Undergraduate Academic Policies

Academic Honor Code

All Hood undergraduates affirm on each class assignment that they “have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid.” Cheating or plagiarism—any unacknowledged use of another person’s language or ideas—is thus both an affront to the general standards of conduct on which an intellectual community depends and a specific violation of the Academic Honor Code. As such, these offenses are treated seriously and may lead to severe disciplinary action, including dismissal from the College. For the full description of the policies and procedures of the Academic Honor Code, refer to Appendix B of the Student Handbook, and contact the dean of faculty, Chair of Academic Judicial Council with questions or concerns.

Students seeking advice on the proper use and acknowledgement of scholarly materials should consult their individual instructors, Writing Center, the library staff, and any of the several reliable guides to scholarly writing that these sources may recommend.

Copyright Statement

Hood College affirms the obligation of its faculty, staff, and students to comply with all Federal copyright laws (Title 17, United States Code). Copyright law gives copyright holders (writers, publishers, artists, etc.) exclusive rights to distribute, copy, perform, or publicly display, their own original works. The College recognizes its obligation to promote the rights and responsibilities granted under this law. Hood College assumes that any questions regarding copyright, as they apply to materials for instructional or other College use, will be resolved prior to the use of those materials on College-owned equipment or in College-sanctioned activities.

As members of an institution with an established Honor System emphasizing intellectual integrity, the Hood College community should recognize their responsibility to follow the law and to model it for others. All members of the College community are responsible for complying with College guidelines regarding the legal use of copyrighted materials, regardless of their format or the purpose for which they are used, and for complying with the requirements of copyright law, including obtaining required permissions to use copyrighted materials. Members of the Hood community who willfully disregard copyright law do so at their own risk and assume any liability, which may include criminal, and/or civil penalties. In addition, disciplinary action may be taken as outlined a) for students, in the Bylaws of the Student Government Association (Judicial System), b) for faculty, in the Faculty Code (Termination or Sanctions for Cause), and c) for staff, in the Staff Handbook (Section 405.3).

Peer-to-Peer File Sharing

Uploading or downloading works protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner is an infringement of the copyright owner’s exclusive rights of reproduction and/or distribution. Anyone found to have infringed a copyrighted work may be liable for statutory damages up to $30,000 for each work infringed and, if willful infringement is proven, liability may be increased up to $150,000 for each work infringed. An infringer of a work may also be liable for the attorney’s fees incurred by the copyright owner to enforce his or her rights. The files distributed over peer-to-peer networks are primarily copyrighted works, and there is a risk of liability for downloading material from these networks. There are currently many “authorized” services available online that allow consumers to purchase copyrighted works, whether they be music, e-books, or motion pictures. By purchasing works through authorized services, consumers can avoid the risks of infringement liability.

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)

The DMCA is a response to concerns regarding the pirating and distribution of digital materials, and it helps to clarify how copyright relates to those materials. The DMCA criminalizes the development of technologies intended to circumvent devices (such as passwords or encryption) that limit access to copyrighted material, and it also criminalizes the act of circumvention itself. Institutions of higher education that act as Internet Service Providers (such as Hood College) are granted limited liability for copyright infringement involving the use of their networks if they take steps to designate a local agent to receive notices regarding instances of infringement over the local network and for effecting a “take-down” of the infringing material. The Library Director will provide contact information for Hood’s Take-Down Officer.

Academic Honors

Commencement Honors

Commencement Honors are awarded to graduating seniors who have achieved the following composite average at the time of graduation (see The Hood College Grade Point Average and The Composite Average located under Grades):

• Summa Cum Laude: 3.95–4.00
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.85–3.94
• Cum Laude: 3.70–3.84

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List recognizes degree-seeking students who have completed at least 6 semester hours of Hood work (or who have received permission to study abroad or away for a semester) and achieved a 3.5 or above semester GPA. Students who have outstanding incomplete grades for the semester are not eligible.

Academic Standing and Classification

Classification

Students are classified by class standing based on credits earned as defined below:

• Freshman: Fewer than 25 credits earned.
• Sophomore: 25-55 credits earned.
• Junior: 56-86 credits earned.
• Senior: 87 or more credits earned.

Academic Standing

Students are in good academic standing when both the term and cumulative (overall) Grade Point Averages (GPAs) are at least 2.00. Good academic standing is required for graduation. Hood makes every effort to assist students in maintaining this academic standard. It is the student’s responsibility to take advantage of the College’s academic, health, and psychological counseling services as a means of overcoming problems that impede academic progress.

At the end of each fall and spring term, the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies examines the records of those students who have earned a term or cumulative GPA below 2.00 and also examines the records of students previously placed on academic warning or probation. Academic action by the Committee is based not only on the academic record, but also includes input from the offices of Residence Life, Accessibility Services, Student Life, the Student Success Center, and students' instructors and advisors regarding issues such as attendance, completion of assigned coursework, and matters from outside the classroom that may have affected students' academic success. Based on all of the information provided, students are placed on academic warning, academic probation, or are dismissed from the College. If students who were previously on warning or probation and are now in good academic standing based on their term and cumulative GPAs being a 2.00 or above, their records are updated accordingly.

While the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies examines students' term and cumulative grade point averages and determines academic standing for students, individual academic departments also review the GPAs of students in their majors at the end of each term. Based on their review, departments may take action concerning students' status within their majors if students do not meet the academic standards set for each program. Departmental reviews of students' status in their majors operate independently from the end-of-term records reviews conducted by the Committee of Academic Standards and Policies.

Academic Warning

Students are placed on academic warning if their semester Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below 2.00 and/or the end-of-term records review by the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies raises concern about a student's overall academic progress. Students placed on warning are informed of their status in a notification sent to the student with their academic advisor copied. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to determine how best to improve their future academic performance. Possible action steps to take may include, but are not limited to, taking GNST 101 the following semester, adjusting future schedules to ensure a manageable workload, contacting the Student Success Center to schedule ongoing student success coaching meetings, identifying helpful resources, developing better time-management and study strategies, and/or speaking with individual instructors about ways to succeed.

At the end of each term, the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies reviews the records of students on academic warning. On the basis of this review, the committee may recommend:

An end to the warning period; Students will come off academic warning if their semester GPA raises to a 2.00 or above.

Continued warning; Students will be placed on continued warning if their semester GPA falls below 2.00 for another consecutive fall or spring semester.

