMINES Can cause rushed, careless behavior and pushing beyond your physical capacity, leading to exhaustion; tolerance increases rapidly; causes physical and psychological dependence; withdrawal can result in depression and suicide; continued high doses can cause heart problems, infections, malnutrition, and death.

CANNABIS Can cause permanent damage to lungs, reproductive organs, and brain function; slows reflexes; increases forgetfulness; alters judgment of space and distance.

COCAINE Causes damage to respiratory and immune systems; induces malnutrition, seizures, and loss of brain function. Some forms (such as “crack”) are highly addictive.

HALLUCINOGENS (PCP, LSD, ecstasy) Cause extreme distortions of what’s seen and heard; induces sudden changes in behavior, loss of concentration and memory; increases risk of birth defects in user’s children; overdose can cause psychosis, convulsions, coma, and death. Frequent use can cause permanent loss of mental function.

INHALANTS (nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, chlorohydrocarbons, hydrocarbons) Cause nausea, dizziness, fatigue, slurred speech, hallucinations, or delusions; may lead to rapid and irregular heart rhythms, heart failure and death; long-term use may result in loss of feeling, hearing, and vision; can result in permanent damage to the brain, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.

NARCOTICS Highly addictive; tolerance increases rapidly; causes physical and psychological dependence; overdose can cause coma, convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death; leads to malnutrition, infection, and hepatitis. Sharing needles is a leading cause of the spread of HIV and hepatitis.

SEDATIVES Tolerance increases rapidly; produces physical and psychological dependence; cause reduced reaction time and confusion; overdoses can cause coma, respiratory arrest, convulsions, and death; withdrawal can be dangerous; in combination with other controlled substances can quickly cause coma and death.

Know the Risks of Using Drugs
Know the Risks of Using Marijuana
Know the Risks of Using Meth
Get Smart About Drugs

COUNSELING, TREATMENT, AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Students - Walsh College offers referral services to students aimed at preventing substance abuse and assisting in rehabilitation. Interested students may contact their Academic Advisor or the Oakland County Health Division directly.

Employees - Walsh College offers referral services to employees aimed at preventing substance abuse and assisting in rehabilitation. Interested employees may contact Human Resources at hr@walshcollege.edu or by phone at (248) 823-1602. All inquiries are confidential.

Additionally, employees may contact Walsh College’s Employee Assistance Program partner, UNUM, or the Oakland County Health Division directly.

For Substance Abuse Prevention visit oakgov.com/community/health/partnerships/prescription-drug-abuse-prevention.

ANNUAL NOTIFICATION

Walsh College regularly reminds students and employees about its Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program as part of its annual consumer information disclosure email. In addition to the email disclosure, the information is also located on the Consumer Information webpage.

BIENNIAL REVIEW The College conducts a biennial review of this policy to 1) determine its effectiveness and implement changes as needed; and 2) determine the number of drug and alcohol-related violations and fatalities that (i) occur on campus or during College activities; and (ii) are reported to Walsh College officials. This review includes representatives from Academic Advising, Facility Operations, Financial Aid, and Human Resources and is conducted in even numbered years.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a Federal law designed to protect the privacy of education records. The Act provides students the right to inspect and review their education records; the right to seek to amend those records on the grounds that they are inaccurate or misleading; and to have some control over disclosure of information from the records. The educational records of currently enrolled and formerly enrolled students are protected under FERPA, unless the student is deceased. For purposes of FERPA, a student is defined as a person who has applied, has been admitted and has enrolled in classes. A student has the right to file complaints with the Family Policy Compliance Office, in the Department of Education, for failure of Walsh College to comply with FERPA at studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint.

Directory Information
At its discretion, Walsh College may provide “directory information”, should that information not be considered harmful to the student or an invasion of privacy if disclosed, in accordance with the provisions of FERPA. Walsh defines the following items as “directory information” and may permit disclosure without written consent of the student:

• Name
• Home address
• Phone numbers
• Walsh College email address
• Current or past enrollment status
• Dates of attendance
• Academic program/degree
• Graduation information including degree earned, major, specialization, certification, honors, and awards received and/or date of graduation
• Photographs
• Participation in officially recognized activities

Disclosure of Educational Records
Current or former students may request that Walsh College not release any directory information. The request must be made in writing to the registrar. Except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent, personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational record not listed as “directory information” may be disclosed to third parties only with the prior written consent of the student. This written authorization must identify the individual or agency’s name and address and phone number and specify the records to be released.

FERPA authorizes disclosure of educational records without the consent of the student under certain circumstances, including but not limited to:

• School officials with legitimate educational interest. A school official is a person employed by Walsh in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position; contractors, consultants, volunteers and other non-employees performing institutional services and functions or outsourced services (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks
• A vendor or outsourced service provider may be considered a school official as long as they perform an institutional function for which Walsh would otherwise use employees, is under direct control of Walsh, and is subject to the requirements of CFR 99.31(a) governing the use and re-disclosure [CFR 99.33(a)(1)] of personally identifiable information from education records. The person or company with whom Walsh has contracted is limited to only the specific student information needed to fulfill their contract
• Officials of other schools in which the student seeks or intends to enroll
• Federal, state, and local authorities involved in an audit or evaluation of federal legal requirements for compliance with education programs
• Veterans Administration officials
• Persons or organizations providing financial aid to students if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for an amount of aid, conditions of aid, and to enforce the terms and conditions of aid
• Organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of educational agencies or institutions
• Accrediting organizations carrying out accreditation functions
• Parents of dependent students according to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
• Comply with federal law (e.g. the U.S. Patriot Act), a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena
• Persons in an emergency if the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of students or other persons
• A victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, the institution may disclose the final results of the disciplinary proceeding
• Interested individuals in connection with the final results of an institutional disciplinary proceeding to include only the name of the student, the violation committed and any sanction imposed by the institution
• The parent of a student under 21 if the institution determines that the student has committed a disciplinary violation of its drug or alcohol rules or policies or violation of any federal, state, or local law

Legitimate Educational Interest
A school official has legitimate educational interest in the protected education records if the official is:

• Performing a task that is specified in the official’s position description or contract agreement; related to a student’s education; or related to the discipline of a student
• Providing a service or benefit relating to the student or student’s family, such as health care, counseling, job placement, or financial aid
• Maintaining the safety and security of the location
• Legitimate educational interest does not include having a curiosity about the academic record or disciplinary proceedings with regard to a student without some legitimate academic reason
• All records of all students are not open to all faculty or staff at Walsh regardless of access
• Consult with the Records and Registration office if you have any question about whether a legitimate educational interest exists in connection with a request for student data

Student’s Right to Review Education Records
Current and former students may request to inspect and review their education records. To do so, the student must submit their request to the Records & Registration office. It must:

• be submitted in writing to include a valid signature or submitted via Walsh email
• include the date of the request
• include the specific information the student wishes to review

The Records & Registration office will make the education record available to the student within forty-five (45) days of receiving the request.

