Administrative Regulations

Schedule Changes
No student can be registered for courses in another college while being enrolled at Millsaps without the written permission of the dean of the college. A student cannot change classes, drop classes or take up new classes except by the consent of the faculty adviser or the dean. If courses are dropped prior to the last day to drop courses without penalty, then the dropped courses will not appear on the student's record. Courses dropped after this date are recorded as W. There is a published date, following mid-term grades, after which it is no longer possible to drop a course without the approval of the dean. Students who drop a course without securing the required approvals will receive an F.

Withdrawal
In order to withdraw from the College within any term, an undergraduate student (except for ADP and Nondegree) must meet with the Director of Retention and Student Success for an exit interview and to obtain a withdrawal form. ADP and Nondegree students must meet with the Director of the Adult Degree Program. No refund will be considered unless the withdrawal form with appropriate signatures is completed and presented to the Business Office. Refunds will be made according to the policy outlined under the Financial Regulations section.

A student who withdraws with permission after the first seven days of the semester will receive all W grades. Individual course drops that adjust a student's schedule are purged from the student's schedule and are not recorded on the academic record.

A student who withdraws with permission after the first seven days, but before mid-semester will have grades recorded as W in each course. A student who withdraws without permission receives a grade of F in each course.

Students should complete all course withdrawals by mid-semester. The mid-semester deadline for completing course withdrawals is published in the college catalog.

Students who wish to withdraw from one or more courses after the mid-semester deadline must file a written petition with the Dean of the College. Petitions will not be approved unless students can show evidence that they are in extraordinary situations which warrant exceptions to the general policy of the College.

Enforced withdrawal may result from habitual delinquency in class, or any other circumstance which prevents the student from fulfilling the purpose of the class.

The College reserves the right to cancel the registration of any student. In such a case, the pro rata portion of tuition will be returned, except that students withdrawing under discipline forfeit the right to a refund.

No student who withdraws is entitled to a grade report or to a transcript of credits until all accounts are settled in the Business Office.

Medical Withdrawal
Medical withdrawals are granted to students only in the rare case where their physical, mental, or emotional health prevents them from continuing studies at the college.

It is the sole responsibility of the student requesting a medical withdrawal during any semester to complete and submit all required paperwork by the last day of classes in that semester as defined by the official college calendar.  All requests for medical withdrawals must be accompanied by a medical professional's recommendation for withdrawal and documentation of illness.  Students granted a medical withdrawal will receive the grade of "W" in all attempted classes.  Medical withdrawals may only be granted for the current semester.  Upon return to the college, students must present documentation from the medical professional that states the student has been treated by a medical professional and in his/her expert opinion the student's condition has improved to the point that he/she can handle the demands of college life.

Academic Probation
Students who earn in any semester a grade point average of less than 1.5 will be placed on academic probation. A student may be removed from academic probation by earning a 2.0 grade point average during a regular semester at Millsaps College provided that the student completes at least 12 semester hours and has an acceptable cumulative average.

Academic Suspension
A student on academic probation for two consecutive semesters will be placed on academic suspension. A student may also be placed on academic suspension if satisfactory progress has not been made toward a degree. Satisfactory progress is defined as maintaining:

• 1.5 cumulative grade point average when 28 semester hours have been attempted, or
• 1.8 cumulative grade point average when more than 28 semester hours and 60 semester hours or less have been attempted, or
• 2.0 cumulative grade point average when greater than 60 semester hours have been attempted.

Students who have been suspended may petition the dean of the college in writing for readmission. The first suspension will ordinarily be for the duration of one semester, the second suspension for a full academic year. Students seeking readmission should apply as soon as possible in order to assure sufficient time to fulfill whatever requirements may be necessary for readmission to be granted. If students take classes at another school while on suspension from Millsaps, those courses will not transfer back to Millsaps.

Unsatisfactory Academic Progress
A part-time student who makes a grade point average of less than 1.5 in any semester will be notified that he or she is making unsatisfactory academic progress. To be removed from that classification the student must make a 2.0 grade point average during a regular semester or summer session.

