GSLIS Gateway: Resources & Student Info

GSLIS Policies

Below is an alphabetical listing of GSLIS policies. When applicable, the download of a form is available directly from the policy statement; for an alphabetical list of forms and other downloads, however, please see our Downloadable Forms page. (Please note, most forms will need the Adobe Acrobat plug-in. See sidebar if you need to download it from the Adobe site.)

If you have any questions not covered in this listing, please email gslis@simmons.edu for assistance.

page topAdd/Drop

Graduate students are permitted to change course registrations without financial penalty prior to the second class meeting, provided that the change does not result in an increased or reduced class load. (Specific dates are available at my.simmons.edu/services/sfs/accounts/refunds.shtml; for more information, please see Credits Allowed per Semester and Tuition Refund Policy). No student may enroll in a class after the second meeting has occurred; however, a student may withdraw from a course without academic penalty at any time prior to its last scheduled meeting.

All add/drops can be made via AARC through the end date and time listed under "My Registration Priority"; for changes after the posted dates but prior to the second class, contact the Registrar's Office at 617-521-2111. If you have any questions, call the AARC hotline at (617) 521-2102 or e-mail aarcsupport@simmons.edu. Registration is binding, both financially and academically. The date on which the drop occurs determines the refund (if applicable) provided to the student.

page topAdvising

Each new student is assigned a faculty adviser. Students are required to meet with their advisers during the first semester in attendance to outline a program of study. (Download Advising Statement) Periodic consultations with advisers are recommended. See more on advising.

page top Credits Allowed per Semester

Students who enter the program Fall 2005 and thereafter:

  • may register for no more than 12 credit hours during the fall or spring term. During the spring term, this total includes any short courses during March spring break;
  • may register for no more than 6 credit hours during the six-week summer session;
  • may register for no more than 3 credit hours during a short course week in any term.

Students who entered the program prior to Fall 2005 and are taking courses for four credits:

  • may register for no more than 16 credit hours during the fall or spring term. During the spring term, this total includes any short courses during March spring break;
  • may register for no more than 8 credit hours during the six-week summer session;
  • may register for no more than 4 credit hours during a short course week in any term.

page top Grading System

The following grades, with corresponding numerical valuations, are used to evaluate academic achievement:

  • A = 4.00
  • A- = 3.67
  • B+ =3.33
  • B = 3.00
  • B- = 2.67
  • C+ =2.33
  • C = 2.00
  • C- = 1.67
  • D+ =1.33
  • D = 1.00
  • D- = 0.67
  • F = 0.00

Grades will be mailed to your home by the office of the Registrar at the end of the semester. Any errors or inquiries regarding grades should be referred to that office in person or by calling (617) 521-2111. Grades cannot be obtained from the GSLIS administrative office at any time. If a grade is needed for reimbursement purposes prior to receipt of your official report, the instructor may be asked.

page top Incompletes

Students who become ill, have a medical emergency, a death in the immediate family, extreme hardship, or unusual circumstances may request an incomplete from the instructor. Students must be performing at a passing level to be considered. Forms must be filled out in consultation with the instructor and the Assistant Dean for Student Administrative Services must review it. If approval is granted, the incomplete must be finished by the end of the following semester.

Incomplete Form

page top Independent Study

Students taking LIS 500 or 601 must complete an Independent Study form. Please note, there are separate forms for master's and doctoral degree candidates. Doctoral candidates wishing to take an Independent Study should also download the document, "Independent Study Information for Doctoral Candidates."

Students using human subjects in research must get approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). For more information and to download the appropriate forms, go to http://my.simmons.edu/services/gsp/irb.shtml.

page top Non-Degree Students

Those interested in auditing a course may apply to the School as a non-degree student. Normally, classes meet once a week for three hours during regular semesters, and twice a week during the six-week summer session. Short courses are offered in Summer Session I and in January. Many courses are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening for the convenience of practicing librarians. The option to audit a course is available on a space-available, non-credit basis to GSLIS alumni for $400 per course, Simmons College alumni for $800, and non-Simmons applicants for one half the prevailing tuition. The $30 activity fee is required as well. Audits are non-refundable after the first class meeting. Please consult the refund policy for summer session I. Please be advised that registration is binding both financially and academically and you will be billed for all course work based on the School’s billing policy. Please continue reading for more specific non-degree student policies and an application.

Students planning to apply to GSLIS: During the fall 2003 term, the faculty voted that no one who plans to apply to the master's degree program be allowed to enroll in courses as a non-degree student. Our program is so full with degree-seeking students that at this time we can not accommodate anyone who is not in the master's degree program.

Simmons Employees: Current employees of Simmons College may enroll in up to 6 credits as a non-degree student.