Students have the right to amend their education record if they feel the information within is inaccurate or misleading. To do so, the student must submit their request to the Records & Registration office. It must:

• be submitted in writing to include a valid signature or submitted via Walsh College email
• include the date of the request
• include the specific information the student wishes to amend

The registrar will review the request and if approved, the education record will be amended. If the request is denied, the student may submit an appeal to the office of the dean of academics, who in their discretion, may affirm, modify, or reverse the decision. In all instances, the decision of the dean of academics is final.

Information Technology Policies

Commitment to Technology

Walsh College continues to invest in the technological future, both inside and outside of the traditional classroom. All rooms at the Troy campus are equipped with LCD projectors or televisions that are used during presentations by instructors, facilitators, and students. Classrooms are also equipped with SMART Podiums™, touch-screen interactive monitors that allow instructors to interact with digital content and write over it on the SMART monitors. In addition, each classroom contains web cameras with microphones which enable online remote distance education capabilities. Classrooms also contain the ability for wireless presentation from any mobile device within the classroom.

The Troy campus is also furnished with a technology enhanced Finance Lab. The Finance Lab gives students a taste of Wall Street with 12 Bloomberg terminals, FACTSET research capabilities, along with several large LCD televisions tuned to market and financial reports, and breakout rooms. Financial information continuously updates on an LED ticker, giving students a real-time glimpse into market movement and news.

A dedicated Cyber Lab is also located at the Troy location. The Cyber Lab provides a hands-on learning environment with access to Dell servers and Dell EMC storage infrastructure. Students can expect to receive critical cybersecurity skills across traditional, cyber physical, and/or automotive environments. In addition, students will apply critical, strategic, ethical, and innovative thinking to achieve business-like results. A VMWare Virtual Lab also provides students with practical real-world experience setting up and supporting a business-like domain complete with servers and PCs.

Walsh College is designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE/CD), which identifies Walsh College as one of a small set of academic institutions in the country to achieve this status. Walsh College also aligns its programs with the Department of Defense 8570 and the Department of Homeland Security NICE Framework. This ensures that our students will be prepared to meet the standards of employment at the federal level.

Electronic library research tools maintained on the Walsh College website include a multitude of database sources, online magazines and journal subscriptions. These tools allow students to access information online from anywhere, at any time.

Secured information is stored behind firewalled and password-protected systems; most applications utilize only one username and password and automatically pass through from one system to another without further intervention. Public and guest wireless Internet access is available throughout the campus. The wireless network utilizes updated modern wireless technology standards which provides for a seamless end-user experience.

All classroom and lab computers require users to log in with their unique Academic/Portal username and password. Public guests can generate a temporary ID by using a driver’s license in order to gain access to the library computer resources at Walsh.

Technology Usage Policy

It is the policy of Walsh College to maintain access for its community to local, national, and international sources of information and to provide an atmosphere that encourages access to knowledge and sharing of information. Walsh’s goal with respect to information technology is to provide the following:

• Student access to information anywhere on location through Walsh’s network or off location through the Internet;
• Faculty resources necessary to enhance teaching, learning, and research; and
• Staff tools necessary for a responsive service environment.

This and all policies and procedures of Walsh College are not intended to abridge academic freedom, constitutional guarantees of free speech, or freedom of expression. While the rights of academic freedom and intellectual creativity are recognized, the interests of Walsh, students, faculty, and staff must be protected. In addition to consideration of legal liability issues, the institutional image and reputation of Walsh are valuable assets requiring protection.

In accordance with these policies, Walsh College works to create an intellectual environment in which students, staff, and faculty may feel free to create and collaborate with colleagues at Walsh and at other institutions without fear that the products of their intellectual efforts will be violated by misrepresentation, tampering, destruction, or theft.

Walsh College advises users that while it follows generally accepted information security practices and deploys effective safeguards, it cannot guarantee that its information technology resources are completely protected from cybersecurity risks and threats from individuals who possess the skill and desire to breach those security measures and commit malicious acts. In addition, the information transmitted to third parties is not under the control of Walsh and may be intercepted.

Walsh College advises all users of personally owned computers to protect themselves from cybersecurity risks by:

• Promptly installing security patches for the operating system and other software installed on the computer
• Using antivirus antimalware software and keeping the software updated
• Using a firewall
• Using strong unique passwords on all accounts
• Securing sensitive information such as accounts, passwords, financial and medical records by methods such as encryption and secure erasure
• Staying alert to common ploys of cyber criminals, such as PHISHING

Links to additional information about cybersecurity are available on the Walsh College website: oit.walshcollege.edu.

In the final analysis, the availability of Walsh College information resources, technology, and networks is the responsibility of its users. Each user must guard against abuses that disrupt and threaten the long-term viability of the systems at Walsh College and those beyond Walsh College. Walsh College requires members of its community to act in accordance with these responsibilities; this policy; relevant laws; and contractual obligations; and to maintain the highest standard of ethics.

Acceptable Use Policy

The following policies define the privileges of and restrictions on Walsh College students and non-Walsh account holders who are provided with accounts to access the information resources and information technology of Walsh College. The policies include examples of activities that are detrimental to the welfare of the overall community and are therefore prohibited.

This section also describes the process by which violators are identified, investigated, and disciplined. It should be noted that some activities that are legal are in violation of this policy and are prohibited with respect to Walsh College information technology. Note that this policy does not apply to the employees, faculty and contractors who are governed by the policies of the Walsh College Employee Handbook.

Walsh College characterizes as unethical and unacceptable, and just cause for taking actions up to and including dismissal, and/or legal action, any activity prohibited by this policy statement.

Access to the information resources and information technology at Walsh College is a privilege and must be treated as such by all users. The primary purpose of the information resources and information technology at Walsh College is to fulfill the goals previously described. Use for other purposes, such as personal recreation, is secondary. A modest level of secondary use is permitted, but if secondary use activities interfere with fulfillment of the primary purposes of the technology, those activities may be terminated or restricted. Specific restrictions on use follow.

Walsh College advises all users of its information resources and information technology that it has the right and the duty and will routinely monitor the use of its technology to prevent and detect any violations of these policies or applicable laws. Monitoring of use and investigation of suspected violations will be done routinely by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and without prior notice. Investigations may also be initiated by faculty department chairs, officers and cost center directors of Walsh College and will be carried out by the OIT department. Computer activity that may be monitored includes, but is not limited to:

• Files and data stored on Walsh computers
• Programs installed on Walsh College computers and programs used on Walsh College network
• Websites visited
• Electronic messages sent and received
• Information uploaded, downloaded and posted
• Usage levels
• Access to Sensitive (confidential) information

All of these computer activities are visible and verifiable by Walsh’s network management facilities.

