Academic and Department Regulations

1. Undergraduate Students: The average full-time academic load during the fall or spring semester is 15 credit hours. The minimum registration required for full-time status for those semesters is 12 credit hours. Full-time degree-seeking students who wish to enroll for more than 18 credit hours or part-time degree-seeking students who wish to enroll in nine to eleven credit hours must obtain permission from their academic dean.

Students who wish to enroll in more than two courses during the summer term at Illinois Tech must obtain permission from their academic dean. Non-degree students requesting a course overload (more than eight credit hours) must obtain permission from the Office of Academic Affairs.

2.  Graduate Students: The minimum registration required for full-time status for the fall or spring semester is 9 credit hours. Non-degree graduate students are limited to a maximum of 9 credit hours prior to a formal admission decision.  Graduate students who wish to enroll for more than 15 credit hours in a semester, or more than two courses during the summer session, must obtain written permission from Academic Affairs.

An academic audit provides a summary of a student’s academic status to date and lists the courses to be completed in order to receive a degree. Students can request an official academic audit from the Office of Academic Affairs after they have earned a minimum of 60 credit hours or 90 credit hours for architecture students and have completed at least one semester at Illinois Tech. Students may request an official academic audit through the Undergraduate Academic Affairs channel in the Illinois Tech portal (portal.iit.edu). Students may also review academic progress towards their degree through the Undergraduate Degree Works in the portal. Please note that Degree Works is not an official report for academic progress.

The following are general Illinois Tech policies and procedures. Individual colleges and departments may have their own policies and procedures, which, if violated, may lead to probation or dismissal from the applicable academic program.

1. Undergraduate Students: All students who are degree candidates are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress. This includes earning satisfactory grade point averages and maintaining a satisfactory rate of progress toward the completion of their degree programs.  Students who do not earn at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA, a 1.85 term GPA, or a 2.00 major GPA are placed on academic probation. Further, degree-seeking students are required to maintain a satisfactory rate of progress as noted below.

Full-time students must earn a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester applicable to their degrees.

Part-time students must maintain a satisfactory rate of progress which will enable them to graduate within 12 academic years after achieving degree-seeking status.

Students who do not maintain a satisfactory rate of progress in a given semester may be placed on probation upon the recommendation of the student's academic advisor, department associate chair (or designee), and academic dean (or designee).  Probation may affect financial aid.  Students on probation are not permitted to:

• Register for more than 15 credit hours per semester unless they receive approval from the associate dean of their college (or designee).
• Hold an elected or appointed office in any student organization. Probation does not affect membership in a student organization
• Participate in the Cooperative Education Program unless approved by the Academic Standing Committee.
• Academic probation may affect a student's eligibility to participate in varsity athletic sports.

Students who are enrolled in a dual degree program and are placed on academic probation must schedule a meeting with the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Students who are on academic probation for two consecutive semesters are candidates for academic dismissal from Illinois Tech.

The progress of non-degree students also is reviewed, and any student who does not maintain good academic standing is subject to being placed on probation or academic suspension. A student placed on academic suspension by Illinois Tech may petition the Academic Standing Committee to review the suspension. The student must present substantial academic or other relevant new evidence not available at the time of suspension in support of the petition for reinstatement. The chair of the Academic Standing Committee will determine whether the new documentation warrants a further review of the case.

2. Graduate Students:  A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0/4.0 is no longer in good standing and must submit a Graduate Probation Contract for each semester while on probation. Probationary students who receive “E” grades will be required to repeat courses, subject to the limits specified within this bulletin, to improve the cumulative and/or program GPA. Registration is restricted to nine credit hours during the probationary period.

Dismissal will occur when a student fails to make the requisite academic progress during the probationary period. Students may not register for an internship while on academic probation. If a student’s GPA in their program is below 3.0 after all course requirements are completed, then graduate courses (approved by the adviser, academic unit, and Academic Affairs) may be added to the program until the corresponding GPA is at least 3.0. 

3. Co-terminal Students: Co-terminal students are held to the academic standing requirements of all of their degree programs. Please consult the Co-terminal handbook for more information.

Each undergraduate student is assigned a faculty and/or professional academic advisor who is available to discuss opportunities and career plans in the student’s chosen field and to plan and approve coursework to meet departmental and university requirements.

Department advisers and advisers in the Office of Academic Affairs are also available to answer questions and interpret policies regarding university requirements and academic procedures.

