Academic Policies

Requirements for Bachelor’s Degree

General Requirements

A candidate for the bachelor’s degree shall have

1. completed the courses in one of the listed baccalaureate curricula with a minimum “C” grade average (GPA of 2.0) in the major (core and designated subplan) courses, in all college-level courses taken at Cal Poly Pomona, and in all completed college-level course work;
2. completed the required general education courses;
3. completed the required courses in American history and government, including state and local government. This requirement is met by completing PLS 201 and HST 202;
4. completed at least one four-unit course that meets the American Cultural Perspectives Requirement;
5. spent not less than three quarters in residence, two of these quarters immediately preceding graduation;
6. earned not fewer than 50 quarter units in residence applicable to the bachelor’s degree; of which 36 units must be in upper division courses, 18 units must be in the major core, and 12 units in general education courses;
7. earned a total number of grade points at least equal to twice the number of units attempted (achieve a “C” grade average e.g. GPA of 2.0) in all courses taken at Cal Poly Pomona and overall coursework;
8. a) completed all coursework requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, with a minimum of 60 of those units being of 300- or 400- level
        courses, 18 of which must be in the major core; or
   b) completed all coursework requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree, with at least 27 of these units being in 300- or 400-level courses
        in the major core; or
   c) completed all coursework requirements for the Bachelor of Architecture degree, with 67.5 units required for the major and with at least 40.5
       of these units being in 300- or 400-level courses;
   d) no major will contain less than 54 quarter units of courses required in the core for the major. Within these 54 units must be at least 15 units
        of 100 and 200-level courses. The courses in the major core must be exclusive of those courses taken to satisfy the general education
        requirements;
9. met the Graduation Writing Test requirement;
10. had a graduation check. A graduation check request can be made in the Registrar’s Office when a senior has no more than 10 classes (40 units) left to take to complete degree requirements. Processing of the graduation check takes 60-90 days and the graduation check is sent to the student’s Cal Poly Pomona e-mail address. This policy is currently under revision. Please refer to the online catalog for the current policy.
11. filed an application for graduation in the Registrar’s Office in the quarter in which all requirements will be completed, prior to the deadline listed in the academic calendar.

Graduation Requirement in Mathematics Proficiency

All students must demonstrate a base level math competency. This may be done by taking an approved course in mathematics or statistics. The following courses have been judged to meet this requirement: MAT 106 , MAT 114 , MAT 115 , MAT 116 , MAT 120 , MAT 125 , MAT 130 , MAT 191  or STA 120 . Transfer students will satisfy this requirement by taking an equivalent course which may also be used to meet the CSU General Education quantitative reasoning requirement. Intermediate Algebra taken at a Community College will not meet this requirement, nor will it be considered acceptable to meet the quantitative reasoning requirement.

Prerequisite coursework for MAT 106 , MAT 114 , MAT 120 , MAT 125 , MAT 130 , MAT 191 , MAT 194 , and STA 120  must have been completed within 3 quarters or 2 semesters.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

All students subject to degree requirements listed in the 1977-78 and later general catalogs must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. Based on action taken by the Cal Poly Pomona Academic Senate in 1978, writing competence at Cal Poly Pomona is assessed primarily by means of a written test. All persons who receive undergraduate, graduate, or external degrees from Cal Poly Pomona must pass the Graduation Writing Test (GWT). The test is available to undergraduates at the completion of 90 units and for graduates upon admission.

The test must be taken by the quarter following the completion of 120 units for undergraduates, or by the completion of 8 units for graduate students. If the GWT is not taken by this time, a hold will be placed on a student’s records. While the student’s records are on hold, registration will not be allowed nor will transcripts of credits be released.

Under certain conditions a student can fulfill the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirements by successfully completing a course; CPU 401, offered through the University Writing Center. A student may also, under special circumstances request to have the GWT requirements waived.  An undergraduate who had the GWT requirement waived will need to take it and pass it if he/she returns to Cal Poly Pomona as graduate students.

Important information about the appeals process for the test is contained in the GWT Study Guide and the Information Bulletin, available to all students. They may be obtained from the Test Center, Building 98, Room P2-4.

Determination of Graduation Requirements

In determining graduation requirements, students have three basic options open to them. They may decide to meet the degree requirements listed in the Cal Poly Pomona university catalog at the time they first entered the university, or they may decide to use the requirements listed in the university catalog at the time of their graduation, or they may elect to use the requirements in effect at the time they began study at a CSU campus or a California community college.

At Cal Poly Pomona, all colleges/schools evaluate incoming students on the current curriculum for their major/core and support areas. Questions on this matter should be directed to the student’s advisor or department chair.

Whenever a student changes major, while this action is not considered a break in enrollment status, he/she may elect to use either the major department degree graduation requirements published in the Cal Poly Pomona university catalog at the time the major was changed or the requirements in the catalog at the time of graduation.

California community college students transferring to Cal Poly Pomona without a break in enrollment status will be evaluated on the graduation requirements listed in the Cal Poly Pomona university catalog at the time of entrance to Cal Poly Pomona. Students may elect in writing to the Registrar’s Office to fulfill graduation requirements at the time they began attending a California community college or in effect at the time of graduation. After entry to Cal Poly Pomona, any change of status or major will cause them to come under the major degree catalog provisions valid at the time of the change. Also see “General Education Program” section in this catalog regarding transfer and GE certification.

Students who are not in attendance for more than two consecutive quarters in any given calendar year are considered to have broken enrollment status. This will affect both major and other degree requirements and may require additional course work for degree completion.

If a student wishes to complete requirements at another institution, that work must be completed within one (1) semester or two (2) quarters of last enrollment at Cal Poly Pomona.

Election of Regulation

An undergraduate student remaining in attendance in regular sessions at any California State University campus including Cal Poly Pomona, at any California community college, or any combination of California community colleges and campuses of the California State University may, for purposes of meeting graduation requirements, elect to meet the requirements in effect at the campus from which the student will graduate either (1) at the time the student began such attendance or (2) at the time of entrance to Cal Poly Pomona, or (3) at the time of graduation. Cal Poly Pomona campus authorities may authorize or require substitutions for discontinued courses and may require a student changing his or her major or any minor field of study to complete the major or minor requirements in effect at the time of the change.

For purposes of this section “attendance” means attendance in at least one semester or two quarters each calendar year (January 1 through December 31). Absence due to an approved educational leave or for attendance at another accredited institution of higher learning shall not be considered an interruption in attendance, if the absence does not exceed two years.

Cal Poly Pomona may prescribe that particular academic requirements be met within as few as seven years of the date of award of the degree.

All colleges evaluate incoming students on the current curriculum for their major/core and support areas. Questions on this matter should be directed to the student’s advisor or department chair.