Unless otherwise indicated, the following are prohibited activities. This list may not be exhaustive. Additional prohibitions may be communicated to the community at any time:

• Students may not use any resource, equipment, or software to harass, discriminate against or threaten others. Such conduct may constitute a violation of Walsh College policy, including but not limited to the Title IX policy in this academic catalog. Example: A student must not use the computer to contact another person repeatedly where no legitimate purpose exists and the recipient requests the communication to stop.
• Students may not steal, forge, lie, cheat, eavesdrop, intercept, attempt to intercept, or compromise information. They may not alter the content of a message with the intent to deceive.
• Students may not attempt to access or disclose any confidential or private information about Walsh College, other students, staff, faculty or contractors. Confidential or private information includes, but is not limited to, personal information, health information, student records and Walsh College business records.
• Students may not masquerade as another user. They may not misrepresent the identity of the sender or source of an electronic communication. They may not acquire or attempt to acquire or discover the passwords of others. Example: A student must not access or attempt to access the account of another student, even if the student left their account logged in. Tip: Always log out of an application when you are not using it or lock your desktop. Tip: Always use long and complex passwords that meet the Walsh College password guidelines. Never use passwords that can be easily guessed or that may be found in a dictionary. If you believe someone may know or be using your password, change it and report the security policy violation to the Office of Information Technology (OIT).
• Students may not in any way destroy, damage, or alter any information, resource, equipment, or software, or monopolize computing resources. Example: Generating activities that consume excessive network bandwidth or other system resources causing or threatening to cause disruption of system availability. These activities could include “spam,” sharing or downloading large files, using a file sharing service, or generating Denial of Service network packets. Example: Deliberately installing malicious software such as a worm, virus, key logger or rootkit. Example: Accessing and altering information without authorization.
• Students may not scan Walsh College network for vulnerabilities without direct authorization from the OIT Director. Scanning of a separate non-production network Cybersecurity Lab or Virtual Lab is permitted when required for a class and authorized by the instructor.
• Students may not possess any software, resource, or equipment whose purpose is to affect a violation of any of these policies. Exceptions will be made for software, resources and equipment required or recommended for classes the student is currently enrolled. This exception does not give any student permission to use the software, resources or equipment to violate any of these policies. Example: Possessing on any Walsh College-owned system account or on the student’s personal computer those programs which may be used to determine the passwords of others, intercept network traffic or to obtain computer system privileges beyond those authorized.
• Students may not attempt to violate any of these policies. An attempt will be considered the same as a violation. Example: If a student attempts to obtain system privileges to which they are not entitled, the student is as guilty as if they had succeeded.
• Students may not create, possess, willingly receive, or distribute obscene material. Examples: Child pornography is absolutely against the law. It is a violation of Federal statutes to possess this material or to transmit it across state lines, even electronically.
• Students may not violate this Technology Usage Policy off-location anywhere in the world using Walsh College resources. Example: An attempt to gain unauthorized entry to a Walsh College computing resource such as the Walsh College Student Portal, email etc., via any computer off Walsh College location is treated as if the student attempted to gain access from a computer located on location.
• Students may not copy, install, or use any equipment, service, information, data, image, recording, or other work in violation of applicable copyrights or license agreements, including media file-sharing, streaming, or hosting. Example: If a student places on Walsh College computing resources or uses Walsh’s network to download to a personal device any material created by or belonging to others, they must have their documented permission to do so, and will be expected to produce written permission when proprietary or copyrighted material is involved.
• Students may not use Walsh’s information resources or information technology for political purposes or non-Walsh College commercial business or advertising. Students must not generate unsolicited commercial email unless they have express written authorization to do so from the appropriate authority. However, any officially sanctioned Walsh College student group may maintain an official Web page that presents objective information about the group itself. Example: Individuals may not use Walsh College owned statistics software on the academic shared systems to do work for off-location entities for which they are paid. Example (Permitted activity): The Young Democrats/Republicans may have a page that presents information about their activities and goals. They may not engage in the following activities, which is not an exhaustive list: endorsing a candidate for office; linking to a candidate’s campaign site; or political fundraising. Example: The sending of unsolicited bulk email (spamming) is not allowed.
• Students may not make alterations to the Walsh College network. They must not add or alter network components such as routers, wireless routers, firewalls or switches. They must not add to or alter cabling. They must not alter domain names or IP addresses. Example: A student must not add a wireless router to any Walsh College network jack or port. Example: All IP addresses and domain names are owned and assigned by the Office of Information Technology. The Office of Information Technology may also restrict World Wide Web, ftp and other network services that interfere with fair network use by others.
• Students must take full responsibility for what they publish, download, transmit, or possess.
• Students may not share Walsh College user ID and password with or allow the use of their Walsh College access by another individual.

Policy Violations

Students should report any known or suspected violation of this policy or any computer security incident to the director of the office of information technology either directly or by email OIT_Director@walshcollege.edu.

If Walsh College suspects an individual of violating its technology policies, it may conduct an investigation of any equipment, device, software, documents, or data that is involved. Walsh College may access, search, or retrieve related equipment as part of its investigation. It may also employ surveillance activities to aid in an investigation. All parties involved are expected to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Any action(s) that Walsh College deems inappropriate can lead to disciplinary action up to and including academic dismissal and/or termination of employment, removal and/or ban from the facilities and/or filing of criminal charges.

Walsh College Student Email Account

All students are assigned a Walsh College email address and are required to access their Walsh email account regularly. Walsh College uses Okta single sign on technology in conjunction with multifactor validation to secure all user authentication. All Walsh College websites that contain personally identifiable information are digitally secure and encrypted, protecting the confidentiality of its usage. All official administrative email communication (account balances, graduation audit notification, Commencement information, e-newsletter, etc.) will only be sent to the student’s Walsh College email address. Similarly, Walsh College email is required for communication between a student and faculty member regarding grades, quizzes/exams, performance in the course, etc.

Emails pertaining to potential violations of Walsh College policies will be sent to a student’s Walsh College email address and students are required to use their Walsh College email for all related communications, unless otherwise directed by Walsh College officials.

Official student administrative email requests (e.g., advising questions, adding/dropping classes, enrollment verification, etc.) must be sent from the student’s Walsh College email address. Students who regularly use another email account are able to forward their Walsh College email to that account.

Registration Policies and Procedures

Registration information and the schedule of classes can be found on the Walsh College Student Portal. Log in and click the Register for Classes link on the Registration card for more information.

Students can register for classes online using Self-Service for Students in the Walsh College Student Portal through the seventh day of the semester. Students should consult the academic calendar for appropriate registration dates. If Walsh College encounters a problem processing a registration, the student will be contacted. Students are not automatically dropped for non-payment.

Students can confirm their registration at any time by using the “Registration and Student Planning” link in Self-Service for Students in the Walsh College Student Portal. Students should carefully review their schedules after registering and every time a schedule change is made to ensure that processing was completed and to ensure accuracy of course section numbers and meeting times. Confirmation of registration transactions will also be sent to the Walsh College email account. Ultimately, a student’s schedule is the student’s responsibility.

