Academic Regulations

Students are responsible for complying with all regulations of the University, their respective colleges, and the departments from which they take courses, as well as for fulfilling all degree requirements. Students are responsible for knowing and complying with all academic regulations.

Change of College

Undergraduate students who desire to gain admission to a degree-granting unit or to change their enrollment from one degree program to another within the University must meet with an advisor. A change in degree program after the third week of the semester will not be effective until the following semester.

Class Hours and Credit Hours

For all methods of instruction, UNM’s assignment and award of credit hours conforms to commonly accepted practices in higher education in accordance with federal regulations 34 CFR 602.24(f).

The minimum requirements for assigning one (1) semester credit hour consists of one (1) 50-minute period of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two (2) hours of out-of-class student work each week of the semester, or at least an equivalent amount of work as established by the degree granting college.

Course Load Guidelines

Undergraduates/Non-Degree

Fall/Spring Semesters

Full-time: 12 or more credit hours.
Three-quarter time: 9-11 credit hours.
Half-time: 6-11 credit hours.
Less than half-time: 5 or fewer credit hours.

Summer Session

Full-time: 6 or more credit hours.
College of Nursing full-time: 12 or more credit hours.
Three-quarter time: 5 credit hours.
College of Nursing three-quarter time: 9-11 credit hours.
Half-time: 3-5 credit hours.
College of Nursing half-time: 6-11 credit hours.
Less than half-time: 1 or 2 credit hours.
College of Nursing less than half-time: 5 or fewer credit hours.

Course Numbering System

The University of New Mexico began the transition to a four-alpha, four-number (e.g., ENGL 2310) Common Core Course Number effective Fall 2019, in compliance with 5.55.5 NMAC.

Courses offered at the University are numbered from 001 through 999:

001 to 100 courses may or may not carry credit, but are not applicable to a baccalaureate degree.
101 to 1999 courses are lower-division, and are normally open to freshmen.
200 to 2999 courses are lower-division, and are normally open to sophomores.
300 to 499 courses are upper-division, and are normally open to juniors, seniors and graduates.
500 to 999 are graduate and professional level, and are normally open only to students enrolled in graduate degree programs, School of Law, College of Pharmacy, or the Doctor of Medicine program.
NOTE: Undergraduate or non-degree students without a degree may not enroll in any graduate problems courses for undergraduate credit.

Technical, vocational or special courses are applicable for baccalaureate credit only upon petition to and approval from the University of New Mexico degree granting unit.

Freshmen may in some instances qualify for courses numbered in the 200's. Courses numbered 300 and above are not open to lower-division students (freshmen and sophomores) except in rare instances, and then only with the approval of the college dean. When appropriate, students may be disenrolled from courses numbered 200 and above. See the individual college sections of this Catalog for specific regulations.

General Education Curriculum

As per UNM's General Education website:

The General Education curriculum empowers students to face a rapidly changing world with the ability to frame questions and solve problems. Complementing the major, General Education courses provide a set of strategies: communication, critical thinking, information analysis, quantitative skills, and responsibility towards local and global communities. Students develop these strategies from different angles by taking one or more courses (usually numbered at the 1000- and 2000-levels) in each of the areas of study of the General Education curriculum. Some General Education courses involve students directly in addressing crucial problems through undergraduate research, race and social justice analysis, global awareness, community engagement, and innovation. By providing a base of knowledge and flexible tools for thinking, General Education courses equip students for success throughout their education and after graduation.

Students in Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree programs will choose ten classes (31 credits), or at least one three- or four-credit course in each of eight areas of study. Transfer students who have demonstrated completion of all of the requirements for General Education at another higher education institution in New Mexico will not be required to fulfill General Education requirements at UNM, unless they opt to do so, but they must fulfill University Requirements, including completion of English 1120 with a C or better and completion of the U.S. and Global Diversity Requirement (see below). Transfer students who have not completed all of the requirements for General Education at another higher education institution in New Mexico will need to follow the University of New Mexico requirements for General Education. The University recognizes that minor substitutions or exceptions, handled on a Department and College basis, may be necessary to accommodate specific student needs.

Exploring different areas in general education can be a great college strategy to find out what really interests you. Or, if you have a major in mind, your advisor can help you identify some courses to help you prepare for your next steps. Either way, browsing the course descriptions in areas of study will help you find courses, from large classes to small seminars, that take you to unexpected places. See the current list of courses that meet requirements in each area on UNM's General Education website.

