Academic Policies

Overview

Students are taught by an experienced, dedicated faculty who are devoted to sharing their trade, technical, and academic expertise. Enrollment is limited to approximately 130 new students each year to maintain a sound student-faculty ratio. The constant interaction in class and shop and on the campus enables students to form close professional relationships with their fellow students and instructors, friendships that often last a lifetime.

Upon entrance, all students enroll in an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree program in one of six program areas: Construction Technology (with a Carpentry, Electrical, or Masonry emphasis); Landscape Construction and Management; Machine Tool Technology; or Power Plant Technology. Classes are small in size; a typical class has 18 students.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Williamson College of the Trades is a trust, authorized within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a postsecondary institution, with authority vested in its Board of Trustees. Appropriate authority, then, is specifically delegated by the Board to the President of Williamson, and through the President to other members of the administration and faculty.

Williamson is a comprehensive teaching institution. As members of the college learning community, students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and to engage in sustained and independent study. Free inquiry and free expression in an environment of individual and group responsibility are essential to any educational community.

The following guidelines have been developed to preserve and protect that community:

• Students are responsible for thoroughly learning the content of any course of study, but they should be free to take reasonable exception to the information offered, and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion.
• Students should be evaluated by their instructors solely on the basis of their course-related performance.
• Students should not be subject to prejudiced or capricious evaluation by a faculty member or supervisor.
• Protection against improper disclosure of information concerning a student is a serious professional obligation of faculty members and administrative staff that must be balanced with their other obligations to the individual student, the college, and society.
• Students are free to examine and discuss any issue and to express opinions, publicly or privately, and are free to support causes by orderly means that do not disrupt the regular and essential operations of the college. Any such expression must comply with college guidelines governing free expression activities. The participation by any student in any unlawful or disruptive activity that fails to comply with college guidelines or disrupts or interferes with the programs, functions, or conduct of the college is a serious offense against the college’s conduct code.
• As constituents of the academic community, students are free to express their views on institutional policy and on matters of general interest to the student body, provided they do so in a manner that is lawful, organized, and complies with reasonable expectations of respectful behavior.
• In order to promote security on campus, individuals must assume responsibilities for their own safety and security and for those of others. Students share this responsibility by carefully following all college and community rules and regulations.
• All members of the Williamson community share the responsibility for maintaining a clean environment.
• For the general welfare of the college, all students have a responsibility to exercise reasonable care in the use of personal or school property.
• Academic study requires a reasonably quiet environment. Community living requires that all members of the Williamson community respect one another and each person’s property and share a responsibility for maintaining a clean and safe environment.

Students with Disabilities/Student Accessibility Services

The Office of Academic Affairs manages the college’s student assistance program, designed to aid students with a qualified disability to meet their academic goals. The college complies with U.S. Federal Code Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It must be noted that the regularity requirements and process regarding a student academic accommodation is different for higher education than in elementary and secondary education.

Consideration for granting a student accommodation is done on a case-by-case basis unique to the individual student need. While the college strives to support each student, it must be noted, in alignment with federal and state legislation, that it reserves the right not to grant an accommodation or adjustment that would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program, or activity, or that would result in an undue financial or administrative burden.

Students can make a request for an academic accommodation pertaining to a learning, psychological, and/or physical disability at the time of acceptance or any time thereafter. The accommodation request must be made by the student in writing, either hardcopy or electronically, to the Office of Academic Affairs. Requests from others (such as family, guardians, or teachers) are not permitted. Please note that other forms of contact such as phone calls or disclosures to other members of the college staff or faculty do not constitute a request for accommodations. Students requesting an accommodation are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation in alignment with the procedures listed below.

Accommodation requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Office of Academic Affairs. An accommodation is based on each student’s individual needs and the college’s ability to support the accommodation. If a request involves more than a basic academic accommodation, the Vice President of Academic Affairs will notify the college Provost, who may elect to convene a review committee in alignment with the college’s Student Accommodation Support policy. A copy of this policy is available on the college’s Student Management System (Blackbaud) or upon request to the Office of the Provost.