Add/Drop Policy

Students may make changes to their schedules during the designated registration period. Courses can be added and/or dropped online using Self-Service for Students in the Walsh College Student Portal or by Walsh College email. Any course dropped during the add/drop period will not be reflected on the student’s academic transcript. There is no fee for adding or dropping courses.

A student may add classes to their schedule until 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on the seventh day of the semester*. Please refer to the academic calendar for specific registration dates for the current semester.

A student may drop classes until 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on the fourteenth day of the semester*. For courses dropped through the eighth day of the semester, 100 percent of the tuition charges will be credited to the student’s account*. For courses dropped between the ninth and fourteenth day of the semester, 50 percent of the tuition charges will be credited to the student’s account.

*See the Tuition Refund Policy section of the academic catalog for information on refundability of fees. Please refer to the Academic Calendar  for specific refund dates for the current semester.

A student may change sections of a currently enrolled course until 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on the fourteenth day of the semester. The section must be an open course with seats available. Instructor permission will be required to add into the new section and will be the responsibility of the student to obtain. There is no fee for changing sections of a currently enrolled course. Requests can be sent to records@walshcollege.edu, will need to be sent from the student’s Walsh College email account, and will need to contain approval from the instructor. Students are responsible for investigating the timing/grade consequences of late registration prior to adding the class. Some assignments/activities and therefore points (i.e.: in-class participation credit) may not be able to be made up. Please note that assignments, assessments, etc. completed in the first and second weeks of the course may not be transferable.

Add/drop requests submitted by Walsh College email will be considered as received on the date submitted.

The student is solely responsible for adjustments to their personal, professional, extracurricular, and employment schedules as they relate to class attendance.

A student who does not officially drop their course by the last day to drop classes as indicated on the academic calendar is financially obligated to pay for the course(s) even if they have not attended any sessions. * This includes any fees that have been added to the student account. Students receiving federal financial aid must review the Tuition Refund Policy Effect on Financial Aid Recipients section in this academic catalog.

*Dates pertain to 11-week courses. Dates for courses that meet for less than 11 weeks may differ. Dates for these courses can be found on the Walsh College Student Portal and/or the course syllabus.

Note: An international student on an F-1 visa must consult with the international student enrollment advisor/designated school official before dropping a class that will result in less than full-time status.

Advanced Assignments

Many classes have advanced assignments that need to be completed before the semester begins. Advanced assignments are available a week before the semester starts and can be found by logging into Moodle through the Walsh College Student Portal.

Cancellation of Enrollment

Walsh College reserves the right to administratively cancel a student’s registration due to non-payment of tuition or fees, non-attendance, academic issues, or if directed by an officer of Walsh College. Students who do not log into their course in Moodle by the last day to drop for 100% tuition refund will be considered non-attending.

Class Cancellations/Changes

Walsh College reserves the right to cancel classes and make changes to the instructors and course prerequisites.

Class Enrollment Policy

Students are not allowed to attend classes unless they are officially enrolled and the appropriate tuition and fees have been paid. Students who violate this policy will not receive a grade or credit for that course. Each student is encouraged to check with the instructor to verify that they appear on the instructor’s official class roster.

Classroom Assignments

Students should consult the most current classroom assignment schedule on the first day of classes as room assignments may change. Final classroom assignments are posted on the website, outside of each classroom, and in the lobbies of each building on the first day of classes.

Confidentiality Statement and Security Information

Students who register online should be aware that the Walsh College Student Portal is a fully encrypted website designed to protect confidential information. To further ensure confidentiality, passwords must be changed every 180 days. Please note that students are still responsible for preventing unauthorized access. It is important that students not share their login or passwords and to properly log out of the Walsh College Student Portal when finished accessing information.

Identity Verification

Walsh College verifies the identity of students enrolled in online distance learning courses through the establishment of unique username and passwords. This practice ensures that there is only one username and password for each student. These credentials are established during the admissions process and are required to access all online course resources and materials.

The Student Identity Verification Policy describes the procedures and methods of verifying and protecting distance learning student identity. This policy applies to all credit-bearing distance learning courses or programs offered by Walsh College beginning with the application for admission and continuing through to a student’s graduation, transfer, withdrawal, or re-admission.

Walsh College utilizes a secure login process to determine that the student who registers in an online distance learning course is the same student who participates in, completes, and receives credit for the course. Walsh College delivers distance learning courses over the internet utilizing Moodle as the online learning management system (LMS). Upon admission, new students receive a unique user ID and a unique user-determined password to access Moodle from the Okta identity management service. User accounts are then encrypted and stored in Walsh’s Active Directory which is our authentication service. Moodle uses Okta authentication that recognizes credentials stored in the Active Directory in order to protect and verify user identity. No ‘Guest’ or any other third-party accounts are allowed to log in to the Moodle system.

Students are not allowed to change their user ID for any reason. The password must meet the following complexity requirements to enhance security:

• Have a minimum of 12 characters.
• Contain characters from three of the following four categories:
  • English uppercase characters (A through Z)
  • English lowercase characters (a through z)
  • Base 10 digits (0 through 9)
  • Non-alphabetic characters (for example, !, $, #, %)

Complexity requirements are enforced when passwords are changed or created. Passwords must be changed every 180 days. Passwords must be changed significantly and the previous two passwords cannot be used.

Exception Requests

Students are expected to complete all of the required courses for their degree or certificate program. In extenuating circumstances, a student may submit a request for an exception as it pertains to a specific course or prerequisite. Exception requests will only be considered if there are extenuating circumstances and no other course option. All exception requests must be submitted by email to a student’s assigned academic advisor. The reason for the request must be included and documentation provided. Additional approvals may be needed when applicable.

Holds

There are six different types of holds that can affect a student’s registration: academic standing, administrative, admissions, final transcript, financial, and library. Students who have any of these holds placed on their record will not be eligible to register for courses and must contact the appropriate office for resolution.

• Academic Standing Hold - Applies when a student’s cumulative GPA falls below the minimum required to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Contact your academic advisor for resolution.
• Administrative Hold - An administrator of Walsh College has placed a hold to prevent the student from registering and/or receiving an academic transcript. Contact the Records and Registration office for resolution at records@walshcollege.edu.
• Admissions Hold - Applies to a student who has not attended Walsh College for 12 consecutive months; has graduated; or has not provided the Admissions office with required documentation. Contact the Admissions office for resolution at admissions@walshcollege.edu.
• Final Transcript Hold - Applies to new students who have not provided Walsh College with official transcripts from all colleges attended prior to registering for their second semester. Contact the Admissions office for resolution at admissions@walshcollege.edu.
• Financial Hold - A student owes Walsh College for past tuition or fees. The hold will be removed once the student makes payment in the Business Office. Contact the Business Office for resolution at business@walshcollege.edu.
• Library Hold - A student has outstanding library fines or materials. The hold will be removed after the student returns the materials or pays the fines to the library. Contact the Library for resolution at librarian@walshcollege.edu.