For additional information on compliance see the Associate Provost for Academic Programs, Building 98, (909) 869-6975.

Participation in Graduation Ceremonies

Undergraduate students may apply for graduation and/or participate in June commencement ceremonies if they have no more than eight units remaining to fulfill the graduation requirements, and are in good academic standing (2.00 GPA for Cal Poly Pomona coursework, major core GPA and 2.00 for all cumulative coursework) at the end of the term prior to that in which the student applies to graduate.

Graduate students who have not completed all of their graduation requirements, including the GWT, may not participate in the commencement ceremonies.

Graduation Procedure for Inactive Students

Students with only the Graduation Writing Test (GWT) to complete should contact the Test Center for available options.

Students who left the campus in Good Standing, on Probation, or after One Disqualification:

1. Students with two courses or less to complete may be eligible to graduate after completion of their remaining requirements through Open University or at another university.
2. Students with 20 units or less to complete their degree may be eligible to reapply through an expedited procedure for the purpose of graduation.
3. Students with more than 20 units must reapply to the university through the normal procedure.

Students who left the campus after a Second or Later Disqualification:

1. Students with 20 units or less are unlikely to be readmitted to the university but may be eligible to graduate after completion of their remaining requirements through Open University or at another university.
2. Students with more than 20 units are advised to seek enrollment at another university

All inactive students seeking to graduate from Cal Poly Pomona must:

1. Demonstrate achievement of Major, Cal Poly Pomona, and Overall graduation GPA requirements
2. Satisfy the GWT requirement and Upper Division GE requirement for the appropriate curriculum
3. Submit an application to graduate at the proper time.

Students who wish to pursue any of the above options must file a petition with Academic Programs. For more information regarding the above procedure, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

Minimum Grade Point Average

In order to graduate, a student must have an overall GPA of 2.0 in all university coursework, in Cal Poly Pomona coursework, and in major coursework (e.g. core and designated subplan courses). If an undergraduate student, at the time of the graduation check, has less than a 2.0 GPA, the student may attempt to raise the GPA to a minimum of 2.0 by the following courses of action:

1. Attainment of sufficient grades in all remaining courses in the student’s program;
2. Attainment of sufficient grades in all remaining course in the student’s program plus the use of the Repeated Course Policy. (Refer to “Repetition of Courses” section in this catalog.)
3. Use of the Academic Renewal Policy, which allows the removal of up to three quarters or two semester of previous academic work from baccalaureate degree consideration. (Refer to the “Academic Renewal” section in this catalog.)

A student may not substitute a support course or any other course as a major course after the major course has been taken. Further, this university has the right to prescribe that any particular graduation requirement be met within seven (7) years. For further details on this prescription please see the Associate Provost, Building 98.

Academic Renewal

It is permissible for an undergraduate student to request the removal of up to three quarters or two semesters of previous academic work from baccalaureate degree consideration. Application for Academic Renewal is made during the quarter in which the applicant plans to graduate. The following conditions must prevail:

1. Five years have elapsed since the most recent work to be disregarded was completed and the student’s GPA is too low to qualify for graduation.
2. Since the completion of the work to be disregarded, the applicant has completed, at this university, 22 quarter units with at least a 3.0 GPA, 45 quarter units with at least a 2.5 GPA, or 67 quarter units with at least a 2.0 GPA. Work completed at any other institution shall not be used to satisfy this requirement.

The student may apply for removal of work from degree consideration in a letter to the Committee on Academic Renewal through the Associate Provost, Building 98. The letter shall specify which semester(s) or quarter(s) of previous work are to be removed from consideration with supporting statements providing evidence that:

1. The work is substandard and not representative of the student’s present scholastic ability and level of performance.
2. The level of performance represented by the work under consideration was due to described extenuating circumstances.
3. The applicant would need to complete additional units of work and enroll for one or more additional quarters to qualify for the baccalaureate degree if the request is not approved.

If the committee acts favorably upon the request, the student’s academic record will be annotated to show that no work taken during the disregarded term(s), even if satisfactory, may apply toward baccalaureate requirements. All work, whether or not disregarded, will remain on the student’s permanent academic record.

Scholastic Requirements

Each student is expected to meet the academic standards required by the state, the university and by the instructor of a course. While class attendance is not recorded officially by the University, students are expected to attend all class meetings. Instructors’ standards, particularly as they impact grades, must be explained in the syllabus made available in each class near the beginning of the quarter. It is the students’ responsibility to make themselves aware of each faculty member’s guidelines by carefully reading the syllabus.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of any planned absence and to request arrangements to make up academic work that is missed for any reason. The instructor is the judge of the validity of the reasons for absence and of what arrangements, if any, are to be provided for the student to make up class work. Instructors may require students to provide documentation for excused absences. It must be recognized that not all learning activities and exercises related to a class can be replicated.

It is possible for a student to have three final examinations scheduled for the same day. If that happens, the student has the liberty of asking the professor of the middle exam to pick a mutually convenient time for the exam.

Students may not enroll in courses which have prerequisites without having successfully completed such prerequisites with the appropriate passing grade as designated by the offering department.

Assignment of grades and change of grades are the prerogative of the instructor of record. Students may appeal grades that they consider to be unfair. See section on “Grade Appeals Policy” for more details.

Placement Examinations (English Placement Test, Entry Level Math)

All students, unless exempt on the basis of specified test scores or approved coursework, must take the EPT/ELM tests prior to mandatory orientation and course registration. Exemptions are listed in the catalog section “Requirements for Bachelor’s Degree” and online at www.cpp.edu/~academic/testcenter. Registration holds are placed for students who are required to take the EPT/ELM exams for whom test scores have not been received.

International students coming from abroad and out-of-state students must also meet testing requirements and deadlines. Students may contact the Educational Testing Service at (800) 997-8493 ext. 5 for out-of-area testing; scores must be received prior to mandatory orientation and course registration.

English and Math Competence (Executive Order 665)

Executive Order No. 665 (EO 665) was issued by the California State University system in February 1997 to establish system wide requirements to bring students who need preparatory work up to competency levels in English and Mathematics. Minimum standards have been established for campus compliance. Students must be placed in the appropriate preparatory courses in the first quarter of attendance and each subsequent quarter. All required preparatory work must be completed within one year from the date of enrollment.