U.S. Global Diversity and Inclusion Requirement

The University of New Mexico values learning outcomes related to diversity and inclusion. The stated aim of the U.S. Global Diversity and Inclusion undergraduate degree requirement is to promote a broad-scale understanding of the culture, history or current circumstance of diverse categories of people who have experienced historic and/or contemporary inequitable treatment in the U.S. or in a global context. To satisfy the requirement, students complete a three-credit hour course from an approved list of courses that have their primary emphasis (at least 50% content) on one or more of the following areas: gender, race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, language, culture, and/or other marginalized category of people. These courses include primary learning outcomes pertaining to the experiences of diverse categories of people and potential solutions to the challenges facing diverse communities. Courses may double count with any other requirements including General Education courses (e.g., Area 6: Foreign Language) or other substantive courses in the General Education requirements.

Associate degree programs offered at UNM-Los Alamos might not require a US Global Diversity and Inclusion course.

For a list of approved courses fulfilling this requirement, please review the US Global Diversity and Inclusion course lists.

Grades

Semester grades are available via LoboWeb. Grades are posted nightly as they are entered by the instructor. Final semester GPA calculations, Dean's List determinations and probation/suspension decisions are processed after the last official day of the semester.

UNM–Los Alamos uses a fractionated grading system. Following are the allowable grades and associated grade points:

A+ 4.33
A 4.00
A– 3.67
B+ 3.33
B 3.00
B– 2.67
C+ 2.33
C 2.00
C– 1.67
D+ 1.33
D 1.00
D– 0.67
F 0.00

CR - Credit: Results in credit for the course, but is not computed into the grade point average. CR is the equivalent of at least a grade of C. At the graduate level, CR is used to report completion of a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. See the following pages for specific information concerning pass/fail (CR/NC) option grading.
NC - No Credit: Not computed into the grade point average. At the graduate level NC is also used to report unsatisfactory completion of a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. Certain workshops and courses may be offered under CR and NC as defined above.
NR - Not Reported: If a grade has not been received by the end of the grading period, an NR is assigned. A grade of NR is not computed into the grade point average. After two years, the remaining NR grades are converted to W grades.
I - Incomplete: Given only when circumstances beyond the student's control have prevented completion of the work of a course within the official dates of a session. (See the policy on Removal of Incomplete.)
AUD - Audit: Recorded for completion of enrollment in an audited course. No credit is earned for an audit grade option.
W - Withdrawal: Used for withdrawals after the grade required deadline beginning in Fall 2012, and for approved administrative withdrawals at the end of a semester.

Examples of administrative withdrawals include: determination by the instructor that the student never attended the class, processing errors, catastrophic illness of the student or other reasons beyond the student's control.

Grade Point Average

An undergraduate student’s grade point average is calculated by dividing the total number of quality grade points earned at the University of New Mexico by the total number of credit hours attempted, and truncated by two decimals. These credit hours must be attempted in courses with letter grades and the courses must be numbered 100 or above. Courses for undergraduate students given a grade of W, WP, WNC, CR, NC, PR, AUD, or I are excluded in the grade point average calculation. For graduate students, the Graduate Studies office, internally for their record keeping processes, calculates a grade of “I” as a 2.0 until replaced by another letter grade.

Beginning Fall 2006 the academic transcript reflects a level GPA. The courses a student takes become a part of the level to which the student has been admitted. If a student is in an associate degree program, the level is associate degree, and all the courses taken in that level are reflected in the associate GPA. Courses that are not remedial or technical are also calculated into the undergraduate GPA. If the student is in a bachelor’s degree program, the courses taken in that status are calculated in the undergraduate GPA. The various levels are Associate, Undergraduate, Graduate, Non- Degree Undergraduate and Non-Degree Graduate. Each level has a GPA.

NOTE: This is a general University of New Mexico grade point calculation. Schools and colleges within the University may compute the grade point average differently. Grades earned in courses taken at other institutions are not included in calculation of the University of New Mexico grade point average. The UNM transcript is the official record of the student's grade point average at UNM, and reflects only courses taken at the University of New Mexico.

Grade Options

Pass/Fail (CR/NC) Option

This grading option is open to students enrolling in courses that do not apply to their major.

A student is permitted to enroll in a maximum of 4 credit hours per semester under the pass/fail (CR/NC) grading option.

CR (credit) is the equivalent of at least a grade of “C.” Students who do not satisfactorily complete a course under pass/fail (CR/NC) grading will receive “NC” (no credit).

A course may be changed to the pass/fail (CR/NC) grade option. See current Academic Calendar for deadlines at https://losalamos.unm.edu/academics/academic-calendar.html.

A maximum of 24 credit hours graded pass/fail (CR) will be allowed toward a baccalaureate degree. Graduate students may not count more than 6 hours of course work in which a “C” (2.0), “C+” (2.33) or “CR” was earned.