Prerequisite Policy

Prerequisites are assigned to a course to ensure that the student is properly prepared for the course and will be able to derive the maximum educational benefit from that course. All students must follow course prerequisites unless otherwise noted. Students must complete all course prerequisites with a grade of “C” (2.000) or better.

A student should consult the academic catalog for the most current course prerequisites. It is the responsibility of the student to plan the selection of courses so that all prerequisites for a selected course are successfully completed prior to enrollment.

A student who wants to request a waiver of prerequisites must submit the request through their academic advisor. The Prerequisite Waiver form will be forwarded to the department chair or program director for review prior to registration. The student will be notified when a decision is made. A student who has enrolled in a course without the required course prerequisites or an approved prerequisite waiver will be administratively dropped from the course. The student will receive a full tuition refund. See the Tuition Refund Policy section of the academic catalog for information on refundability of fees.

Registration Confirmation

Students can confirm their registration at any time by using the “Registration and Student Planning” link in Self-Service for Students on the Walsh College Student Portal. Students should carefully review their schedules after registering and every time a schedule change is made to ensure that processing was completed and to ensure accuracy of course section numbers and meeting times. Confirmation of registration transactions will also be sent to the student’s Walsh College email account. Ultimately, a student’s schedule is the student’s responsibility.

Selection of Courses

Walsh College does not specify or regulate the number of courses or credit hours selected by a student each semester, providing the student is in good academic standing. In bachelor’s degree programs, Walsh College considers 12 semester credit hours to be full-time. In master’s and doctoral level programs, a student enrolled in 6 semester credit hours is considered to be full-time.

Upon admission to Walsh College, a student employed on a full-time basis is urged to consult with their academic advisor concerning the appropriate course load. A student requesting any form of student financial assistance should inquire about the number of semester credit hours necessary to receive such benefits.

Although Walsh College does not maintain a policy regarding the number of courses required each semester, the student should be aware of the time limitation attached to complete each degree or certificate program. More information about time limitations is listed in the academic catalog in the graduation requirements section for each program.

Waitlist Policy

When a course meets its maximum registration capacity, students are given the option to add themselves to a waitlist. Once added to the waitlist, if a seat in the course becomes available, the student will receive an email to their Walsh College email account letting them know that they have 24 hours to register for the open seat. Once the 24-hour period expires, the student is dropped from the waitlist and must add themselves back on if they want another opportunity to get a seat in the course. Students can manage their waitlists in the “Registration and Student Planning” link on the Registration card in the Walsh College Student Portal. All waitlists are ended on the day after the last day to register for classes each term.

Withdrawal Policy

For 11-week courses, students may withdraw from courses beginning the third week of the semester through the ninth week of the semester. Requests to withdrawal from courses must be received by the Records and Registration office by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on the deadline date as noted on the academic calendar. Students should refer to the current academic calendar for the most accurate dates pertaining to withdrawing from courses. For courses that meet for less than 11 weeks, withdrawal dates will be published in Self-Service for Students on the Walsh College Student Portal each semester. Withdrawing from courses is a formal procedure that must be initiated by the student in writing, Walsh College email, or online by clicking the “Withdraw from My Classes” link on the Registration card in the Walsh College Student Portal. Walsh College does not allow faculty or staff to initiate a withdrawal for a student for any reason including nonattendance.

There is no tuition refund given for withdrawn courses and a grade of “W” (Withdrawal) appears on the student’s academic transcript. Students are responsible for all tuition and fees incurred. Students should carefully review their schedules after withdrawing from courses to ensure that processing was completed. Ultimately, a student’s schedule is the student’s responsibility.

Doctoral students may withdraw from any course only once during their academic career. A letter grade (A-C, or F) will be issued on a student’s academic transcript when the withdrawn course is repeated for the second time.

Withdrawal forms submitted online through the Walsh College Student Portal or Walsh College e-mail will be considered as received on the date submitted.

Students receiving federal financial aid are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid office before withdrawing from classes to determine if there are any financial implications as a result of the withdrawal. Additional details can be found in the Financial Aid and Scholarships section of the academic catalog.

An international student on an F-1 visa must consult with the designated school official/international advisor before withdrawing from a class that will result in less than full-time status.

Veteran students receiving education benefits must notify a school certifying official of any changes in enrollment.

Student and Visitor Conduct

It is the goal of Walsh College to maintain a professional and safe environment that is conducive to learning and working. Walsh College reserves the right to take action for any other conduct which it deems inappropriate or improper. The following are examples of unacceptable behavior and are published to minimize the potential for misunderstanding. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive.

• Forgery, alteration or misuse of Walsh College documents, records, or instrument of identification, as well as knowingly furnishing false information to Walsh College
• Representing or acting on behalf of Walsh College or another individual when not authorized to do so
• Misrepresenting oneself or one’s circumstances to gain an unfair advantage
• Obstruction or disruption of teaching or other activities on location
• Physical abuse, unlawful detention, or threatening behavior toward any person on location
• Theft or damage to property of Walsh College or to property of a Walsh College student, employee or location visitor
• Unauthorized entry or use of Walsh College facilities and equipment (including technology)
• Illegal use or unauthorized possession or distribution of alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or dangerous drugs on location
• Failure to comply with the directions of Walsh College officials, members of the faculty, or other authorized individuals
• Except for public safety officials, possession or use of firearms, even if an individual holds a concealed weapons permit
• Possession or use of explosives or other weapons, or chemicals
• Inappropriate attire. Visitors and students are required to wear shoes, shirts and pants/shorts or skirts
• Bringing animals, except for service (guide) animals, on location
• Attendance in any course by a non-registered individual(s), including dependents or other relatives of the registered student, is generally prohibited. This restriction doesn’t apply to individuals providing reasonable accommodation assistance for disabled students or to approved guest speakers. The faculty member or an administrator may grant exceptions to dependents attending class with the registered student in the case of an emergency. In these cases, students should obtain approval from the faculty member before class begins. Even if an exception is granted, the faculty member may revoke the arrangement for any reason at any time
• Unsupervised children (generally defined as under age 16) are not permitted on location. Adults are welcome to bring children to the location while they conduct business; however, children must be closely supervised. Generally, nonregistered individuals, including children, should not be brought to class. Specific areas of Walsh, such as the library and computer labs, may have additional guidelines regarding children visiting those areas
• Intentionally making false allegations or filing a false report regarding Walsh College with local, state or federal agencies. Such conduct may serve as a basis for discipline, including but not limited to suspension or permanent expulsion from Walsh College
• Discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment) and sexual misconduct. Please refer to Walsh’s Title IX policy included in this academic catalog

“On location” or “facility” is defined as any location owned or leased by Walsh College, or any other location used to hold a Walsh College sponsored activity.