Policies and procedures relating to Executive Order No. 665 are handled through the Office of Academic Programs. The following policies and procedures were established for compliance with Executive Order 665 at Cal Poly Pomona beginning with the fall 1998 quarter:

• All undergraduate students admitted to Cal Poly Pomona must have proof of exemption or take the English Placement Test (EPT) and/or Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) at the earliest possible date after admission. Test scores must be on file at Cal Poly Pomona prior to registering for classes.
• If test results from the EPT/ELM indicate that preparatory coursework in English and/or Math is required, students must be enrolled at Cal Poly Pomona in the appropriate preparatory coursework during their first quarter of attendance and are expected to enroll each subsequent quarter until all preparatory work is completed. Mandatory course placements by test score are listed on the Test Center’s website at http://www.cpp.edu/~academic/testcenter/index.shtml.
  First term enrollment in preparatory coursework is mandatory; exceptions are not permitted. Students required to complete work are strongly advised not to participate in Study Abroad, National Student Exchange, internships, and other academic-related activities that will prevent them from enrolling in preparatory classes.
• Registration will be canceled for students who do not enroll in required preparatory courses in their first quarter of enrollment. If first quarter enrollment is canceled, the student may request to have their admission transferred to the subsequent quarter. Approval of this request will be subject to space availability.
• Students required to enroll in English and/or Math preparatory course(s) are expected to enroll each quarter until all preparatory work is completed. Non-enrollment in or withdrawal from one or more quarters for a documented compelling reason, such as death in the family, serious illness, disability, or an accident, may result in commensurate time extension. (Students must submit a Request for Extension Form.)
• Students must complete with a “C” or better (2.0 or higher) all preparatory course requirements within one year (four consecutive quarters) from the first term of enrollment. A student who has not satisfied this requirement and has not been granted a time extension will be placed on administrative leave of absence. Administrative leaves of absence will not be granted for students who have been academically disqualified.

If students admitted for fall choose to begin their preparatory coursework in the preceding summer, the preceding summer will not be included in the four-quarter maximum. Fall will be considered as the first quarter of the one-year requirement for these students.

Request for Extension - (additional time for a compelling reason)

Students need to anticipate whether or not preparatory coursework will be completed within the allowable time frame. To be allowed additional time (beyond the four consecutive quarters) to complete all EO 665 requirements, a Request for Extension Form must be submitted by the appropriate deadline.

If students anticipate during their third quarter of enrollment that they will not complete their requirements within the four quarter period, they should file their extension request before the beginning of the 8th week of classes during the third quarter. Requests for Extension will not be accepted after the beginning of the 8th week of classes during the fourth quarter.

An extension request shall be judged on the following factors: the student’s Cal Poly Pomona GPA (expected to be 2.0 or better), progress toward degree (indicated by the number of GE, major, and support courses completed), effort in preparatory classes (indicated by attendance, homework, and examinations), progress in preparatory classes, and serious or compelling reasons that interfered with the student’s academic success. Supporting documentation that verifies the student’s effort in the preparatory classes is required. Students who are participants in academic support programs such as Math ILE, EOP/Undeclared Students, and the Disability Resource Center are strongly encouraged to discuss their request for extension with their program advisors.

Extension request forms are available from the Office of Academic Programs in the CLA building, room T7-7 or on the Cal Poly Pomona’s website: http://www.cpp.edu/~academic/programs/eo665.html. Forms for supporting documentation are available from the Mathematics and Statistics Department.

To re-enroll following administrative leave of absence:

Students in good academic standing who are placed on leave of absence because they did not complete preparatory coursework within their first year of enrollment will be permitted to return to the university if they complete the appropriate general education requirements within one year. A student who did not complete preparatory mathematics coursework will need to satisfy the General Education Area B-4 (mathematics) requirement at another educational institution before returning to Cal Poly Pomona. A student who did not complete preparatory English coursework will need to satisfy the General Education Area A-2 (English) requirement at another educational institution before returning to Cal Poly Pomona.

Students in negative academic standing (Cal Poly GPA below 2.0) who are placed on a leave of absence may be required to complete additional requirements prior to re-enrolling. These requirements should be included on an advising contract completed by the student and a department advisor.

Students are strongly advised to check with their major departments and the Departments of English and/or Mathematics to determine if courses they plan to take at another institution will meet the requirements for their major as well as the requirements for re enrollment at Cal Poly Pomona.

Minimum Grades in General Education

(revised 07/26/2016)

Effective for new and returning students admitted fall 2015 or later, a grade of C- or better is required of each Cal Poly Pomona or transfer student completing courses in written communication in the English language (GE Sub-area A2), oral communication in the English language (GE Sub-area A1), critical thinking (GE Sub-area A3), and mathematics/quantitative reasoning (GE Sub-area B4).

Academic Standing

Uniform minimum standards for academic probation and disqualification are in effect at all California State University campuses. A student is considered to be in good standing when a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) for all university level work attempted and for all such work attempted at Cal Poly Pomona is earned.

If a student’s GPA remains below 2.0 for more than three consecutive quarters, the student will not be certified for veterans educational benefits until his/her academic status is restored to good standing.

1. Early Warning. In order to achieve early intervention to assist students by providing an early warning system, all undergraduate students with a Cal Poly GPA of less than 2.2 will have an advising hold placed systematically on their record. Students will be placed on academic probation or disqualification under the following conditions:
    
2. Academic Probation. An undergraduate student shall be placed on academic probation if at any time the cumulative grade point average in all college work attempted or cumulative grade point average for work completed at Cal Poly Pomona falls below 2.0. The student shall be advised of probation status promptly.
   
   The first time an undergraduate student’s cumulative grade point average in either work completed at Cal Poly Pomona or for all college work attempted falls below 2.0 he/she shall be placed on academic probation, even in circumstances where his/her GPA falls below the disqualification thresholds.
   
   An undergraduate student shall be removed from academic probation when the cumulative grade point average in all college work attempted, and the Cal Poly Pomona cumulative grade point average is 2.0 or higher.
   
   After the first occurrence of the GPA falling below 2.0, students may be academically disqualified without first being put on probation.
   
   Students on probation will have advising holds placed on their record the following quarter. These students will not be able to register until they have cleared this hold with their major department and have been counseled as to how to regain good standing. An advising contract may be required by the major department.
    
3. Academic Disqualification. After attempting 12 quarter units at Cal Poly Pomona, an undergraduate student is subject to Academic Disqualification if at any time:

1. As a freshman (less than 45 quarter units of college work completed) the student’s cumulative grade point average falls below l .50 for all units in Cal Poly Pomona, or all college level course work attempted.
2. As a sophomore (45 through 89 quarter units of college work completed) the student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 1.70 for all units in Cal Poly Pomona, or all college level course work attempted.
3. As a junior (90 through 134 quarter units of college work completed) the student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 1.85 for all units in Cal Poly Pomona, or all college level course work attempted.
4. As a senior (135 or more quarter units of college work completed) the student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 1.95 for all units in Cal Poly Pomona, or all college level course work attempted.

