Academic Integrity
Forest is committed to developing professionals who demonstrate
personal and academic
integrity. The Institute’s Academic Integrity Policy
outlines specific criteria for determining instances
of academic dishonesty, reporting such incidents, and enforcing
subsequent sanctions.
The full text of this policy can be found here.
Academic
Progress
The Institute is required to document and
report each student’s academic
progress to certain government, financial, and academic organizations. Students
carrying six to eight credit hours are considered half-time; students carrying
nine or more are considered full-time. From the date of matriculation, students
are allowed a maximum of ten years to complete the doctorate degree and four
years to complete the master’s degree. In rare and extenuating circumstances,
students may seek an extension of time from the Academic Dean.
Academic
Standards
• The “A” student exceeds expectations
for graduate-level work through outstanding knowledge,
attitudes, and skills. The student independently applies knowledge
and skills in new
situations; completes assignments thoroughly and accurately; and demonstrates
originality,
leadership, professionalism, and the ability to communicate orally
and in writing.
•
The “B” student demonstrates appropriate graduate-level course
performance through
knowledge, attitudes, skills, attendance, participation, and decorum.
•
The “C” student demonstrates minimally acceptable course
work and portrays minimal
knowledge, attitudes, and/or skills for the preparation of a professional
psychologist.
•
The student who draws an “F” has failed to fulfill minimum requirements
for a course and
demonstrates inadequate knowledge, attitudes, and/or skills.
A student who wishes to withdraw from the Institute must notify the Dean
in writing. Failure
to do so and subsequent non-compliance with class or clinical participation
will result in an “F”.
Academic
Standing
Students classified as being in “Good Standing” are
those who:
• Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA;
• Demonstrate satisfactory progress in their Individual Education
Plan;
• Have no proven ethical violations;
• Have no matter pending with the Academic Standing Committee;
and
• Maintain their financial obligations with the Institute.
Unsatisfactory Academic Performance:
Students are automatically placed on Academic Probation
and referred to the Academic
Standing Committee upon receipt of one or more of the following:
• “Unsatisfactory” rating on annual review;
• “I” (Incomplete) grade;
• “C” grade;
• “F” grade;
• “WF” grade; or
• “XF” grade.
While on probation, students:
• Are not allowed to graduate;
• May be ineligible to receive the proceeds from government
loans (see Financial Aid
Handbook);
• May be administratively withdrawn (dismissed) from the program
if they remain on
“
Academic Probation” for three (3) consecutive terms
or more; and
• May be administratively withdrawn (dismissed) from the program
upon recommendation
of the Academic Standing Committee.
Within one term of being placed on probation, it is the student’s
responsibility to provide written
notification to the Academic Standing Committee that he/she
has satisfied the Academic Standing
Committee’s requirements. The Academic Standing Committee
will review the students’ probationary status
at the end of each term and issue a written notification
of its decision. The
Academic Standing Committee may, at its discretion,
recommend the administrative withdrawal
of students who demonstrate inability to maintain
a satisfactory level of academic performance. Administrative
Withdrawal Due to Unsatisfactory Academic Performance:
Factors which demonstrate the inability of a student to maintain
a satisfactory level of academic
performance and for which a student may be Administratively
Withdrawn include, but
are not limited to, the following:
• Receipt of a total of two (2) WF grades while
enrolled in the program;
• Unsatisfactory performance in a repeated course during the
next term the course is offered;
•
Receipt of a total of three (3) “C” grades
while enrolled in the program;
•
Receipt of one (1) “F” grade at any time while
enrolled in the program;
•
Three (3) consecutive terms on “Academic Probation”;
or
•
Proven conduct violations (one “XF”) in professional
or ethical standards.
Administrative Withdrawal
Factors for which a student may be administratively withdrawn
from the program or an individual
course include, but are not limited to, to the following:
• Excessive class absence that interferes with the
successful pursuit of a course;
• Disruptive or detrimental behavior to the learning environment;
• Inappropriate professional or ethical conduct;
• Failure to fulfill academic requirements;
•
Not maintaining “Continuous Enrollment”;
• Expiration of an approved leave of absence;
• Not fulfilling tuition and fee obligations;
• Unsatisfactory academic progress and/or performance;
• Not reflecting, in spirit and/or deed, the overall philosophy
and mission of the Institute and
its programs.
Administrative Withdrawal renders a student ineligible
for refunds of tuition and fees and will
be listed on the student’s transcript.
Attendance/Cancellation
of Class
Students are expected to attend all classes. If absence is
unavoidable, the student must
notify the Office of the Dean and the class instructor, and
then make up missed work.
Students participating in clinical activities must notify the
Clinic Director to reschedule
clinical appointments.
When the Institute cancels classes because of bad weather,
professor absence, or other reasons,
instructors will schedule make-up classes. Whenever possible,
students will be notified in
advance of class cancellations.