A graduate student is required to complete any necessary forms with the approval of the appropriate staff of the Office of Academic Affairs. Special advisors are available to counsel undergraduates on preparation for entry into advanced programs in law, medicine, and education. Special advisors will be assigned to students working in combined undergraduate/graduate degree programs with the associated medical schools, Chicago-Kent College of Law, the Graduate College or Stuart School of Business. Stuart School of Business graduate students are assigned academic advisors from the Stuart Office of Academic Advising. It is the sole responsibility of the student to know, understand, and satisfy all departmental, college, and university academic requirements relevant to their degree.

www.iit.edu/commencement

A student must submit an application to express their intent to have their degree conferred at the beginning of the semester in which they plan to graduate. Failure to do so may result in the postponement of the student’s graduation. The application deadline to have a degree conferred at the end of a given term can be found in the Academic Calendar on the registrar’s website. Students can consult the Office of Academic Affairs for degree checkout planning.  Stuart graduate students can contact the Stuart Office of Academic Advising. Students are required to be actively enrolled in the semester they intend to graduate.

Students considering either a change of major or concurrently pursuing a second undergraduate degree or major should consult the departmental associate chair regarding program requirements and career opportunities in the new degree program.

Students may also review requirements for the new degree program by performing a “What If” audit using Degree Works. Students should search for "Undergraduate Degree Works" in the Illinois Tech Portal (https://portal.iit.edu/).

An adviser in the Office of Academic Affairs can also assist a student in the selection of a suitable major. A student who wishes to change or declare a major or concurrently pursue an additional undergraduate degree program must obtain these forms https://www.iit.edu/ugaa/services/change-or-declare-major. Approval from the intended major department is required.

The change of grade request form is available on the Office of the Registrar's portal site. This form is intended for the exclusive use of Illinois Tech faculty and authorized academic administrators to request a student's official final grade be changed. Online submissions of final grades are due on the published deadline following final exams. Grades of "X" are posted for all missing (blank) grades at that time and are resolved through this grade change process. All grade changes are initiated by the instructor of record or authorized academic officer. Using this form, temporary grades of "I", "R", and "X" can be changed by the instructor directly with the Office of the Registrar to a final letter grade of: "A", "B", "C", "E", or "S/U" if the class has a pass/fail grading basis of satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Temporary grades of "I" or "R" cannot be changed by the instructor to another temporary or non-letter, administrative grade of "I", "R", "NA", "AU", "W", or "X. Other grade changes may require an additional level of approval by an academic officer or appeals committee. The student should check with their academic college dean's office for details. Changes to final grades cannot be made once a degree has been posted for the career in which the course was taken, or in the case of a student's involuntary separation from the university. Grade change submissions through this form are recorded in Banner once the submitting instructor and/or administrative academic authorization is verified. The instructor is notified when the process is complete.

Students who wish to change a classification and/or registration status must complete the applicable procedures listed below no later than two weeks prior to registration.

Students changing from full-time degree-seeking status to part-time degree-seeking status must notify the Office of Financial Aid if they are receiving financial aid. International students with student visas must be registered as full-time students and are not permitted to change to part-time status.

Students changing from part-time degree-seeking status to full-time degree-seeking status must inform their department and obtain the necessary adviser’s approval for a full-time course load. Also, students in this category who wish to apply for financial aid must notify the Office of Financial Aid regarding their change of status.

Students changing from non-degree status to full-time or part-time degree-seeking status must contact the Office of Academic Affairs. Students must have completed at least one semester of relevant coursework at the university and must be in academic good standing in order to be eligible for changing their status.

Students changing from graduate status to undergraduate full-time or part-time status must submit an application for reinstatement to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Students are required to be registered for all classes in which they participate, attend, and/or submit coursework for evaluation. No credit will be granted for any course for which the student did not properly register before the last day to add a class for the semester. Students are required to be registered to make use of university facilities. Students who are in an exchange, study abroad, or cooperative education program also must be registered for their particular programs.

All students are expected to attend classes regularly. Excessive absences may be grounds for a failing grade. Non-attendance does not constitute an official withdrawal. When illness or emergency requires a student to miss an exam and/or more than two days of class, the student must notify the course instructor. It is also recommended that the student contact the office of the Dean of Students (dos@iit.edu) to request an excused absence. It will be necessary to provide written documentation of the reason for the absence(s). The Office of Student Affairs manages the process for requesting and documenting excused absences but the decision to excuse an absence is generally made by the Professor. Faculty members determine their own policies for attendance and make-up work.

Students should refer concerns about academic matters to the instructor of the course, then to the chair of the department or director of the institute in which the course is offered, then to the academic dean, the Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Academic Affairs, the Assistant Dean at Chicago-Kent College of Law or the Dean at Stuart School of Business. Those students who believe they received unfair treatment, as the result of discrimination should follow procedures as outlined in Article IV, Section E of this Student Handbook.

All students receiving federal and/or state financial aid funds must demonstrate reasonable academic progress toward graduation from Illinois Tech.  As summarized above, reasonable academic progress includes both a satisfactory cumulative and major grade point average and sufficient credit hours earned each semester toward the completion of a degree program.  Illinois Tech has established a Reasonable Academic Progress Policy in compliance with federal and state regulations.   Failure to comply with Illinois Tech’s Reasonable Academic Progress Policy will lead to the student losing eligibility for financial assistance.