Courses that are specifically approved for pass/fail (CR/ NC) are not included in the 24-credit hour maximum allowed toward degree requirements.

The following may not be taken under the pass/fail (CR/ NC) option:

Courses in the University Honors Program and the Undergraduate Seminar Program.
Courses that are part of the student’s major (as defined by the major department) with the exception of those courses especially approved for use of pass/ fail (CR/NC) grading.
Courses that are part of the student’s minor (see specific college and departmental requirements).
Correspondence courses.
Courses the student is repeating after first having taken the course under the regular grading system.
Some schools, scholarship committees, and honorary societies do not accept this grading system and convert grades of “Credit” to “C” and “No Credit” to “F” when computing grade point averages or may otherwise penalize students who use this option.

NOTE: Students may not be penalized by a department if, when selecting or changing a major field, they have taken a course in their major on a pass/fail (CR/NC) option basis.

Audit

A student may register to audit a course, with written permission of the instructor. A student who fails to attend class may be dropped at the instructor’s request. The fee and tuition for audited courses are the same as for credit courses.

Audit enrollment receives no credit and is not included in the student’s total course load for purposes of enrollment certification and financial aid enrollment requirements. Audited courses appear on the academic record. Courses taken for Audit may be repeated for credit.

Incomplete (I) Grade

According to academic policy, incomplete grades must be completed before a student is eligible to graduate from the University of New Mexico–Los Alamos. The grade of “I” is given only when circumstances beyond the student’s control have prevented completion of the coursework within the official dates of a semester/session. Students should not re- enroll or re-register (for credit) in a course in which an incomplete has been received in order to resolve the “I” (incomplete) grade. If an instructor requires the student to repeat the class in order to resolve the Incomplete, the student must register for the course on an Audit basis. The tuition and fees for an audited course are the same as for credit courses.

Grade changes to Incomplete grades must be received no later than one year (twelve months) from the published end date of the term in which the grade was assigned. Incomplete grades not resolved within the time frame stated in this policy are automatically converted to an F (Failure) grade.

Students who resolve Incompletes in the term of graduation must have the process completed (including the reporting of the grade to the Records and Registration Office, before the start of the new semester). Students are responsible for informing instructors that they are graduating and the grade(s) must be reported by the appropriate deadline. Failure to complete the process as described could result in the postponement of graduation until the following term.

The instructor of record reports the final grade for the course in which the Incomplete was assigned to the Records and Registration Office. Graduate students should consult the section on the Graduate Program section of this Catalog related to this policy.

Extension of Incomplete

A student may apply for an extension of the time allowed to complete the required course work removing the “I” grade. The request for extension may be submitted to the Student Services Office. A student who re-enrolls in residence may be granted a one-semester extension. If an extension is granted, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure the I grade is removed by the date indicated. Graduate students are required to obtain the additional signature of the Dean of Graduate Studies. The Extension of Incomplete form must be submitted no later than the last day of the term.

Repetition of a Course

A student may repeat any course but will receive credit only once unless otherwise noted in this Catalog. ALL ATTEMPTS and ALL GRADES are computed in the student’s grade point average. A grade replacement policy is available for repeated course work as described below.

Grade Replacement Policy

The course repeat policy was revised by the Faculty Senate to include a grade replacement option effective Spring 1991. Under this policy only undergraduate students may repeat a course for a higher grade and have the lower grade removed from the grade point average. This revision is an option for students who meet the criteria outlined below. Repeated courses for students who do not meet the criteria or who choose not to make use of the option automatically fall under the existing policy as described under “Repetition of a Course.”

The following outlines the procedure for the implementation of this course repeat (grade replacement) option.

* NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE TO THIS POLICY.

The Grade Replacement Policy is effective as of Spring 1991 and affects only the University of New Mexico coursework from Spring 1991 forward. This means that the first attempt in a course cannot have been prior to Spring semester 1991. The policy is not retroactive to any semester prior to Spring 1991. NOTE: A student who fails a course at the University of New Mexico and repeats the same course with a grade of “C” or better at another college or university may have the credit accepted for transfer, but the grade received at the University of New Mexico will continue to be computed in the grade point average.

Students in undergraduate status are eligible to use this policy, and only coursework that applies to an undergraduate degree is considered for a grade replacement.

A repeated course must result in an improved grade in order to replace the other grade (e.g., a “D” cannot replace a “D”). The higher grade removes the lower grade from the grade point average and earned credit hours. Grades of “CR”, “NC”, “PR”, “AUD”, “WP”, and “W” are not replaceable grades because they do not affect the grade point average.