Those who have earned their LIS degree: Simmons GSLIS alums or others who have earned their master's in LIS from an accredited institution are allowed to audit as many classes as they would like. If credit is necessary, no more than 6 credits may be completed. The student may petition the Assistant Dean for Student Administrative Services if they require completion of more than 6 credits (e.g. those who already have their master's degree and are interested in completing SLT or Archives certification).

Those interested in professional development but not the degree: Those who want to take a course for professional development and are not planning to apply to the master's degree program at a later date are allowed to enroll as an auditing student and will not receive a grade or credit. If the employer requires proof of earned grade or credit for tuition reimbursement, enrollment in no more than 6 credits will be allowed.

Students enrolled in another LIS program: Anyone currently enrolled in a different LIS program who wishes to transfer coursework to that program may enroll for no more than six credits. Audited courses do not transfer into any degree program, as no grade or credit is earned.

Non-Degree/Unclassified Application

page top Petition to Graduate

Please see our Graduation Information page for additional information on graduation policies and procedures.

Petition to Graduate form

page top Student Grievance Procedure

A student with a grievance regarding a grade should first discuss the grievance with the instructor. If issues are not resolved, discuss the matter with the dean. The dean may consult with the instructor, but the final decision regarding a grade rests with the instructor.

page top Time Needed to Complete the Program

The minimum amount of time needed to complete the Master's degree program is four terms; students must complete the program within six years of initial enrollment.

page top Transfer of Credit

Under special circumstances, a student may receive credit for graduate work completed at another ALA accredited graduate institution. Usually six semester hours are the maximum amount granted. Students must complete the Petition for Transfer of Credit and submit it to the Assistant Dean for Student Administrative Services for discussion at a forthcoming faculty meeting. When the petition has been voted on by the faculty, the decision will be conveyed by letter from the assistant dean. The guidelines are as follows:

  • Credit is not granted for more than the face-value credit assigned by the host institution.
  • The lowest grade normally accepted for transfer credit is B.
  • A copy of the catalog course description must accompany the petition upon submission.
  • No credit is given for courses completed toward another degree.

Petition for Transfer of Credit must be completed before enrolling in courses at another institution.

Petition for Transfer of Credit/Waiver form

page top Tuition Refund Policy

Dual Degree Archives and SLTP students should note that Education and History courses may have different starting and ending dates; therefore, the refund policies may also differ. Please contact the Registrar's Office (Room C210) for more information (617-521-2111).

For WISE (Online) Courses, there are some exceptions to the policies below. Information about those exceptions may be found within the WISE Guidelines.

Written notification of withdrawal is required before a refund can be granted. For purposes of calculating any refund, the date of withdrawal is the date written notification of withdrawal is received by the GSLIS Office. Student Activity and other fees are nonrefundable. Any change from the approved registration must be submitted to the GSLIS Office in writing. Nonattendance in a class or notification to the Student Accounts or Registrar's Office does not constitute a change. Financial aid recipients should discuss with a representative from the Financial Aid Office the impact of adding or dropping a course prior to submitting the official add/drop form. A student who wishes to cancel his/her approved registration but fails to notify GSLIS Office (617-521-2800) of this cancellation by the deadlines indicated below, will be charged according to the refund policy whether he/she has paid or not.

Further information regarding the full term course refund policy is available at http://my.simmons.edu/services/sfs/accounts/refunds.shtml. Short term and audited courses will be refunded 100% if dropped by the last business day prior to the start of class. There are no refunds after that point.

page top Waiver

Students who enter the School with an acceptable background of graduate study in library and information studies from an ALA-accredited program may petition the faculty for course waiver after completing 12 credits. A waiver constitutes a substitution for the required courses.

Petition for Transfer of Credit/Waiver form

page top WISE (Online) Courses

At the May 2005 Faculty Meeting, the GSLIS faculty officially voted to join the Web-based Information Science Education (WISE), a consortium made up of thirteen LIS schools, and thereby enabling GSLIS students the opportunity to take online courses from other leading ALA-accredited programs.

Some policies for WISE courses are different from those that govern regular, on-site, GSLIS courses. If you are considering enrolling in a WISE course, please review the WISE Guidelines for information and policies regarding these courses.

page top Withdrawal from School or Courses

A student may withdraw from a course without academic penalty at any time prior to its last scheduled meeting. Please see the Add/Drop policy above. A student who finds it necessary to withdraw or take a leave of absence from the School during the regular academic year or the summer session must send written notification indicating the reason for withdrawal to the Director of Admissions. No withdrawal becomes official until such written notice has been received. Financial aid recipients must also consult a financial aid officer before withdrawal from a course(s), or the program.

This page was last updated on 1/8/08.