Repeat Grade
Given (together with an F grade) when a course failed in an earlier term (one RF per course regardless of multiple Fs) is successfully retaken.  This option is only available twice during a students academic career at the College and only when the course content is identical to the earlier filed course, carries the same number or greater number of credits, and only with approval prior to enrollment in the course by the Advisement Center.  (The credits attempted are changed to E (excluded) when the repeated course is successfully completed.)

[Academic Calendar]

1. Students cannot enroll in a regularly offered course during any semester, including summer, on an Independent Study basis, except under extraordinary circumstances and only with the approval of the dean of the School AND the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

2. Students cannot enroll for more than FOUR (4) credits of Independent Study during any semester, including summer, without approval of the dean of the School AND the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Extensive documentation will be required by any person requesting a waiver of this limit.

3. The college career limit on Independent Study is four (4) courses, only two (2) of which may be in the student’s major.

4. Students on academic probation OR academic warning are INELIGIBLE for Independent Study (except in cases where the course is the requirement of a major).

5. Students must complete a contract form for Independent Study as well as the Independent Study Registration Form. This form will indicate the purpose, objective, grading criteria, guidelines for hours of work required, discipline and level, and title/credits for the Independent Study.

No Independent Study registrations will be accepted after the last day of add/drop as indicated in the academic calendar.

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Leave of Absence (LOA)
Students in good academic standing may take a leave of absence of one semester by arrangement through the Advisement Center located in D-207.  Students who plan to be away for two or more semesters must officially withdraw from the College (refer to Withdrawal from Ramapo College).   Students requesting a ‘leave of absence’ due to medical reasons must make arrangements with the Center for Health and Counseling Services (Refer to Medical Leave of Absence below).

Students who take a leave of absence for one semester do not need to apply for readmission and can simply register for the next upcoming semester during the registration period after consulting with an academic advisor. Students who remain away from Ramapo College for two or more semesters must apply for readmission with the Office of Admissions by the established readmission deadlines: August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.

Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA)
Students who experience medical or psychological conditions that significantly impair their ability to function successfully or safely in their role as a student may apply for a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) to facilitate a separation from the College.

Students considering applying for a MLOA need to contact the Center for Health and Counseling Services (CHCS) to request an evaluation for the purpose of pursuing a MLOA.  If the condition is medical in nature, contact Student Health Services (SHS) (201-684-7536); whereas if the condition is psychological in nature, contact Counseling Services (CS) (201-684-7522) for an evaluation. In order to obtain a MLOA a student must obtain a medical recommendation from the appropriate unit (Health or Counseling) within the Center for Health and Counseling Services.  In order for a MLOA to be processed for a given semester, the evaluation must be completed prior to the final day of classes. 

Students can take as much time as needed away from the College to recover from their condition and do not have to apply for readmission. Students who stay out for longer than two consecutive semesters, however, may have to adhere to any changes made in their academic curriculum.  In order to be approved to return from a MLOA a student must provide the required documentation and complete an evaluation through the appropriate unit (Health or Counseling) within the Center for Health and Counseling Services.  Students returning from a MLOA must complete the process by the established deadlines: August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.

For detailed information, refer to the Center for Health and Counseling Services website at:  http://www.ramapo.edu/studentlife/healthcounseling/index.html

Withdrawal from Ramapo College
Students who decide to withdraw or would like to request a ‘Leave of Absence’ from Ramapo College must consult with a professional academic advisor or counselor in the Advisement Center located in D-207 and process a ‘Notice of Withdrawal/Leave of Absence’ form.   Students requesting to withdraw due to medical reasons must make arrangement with the Center for Health and Counseling Services (refer to Leave of Absence).

Adherence to the withdrawal procedure is necessary for possible readmission to Ramapo College. Students who have withdrawn from the College and decide to return must apply for readmission with the Office of Admissions by the established readmission deadlines: August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester. 

• 1. Directory Information
  The following information is considered part of the public record and may be disclosed upon request without consent of the student, unless the student has filed an objection with the Office of the Registrar, which must be renewed annually. (The student’s home address or on-campus address is not directory information and may not be disclosed.)
  • a) student name
  • b) year-level
  • c) school and major
  • d) credits registered for in current term
  • e) terms attended
  • f) degree granted
  • g) Ramapo College e-mail address
  • h) photograph
  • i) honors, by town
• 2. Confidential Information
  All personally identifiable information other than that described in Directory Information is considered confidential information and shall be disclosed by the College only as provided below. This information includes the following:
  • a) academic records
    
  • b) address (campus or home)
  • c) disciplinary records (except as provided by laws such as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act)
    
  • d) financial aid records
    
  • e) placement records
    
  • f) letters of recommendation
    
  • g) medical records (may be reviewed by student’s doctor only)
    
  • h) telephone numbers (campus or home)
  • i) test scores
    
  • j) veteran’s records, etc.
• 3. Disclosure of Confidential Information
  With the student’s written consent, any confidential information on file will be disclosed to any individual or agency named by the student. There may be a cost to the student if duplication of materials is involved. Disclosure without the student’s consent will take place only under the following conditions, except as required by law:
  • a) When requested by College faculty and staff, when there is legitimate need in the student’s educational interest to have the requested information.
    
