Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures

New York University uses a Web-based student information system called ALBERT, which permits registration through the use of course call-numbers. In addition to class registration, students can:

• Add/drop classes
• Access account information
• Obtain grades
• Update address information
• Request a hard copy of the grade report
• Apply for graduation

Access to ALBERT is through NYUHome. Access to NYUHome requires an activated NYU NetID. If you currently access NYUHome you will be able to access ALBERT. Once you have successfully logged into NYUHome you will have 10 minutes to log in to ALBERT. For security reasons you will not be permitted to connect to ALBERT after 10 minutes have elapsed. You then need to log out of NYUHome and log in again in order to connect to ALBERT. You will find the link to ALBERT under the Academics tab.

If you do not currently have an activated NetID, you can activate your NetID and NYUHome account at any time. From any Internet-connected computer go to the ITS Start page and follow the online start-up instructions. If you encounter a problem activating your NYUHome account or receiving your NetID, contact the ITS Client Services Helpline at (212) 998-3333, or e-mail IT at its.clientservices@nyu.edu.

If you have any questions or comments, please send them to AskAlbert@nyu.edu.

Students are responsible for prompt payment for all registered courses in accordance of Bursar deadlines.

If students fail to meet registration deadlines, they will be charged late registration and payment fees after the first week of classes as published by the NYU Office of the Bursar. Also, by registering late, students may be closed out of courses for that term.

Students may not begin a class after the second week of the semester without the Program Director’s and/or Divisional Dean’s permission on an add/drop form. No student is considered REGISTERED until he or she has been financially cleared by the Bursar’s Office.

Verification of enrollment or graduation may be requested by submitting a signed letter with the following information: student ID number, current name and any name under which you attended NYU, current address, date of birth, School of the University attended, dates attended, date of graduation, and the full name and address of the person or institution to which the verification is to be sent. Please address your request to Office of the University Registrar, Enrollment Verification and Graduation, New York University, P.O. Box 910, New York, NY 10276-0910, or you can fax your signed request to (212) 995-4154.

Full-Time, Part-Time, and Half-Time Status
The graduate programs and courses offered at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies are designed for students who attend classes offered during the day or evening on a full-time or part-time basis. A full-time schedule consists of a minimum of 12 credits per term. During the summer session, full-time status requires 12 credits of course work within 12 weeks. Eligibility to receive financial aid is based on the number of credits registered for each term and students should contact the financial aid office for clarification.

Matriculation Status—0 credits
Part-Time Status—1-5 credits
Half-Time Status—6-11 credits
Full-Time Status—12 credits (International students must maintain 12 credits per term if on an F-1 or J-1 Visa).

Full-Time Equivalency and Half-Time Equivalency
Students may benefit from full-time or half time equivalency for a variety of reasons, including:

• Deferral of student loan repayment.
• Renewal of a student visa.
• Eligibility for University-sponsored or parental medical insurance.
• Eligibility for financial aid. Financial aid is based on billable hours (the actual number of credits for which you are enrolled).

Student Employment: A student may not be employed full-time and request full-time equivalency. Equivalencies carry no credit value toward a degree.

STUDENTS MUST REQUEST EQUIVALENCY STATUS IN WRITING TO THE DESIGNATED PROGRAM STAFF NO LATER THAN THE FIRST DAY OF THE TERM ONLY IN THE FIRST OR THESIS TERM.

The Program Director will approve or deny the request. If approved, the Program Director will send the student name, student ID, and term with the proper authorization to the Registrar.

There are only two terms during which a student may be given full-time or half time equivalency:

First Term—Equivalency in the first term is for work required for the degree that carries no credits, such as noncredit remedial course work required as a condition of admission. International students who are required to take American Language Institute courses (courses numbered Z30) to develop their English skills may be given full-time equivalency to keep in compliance with visa status requirements. The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to adjust any financial aid package.

Thesis Term—Students who have registered in only one course - the thesis, capstone, or special project – may have the department determine if the work is equivalent to half-time equivalency (20 hours per week) or full-time equivalency (40 hours per week). Note that completion of incomplete coursework or the desire to spread a capstone or internship completion over more than one term is not a basis for equivalency. This equivalency may be given in the last term or second to last term.

