CDM Policies and Procedures
Academic policies and procedures are the building blocks of all academic planning at DePaul University. All students are expected to be familiar with University policies. Knowing these policies and referencing them on a regular basis allow students, faculty, staff, and administrators the ability to operate under the same set of expectations as all parties work together to achieve the best possible student experience. In addition to University policies, specific CDM policies regarding enrollment and grading were developed in an effort to assist students with academic planning and to aid students in further understanding the requirements placed on them by the College and University.
Exceptions to policy may be addressed in writing to the attention of the CDM Exceptions Committee and delivered in person to the CDM Academic Success Center or sent to
advising@cdm.depaul.edu. Exceptions are to be clearly written and expected to include a detailed explanation about why the student believes an exception is warranted. In cases of late withdrawal exceptions, it is the student's responsibility to explain in detail why the withdrawal deadline was missed.
Following is a partial list of policies regarding the completion of either an undergraduate or graduate degree from CDM. For more information, follow the links for the Undergraduate and Graduate Student Handbooks in the Related Information section on the right side of this page.
- Undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of 192 credit hours for any BA or BS degree and a minimum of 208 credits for the BFA in Graphic Design.
- Undergraduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000. Under no circumstances will a student graduate if the cumulative GPA is below 2.000.
- Graduate students are required to complete a minimum of 52 credit hours at the graduate level for any MA or MS degree. Graduate level courses are numbered 400 and above, with the exception of HCI 402. Courses numbered below 400 may not satisfy a graduate level course requirement.
- Graduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.500. Under no circumstances will a student graduate if the cumulative GPA is below 2.500. Additionally, students must meet all program specific grade and GPA requirements.
- The grade point average for CDM graduate students is calculated using grades earned in all graduate level courses completed at DePaul University during the students academic career. Grades earned in certificate programs are not used in the calculation of the GPA.
- CDM Graduate students are allowed to apply at most two transfer courses in their graduate program. Certificate programs completed at DePaul University's Institute for Professional Development are considered transfer courses in terms of this policy.
The following items represent DePaul University's Requirement Term Policy
- Undergraduate DePaul University Requirements: A student will complete the university degree requirements in place at the time of the student's first enrollment term in the University as a degree seeking student.
- College Requirements: A student will complete the college requirements in place at the time of the student's first enrollment term in the College as a degree-seeking student. A student who changes colleges while his/her studies are in progress will complete the college requirements in place at the time of the inter-college transfer. A student who completes an inter-college transfer during a break between terms (e.g. winter, spring) will follow the requirements in place for the term immediately following the break.
- Major / Minor Requirements: A student will complete the major requirements in place at the time the student declares the major / minor (or corresponding “intended” or “pre” major/minor). A student who changes majors/minors while his/her studies are in progress will complete the requirements at the time he or she declares the new major/minor (or corresponding “intended” or “pre” major/minor). Specific liberal studies course requirements are determined by the student’s primary academic major. The impact of any changes to the Liberal Studies Program while a student is in attendance will be addressed through the policy under which the changes are implemented. A student who changes majors or adds a major/minor during a break between terms (e.g. winter, spring) will follow the requirements in place for the term immediately following the break. In majors and minors with concentrations, the student’s concentration requirements will be determined by the term the student declares the major/minor.
- Readmission: A student who applies for readmission will be subject to all degree requirements in place in the enrollment term of readmission.
- Graduate Program Specific Information: A student will complete the graduate program requirements in place at the time of the student's first enrollment term in the graduate program. A student who changes graduate programs while his/her studies are in progress will complete the requirements in place at the time he or she enrolls in the new program. A student who changes graduate programs during a break between terms (e.g. winter, spring) will follow the requirements in place for the term immediately following the break. A student who applies for readmission will be subject to the program and concentration requirements in place in the enrollment term of readmission.
- Other Information: A student currently enrolled in a degree program in which revisions are approved while their studies are in progress may elect to formally adopt the revised requirements.
Enrolling in a closed course
CDM does not allow enrollment in closed courses. Students wishing to enroll in a closed course may elect to add themselves to the course waitlist in campus connect. The waitlist allows students to be auto-enrolled in a class as seats become available. Auto-enrollment from the waitlist occurs hourly during the first week of enrollment and two times per day until the last day to add a class. Students are strongly encouraged to closely monitor their email accounts if they have any waitlisted courses. All waitlists expire after the last day to add a class each term.
For more information on how waitlists work see: http://sr.depaul.edu/MyLinks/Waitlist/index.asp.