Refer to Residence Requirements set forth in Section AA of this Article V.

Academic Degree Programs  

000 – 099              No Credit

100 – 299              First/Second Year Undergraduate Level Courses

300 – 399              Third Year Undergraduate Level Courses

400 – 499              Advanced Undergraduate/Introductory Graduate Level Courses

500 – 699              Graduate Level Courses

700 – 799              Intensive Graduate Level Courses

Non-Degree / Continuing Education (CEU) Programs*

001 – 999              Intensive English Program (IEP)

300 – 999              Information Technology Training Programs (IT)

300 – 999              Industrial Technology Training Programs (INT)

001 – 999              Professional Learning Programs (PL)

001 – 999              Short Courses (SC)

001 – 999              Short Course Online (SCO)

*All CEU courses are graded on a pass/fail basis only. Letter grades do not apply

The names of all undergraduate students who have completed at least 12 graded hours and who have a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better appear on the Dean’s List.

Changes in a student’s schedule of classes, including a transfer from one course section to another, must be made no later than the relevant semester’s specified Add/Drop deadline. Please consult the Academic Calendar for exact deadlines. A course dropped during the first two weeks of the semester will not appear on a student’s transcript and tuition will be refunded. Failure to drop a course formally will result in a grade of ‘NA’ (apparent withdrawal due to non-attendance) for that course.  A student attending courses without being formally registered will receive no credit for the course.  Students may withdraw from a course with the grade of ‘W’ (withdraw) until the specified Withdrawal deadline.  Please consult the Academic Calendar for exact deadlines.

1. Final examinations are generally expected to take place during the final exam week immediately following the last week of regular classes.  The time and location of the exam may differ from the regularly scheduled room for class meetings. Students should view the final exam schedule for details at www.iit.edu/registrar/academic-calendar/final-exam-schedule

All final grades must be submitted online by the primary instructor assigned to the course.  The grading window remains open from the start of final exams until noon on the Wednesday following finals week. Only students officially registered in the course are permitted to attend class, participate, or submit course work for evaluation.  All students must abide by the add, drop and withdrawal dates specified in the academic calendar.

2.  Final Exam Conflicts

• Online Exam Conflict: Students who are taking online courses may elect to take the final exam on campus with the on-campus section. Students who have exam conflicts between the online exam and an on-campus exam must contact Charles Scott, student service manager for the Office of Digital Learning, at scott@iit.edu to arrange to take the online final exam with a proctor at another time.
• On-campus Exam Conflict: Students who have an exam conflict between two or more on-campus sections are to contact the instructors of the courses to arrange to take one of the final exams at another time. If the exam conflict is not resolved, then students may contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@iit.edu where a staff member will assist you and your instructors in resolving the exam conflict.
• Three or More Exams on Same Day: Students who have three or more exams on the same day may request relief by contacting the instructors of the courses to request one of the exams be rescheduled to a different day. If the issue is not resolved, then students may contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@iit.edu where a staff member will assist you and your instructors in making special arrangements for you to take one of the exams on a different day.

To the fullest extent allowed by law, any student who is delinquent in the payment of tuition or other fees, or against whom Illinois Tech holds a record of indebtedness, is not given a diploma, a certificate of scholastic standing, or a copy of their transcript until such indebtedness has been fully paid. While indebted to Illinois Tech, students are not allowed to register or attend classes for an ensuing semester. Illinois Tech may affect the withdrawal of any student who, through oversight, has been allowed to register contrary to this regulation. Student loans that are due during a semester or summer session and are not paid or renewed by the end of the term are also subject to this regulation.

The assignment of letter grades (A, B, C, D, and E) is at the discretion of the course instructor, and except for unusual circumstances, the assigned course grade is final.  Undergraduate students who want to appeal a letter grade assigned in a course should first confer with the course instructor.  If the student and instructor cannot come to an agreement, the student should contact the chair of the instructor’s department.  If agreement still is not reached, the student should contact the dean of the instructor’s college.

All undergraduate students who wish to enroll in a graduate 500-level course must obtain approval from their faculty adviser. All undergraduate students who enroll in graduate courses are governed by the graduate grading system for those courses.

A student must complete a minimum of 60 graded credit hours at the university in order to receive the award of summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. A student who has a GPA of 3.90 and higher will graduate with summa cum laude honors; a student who has a GPA between 3.80-3.899 will graduate with magna cum laude honors; and a student who has a GPA between 3.50-3.799 will graduate with cum laude honors.

The “I” grade is a temporary grade requested by the student, of the instructor, through the incomplete grade request process, prior to the week of finals. An "I" grade is automatically posted when the Office of the Registrar receives the approved request. A written agreement between the student and instructor must detail the remaining requirements for successful completion of the course. A grade of "I" will be assigned only in case of illness or unforeseeable circumstances that prevent the student from completing the course requirements by the end of the term. Grades of "I" will automatically lapse to "E" on the published deadline of the subsequent term.