The process is not automatic. Students must initiate the process by completing the online form at https://registrar.unm.edu. The course numbers and titles must be identical, except where equivalencies or a change has been noted in the University of New Mexico Catalog. Substitute courses are not acceptable. Forms are accepted after the second attempt in the course has been completed.

A grade replacement may be applied only to 12 hours of repeated course work. Only one grade replacement is allowed for each course, regardless of the number of times the course has been repeated.

Once a grade replacement has been approved, the process cannot be reversed or changed.

No grade may be replaced after a degree has been awarded.

All grades remain on the record. An “E” appears on the transcript next to the course that has been replaced.

Students registering for a late starting course cannot use the Grade Replacement Policy to replace a grade within that same semester.

NOTE: This policy applies only to courses taken and repeated at the University of New Mexico or one of its branches.

Change of Grade

The instructor of a course is responsible for any grade reported. Once a grade has been reported, the instructor may change it by using the Instructor Initiated Grade Change and Incomplete Removal process through LoboWeb. Only the instructor who issued the original grade (instructor of record) may submit a change. Grade changes submitted more than 30 days after end of semester are reported to the offering College Dean. Any change in grade must be reported within 12 months after the original grade was issued and prior to graduation. Grade changes may be referred to the Admissions and Registration Committee of the Faculty Senate for approval.

Grade Petition Procedure

A student seeking retroactive withdrawal, enrollment, or a grade option change; or further academic record changes involving exceptions to the rules governing registration and academic records, may submit petitions to the UNM-Los Alamos Student Services Department. This petition process does not cover disputes involving academic judgment (Refer to the UNM Pathfinder, “Student Grievance Procedure,” Article 2, Academic Disputes).

The petition must state the nature of the request, specify the semester involved, the course and section number, the student’s name, identification number, mailing address and telephone number. It must include documentation of extenuating circumstances, such as medical, family or employment needs. The petition must be typed and signed.

A student may only petition grades up to one year after an instructor and dean grade change form can be utilized to change a grade. (Effective as of April 2005 as approved by Faculty Senate Operations Committee.) This means no grade change can be petitioned after two years in which the course(s) was/were taken.

Upon receipt of student’s petition, the instructor(s) involved is contacted for a statement concerning the request.

The petition (along with instructor comments) is forwarded to the Grade Petition Subcommittee of the Faculty Senate Admission and Records Committee for review and decision. If the petition is approved, appropriate modifications are made to the student record.

The student is notified in writing of the outcome of the petition. The decision of the subcommittee is final.

The student is responsible for tuition and fees incurred.

Academic Renewal Policy

Academic Renewal applies to students seeking undergraduate degrees who have been readmitted to UNM– Los Alamos after an absence of five years or more. The procedure allows a currently enrolled student to request his/her academic record be reviewed for the purpose of evaluating previously earned UNM credits and recalculating the student’s grade point average from the point of readmission. The student may obtain a petition from the Student Services Office, Building 1. If all criteria are satisfied, the petition will be approved, and the academic record appropriately noted.

* NO EXCEPTIONS ARE MADE TO THIS POLICY.

Academic Renewal Guidelines

Note: Non-degree, second undergraduate degree, and graduate students are not eligible for Academic Renewal.

Academic Renewal may be applied only once and is not reversible.

An absence of five or more years must have elapsed between readmission and the last enrollment at UNM.

The student must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Additionally, college entrance requirements such as minimum hours and grade point average must still be met after Academic Renewal has been applied.

After readmission to UNM, at least 12 credit hours, but no more than 36 credit hours, must be completed in good standing (2.00 GPA or better) before Academic Renewal can be applied.

Note: If the degree-granting unit has placed the student on probationary status, it is not automatically changed by Academic Renewal.

All graduation requirements must be satisfied after Academic Renewal (i.e., minimum earned credit, residence credit requirement, cumulative grade point average, etc.).

NOTE: Credit earned prior to Academic Renewal will not count toward satisfying the residence credit requirements.

All courses taken prior to Academic Renewal will remain unaltered on the record. An appropriate notation will be added to the record to indicate Academic Renewal. Courses with a grade of “C” or “CR” or better taken prior to Academic Renewal will be carried forward as earned credits. Acceptability of these credits towards a degree will be determined by the degree-granting unit.

Courses with a grade of “C-” or below taken prior to Academic Renewal will be noted and will not count for earned credits or for satisfying any graduation requirements.

Academic Renewal, when applied, will be effective as of the date of the readmission following the five-year absence.