An undergraduate student who is academically disqualified on the basis of their grade point balance will not be allowed to attend for at least one quarter. All academically disqualified students shall be notified of their disqualification the beginning of the quarter following the assignment of that academic standing. The disqualification notification shall advise the student that the disqualification is to be effective at the end of the quarter. The disqualification notification shall include any conditions which, if met, will result in permission to continue in enrollment. After notification students shall be permitted to continue with their classes, if already enrolled, until the end of the quarter. These students will have, in effect, a “grace” quarter during which time they can demonstrate improved potential for academic success and appeal the restriction on enrollment.

Students have the right to appeal their eligibility to enroll by completing the Disqualification Appeal Student Information Sheet available in the Registrar’s Office.  Except in extraordinary circumstances, appeals will be considered only if the student’s CPP and overall grade point average, during the quarter subsequent to disqualification , have improved enough to remove the student from disqualification status. Students will be notified of their College Appeals Committee’s decision no later than the last day to register for the quarter in question. A successful appeal request is considered a reinstatement. However, no reinstatement petition or advising contract is required. Students may not appeal a second disqualification.  Students who are disqualified at the end of the spring quarter shall have until the end of the following fall quarter to appeal the restriction on enrollment.

Upon initial disqualification, students may request consideration for reinstatement only after presentation to the university of satisfactory evidence that they have improved their chances of scholastic success.  The Petition for Academic Reinstatement must be filed in the Registrar’s Office after approval by the student’s major department chair and the college dean.  After reinstatement, students must be removed from disqualification status by the time they have attempted an additional 24 quarter units in baccalaureate level courses. The student and the department chair must agree upon this coursework at the time of reinstatement.

Undergraduate students who do not remove the disqualification within the 24-unit limit and academically disqualified undergraduate students who attain good standing or probationary status and then become disqualified again shall normally not be eligible to re-enroll at the university.  However, in exceptional circumstances, a student may be allowed to petition for reinstatement  or read mission after a second disqualification.

A detailed chart explaining the disqualification policy is located on the Academic Programs website: http://www.cpp.edu/~academic-programs/academic-advising/university-policy-information/disqualification.shtml.

4. Administrative-Academic Probation. An undergraduate or graduate student may be placed on administrative-academic probation for any of the following reasons:
   1. Withdrawal from more than two-thirds of a program of study in two successive quarters or in any three quarters. A student whose withdrawal is directly associated with a chronic or recurring medical condition or its treatment is not to be subject to Administrative­ Academic probation for such withdrawal.
   2. Repeated failure to progress toward the stated degree objective or other program objective, including that resulting from assignment of 15 quarter units of No Credit, when such failure appears to be due to circumstances within the control of the student.
   3. Failure to comply, after due notice, with an academic requirement or regulation, as defined by campus policy, which is routine for all students or a defined group of students (example: failure to complete a required CSU or campus examination, failure to complete a required practicum, failure to comply with professional standards appropriate to the field of study, failure to complete a specified number of units as a condition for receiving student financial aid or making satisfactory progress in the academic program).

When such action is taken, the student shall be notified in writing and shall be provided with the conditions for removal from probation and the circumstances that would lead to disqualification, should probation not be removed.

5. Administrative-Academic Disqualification. A student who has been placed on administrative-academic probation may be disqualified from further attendance if:
   1. The conditions for removal of administrative-academic probation are not met within the period specified.
   2. The student becomes subject to academic disqualification while on administrative-academic probation.
   3. The student becomes subject to administrative-academic probation for the same or similar reason for which he/she has been placed on administrative-academic probation previously, although not currently in such status. 

When a student has been placed on administrative-academic disqualification he/she shall receive written notification including an explanation of the basis for the action.

In addition, the Associate Provost may disqualify a student who at any time during enrollment has demonstrated behavior so contrary to the standards of the profession for which the student is preparing as to render him/her unfit for the profession. In such cases, disqualification will occur immediately upon notice to the student, which shall include an explanation of the basis for the action, and the campus may require the student to discontinue enrollment as of the date of the notification.

Satisfactory Progress

Full-time undergraduate students are considered to be maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward their degree goal when they have completed a minimum of 36 units per academic year of which a minimum of 24 units directly apply to satisfying the core, support, and/or directed elective course requirements of their major curriculum according to their Degree Progress Report (or until such time as all core and support course requirements are satisfied). Good standing is defined as 2.0 GPA.

Half-time students are considered to be maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward their degree goals when they have completed a minimum of 18 units per academic year of which a minimum of 12 units directly apply to satisfying the core, support, and/or directed elective course requirements of their major curriculum according to their Degree Progress Report (or until such time as all core and support course requirements are satisfied). 

Super Senior Policy

Super Seniors are students who have accumulated more than 100% of the units required for one or more of their academic majors.  Excess Unit Seniors are students who have accumulated more than 125% of the units required for one or more of their academic majors (and have earned at least 90 units at Cal Poly Pomona).  Excess Unit Seniors receive a registration hold each quarter until they graduate. The first quarter they receive such a hold, they are expected to meet with a designated advisor in their department to complete a Graduation Plan Worksheet. Each subsequent quarter Excess Unit Seniors are expected to meet with their advisor to discuss their progress. 

If an Excess Unit Senior fails to follow the Graduation Plan and does not have a reasonable explanation for doing so, the student may be placed on academic/administrative probation by the Associate Dean of the College.  If the student continues to deviate from the Plan without cause, the student may be forwarded to Academic Programs for possible academic/administrative disqualification.

Change of Major

Undergraduate students who have entered the university with an undeclared major and students wishing to change from one degree program to another should contact the department of the intended major for requirements and filing periods. Students may not change from a major to undeclared major status. Students enrolled under certain laws must obtain approval by the Veterans Administration before a change of major can be made.

International students are required to notify the International Student Advisor after changing majors so that the student’s immigration document can be updated.

Academic and career advising are strongly advised so that change of major decisions are well-informed and additional time and units to completing the degree are minimized. Changes to a new major should be considered as early as possible in the student’s academic career. Students who are unsure about which major to pursue may contact the Career Center for career counseling to narrow their choice of potential majors.

Undergraduate students declaring a major for the first time or students changing from one degree program to another must submit a Petition to Change Major Curriculum to the Registrar’s Office after obtaining approval from the department offering the intended major. These petition forms are available in most department offices and in the Registrar’s Office.

Academic advising appointments and/or change of major meetings may be required to ensure that a student has the potential to succeed in the selected major. Students changing their major are subject to the major/minor requirements in effect at the time of the change. Transfer from one major to another does not in any way change the student’s academic standing, nor does it constitute a break in continuous enrollment. See the General Education section in this catalog regarding transfer and change of major students and GE certification.

Non-impacted Majors: Lower-division students requesting a change of major must be in good academic standing (i.e., 2.0 grade point average for all college-level work attempted, all Cal Poly Pomona work attempted, and all work attempted in the major core).

