The Daily Bulletin Archive

From the Interim President

Revised Action on College Senate Resolution for the Motion to Change the Academic Level (Class Level) Policy
At its March 12, 2010, meeting, the College Senate voted to forward the following recommendation to change the Academic Level (Class Level) Policy to the interim president for approval. Subsequent to the action by the Senate, the director of financial aid requested a change in the effective term of the recommended policy from summer 2010 to spring 2011. This change in effective term will eliminate the need to repackage awards for more than 2,000 students who received award letters prior to March 12. The policy below reflects the revised effective term. No other changes to the policy have been made. This policy and the interim president’s response replace the announcement by the interim president in the April 8, 2010, issue of the Bulletin.

Motion to Change the Academic Level (Class Level) Policy

Whereas, the current undergraduate Academic Level (Class Level) Policy does not accurately reflect the progress required for timely graduation (i.e., 120 credits within eight semesters/four years) as a full-time matriculated student at Buffalo State College; and

Whereas, the current policy is inconsistent with the typical campus practice of advising students to take an average load of 15 credits per semester; and

Whereas, the current policy creates difficulty for various office functions (e.g., Institutional Research, Financial Aid) due to external procedural requirements;

Therefore, be it resolved that effective spring 2011,the college revise the Academic Level (Class Level) Policy as freshmen from 0 to 29 credit hours, sophomores from 30 to 59 credit hours, juniors from 60 to 89 credit hours, and seniors from 90 and above credit hours.

CURRENT POLICY
(2009–2011 Undergraduate Catalog, p. 27)
Academic Levels (Class Level) 
Students are given class designations according to the number of credit hours they have earned. Undergraduate levels are:

Freshmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 to 28 credit hours
Sophomores . . . . . . . . . . . .29 to 56 credit hours
Juniors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 to 88 credit hours
Seniors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 or more credit hours

RECOMMENDED POLICY
Academic Levels (Class Level) 
Students are given class designations according to the number of credit hours they have earned. Undergraduate levels are:

Freshmen . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 to 29 credit hours
Sophomores . . . . . . . . . . 30 to 59 credit hours
Juniors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 to 89 credit hours
Seniors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 or more credit hours

I accept the recommendation of the College Senate and hereby authorize the changes to the Academic Level Policy as outlined above. I charge the interim provost with the responsibility of ensuring that these changes are implemented, included in all appropriate documents, and communicated widely through the institution.