Academic Policies
Your Framework for Success

Students register for all required and elective courses during official registration and drop/add periods through the year. It is the responsibility of each student to adhere to the college’s policies and procedures for course elections.

Students receive guidance and resources from Taubman College Student Affairs which includes our College Registrar and a team of Academic Advisors.

Students who are waitlisted for a Taubman College course should attend the first day of the course and connect with the instructor regarding the possibility of being added to the course. If an instructor allows the student to add that instructor needs to email TaubmanCollegeAdvising@umich.edu indicating their approval. The Advising team will then issue the student a permission via Wolverine Access.

Please note: Taubman College Advising can only issue permissions for Taubman College courses. Students on a waitlist or with questions about registering for non-Taubman College courses need to contact the school/college/department that owns the course.

Dropping and Adding Courses

Students may make changes to their registration within the official registration and drop/add periods for any given term (through the third week of any full term and the second week of any half term).

Taubman College allows a student to drop a course after the university drop/add deadline up until the last day of classes for the term. Any modifications to course elections after the university drop/add deadline are subject to approval from the instructor(s) involved and/or the program chair or the chair’s designee. A course officially dropped after the university deadline will appear on the academic record with the designation “W” (withdrawal). No credit is awarded toward the degree and grade point averages are not affected.

A late withdrawal from a course does not result in tuition reimbursement. Students withdrawing from all of their courses may be eligible for a tuition refund as outlined in the U-M Withdrawal and Tuition Refund Policy.

A student may petition to receive a course waiver in a course they have already completed at another accredited university. The student must submit a waiver request form to the faculty member teaching the course in which they are seeking the waiver and submit supporting documentation, including but not limited to course syllabus, assignments, projects, papers, and tests to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the subject. The granting of a waiver is at the discretion of the individual faculty member.

If a student receives a course waiver, they have fulfilled that requirement, but no credit hours will be granted. The student will need to register for another course of equal credits in place of the waived course. It is recommended that students select a replacement course in the same area in which they received the waiver. For example, a student receiving a waiver from a structures course should select a structures elective. For graduate students, the selected replacement course should be at the 500 level or above.

An independent study course is designed by the student in consultation with a faculty member, to investigate an area or field of specialization not normally covered in a regularly scheduled course offering by the department.

Students should complete the appropriate waiver form and obtain the instructor’s signature. The form can then be submitted to Taubman College Advising for review and approval of the appropriate degree director. If approved, the College Registrar will issue permission for the student to enroll in the appropriate course.

Only one independent study course may be elected per term, and no more than 6 credit hours of independent study credit may apply toward the M.Arch degree or B.S. Architecture degree.

Course Grades

Course grades are awarded on a letter system, A through E. These letter grades are translated into honor points for each hour of course credit, as follows:

Term Grades

Students enrolled on the Ann Arbor campus obtain grades through Wolverine Access. Grades for the current term will be available as they are entered in the computer system at the end of the term. Official transcripts must be obtained from the Transcript Department within the Office of the Registrar.

Grade Point Average

The grade point average (GPA) for a term is calculated by dividing the Michigan honor points (MHP) earned during the term by the number of Michigan semester hours (MSH) elected for the term. The cumulative grade point average is calculated by dividing the total of all Michigan honor points earned during enrollment in the program by the number of Michigan semester hours elected in that program. The Michigan semester hours do not include credit hours:

• Transferred from another program, unit, or institution
• For courses elected pass/fail or audit
• For professional work experience

A student may elect or modify a course to pass/fail through the third week of a full term and the second week of a half term, but only under the following conditions:

• Students in the M.Arch degree may not take courses pass/fail
• Courses offered by Taubman College may not be taken pass/fail
• Courses taken to fulfill distribution requirements for the B.S. degrees may not be taken pass/fail
• Courses taken as replacements for waived classes may not be taken pass/fail
• English Language Institute courses may not be taken pass/fail
• Undergraduates may take a maximum of one general elective course per term on a pass/fail basis

Credit hours for courses satisfactorily completed as pass/fail will apply toward the degree, but grade point averages are not affected. Instructors are not informed of those students taking a course on a pass/fail basis. Instructors report grades as usual and the Office of the Registrar makes the following conversions:

• A through C- is entered on the academic record as “P” (pass) for credit
• D+ through E is entered on the academic record as “F” (fail) for no credit

For undergraduate students, credit for academic courses from other units of the university and other institutions is evaluated by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. All credit earned in other units of the university, except remedial courses below normal college-level and introductory officer education courses, will transfer up to a maximum of 70 CTP (count towards program) credits. Only credit hours, and not grades or honor points, will be posted to the student’s record.

Credit earned through high school advanced placement exams conducted nationally by College Board will transfer, provided the scores are sent to the university and meet university standards (see www.admissions.umich.edu/drupal/AP-IB-credit). No credit will be awarded for placement exams offered by other departments of the university or by other institutions. Not more than 7 credit hours of technical courses earned at other institutions may be transferred; such credit is evaluated by the Architecture Program.

High school students who dually enroll for courses at accredited institutions of higher education may receive credit for work taken at these institutions for courses that have been recognized for transfer to the University of Michigan in accordance with the University’s transfer credit policy.

Acceptance of courses and credits deemed suitable for transfer to the University of Michigan is determined by faculty in the department, school, or college responsible for instruction in the subject area. Factors influencing acceptability include accreditation status, comparable academic quality to other course offerings in the primary administrative unit, and the basis for student performance evaluation in the course.

Transfer General Credit, posted as TRGENCR 101X on a transcript, does not fulfill any Taubman College degree requirements, but will apply to the overall number of credits required for a degree. TRGENCR 101X credits will fall into general electives on the student’s Taubman College Transfer Worksheet or Online Advising File.