Class Attendance
Irregular attendance indicates that the student may be having difficulties adjusting to the course or to college. The primary responsibility for counseling students with respect to their absence rests with the faculty member; but, in the following circumstances, the faculty member is expected to report in writing the student's unsatisfactory attendance record to the Office of Records.

1. For a freshman - whenever the total absences are equal to twice the number of class meetings per week.
2. For any student - after three successive absences for reasons unknown to the instructor, or when in danger of failing the course.

The reporting of absences is for counseling purposes only, and has no effect on the student's grade.

Individual faculty members decide the manner and extent to which absences alone will affect a student's grade. Each faculty member is expected to outline the policy in writing to each class at the beginning of the semester. This may extend to dismissal from the course with a grade of "F" for reasons solely of absence.

Absences are excusable only by the individual faculty member, but an excused absence does not excuse the student from being responsible for the course work. Explanation for a student's absence provided by a parent, medical doctor, or a member of the faculty or administration may be helpful to the faculty member, but such explanations are not in themselves excuses. This is particularly important in the case of absences involving missed examinations, late assignments, laboratory sessions and similar scheduled commitments. Faculty members, however, may not excuse students from attendance on the two days preceding and the two days following vacation periods without the express permission of the dean.

Examinations
Permission to make up an examination or alter the time for an examination may be granted only by the instructor of the class for a specific student. If an instructor wishes to change the time of a final exam for a class, he or she must obtain permission from the Dean of the College.

No student should be required to take more than two final exams on one day. Students will be expected to take the initiative to resolve any conflicts with the appropriate faculty and if a resolution is not reached the student will appeal to the Academic Dean.

Senior Exemptions
Students may elect to be exempt from final examinations only in the semester in which they complete their comprehensive examinations, and only in those courses in which they have a C average or better. It shall be understood, however, that this exemption does not ensure the student a final grade of C, since daily grades during the last two weeks shall count in the final average. Under no circumstances may a student be exempt from any examination in more than one term or semester. Seniors may be allowed one special examination in any subject taken and failed in the senior year. Permission for such examination must be secured from the dean or associate dean of the college. Students may request exemption from other requirements by petition to the Dean of the College.

Honor Code
Millsaps College is an academic community where men and women pursue a life of scholarly inquiry and intellectual growth. The foundation of this community is a spirit of personal honesty and mutual trust. Through their Honor Code, members of the Millsaps community, faculty and students, affirm their adherence to these basic ethical principles. An Honor Code is not simply a set of rules and procedures governing students' academic conduct. It is an opportunity to put personal responsibility and integrity into action. When students agree to abide by the Honor Code, they liberate themselves to pursue their academic goals in an atmosphere of mutual confidence and respect. The success of the code depends upon the support of each member of the community. Students and faculty alike commit themselves in their work to the principles of academic honesty. When they become aware of infractions, both students and faculty are obligated to report them to the Honor Council which is responsible for enforcement. The Millsaps Honor Code was adopted by the student body and approved by the faculty and Board of Trustees in 1994.

Student Behavior
Students at Millsaps, because they are members of an academic community dedicated to the achievement of excellence, are expected to meet the highest standards of personal, ethical and moral conduct possible. The commitment of its faculty, staff and students to these standards contributes to the high respect in which the Millsaps degree is held. Students must not destroy that respect by failure to meet these standards.

The College has the responsibility and authority to establish standards for scholarship, student conduct and campus life. Therefore, it cannot condone violations of local, state or federal laws or conduct detrimental to students or to the College. Students, as adults, are presumed to know the law as to illegal conduct prohibited by municipal, state or federal law and are governed thereby.

The College expects students to be concerned with the physical and psychological well-being of others and cannot condone behavior which exploits another individual. Students and organizations are expected to comply with rules concerning the academic, social, and residential life of the College. They are expected to comply with directions of college officials. Students are responsible for the behavior of their guests while on Millsaps property and/or at Millsaps functions.