F-1 students are required to maintain a full course load at all times, and exceptions are only given by the International Office. Contact the Office for International Students and Scholars for further information.

Students may take a maximum of 12 credits per fall or spring semester and a maximum of six credits per six-week session. Students may request an exception to this rule by writing a letter to the Program Director stating which courses they plan to take, and why the exception is requested. Students in good academic standing or who need the additional credits to be eligible for graduation in a particular semester may be granted additional credits.

Change of program 
Students wishing to switch programs or concentrations within their SCPS department must notify their current advisor in writing. To add a course given within NYU, but not in the home department, a student needs permission from the SCPS home department. Courses taken outside the program will NOT count towards the degree unless there is written permission from the department obtained in advance.

Adding courses 
Students may add courses at any time during the registration period using ALBERT through the end of the second week of classes for fifteen-week classes. The deadline applies to any course added by a SCPS student and to any SCPS course added by students from other schools. Students adding courses during this time are expected to make up any work missed during the initial classes. The adding of any course or section after the end of the second week is only allowed with permission from the Program Director and/or Divisional Dean on an add/drop form.

NOTE: Students taking courses in the Virtual College or in Programs with six-week sessions must check with the department for policies and deadlines for adding and dropping courses.

Occasionally students may withdraw from a course. However, withdrawing from a course does not waive the tuition and registration fees. Non-attendance in class does not automatically withdraw students from a course (See "complete withdrawal" below). Courses dropped during the first three weeks of the term will not appear on the transcript. The refund schedule is stated on the bursar’s Website. To be eligible for federal financial aid for part-time students, students must register for a minimum of six credits during a term.

Those dropped from the beginning of the fourth week through the ninth week of the term will be recorded with a grade of "W." Students should also notify the department academic advisor if they have dropped a course. After the ninth week, no one may withdraw from a course. (Exceptions to withdrawing based upon extenuating circumstances after the ninth week must be approved by the Dean.) Please note that a student is not officially withdrawn from a course until the Registrar's Office has been notified and the withdrawal recorded. (Please contact the NYU Office of the Bursar for information regarding tuition refunds.) Students who are ill or have a serious personal problem should see, call, or write to their program advising staff immediately to determine the appropriate course of action.

NOTE: Students taking courses through NYU Online or in Programs with six-week sessions must check with the department for policies and deadlines for adding and dropping courses.

Students are now able to complete the withdrawal form on ALBERT. The link is available from the My Academics section of Student Center. Non-attendance in classes does not automatically withdraw students from a course. For complete withdrawal, students must have written approval from their program. A student who withdraws officially from all courses in a term by the full refund deadline is required to register for matriculation. (See "maintenance of matriculation" section.) The refund schedule for complete withdrawals is stated on the bursar’s Website. If the student is unable to attend SCPS during the term following and the withdrawal is due to extenuating circumstances, he or she should request a leave of absence from his or her Program Director. See "leave of absence" section.

New students who cannot begin a program in the term that was indicated on the application for admission may request in writing to the SCPS admission office that they be considered for deferment. The initial application may be reviewed in a subsequent semester (up to one year from original application). Deferment is only available to those students who either have never registered or who have deregistered prior to the end of the registration period.

Students are entitled to refunds on tuition according to the refund schedule published by the NYU Office of the Bursar. Programs with non-traditional semesters may have their own refund schedule that supersedes the Office of the Bursar and students should check with the program. Students are not entitled to refunds of mandatory University Registration and Service fees. A student is entitled to a refund of tuition and fees if a course is cancelled.

Registering for Courses Offered by Other Schools at NYU 
Only departments that have registered with the State of New York to allow cross-registration are permitted to do so. Approval is not necessarily granted. Students in good academic standing (3.0 GPA) may request approval from their department to take a course outside of their own department. Undergraduate level courses cannot be applied to any degree offered by SCPS graduate programs. Students should check for prerequisites or other restrictions prior to filing a request. In order to be approved, the specific course or courses will need to meet a requirement for the program as an elective. Once the student has written authorization from their department to take a course from another NYU program or school, the student may use ALBERT to register.

