Academic Life

Academic life and campus life at Fort Hays State University are supportive elements in an integrative learning experience. The programs and resources described in this section (and those that follow) suggest the many facets of college life and the special opportunities, that FHSU affords its students.

Academic Environment

Fort Hays State University is dedicated to providing instruction within a computerized environment in the arts and sciences, business, education, the health and life sciences, and agriculture. The University's primary emphasis is undergraduate liberal education, which includes the humanities, the fine arts, the social/behavioral sciences, and the natural/physical sciences. These disciplines serve as the foundation of all programs. Graduates are provided a foundation for entry into graduate school, for employment requiring well developed analytical and communication skills, and understanding an American society of increasing diversity and global complexities of the 21st century. Natural outgrowths of the University's primary emphasis include pre-professional, professional, master's, and education specialist programs. A statewide strategic focus of the University is the integration of computer and telecommunications technology with the educational environment and the work place. Scholarship at FHSU is supported because it stimulates faculty and students, provides new knowledge, connects the disciplines, and builds bridges between teaching and learning while linking theory with practice to address the needs of a diverse society. The university is responsible for providing public service to the community, the region, and the state of Kansas. Programs consistent with the university's academic and research activities emphasize the importance of FHSU as the cultural center of western Kansas.

Academic Advising

Students will be assigned a faculty member to whom they can turn to for assistance with any academic decisions they must make. Their advisors will help them identify interests and career goals, plan an academic program, particularly the classes to be taken in the upcoming semester, and will assist in any changes of schedule made after the semester is underway. When a student encounters any academic difficulty, his/her academic advisor should be the first stop. Undecided students are assigned an academic advisor who can also assist them in career decisions. If a student does not know who his/her academic advisor is, the Office of the Registrar, Sheridan Hall 106, will have the information.

The primary purpose of the FHSU academic advising program is to assist students in the development of meaningful educational plans that will be compatible with career aspirations and contribute to the process of preparing for a life of change, challenge, and individual fulfillment. At FHSU, academic advising is based on a system of shared responsibility between student and advisor, and a process of continuous improvement, clarification, and evaluation with the aim of furthering institutional advising goals and desired student outcomes. Developmental advising focuses upon the relational, conceptual, and informational aspects of advising students.

The University goals of academic advising are:

Goal 1: To help students clarify individual values, career goals, and the challenges of life in the 21st century.

Goal 2: To develop suitable educational plans and programs of study for each student.

Goal 3: To help students select appropriate courses and other educational opportunities.

Goal 4: To help students review and evaluate progress toward established educational goals and completion of requirements within individual programs of study.

Goal 5: To develop student awareness and understanding that decision-making in the advising process and life is based on a system of shared responsibility.

Goal 6: To encourage students to utilize university support services and related resources as needed.

Goal 7: To clarify and improve the student's knowledge of career options and potential for career change in the workplace of the 21st century.

Goal 8: To address the individualized academic advising needs of a diverse student population.

Academic Expectations

Students are expected to provide academic work that represents their ability without inappropriate assistance. The university has developed policies and procedures in regard to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, abuse of resource materials, and computer misuse. Sanctions may range from a warning, loss of credit for the examination or assignments in question, failure of a course, suspension or expulsion from the University. For more information concerning academic policies and procedures, consult the Campus Directory and Student Handbook.

Fort Hays State University is committed to being one of the nation's outstanding comprehensive liberal arts institutions. To accomplish this charge all team members must be empowered. The motivation, competency, productivity, and creativity of team members is critical to our ability to satisfy and serve students.

The student-teacher relationship at FHSU is contractual in nature. Professors openly share their beliefs, attitudes, insights, and knowledge with students in relationship to expected course outcomes in the instructors' particular fields of expertise. The function of faculty is to create an environment for learning to take place. Inherent in this relationship is the students' responsibility to participate actively in the learning process and to adhere to the rules and regulations found within the University Catalog, student handbook, and course syllabi.

Reporting Student Academic Progress

Students' academic progress is reported using the following scale and grade point equilances:

Grade:      Grade Points per Credit:   
A    Superior Achievement    4.00   
B    Good Achievement    3.00   
C    Average Achievement    2.00   
D    Minimum Passing Achievement    1.00   
U    Unsatisfactory Achievement    0.00   
I    Incomplete: Assigned at the discretion of the instructor when work is otherwise passing but incomplete.   
WP    Withdrawal Passing (not used in calculating GPA)   
WF    Withdrawal Failing (not used in calculating GPA)   
P    Pass   
CR    Credit   
NC    No Credit   

Academic Status And Standards

All students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward their degrees. The issuing of grade reports presents an important opportunity for students and the university to assess academic performance. Academic advisors receive copies of both the midterm and final grade reports. Students who show signs of academic difficulty at midterm are expected to see their academic advisors to discuss problems and possible remedies.

Students are expected to perform at a level that will lead to graduation. A minimum of a "C" average (2.00) is required for graduation, although specific fields may require more than the minimum. A student whose grades do not reflect progress towards a degree is placed on academic probation or academic suspension.

Reinstatement and Appeal If a student is placed on academic suspension, it is in the student's best interest to take at least one semester to reconsider and re-evaluate career plans. An "Application for Academic Reinstatement" may then be filed. Reinstatement is not automatic; each application will be evaluated on its own merit. A student can also appeal the academic suspension if extenuating circumstances contributed to the suspension. The student should submit an "Application for Academic Reinstatement" to appeal. There is, however, no right to reinstatement. For assistance, a student should consult with the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Davis Hall 206, 785-628-5950.

Add Policy Statement

Students may officially add full-semester courses up to and including the 20th day of classes for a semester. Policies for adding courses of less than a full semester or summer term in length are contained in the Schedule of Classes.

Withdrawal Policy Statement

Students may withdraw from full-semester courses up to the end of the tenth week of classes. Students withdrawing through the fifth week will not receive any notation on their transcript. Between the sixth week and the end of the tenth week students who withdraw will receive a notation on their transcript of withdrawal passing (WP) or withdrawal failing (WF). No withdrawals will be allowed after the tenth week of classes. Appeal requests for withdrawal must be submitted to the Academic Appeals Committee. To initiate this process, contact the Office of the Registrar, Sheridan Hall 106, 785-628-4222 for the appeal form.