Undergraduate degree-seeking students who wish to withdraw from Illinois Tech with the intention of returning to complete their degree program may apply for a Leave of Absence. This request is made through the Undergraduate Academic Affairs channel in the Illinois Tech Portal. All requests for a leave of absence will be reviewed by the Office of Academic Affairs and requests must be submitted by the end of the 12th week of the semester to take effect that semester. Any request submitted after the 12th week will take effect the following semester; however, exceptions can be made due to extenuating circumstances. In general, a leave of absence cannot exceed one academic year, but a leave can, at the discretion of Illinois Tech, be extended if appropriate documentation of extenuating circumstances is submitted. Students requesting a leave of absence due to medical reasons must be made and will be evaluate in accordance with Section W of this Article

Graduate Degree-seeking students who intend to leave Illinois Tech for one semester or more must complete the online leave of absence form in the Illinois Tech Portal by selecting the Academics tab, followed by the Graduate Academic Affairs channel.  A leave of absence will not be granted for more than one year, at which time, a request for an extension of leave may be submitted by filing a Form 701 Graduate Student Petition. A leave of absence will not extend the time limit required for the completion of a degree. A leave will not be approved after the sixth week of the current semester. A student who has not renewed their leave of absence must petition for reinstatement to the Office of Academic Affairs. Degree-seeking students who do not plan to return to the program should submit a Withdrawal From the University Request, also located as noted above. Non-degree students are not required to file a Leave of Absence Form, but will require reinstatement by petition on Form G701 after a lapse in registration. Students should consult the procedures for filing a petition under the section Right of Appeal by Petition in the Graduate Bulletin.

Note: International students must comply with additional regulations when requesting a leave of absence. See https://www.iit.edu/global-services for additional details. International students must also receive approval from the Office of Global Services. If an international student wishes not to enroll in a given term, the leave of absence must be approved by the Office of Global Services, by the registration deadline of that term.

1. The Process. A student should consider a medical leave of absence if their health problems are such that continuing in courses becomes unmanageable. Where a mental/physical health condition causes a student (i) to become or reasonably appears to be a threat to others; (ii) to significantly disrupt the Illinois Tech community and/or its safe and efficient operation; or (iii) to be unable to comply with the policies generally applicable to students, Illinois Tech may recommend and encourage the student to avail themselves of the opportunity to take a voluntary medical leave. Illinois Tech may seek an involuntary withdrawal of or other safety intervention measures for a student in accordance with the policy set forth in Section BB below.

Prior to the grant of a voluntary medical leave of absence, the student must provide a letter from a health professional, physician or therapist recommending such leave. The student will be asked to sign a release so that the appropriate Illinois Tech representative may speak with the health professional regarding the student’s condition.  Requests for and approval of medical leaves of absence must be issued by the last day of classes in the semester.  Once classes have ended and exams have begun, a medical leave will not be granted.

Any student considering a medical leave should speak with the Dean of Students or the relevant Vice Provost as soon as possible to discuss options and initiate the process.  If the leave is approved, the student will receive the grade of W for each of their classes during the semester.  While on leave, the student is expected to use the time for treatment and recovery so that they will be mentally and physically healthy upon their return.  A medical leave normally will be granted for two semesters (not including summer); however, a student may request from the Dean of their academic department approval for an extended absence.  Any need for reinstatement and/or readmission will be handled in accordance with the applicable policies of the Office of Undergraduate or Graduate Academic Affairs as appropriate.

It is important for a student contemplating a medical leave to inquire about matters such as health insurance, housing and tuition contract obligations, financial aid and immigration (visa) requirements prior to finalizing their leave.  The Office of Student Affairs will assist in facilitating such communication.

2.  Return from Medical Leave. To return from a voluntary medical leave, a student must submit the requisite documentation to either the Office Academic Affairs prior to the deadline specified on the Illinois Tech academic calendar. The required documentation includes: a statement from the student describing the reasons they believe they should return to school; a release to allow the Student Health and Wellness Center to obtain information from the student’s treatment provider; and an assessment by the treatment provider regarding the student’s readiness to return to classes.

The Office of Academic Affairs and the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students will meet with the appropriate academic personnel and a decision regarding the student’s return will be made. The Associate Vice Provost of the Student Health and Wellness Center or their designee may provide consultation. Based on the treatment provider’s assessment, conditions may be placed upon a student who returns from a medical leave of absence. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, a reduced course load, and continued medical or mental health treatment along with a signed release to allow verification of the student’s adherence to their treatment plan.

Students with unpaid balances, disciplinary sanctions, unmet immunization requirements, or other such conditions to warrant a registration hold are prevented from enrolling in classes until the condition is resolved and the hold is removed.