Documentation Requirements

All documentation in support of a requested accommodation should be reflective of the current, functional impact of the condition or impairment. The college reserves the right to require, at the requesting student’s expense, a current test or evaluation by an appropriate professional, such as a medical doctor, psychologist, or other qualified diagnostician supporting the requested accommodation. Additionally, updated documentation may be requested, in some circumstances, where documentation is outdated or when ongoing treatment is being provided. Students should also include any Individual Education Plans (IEP) generated by other schools if available. Please note, the notification of a disability and providing documentation is the responsibility of the student and not the college.

Additional Resources

• LD online (www.ldonline.org) provides information for students with learning disabilities
• Readings (https://learningally.org/Solutions-for-Home/College-Adults/ Resources) offer information for the blind and dyslexic
• The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights contains information about the rights and responsibilities for students with disabilities (www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html)

Credit Hours

All programs at Williamson require full-time attendance for three school years. There are two, 16-week semesters each year and the normal attendance schedule is 39 hours per week. The college’s trade/technical programs require 116 credits on average. Lecture (academic) classes meet approximately the same number of hours each week as the credits they are assigned. Applied education and shop (technical) courses meet approximately two to three times the number of hours each week as the credits they are assigned. Specific credit hours are listed by academic degree program in the Programs section of the catalog.

The Grading System

Williamson uses a traditional grading system based on the 4-point scale, including plus and minus marks. Midterm and final grades are issued using the following scale:

Grade	Grade Points
A (Excellent)	4.00
A-	3.66
B+	3.33
B (Good)	3.00
B-	2.66
C+	2.33
C (Satisfactory)	2.00
C-	1.66
D+	1.33
D (Poor)	1.00
D-	0.66
F (Failure)	0.00
P (Pass)*
I (Incomplete) *

* A grade of Pass or Incomplete does not affect the calculation of grade point averages. If a student receives a grade of Incomplete for a class, he has one semester following the conclusion of that class to satisfy the requirements for that class, at which point, if he fails to remove his Incomplete, his grade reverts to a failure. Students who withdraw from the college before the official end of the semester receive a grade of W for all courses in their final semester of attendance (see Academic Progress Standards, Sec. E).

Grade Point Requirements

The college has established the following cumulative grade point average (GPA) standards:

At the end of	Cumulative GPA
1st Semester	1.5
2nd Semester	1.7
3rd Semester	1.9
4th Semester	2.0
5th Semester	2.0
6th Semester	2.0

If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below the standard, he will be required to meet or exceed the cumulative GPA standard for all ensuing semesters at the college. Failure to do so will result in enrollment termination. If a student fails to meet the college’s cumulative GPA standard in the last semester of his senior year, he cannot graduate from the college. See the college’s Student Academic Progress Policy for more details.

Course Failures

Students are required to pass all courses designated for their assigned curriculum. If a student fails a non-trade course, he may not retake the course at Williamson but must find a substitute course at another institution. (See Scholarship Cancellation and Appeal section regarding trade course failures.) The student must then submit a Course Substitution proposal for approval to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. If approved, the student must successfully complete the proposed course, with a grade of “C” or higher, within three semesters following the semester in which the failure occurred (summer session is counted as a semester). Failure to successfully complete the substitute course within the specified time limit will result in the student being disenrolled from Williamson. The student’s original failing grade will remain on his transcript and the substitute course will be noted on the transcript. The initial grade will be used in calculating his cumulative grade point average. Even though the student has passed the course at another institution, the course still counts as a failure. Any student who fails three courses over the three-year program will have his scholarship cancelled as explained in the Scholarship Cancellation and Appeal section.

Academic Probation

After a student completes at least 20% of the assignments for a class (quizzes, tests, homework, etc.), if he has an average below 70%, his instructor may place him on academic probation, requiring the student to attend evening study hall. A student remains on probation until his grade improves above 70%, at which point he will be removed from probation. If a student is on Academic Probation for more than five consecutive weeks or is on probation for two classes simultaneously for more than two consecutive weeks each, the student is placed on Strict Academic Probation. For the complete Academic Probation policy, please consult the Student Handbook.