The academic calendar accommodates holidays. Clinical activities
continue throughout all vacation
periods; student rotations allow for time off while maintaining
responsibility for patients and clients.
Repeated tardiness and disruptive classroom behavior are
disrespectful toward other students
and are grounds for lowered or failing grades. (Refer to
the APA’s Code of Ethics, available from
the APA, and in Forest’s Learning Resource Center, Dean’s
Office, and Associate Dean’s Office.)
Examinations that are taken late may result in a lowered
grade.
Add/Drop Policy
Students may add classes
to their schedule within the first two weeks of the term
at no charge. However, any change or drop initiated by the
student post-registration will incur a fee for each credit
hour changed. Students wishing to drop a course after the
beginning of the term must first consult with their Academic
Advisor and the Office of Financial Aid to determine the
possible effects of such action. Any change to a student ‘s
schedule must be submitted to the Registrar using the appropriate
form and have prior approval by the Academic Advisor. Click
here to see the “Refund
Policy” for dropped classes.
Contact
Hour Requirements
The Institute operates on a four terms per year basis.
Classes have been structured to meet semester-hour guidelines
(as
opposed to quarter-system guidelines) and therefore meet
a total of
60 minutes of class time for each credit hour. (i.e.
A three-credit-hour course will meet for a total of three
60-minute periods each
week.) Courses are scheduled to fulfill this requirement
by meeting weekly for one three-hour time period. Generally,
classes
are scheduled between 9am-12pm, 1-4 pm, and 5-8 pm during
the Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. During the summer
term,
courses
are offered as “intensives” and generally meet
four hours per day over a nine-week time period. Certain classes
require additional laboratories, which may meet on either the
same day or on a different day as the lecture class. Clinical
duties, computer-assisted learning, Learning Resource Center
labs, and other guided learning experiences may be assigned
as part of the contact-hour requirement.
Copyright Policy
Violation of copyright law carries substantial
penalties. When students infringe copyright, it is
a
professional ethical violation and exposes Forest
Institute. Students can become familiar with
copyright principles and rules by referring to the “Copyright
Policy” here.
Due Process/Grievance
To ensure that students receive fair and impartial
treatment, Forest has established “Due
Process/Grievance Procedures” procedures. The
involved parties must first attempt to resolve
their differences. If they cannot reach resolution,
the situation is addressed by an appropriate
committee and/or the Dean/Chief Academic Officer. A
student who wishes to appeal a
decision or sanction must within five (5) days of receiving
a written summary from the Dean,
submit his or her written appeal to the Review Officer.
The full text of the Due Process procedures
may be found here.
Faculty/Student Contact Form
Whenever
there is a conference, advisement, or other academic,
clinical, attitudinal, or behavioral
interaction that could reasonably affect a student’s
grade, academic/clinical status,
recommendation, practica/internship placement, graduation,
or other Institute concerns, this
interaction must be documented on the “Faculty/Student
Contact Form” and signed by the
student and faculty member. The faculty member and
student should each keep a copy of the
form and file the original with the Registrar’s
Office, where it is kept in the student’s file.
Forms
are available in the Registrar’s Office or with
the Faculty Secretary.
Grading System
Faculty members submit grades to the Registrar immediately
following the last meting of the
course. Grade reports are mailed to students or placed
in their on-campus mailboxes. Grades reflect students’ knowledge,
attitudes, and skills; classroom attendance, participation
and decorum;
and application of concepts and skills. Students also
receive grades at the end of each
term in their practica and internship experience. Professional
decorum and appearance count
significantly towards the final grade in these programs.
Forest utilizes a four-point grading system, as follows:
Superior Achievement A 4.0
Above Average B 3.0
Minimal Requirements C 2.0
Failure F 0.0
The following symbols are also used:
Incomplete (I) An incomplete is assigned when extenuating circumstances
prevent a student from completing
the course, and the student has notified the instructor
and the Office of the Dean
accordingly. Students have one term to complete the
course work before the “I” automatically
converts to an “F.”
Voluntary Withdrawal (W), (WP), or (WF)
Students wishing to withdraw from a class must:
1. Discuss their request with the course instructor.
2. Discuss their request with their academic advisor.
3. Fill out the appropriate forms in the office of
the Registrar.
4. Obtain the signatures of their academic advisor
and the course instructor.
Courses cannot be dropped once 75% of the total,
scheduled class time has been completed.
For courses dropped before 17% (the first two class
session of a typical 12 week term) of the
total scheduled class time has been completed, students
will receive a grade of “W” (Withdraw).