Any student, visitor, or employee can report an incident of alleged misconduct. All complaints should be reported as soon as possible to the appropriate supervising officer or director. If a situation involves a health and safety-related matter and requires immediate attention, call 911 and notify Campus Security. Other incidents should be reported to Campus Security or any Facilities staff member. Security can be contacted directly at (248) 635-8443.

Campus security may remove any individual behaving in a disruptive or potentially disruptive manner. Academic misconduct should be reported to the academic conduct committee. If the complaint is regarding an officer, it should be reported to the President.

The appropriate supervising officer or director will investigate the complaint and may take immediate action, if needed. Walsh College may search individuals/property or use surveillance activities to aid in an investigation. All parties involved in the incidents are expected to cooperate fully with the investigation. Any behavior(s) that Walsh College deems inappropriate can lead to disciplinary action up to and including academic dismissal; and/or termination of employment; removal and/or ban from the facilities; and/or filing of criminal charges.

Students should see the Student Conduct and Appeals Procedure for further information.

Student Misconduct Disciplinary Designations

Disciplinary action for student misconduct can take multiple forms. The most serious disciplinary procedures include suspension and expulsion, as defined below.

Suspension from Walsh College
A suspension will terminate the student’s status at Walsh College for a specified period of time, not to exceed one year. This may be posted on the student’s academic transcript at the direction of the dean of academics.

At the end of the specified period, the suspended student will be required to request reinstatement to Walsh College. If granted, the student will be admitted conditionally. Any additional act of academic misconduct committed during the remainder of the student’s academic program will result in permanent expulsion from Walsh College, without the possibility of appeal.

Expulsion from Walsh College

Expulsion from Walsh College will permanently and irrevocably terminate the student’s status at Walsh College. This may be posted on the student’s academic transcript at the direction of the dean of academics. An expulsion may not be appealed and the student will be permanently barred from earning a Walsh College degree.

Student Complaint Policy

Walsh College provides opportunities for students to register complaints through an informal or formal process. An informal or verbal complaint is handled in the functional area related to the complaint. Students may submit a formal complaint using the Student Complaint form found on walshcollege.edu/student-services/complaints. Formal complaints are logged and tracked in compliance with the Higher Learning Commission. Walsh College will address and systematically process all student complaints in a timely manner.

Definition of a Student

A student is any individual who is or has been in attendance at Walsh College and about whom Walsh College maintains education records.

Definition of a Student Complaint

A complaint involves a concern, problem or issue other than a disciplinary measure. (The appropriate response to a disciplinary measure which is deemed unfair or excessive, or dissatisfaction with a grade, or progression, probation, or dismissal from a program, is an appeal, not a complaint. Appeals are made through established Walsh College procedures.) Complaints may be academic or nonacademic.

Student Complaint Form

The Student Complaint form provides students with an avenue to submit a concern regarding any area on location for which no other specific process exists. The form should not be used to submit complaints or grievances for procedures that are published in the Walsh College academic catalog such as:

• Academic Dismissal
• Academic Conduct Appeal
• Admission Decision
• Location Security
• Financial Aid Appeal
• Grade Appeal
• Harassment
• Late Withdrawal or Tuition Refunds
• Student Conduct Appeal

Student Requests for Exceptions to Academic Policies

This section does not apply to academic policies mentioned elsewhere in this academic catalog. Academic policies have been thoroughly considered before adoption and are consistently applied. However, Walsh College reserves the right to grant an exception to a policy. The integrity of a Walsh College degree and equality of treatment of students limits the types of policy exceptions that may be granted and the justifications which may be considered.

A student seeking to obtain an exception to an academic policy must submit a written petition to the dean of academics by the end of the following semester, not to exceed three months after the semester in which the exception is requested. The petition must include the policy for which the student is seeking the exception and the reasons justifying the request. Exceptions are not given for work-related reasons or when the student has completed the course(s) by having taken the final exam and/or by submitting the final project. Written documentation must be attached to any policy exception requested for medical reasons. Requests will be reviewed with the appropriate academic personnel or dean of academics. The student will be notified of the decision in writing. A copy of all written decisions may be retained in the student’s file.

Student Requests for Exceptions to Non-Academic Policies

This section does not apply to non-academic policies mentioned elsewhere in this academic catalog.

Walsh College policies and procedures have been thoroughly considered before adoption and are consistently applied. However, Walsh College reserves the right to grant an exception to a policy or procedure. The integrity of a Walsh College degree and equality of treatment of students limits the types of policy exceptions that may be granted and the justifications which may be considered. To request an exception, a student must direct the request in writing to the director of the department implementing the non-academic policy. The request must include the student’s Walsh College identification number, telephone number, Walsh College e-mail, the policy for which the student is seeking the exception, the reasons justifying the request, and any documentation necessary (e.g., if the request is due to medical problems, a written statement from the physician should be attached to the request). Exceptions are not granted for work related reasons or when the student has completed the course (s) by having taken the final exam and/or submitting the final project. The request must be submitted by the end of the following semester, not to exceed three months after the semester for which the exception is requested.

Requests will be reviewed with the appropriate Walsh College personnel and will be considered based upon the amount of control the student had over the situation, the circumstances and merit of the request, and the impact the action will have on the overall academic standards of Walsh College. The student will be notified of the decision in writing. A copy of all written decisions may be retained in the student’s file.

Non-Academic Issue Resolution

Non-academic issues involving general student conduct and/or the application of administrative policies or procedures will be considered as cases of non-academic misconduct. Cases of this nature should be brought to the immediate attention of the administrative director of the department directly involved with the area of administrative policy or procedure.

If the issue cannot be resolved with the director of the responsible administrative area, the matter may be referred to one of Walsh’s Officers for review. An officer of Walsh College may attempt resolution of the issue, including meeting with the student, remand it to the director to resolve; or recommend to the director of academic operations that it be considered by the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee.

Cases involving discrimination, harassment or sexual misconduct are subject to a separate Walsh College policy, included in this academic catalog under the Title IX Policy, which contains guidance on reporting and procedures.

Student Conduct and Appeals Procedure

A student wishing to appeal a decision related to Walsh College policy or procedure may do so following the steps outlined. The Student Conduct and Appeals Committee reviews unresolved student issues concerning policies and procedures of the institution. Such issues might involve general student conduct and/or the application of academic or administrative policy.

• Appeal of any issue must be initiated in writing to the director of academic operations within 90 days of the incident to be reconsidered by the committee.
• Cases of misconduct will not be considered by the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee until the procedures for issue resolution have been completed and any disciplinary action has been finalized.