Scholarship Cancellation and Appeal

A student will have his Williamson Scholarship cancelled if he does not meet the minimum cumulative grade point average, fails three non-trade courses over his three-year program, or fails either a trade theory or trade skills course. To appeal the disenrollment, a student must complete the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form (available on the Financial Aid page at the college’s website), attach all required documentation, and submit the appeal within 10 calendar days of the notice of academic disenrollment date to the Office of Academic Affairs. The Scholastic Standards Committee, composed of the vice president of Academic Affairs/CAO, the registrar, and the director of the student’s trade program, will review the appeal. The committee may confirm the scholarship cancellation/disenrollment or allow continuation of enrollment with specified conditions.

Students may submit a letter of appeal on the decision of the committee to the college president within five calendar days of the committee’s decision. The president’s decision will be considered final.

If a student’s appeal is approved, in order to continue receiving financial aid, the student must develop (with the vice president of Academic Affairs/ CAO) and follow an academic plan and successfully meet the college’s cumulative GPA minimum requirements and course grade requirements. Failure to follow the plan and successfully meet the college’s stated requirements will result in disenrollment.

Advanced Placement Credit

Because Williamson’s curriculum is specifically oriented toward trade and technical applications, the college does not exempt students from courses on the basis of having successfully completed advanced placement courses or similar courses at other postsecondary institutions.

Dean's List

The Dean’s List is announced after each semester to recognize academic excellence. Students who achieve a 3.67 grade point average or higher are placed on the Dean’s List.

The I.V. Club

The I.V. Club recognizes those graduating seniors who best evidence the quality of leadership in exemplifying Williamson’s core values and encourages their continued leadership in relations with Williamson. Every year, a select group of graduating seniors is honored with induction into the I.V. Club. The selection process for inductees includes nomination for consideration by the student’s program director, followed by a school-wide secret ballot by all Williamson faculty and staff, concluding with the compilation of votes and final selection by the I.V. Club Selection Committee, comprised of faculty and staff members who have frequent contact with all students. The induction into the I.V. Club occurs at a special dinner that includes a formal ceremony attended by many.

Phi Theta Kappa

Williamson’s Beta Chi Mu Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognizes student academic achievement and through the society provides opportunities for students to grow as scholars and leaders. Each year a select group of students is honored with induction into the society. For additional information, students should contact the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The induction into Phi Theta Kappa occurs each fall through a formal ceremony.

Graduation

To qualify as a candidate for the Associate in Specialized Technology Degree, a student must have satisfactorily completed a program of study as described in this catalog and must conclude his studies with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. In order to complete a program successfully, students must complete all the credit requirements of that program. Students have a maximum time of three years at Williamson to complete their program requirements.

Leave of Absence

In rare circumstances, usually related to a student’s health or well-being, a student may request a leave of absence by coordinating with the Vice President of Academic Affairs and completing a Leave of Absence form clearly stating the basis for the leave request. The student’s request will be reviewed for approval by the college Provost, who may elect to convene a review committee in alignment with the college’s Student Accommodation Support Policy. A copy of the policy is available on the college’s Student Management System (Blackbaud) or upon request to the Office of the Provost. If approved, the college will determine the allowable period of absence and any conditions that must be met by the student prior to return. The period of absence begins the day the student submits a completed, signed, and approved Leave of Absence form. Students who fail to return to the college following an approved leave of absence or fail to meet any requirements outlined in their approved Leave of Absence form will be withdrawn from the college; the college’s refund policy will be applied in accordance with applicable and published requirements.

