1. Dillard University
Course Syllabus Policies
Non-Discrimination Policy
Dillard University assures equal opportunity for all qualified persons in the admission to,
participation in, or employment in the programs and activities of the university. The university is
committed to the policy of compliance with federal laws and regulations concerning non-
discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, marital status,
sexual preference, or veteran’s status.
Student Disability Policy
Dillard University is committed to full compliance with all laws regarding equal opportunity for
students with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and
other applicable federal, state and local laws. The Office of Academic Affairs will respond to
any requests for reasonable and appropriate accommodations in a timely and effective manner.
All disabilities require documentation from the student. All university practices and activities are
conducted on a nondiscriminatory and confidential basis.
Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Policy
The following disaster plan statement must be bolded and included at the bottom of the first
page:
“In the event of disaster, the Dillard University Preparedness Plan will take priority over the
timeline in this syllabus. The summary of key points for the plan is available on the University
website and by printed literature.”
Class Attendance
It is expected that students attend every class and that professors call roll and document student
absences. Continuing student absence without official withdrawal affects the amount of
financial aid a student must return to the Federal Government. The University is responsible for
informing the Department of Education concerning the last day of a student’s attendance if the
student has stopped attending class but has not officially withdrawn.
Student Absences
The university recognizes that a student may miss a class for legitimate reasons. The university
allows no more than three (3) excused or unexcused absences per course. Absence forms which
must be handed in to the instructor with documentation of the absence (e.g., doctor’s note, etc.)
are available on the web. A student may incur an excused absence under the following
documented circumstances: 1) illness/hospitalization; 2) death of a parent, sibling or
grandparent; 3) official university business (i.e., choir, varsity team, debate, etc.); 4) legal matter.

2. When the absence is excused, a student is allowed to make up all missed assignments. The
assignments and the completion dates must be contractually arranged with the instructor, the date
no later than the end of the semester. If the instructor determines that the work of the class
cannot be successfully completed prior to the end of the semester, the student should withdraw
from the class or the student may risk failing the course. Below list the allowable absences from
a course per semester:
5 semester credit hour course equals to 5 excused/unexcused absences
4 semester credit hour course equals to 4 excused/unexcused absences
3 semester credit hour course equals to 3 excused/unexcused absences
2 semester credit hour course equals to 2 excused/unexcused absences
1 semester credit hour course equals to 1 excused/unexcused absences
The course syllabus indicates the manner in which student absences affects grades in the course.
Students who are absent for a sustained period of time should consult with their advisors to
determine whether or not they should continue enrollment in the course.
The Grading System
Quality points and the University Grading Scale for each semester hour of credit earned at
Dillard are assigned as follows:
Grading Scale* and Quality Points
A- 90 – 100 Excellent 4 quality points per semester
B- 80 - 89 Good 3 quality points per semester
C- 70 - 79 Average 2 quality points per semester
D- 60 - 69 Passing 1 quality point per semester
F 0 - 59 Failure No quality points
*Grading scale range can be calculated in terms of percent for any number of total points accumulated,
e.g. 90% of 1000 (1000-900 = A), 80% of 1000 (800 – 899 = B), etc.
I –Incomplete with the default letter grade (IB, IC, ID, IF) - recorded on the Removal of
Incomplete/Change of Grade
P-Pass
NC-No Credit
W – Withdrawal (Administrative Withdrawals for no classes attended by census date)
WP-Withdrawal, Passing (Attending and passing course at time of withdrawal)

3. WF-Withdrawal, Failing (Indicates that the student ceased attendance and failed to
complete the course objectives but did not officially withdraw from the course- Approved by
Senior Cabinet, April 12, 2010). A student who discontinues attending classes but who fails to
withdraw officially in a timely manner will receive a WF (F in 2009-2010 catalog, p. 12) in all
courses for which he/she is registered.
Note: Grades of P, I, W, and NC are not counted as credits attempted in computing grade
point averages.
Incomplete Grade Policy
If a student’s work is of passing quality but cannot be completed during the regular semester due
to circumstances beyond the student’s control, the instructor issues a grade of “I” (Incomplete).
The student should initiate the Removal of Incomplete/Change of Grade form by contacting the
professor in whose course the student received an “Incomplete.” The student must arrange with
the professor to complete the work indicated by the professor in a timely manner so that the “I”
may be removed from the student’s record before midterm in the semester following the one in
which the “I” was given. See University Calendar for dates. If the appropriate coursework is
not completed and the Removal of Incomplete/Change of Grade form not submitted within
the time frame for change, the “I” becomes an “F” or the default grade earned with a zero
calculation for assignment(s) missing. The default “I” grade (IB, IC, ID, IF) will be
recorded on the Removal of Incomplete form at the time the grade of “I” is recorded. A
grade of “F” shall be the default if the instructor fails to provide a default. The final grade
(default or removed) on the transcript will be a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F).
Withdraw Failing (WF) Policy
A grade of WF (Withdraw Failing) has been established to comply with Title IV regulations that
an institution must have in place to identify and resolve instances where a student’s attendance
through the end of the enrollment period could not be confirmed. WF indicates that the student
ceased attendance and failed to complete the course objectives but did not officially withdraw
from the course. Any student that does not notify the instructor of consecutive absences from
class will be considered unofficially withdrawn from the university under the following
circumstances:
Six consecutive missed class periods (MWF)
and/or
Four consecutive missed class periods (TTh)
and
Failure to obtain an approved leave of absence
The purpose of this policy is to provide a mechanism to identify and resolve instances where a
student ceases to attend or participate in class activities prior to the withdrawal deadline. It
provides a grade which clearly indicates the cause of class failure as due to lack of attendance
rather than failure to complete course objectives.