Academic probation; Failure to improve semester GPA may result in the student being placed on continued warning or academic probation. See below section for additional information on probation. 

Academic Probation

Students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below 2.00 and/or the end-of-term records review by the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies raises concerns about a student's overall academic progress. Students placed on academic probation are informed of their status in a notification sent to the student with their academic advisor copied. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to determine how best to improve their future academic performance. Students placed on academic probation are encouraged to participate in the Academic Success Program during the following academic term, which includes enrolling in GNST 101 (if they have not successfully passed the course) and meet regularly with a success coach. These coaching sessions are designed to help students improve their academic skills and academic standing. In addition, students should retake FYS 101 if they have not already successfully passed the course.

Students on academic probation are required to demonstrate significant academic improvement and to earn a semester Grade Point Average high enough to allow for a cumulative GPA of a 2.00 or above within two terms. Additionally, students on probation are limited to taking no more than 14 credits during a standard fall or spring semester. Twelve credits are required to be full-time; no more than 14 credits are permitted without the student petitioning for a credit increase to the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies.

At the end of each term, the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies reviews the records of students on academic probation, and their participation in the Academic Success Program is considered. On the basis of this review, the committee may recommend:

An end to the probationary period; Students will come off probation if their cumulative and semester GPA raise to a 2.00 or above.

Continued probation; Students will be placed on continued probation if their cumulative and/or semester GPA are still below 2.00 for another consecutive fall or spring semester.

Dismissal; Students will be dismissed from the College if they are on probation for at least two semesters, or if the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies determines that the student is not making satisfactory academic progress. See below section for additional information on dismissal. 

Academic Dismissal

Students are academically dismissed form Hood College if the end-of-term records review by the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies raises concerns about a student's overall academic progress. The College may at any time dismiss a student who is not making satisfactory academic progress as described here. When dismissing students from the College, factors that the committee may consider include but are not limited to total credits attempted, term GPAs, cumulative GPA, academic standings after each fall and spring term, progression within their major and towards degree completion, and feedback from instructors, faculty advisors, and Student Success. Students who are dismissed from the College may not enroll in classes as a non-degree seeking student.

Students academically dismissed form the College are informed of their status in a notification sent to the student with their advisor copied. The notification also provides information for the student to appeal their dismissal, if they so choose, by a strict deadline. Guidance on dismissal appeals is described below.

Dismissal Appeals

If a student wishes to appeal their academic dismissal from Hood College, they may petition to the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies. Appeals for reinstatement following dismissal must be submitted by the deadline as outlined in the dismissal notification sent to the student. All dismissal appeals must include discussion of specific action steps that students will take to achieve academic success in the future. Students are encouraged to share any extenuating circumstances that may have impacted their academic progress, and how these circumstances have been addressed or will be addressed in future terms. The challenges of extenuating personal circumstances that students may be experiencing are factored into every decision on dismissal and appeal. If the committee approves the dismissal appeal, the student remains at Hood on academic probation. If the committee denies the dismissal appeal, the Provost reviews the petition and makes the final decision.

Students whose dismissal appeals are approved remain at the College for at least one term on a probationary basis. Failure to comply with the conditions specified in the letter allowing students to remain at the College may result in their dismissal at the end of the probationary term. 

Dismissal and Reinstatement

Students who are dismissed from Hood College for academic reasons may petition for reinstatement after completing a minimum of one full-time semester (12 credits or more) at another accredited institution and receiving no grade below a C. 

The following is the procedure for possible reinstatement:

1) The student fills out the readmission request form online to request permission to return to Hood. 

2) The student provides transcripts of coursework attempted elsewhere and any other pertinent information.

3) The Committee on Academic Standards and Policies reviews the request and makes a decision regarding reinstatement.

A student who is dismissed and then reinstated will be placed on academic probation as they return to Hood. Reinstatement does not automatically reinstate financial aid. The student must notify the Office of Financial Aid to determine eligibility as a returning student.

If a student is dismissed for nonacademic reasons, the student must request, in writing, permission to return to Hood to the dean of students. The dean of students will then decide if the student may be reinstated. 

Financial Aid Implications

Financial aid recipients are required to be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward degree requirements. Please refer to the financial aid section of the catalog for financial implications.

Attendance and Absence

The College does not set a maximum number of absences permissible in any course. Individual faculty members have the prerogative to establish a maximum number of absences at the beginning of the semester and are encouraged to include a written statement of their attendance policy on the course syllabus. Students accept full responsibility for seeing that work does not suffer from excessive absence.

The College recognizes that there are other justifiable reasons for class absence: observance of religious holidays, participation as a representative of the College in athletic contests, or cultural performances. Such absences are acceptable only if previous absences are not excessive and if the student has made arrangements with the instructor, prior to the day of the absence, for the work missed.

Limits/Restrictions:

• Students must attend the first-class meeting of each of their courses or notify the instructor or the Registrar’s Office of their absence, or risk being withdrawn from the class with a grade of WX (administrative withdrawal).
• Enrollment in a course constitutes an informal contract with the instructor, and a student who violates an instructor’s attendance policy risks dismissal from the course. Instructors may have a student withdrawn from a class and a grade of WX recorded up until the deadline for course withdrawal. After the course withdrawal deadline has passed, the student receives a grade of F.
• A student who is dismissed from a course for excessive absences or who is withdrawn from the class for failing to appear at the first-class meeting may be reinstated only by the joint consent of the course instructor and the registrar.
• Classes are held up to the date and hour preceding vacations and they resume promptly after the recess in accordance with the academic calendar. Students are expected to attend classes meeting just prior to and immediately following holiday periods.
• Students are fully responsible for making up work missed due to class absence. When students are absent, they are responsible for obtaining lecture notes from reliable sources. Assignments and projects are to be delivered to the instructor on the assigned date, even when the student does not attend class. All exams are to be taken at the scheduled time. Having another exam scheduled on the same day is not considered sufficient justification for rescheduling the exam.

• The College requests that instructors complete an alert for students who demonstrate erratic attendance patterns. This is not done to penalize the student but rather to ensure that College officials can assist students in making consistent progress toward the degree.
• Attendance modifications for students with disabilities must be approved by the Office of Accessibility Services and are always considered as a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with course professors. Due to some course requirements, an attendance accommodation may not be possible. When this occurs, accessibility services will consult with faculty to provide other reasonable accommodations.