Additional requirements for change of major may be established for upper-division students. In addition to good academic status, upper-division students may be required to meet a minimum number of units or complete specific courses with grades of C or better to qualify for a change of major. Specific requirements are available at https://www.cpp.edu/~academic-programs/major-change.shtml.

Change of major petitions for non-impacted majors may be submitted at any time during the quarter. However, change of major petitions must be submitted no later than the end of the fourth week of the quarter to be effective in the following quarter.

Impacted Majors: Lower-division and upper-division students requesting a change of major to an impacted program must meet the supplemental requirements required for that major. Acceptance into the new program will be on the same basis as for new applicants. This policy is subject to further change and students are advised to check with the Registrar’s Office for up-to-date information. Students are advised to check with the department office of the major in which they are interested in declaring.

Students requesting a change of major into an impacted program must file the required change of major petition no later than the last day of the initial application period for the quarter of the desired change (i.e., February 28 for summer; November 30 for fall; June 30 for winter; August 31 for spring).

Closures or Limits of Changes of Major: Departments may close or limit changes of major for a specific term to ensure that the number of students in that major can be accommodated.

Declaration of Minors and Additional Majors

Students may declare up to two minors in addition to their primary major if all academic programs can be completed within 36 units above the number of units required for their primary major.  Students must receive the approval of the chair of the department offering the proposed academic program.

Students may declare one major in addition to their primary major if all academic programs can be completed within 48 units above the number of units required for their primary major.  Students must receive the approval of the chair of the department offering the proposed academic program.

Minors or double majors may be declared at any time in a students’ career but students are strongly encourage to declare minors and double majors early in their career.  After earning 135 totals units, students may declare a minor or additional major only if they are in good academic standing and have the approval of the chair of the department offering the proposed academic program.

Credits from transfer units, non-traditional college-level work (including AP, IB, and CLEP examinations, and credit by challenge examinations), and military service in excess of 90 quarter units shall be excluded from the unit count for the purposes of the minor and double major policies.*

Students may request exceptions to the minor and double major policy by filing a general academic petition.

*Students often have credits from these sources that are not applicable to their Cal Poly Pomona degree program for a variety of reasons, including unfamiliarity with how tertiary education works (especially first generation college students), poor advising at Community College, exploration/change of career direction, credits for sports, etc.  The intention of this policy is to count up to 90 quarter units that likely fulfill GE and academic program requirements at Cal Poly Pomona without prohibiting transfer students from minoring or double majoring if they have a large number of units that do not further their Cal Poly Pomona degree.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

Admission to seek an additional bachelor’s degree for holders of such degrees is processed by the Admissions Office in the same way as other undergraduate admissions.

A student who has earned a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution must meet the curricular requirements for the second baccalaureate degree as well as minimum residence requirements established by this university. A minimum of 50 units must be taken in residence and, of the 50 units, 36 shall be earned in upper division courses with 18 of these upper division units being in courses in the major.

Advanced standing will be granted for work completed for the original baccalaureate degree as applicable to the new degree objective. Work completed at this university prior to awarding of the original baccalaureate degree shall be counted as appropriate toward the residence requirements for the second degree. Any change in general degree requirements (such as general education) will have to be met in order to receive the second baccalaureate degree.

Transfer Credit

A student who has attended accredited two-year or four-year colleges will be given full credit for college level courses successfully completed. Credit for courses taken at other institutions counts toward fulfillment of curriculum requirements when applicable; other courses count as elective credit. Cal Poly Pomona does not accept credit for courses in religious practices.

A maximum of 70 semester units (105 quarter units) of community college course credit may be applied toward the bachelor’s degree. No credit may be allowed for professional courses in education taken at a community college.

A maximum of 36 quarter units of extended university course credit may be applied toward the bachelor’s degree. Units students take over the 36 college level transferable limit-through Cal Poly Pomona or other Continuing Education or Extended Education programs or Open University coursework-may satisfy a specific course requirement, but only 36 units may be considered by the university as transferable college level work that may be counted towards satisfying the minimum units required for a degree.

No limit is placed upon the number of transferable credits from a four year college or university, except that no student will be granted a bachelor’s degree in any curriculum without having met the general unit, grade, and residence requirements.

No credit will be given for work taken at an unaccredited institution until the student has successfully completed 30 quarter units of work at this university. At that time, and upon recommendation of the student’s major department, credit may be given for the unaccredited work.

Once a student has commenced work at this university, approval of the advisor must be secured prior to taking courses at another institution for credit toward major requirements at this university. (See also concurrent enrollment section and eligibility for intercollegiate athletics section.)

Course Numbering System

Courses are grouped into number series indicating the level at which they are presented.

Credit Hour

As of July 1, 2011 federal law (Title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, sections 600.2 and 600.4) requires all accredited institutions to comply with the federal definition of the credit hour. For all CSU degree programs and courses bearing academic credit, the “credit hour” is defined as “the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that
reasonably approximates not less than:

1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.”

A credit hour is assumed to be a 50-minute period. In courses in which “seat time” does not apply, a credit hour may be measured by an equivalent amount of work, as demonstrated by student achievement.

Grading System

Grades have the following functions:

1. To recognize performance in a particular course.
2. To act as a basis of screening for other courses, programs or graduate school.
3. To inform the student of his/her level of achievement in a particular course.
4. To stimulate the student to learn.
5. To inform prospective employers of the student’s achievements.

At the discretion of the instructor, plus and minus (+/-) grading symbols may also be granted. The grade points associated with each grade are as follows:

Audit

An Audit grade (AU) signifies that a student has audited a course through an approved process. Enrollment as an auditor is subject to permission of the instructor; provided that enrollment in a course as an auditor shall be permitted only after students otherwise eligible to enroll on a credit basis have had an opportunity to do so. Auditors are subject to the same fee structure as credit students and regular class attendance is expected. Once enrolled as an auditor, a student may not change to credit status unless such a change is requested prior to the last day to add classes. A student who is enrolled for credit may not change to audit after the third week of instruction.

