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Other Academic Policies

Credit Hours

York College follows and applies Federal and State guidelines in designing and offering courses. The College offers in-person, hybrid and on-line courses to our students. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction is equivalent to one credit and two hours of lab is equivalent to one credit for a 15-week semester:

"Credit hour: Except as provided in 34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:

  1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

  2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practical's, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours."

(As defined by US Federal Regulations 600.2 (vc 27)

Substitution/Waiver of Degree Requirements

Under extenuating circumstances, a student may petition, the department chairperson for a substitution of certain requirements for the major, which must then be approved by the Office of the Registrar. The request must be based on circumstances beyond the student's control and can only be granted if such a substitution does not seriously impair the comprehensive nature of the major. In some programs leading to certification or licensure, substitution may not be possible. In no case is the substitution to be granted merely to accelerate graduation. Requests for waivers of college-wide requirements must be made to the Committee on Academic Policy and Standards (CAPS) within the context of the above stipulation.

Graduate Courses for Undergraduate Credit

Students with a declared Major, who have completed at least ninety (90) credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above may enroll in up to twelve (12) graduate credits during their senior year.

Graduate course(s) may not count towards Pathways requirements or the residency requirement for the Major and/or Minor. Graduate course(s) are eligible for the calculation of Dean's List, Presidential Scholars, and departmental honors.

Grading will occur on the following system: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, and F.

Tuition will be charged in accordance with the tuition and fee manual (see the CUNY Tuition and Fee Manual, section II (c), specifically). Full-time students who receive permission to take graduate course(s) will be charged the undergraduate tuition rate for graduate course(s) which are applicable to the student's degree (within the 120 credits required for graduation). If the student is part-time, the graduate rate will be charged for graduate course(s) and the undergraduate rate for undergraduate course(s). Financial aid recipients will have their financial aid awarded based upon their academic enrollment status. Students receiving New York State financial aid in the form of grants/scholarships, should review their FACTS to confirm their academic eligibility.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements must get approval from their academic advisor, the graduate program advisor and the Office of Academic Affairs.

Latin Honors

Latin Honors will be established as follows:

1. Criteria:
Cum Laude: 3.500 - 3.699
Magna Cum Laude: 3.700 - 3.849
Summa Cum Laude: 3.850 - 4.000

2. Meet the York College's residency requirement of 56 credits

3. Computation of Latin Honors will be based on:

  1.  The grades of A+ through F

  2.  WU grades earned prior to Fall 2021 are calculated as F grades

  3.  NC, R, and any failing grades with the Exclude Credit(s) and GPA repeat code are calculated as F grades

  4.  Administrative grades of W, WA and WN are excluded from calculations

  5.  Eligibility will be calculated when all grades have been processed by the Office of the Registrar

Requests for grade changes after the degree has been conferred cannot be processed. Therefore, the degree GPA and honors earned or not earned will remain unchanged.

Presidential Honors

Criteria for Presidential Honors:

  1. Recognizing students earning an overall GPA of 4.0

  2. Having completed all course work at York College

Applying for Graduation

Students are required to apply for graduation on CUNYfirst Student Center prior to the semester in which they plan to complete their degree requirements. (Refer to the Academic Calendar for deadline date.)

Students who are not attending York when completing their final requirements must first receive permission from the Registrar to graduate in absentia and apply for graduation.

Degree Conferrals

There are four conferral periods each year: January, February, June, and September. However, there is only one Commencement exercise, which occurs in May or June.

Posthumous Degree Policy

In the unfortunate event that a student passes away near the completion of their degree, the student may be considered a candidate for a posthumous degree by York College. It is given to recognize the student's work and as a source of solace for the family. The next of kin (including child, parent, spouse, or domestic partner) may request a posthumous degree. The general requirements for a posthumous degree are:

  • York College must verify that the student is deceased, usually by obtaining a death certificate from the family

  • The student must have been enrolled in any term within one year of the degree date

  • The student must be in good academic standing

  • The student must have no disciplinary sanctions pending

  • The death must not have been the result of illegal behavior on the part of the student

  • A posthumous bachelor's degree may be granted to a deceased student who meets the general requirements above and who has achieved senior standing (having earned a minimum 90 credits).


    Note: Latin Honors are not awarded on posthumous degrees.