General Policies


ADA Accommodations

The University of San Diego is committed to promoting knowledge and academic excellence for all learners. The University of San Diego’s Disability Services helps students with verified disabilities obtain meaningful academic accommodations and support to help improve access to all programs and courses. Please visit the Disability Services website and follow the instructions under Requesting Services if you feel you need disability accommodation.


Academic Integrity

The University of San Diego is a premier institution dedicated to providing academic excellence. The University upholds the highest standards of academic integrity.


Academic Grievance Procedures

Concern about academic issues should first be raised with your professor. If dissatisfied, you should contact the Program Director who can provide further guidance.


Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

In compliance with the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the university employees are prohibited from providing certain information from the student records to a third party, such as information on grades, billing, tuition and fees assessments, financial aid (including scholarships, grants, work-study, or loan amounts) and other student record information. This restriction applies, but is not limited, to parents, a spouse, or a sponsor.

Students may grant USD permission to release information about their student records to a third party (including parents, step-parents, etc.) by submitting a completed Student Information Release Authorization. The student must complete a separate entry for each parent, family member, or other individual to whom the student wishes to grant access to information regarding his/her student records. Contact the Registrar for the Student Information Release Authorization form.


Non-Discrimination

The University prohibits discrimination against current and prospective students and employees on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristics.


Harassment

The University is committed to and embraces the doctrine that all men and women are creatures of God. Each and all not only deserve but must be afforded the dignity that necessarily follows from acceptance of that doctrine.


Student Conduct

As a member of the University of San Diego community, each student is responsible for understanding the standards and policies of the Rules of Conduct.


Transfer Credit Policy

If a student desires to submit courses for transfer credit review and the courses are graduate courses through the University of San Diego or another institution, up to 6 units of transfer credit may be accepted. However, if the units are from a continuing education program they typically do not count toward a graduate degree.


Refund Policies

For students in the online graduate programs both courses must be dropped prior to the first day of the semester to receive a 100% refund and within the first three days of the semester to receive a 95% refund. No refund will be provided after the third day of the semester.

Students requesting to withdraw after the third day of the semester must withdraw by week five of the course. Students will receive a grade of “W” and no refund will be provided.


Incomplete Grade Policy

An incomplete (I) grade is available in some circumstances. The instructor makes the final determination of assigning an Incomplete grade based on the level of work already completed and the amount of assignments remaining. To receive an ‘I’ grade, students must complete the Petition for Incomplete and forward it the Academic Advisor who will then forward the Petition to the instructor for approval. Unless the final grade is earned and assigned, all ‘I’ grades convert to ‘F’ grades after 10 weeks.

For a complete review of Graduate Student Policies, please call (619) 333-5649.


Smoking and Tobacco-Free Policy

The university is dedicated to providing a healthy, comfortable and productive environment for its employees, students and guests. The Surgeon General of the United States has determined that cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death in the nation. Moreover, research indicates that non-smokers who are regularly exposed to passive (secondhand) tobacco smoke are also at increased risk of illness. Passive smoke appears to be especially deleterious to the health of certain populations, including the elderly, children and individuals with allergies, asthma, respiratory disease, or cardiovascular disease. For these reasons, the Surgeon General has urged employers to implement broadly based health promotion programs with special emphasis on smoking cessation. The response to the Surgeon General’s advice and the medical evidence has been an overwhelming trend toward protection of the health and safety of non-smokers.

Therefore, as an institution committed to providing a safe and healthful environment, the University of San Diego prohibits smoking and the use of any smoking or tobacco products at all times on or in any USD-owned or USD-leased property or facility, either indoor or outdoor. Effective August 18, 2015, all USD property shall be smoking and tobacco free.

View the University of San Diego’s Smoking and Tobacco-Free Policy by clicking here.

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