In its commitment to ensuring that no otherwise qualified student with a disability is subjected to unlawful discrimination in the context of his/her educational experience, Peirce College makes certain that students with disabilities are provided equal access to educational and career development programs and/or student activities. Consequently, the College will make, on behalf of qualified students with learning and physical disabilities of which the College is aware, reasonable accommodations that do not impose undue hardships on the College. If a student believes he/she requires a reasonable accommodation or has a question regarding educational services, activities, programs or facilities that are accessible to or usable by students with disabilities, please contact the Facilitator, Perkins Grant & Student Disability Services Coordinator in the Mary W. Walker Center for Academic Excellence, 2nd Floor Alumni Hall (215-670-9251). All information associated with a disclosure of this nature is confidential, and the College will communicate this information to others only on a need-to-know basis.
Peirce College’s reputation as an institution of higher learning is characterized by the high academic standards it has established for its students. The College expects the students to display personal integrity as they approach their assignments and to complete these assignments in the spirit of academic honesty.
The College considers acts of academic dishonesty to be serious violations of its Code of Student Conduct and Responsibility and will take action against students for violations of this policy (as well as against former students where the College learns of a violation after the student has graduated or ceases to be enrolled).
Any conduct or activity by a student which earns or improves a grade or receives any form of credit by fraudulent or dishonest means is considered an act of academic dishonesty and a violation. In addition, engaging in any conduct including the following examples in which a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances would recognize as academic dishonesty is considered a violation.
Examples of acts of academic dishonesty that are violations of the Code of Student Conduct and Responsibility include, but are not limited to, the following:
Student participation is an essential part of the instructional process. Students are expected to contribute to the learning environment of their courses and to fulfill their academic responsibilities through active participation in the learning process. Regular and punctual class attendance is required of all students in all courses. Attendance and participation policy is tracked on a weekly basis. Students should check each course syllabus to determine the specific participation standards for each course. Students who do not meet the attendance and participation standards may receive a lower grade and/or lose financial aid funding. Students are reminded that final grades are determined by performance of course requirements, including attendance and participation.
It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor when the student anticipates being absent or late for class. If the student arrives after the class has begun, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor for the purpose of confirming attendance. The student is responsible for making up missed assignments when permitted by the instructor.
Solely logging into an online course does not demonstrate academic attendance and/or participation. “Attendance” in online courses, or a week in a course where the student opts to attend online, is determined by the student’s participation in the course. Participation in online courses may include the following academic activities: initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a course related question, submitting an assignment, taking an exam, contributing to threaded discussions, or participating in a chat.
Given the learning environment of online courses, even in situations where a student is not “absent” in the traditional sense, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the professor regarding situations that may prevent the student from fully participating as required. Students who stop participating and/or attending courses may be considered unofficially withdrawn and, therefore subject to the Return to Title IV Calculation (R2T4).
Under typical operating conditions, Peirce students can expect instructors to reply to emails within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. Voicemail messages will also receive a response within the same 24-hour period, Monday through Friday. However, weather events, technology issues, or other unforeseen circumstances may occasionally affect these timelines.
If an instructor is temporarily unable to respond to emails within the expected timeframe, they will notify students via the Canvas course website and, when applicable, update their voicemail message.
Students are encouraged to use the Canvas course website to communicate with instructors and peers. They should also read and follow any specific instructions instructors provide in the course syllabus.
| Letter Grade | Course Average | Grade Point Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| A | 93-100 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83-86 | 3.0 |
| B- | 80-82 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 |
| C | 73-76 | 2.0 |
| C- | 70-72 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 |
| D | 63-66 | 1.0 |
| D- | 60-62 | 0.7 |
| F | <60 | 0.0 |
| P | Passing | None |
| W | Voluntary Withdrawal | None |
| I | Incomplete | 0.0 |
Grades are calculated and submitted by the instructor within 72 hours of the last day of the term. Final grades are based on the performance of class requirements as stated in the course syllabus and/or modified during the course by the instructor. Grades submitted become part of the College’s permanent student records. Failed courses in major subjects must be repeated at Peirce College. A major subject is a course that is required by the student’s degree program. Courses in which grades of F, D-, D, D+, or C- are earned may be repeated no more than once. In the case of repeated courses, the original grade earned will remain on the transcript, although it will not be computed in the grade point average. Courses for which a grade of “C” or better has been earned may not be repeated for the purpose of improving grades. A student who wishes to contest a grade must do so within 30 calendar days of receipt of the grade. See the Academic Grievance Policy for procedures for contesting a grade. Students are allowed seven (7) calendar days from the start date of a course to drop the course and receive 100% tuition reimbursement. If a course is dropped after the seventh day, full tuition is charged for the course. The student is responsible for initiating the drop process with his/her Academic Advisor. (See Drop/Add Policy.)
Students may add a course only during the first seven (7) calendar days after the course has started. A course cannot be added after the seventh day. Full tuition will be charged for a class that is added under these circumstances. The student is responsible for initiating the add process with his/her Program Advisor. Students are also responsible for contacting the professor and obtaining new textbooks or any missed work for their newly added course. (See Drop/Add Policy.) It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from a course. Instructors do not have the authority to enter a grade of W. If a student voluntarily withdraws by the withdrawal deadline as stated on the academic calendar by completing the necessary paperwork, a grade of W will appear on the final grade sheet. If a student fails to attend a course for which the student is registered and the student fails to properly withdraw, the student will receive an F for the course and be charged for the course. (See the Withdrawal from Class Policy.)
Incomplete grades are assigned due to illness, emergency, or extenuating circumstances. The student must make a written request for an Incomplete to the instructor 24 hours before the last class session. The student has 14 calendar days from the date of the last class session to resolve the Incomplete. After 14 calendar days have elapsed since the date of the last class session, the Incomplete will automatically convert to an F. Incomplete grades are approved at the sole discretion of the College and should not be considered the norm.
Instructors must directly contact a member of Academic Operations; leaving a voicemail is not adequate. Instructors should also post an announcement in Canvas informing the class of the cancellation. If a synchronous class is canceled, instructors must provide alternative learning materials or assignments, such as pre-recorded lectures, readings, or asynchronous online activities, for students to complete during that time. Instructors should consider rescheduling the canceled class within the same week to minimize disruptions to the course schedule.
For information on College Policies, Programs, and Learning Outcomes, please refer to the Peirce College Catalog. If you have questions pertaining to institutional policies or an academic program, please speak with an Academic Advisor.