Registration controls including prerequisites, co-requisites, maximum hours, level, and program restrictions may also exist to limit or prevent registration in specific circumstances. Students should consult their adviser, resolve all holds, and take note of any registration restrictions that pertain to their student status and course selection, prior to their appointed registration date for an upcoming term.

For more information, go to www.iit.edu/registrar/registration.

Students who have withdrawn or taken a leave of absence and now wish to return to Illinois Tech must submit an application for reinstatement to the Office of Academic Affairs. The deadlines for reinstatement are June 15 for the fall semester, November 15 for the spring semester and April 15 for the summer term. Students must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended since last enrolled at Illinois Tech. In some cases, additional interviews may be required for Reinstatement. International students must contact the Office of Global Services in addition to submitting an application for Reinstatement/Readmission. See https://www.iit.edu/global-services for more information.

Students who were on academic probation when they stopped attending or were placed on Academic Suspension will be reinstated on probation if approved. In these cases, students must submit a personal statement explaining what led to them being placed on probation/suspension, and a plan for future success. The application will be reviewed by the major department and an interview may be required. Students who wish to change their major must adhere to all university academic policies and procedures.

Students who are returning from a medical leave will need to submit appropriate documentation from their health care provider with their application. See section W.2 for more information.

With respect to both undergraduate and graduate students, if they were suspended for disciplinary reasons, the student’s reinstatement application must be reviewed by the Office of Student Affairs.

Undergraduate students may repeat a course for a change of grade. A request to repeat a course for a change of grade must be submitted through the online form

(https://www.iit.edu/ugaa/services/course-repeat-change-grade ), during registration. Both grades will be recorded on all transcripts issued. Only the second grade will be used to compute the GPA, even if the second grade is lower, except when the second grade is I, R, S, U, W, X, or AU. The course repeat policy is as follows:

• A course repeated for a grade change must be taken within one calendar year after initial enrollment in that course or the next time it is offered (whichever is longer).
• The same course may be repeated only once for a change of grade.
• A maximum of three 100-level and 200-level courses may be repeated for a change of grade. A maximum of three 300-level and 400-level courses may be repeated for a change of grade. Course repeats not used for 100 and 200 level courses cannot be carried forward to 300 and 400 level courses.
• Re-registration for courses in which a student received a C grade or better grade requires the approval of the student's academic advisor.
• If a course is no longer offered by Illinois Tech, the provision to repeat the course for a grade change does not apply.

Graduate Students may repeat up to two distinct courses with each course being repeated once. Both grades will be recorded and the grade used in the calculation of the GPA will be the latest recorded. There are two methods to request a course repeat. If the student is on academic probation, they should include the repeat course information on the Probation Contract) in the space indicated. For students not on academic probation, the Course Repeat Form on the Office of the Registrar’s website should be used (see https://www.iit.edu/registrar/registration/course-repeat-policy). All repeat requests are reviewed by Academic Affairs prior to approval. The original course grade earned will remain on the student’s academic transcript.

1. Undergraduate: All undergraduate degree-seeking students must observe the following residence requirements:

Once enrolled at Illinois Tech, a student is not permitted to enroll at another institution without obtaining permission. A student must submit an academic petition to the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs for approval prior to registration at another institution.

A course completed (passed or failed) at Illinois Tech must be repeated at Illinois Tech. No transfer credit will be awarded for any course equivalent to a course completed at Illinois Tech.

For a bachelor’s degree, the final 45 semester hours of work must be completed in residence at Illinois Tech. Any proficiency examinations or enrollment at another institution must be completed before this period.

2. Graduate: Degree-seeking graduate students are required to register every fall and spring semester unless they receive special permission in writing from the Office of Academic Affairs for a leave of absence. In addition, doctoral students must spend a minimum of one year of full-time study at the university. That year must occur within six years prior to awarding the degree.

The College of Architecture and the Institute of Design have academic residence requirements for master’s degrees. To be eligible to receive a doctorate in any discipline at Illinois Tech, a student must spend a minimum of two regular semesters or three quarters in full-time study on campus. In special cases, two summers of research or other day graduate activity may be substituted for one of the two semesters. Some departments may have additional requirements.