Credit/No Credit (CR/NC)

Courses will be graded on a CR/NC basis as follows:

1. Mandatory CR/NC Grading
   1. Some courses, as indicated by their catalog descriptions are offered for CR/NC grading only. Such courses are designated by the sponsoring department. Enrollment in these courses is not counted in the 24-unit limit or the 2-course/8 unit limit described in IIA below.
   2. All challenge examination credit will be awarded on CR/NC basis only. Credit for courses in student’s major (core) will be given letter grades only.
2. Optional CR/NC Grading
   A student may elect to be graded on a CR/NC basis in those courses which are designated by the University as being approved for optional grading. Courses designated for CR/NC grading will be shown in the catalog with the bold-faced dagger symbol (+). When a student elects CR/NC grading, the following conditions apply:
   1. A student may take up to two courses per quarter, not to exceed eight units, on a CR/NC basis. The total number of units which are graded CR/NC may not exceed 24 units for all college level work to be counted towards a bachelor’s degree, including all transfer work, and eight units for a master’s degree including all transfer work.
   2. A student who opts for CR/NC must already be regularly enrolled in the course. Before the end of the third week of classes, the student must file the CR/NC request form in the Registrar’s Office. A student may not change from one grading option to the other after the end of the third week of classes.
   3. A course may not be repeated as CR/NC if the student has previously been enrolled in that course for the traditional grading option. A course may be repeated for CR/NC only if a grade of NC has been earned previously.
   4. Undergraduate students and post-baccalaureate students seeking a second degree will be given a grade of CR for coursework equivalent to a grade C or better in any course for which CR/NC grading is approved and in which the student is properly enrolled. “NC” will be assigned for coursework equivalent to “C-,” or lower grades.
      For graduate courses designated as mandatory CR/NC, the grade of “CR” will be given for coursework equivalent to a grade of “B” or better. “NC” will be given for coursework equivalent to a “B-,” or lower grade. This will apply to both graduate and undergraduate students who are enrolled in graduate courses.
   5. Courses in the student’s major (“Core Courses in Major” on the student’s curriculum sheet) may not be taken as CR/NC unless designated as mandatory CR/NC grading.
   6. To be eligible to opt for CR/NC grading, an undergraduate student must have earned at least a 2.0 GPA in all Cal Poly Pomona work attempted. (The 2.0 GPA requirement is waived in the case of non-matriculated students having no previous work recorded at Cal Poly Pomona.) A graduate student must have earned at least a 3.0 GPA. New students enrolling at Cal Poly Pomona for the first time are eligible if they were admitted on a “clear” basis.
3. Grades of CR/NC are not included in the student’s grade point average. Courses for which CR is recorded will be counted as units completed only.
4. These regulations apply to all students enrolling at Cal Poly Pomona including non-matriculated students in the Extended University program, summer session, and workshops who wish to elect courses on a Credit/No Credit grading basis.

Incomplete

The symbol “I” (Incomplete Authorized) indicates that a clearly identifiable portion of the course requirements cannot be completed for serious and compelling reasons. An Incomplete shall not be assigned when it is necessary for the student to attend a portion of the class during a future term.

“I” grades are assigned at the request of the student and granted at the discretion of the instructor. A failing grade is not an acceptable reason to request or grant an “I”. It is the responsibility of the student to bring pertinent information to the attention of the instructor and to determine from the instructor the conditions that must be met to complete the course, and the associated deadline, not to exceed one year, which must be satisfied to remove the Incomplete. The Contract for Incomplete Grade is used to record these conditions. This written record protects both students and faculty. Copies of this Contract are to be filed in the Department Office, Registrar’s Office and given to the student. A final grade is assigned when the work agreed upon has been completed and evaluated.

An “I” must normally be made up within one calendar year immediately following the end of the term during which it was assigned. However, the time period set forth by the instructor on the Contract prevails. This limitation prevails whether or not the student maintains continuous enrollment. Failure to complete the assigned work within the time period set by the instructor will result in the “I” being converted to an “IC” symbol, unless the faculty member designates a specific letter grade at the time the Incomplete is assigned to replace the “I” in the student’s record.

Although the one-year maximum for incomplete grades is the general university policy, exceptions can be made in special cases, such as military service and serious health problems. The extension of an “I” grade in a course shall be allowed only one time, for a maximum extension of one year. The General Academic Petition is used to file such requests.

Effective fall 2009, students may not re-enroll in courses for which an “I” grade has been assigned. In cases where repetition of the course is deemed appropriate, the student should be assigned a withdrawal (“W”) or failing grade rather than an “I” grade.

Report Delayed

The “RD” symbol may be used where a delay in the reporting of a grade is due to circumstances beyond the control of the student. The symbol may be assigned by the Registrar’s Office only and, if assigned, shall be replaced by a substantive grading symbol as soon as possible upon submission of a Grade Change Form. An “RD” shall not be used in calculating grade point average or progress points.

Report in Progress

The “RP” symbol is used in connection with courses that extend beyond one academic quarter. The symbol indicates that work in progress has been evaluated as satisfactory to date but that the assignment of a precise grade must await the completion of additional coursework. Cumulative enrollment in units attempted may not exceed the total number applicable to the student’s educational objective. All work is to be completed within one calendar year of the date of first assignment of RP and a final grade will be assigned to all segments of the course on the basis of overall quality. Any extension of this time period must receive prior authorization by the advisor, department chair and college dean on a General Academic Petition. For master’s degree thesis or projects (695, 696), the time limit is two years. The “RP” symbol is authorized for specific courses, for example, courses numbered as 461, 462, 690-699, etc. The “RP” grade is not used in calculating the grade point average.

Official Withdrawal

The “W” symbol indicates that the student was permitted to withdraw from the course after the fifth day of instruction through the end of the eighth week of instruction with the approval of appropriate campus representatives. It carries no connotation of the student performance and is not used in calculating grade point average. A “W” will not be recorded for a class unless the student has officially withdrawn from the class.

Students may withdraw after the fifth day through the fifteenth day (third week) of instruction via the BroncoDirect system. Withdrawal from classes after the 15th day of instruction until the end of the eighth week of instruction is permissible only for serious and compelling reasons. To request to withdraw from classes after the third week of instruction, students must submit to the Registrar’s Office a Request for Class Withdrawal for Serious and Compelling Reasons Form with the necessary approval signatures. After the eighth week of instruction through the last day of finals week, withdrawals will only be permitted for serious and compelling reasons beyond the students’ control.

Effective fall 2009, undergraduates are limited to 28 units of recorded course withdrawals, i.e., where students receive “W” grades for the classes. Course withdrawals prior to fall 2009 and withdrawals approved through the Retroactive Withdrawal Petition process will not contribute to this limit. After the fifth day of instruction through the last day of finals week, students whose reasons for withdrawing from classes are beyond their control may request that such class withdrawals not contribute toward the 28-unit limit. Approved requests for this exception will be indicated by the Dean’s signature and the Associate Provost on the Request for Class Withdrawal for Serious and Compelling Reasons Form.