The Millsaps Judicial System has been put in place to ensure the protection and preservation of the academic environment on campus where all students are free to pursue their educational goals. The system is educational in that it encourages students to become better citizens and live up to the higher standard of behavior expected of all Millsaps students. Millsaps students are expected to act with honesty and integrity in personal, social and academic relationships and with consideration and concern for the community, its members and its property. We emphasize education by focusing on growth and development of the individual student, encouraging self-discipline and fostering a respect for others.

The Millsaps Judicial System is not intended to mirror that of any court system. The policies and procedures used are not meant to resemble those in the criminal process. There is a fundamental difference in the nature of student discipline and that of criminal law. Student discipline is meant to maintain a positive living and learning environment. The process is designed to help students make positive choices for themselves, choosing self-responsibility instead of submitting to peer-pressure, and to challenge them to accept responsibility for any negative choices.

Alcoholic Beverages
Millsaps College is an educational institution dedicated to a strong academic program and to providing a caring community. The College strives to help its students become self-directed, responsible citizens. The College's alcohol policy is intended to assist in the creation of a campus environment where students have the opportunity to learn how to deal responsibly, both individually and socially, with alcoholic beverages.

Millsaps College does not encourage the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Members and guests of the Millsaps College community who are of legal drinking age (21 years old) and choose to consume alcoholic beverages are expected to do so responsibly and in consideration of the consequences to self, others, and the community-at-large.  Any consumption of alcohol must be done within the limits of the applicable laws, and relevant college policies.

All members of the campus community are expected to recognize the potential for alcohol abuse and that abuse of alcohol is absolutely at variance with the mission of the College. Persons who infringe upon the rights of others or who conduct themselves in an inappropriate manner which is caused by, or can be shown to be related to the consumption of alcohol, shall be held accountable for their actions, and subject to disciplinary and/or criminal action.

The regulations and practices governing the use of alcoholic beverages apply to all members of the Millsaps College community. The primary responsibility for knowing and abiding by the provisions of the College's alcoholic beverage policy rests with each individual.

Illegal Substances
The College cannot condone violations of federal, state or local laws regarding any illegal drugs, narcotics and dangerous substances. The use, possession or distribution of such substances, except as expressly permitted by law, is not permitted.

Disciplinary Regulations
Students guilty of serious and/or multiple infractions of College regulations may be subject to disciplinary action including: social probation, disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension or disciplinary expulsion. The Judicial Council may enact social probation or disciplinary probation and may forward a recommendation for disciplinary suspension or disciplinary expulsion to the President. The President and/or the Vice President and Dean of Students may enact any of these sanctions when warranted.

Social Probation
Social probation is a warning to a student regarding conduct standards. Its primary purpose is to serve as a period of time in which a student is asked to prove responsibility to himself/herself and the College. When a student is placed on social probation he/she is prohibited from participating in extracurricular campus activities such a fraternity/sorority social activities, intramural and varsity sports. In addition a student may hold no office of campus leadership. When an organization is placed on social probation, the organization may not sponsor social activities in the name of the organization, or in a manner that could reasonably be interpreted as sponsorship by the organization, for the period of the social probation.

Disciplinary Probation
Disciplinary probation is the most serious penalty, short of suspension and expulsion, that can be incurred by a student. During a period of disciplinary probation any further infraction of college regulations will render the student liable to suspension or expulsion.

Disciplinary Suspension and Disciplinary Expulsion
Unfortunately there are times when a student's conduct is deemed to require the most serious penalty to be exacted by officials of the College. This action may result from a series of less severe actions or from a particularly egregious behavior as determined by the College officials.

Disciplinary suspension is a decision to temporarily discharge a student. The student will receive grades of W for the semester and official notation will be made on the transcript.

Disciplinary expulsion is a decision to permanently discharge a student. The student will receive failing grades for the semester and official notation will be made on the transcript.

When student behavior warrants either disciplinary suspension or disciplinary expulsion, the student's financial status will be treated as if the student withdrew (see policy under Financial Regulations section).