1.  General. Illinois Tech is an institution that values the safety of each individual in its community; therefore, Illinois Tech is committed to maintaining a learning environment where all persons feel safe to carry out its mission and goals. The procedures described below establish a process for safety intervention and involuntary withdrawal of students who pose a credible substantial risk of harm to individuals within the University or to the University community, or substantially impede the lawful activities, educational process, or proper activities or functions of other members of the University community. For purposes of this policy, interim safety intervention may include one or more actions reasonably intended to ameliorate the concerns that do not otherwise warrant involuntary withdrawal hereunder; such actions may include, but are expressly not limited to, requiring evaluation by an appropriate healthcare professional, removal from Illinois Tech residential facilities, restrictions on access to Illinois Tech property and facilities, regular meetings with the Dean of Students or designee, and/or limitations on extracurricular activities

In furtherance of the foregoing, Illinois Tech has established a Community Support Team (“CST”). With respect to this policy, the primary mission of the CST is to improve community safety through collaborative, coordinated, objective, and thoughtful approaches to the prevention, identification, assessment, intervention, and management of situations that pose, or may reasonably pose, a threat to the safety, security, and well-being of the campus community and its individual members. Therefore, CST will review and evaluate information regarding concerns or issues involving threats to the Illinois Tech community by Illinois Tech students, and will act, as necessary, to protect the community and its members.

2.  Purpose of and Criteria for Safety Intervention and Risk Assessment. The procedures for a Safety Intervention and Risk Assessment described below establish a fact-based investigative and analytical process for intervening with and assessing the risk presented by students who: (i) pose a credible substantial risk of harm to individuals within Illinois Tech or to the Illinois Tech community as a whole; or (ii) substantially impede the lawful activities, the educational process, or the proper activities or functions of other members of the Illinois Tech community. Student conduct, judicial, academic or other proceedings may continue even when a student is subject to an intervention or involuntary withdrawal pursuant to this policy.

3.  Interim Safety Intervention or Involuntary Withdrawal. If safety is an immediate concern, Illinois Tech is permitted and has the authority to take interim action to protect the well-being of all members of its community, including contacting Public Safety. By interim involuntary withdrawal, Illinois Tech may remove a student from any or all Illinois Tech premises when, in the professional judgment of the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee, after considering the reasonably available information, a credible substantial threat of immediate harm to an individual or the Illinois Tech community is perceived to exist. Interim involuntary withdrawal is a preliminary action taken to protect the health and safety of the Illinois Tech community, and is not a penalty.

A student withdrawn on an interim basis shall be given an opportunity to appear personally before the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee within two (2) business days from the effective date of the interim involuntary withdrawal, in order to discuss the reliability of the information concerning the student’s behavior. Following this meeting, the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee for the campus may either continue or cancel the interim involuntary withdrawal.

If the interim involuntary withdrawal is canceled, the procedures described in this policy regarding Safety Intervention and Involuntary Withdrawal may still proceed. An interim involuntary withdrawal may remain in effect until a final decision is made pursuant to the procedures outlined in this policy.

4.  Threat Assessment and Safety Committee. The CST assists in evaluating whether students meet the criteria for Safety Intervention and/or Involuntary Withdrawal. The CST will generally include representatives from the offices of Academic Affairs, Office of Student Affairs, Disability Resources, General Counsel, Human Resources, Public Safety, Residence Life, Student Health and Wellness Center as well as a member of the faculty. Other members may be added in the discretion of the Provost or Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students. The composition of the team for a particular case will depend upon the specific circumstances; however, the participation of an appropriate healthcare professional, and Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee is required in any review.

5.  Safety Intervention and Involuntary Withdrawal Process. Any member of the Illinois Tech community who has reason to believe that a student poses a violent threat or a threat to public safety should contact the Public Safety office or the local police department.

Any member of the Illinois Tech community who has reason to believe that a student poses a credible substantial risk of harm to the Illinois Tech community and thus may meet the criteria for Safety Intervention and/or Involuntary Withdrawal may contact the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee who will conduct an informal review of the information presented. All reports made pursuant to this policy will be handled in a confidential manner, with information released only on a need-to-know basis in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. 

Upon completion of the informal review, the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee may recommend that a student be subject to a safety intervention or involuntary withdrawal for reasons under the criteria set forth in Section 2 above. In determining whether the student presents a credible substantial risk of harm to the Illinois Tech community, the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee will make an individualized assessment based on a reasonable judgment that relies upon current medical or other specialized knowledge or the best available evidence to ascertain: (i) the nature, duration, and severity of the risk; (ii) the probability that potential injury and/or harm will occur; (iii) whether the student substantially impeded the educational process or functions of other members of the Illinois Tech community; and (iv) whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices or procedures significantly mitigate the risk. In making this individualized assessment, the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee may consult with the CST.

As part of this individualized assessment, the student may be required to undergo an evaluation, including a medical or psychological evaluation, by an independent and objective health professional, including Illinois Tech’s Student Health and Wellness Center, designated by Illinois Tech. The student may also be required to execute necessary releases so that the report from the evaluation may be provided to the CST, and other administrators if appropriate, for the purposes of determining whether the student should be subject to an intervention or involuntary withdrawal. In addition, the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee will consider any medical or other relevant information submitted by the student, including but not limited to a medical or psychological evaluation by a health professional of the student’s choice.

