ACADEMIC POLICY
21
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2014-2015
GENERAL INFORMATION
Academic Calendar
The academic calendar is divided into two terms, a fall term of
approximately 14 weeks beginning in late August and concluding near the
end of December, and a spring term of approximately 14 weeks beginning
in early February and concluding around the middle of May. The month
of January is an Exploration term during which students engage in an
academic project under the supervision of a faculty member. There is also
a summer term for a variety of academic programs on campus, including
regular coursework and undergraduate research. The academic calendar,
showing pertinent dates for the academic year, is posted at the website:
.
Faculty Advisors
Comprehensive advising is an integral part of the academic program
at Birmingham-Southern College. We aim to provide students with the
resources and skills that will enable them to achieve full potential in
and out of college. Each student has a faculty advisor who assists him or
her with academic matters, with the consideration and setting of goals,
and with learning to make decisions. The faculty advisor also serves as a
resource person for the numerous services (such as career and personal
counseling) and programs that are available to aid in the student’s
academic, career, and personal development. The student and the faculty
advisor have a shared responsibility in the advising process. Ultimately, it is
the student’s responsibility to know the requirements for graduation.
Students opting to participate in the four-year graduation guarantee
should meet with their advisors prior to making any schedule changes.
Failure to consult with the faculty advisor prior to adding or dropping
courses will lead to the four-year graduation guarantee becoming void.
Students are encouraged to remain with their initial advisor for at
least one year. They may be reassigned at any time, however, at their own
request, at their advisor’s request, or at the discretion of the Provost.
Change-of-advisor forms are available in all of the academic offices, or
online at the Records Office website.
Classification of Students
Students who are candidates for a bachelor’s degree are classified as
follows:
first-year students
, if they have completed fewer than seven units;
sophomores
, if they have completed at least seven but fewer than 15 units;
juniors
, if they have completed at least 15 but fewer than 23 units; and
seniors
, if they have completed at least 23 units but have not completed all
degree requirements. Transient students and special students are classified
as “not candidate for degree” students.