Issues Not Considered by the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee

The Student Conduct and Appeals Committee will not consider challenges involving the following:

• Requirements for completion of a degree program
• Proprietary rights of the requirements for completion of a degree program
• Proprietary rights of an individual course
• Issues of harassment, discrimination or sexual misconduct (See Title IX Policy)
• An individual student’s evaluation which represents an instructor’s good faith judgment of the student’s academic performance
• Course grades. An issue involving a course grade will be addressed within the academic department responsible for the course
• Any action taken as the result of academic misconduct

Committee Procedures

If the procedures outlined under Non-Academic Issue Resolution do not result in resolution of the issue, a student, faculty member, or administrative director may submit a written request to the director of academic operations within 90 days of the occurrence of the original event, for referral of the matter related to student conduct to the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee. The request should contain the following:

• A statement describing the issue and identification of the policy or procedure in question;
• A review of the steps already taken to seek resolution, and the specific decision or action desired;
• Justification for the decision or action sought, with specific references to the applicable Walsh College policies made; and
• Copies of information or documentation to be presented, and specific identification of individuals requested to be present; to include witnesses, at the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee hearing.

The director of academic operations will act on a request for referral to the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee, advising all parties involved of its disposition. The director of academic operations may decline to refer a matter to the committee due to insufficient cause to proceed; may consult directly with the affected parties to reach an appropriate resolution without a hearing; or may refer the matter to committee for consideration and final disposition. When the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee meets to consider an issue, new or additional issues may not be introduced during the appeals hearing. Each issue must receive separate due process and cannot be introduced to confuse or complicate the issue being appealed. The responsibility of the committee is to determine if there is evidence which would support the alleged act of misconduct or violation of policy and procedure.

If a Student Conduct and Appeals Committee is formed, the director of academic operations will assume responsibility for the following:

• Act as committee coordinator
• Assign an Officer to serve as committee chair
• Implement all committee decisions or disciplinary actions or procedures

The Student Conduct and Appeals Committee will be composed of:

• One College Officer who will act as the chair of the committee
• Two administrative representatives selected by lottery or a random selection process
• Two academic representatives, at least one of whom is a full-time faculty member, selected by lottery or a random selection process
• Two representatives from student organizations or from student government, to be selected by student government

Anyone who is considered to have a conflict of interest in the proceedings may not be selected.

The chairperson of the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee will be responsible for the following:

• Scheduling and notifying the student and committee members of the meeting time
• Providing the student with an opportunity to appear before and address the committee
• Presiding over the proceedings and acting as a nonvoting member of the committee unless there is a tie vote, in which case the chair will cast the deciding vote
• Receiving and presenting to the committee and the student all relevant information pertaining to questions of misconduct, exceptions or appeals to policies
• Notifying the student within five business days of the decision of the committee

Six committee members, excluding the chair, constitute a quorum. A majority vote of the committee will constitute a committee decision. Information regarding specific cases considered by the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee is considered strictly confidential. All records of and documents pertaining to a meeting of the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee, including the committee’s decision and record of notification to the affected student, will be retained in the office of the director of academic operations.

Appeal of a Committee Decision
Any individual desiring to appeal a decision of the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee or an issue not considered by the committee must do so in writing within seven calendar days after being notified of the committee’s decision. The appeal should be directed to the President of Walsh College who, in their sole discretion, may affirm, modify, or disapprove the Student Conduct and Appeals Committee’s decision. In all circumstances, the decision of the President of Walsh College is final.

Substance Abuse Policy

Walsh College will support activities and requirements of the Drug Free Workplace Act and Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act. It is a violation of Walsh College policy for students, employees, or visitors to engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of a controlled substance on Walsh College property.

Students in violation of the policy may face disciplinary action, including dismissal from the institution and/or appropriate criminal charges. Reinstatement to Walsh College will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Reinstatement considerations will be reviewed only for students who have successfully completed a substance abuse program. Employees who are convicted of any criminal drug statute may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment and/or be required to satisfactorily complete an approved drug abuse program at the employee’s expense.

Walsh College will provide information regarding the dangers of drug abuse and referrals for assistance programs.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires all universities and colleges to publish specific information about their campus crime and security policies. The Walsh College Annual Campus Security Report includes the required information:

• Campus security policies
• Reporting procedures
• Campus crime statistics for the most recent three years
• Information about crime prevention
• Access to campus

The Annual Campus Security Report information is available at walshcollege.edu/facilities/campus-safety. A printed copy can be requested from:

Walsh College
Facilities and Auxiliary Services
Campus Safety
3838 Livernois Road
Troy, MI 48083
248-689-8282

Title IX Policy Statement

Walsh College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education programs or activities it operates and complies with Title IX’s non-discrimination requirements. Walsh College views all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct, relationship violence, stalking and sexual or gender-based harassment, as reprehensible and therefore prohibited in connection with any Walsh College related activity. Sex discrimination is unacceptable conduct; it undermines the integrity of the employment/learning relationship, debilitates morale, and interferes with the work productivity of the organization and its learning environment.

All staff, faculty, and students have a responsibility to maintain high standards of integrity, impartiality and conduct, both personal and official, thereby ensuring proper performance of Walsh’s business and the maintenance of public trust. Sex discrimination violates those standards. Therefore, violations of this policy may lead to disciplinary action, as determined appropriate by Walsh.

Walsh College will strive to take prompt and appropriate action to eliminate sex discrimination within its operations, prevent its recurrence and remedy its effects. Walsh College conducts ongoing prevention, awareness, and training programs for employees and students to facilitate the goals of this policy.

To Whom Does the Policy Apply?

This policy is applicable to students, employees and third parties. Third parties include all contractors, vendors, visitors, guests or any other third parties.

Definitions

Complainant means an individual who reports an alleged violation of this policy. Respondent means an individual against whom a report has been made or complaint filed alleging a violation of this policy.

Discrimination

Walsh College does not discriminate against students, employees, applicants for admission or employment, or those seeking access to programs, on the basis of such legally protected characteristics as a person’s race, color, religion, gender, age, height, weight, national origin, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability. Such discrimination is unlawful.

Tobacco, Smoke, and Vape Free Policy

Walsh College is committed to providing a healthy, safe learning and work environment. To support this goal, Walsh College prohibits smoking, vaping, and tobacco use at all Walsh College-owned facilities and property, except for the interior of one’s personal vehicle.

Walsh College “facilities and property” include:

• Buildings
• Building Entrances
• Grounds
• Sidewalks
• Parking Lots, with exception noted above
• Walsh College-owned vehicles

This policy applies to any person on Walsh College-owned facilities and property, including:

• Students
• Faculty and staff members
• Contractors
• Vendors
• Visitors

Smoking is defined as the act of lighting, smoking, or carrying a lighted or smoldering cigarette (any type, including cannabis), cigar, pipe, or use of smoking paraphernalia of any kind. Vaping refers to the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems or electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-hookahs, and e-cigars. Smokeless and oral tobacco use, such as chewing and snuff, are not permitted. FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy products used for the purpose of cessation are permitted.