If there is a registration block for students outside the program or school, the student must go in person to the department that hosts the course and request permission for an access code. Course listings for all NYU schools are listed online through the Office of the Registrar.

Course schedules for the School of Law and the Stern School of Business, Graduate Division, should be obtained from the appropriate school’s administrative office or website.

For an audited course to appear on a student transcript, the student must register and pay for the course within the registration period. Students may audit designated courses within their program with the consent of the Program Director. Auditors may not preempt space required for registered students. Audited classes will not count toward required degree program credits. Audited courses will not be considered to satisfy prerequisite requirements for advanced courses. The student cannot revoke or change to auditor status once the class has begun.

NYU expects its graduate students to maintain continuous registration in an academic program with the exception of summer. However, it is sometimes necessary or desirable for a student to take a leave from enrollment for a period of time. Such leaves may be voluntary or involuntary and will be handled in accordance with the NYU Student Leave Policy.

Voluntary Leave for SCPS Graduate Students

Matriculated students in good standing (3.0 or better cumulative GPA with no disciplinary issues) who wish to withdraw from school for one or two semesters, not including summer, for national service, serious documented illness, or compelling personal reasons are required to submit a written leave of absence form with documentation to the Program Director/Academic Chair prior to the semester in which the leave is taken, except when documented health or emergency conditions intervene.

Leave for medical or psychological conditions.
Matriculated students may experience medical or psychological issues that temporarily prevent them from continuing their studies. In such cases, a free evaluation with Counseling and Behavior Health Services and/or the Medical Services Division of the Student Health Center may be required, so that the student may be approved for an authorized medical leave of absence. The Dean or Dean’s designee may confer with the Counseling Center, Health Center, and/or Moses Center depending on the nature of the conditions of leave. Documentation is required as noted in the Leave of Absence form.

General conditions of approved voluntary leave status:

• Except where a leave is mandated by compulsory national service, the leave may be granted for a maximum of two (2) semesters (not including summer) in either a Graduate Certificate or Master’s Program.
• A leave may be for up to 2 consecutive semesters or two (2) separate leaves of one semester each.
• A graduate student may not transfer academic credit earned at another academic institution during the period of leave. Exceptions will be considered only in cases where such study has been formally authorized, as specified in the academic policy regarding transfer credit for already matriculated students.
• Time on leave does not extend the authorized time to completion, unless a waiver is granted by the program.
• While on leave status, a student must return the student identification card and shall not have access to NYU, SCPS, or department facilities (except as a visitor).
• A student will have use of the student’s NYU e-mail account, unless the Program Director/Academic Chair decides otherwise.
• The notation “leave of absence” will be entered on the student’s transcript.

Notification of Approval and Conditions of Return for All Students

All students will be notified in writing by the Dean or the Dean’s designee of the approval or denial of the request for a leave. If the request is approved, the terms and conditions of the leave shall be set forth in the approval letter.

Readmission. If granted an official leave of absence, the leave maintains the student’s place in the program and assures readmission at the end of the leave. A student granted a leave does not have to make a formal application for readmission as long as he or she returns to SCPS within the agreed-upon time (a maximum of two semesters, not including summer).

The student who has had a pre-approved leave of absence will NOT need to pay the maintenance and matriculation fee while absent.

• Click here to download the Leave of Absence Form.
  Note: There is important information contained in the form which the student must accept and acknowledge by signature.

To return from an authorized medical leave, the student must notify either the Director of Counseling and Behavioral Health Services (or his or her designee) or the Medical Director of the Student Health Center (or his or her designee) to schedule an assessment interview, before s/he can resume graduate study. For a student registered with the Moses Center prior to taking the leave, s/he must also notify the Moses Center of her/his intention to return. The student must follow the NYU Student Leave Policy and provide a “Certificate of Fitness to Return” and be assessed by the above named NYU Directors.

It is highly recommended that all students returning from an approved leave notify their Program Director/Academic Chair in writing of the intention to re-enroll at least six (6) weeks before registration for the semester in which the leave is to end, and schedule an appointment with their academic advisors for the course of study to be undertaken upon their return.