Audit

With instructor permission, a student may enroll in most lecture courses as an auditor. As the term implies, auditors listen rather than engage in class discussions and projects. Auditors attend class regularly but do not write papers or take exams or quizzes.

Limits/Restrictions:

The student receives neither credit, grade nor grade points for an audit; however, the audit does appear on the transcript.

There is no limit on the number of courses that a student may audit during a semester. If the audited course or courses cause a student to exceed 18.5 credits, the excess credits will be billed by the undergraduate per-credit-hour fee.

It is not possible to audit courses such as creative writing, painting, drawing, labs, and other courses where the nature of the activity requires the participation of the student. Students may enroll on a noncredit basis in such courses by paying the current per-credit-hour fee.

No changes to or from the audit option may be made after the end of drop/add period.

A student may take for credit, at a later time, a course that was previously audited.

Part-time students pay a reduced audit fee to audit a course. See Tuition, Fees and Other Charges. 

Credits

Following the guidelines of the United States Department of Education and using the Carnegie unit of measure for assigning credit to its undergraduate and graduate courses, Hood defines a credit hour as representing a total of 750 minutes of class meeting time per semester (PE and lab classes meet longer).  Per Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), a class must meet for the required time based on the number of credits the course is and how many times it meets during a semester.  For example, a 3-credit standard (non-lab, non-PE) course would need to meet for a total of 2,250 minutes during the semester.

Double-Numbered Courses and Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses

Certain courses have been designated as appropriate for both graduate students and undergraduates. These “double-numbered courses” are identified by numbers in both the 400 and 500 range. Undergraduate students enroll in the 400-level course and receive undergraduate credit. Graduate students enroll in the 500-level course and receive graduate credit. Syllabi for such courses will clearly outline different expectations for graduate and undergraduate students. Students who took a double-numbered class at the 400 level as an undergraduate student may not take the same class at the 500 level as a graduate student for credit.

Undergraduate students must meet different performance standards from the graduate students. These differences may relate to the quality and/or quantity of work required and may also involve measures of grading.

To be eligible to take a 400/500-level course, undergraduate students must have a cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0 or better and have earned at least 56 credits, including 12 credits or more at the 200 level or above in the course discipline.

To be eligible to take a 500-level graduate course and receive undergraduate credit, Hood undergraduate students must have earned senior status (87 credits) including 12 credits or more at the 200 level or above in the course discipline; have a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better; have a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better in the major area of study; and complete a petition, verified and approved by the registrar, the advisor, and the instructor. Credit will count only toward the undergraduate degree.

To be eligible to take a 500-level graduate course and receive graduate credit, Hood undergraduate students must have earned a minimum of 109 credits and meet the requirements indicated above. Credit will not apply toward the 124 credits required for the undergraduate degree unless approved for a designated Dual Degree program.

Final Examinations

Instructors give final examinations in all courses except those in which special assignments are more appropriate. Instructors inform students of final examination policy at the beginning of the term. Final exam dates are listed in the official Academic Calendar, and students’ travel plans must take the dates of scheduled exams into account. No student may reschedule a final examination in order to leave or travel early. In accordance with the Hood College Honor Code, the student may not discuss any final examination in any way with anyone during the final examination period. Final examinations may not be given prior to the start of the designated examination period.

No student will be required to complete three exams in one day. Students will be directed to the department in which the third exam is scheduled to arrange for an alternate day and time. Arrangements must be made prior to the beginning of exam week.

Financial Obligations

Grades, future registrations, and diplomas will be withheld until the student has paid all tuition, fees, and other bills incurred at the College, and has returned all library books.

Grades

Grading Criteria

Hood’s faculty uses the following general criteria in determining grades. Demonstration of the ability to write and speak standard English is included in the grade evaluation of every course. The criteria upon which students will be evaluated is included on every course syllabus.

A, A- (90–100) indicates general excellence; the student displays initiative, independence and often originality in the course.

B+, B, B- (80–89) indicates an unquestioned grasp of the subject’s fundamental facts and principles, an understanding of their significance and an ability to use them effectively; work is logically organized and technically correct; the student often shows initiative and independent work.

C+, C, C- (70–79) indicates the student has a fairly accurate knowledge of the subject’s fundamental facts and principles and is able to apply them reasonably well; work is fairly logical in organization and technique but it is incomplete; there is evidence of growth in handling the coursework.

D+, D, D- (60–69) indicates work is of inferior quality yet deserving of credit; there is some acquaintance with basic facts and principles, but work is poorly organized and technically faulty; the student frequently fails to complete assignments.

F (0–59) indicates work shows no grasp of basic facts and principles and is not deserving of credit; it is poorly organized and technically faulty; the student frequently fails to complete assignments.

S indicates satisfactory completion of work done on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis; performance is at a C- level or better.

U indicates unsatisfactory completion of work done on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis and not deserving of credit; performance is at a D+ level or lower.

INC indicates incomplete work in a course because of illness or serious emergency beyond the student’s control; students must arrange to finish assignments in accordance with the College’s incomplete grade policy.

Grade Appeal

Grade appeals of the final course grade must be filed in a timely manner. Students must contact the faculty member involved no later than the end of the first week of the semester following the filing of the disputed grade. If the issue is not satisfactorily resolved, the department chair must be contacted within 30 days of the beginning of the semester. Appeals to the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies must be initiated by the last day prior to midsemester recess of the semester following the filing of the disputed grade. A Final Grade Appeal, available in the registrar’s office and online, must be completed and submitted with all required documents before the Committee considers the petition. A delay in the filing of a grade appeal constitutes sufficient reason for denial of the appeal by the Committee.

The Committee on Academic Standards and Policies will screen out frivolous or unsubstantiated appeals and will consider legitimate appeals that fall into the following categories:

• Miscalculation of a grade.
• Assignment of a grade to a particular student by application of more exacting requirements than were applied to other students in the same course.
• Assignment of a grade on some basis other than performance in the course.

All parties to the grade appeal (student, instructor, chairperson, registrar, committee members) are to maintain strict confidentiality until the matter is resolved.

Grade Changes

Instructors have the right to change a grade if they have made an error in computing or recording a student’s grade. Instructors must notify the Registrar’s Office in writing of the error within three weeks after the grades have been issued. Grade changes due to a computational or recording error discovered after the deadline, and requests for grade changes for any other reasons, must be submitted by the instructor in writing to the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies.