At locations where Walsh College teaches or conducts business and it is not the property owner, Walsh College-affiliated individuals are expected to follow the related policies of these locations.

Active support by all members of the Walsh College community is vital to achieving a desirable environment for all. In particular, employees play a key role in communicating expectations to others in the Walsh College community and encouraging adherence to the policy.

The facilities department will address immediate situations that arise on campus. Students who wish to voice a concern or complaint should contact facilities and auxiliary services staff. Complaints involving an employee may be directed to the employee’s supervisor or human resources. Complaints regarding vendors, visitors, contractors, or rental clients may be directed to facilities staff. Complaints should be reported in a timely manner to ensure a prompt investigation and resolution.

Individuals in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action or other appropriate action(s), as Walsh College deems necessary.

Tuition Refund Policy

Refer to the Student Financial Responsibility  section of the academic catalog. Students can add, drop or withdraw from courses online using the Walsh Student Portal or by contacting Records and Registration at records@walshcollege.edu. When dropping online, check your schedule to ensure your class has been dropped.

Below is a breakdown of the Refund Policies:

7-week and 11-week courses

• For courses dropped through the eighth day of the semester, 100 percent of tuition charges will be credited to the student’s account.
• For courses dropped between the ninth and fourteenth day of the semester, 50 percent of tuition charges will be credited to the student’s account.
• No tuition refund will be given for courses dropped after the fourteenth day of the semester (withdrawal period).
• International fees are non-refundable.
• Student Support fee is non-refundable unless all courses are dropped. 100% or 50% of the fee will be refunded based on when the last course is dropped. See refund dates. All accounts with credit balances (money owed to the student) will be issued a refund after the add/drop period and may take up to 14 calendar days to process. For financial aid students, If aid exceeds the tuition and fees charges, a refund will be issued within 14 days from the date the financial aid/scholarship was applied to the student account. Refunds from Title IV funds disbursed to accounts after the first payment due date will result in a balance due to Walsh College. Federal regulations prohibit the use of Title IV funds to pay late fees. Direct deposit is available on the Walsh Student Portal. Checks are mailed to the address Walsh College has on record and cannot be picked up.

5-week courses

• For courses dropped through the third day of the semester, 100 percent of tuition charges will be credited to the student’s account.
• For courses dropped between the fourth and ninth day of the semester, 50 percent of tuition charges will be credited to the student’s account.
• No tuition refund will be given for courses dropped after the tenth day of the semester (withdrawal period).
• International fees are non-refundable.
• Student Support fee is non-refundable unless all courses are dropped. 100% or 50% of the fee will be refunded based on when the last course is dropped. See refund dates. All accounts with credit balances (money owed to the student) will be issued a refund after the add/drop period and may take up to 14 calendar days to process. For financial aid students, If aid exceeds the tuition and fees charges, a refund will be issued within 14 days from the date the financial aid/scholarship was applied to the student account. Refunds from Title IV funds disbursed to accounts after the first payment due date will result in a balance due to Walsh College. Federal regulations prohibit the use of Title IV funds to pay late fees. Direct deposit is available on the Walsh Student Portal. Checks are mailed to the address Walsh College has on record and cannot be picked up.

3-day courses

• For courses dropped before the first meeting date, 100 percent of tuition charges will be credited to the student’s account.
• No tuition refund will be given for courses dropped after the first meeting date (withdrawal period).
• International fees are non-refundable.
• Student Support fee is non-refundable unless all courses are dropped. 100% or 50% of the fee will be refunded based on when the last course is dropped. See refund dates. All accounts with credit balances (money owed to the student) will be issued a refund after the add/drop period and may take up to 14 calendar days to process. For financial aid students, If aid exceeds the tuition and fees charges, a refund will be issued within 14 days from the date the financial aid/scholarship was applied to the student account. Refunds from Title IV funds disbursed to accounts after the first payment due date will result in a balance due to Walsh College. Federal regulations prohibit the use of Title IV funds to pay late fees. Direct deposit is available on the Walsh Student Portal. Checks are mailed to the address Walsh College has on record and cannot be picked up.

Tuition Refund Policy Affecting Financial Aid Recipients

Refer to the Return of Title IV  Policy in the Financial Aid section of the academic catalog.

Tuition Refund Exception Policy

If a documentable extenuating circumstance (unforeseen and unavoidable that prevents a student from attending a significant portion of their course(s) for the term), exceptions to the withdrawal and tuition refund deadlines may be granted.

Examples of circumstances that may qualify for an exception include but are not limited to:

• A severe and unexpected/unforeseeable illness or injury with signed doctor’s note on original letterhead indicating inability to attend course(s) for several weeks
• Death of spouse, parent, or child with accompanying documentation (death certificate or death notice)
• Involuntary work transfer or shift change with employer documentation
• Military deployment.

Examples of circumstances that do not qualify for an exception include but are not limited to:

• Conflicts between personal life and class schedule
• Having to work overtime
• Accepting a new position or voluntary transfer with current employer
• Loss of employer tuition reimbursement
• Being a new student
• Difficulty with internet/using a computer/accessing email
• Coursework/other resources lost on computer or computer stolen
• Ignorance of College policies, procedures, and deadlines
• Forgetting that courses were registered for
• Difficult class schedules, non-attendance, or poor course performance
• When a course was completed

To be considered for a refund exception, a student must first reach out to their Academic Advisor. Alternative solutions to a refund include, but are not limited to, the following options:

• Course withdrawal
• Discussion of the situation with the course instructor(s)
• A course incomplete (less than 30% of the course work must be impacted)

If a student decides to pursue a tuition refund exception after discussing options with their advisor, they will be routed a Refund Exception Request from the Advising Office. Any documentation supporting the request should be included along with a statement explaining the reason for the request. Only signed and dated requests with complete documentation will be reviewed.

Requests must be submitted within 28 days after the start of the subsequent term (refer to the Academic Calendar for dates). Late requests will not be reviewed. Requests will be reviewed by the Tuition Refund Exception Committee and a response will be delivered within 30 days. All decisions of the Tuition Refund Exception Committee are final.

If the Committee determines that the request meets the criteria for a tuition refund exception, a 100 percent credit of the tuition and course fee charges will be applied to the student’s account. International fees and student support fees are non-refundable unless all enrolled courses are approved for a refund by the Committee. If the courses were withdrawn, they will be changed to a drop and will not appear on a student’s transcript.

If the Committee determines the request does not qualify for a tuition refund exception and the withdrawal period has passed, a late withdrawal will be considered. If granted, a grade of “W” (withdrawal) will appear on the student’s transcript. The student will still be responsible for all tuition and fees. If approved, it will be a one-time exception and all future requests will be denied.

Students are responsible for tuition and fees when dropping or withdrawing beyond the 100% refund period. Students must still make payments in full and on time when submitting a request for a refund.

Refund requests created with misleading and/or intentionally inaccurate information will be rejected and may result in a referral to the academic conduct committee.