Athens State University (ASU) has established and publishes a wide variety of academic policies which adhere to principles of good educational practice and are suited to the unique status of the institution as an upper-division university. The academic policies published by the institution are appropriate for the institution’s primary mission to serve transfer students from institutions in the Alabama Community College System (ACCS).
The academic policies published by the institution are consistent with all provisions in applicable policies adopted by the Alabama State Board of Education, the controlling board of the institution, thus ensuring that institutional policies conform to standards of good educational practice. These State Board Policies include: Institutional academic policies are published in the ASU Catalog and on the University Policies and Procedures webpage. Academic policies pertinent to the duties of Faculty are published in the ASU Employee Handbook.
For the convenience of students, summaries of many academic policies can also be found in the Academics section of the University website.
In addition to the University academic policies mandated by State Board of Education, the institution has also developed policies that conform to the requirements of the legislatively-mandated general education curriculum and the status of the institution as an upper-division University. In particular, the policy on General University requirements defines many of the academic requirements common to all degree programs that are particular to the institution as an upper-division university.
Academic policy-making is the responsibility of the Faculty as a part of the academic governance structure of the institution. Pursuant to this structure, the ASU Faculty has established standing committees to address the review and approval of academic policies, degree programs, and faculty issues relating to academics. These standing committees report to the Faculty Senate. Most notably, the Academic Affairs Committee, the Curriculum Committee, and the Faculty Affairs Committee, in coordination with the Faculty Senate and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and College Deans, work to periodically review issues relating to the academic calendar, academic policies, curriculum changes, and faculty issues. Any proposed changes in academic policy must be approved according to the steps defined in the University’s Policy Approval Process before being included in any University publications or media.
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