The cumulative grade point average after Academic Renewal will be calculated based on courses taken since the readmission following the five-year absence.

Classroom Conduct

The instructor is responsible for classroom conduct, behavior, and discipline. Any action that would disrupt or obstruct an academic activity is prohibited. The instructor may refer situations involving classroom misconduct to the Dean of Instruction or Director of Student Affairs for additional action under the “Student Code of Conduct” as published in The Pathfinder–UNM Student Handbook.

Use of classrooms or other facilities during scheduled activities is limited to enrolled students and University personnel. Use of these facilities during non-scheduled periods should be arranged with the appropriate department or other division of the University. Eating, and drinking are prohibited in all classrooms and teaching laboratories, including seminars, unless permitted by the instructor.

Smoking and vaping are prohibited on UNM-LA property and in all UNM-LA buildings.

Dishonesty in Academic Matters

Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in academic and professional matters. The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action, including dismissal, against any student who is found responsible for academic dishonesty. Any student who has been judged to have engaged in academic dishonesty in coursework may receive a reduced or failing grade for the work in question and/or for the course.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following: dishonesty in quizzes, tests, or assignments; claiming credit for work not done or done by others; hindering the academic work of other students; and misrepresenting academic or professional qualifications within or outside the University.

Misrepresentation

Non-disclosure or misrepresentation in filling out applications or other University records will make a student liable for disciplinary action, including possible dismissal from the University

Attendance

Policies regarding student attendance at class meetings are set by each instructor. Students should not assume that non- attendance will lead to being dropped from class. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate drops or complete withdrawals. UNM-Los Alamos makes reasonable accommodations for religious observances and national origin and heritage practices of the student.

Absences

The Student Services Office, as a service to faculty and students, will send absence notifications to the respective faculty member should an absence be longer than five (5) days. This service will only be used when an absence is for a family/student medical issue, death of a family member, military leave, or a university-sponsored activity. However, when requested by a faculty member, this office may assist in verifying absences that are five days or fewer on a case- by-case basis, should this be requested by a faculty member. This office will encourage the student to speak directly with the faculty member to work out absences that are fewer than six days. The absence notification process is only meant as a notification and not meant to excuse the absence. Excusing an absence is entirely up to the respective faculty member of the course. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Student Services Office about any absences and provide appropriate documentation when possible.

Dismissal

Students are subject to dismissal from a college or a degree program based on minimum requirements set by that college’s core program. Please refer to each college section in the UNM Catalog and the program section of this catalog for specific requirements. Dismissal from a college or degree program is not the same as suspension but may preclude the student from enrolling at the University.

Probation

Probationary status serves as a warning to students that they are no longer in good academic standing and that they may be suspended. Undergraduate students who have 30 or fewer attempted hours must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.70 to be in good standing. Thereafter, the cumulative grade point average to remain in good standing is at least a 2.00. Undergraduate students are placed on probation at the end of any semester (or summer session) for which their cumulative grade point average falls below these minimum requirements. Special requirements outlined in an individual probation contract may be placed on students who are on probation. Failure to complete the contract and/or improve cumulative grade point average will result in academic suspension.

Degree-Granting Programs and Non-degree Status

Students in degree-granting programs or in non-degree status may be placed on academic probation at the end of any semester if they fail to meet the minimum cumulative grade point average required to remain in good standing in their program. The minimum grade point average is at least a 2.00 but it is higher in some programs. Students must familiarize themselves with the academic regulations of their program.

Suspension

Students on suspension may not enroll for classes at UNM– Los Alamos until their suspension period has been completed.

Degree-Granting Programs and Non-Degree Status

Students may be suspended after a semester on probation if their cumulative grade point average remains below the minimum required to be in good standing in their college.

Suspension Period

Students suspended for the first time may not enroll for classes at the University of New Mexico–Los Alamos for a period of one semester from the date of the suspension. Students suspended for the second time may not enroll for classes for a period of one academic year from the date of the suspension. Students suspended for the third time may not enroll for classes for a period of five academic years from the date of the suspension.

NOTE: Summer sessions are counted with the following fall semester for purposes of this policy; e.g., a student suspended at the end of a spring semester may not attend either the following summer session or fall semester.

Students absent from the University for a year or more, for suspension or any other reason, must reapply for admission to the University. Students who are accepted for readmission after suspension will be readmitted on probation in the accepting college. Student Services advisors may specify the number of hours for which a student may enroll following a suspension. They may also require students to drop hours or courses that seem beyond their abilities.

Attendance at another institution during suspension must be indicated on the student’s application for readmission, and an official transcript must be sent to the Student Services Office as part of the reapplication.

Academics