Students out of attendance who failed to apply for leave. Except for documented medical or emergency conditions that resulted in the student’s inability to attend class or seek authorization for a voluntary leave in a timely fashion, requests for retroactive voluntary leaves cannot be authorized. Returning students out of attendance for less than one academic year must register and pay for maintenance and matriculation. Students out of attendance for more than one academic year who did not apply nor receive prior approval for a voluntary leave and who wish to return to SCPS must apply for readmission.

Involuntary Leave for SCPS Graduate Students

SCPS may place a student on an involuntary leave of absence from that student’s academic program when that student: (1) poses a direct threat to health and safety of self or others and (2) is not able or not willing to take a voluntary leave of absence. SCPS will follow the NYU Leave of Absence Policy with regard to involuntary leave.

All appeal procedures will be followed in accordance with the NYU Student Leave of Absence Policy.

International students are subject to particular requirements in addition to the conditions enumerated above.

Personal Leave of Absence 
An F-1 or J-1 student on a personal leave of absence may not remain in the United States. When approving a leave of absence, the appropriate department or school official should notify the OISS and the student must depart the United States immediately.

Medical Leave of Absence
International students requiring a leave of absence or permission to take less than a full course load for medical reasons are eligible to stay in the United States, subject to conditions set forth by the Department of Homeland Security in accordance with information provided by a physician.

If a student has not completed coursework and does not register for classes for two consecutive terms (fall, spring), the student will be required to reapply to the program through the Admissions office. Students who have completed all requirements and course work except thesis, capstone, or senior project are NOT eligible for readmission. (See "maintenance of matriculation" and "time limit of program.")

If any curriculum changes have been made, the readmitted student will need to adhere to the new curriculum. It is up to each program department to determine if transfer credit will be awarded to any graduate course, whether taken at NYU or elsewhere. No course more than ten (10) years old at the time of graduation may be applied to the degree. If time has elapsed where the previous course content has changed, an NYU course will be evaluated as any other transfer course. "No credit" would be added to the transcript if the course was no longer to be counted for credit and the grade in parenthesis would mean that it is not calculated in the GPA. Students who reapply and complete all requirements that are current at the time of reapplication will NOT need to pay retroactive matriculation fees while they were absent.

For students who are readmitted, the original period of matriculation is counted toward the two-year or five-year time limit; the hiatus is not counted, and the clock restarts upon readmission.

All grading criteria should be completely explained by the instructor in the course syllabus, which must be distributed at the beginning of the semester to each student. Students’ grades are entirely determined by the course instructor. 

To receive a final grade for a course, a student must be in regular attendance and satisfactorily complete all examinations and other assignments prescribed by the instructor. A student will not receive grades for any courses in which he or she is not officially registered at the beginning of that term. Once recorded, grades cannot be changed unless some omission or error occurred in the grading process or a grade appeal is honored. No grade may be changed for any reason after a student has graduated. 

Students may obtain their final grades for each semester through ALBERT. 

The following symbols indicating terminal grades are used. Only grades of "A," "A-," "B+," "B," "B-," "C+," "C," "C-," or "F" earned while matriculated in SCPS, or earned in any of SCPS’s courses (Y-prefixed courses) while matriculated in another division of New York University, are computed in the average. 

The following grades may be awarded:

Computing the grade point average 

To determine grade point average, divide the total number of quality points (QPTS) by the total number of quality credit hours (QHRS). Quality credit hours for each course are computed by multiplying the credit value of the course by the value of the grade assigned. For example, a student who has completed one three-credit course with a grade of "A," one three-credit course with a grade of "B+," and one three-credit course with a grade of "B" has a grade point average of 3.43. 

This is computed as follows:

The total point value earned (30.9) divided by the total number of credits (9) equals 3.43 grade point average. 

Once a final grade has been submitted by the instructor and recorded on the transcript, turning in additional course work cannot change the final grade. The grade point average includes grades in all courses taken toward a particular program, whether or not they fulfill any program requirements. Grades of "N," "P," "S," or "W" are not computed into the grade point average. Courses taken outside of NYU that have been approved for transfer credit purposes are not included in the grade point average. 

