Academic Regulations

DISCIPLINE
It is assumed that all students who come to Rose-Hulman have an earnest desire to take advantage of the opportunities offered and will be ready to cooperate with the faculty in eliminating practices which interfere with or lessen the efficiency of the work of instruction and learning.

Membership in the student body carries with it a responsibility for accepting and living within the rules, policies and regulations of the Institute. All students will, therefore, be held accountable by college authorities for their conduct on all occasions.

Students will not be permitted to continue in school if they fail to observe the obligations they assumed upon matriculation.

SCHOLASTIC STANDING

The programs of study indicate the course requirements for the various degrees in the order in which they must be taken. The grades earned in the various courses are based on the quality of daily work and the result of tests and examinations and are expressed in letters according to the following scale:

Cumulative grade point averages are computed at the end of each term. Students must progress at a level above the scale presented below to avoid academic probation. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 is required for graduation. Another graduation requirement is that students must have a grade point average of at least 2.000 in their majors.

Mid-term progress reports are available to students and to their advisers through the Institute’s secure web site. Final reports are available to students through the same web site.

Full-time undergraduate students and alumni are entitled to free transcripts. Transcripts for non-alumni former students are available at a cost of $5.00 per transcript. All transcript requests must be made in writing and signed by the person whose transcript is being requested.

ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend all class meetings of the courses for which they are registered. A complete statement of faculty rules regarding scholarship and attendance are located in the Student Handbook and the Academic Rules and Procedures handbook.

HONORS & ACADEMIC AWARDS
General Policy
The awards described here are presented annually at the Honors and Awards Ceremony, with the exception of the Heminway Gold Medal, the John T. Royse Award, and the Moench Commendation, which are presented at Commencement.

General Qualifications
A student must be currently enrolled at Rose-Hulman and maintain full-time status in each term to receive class awards in a given year. The spring term permanent record is used as a basis for determination of class awards. Exceptions to these rules will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with the Honors & Awards committee reporting to the Faculty and Professional Staff under what circumstances exceptions are recommended. Possible exceptions include but are not limited to: co-op experiences, international study, credit by examination, and early graduation. Elimination from consideration for class awards can occur by but is not limited to: social probation, academic misconduct, and part-time status. Year in residence is defined as full-time enrollment in courses which meet on-campus, in at least two terms in a given academic year (excluding courses taken on a pass/fail or audit basis).

Class Awards
Recommendations for Class Awards are brought to the Institute Meeting by the Honors and Awards Committee. The recipients are chosen by vote of the Faculty and Professional Staff.

1. The Heminway Gold Medal, established by the late Mrs. Sarah A. Heminway, is awarded to that graduating undergraduate student with the highest grade point average. In the event of a tie duplicate awards are given.
    
2. The Carl Wischmeyer Award, a sterling silver medal, is given to that undergraduate student with the highest grade point average at the end of the third year in residence who will not graduate in that year. In case of a tie in grade point average, all those students will be recognized as Carl Wischmeyer Scholars. The medal will be given to that scholar who also has the highest number of graded hours at Rose-Hulman. If there is still a tie, multiple awards will be presented.
    
3. The Paul N. Bogart Prize, a Nordic Bronze Medal and cash award, is given to that undergraduate student with the highest grade point average at the end of the second year in residence who will not graduate in that year. In case of a tie in grade point average, all those students will be recognized as Paul N. Bogart Scholars. The prize will be given to that scholar who also has the highest number of graded hours at Rose-Hulman. If there is a tie, multiple prizes will be presented.
    
4. The Heminway Bronze Medal, a copy of the Heminway Gold Medal, is awarded to that undergraduate student with the highest grade point average at the end of the first year in residence at Rose-Hulman. In case of a tie in grade point average, all those students will be recognized as Heminway Scholars. The medal will be given to that scholar who also has the highest number of graded hours at Rose-Hulman.

Special Awards
The John T. Royse Award, consisting of a bronze medal and cash honorarium, in honor of John Tuller Royse, is presented to that senior who, on the basis of academic achievement, student leadership, participation in extracurricular activities, and citizenship is considered by the Faculty and Professional Staff to be the most outstanding graduate.

The Moench Commendation may be given to a senior in the upper half of the graduating class who, in the opinion of the Faculty and Professional Staff, has demonstrated exemplary character including honesty, self-discipline, compassion, and moral conviction, for all of which the student must be respected by student peers.  The student must be dedicated to serving the Rose-Hulman community and the service must be distinguished as a commendable influence on the members of that community.  If, in the opinion of the Faculty and Professional Staff, there is no qualified candidate, the Moench Commendation will not be awarded.

Class Honors
A student who is enrolled full-time in a given academic year and who completes that year with a grade point average of 3.300 or more shall be awarded Class Honors for that year.

DIPLOMAS AND DEGREES
Upon recommendation of the faculty and the approval of the Board of Trustees the Institute will confer the degree of Bachelor of Science or Master of Science upon each candidate who has met the requirements for that degree. The diploma will indicate the course of study in which the degree has been conferred. Each recipient of a degree is expected to attend and participate in Commencement exercises.

Degrees with Distinction
A student who has completed all the requirements for the Bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.900 or higher shall be awarded the degree summa cum laude; a graduating student with a cumulative grade point average of 3.600 or higher shall be awarded the degree magna cum laude; a graduating senior with a cumulative grade point average of 3.300 or higher shall be awarded the degree cum laude.