Final and Midterm Grades

Hood releases final and midterm grades electronically to the student and the student’s advisor through Self-Service.  

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grade Plan

Hood provides an alternate grade plan as a means of encouraging intellectual curiosity. Under the satisfactory/unsatisfactory option, students receive a grade of “S” and credit for work of “C-” caliber or better or a grade of “U” and no credit for work of “D+” or lower quality. Neither grade is computed in the cumulative grade point average.

Limits/Restrictions:

• Students may not choose the S/U option for any course used to satisfy the Core, in the major field, the minor field, or an independent study. If a course is only offered for S/U credit, this policy does not apply.
• Students may choose the S/U option for a maximum of 12 satisfactory/unsatisfactory credits within the total 124 credits Hood requires for graduation. Students spending three years at Hood may choose the S/U option for only 9 satisfactory/unsatisfactory credits to meet graduation requirements; two years, 6 credits; one year, 3 credits. Courses only offered for S/U credit are not counted in these totals.
• At registration, students indicate their intent to take a course on the satisfactory/unsatisfactory plan on the course and schedule card. Change from one grading plan to another must have the advisor’s approval and must occur before the end of the drop/add period. No changes to or from the satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading system may be made after the drop/add period.
• Students are cautioned that some graduate and professional schools and employers look negatively at satisfactory/unsatisfactory on transcripts because actual performance or mastery of the subject has not been demonstrated.

Grade Point Averages (GPA)

The average that appears on all transcripts and grade reports is the average of all grades earned at Hood or through Hood affiliated semester or year abroad programs. Accepted transfer credit is included in the earned credit total and is applied toward the 124-credit degree requirement, but the quality hours and quality points earned at another institution are not calculated in the Hood average. Students participating in a non-Hood affiliated semester or year abroad/away will earn transfer credit for all courses completed with a grade of C- or above.

Each grade received at Hood on the A-F grading scale has a corresponding grade point: A=4.00; A-=3.67; B+=3.33; B=3.00; B-=2.67; C+=2.33; C=2.00; C-=1.67; D+=1.33; D=1.00; D-=0.67 and F=0.00.

Grades with no quality points include: AU, S, U, INC, Z, TR, W, CR

By computing the quality points received for each letter grade, students can ascertain their average or grade point average. For example, a grade of “C” in a 3-credit course earns 6 qual­ity points. Add the number of quality points earned in each course to learn the quality point total. Divide the quality point total by the total number of credits (in courses which have letter grades) and the result is the Grade Point Average (GPA).

The Composite Grade Point Average

The composite Grade Point Average is the average of all college work attempted. All grades earned at Hood and those completed at other institutions are calculated, regardless of whether the course credit was accepted for transfer. The composite average is used to determine eligibility for various honor societies as well as determining Commencement honors. Grades of AU, S, U, INC, Z, W, IP, and CR are not included in the Composite Grade Point Average.

The Major Average

An academic department may refuse to accept as a major a student whose GPA falls under 2.0 in the discipline. The department may require a student who has declared a major to drop the major if the student’s GPA falls below 2.0. Note: GPA requirements may vary by major.

Graduation and Commencement Participation

Graduation

Students must take ultimate responsibility for academic planning—of each semester, of each academic year, and of degree completion. The Self-Service Degree Progress Report provides all students and advisors with an accurate list of core and major requirements required for the degree. The Registrar’s Office begins monitoring degree progress in the spring of the student’s junior year. Students must meet with their faculty advisors on a regular basis to review degree requirements and plan senior year registrations. Bachelor degrees are conferred January 15, June 5, and September 15.

Seniors must complete the Application for Graduation by the established deadlines posted to the College's academic calendar to ensure they appear as candidates for the graduation date intended. The College, however, reserves the right to confer a degree on a student who has completed all of the requirements for a degree even though the student has not petitioned to graduate; such an individual would then be subject to the College's usual rules and restrictions regarding future enrollment or registration.  In such cases where the College confers a degree for a student who has not petitioned to graduate, the diploma will convey the legal name listed in the student record.

Commencement Participation

There is one commencement ceremony each year in May. Students earning degrees in January and June may participate in the May commencement ceremony for that year. Students earning degrees in September may participate in the May ceremony the following year.  Commencement information is available online at www.hood.edu/commencement, which is updated regularly. Students who have completed all degree requirements by the date grades are due for the second semester may participate in the May commencement.

Students may not participate in commencement unless they have applied for graduation, have earned their degrees in that academic year, or are candidates for degrees in June of that ceremony year.

Students may only attend one commencement ceremony per degree earned. Additional majors that fall under the original degree do not make the student eligible to participate in an additional commencement ceremony. Failure to participate in the commencement ceremony where the degree was originally earned, does not qualify students to attend future ceremonies.

Incomplete Grade Policy

When serious illness or emergency prevents a student from completing the work for a course, instructors may allow additional time to finish assignments. Incompletes are not substitutes for failure to attend classes or to complete assigned work. Forms can be found on the Registrar Office website.

Limits/Restrictions:

1. The student must file an application for an incomplete grade with the registrar’s office no later than the last day of classes.

2. An incomplete may not be granted unless a student has completed at least half of the work for the course.

3. The student’s progress in the course must be passing (D- or above) at the time the incomplete is requested.

4. After the necessary paperwork and approvals are provided, the registrar's office will record the notation of an incomplete via an INC final grade on the student's permanent record. After the instructor assigns a grade, an “I” remains permanently on the record with the final grade earned beside it.

5. The date agreed upon for completion of all assignments may not be later than March 15 for the fall semester, August 15 for winter and spring semesters, and October 15 for summer terms. Any request for extension of an incomplete grade must be submitted by the student, or by the faculty member and approved by the student, to the registrar's office in writing and sent to registrar@hood.edu.

6. Work not completed by the deadlines stated above will convert to a grade of zero unless an extension is approved.

Independent Study and X-Credit

Independent study includes directed readings; conferences with a supervising instructor; and papers, reports and/or exams. Two kinds of independent study are available at Hood: regular (designated by the course number 375) and X-credit.

Regular independent study consists of a project designed by a student and approved by a faculty advisor with whom the student will work closely during the semester. The number of credits may vary from 1 to 3 according to departmental policies and the design of the independent study. The subject chosen may not duplicate any course offered during the period of the student’s enrollment at Hood. Registration procedures and deadlines for regular independent study are the same as for all departmental courses.

