Academic Policies And Procedures

Academic Honors

After all grades and test scores have been reported at the end of summer semester, students will be considered for recognition of outstanding academic performance. At this time, a student may receive a partial tuition scholarship as a reward for outstanding achievement. This is determined by ranking students according to a combination of Grade Point Average (GPA) and performance on the TOEFL.

Registration

Students are required to register at the assigned time on registration day. If a student fails to do so, the student must wait until all other students have completed registration in order to sign up for classes. Both summer and fall semesters have registration days.

Students who wish to make changes in their course schedule after the registration or pre-registration period may do so by completing an ADD/DROP card. ADD/DROP cards may be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office and require signatures from the Academic Advisor and professors of affected courses. Deadlines for adding and dropping courses are listed in the academic calendar. Students are urged to note the deadlines carefully. It is difficult to get approval for an exception to these deadlines.

Attendance and Participation

If you want to make progress, it is very important to come to every class and to take an active part in all class activities. Faculty members expect students to come to class well-prepared, to finish all assignments, to ask questions and to speak up in class. You should try very hard to speak English at all times. Your instructors will teach you the foundations of the subject matter, but it is your responsibility to learn it and to make progress.  

A. TIUA Class ATTENDANCE is subject to the following guidelines:

1. Come every day and arrive on time.
2. If you are late, it will be recorded as a "tardy" (late arrival).
3. 3 tardy marks (late arrivals) = 1 absence.
4. Poor attendance will negatively affect your final grade.
   • If you are absent for more than 20% of the classes in a course, you will fail the course and receive a grade of "F".
   • If you are absent for 10%-20% of the classes in a course, your grade will be lowered accordingly.
5. If you are absent from your class, you are still responsible for all of the work covered in the class and for all assignments.
6. If you are ill, you must contact your instructor before class by e-mail or by calling x3300.

Individual professors may have additional policies. Each of your professors will give you a list of his/her attendance policies in writing. Be sure you understand them.

B. TIUA Class PARTICIPATION is subject to the following guidelines:

1. Take an active part in all class activities every day. Instructors will grade you on your participation.
2. Return all of your assignments completed and on time. If you are absent, bring the assignment on the next day of class.
3. Meet ALL of the requirements and standards set by your individual instructor.
4. Your learning and progress is directly related to how much you participate IN and OUT of class. IT IS UP TO YOU!!!!!!!

C. Willamette Class attendance is subject to the following guidelines:

1. Students are expected to attend classes.
2. Instructors set the specific attendance standards for their own classes.
3. Irregular attendance may negatively affect students' progress and therefore be reflected in their grades.

Grading Policy

A. The following grades will be given at TIUA:

A+ = 4.3	B+ = 3.3	C+ = 2.3	F = 0.0
A = 4.0	B = 3.0	C = 2.0
A- = 3.7	B- = 2.7	C- = 1.7

You will receive grades during the semester on: your classroom presentations, homework, essays, reading assignments, discussion activities, listening exercises, class participation, group and individual projects, contact assignments, quizzes, and examinations. Your final grades will be letter grades (A+ to F).

B. Willamette University's Grading Scale is:

	B+ = 3.3	C+ = 2.3	D+ = 1.3
A = 4.0	B = 3.0	C = 2.0	D = 1.0
A- = 3.7	B- = 2.7	C- = 1.7	F = 0.0

C. Grading for Seminar (College Learning in the U.S.)

An evaluation of the student's attendance, participation, and achievement is the basis for a preliminary grade. The Visiting TIU Professor will submit this preliminary grade to the student's TIU Seminar Professor in Japan. The final grade will be given by the student's TIU Seminar Professor.

Progress Reports and Academic Warnings

During the semester, each student will receive a progress report and will receive an academic warning if he/she is not meeting the standards set for passing the course. A mid-semester progress report is received by every student in Spring Semester and the student should discuss this report with his/her professors.

Policy on Academic Achievement

At the conclusion of each semester, the academic records of all students are reviewed by the Executive Vice President. The Executive Vice President may appoint faculty to assist with this review. In the case of a student who is not working up to expectations, the Executive Vice President determines whether that student is: (1) warned about academic progress; (2) placed on academic probation; (3) dismissed for academic insufficiency. Such decisions are made in consultation with the student's Academic Advisor and the student's professors.

The criteria used in these determinations include the following academic deficiencies:

1. Semester GPA (grade point average) below 2.00.
2. Cumulative GPA below 2.00.
3. Completion of less than a full-time course load (4 courses in Spring and Fall; 3 courses in Summer). Note: This does not include Seminar or courses taught by visiting TIU faculty.
4. Serious academic difficulty as determined by the Executive Vice President or by faculty appointed by the Executive Vice President.

Academic Probation

If academic performance falls below expected achievement (examples are listed above), a student will be placed on Academic Probation. If placed on probation, the student is:

1. Ineligible to represent TIUA in any public performance.
2. Ineligible to hold any campus office.
3. Subject to eventual dismissal if the academic record continues to be below the established criteria.

Any student placed on academic probation should consult his/her Academic Advisor and the Director of Academic Affairs immediately in order to review participation in curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities.

Transcripts

At the end of the program, one official transcript is sent to the student and a copy of the official transcript is sent to the International Exchange Center at TIU. There is a cost for additional transcripts.

Academic Advising

Every student is assigned to an Academic Advisor for the year (February-December). The student meets regularly with the Advisor to check on academic progress and to discuss how the student can take full advantage of the TIUA/Willamette educational experience.

The Academic Advisor consults as needed with the Director of Academic Affairs, the Assistant Director of Residence Life and Wellness Services,  the Director of Campus Life and Academic Services, the TIU Visiting Professor, and the Executive Vice President.