St. Cloud State University Policies & Procedures

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Current Status: Approved

Policy Type: Academic

Department/Division: Academic Affairs

Effective Date: 09/01/2024

Last Updated: 08/07/2024

Applies To: Students, Faculty, Staff

Responsible University Officer: Interim Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Policy Owner: Interim Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Policy Contact: Registrar

Policy

Under the authority of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees, St. Cloud State University awards the following degrees:

Doctor of Education,
Specialist Degree,
 
Masters: Professional Science: Bachelors: Associates:
Master of Arts, Professional Science Masters-Software Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Associate of Science,
Master of Business Administration, Professional Science Masters. Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Arts.
Master of Science,   Bachelor of Music,  
Master of Social Work,   Bachelor of Fine Arts,  
Master of Engineering Management,   Bachelor of Elective Studies,  
Executive Masters.   Bachelor of Science-Engineering,  
    Bachelor of Science-Mechanical Engineering.  

A minimum total of 120 semester hours of credit is required for any four-year degree. A minimum total of 60 semester hours of credit is required for any two-year degree.

Requirements of minimum credits to comoplete after enrolling at St. Cloud State University are in effect.Post-admission credit is earned on the campus of St. Cloud State University or through approved off campus and/or online programs.

 

Procedure

All baccalaureate candidates must have completed a minimum of 40 credits of coursework at the upper division (300-400) level.

Candidates for a Bachelor of Science degree in an education program must meet the following academic standards in order to qualify for graduation:

  1. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or greater.
  2. Admission to teacher education.
  3. Successful completion of student teaching.

Candidates for non-teaching degrees must meet the following academic standards to qualify for graduation:

  1. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 or greater as determined by the department.
  2. Major field 2.00 GPA or greater as determined by each department.
  3. Minor field 2.00 GPA.

To be eligible for graduation under a four-year curriculum a student must have been enrolled at St. Cloud State University at least 2 semesters and must have earned at least 30 semester credits from St. Cloud State University. Some departments may require more than 30 semester credits St. Cloud State University semester credits after being fully admitted.

To be eligible for graduation under a two-year curriculum, a student must have been enrolled at least 1 semester and at least 20 semester credits must have been earned from St. Cloud State University.

Students should consult with their academic advisor and Degree Audit Report for program specific requirements.

Transfer students are required to take at least 9 semester credits in their major field and 6 semester credits in their minor fields offered from, and while enrolled at, St. Cloud State University unless waived by the department.

Students should submit the Intent to Graduate form one semester prior to the term they expect to complete all degree requirements. This allows time to correct any deficiencies which may be reported by the graduation audit. The Intent to Graduate webform is available via the Records and Registration website.

Any student completing a major under two of the following degree designations, (B.A., B.A.S., B.S., B.S.M.E., B.F.A., or B.Mus.) may elect the degree designation of her/his choice. 

A student may receive two different degrees at the end of any given semester if the student has earned a minimum of 150 semester credits and has fulfilled all the requirements of both degrees.

Students returning for additional undergraduate work after completing an undergraduate degree at St. Cloud State University will be required to complete a minimum of 30 credits at St. Cloud State University to earn an additional (different) degree.

All 30 credits must be earned from St. Cloud State University unless the department requests that, for good reason, this requirement be waived. If less than 30 credits are earned, the major will be recorded but no new diploma will be issued or degree designated.

Students returning for additional undergraduate credit may not receive two diplomas for the same degree. The additional major will be listed on the academic transcript. The academic transcript will list the student's major(s), minor(s), and area(s) of emphasis within the major or minor, if any.

Graduation with Honors

Students who complete an associates or baccalaureate degree program will be graduated with honors in accordance with the following:

Cum Laude – Awarded to graduates who achieved a grade point average of at least 3.250 but less than 3.500.

Magna Cum Laude – Awarded to graduates who achieve a grade point average of at least 3.500 but less than 3.750.

