Graduate Certificate in Public Health

Minimum Grade Point Average

Matriculated graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better. Failure to do so will result in academic probation and possible termination from the program. Any student receiving a grade below B- on any individual course has failed that course and will not earn credits. Any student receiving a grade below B- in a required course must re-enroll and repeat the course to achieve a grade of B- or better. Any student who receives a grade of F in two (2) courses is dismissed from the program.

Graduation

Candidates must fulfill all program requirements and earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be eligible to graduate. All students must file an Application to Graduate with the registrar’s office via UNE Compass. Please access the following link for complete instructions and the answers to frequently asked questions: www.une.edu/registrar/graduation.

Attendance Policy

Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET of the first week of the A term and B term and Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the AB term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean’s Office.

University Withdrawal

Matriculated students intending to withdraw from the University must complete the University Withdrawal and LOA Request form available online or at the University Registrar’s Office. The form requires signatures from designated academic and administrative personnel.

Academic Integrity Policy

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy. Failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
• Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
• Action that destroys or alters the work of another student.
• Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one (1) course without permission of each instructor.
• Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the dean, whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in The College of Professional Studies Student Handbook.

Student Access Center

The Student Access Center works to ensure that the University promotes respect for individual differences and that no person who meets the academic and technical standards needed for admission and continued enrollment at UNE is denied benefits or subjected to discrimination due to a disability. Toward this end, and in conjunction with federal and state laws, the University provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students.

Leave of Absence (Academic Stop-Out)

Students may stop out of their program for up to two (2) semesters. Students need to coordinate stop-outs in advance with their assigned enrollment and retention counselor, and stop-out time is considered part of the time allotted to complete the academic program. Application for readmission is not necessary if the student returns as planned.

However, the student who does not return at the specified time or who exceeds two (2) semesters of stop out will be administratively withdrawn and will be subject to readmission procedures. Readmitted students are subject to the re-admittance term’s catalog (this may mean that policies and/or program requirements have been changed or updated since previous admission, and should be reviewed for potential impact on degree requirements, time to complete the degree, and degree planning).

Note: It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Enrollment and Retention Counselor and Student Financial Services to indicate a change of plans; stop-out time can affect financial aid eligibility and repayment.

Readmission

Students who have been withdrawn from the program for any reason must reapply if they wish to continue their studies. The application procedures, academic policies, and program requirements that are in effect at the time of readmission will apply. Students who re-enroll following withdrawal will have their previous coursework evaluated for applicability to the existing academic requirements. Coursework that is more than five (5) years old may not be accepted for credit in the program.

Students who have been administratively withdrawn from the program may petition for readmission through the reapplication process. The application essay must provide a justification for re-admission that addresses how past issues have been resolved and a plan for the successful completion of the program. 

Upon acceptance, students may apply to transfer up to two (2) courses (maximum of six (6) credits) into the Graduate Certificate in Public Health program.

To request consideration for transfer credit, a student must provide an official transcript and a course syllabus for each course. Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the College of Professional Studies based on specific program details listed below. Requests for approval of transfer credit should be submitted to the Program Director, and will be granted per their discretion.

Transfer courses must:

• Be classified as graduate level
• Be from a CEPH accredited institution
• Have been taken within five (5) years of application
• Have been completed with a grade of B or better
• Be worth three (3) credits
• Be equivalent to one (1) of the required program courses or an elective course that meets the goals of the student’s education

Individuals who earned a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from the University of New England within the last five (5) years may apply for admission to the M.P.H. program and request that all courses be accepted. Current GCPH students, who are in good standing, may apply to the M.P.H. program at any time during the certificate program by requesting a change of major with their Enrollment and Retention Counselor.

Experiential Learning

The GCPH program does not grant academic credit for life experiences or previous work experience.