X-credit independent study also is designed by the student and approved by a faculty advisor. However, the subject matter must be related to a class in which the student is enrolled. X-credit independent study is, therefore, added to the student’s schedule after the beginning of the semester and is limited to one credit. The grade for the X-credit is independent of the grade for the course to which it is related.

Before registering for regular or X-credit independent study, students should refer to the statement on credit limits for self-directed study in Self-directed Study and Teaching Assistantships.

One credit of independent study requires approximately two hours of work per week plus periodic conferences with the advising faculty.

Internship Program

Requirements for 3- to 9-credit Internship

• Enrollment at Hood as a degree candidate (non-degree or non-matriculated students are ineligible for internships).
• A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and 2.5 GPA in the internship discipline.
• Completion of a minimum of 45 college-level credits prior to the beginning of the internship.
• Completion of at least 9 credits or three courses at the 200 level or above at Hood in the internship discipline. (See additional department requirements.)

Requirements for 12- to 15-credit Internship

• Enrollment at Hood as a degree candidate (non-degree or non-matriculated students are ineligible for internships).
• A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and 2.5 GPA in the internship discipline.
• Completion of 75 college-level credits prior to the beginning of the internship.
• Students may enroll for 15 credits during the spring or fall only. Students may enroll for a maximum of 12 credits of internship during the summer term. The number of credits available also varies by department.

Note: Students may take a maximum of 15 internship credits throughout their academic career.

Applying for an Internship

Students considering an internship should visit the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education to explore internship options and pick up appropriate paperwork, including an Application for Internship, Student Learning Agreement, Student Waiver Form, Photo and Media Release Form, and Time Sheet. Each of these documents will need appropriate signatures which includes a Career Development staff member, faculty advisor, and internship site supervisor. Upon completion of the paperwork, the student must turn in all documents to the Center for Career Development to receive the final signature to register for the 399 internship credits. The completed and signed time sheet should be turned into the Center for Career Development by the last day of classes for that semester.

Internship Responsibilities  

All parties have specific responsibilities for ensuring the integrity and success of the internship experience. Please refer to the Internship Handbook available on the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education website (www.hood.edu/careercenter) for additional details.

Supplemental Expenses and Time

In fulfilling the expectations of the internship, the intern may incur expenses in addition to the usual tuition and fees. Students who enroll in an internship must plan to provide their own transportation or use public transportation.

Due to the time requirements of an internship, students may need to work during breaks and holidays. Campus housing is available when the College is not in session. The completed and executed time sheet must be turned into the Center for Career Development by the last day of classes for that semester. Exceptions to this policy must be receive prior approval.

Placement is not Guaranteed

Interns are not placed in sites, and it is the student’s responsibility to find a site. The Center for Career Development and Experiential Education and departmental offices provide many resources to the student to assist in locating a suitable internship.

Termination of Internship

Under unusual circumstances, any party involved in the internship may terminate the agreement. Because the internship is essentially a professional commitment, Hood strongly encourages students to fulfill their obligations to complete the full term of service at the site. Unfortunately, on rare occasions, the intern or the faculty internship advisor may determine that the internship site is not an appropriate learning experience, or the internship site may determine that the intern is not a good fit for their internship. In either case, any of the parties may decide to terminate the internship. If this occurs, notify the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education immediately. Please note: If an internship is terminated for any reason, the student is responsible for following all procedures regarding adding/dropping credits and is responsible for all tuition, fees and penalties associated with credit coursework. Please refer to the Internship Handbook available on the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education website (www.hood.edu/careercenter) for additional details.

Time Requirements

A student must work a minimum of 40 hours at the internship site for each credit earned. The total hour requirement is as follows: a three-credit internship requires 120 hours; a six-credit internship requires 240 hours; a nine-credit internship requires 360 hours; a 12-credit internship requires 480 hours; a 15-credit internship requires 600 hours.

Leave of Absence

Students who need to be away from the College for up to two consecutive fall and/or spring semesters (excluding summer and winter) but wish to maintain ties to the College and resume their studies at a later time may take a leave of absence instead of withdrawing from the College. If a student's return is uncertain, or if they will be away for more than two consecutive standard semesters, the student should submit a Withdrawal from the College form to the Registrar's Office. A request for a leave of absence is due no later than the end of the drop/add period for fall and spring semesters. Forms for the Registrar's Office can be found online.

Students who do not return from a leave of absence after two consecutive semesters will be withdrawn from the College. Students who do not submit a leave of absence request and who do not enroll in coursework for fall and/or spring semesters will also be withdrawn from the College. Please see Withdrawal from the College section for the procedure for readmission.

Students returning from a leave of absence should meet with their advisor to get authorized, discuss their schedule, and register for classes by the end of the drop/add period. The student does not need to submit any additional paperwork to resume their studies.

Students should not file a leave of absence form in order to study abroad or at another institution in the United States. Instead, they must file a petition with the Office of the Registrar for approval to study elsewhere.

Leave of absence forms and petitions to study away or abroad are available on the Office of the Registrar website.

Please note that a leave of absence may affect loans. Students that are on an institutionally approved leave of absence are reported as withdrawn to the National Student Clearinghouse as of the date the leave began to signify they are not currently enrolled in classes. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@hood.edu or 301-696-3411 for additional information.

 

Registration, Drop/Add and Course Withdrawal

Advising and registration for degree candidates occurs in April for the fall semester and November for the spring semester. Matriculated students are required to meet with their advisors to select courses and review degree progress. The advisor authorizes the student for registration and, on the day indicated on the Academic Calendar, the student registers for classes via Self-Service.  

Cancellation of Courses

A fall or spring semester course is subject to cancellation when fewer than eight students are enrolled. Winter and summer term classes are subject to cancellation when fewer than five students are enrolled.

The College reserves the right to cancel the course as late as the first day of classes each semester. Every effort will be made to work with students regarding program planning and placement in alternate courses that would be compatible with the cancelled course.

Course Schedules

A credit hour usually represents one hour of class work and at least two to three hours of preparation in a given subject per week throughout the semester.

