Policies

Program Entrance, Retention, and Exit Standards

Every major program at the College has set standards for allowing students to remain in that program, to transfer within the College from one program to another, and to graduate from a program. The following are the standards for English programs. Minimum grades are noted in parentheses.

For students with curriculum codes ENGA and ENGT:

  •  Retention in the program is based on the following performance standard in three foundation courses: LIT 200/ Introduction to Poetry (C); LIT 201/Approaches to Literature (C); LIT 217/ Issues in Multicultural Literature (C).

  •  Students wishing to transfer into any English Department program from another program within the College are required to submit an application by September 15 for admission into Spring courses and February 15 for admission into Fall courses. Please consult the department website for more information about the application process.

  •  Graduation requirements: all English Department and correlate courses (C-).

For students with curriculum code ENGB:

  • Retention in the program is based on the following performance standard in this “critical content course”: JPW 208/Introduction to Journalism (C).
  • Transfer into the program from another program within the College is based upon the following performance standard in this “foundation course”: JPW 208/Introduction to Journalism (C).
  • Graduation requirements: all English Department and correlate courses (C-).

Declaring an English Liberal Arts, English Teaching or Journalism/Professional Writing major

English Department Policy for Student Grievances
(For complaints/appeals not involving discrimination or sexual harassment.)

According to the College Student Grievance Policy, a student having a complaint against a faculty member:

1) discusses the problem with the instructor;
2) discusses the problem with the chair of the department and then, if the problem has not been resolved;
3) makes a written request for a hearing by the department grievance committee.

As a matter of course, the department chair sends all unresolved student appeals about assignment or course grades directly to the department grievance committee.

The grievance committee is formed on an ad hoc basis in response to a student’s request.
1) The department grievance committee consists of three faculty members and one student who has agreed to participate in the process.

a. the grieving student chooses one faculty member and notifies the chair in writing of the choice;
b. the chair chooses two faculty members and one student member** and notifies the grieving student in writing of the choices;
i. The chair designates one of the two faculty members as committee chair.

2) The student submits a written statement of grievance with supporting documents to the departmental committee. Documents may include syllabus, assignments, relevant graded exams and papers, etc.

3) The department grievance committee asks the instructor to respond, in writing, to the grievance and may ask for additional relevant materials.

In the case of a grievance about grades, the committee reviews the student’s grievance and the instructor’s response, and it confers to determine if the student has grounds for appeal. If not, the student will be informed in writing. If the student does have grounds for appeal, the committee will invite the student and faculty member to meet with them in person. The student may bring one adviser to the meeting, but the adviser is not permitted to address the committee.

The grievance committee conducts a meeting with both the student and faculty member present. Afterwards, it considers the case privately and provides the department chair with a written copy of the decision.

The chair provides a copy of the decision to the student and instructor involved in the grievance.

**The department chair will select the student member from a group of faculty-nominated students who have agreed to serve on such a committee.

In accordance with TCNJ policy, the procedure for appeals shall be posted on bulletin boards in each school and department and on relevant web pages accessible to students and faculty members.

Approved November 10, 2010