Withdrawal Unauthorized

The symbol “WU” indicates that an enrolled student did not withdraw from the course and also failed to complete course requirements. It is used when, in the opinion of the instructor, completed assignments or course activities or both were insufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible. For purposes of grade point average and grade point computation this symbol is equivalent to an “F”. The “WU” is also assigned when a student does not drop a course properly, such as when a student withdraws from a course without authorization (e.g. no approved withdrawal form is on file in the Registrar’s Office). If the appropriate withdrawal form is on file, this “WU” will be replaced by a “W” in the Registrar’s Office and a “W” will appear on the final grade sheet returned to the instructor and on the student’s grade report.

Retroactive Withdrawal

The administrative grade of “WU” will be given for a course if a student discontinues attendance and participation without officially dropping the course or withdrawing from the university. It is the sole responsibility of the student to formally drop courses by filing the appropriate forms with the Registrar’s Office in a timely manner. Retroactive Withdrawal will not be approved for students who did not withdraw from a course or courses because they did not report for the first meeting of a class and were not dropped.

When a student has received “WU” in all of the courses in which they enrolled during an academic quarter, the student may petition for retroactive withdrawal. The grades may be retroactively changed to the administrative grade of “W” if the student can demonstrate and document that serious and compelling reasons required their unofficial withdrawal from the university during the quarter in question and that the grades received were not earned (e.g. letter grades A-F).

Students who wish to apply for retroactive withdrawal must do so within one calendar year of the last day of the quarter in which they unofficially withdrew from the University. A student does not have to be enrolled in the university at the time the application for retroactive withdrawal is submitted.

Petition forms are available from the Office of Academic Programs, Building 98 T7-8, and must be submitted by the fifteenth day of classes in order to be considered by the Retroactive Withdrawal Committee for the current quarter.

Grade Appeals Policy and Procedure

Under the provisions of Executive Order 1037, “Assignment of Grades and Grade Appeals,” and the University’s “Statement of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Grievance Procedures,” students may appeal grades that they consider to be unfair.

The Executive Order governs the assignment of grades by faculty and requires an appeal procedure to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of faculty and students are properly recognized and protected. Occasionally, a circumstance will prevent assignment of an earned grade or will cause an assigned grade to be questioned by a student.

The following policy has been adopted by Cal Poly Pomona to provide the mechanism to deal with such unusual occurrences:

Course grades assigned by instructors are presumed to be correct. It is the responsibility of the student who appeals an assigned grade to demonstrate clerical error, prejudice, or capriciousness in the assignment of the grade, or that a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability was requested and not appropriately provided; otherwise, the judgment of the instructor is final.

A student who believes that a course grade has been assigned inappropriately must follow the proper steps in the appeal process, observing the time limits for completion of various steps in the process as follows:

Step 1: The student should speak face-to-face with the instructor during the first three weeks of the quarter following the assignment of the grade. Note: If the grade is assigned in the spring quarter, the student should follow these procedures in the following fall quarter. If the instructor is on leave, on sabbatical, or is not currently on the faculty including FERP faculty at the time of the appeal, the University shall attempt to contact the instructor on behalf of the student.*

If an appointment cannot be arranged, the student should attempt to communicate with the instructor by phone, e-mail or fax. If a grade has been assigned in error, the instructor can quickly correct the error by submitting a change of grade form to the Registrar’s Office.

Step 2: If the grade dispute is not resolved with the instructor and the student intends to appeal the grade, the student must appeal to the next level as soon as possible, but no later than the sixth week of the following quarter. In most cases, the student will appeal to the chair of the academic department that offered the class. If the instructor is a department chair, the student should appeal to the dean of the college that offered the class. If the instructor is a dean, the student should appeal to the Provost. The person to whom the student appealed will discuss the issue with the instructor and respond to the student, usually within two weeks.

*Note: the grade appeal process is suspended during the summer quarter when fewer students and faculty members are expected to be on campus. The grade appeal process is also suspended if the faculty member is on leave or on sabbatical. Thus, for spring quarter, “the following quarter” will be the following fall quarter. For appeals of summer quarter grades, the following quarter is the following fall quarter. For appeals when the faculty member is either on leave or on sabbatical “the following quarter” is the quarter the faculty member returns to CPP.

Step 3: If the student is still not satisfied after receiving the response from this second level of appeal, the student may submit a written statement within ten working days to the University Course Grade Appeal Committee through the Office of the Associate Provost. The formal grade appeal should be submitted prior to the end of the regular quarter following the quarter for which the grade was assigned.

Step 4: The Chair of the University Course Grade Appeal Committee will forward the student’s statement to the instructor. The instructor will be asked to respond in writing by a specified date (normally within two weeks). The student’s statement and the instructor’s response will then be reviewed by the entire committee, normally within two weeks of receipt of the instructor’s response.

The Committee will take one of the following actions:

1. Request additional information from the student and/or the instructor.
2. If the University Course Grade Appeal Committee finds that the student has grounds for complaint based on discrimination, caprice, or clerical error, then the instructor of record will be asked to reevaluate the grade. If the instructor refuses to reevaluate the grade or the instructor’s reevaluation results in the same grade, then the chair of the academic department that offered the class shall be asked to find a qualified faculty member with academic training comparable to the instructor of record to evaluate the student’s work and assign a grade. If the instructor is a department chair, the dean of the college that offered the class shall be asked to find a qualified faculty member with academic training comparable to the instructor of record to evaluate the student’s work and assign a grade. If the instructor is a dean, the provost shall be asked to find a qualified faculty member with academic training comparable to the instructor of record to evaluate the student’s work and assign a grade.
3. Recommend to the instructor that the grade be maintained as given.
4. Call for a formal hearing.

Step 5: When the Committee has made its recommendation, the student will be notified of it in writing, and be given a copy of the instructor’s written response to the student’s statement. This grade appeal procedure may take six to eight weeks to complete. The outcome of the formal grade appeal procedure is final; there is no higher level of appeal.

The Office of Academic Programs shall ensure that the university website, catalog and other publications reflect this policy. Additional information on preparing a written grade appeal is available from the Office of the Associate Provost or the website at https://www.cpp.edu/~academic-programs/index.shtml.

Repetition of Courses

Effective fall 2009, undergraduate students are not permitted to re-enroll in classes in which a grade of C or higher has been assigned. Students who wish to review course material may enroll in the course on an audit (“AU”) basis. Individual courses can be repeated for no more two times for a maximum of three attempts. Courses attempted prior to fall 2009 will contribute to the limit of three attempts. Effective fall 2009, students may repeat no more than 42 quarter units. Units of courses repeated for which grade forgiveness was granted prior to fall 2009 will contribute to this 42-unit limit. Units attempted for other courses repeated prior to fall 2009 that are still included in the calculation of the GPA (not forgiven) will not contribute to this limit. These limits do not apply to courses that have explicitly been designated as repeatable.

Grades received in courses taken in excess of this limit can be used to satisfy content and prerequisite requirements, but will not be used in GPA calculations. These courses will appear on students’ transcripts.