Classes usually meet on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday, Monday-Friday afternoon or a Tuesday-Thursday schedule. Except for lab sessions, 3-credit Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes generally convene for 55 minutes and Tuesday-Thursday classes for 85 minutes. Four-credit classes meet for a total of 220 minutes per week. Most evening classes meet once a week for 2 hours and 45 minutes or twice a week for 85-minute periods. 

Hood also has blocked courses, which are courses that meet for double periods during a portion of the semester. Blocked courses are primarily studio art and education courses in the teaching internship semester.

Course Repeat Policy

A student may repeat a course one time for which they earned a grade of C- or below.

A student may repeat a course more than once for the following reasons:

Some coursework, such as teaching assistantships, internships, and independent studies, may be completed multiple times and within the credit limits established in that course type policy. These incidents do not fall under the course repeat policy, and grades earned for all completed coursework will be calculated in the cumulative GPA.

All grades earned for a given course will remain on the academic record for historical purposes and will be included in the composite GPA. Only the highest grade earned at Hood for repeated coursework will be computed in the cumulative and major GPAs, and credit will be awarded only once. Coursework that is repeated at another institution and transferred to Hood will earn a grade of TR, which will not replace the original grade or calculation for the course taken at Hood.

The grade of W or WX does not replace a previously awarded grade as it is not computed in the GPA. Students may not repeat a course at Hood for which transfer credit has been awarded, however they may choose to audit such a course. See Audit section for further information.

Course Load Full-time and Part-time Status

Full-time status requires 12 credit hours or more per semester. A typical semester program consists of 15 or 16 credits except in the first year when it may be 12-15 credits.

Part-time status is accorded students taking 11.5 credit hours or fewer per semester.

Students are normally limited to 12 credits completed during the summer. Exceptions to this credit limit require permission of the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies.

Limits/Restrictions:

• Enrollment in more than 18.5 credits in one semester requires a 3.0 cumulative average and permission from the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies. Enrollment in credits beyond 18.5 requires additional tuition for each hour or fraction above that number.
• A student may not enroll in two courses which meet at the same hour.

Drop/Add Period

Students may drop or add courses without academic penalty from the time of registration through the end of the drop/add period. See the Academic Calendar for dates.

During this period, students may also change to or from the S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) grading option, change to or from enrollment on an audit basis, or alter the number of credits in courses carrying variable credit.

Course Withdrawal After Drop/Add

If a student withdraws from a course after the end of the drop/add period and before the end of the eleventh week of the semester a W (indicating withdrawal) will be noted on the transcript. This notation will not be computed in a student’s grade point average. 

Hood College is obligated to record a Withdrawal when students attend courses beyond our stated drop/add deadline, no matter their reason for late dropping, to maintain accurate record keeping for federal aid regulations. We need to accurately maintain a record of attempted credits on the transcript for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) rules and, per those regulations, because we cannot exclude courses where students attended beyond the drop/add period, our SAP calculations and our quantitative standards need to include those attempted credits. While a student may have myriad reasons for needing to leave a course, the Withdrawal is not a value statement, is not punitive, and must remain on the transcript.

A student may not withdraw from a class during the last four weeks of classes.

Self-directed Study and Teaching Assistantships

Hood defines self-directed study as: 1) regular and X-credit independent study; and 2) internships, field work, and other courses similar to internships in that they do not have a classroom component.

• Students may take a maximum of 27 credits (excluding an honors paper) in self-directed study in the total 124-credit program. A combination of internships and independent study must not exceed 15 credits of internship or 12 credits of independent study.
• Students may take a maximum of 18 credits (excluding an honors paper) in self-directed study in the major program. A combination of internships and independent study must not exceed 15 credits of internship, 12 credits of independent study or more than 1/4 of the major program (whichever is less).
• Students may not add independent study credits to internships to fill a complete semester program. An exception to this rule is independent study that students take at the Washington Center for Learning Alternatives or through a similarly structured program.
• Independent study topics may not duplicate any course offered during the period of the student’s enrollment at Hood.
• Independent studies are granted to non-degree students under only exceptional circumstances.

Teaching Assistantships

Many departments offer students the opportunity to serve as teaching assistants, for which academic credit is awarded. Serving as a teaching assistant affords a student the opportunity to understand the materials of a course or of a laboratory from the perspective of the teacher. The course number 335 designates this type of study.

Limits/Restrictions:

• A total of 4 credits of Teaching Assistantship may be counted toward the degree. The course may be taken for 1-3 credits and may be repeated at the discretion of the department. Departments have the right to limit the number of credits granted per semester and may or may not allow students to repeat the course.
• As a general guideline, a student should work at least three hours per week for each credit granted in the assistantship. Grading is on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.

Transfer Policy and Attending Other Institutions

Transfer Policy

The registrar evaluates prior college coursework and credit earned through alternative methods for applicability to degree requirements at Hood College. Credit is generally awarded for courses that are clearly applicable to a baccalaureate degree and for which the student earned a grade of C- or above. Courses that are clearly vocational or occupational in nature will not be accepted as credit towards the baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 62 credits may be awarded for freshman/sophomore (100-200 level) work completed elsewhere. Although there is no limit for junior/senior (300-400 level) coursework, students will be awarded no more than a total of 94 credits for all college-level work completed.

Courses taken on a quarter credit system will be converted to semester hours of credit by multiplying the number of quarter hours by 0.67 to determine the semester hour equivalent.

The transferability of credits from an institution that is not accredited by a regional accreditation agency may be considered upon receipt of documentation that demonstrates equivalency regarding course information, equivalencies, and learning outcomes. It is the student’s responsibility to provide this documentation.

A student who wishes to appeal transfer credit equivalencies should notify the Office of the Registrar with the request as soon as possible after initial credit has been awarded. The Office of the Registrar will work with the student and relevant department Chair(s) to re-evaluate credits, and may request course descriptions, syllabi, or additional documentation as needed.

The final 30 hours of the degree must be taken on the Hood campus (see Undergraduate Degree Requirements). In addition, the College requires transfer students to take a minimum of 12 credits of classroom instruction in the major discipline at Hood, regardless of the number accepted in transfer. Transfer students should submit their transcripts to the Office of Admission or Office of the Registrar prior to enrollment. Timely submission of these documents will ensure accuracy of degree progression and remaining requirements for the Hood degree.

All grades earned at Hood and those completed at other institutions, including repeated courses, are calculated in the composite grade point average, regardless of whether the course credit was accepted for transfer. The composite average is used to determine eligibility for various honor societies as well as determining Commencement honors.

