Academic Procedures and Services

Change of Academic Program

Students who wish to change their academic program or declare/add or remove a minor may do so by submitting a Program Change Form. Please note that the change of academic program may require Director/Chair and/or Dean’s signature. Please see your appropriate academic department for more information.

Undergraduate Grade Relief

When students find it necessary to change their academic program, they may be relieved of grades of F and, at their discretion, grades of D in subjects not required by the new academic program, for the purpose of recalculating the grade point ratio only.

This privilege is extended only once for a student in his or her college career at Fairleigh Dickinson University and must be exercised not later than the close of the student’s fourth semester. If granted, it is limited to a student who matriculated with at least 16, but not more than 64 credits. It may not be used to circumvent prior faculty action.

This process may be implemented under the following circumstances:

  1. Required by a faculty evaluation, or appeals committee or by the faculty of the students’ major.
  2. Recognition by the student, with the endorsement of one or more faculty members, including his or her adviser, department chairperson or College dean, that the student has made a wrong choice and cannot hope to succeed in his or her present academic program. This procedure is selective and not automatic.

Change of Program Specialization

Students who wish to switch to a different specialization within their academic program may do so by submitting a Specialization Change Form. Change of program specialization takes effect in the following academic term. At the beginning of each term, the Enrollment Services Office will announce the deadline to submit specialization change requests for the upcoming term.

Independent Study at Vancouver Campus

Independent studies are only granted under exceptional circumstances. Students seeking approval to complete an independent study should first meet with their academic advisor and submit an Independent Study Form. Students will also need to obtain a mentor for the independent study. Independent studies require approval of the Program Coordinator at the Vancouver Campus, as well as the department chairperson and Dean’s office in New Jersey.