Inherent to this decision-making process is Illinois Tech’s commitment to consider an individual’s past and ongoing condition, which may have contributed to the risk of harm that is in question. The Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee may seek the assistance of the CST or other resources, as needed, to determine if the student is a qualified individual with a disability and whether a reasonable accommodation will allow that student to meet their essential academic and university community responsibilities, while abating the risk of harm and maintaining a safe educational environment for all students. This determination shall also evaluate whether such accommodation can be provided without fundamentally altering the essential functions of the educational program provided by Illinois Tech, lowering academic standards, and/or creating undue hardship to Illinois Tech.

Moreover, whether or not the student is a qualified individual with a disability, the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee will generally attempt to engage in an interactive dialogue with the student to discuss the manner in which the student plans to abate the risk of harm presented by the student. As part of this interactive process, the student and/or their medical provider are encouraged to suggest possible methods to abate the risk of harm, and the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee will request the student’s suggestions. The Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee and student may also choose to engage professionals or Illinois Tech administrators in formulating a proposed plan. The Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee may then further consult with the CST to determine if the proposed plan devised as a result of the interactive dialogue appropriately addresses the risk of harm that formed the basis for the decision to intervene with or involuntarily withdraw the student. If the CST finds the proposed plan is inappropriate or insufficient to address the risk of harm, the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee may resume the interactive process with the student.

The Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee may communicate with essential personnel regarding the proposed plan and, if such plan is adopted, will take necessary steps to ensure its implementation and/or any necessary monitoring. If a student is subject to an intervention or is involuntarily withdrawn pursuant to this policy, to the extent appropriate and practicable, conditions for their return to Illinois Tech may be specified in writing by the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee.

6.  Appeal of Intervention and/or Involuntary Withdrawal. A student who is subject to an intervention or involuntarily withdrawn pursuant to this policy may make a written request to the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee for an informal proceeding to review the determination. To be timely, any such appeal must be received by the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee within three (3) business days of the determination. Upon receipt of such an appeal, the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students shall timely notify the Provost, who will conduct (or have conducted) the informal proceeding as provided for herein.

The Provost or designee shall conduct the informal proceeding within seven (7) business days of receipt of the written appeal. In no event will the same individual, who imposed the intervention or involuntary withdrawal, conduct this informal proceeding. The informal hearing is generally limited to sixty to ninety (60-90) minutes in duration, unless the Provost or designee, in their discretion, determines that additional time is necessary. The student will be provided with the following prior to the informal proceeding: (i) a written statement providing a detailed explanation of the reasons for intervention or involuntary withdrawal and the information relied upon; and (ii) the opportunity to review the evaluations relied upon by the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee.

At the informal proceeding, the student may choose to be assisted by an appropriate advisor, which may include a parent or guardian, a health professional of the student’s choice, and/or a faculty or staff member. The student may also have legal counsel present for consultation purposes only during the informal proceeding. In addition, subject to an informal determination regarding relevancy by the Provost or designee, the student will be permitted to be heard and to present witnesses and information to dispute the reasons for the intervention or involuntary withdrawal, or the information relied upon in making the determination.

The student shall provide to the Provost or designee, and be responsible for identifying in writing, those witnesses and the subject matter of their expected testimony five (5) days in advance of the informal proceeding. The Provost or designee and the student will review that identification three (3) days before the informal proceeding and will agree upon a means of participation for all persons that the Provost or designee deem relevant and necessary. The student will generally be expected to secure attendance of any witnesses, other than Illinois Tech employees and individuals which the student is barred from contacting due to the issuance of a non-contact order or similar such directive issued by Illinois Tech or court, which the Provost or designee will seek to secure.

As to an involuntary withdrawal, following the informal proceeding, the Provost or designee shall determine whether to (a) uphold the withdrawal; (b) reinstate the student; or (c) reinstate the student subject to specified conditions, including, without limitation, participation in an ongoing health treatment program, acceptance of and compliance with a behavioral contract, a housing relocation, reduced course load, or any combination thereof. The Provost or designee may modify the conditions of readmission at any time. The decision of the Provost or designee shall be final.

7.  Return to Illinois Tech. A student who has been removed from Illinois Tech or withdrawn from Illinois Tech pursuant to this policy, who wishes to be considered for return to Illinois Tech shall contact the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee and provide: (i) a statement from the student describing the reasons they believes they should return to school; (ii) a release to allow the Student Health and Wellness Center to obtain information from the student’s treatment provider; (iii) an assessment by the treatment provider regarding the student’s readiness to return to classes, and (iv) appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with the conditions for returning, if any are imposed,  and the applicable reinstatement and/or readmission policies of the Office of Undergraduate or Graduate Academic Affairs as appropriate. The student may also present any relevant documentation or information which the student believes supports their request to return.