Pass/Fail 
Noncredit courses are permitted as pass/fail, grade of "P/F." Students may be required to take Pass/Fail courses by their program to graduate. The choice of pass/fail must be made before the completion of the fifth week of the term. A maximum of four pass/fail courses are allowed. Students should consult their Program’s internal policy on Pass/Fail for required degree credit courses. If the grade is an F, it will be calculated into the GPA. 

W-Withdrawal 
The grade of "W" indicates a voluntary official withdrawal by the student from a course, (after the deadline for dropping with a refund) and receives no credit. Students may drop any course for which they are registered and automatically receive a "W" by processing a program change form at the Office of the Registrar any time before the withdrawal deadline. Students who receive a "W" may retake the course for credit, provided they reregister and pay to take the course again. "W" grades permanently remain on the official transcript. Students are allowed no more than two opportunities to take a course. 

N-No Credit 
The "N" grade is issued by the Registrar. The student must register and pay for the course again. 

R-Registered Auditor 
The "R" indicates the student does not wish to receive a standard letter grade for the course. Students may not retake a course for credit in which an "R" is granted. Auditor status must be declared in the first two weeks by notifying the Office of the Registrar in writing. 

I- Incomplete 
There are two "incomplete" grades that indicate the student has not completed required course work but may do so outside of class with permission and guidance of the original instructor. The grades of "IP" (Incomplete Pass) and "IF" (Incomplete Fail) are temporary grades. "IP" indicates that the student was passing the course at the time the grade was submitted. "IF" indicates that the student was failing the course at the time the grade was submitted. "IP" and "IF" have no grade value until the permanent grade is recorded. 

Incompletes may only be awarded through prior written agreement (e.g., an SCPS Incomplete Contract available in department offices) between the student and the professor before the end of the course. The awarding of an incomplete grade is at the discretion of the faculty and subject to departmental approval. Documented medical reasons, death in the family and birth of a child are examples of valid reasons for granting the incomplete request. Initiation of this process is the responsibility of the student and approval PRIOR to the last day of class. Please note that a professor is under no obligation to grant an incomplete grade. The professor has the right to determine the deadline and submission criteria for outstanding coursework. A professor can determine that a deadline is as short as two days, one month, one semester, or the maximum one-year timeline. 

In order to remove an incomplete grade, a student is responsible for completing whatever work remains outstanding within the time frame agreed upon with the faculty. Time to submit outstanding work and the posting of the grade shall not exceed 12 months after the close of the course. (i.e., Students receiving an Incomplete in fall must resolve the grade PRIOR to the end of the fall semester in the subsequent year.) If no letter grade is submitted by the agreed upon date, the incomplete pass will be changed to an "N" for an "IP" or to an "F" if the student received an "IF." Students need to register and pay for the course again once a grade defaults to an "N" or "F". (See Repeating a Course). Students should retain a copy of the Incomplete Contract signed by the faculty. 

Repeating a Course 
Only courses with a grade of "C" or lower may be repeated ("C," "C-," and "F’s" including those received from Incomplete Fail.). In the case of a course that has been repeated, only the second grade, whether higher or lower, is computed into the average. Credit is only earned once with a passing grade. The initial grade, however, remains on the transcript with parenthesis notating that it is no longer calculated in the GPA. Students may only repeat a course once. Students may be dismissed from the program if a required course is not passed after the second attempt. Students must register and pay for a course to be a repeat.

Under NYU policy, expectations of minimal academic standing as measured by cumulative grade point average are established at each School.  Accordingly the SCPS requirements are enumerated below.

Good Academic Standing 
Graduate students (certificate and degree) are considered to be in good academic standing provided that their cumulative grade point average is at least 3.0 ("B" average), and they have not accumulated more than (twelve) 12 credits of incomplete grades and/or withdrawals.

In order to graduate, all SCPS graduate students need 1) a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0; 2) passing grades in the required number of core courses within their programs; and 3) satisfactory completion of all degree requirements.

Students are responsible for reviewing their grades each semester. If, upon reviewing the grades for a semester, the student determines that his/her cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0, the student must immediately contact his/her program to discuss his/her continuing academic status and, as appropriate, seek academic advisement.

Academic Probation
Students whose performance results in a cumulative GPA below 3.0 will be put on Academic Probation.