Summa Cum Laude – Awarded to graduates who achieve a grade point average of at least 3.750.

Only course work completed at St. Cloud State University or through an approved off-campus program will be used to determine academic honors. To be eligible for consideration, graduates of associate degree programs must have been enrolled at St. Cloud State University for at least 1 (one) semester and have completed a minimum of 30 credits from St. Cloud State University graded A-F; graduates of baccalaureate degree programs must have been enrolled at St. Cloud State University at least 2 (two) semesters and have completed a minimum of 30 upper division (300-400) credits from St. Cloud State University graded A-F.

Academic Transcripts

A copy of the student academic transcript may be obtained by completing a Request for Transcript Form (See Supporting Documents). Transcript requests may be submitting in writing or in person to the Office of Records and Registration. Transcripts are also available online through the National Student Clearinghouse.

  • The student's complete name, current address, social security number or student tech ID, dates of attendance, and written signature are needed when requesting a transcript.
  • There is a fee for each transcript.

Courses that are completed or repeated after a degree is conferred will be recorded on the transcript and the cumulative GPA will be modified as appropriate. No other changes will be made to official transcripts after a degree has been conferred.

Commencement Ceremonies

Commencement ceremonies are conducted at the University following final exams at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Fall commencement is typically in mid-December and spring commencement is held in the first part of May.

Summer session graduates may choose to walk in the spring or fall ceremony depending on the department's guidelines.

Commencement instructions can be found on the commencement website. Graduation required regalia and commencement related items can be purchased through the Husky Bookstore (see supporting URLs).

Keywords

doctorate; Ph.D, masters, bachelors, convocation, commemoration, observance, rite, baccalaureate

Supporting Documents (Forms, Instructions)

Jan 30 2017 3:53PM

Supporting URLs

Websites, Related External Documents, Statutes

Definitions

Events

Activities that include, but are not limited to, official meetings, practices, competitions or trips involving students, registered student organizations, or intercollegiate athletic teams.

Student

All Persons or group of persons who:

  1. Are enrolled in one or more courses, either credit or non-credit, through a college or university; or
  2. Withdraw, transfer, or graduate after an alleged violation of the code of student conduct; or
  3. Are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the college or university; or
  4. Have been notified of their acceptance for admission or have initiated the process of application for admission or financial aid; or
  5. Are not college or university employees and are not enrolled in the institution but live in a college or university owned or controlled residence hall.

Active Student:

   Criteria 1: 

  1. A degree-seeking student who has completed the enrollment process and has been admitted into the University, an undergraduate major or a graduate program of study; or
  2. A degree-seeking student who has completed the enrollment process and has not yet been admitted into the University, and undergraduate major or a graduate program of study; or
  3. A student seeking a graduate certificate

  Criteria 2:

 

         The student must have registered into and successfully completed at least one credit in a semester in the previous two years. 

 

A student who fulfills Criteria 1, will cease to be an active student at the University if they do not register for and successfully complete at least one credit in a semester within two years, will be administratively removed from the University and be categorized as inactive.

 

The credits that the student accumulates as an active student will not expire upon becoming an inactive student, unless the student has been admitted to a graduate program, refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for the program completion timeframe guidelines.

 

Graduate Studies at SCSU has procedures for an admitted student to request a leave or absence, please see the Graduate Student Handbook for information on that process.

 

An inactive student intending to return to the University will not have to reapply for admission to the University, but will need to reapply for admission into a current program of study. 

Contacts

Responsible University Officer
   Pattit, Katherina G.
   Interim Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
 
katherina.pattit@stcloudstate.edu
320-308-3213
Owner
   Pattit, Katherina G.
   Interim Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
 
katherina.pattit@stcloudstate.edu
320-308-3213
Contact
   Meendering, Timothy J.
   Registrar
 
timothy.meendering@stcloudstate.edu
320-308-4039

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