Transcripts

Current students may request official copies of their transcript through the college’s Blackbaud Student Management System. Former students and alumni may request official copies of their transcript by submitting to the Registrar’s Office an electronic Transcript Request Form via the college’s website or a signed, written Transcript Request Form downloaded from the website or obtained from the Registrar’s Office. To have the transcript sent to a third party, the request must include proper forwarding directions. The college will not accept telephone or email requests for transcripts.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The purpose of this policy is to outline the college’s position on the use of AI by employees and students in their work and study at Williamson. As such, this policy is directive in nature to all faculty, staff, and students. Given the evolving advancement of AI, the college anticipates that this policy will also evolve and be updated regularly. The college encourages all faculty, staff, and students to review this policy periodically. While AI tools and software can be of benefit, there are equal risks associated with their use and application. These risks directly relate to information security, data privacy, copyright legislation, academic integrity, and bias. Williamson requires that any use of AI be in a manner that is cognizant of its limitations and inherent risks. Questions concerning the college’s AI policy should be directed to the Office of the Provost.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems and applications that can perform complex tasks. While the wide range of tasks and outputs of AI systems and application prevents a universal definition of AI, Williamson follows the definition outlined with the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019.

• Any artificial system that performs tasks under varying and unpredictable circumstances without significant human oversight, or that can learn from experience and improve performance when exposed to data sets.
• An artificial system designed to think or act like a human, including cognitive architectures and neural networks
• A set of techniques, including machine learning that is designed to approximate a cognitive task.
• An artificial system that is designed to act rationally, including an intelligent software agent or embodied robot that achieves goals using perception, planning, reasoning, learning, communicating, decision making, and acting.

Williamson expects all faculty, staff, and students to follow these guidelines when using AI tools for teaching and learning, and work-related functions:

• Follow established IT policy when procuring AI tools, software, or applications (including free tools): All members of the college community must comply with the established IT acceptable use policy outlined within the Employee Handbook and Student Information Technology Handbook. All college software applications and tools must be vetted by the Office of the Provost (functioning as the college’s Chief Information Officer) prior to use on the college’s network or devices.
• Do not input confidential information: Williamson faculty, staff, and students must not input any confidential information into generative AI tools, except when permitted by validated contract language and security controls (as approved by the Office of the Provost).
• Do not input personal information: Williamson faculty, staff, and students must not input any personal information about its employees, students, faculty, or other community stakeholders into a generative AI tool except when permitted by validated contract language and security controls (as approved by the Office of the Provost).
• Confirm the accuracy of the output provided by generative AI tools: Williamson faculty, staff, and students must check the accuracy and potential bias of any information attained through generative AI tools prior to relying on such information.
• Disclose the use of generative AI tools: Williamson faculty, staff, and students who leverage generative AI to produce any written materials or other work product must disclose that those materials and that work product is based on or derives from the use of generative AI.

AI Policy and Academic Integrity

At Williamson, it is a universal responsibility to promote intellectual honesty and scholarly integrity, which can be undermined when AI-generated content is used or submitted as one's own work.

For Students: Absent a clear statement from a course instructor granting permission, the use of Gen AI tools to aid in and/or complete an assignment or exam is strictly prohibited. The unauthorized use of AI shall be treated similarly to unauthorized assistance (e.g., cheating) and/or plagiarism. The lack of explicit permission from a course instructor regarding the use of Gen AI will be considered by default as non-permission. Students are encouraged to speak with their instructors regarding their expectations.

For Faculty: Review the guidance shared in this section to help support navigating the appropriate use of AI in the classroom.

• At minimum, it is recommended that faculty share clear expectations at the beginning of each term through the syllabus and class discussions on the appropriate use of AI tools and applications. Faculty should encourage students to reach out to them when support is needed rather than risking a potential academic integrity violation. If AI is permitted in a course, faculty should encourage students to acknowledge and cite any use of AI applications on their submitted work.
• As the use of AI in education has grown, there has been a similar rise in AI-generated detection software. While potentially helpful, there are risks of misidentification through these applications and they should be used with careful consideration and not as a sole source of any academic integrity investigation.

Reporting Violations of IT Acceptable Use Regulations

Violations of the college’s IT policy must be reported immediately to college administration. The administration will make every effort to maintain confidentiality to the extent possible consistent with other obligations.