Frederick County Public Schools High School Articulation Agreement

Hood College has agreed to grant college credits to students completing certain courses at a Frederick County high school. To be eligible, students must be admitted to Hood, have earned a grade of “B” or higher in the course, and have submitted an official high school transcript. The student must initiate the request for credit within two years of graduation from high school. 

 

Transfer Articulation Agreements

Hood participates in the ARTSYS articulation program, which allows students and advisors to determine the transferability of each community college course. The ARTSYS program also outlines the recommended transfer courses for specific programs of study. In addition, Hood recognizes the associate of arts, associate of arts in teaching, and associate of science degrees of every community college in Maryland. Hood has established enrollment agreements with specific community and junior colleges, identifying particular benefits offered to students who transfer from those institutions. 

Degree Students Attending Other Institutions 

Students may receive credit for coursework completed at another accredited institution during the academic year or the summer with prior approval of the department and the registrar.

The following policies apply:

• Students must complete the Transfer Course Permission form to take a course from another college and receive transfer credit at Hood. Forms are available in the Office of the Registrar and online and must be submitted prior to the start of the course. Students who do not submit permission forms in advance of taking the course are not guaranteed approval.

• Transfer credit may be awarded for courses completed with a grade of C- or above. Official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar upon completion of the course.

• The course may not be offered at Hood during the same academic semester/session.

• A maximum of 12 credits can be taken each summer.

• The final 30 credits of the degree must be taken at Hood College (see section on Undergraduate Degree Requirements).

• Petitions for exceptions to these policies must be made to the committee on Academic Standards and Policies. Petition forms are available in the Office of the Registrar and online.

Students who take and fail, or earn less than the minimum required grade in, a course at Hood are encouraged to retake that course at Hood rather than at another institution; this allows students to benefit from the Course Repeat Policy, which states the highest grade earned at Hood will be computed in the cumulative Grade Point Average.

 

Community College Exchange

Full-time Hood students may take one course each semester at Carroll Community College (CCC) or Hagerstown Community College (HCC) without charge, provided that the course chosen is not offered at Hood during the same academic semester. CCC also offers the exchange to Hood students during their summer sessions. To register, students obtain the consent of their advisers and the Hood registrar. The registrar will provide a statement of enrollment for registration at CCC or HCC.

Transfer Course Permission forms are available on the Office of the Registrar website.

Transfer of Non-Traditional Credit

Hood awards up to 30 credits for prior learning through Advanced Placement exams (AP), College-Level Examination Program exams (CLEP), Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) exams, departmental challenge exams, International Baccalaureate (IB), GCE/General Certificate of Education A-Level and AS exams, and military training and noncollegiate programs approved by the American Council on Education. These alternative modes of learning are evaluated separately from transcripts of traditional transfer credit from other accredited schools. If accepted, a grade of "CR" is awarded for non-traditional credit which is excluded from calculation in the composite and cumulative GPAs. 

Limits/Restrictions:

• Credit for prior learning is awarded only to students admitted as degree candidates.
• A maximum of 30 hours of credit may be earned through any combination of prior learning credits and Hood courses elected on the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.
• Students may not receive credit by examination for any course that they have previously audited, failed, received credit, or from which they have withdrawn.
• Credit through examination may not be attempted during the final 15 hours of credit.
• Credit through examination may not count in the minimum of 30 Hood credits required for the degree.
• The requirement of 12 credits of coursework at Hood in the major cannot be fulfilled through credit by examination.

Advanced Placement

Unless otherwise noted, Hood College awards credit upon receipt of the official AP Grade Report for AP scores of 4 or 5 for the following tests:

Art:

Art History, 3 credits for ART 220 and exemption for ART 221

Studio Art-Drawing, 3 credits for ARTS 123 (score of 3 is acceptable)

Studio Art-2D or 3D, 3 credits for ARTS 101 (score of 3 is acceptable) 

Biology:

Biology, 4 credits for BIOL 110-129 with a score of 4 or 5

Chemistry:

Chemistry, 4 credits for CHEM 101 with a score of 4; 8 credits for CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 with a score of 5

Computer Science:

Computer Science Test A, 3 credits for CS 201

Computer Science Principles, 3 credits, no Hood equivalent

Economics:

Macroeconomics, 3 credits for ECON 205

Microeconomics, 3 credits for ECON 206

English:

English Language/Composition, 3 credits for ENGL 100

English Literature/Composition, 3 credits for ENGL 221

Environmental Science and Policy:

Environmental Science, 3 credits for ENSP 101 for score of 4

Environmental Science, 3 credits for ENSP 101 and 1 credit for ENSP 102 for score of 5

Foreign Languages:

Chinese Language and Culture, 3 credits, No Hood equivalency

French Language and Culture, 3 credits, No Hood equivalency

German Language and Culture, 3 credits, No Hood equivalency

Italian Language and Culture, 3 credits, No Hood equivalency

Japanese Language and Culture, 3 credits, No Hood equivalency

Latin, 3 credits, No Hood equivalency

Spanish Language and Culture, 3 credits, No Hood equivalency

Geography:

Human Geography, 3 credits for GEOG 101

History:

European History, 3 credits, no Hood equivalent

United States History, 3 credits for HIST 218

World History: Modern, 3 credits for HIST 266

Mathematics:

Calculus AB, 4 credits for MATH 201

Calculus BC, 4 credits each for MATH 201, MATH 202

Calculus BC/AB Subscore of 4 or 5, 4 credits for MATH 201

Statistics, 4 credits for MATH 213

Music:

Music Theory, 3 credits for MUSC 101

Physics:

Physics 1, 4 credits for PHYS 101 with score of 4

Physics 2, 4 credits for PHYS 102 with a score of 4

Physics C-Mechanics, 4 credits for PHYS 203 with a score of 4

Physics C-Electricity/Magnetism, 4 credits for PHYS 204 with a score of 4

Political Science:

Comparative Government and Politics, 3 credits for PSCI 210

United States Government and Politics, 3 credits for PSCI 203

Psychology:

Psychology, 3 credits for PSY 101

CLEP

Unless otherwise noted, Hood College awards credit for scores of 50 on the following CLEP examinations:

Biology:

Biology, 4 credits for BIOL 110-139 for score of 52

Business Administration:

Principles of Management, 3 credits for MGMT 205

Principles of Accounting, 6 credits for MGMT 281 and MGMT 284

Economics:

Principles of Macroeconomics, 3 credits for ECON 205

Principles of Microeconomics, 3 credits for ECON 206

Education:

Human Growth and Development, 3 credits for EDUC 223 for score of 52. Students who transfer credit for a similar human growth and development course must take the departmental test to qualify for courses for which EDUC 223 is a prerequisite. No additional credit is earned for this test.