Students may enroll in, but may not receive credit for, courses that are prerequisites to courses already passed with a C or better (e.g., No credit will be awarded for MAT 106 after completion of MAT 114 with a C or better.) Exceptions from these policies may be requested by submitting the General Academic Petition form to the Academic Programs Office.

A waiver of the policies related to repetition of courses will be granted only to students with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 and documentation of demonstrated effort. Students requesting a waiver must submit a General Academic Petition to the Office of Academic Programs.

Grade Forgiveness

Effective fall 2009, active students may attempt to improve their grade point average by seeking Grade Forgiveness after repeating a course for which a grade lower than a C was issued. Grade Forgiveness can be applied for a maximum of 16 quarter units and only to courses taken for undergraduate credit and before awarding of a bachelor’s degree. Units of courses for which grade forgiveness was granted prior to fall 2009 will contribute to this 16-unit limit. When Grade Forgiveness is granted, the grade and units for the excluded course work will not be used in the calculation of the grade point average and the units will not be used to satisfy the requirements toward graduation. The excluded course work will remain on the student’s permanent record, but will bear the Grade Forgiven annotation. Grade Forgiveness will not be granted for courses for which the original grade was the result of a finding of academic dishonesty.

A waiver of this policy will be granted only to students with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 and documentation of demonstrated effort. Students requesting a waiver must submit a General Academic Petition to the Office of Academic Programs. 

For Grade Forgiveness to apply, the course must be repeated at Cal Poly Pomona.  Courses repeated at another college or university, regardless of its equivalency to the Cal Poly Pomona class, will not be eligible for Grade Forgiveness.

To request for Grade Forgiveness on any course, students must have the Grade Forgiveness through Course Repetition Form signed by their academic advisor and filed in the Registrar’s Office, CLA Building, 2nd floor. To ensure that the latest form is being used, students are encouraged to download the Course Repetition form from the Registrar’s Office Forms & Services website, http://www.cpp.edu/~registrar/forms-services/index.shtml.

Graduate Courses Taken By Undergraduates

An undergraduate may petition for up to thirteen quarter units of graduate coursework taken as an undergraduate student for undergraduate or postbaccalaureate credit providing that:

1. the courses are at the 300, 400, or 500 level
2. none of the courses to be taken for graduate credit is applied to the bachelor’s degree;
3. the student has senior standing (has completed 135 quarter units) and an upper-division grade point average of 2.75 or better; some departments may specify a higher GPA;
4. the petition is submitted before the end of the third week of the quarter in which the work is performed; retroactive credit will not be granted;
5. the petition is endorsed by the course instructor, and approved by the Office of Academic Programs.

If the petition is approved, the courses for which such credit is requested will be identified on the transcript as undergraduate or postbaccalaureate coursework as applicable, and grades earned will be considered in the cumulative undergraduate or postbaccalaureate-GPA as applicable.  If no petition is filed, the coursework will be considered postbaccalaureate work.

Students may also petition to have undergraduate coursework taken as an undergraduate student for postbaccalaureate credit.  None of the courses can be applied to the bachelor’s degree.

Petitions for consideration of work taken as an undergraduate student will not be considered from students after completion of the undergraduate degree. 

When an undergraduate student takes a graduate course, there will be no differential evaluation procedure.  All students in the class will be considered graduate students and evaluated according to postbaccalaureate standards established by the associated graduate college.

Contact the Office of Academic Programs, Building 98-T7, Room 18, for further information.

University Honors

Honor Lists

The Dean’s List, announced at the end of each quarter, honors undergraduate students who have completed at the University 12 or more letter grade units during the quarter with a 3.5 or better grade point average for Cal Poly coursework. Students taking preparatory coursework must obtain C (2.0) letter grades or better in their preparatory courses and make satisfactory progress toward completion of remediation requirements to remain on the Dean’s List.

The “President’s Honor List,” announced at the end of the spring quarter, honors undergraduate students who have a grade point average of 3.5 or better for completion at the University of 12 or more units during all three quarters of the academic year.

Honors at Graduation

The University grants honors at graduation to students who have demonstrated academic excellence during their career in higher education. The grade point average for the determination of honors is calculated on all grades earned at this institution as well as any other institution of higher education attended.

The honors designations with the grade point averages required are summa cum laude-3.80-4.00; magna cum laude-3.65-3.79; cum laude-3.50-3.64. Students who complete their graduation requirements in the summer, fall or winter quarters will have their GPA’s determined before the commencement program is printed and their designated honors will be identified in the program.

Students who complete their graduation requirements in the spring quarter will not have their final GPA’s determined until after the commencement program printing. In order to identify these students in the commencement program, their GPA as of the last winter quarter should be used as the determining GPA for graduation honors recognition. If the GPA status (as to Graduation Honors) changes for spring quarter graduates as a result of grades earned during the spring quarter, this will be recorded on their transcripts and on their diplomas. This status change will not occur in the commencement program. The number of status changes is expected to be minimal. Only students who have completed all of their graduation requirements before spring quarter or students who are registered and complete the balance of their graduation requirements in the spring quarter (as of the census day) will be eligible for honors at graduation. The label “Graduation Honors” is printed next to the student’s name in the commencement program and announced at the college convocations.

University Honorary Societies

Sigma Xi

The members of the Society of the Sigma Xi are scholars who have produced significant research in the pure or applied sciences. The object of the society is to encourage original investigation in the physical, life, agricultural, earth, medical, and behavioral sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Membership is gained by being elected by an institutional chapter, by a duly authorized club, or by the Chapter-at-Large. The membership of the Cal Poly Pomona Sigma Xi Authorized Club consists of faculty and students. The Club has the authority to elect Associate Members.

Golden Key National Honor Society

The Golden Key National Honor Society is a non-profit organization which was founded by undergraduate students in 1977 at Georgia State University to recognize and encourage scholastic achievement and excellence among upper division students in all undergraduate fields of study. It is through the recognition of scholastic achievement, the presentation of scholarships to outstanding members, and the involvement of members in educational programs that the society promotes excellence in academics.

Phi Beta Delta

Phi Beta Delta is an honor society formed to recognize and encourage professional, intellectual, and personal achievements in international education. The Cal Poly Pomona chapter was founded in 1986 and at present primarily consists of students who have spent a year of study abroad in one of the 34 California State University overseas study programs in 16 different countries. Other students and also faculty and administrators may be invited to become members. The society fosters community and dialogue within an international perspective.

Alpha Lambda Delta

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society open to freshmen who are full time students and rank in the top 20 percent of their freshman class at the end of their first quarter. Its goals include the promotion of high standards of learning. The Society has numerous awards, national workshops, program guidance and fellowships and loans for graduate and professional study.