Academic Regulations

Credits

Each student takes a minimum of 15 credits and a maximum of 19 credits.

The intensive Spanish classes are worth 7 credits.
The other Spanish classes are worth 4 credits.
The Area Studies courses are worth 3 credits.
Outside courses are worth 2 to 4 credits (see outside courses information).

All students must take a language course.
Only students who place at the 400-level can opt out, if they wish.

Drop/Add Period

Courses which are dropped within the Drop/Add period do not appear on the IES transcript. Students must, however, maintain the appropriate minimum course load. Add/Drop deadline for IES courses is January 24th for Spring 2008.

Withdrawals

The deadline for withdrawals should be no later than one month before the beginning of final examinations in the fall and spring semesters and two weeks before the beginning of final examinations in the summer session. There may be separate withdrawal deadlines for IES and university courses. In all cases, students must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of graded credit during each semester of enrollment.

When a student withdraws from a course after the Add/Drop deadline, but before the withdrawal deadline, the title fo the course appears on the transcript with the appropriate number of credits and the grade of "W".

When a student withdraws from a course after the Withdrawal deadline, the title of the course appears on the transcript with the appropriate number of credits and the grade of "F".

Withdrawal deadline for IES Courses for Spring 2007 is March 27th.

Pass/Fail Grading

With written permission from the home school, presented at the time of final registration, students may register for no more than one course and no more than four credits per semester on a Pass/Fail basis. Letter grades of A through C are equivalent to a "Pass"; C- through F are equivalent to a "Fail". Students should be advised that IES policy may be at variance with their home school policy regarding Pass/Fail options.

The Pass/Fail option does not apply to language courses, courses which are mandatory for a specific program, courses in the student's major and summer program courses.

IES Course Cancellation

In the event that IES cancels a course - due to insufficient enrollment - which a student needs in order to meet graduation requirements (written documentation required), IES will offer at no additional cost to the student independent study to such students in lieu of the course. Such independent studies will be listed on the transcript with the title of the originally scheduled course, and will receive the same number of credits.

Incomplete Grades

Students must complete all course and program requirements before leaving the program site, unless they have petitioned for and have been granted an official "Incomplete" through the IES Center Office for components to be finished after leaving the program site. All work submitted in fulfilling "Incomplete" requirements, must be submitted by registered mail through the IES Center Office. Petitions for "Incomplete" are granted only in exceptional circumstances such as medical emergency, death in the family or documented need for early return to the home campus. In order to receive an "Incomplete", a Petition for an Incomplete Grade, available on request from IES centers or the Chicago office, must be submitted with the required signatures and approved by the director no later than one week before the end of the semester. The time limit for completing the course shall in no case extend beyond six months of the final examination of the course. There after, the grade becomes F.

Transcripts

As stated in the IES Catalogue, students do not receive their final grades while they are at the program. The transcripts are sent out approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of the program (possibly sooner if you have only taken IES classes).

There will be three transcripts sent:

one official copy is sent to your school's registrar's office
one unofficial copy is sent to your Study Abroad Office
one unofficial copy is sent to your home address

Transcripts will not be released if there are any outstanding debts.