• The designation "Probation" will appear on the student’s transcript for each semester during which the cumulative GPA is below 3.0, and becomes a permanent part of the student’s academic record.
• The notation “Probation” can be removed from a specific term only when both of the following occur:
  1. The student successfully completes a repeat course or an incomplete, and the replacement grade results in a recalculation of the cumulative GPA to 3.0 or higher;
  2. The student requests in writing that “Probation” be removed from the transcript for the semester during which the original poor grade or incomplete was registered.

Restrictions During Probationary Status
Students on probation should take their academic status seriously and should follow the program directives which may include, but are not limited to, repeating a course, completing incomplete grades, reducing course load, or other conditions.

In order to help assure the student’s return to good academic standing, whenever a student is placed on probation, the Academic Program Director or designee will inform the student in writing about certain expectations, conditions and/or restrictions that will apply during the student’s next term of enrollment. These restrictions may, for example, exclude eligibility for enrolling in certain designated courses. 

Students on probation may not register for the final advanced independent research, capstone, thesis or equivalent project.

Students on probation may not stand for office in any University club or organization, or represent the University in any manner.

The Director of the student’s academic program (or authorized designee) may extend probation for twelve (12) or fewer additional graduate credits if a student demonstrates good progress while on probation but still falls below a cumulative GPA of 3.0. (The evidence of “good progress on probation” is a term GPA of 3.0 or better.) 

In cases where a student has twelve (12) or fewer credits remaining to complete his/her degree, academic probation will not be extended and the student becomes subject to Academic Dismissal.

Academic Dismissal 
Normally if a student fails to meet the terms and conditions to be removed from Academic Probation and/or fails to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 within twelve credits of graduation, the student will be dismissed from the School.

A student whose performance falls into probationary status a second time in his/her academic career will be subject to dismissal.

After thorough consultation, the Program Director/Academic Chair will make the dismissal decision and inform students in writing as soon as possible, but no later than six weeks after the start of the semester.  (For programs with modular academic terms of shorter duration, students must be informed no later than a week prior to midpoint in the academic term.) 

If a student is eventually dismissed after having registered for the following semester, upon notification he/she will be withdrawn from classes and he/she will receive a full refund of tuition and fees for that semester. "Academic Dismissal" will be noted on the student’s permanent record once the Registrar receives a list from the Program Director.

Appeal of Academic Dismissal to the Divisional Dean of the Program

Level One: 
A student may appeal the original academic dismissal decision of his/her Program Director to the Divisional Dean of the program if he/she believes the dismissal was the result of an administrative error or if the student can offer compelling reasons for reconsideration of his/ her academic standing.  For programs without a divisional dean, this level appeal is addressed to the Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Services.

The student must file his/her appeal in writing within thirty-five (35) days from the date of the letter announcing the decision to dismiss. The written request must include a personal statement providing reasons why the dismissal should be reversed; in particular if the student references significant extenuating circumstances of a temporary nature that contributed to the student’s poor academic performance, original documentation explaining or corroborating them shall be included as well.  (Anticipated grade changes from outstanding incompletes do not constitute sufficient evidence for an appeal to be granted.)

Once the written appeal is received, the Divisional Dean or the Associate Dean, as appropriate, will have sole authority to determine if a personal interview is necessary or if the student’s academic record and the documents provided in the appeal suffice in themselves for deciding on the appeal.  A written decision must be communicated to the student within thirty (30) days after receiving the written appeal.

Graduate students are not permitted to register for courses while appealing an academic dismissal.

Level Two: 
(Final Decision) Academic Dismissal Appeal to the Dean of the School 
Only after the dismissal has been appealed to the Divisional Dean of the program or the Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs, and the original dismissal is upheld, may an appeal be submitted to the Dean of the School. The student must request an appeal within thirty (30) days from the date of the Divisional Dean or Associate Dean’s appeal decision. The written request must include a copy of the original appeal and the decision letter. In addition, any new information may be added under separate cover. Once the written appeal is received, the Dean will make a written decision within (thirty) 30 days after receiving the appeal.

Graduate students are not permitted to register for courses while appealing an academic dismissal.