English:

American Literature, 3 credits for ENGL 223

English Literature, 3 credits for ENGL 222

History:

History of the United States I, 3 credits for HIST 217

History of the United States II, 3 credits for HIST 218

Mathematics:

Calculus, 6 credits, No Hood equivalency

Precalculus, 3 credits for MATH 120

Political Science:

American Government, 3 credits for PSCI 203

Psychology:

Human Growth and Development, 3 credits for PSY 239 for a score of 52. Students who transfer credit for a similar human growth and development course must take the departmental test to qualify for course for which PSY 239 is a prerequisite. No additional credit is earned for this test. 

Introductory Psychology, 3 credits for PSY 101

Sociology:

Introductory Sociology, 3 credits for SOC 101 with a score of 52

DANTES

Hood awards credit for the following DANTES examinations:

Geography 101

History - No Hood course equivalency

History 234

Mathematics 112

Religion - No Hood course equivalency

Departmental Examinations

$200 per test for Hood students; administered through The Josephine Steiner Student Success Center, 301-696-3569.

Departmental examinations may not be repeated. Credit is awarded for grades of A, B, or C on the following departmental examinations:

CHEM 101 – 3 lecture credits; may be used to fulfill Non-laboratory area of the Core

CHEM 102 – 3 lecture credits; may be used to fulfill Non-laboratory area of the Core

IT 180 – 3 credits

MATH 120 – 3 credits

MATH 201 – 3 credits if Level III has been earned on the BSI

MATH 202 –3 credits (test available only to students who have earned credit for or completed MATH 201)

MATH 207 – 3 credits if Level III has been earned on the BSI

MATH 253 – 3 credits

MUSC 103 – 3 elective credits

PHIL 207 – 3 credits

PE 225 – 3 credits

PHYS 101, PHYS 102 –3 lecture credits each; may be used to fulfill Non-laboratory area of the Core

PHYS 203, PHYS 204 –3 lecture credits each; may be used to fulfill Non-laboratory area of the Core

Foreign Language Placement Examinations:

Additional credit is awarded at the end of the first semester with grades of A, B, or C earned for the following placements:

3 credits – Placement in and completion of a 201-level French, German, or Spanish course during first semester at Hood; no credit for students awarded credit for AP/Foreign Language

6 credits – Placement in and completion of 203 or civilization course in French, German, or Spanish during first semester at Hood; 3 credits for students awarded credit for AP/Foreign Language

9 credits – Placement in and completion of 207 or a 300-level French, German, or Spanish course during first semester at Hood; 6 credits for students awarded credit for AP/Foreign Language

GCE General Certificate of Education ALevel

Upon receipt of the official Edexcel transcript, Hood will award 6 to 8 credits for each passing score on an Advanced Level examination and 3 to 4 credits for each passing score on an Advanced Subsidiary examination. 

International Baccalaureate

Credit is awarded only upon receipt of the official IB transcript. Students who have received an IB diploma, with a score of 30 or higher and with no score less than 4 in any one of the six examination groups, may be awarded up to 30 credits toward an undergraduate degree at Hood College. Students who have not completed the full IB diploma will receive credit on a case-by-case basis for Higher Level examination results of 5, 6, or 7.

Military Experience

Hood recognizes the unique nature of the military lifestyle and has committed itself to easing the transfer of relevant course credits and crediting learning from appropriate military training and experiences per guidelines established by the American Council on Education (ACE).

Students must provide an official Joint Services Transcript (JST) as well as a copy of their DD214. JST is an academically accepted document approved by ACE to validate a service members military occupational experience and training along with the corresponding ACE college credit recommendations.

• All JST’s include credit evaluations by ACE. This includes a notation for the type of credit: V (vocational), L (lower-level credit), or U (upper-level credit). 
• Hood College accepts up to 30 credits of non-traditional credit.
• Hood College accepts Lower-level credits up to the credit maximum based on JST transcripts, as electives or potentially as satisfying specific requirements if approved by the appropriate Department Chair.
• Hood College also accepts Upper-level credits based on JST transcripts, as electives or potentially as satisfying specific requirements if approved by the appropriate Department Chair until the student has reached the maximum of 30 of non-traditional credits.
• Repeat credits and Vocational credits are not accepted.
• One credit in physical education is awarded for military basic training. First aid certification will receive elective credit for PE 214.

Teacher Academy of Maryland

EDUC 204, 3 credits awarded to students who have successfully completed all requirements of the Teacher Academy of Maryland

Early Childhood Education Program

EDUC 223, 3 credits awarded to students who have successfully completed the requirements of an Early Childhood Education program at a Maryland high school.

Withdrawal from the College

A student may withdraw from the College at any time during the semester. See Tuition and Financial Aid for refund information. If the withdrawal occurs after the drop/add period, a grade of W will be recorded for each course.

Withdrawal forms can be found in the registrar's office or online.

Readmission after Withdrawal

Students withdrawn from the College who wish to return to complete requirements for their bachelor's degree with no holds on future registration are eligible for readmission to the College. Readmission request must be sent to the Registrar, indicating the year and semester of return; if the student will return as a full or part-time student and as a resident or commuter. If accepted, the returning student will enter under the catalog in place at the time of readmission for their major. Forms are available online at www.hood.edu/registrar. Students who were dismissed from the College and wish to be readmitted must follow the policy indicated under the Dismissal and Reinstatement section.

If a student was not in good academic standing at the time of withdrawal and the student is readmitted at the College, they will return to the College on whatever academic standing was placed on their record previously when they last attended. For example, if after their last semester at Hood the student was on academic probation for Spring 2024, and they apply for reinstatement for Spring 2025, they will return on academic probation for Spring 2025. The same rules regarding academic standing apply for reinstatement requests as listed here.

Readmission of Service Members

A school must promptly readmit a service member with the same academic status as he had when last attending the school or accepted for admission to the school. This requirement applies to any student who cannot attend school due to military service.