For courses dropped when at least 17%, but less than
75%, of the total, scheduled class time
has been completed, the course instructor may issue
a grade of “WP” (Withdraw–Pass) if
the
student has a passing grade on the date of withdrawal
and is in “good academic standing.” Otherwise, the course instructor may issue a “WF” (Withdraw–Fail)
grade. This grade assignment
is at the discretion of the course instructor. Any “core” course
with a “WP” or “WF” grade
must be repeated to raise the grade to a “A” or “B” by
the conclusion of the next term the course
is offered.
Repeat (R)
Students may repeat up to two (2) different courses
in order to raise grades of “C.” A student
may not repeat a course with a grade “F” assigned.
Any course that is repeated must be repeated
during the next term in which it is offered. Transcripts
will post both grades; the grade
for the second term has the letter “R” next
to it. Only the higher grade is used when computing
grade point average.
Transfer (TR)
Reflects transferred credit hours. See the Transfer
Credit section of this catalog for more information
on transfer credits.
Waiver (V)
Waiver (V) denotes that the requirements for a particular
course have been waived.
Academic Dishonesty (XF)
This indicates alleged, attempted, or actual academic
dishonesty.
Graduation Policy
The Board of Directors confers
degrees and honors, based on recommendations from
the Faculty
Council and approval of the Dean/Chief Academic Officer.
During their final term, students
are to complete a “Petition to Graduate Form,” which
can be obtained at the Registrar’s Office.
Commencement ceremonies are held in October. Students
who complete their degrees before
commencement may request a letter of completion from
the Dean for licensing, post-doctoral
training, and other purposes.
Graduation honors will be awarded as follows:
Summa Cum Laude: 4.0 GPA for the entire degree
Magna Cum Laude: 3.90 - 3.99 GPA for the entire degree
Cum Laude: 3.80- 3.89 GPA for the entire degree
Individual Education Plan
The Academic Advisement
Officer helps each student develop an individual
education plan
that ensures the student will meet professional development
goals in a timely manner. This
long-range plan helps students integrate work schedules,
academic classes, and practicum
experiences; assists in planning for the internship
requirements; and reduces the need for
registration changes/drops and the related fees.
Late Enrollment
Students will be
charged a fee for registering after their designated
time. This fee may be found in
the Tuition and Fee
Schedule.
Leave of Absence
Leaves of absence are granted
in unusual and extenuating circumstances only. A
student must
submit a written request to the Academic Dean detailing
the rationale for the request, after
first discussing it with their academic advisor. Leaves
are granted for up to one year. Before
the leave period expires, the student must submit a
written request to the Academic Dean
requesting reinstatement and documenting remediation
of the situation for which the leave
was granted. Otherwise, the student will be “administratively
withdrawn” from Forest and must
reapply for admission. The “Continuous Enrollment
Fee” is waived during the leave of absence,
so students forfeit all privileges of being a student
during the period.
Full-time/Part-time Status Most students
enroll for a full academic load, considered to be nine
or more credit hours per term. However, some students
have family or employment considerations that limit
enrollment to part-time which is considered six to
eight credit hours per term. To satisfy the residency
requirement of the American Psychological Association,
students are required to complete at least nine credit
hours per term, for a minimum of three consecutive
terms, within one academic year.
Continuous Enrollment
Students must remain registered in each of the four terms
per year until completing the
program
in which they are enrolled. This includes students who
have completed all coursework except the Dissertation who
must
remain matriculated while completing their project. Students
who are not registered for a class and are not on an approved
leave of absence will be charged a continuous enrollment
fee for each term as set forth by the Tuition
and Fee Schedule.
Readmission
A student seeking readmission may request the appropriate application form from
the Admission’s Office.
Registration
Registration is held
on-campus well in advance of the start of each term.
Specific dates, times, and locations will be announced
to new and returning students in advance. Only students
maintaining Good Academic Standing and presenting a
registration form signed by the Academic Advisor will
be allowed to register for classes. Click here to see
available term schedules or to download the Registration
Form.
Residency Requirement
To satisfy the
residency requirement of the American Psychological Association,
students are
required to complete at least nine credit hours per term,
for a minimum
of three consecutive terms, within one academic year.
Voluntary Withdrawal
Procedure Students who wish to drop all courses and withdraw from Forest
Institute must submit a written “Withdrawal Request” to
the Office of the Dean before the final three weeks of the
term (the last two weeks of scheduled classes and the week
of final exams). Exceptions to this policy should be requested
in writing from the Dean. Before leaving, the student must
complete a final exit interview with the Dean and designated
others.
Non-attendance does not qualify as withdrawal notification.
IRB Procedures
The thesis or dissertation proposal must be approved by the researcher's committee chair and the Research Office before being submitted to the IRB. To request IRB approval, the researcher must submit a hard copy of items requested in the Thesis and Dissertation Guidebook to the Faculty Secretary on or before the deadline indicated in the Guidebook.
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