Note:

• In order for course credits from external (non-UM) institutions to be eligible for transfer, students must achieve a grade of C or better
• The graduate architecture program does not accept transfer credit for the Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Design programs

To be in good standing in the undergraduate degrees, a student must have a GPA of at least 2.0 for the term just concluded and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. To be in good standing in the graduate degrees, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.0 for the term just concluded and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.

Students interested in returning to the Architecture or Urban and Regional Planning program(s) who have not been enrolled for more than 12 months must formally apply for readmission. Inquiries should be directed to TaubmanCollegeAdmissions@umich.edu. The application for readmission should be filed no later than two months before the beginning of the term of re-enrollment. No application fee is required.

Rackham Readmission Information

Definition

Any student not in good standing is on academic discipline under one of the following categories: Probation, Further Enrollment Withheld, or Reinstated On Probation. As soon as possible after the college receives the transcripts, all students on academic discipline will be notified of their status. Each student so notified should contact the College Registrar immediately. For students on academic discipline, the program chair (or chair’s designee) has the right and responsibility to approve course elections and changes, to require the election of specific courses and to establish a maximum or minimum number of courses and credit hours. The final responsibility for the administration of matters related to academic discipline rests with the committee on academic standing. All actions of academic discipline are entered on, and become a permanent part of, the student’s academic record; except that when such action results from administrative, faculty, or staff error, the entry will be expunged. As soon as the student corrects all academic deficiencies, record clear is noted on the transcript, and the student is again in good standing.

In this policy on academic discipline, term, except as modified, refers to either a full-term or a half-term. When a student elects less than 6 credit hours in a term, their academic status will normally be determined by counting the current term and the preceding term as a single combined term; except that if this totals more than 20 credit hours, the status will normally be determined by counting the current term and the following term as a single combined term.

Probation

Probation is assigned when a student not already on probation or reinstated on probation has a deficiency of:

• Less than 10 honor points below a 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate) for the full-term just concluded
• Less than 5 honor points below a 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate) for the half term just concluded
• Below a cumulative 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate). GPA Probation is assigned for a period of one term only, during which the student is required to:
  • Earn at least a 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate) GPA for that term
  • Raise their cumulative GPA to at least 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate)
  • Meet any other special conditions of the probation

If a student satisfies all requirements of the probation, they are is again in good standing. If a student fails to satisfy all of these requirements, a status of further enrollment withheld is assigned. The student may not continue in the program unless they successfully appeal that action.

Further Enrollment Withheld

Further enrollment withheld is assigned when a student is in severe academic difficulty. Specifically, one of the following:

• If the term GPA, the cumulative GPA, or any combination thereof is below 2.0 undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate) for two successive terms
• If there is a deficiency of 10 or more honor points below either a 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate) full term GPA or cumulative GPA
• If there is a deficiency of 5 or more honor points below either a 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate) half term GPA
• If there is a lack of reasonable progress toward a degree
• If a student on probation or reinstated on probation fails to meet all requirements of the probation

When further enrollment is withheld and if the student is not already on ‘Reinstated on Probation’ status, they have the privilege of appealing the action, in accordance with procedures established by the committee on academic standing. The student will be required to explain in writing the particular reasons for the low academic performance and to present a compelling argument why continuing enrollment or readmission should be permitted. Each case will be carefully considered on its own merits. If the committee on academic standing approves the appeal, the student is reinstated on probation. If the committee denies the appeal, the student is prohibited from enrolling in the college normally for at least two full-terms, and the status of further enrollment withheld continues in effect. During the last term of the required disenrollment period, the student may petition for reinstatement by presenting evidence that, during this period, they have taken steps to substantially improve their chances for academic success in the remainder of the program. If the committee approves this petition, the student is reinstated on probation.

Reinstated On Probation

Reinstated on probation is assigned following a student’s successful appeal, or subsequent petition, of further enrollment withheld. Reinstated on probation is assigned for a period of one term only during which the student is required to:

• Earn at least a 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate) GPA for the term, unless a higher GPA is prescribed by the committee on academic standing
• Raise their cumulative GPA to a level prescribed by the committee on academic standing
• Meet any other special conditions of the probationary reinstatement

If a student satisfies all requirements of the probationary reinstatement and has a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate), they are again in good standing. If a student satisfies all conditions of the probationary reinstatement except that the cumulative GPA is still below 2.0 (undergraduate)/3.0 (graduate), they are on probation. If a student fails to satisfy the requirements of the probationary reinstatement, further enrollment is automatically withheld and further appeal for continuing enrollment is not permitted.

The appeal procedure shall be available to both student and faculty members of Taubman College for review of grievances of academic matters, including, but not limited to:

• All aspects of the degree process involving grading, evaluation, or status
• Unjustified denial of student access to data or misappropriation of student data
• Professional misconduct toward students
• Unfair, discriminatory, or intimidating treatment of students, including sexual intimidation and discrimination due to disability
• Discipline or other action taken as a result of allegations or findings of student academic misconduct involving plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, falsification of records or official documents, intentional misuse of equipment or materials, and aiding and abetting the perpetration of such acts

*See procedures specific to grade appeals below.

Procedure For Appeals (Non-grades)

STEP 1
The first step is discussion of the grievance by the student and the faculty member. It is anticipated that most disputes can be resolved without recourse to other steps.

STEP 2
If not satisfied with the outcome of this discussion, either party may request time to discuss the problem with the appropriate program chair who will informally attempt to mediate and resolve the dispute.

STEP 3
If Step 2 fails to satisfy either party, they may request time to discuss the problem with the dean of the college, who will informally attempt to mediate and resolve the dispute.