In making a decision, the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee will review the request to return as follows: (a) review and investigate compliance with the conditions of return, if any; (b) consult with the appropriate academic unit to determine whether the student is eligible for return based upon the student’s academic record and applicable policies and practices of the academic unit and the Office of Undergraduate or Graduate Academic Affairs as appropriate; (c) consult with appropriate members of the CST; (d) consider any additional information or documentation presented by the student in support of return or readmission; and (e) meet with the student. Conditions may be placed upon the student’s return. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, continued medical or mental health treatment along with a signed release to allow verification of the student’s adherence to their treatment plan, a reduced course load, and/or limitations on extracurricular activities.

A student whose request is denied, pursuant to this policy may make a written request to the Provost or designee for an informal proceeding to review such denial. In no event will the same individual, who imposed the intervention or involuntary withdrawal, conduct this informal proceeding. The informal proceeding to review the denial to return will follow the same procedures outlined in Section 6 of this policy.

1. Undergraduate Students: Official transfer credit evaluations are completed only after a student is admitted to Illinois Tech. Courses may be acceptable for transfer from accredited colleges and universities, provided they are comparable in nature, content and level to those offered at Illinois Tech. Credit may also be accepted, based on appropriate documentation, for Dantes, military experience, and CLEP. Illinois Tech does not grant credit for vocational courses or life/work experience. In addition, technology courses will not be accepted in any engineering program. Illinois Tech will accept college coursework taken while still in high school from other accredited universities and colleges.

All college transcripts are to be submitted as part of the application for admission to the Office of Undergraduate Admission, regardless of the transferability of credits. A maximum of 68 applicable semester hours of transfer credit is permitted from a two-year college. There is no maximum number of hours of transfer credit from a four-year college; however, the final 45 semester hours of any degree program must be completed at Illinois Tech. Transfer credit will be accepted for courses completed with the equivalent of a grade C or better. A grade of C- is not acceptable for transfer credit. Grades from transfer courses are not included in the Illinois Tech cumulative or major GPA. In certain instances, the academic department must approve transfer credit if a long period of time has elapsed since the course was completed. 

2. Graduate Students:

Master's Transfer Credit

For master’s degree programs, a maximum of nine applicable credit hours earned prior to matriculation into an Illinois Institute of Technology graduate degree program, subject to the graduate studies rules and restrictions, may be considered for:

1. External transfer credit for graduate transfer credit use. Applicable course credit hours may not have been applied toward any earned degree.
2. Internal undergraduate transfer credit from Illinois Institute of Technology.
   1. Shared applicable undergraduate program credit (accelerated master's program).
   2. Excess, applicable undergraduate course credit that has not been applied toward any previous degree program.
3. Shared co-terminal program credit (concurrent bachelor's and master's enrollment).

The combined limit of nine credit hours may not be exceeded for any master’s degree program. The credit hours must have been passed with grades of “B” or better, and are subject to the approval of the academic unit and the Office of Academic Affairs.

Doctoral Transfer Credit

Doctoral degree candidates may transfer previously completed graduate work not applied toward a prior earned degree up to a maximum of 42 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree (which may include up to 32 credit hours from a completed master’s degree) or 50 percent of their total Ph.D. program credit hour requirements, whichever is smaller. The work must be judged to be relevant to the current doctoral program, must have been completed with grades of ”B” or better, and must be acceptable for graduate credit at the institution where taken. The master’s degree must have been granted within the previous six years. Grades for transferred credits will not be included in the student’s GPA.

Consistent with its past practice, research credit may not be submitted for transfer credit consideration. Research credit requirements imply work that has been completed while enrolled in an Illinois Institute of Technology research course numbered 594 (master’s project research), 591 (master of science research), or 691 (doctoral research).

For more information on transfer credit policies, please consult the Illinois Tech Bulletin.

Academic credit is recorded in credit hours. Each credit hour represents one 50-minute period per week for a 16-week semester. Illinois Tech follows the standard Carnegie Unit, requiring 750 contact minutes of instruction per credit hour, regardless of the length of the term. Non-degree continuing education programs award Continuing Education Units (CEU).  In general, courses offered only for CEU credit use only Pass/Fail grading.

1. Undergraduate degree-seeking students who withdraw from all of their courses are in effect withdrawing from Illinois Tech. Non-attendance does not imply withdrawal. All requests for withdrawal begin with the Office of Academic Affairs which will provide assistance with the successful resolution of all outstanding obligations to Illinois Tech.  International Students must also comply with additional regulations when withdrawing from Illinois Tech. See https://www.iit.edu/global-services.  Any undergraduate student who is not in attendance for a semester must apply for reinstatement in the Office of Academic Affairs.

2. Graduate students who wish to withdraw from their program must complete a University Withdrawal or Leave of Absence Form online. Log in to the Illinois Tech Portal. The form must be approved by the academic advisor, academic unit head, and graduate Dean and filed with the student services center. International students wishing to withdraw must also contact the International Student Center.