  • b) When required by judicial order (an attempt will be made to notify student where that is permitted by law).
    
  • c) When required by evaluation agencies in connection with a financial aid application.
    
  • d) When requested by an accrediting organization to carry out accrediting functions.
    
  • e) When requested by parents of a dependent student (i.e. the parent shows proof of claiming the student as dependent on certified IRS forms and cancelled checks for tuition payments exist).
    
  • f) When requested by Federal or State officials to audit and evaluate Federally- and State-supported programs.
    
  • g) When needed for research purposes to improve educational programs.
    
  • h) When, in the opinion of the Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee, there is a threat to a student’s life or physical well-being which may necessitate disclosure to public safety officials, the student’s family members or another designated emergency contact.
  Disclosure as described in this section will be recorded by the person responsible for the files [except in the case of (a) above], and this record also will be open to the student concerned. Disclosure to others at the student’s request will not be made if any payments due the College by the student are in arrears.
  
  When College officials disclose confidential information to authorized parties, the following message will be attached: "The attached information has been forwarded to you with the understanding that it will not be released to other parties. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended prohibits release of this information without the student’s written consent. Please return this material to us if you are unable to comply with this condition of release."
  
• 4. Student Access to Confidential Information
  The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
  • a) The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar, Dean of the School, or the appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official with whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
    
  • b) The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
    Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
    
  • c) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA or other laws authorize disclosure without consent.
    One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
    
  • d) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Ramapo College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

    Family Policy Compliance Office
    U.S. Department of Education
    400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
    Washington, DC 20202-5920

NOTICE: This statement of policy is published so College students may be aware of its provisions. Any student who wishes the College not disclose any part of the information classified as directory information (see Directory Information above) should complete the FERPA Non Disclosure form in the Registrar's Office.

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Residency Requirements For In-State Tuition

New Jersey Domicile Requirements

• A student is presumed to be a resident of New Jersey for tuition purposes if the student, or parent or legal guardian upon whom the student is financially dependent, is domiciled in New Jersey for a period of 12 months before first enrolling at the College. This student will be assessed the in-state tuition rate.
• A student is NOT presumed to be a resident of New Jersey for tuition purposes if the student, or parent or legal guardian upon whom the student is financially dependent, is domiciled in New Jersey for a period of less than 12 months before first enrolling at the College. This student will be assessed the out-of-state tuition rate.
• Residence solely for the purpose of attending the College does not constitute domicile for tuition purposes.
• If a dependent student’s supporting parent(s) or legal guardian(s) change their domicile to another state, the dependent student is not eligible for in-state tuition unless the student officially establishes a permanent New Jersey residence for each calendar year of enrollment. A campus or local off-campus address, which is not a student’s permanent residence, does not constitute domicile for tuition purposes.

Note: Domicile is defined as the place where a person has his or her true, fixed, permanent home and principle establishment, and to which, whenever he or she is absent, he or she has the intention of returning.

Evidence of Domicile

First-time Matriculated Students
First-time matriculated students must certify their domicile on the Admissions Application Form. Students may be required to provide additional proof upon request to qualify for in-state tuition.

First-time Non-matriculated Students
First-time non-matriculated students must provide the Registrar with a valid New Jersey driver’s license or a valid New Jersey voter registration card before first enrolling at the College to qualify for in-state tuition.

Continuing Students Changing Residency Status
Continuing matriculated and non-matriculated students, who were previously designated as out-of-state residents and have established New Jersey residency 12 months before requesting change of status, may request a change of status by providing the Registrar with a certified copy of the student’s New Jersey income tax return, or in the case of dependent students, a copy of the parent’s(s’) or legal guardian’s(s’) New Jersey State income tax return.

Note: Any student who falsifies information regarding his/her domicile will have his/her residency status changed to out-of-state and the student will be responsible to pay the out-of-state tuition rate for all prior terms in which he or she was erroneously charged the in-state rate.

Note: If a student is erroneously charged the in-state rate, the College will correct the error, assess the appropriate charge, and collect the outstanding balance.

A certified copy of your NJ Income Tax return may be obtained by writing to:

NJ Division of Taxation
Document Control Center, Records Unit
PO Box 269
Trenton, NJ 08695-0277

Your request should include your social security number, year of return requested, daytime telephone number, payment of $1.00 per side for copies of return.

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