Special Note: Students are NOT allowed to sit in on a class after the first week if they are not on the class roster.
Petitioning For A Retro-Active Withdrawal/Retro-Active Withdrawal With Refund
CDM understands certain extenuating circumstances can hinder one’s ability for academic success and completion of course work. For these types of circumstances, we ask that a formal petition be submitted to attention of the CDM Exceptions Committee and forwarded to the 
CDM Advising Office. Along with the Appeal Form, we ask that you provide the documentation indicated below:
- Explanation of circumstances that you believe warrant a withdrawal (with or without refund), including a detailed explanation about why the withdrawal deadline was missed
- Supplemental documentation (e.g. travel receipts, employer notices)
- Instructor communication records, if applicable
The deadlines for submitting appeals are as follows:
| Autumn Quarter |
Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent winter quarter |
| Winter Quarter |
Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent spring quarter |
| Spring Quarter |
Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent autumn quarter |
| Summer Terms |
Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent autumn quarter |
During a student's academic career at DePaul, they are allowed a maximum of one medical/personal approved late withdrawal and one college office administrative late withdrawal. Each may be applied to a single course or multiple courses in a single quarter. Repeated requests will not be considered.
Please Note: If a circumstance deals with death, illness or personal hardship, all such requests should be forwarded onto the Dean of Students Office using their
Appeal Form.
Incomplete Grades
An incomplete grade is defined in the Student Handbook as follows (note that the policy in the undergraduate student handbook applies to both undergraduate and graduate students): A temporary grade indicating that the student has a satisfactory record in work completed, but for unusual or unforeseeable circumstances not encountered by other students in the class and acceptable to the instructor is prevented from completing the course requirements by the end of the term.
An incomplete grade may not be assigned unless the student has formally requested it from the instructor, and the instructor has given his or her permission for the students to receive an incomplete grade. At the end of the second quarter (excluding summer) following the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned, remaining incompletes will automatically convert to "F" grades. Ordinarily no incomplete grade may be completed after the grace period has expired. Instructors may not change incomplete grades after the end of the grace period without the permission of college-based Exceptions Committee.
CDM policy requires the approval of the instructor and associate dean for all incomplete requests. Only exceptional cases will receive such approval. Students must initiate the incomplete request process before the end of the term they are enrolled in the course by obtaining the 
Incomplete Request Form and discussing the circumstances with the instructor. Further instructions may be found on the form itself.
Course Repeats
Undergraduate CDM students are subject to the University's policy regarding course repeats as outlined in the Handbook for Undergraduate Studies. For CDM graduate students, all grades earned are used to calculate the graduate GPA except those grades earned in prerequisite phase courses.
Submitting A Grade Challenge
Before submitting a grade challenge, students must carefully read the section on Grade Challenges in the Student Handbook. This section gives the procedures that must be followed when submitting a grade challenge. If attempts to resolve the grade dispute with the instructor fail and the student wishes to proceed with a grade challenge, he/she must submit a Grade Challenge Form and must include with the form a clear and coherent typed statement with the reason for the appeal, together with all relevant supporting documents. All documents should be submitted to the CDM Advising Office.
Grades And Grade-Point Average
Student are required to maintain the minimum grades and cumulative grade-point averages required by their degree progam. Generally, an undergraduate CDM student must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and a graduate CDM student must maintain a 2.5 GPA. Additional grade and GPA requirements may be in place for a degree program. Refer to the Undergraduate Student Handbook or the appropriate degree program description for further information. Students who fail to maintain the minimum grade and GPA requirements are subject to academic disciplinary action according to the School's policy.
Students who fail to meet the minimum grade and GPA requirements for their program are subject to academic disciplinary action by the College. All students are encouraged to be familiar with the official grade, GPA, academic probation and dismissal policies as outlined in the catalog and within the program descriptions on the CDM website.
Generally, when a student's GPA falls below the minimum required by the program, a letter will be sent to the student explaining the probation status and giving further instructions about probation removal procedures. Students have the responsibility to:
- Review rules about probation/dismissal in the Catalog.
- Raise his/her GPA to the minimum level by developing a written academic plan that includes:
- An outline with attainable academic goals for the next three quarters
- Registration decisions for a maximum of three courses per quarter for undergraduates and two for graduates
- A list of courses that need to be repeated
- A target GPA per quarter
- Make an appointment with staff advisor in the CDM Academic Success Center to discuss the prepared plan.
- Follow-up with faculty advisor at least twice per quarter while on probation.
- Schedule an exit appointment with faculty advisor once minimum GPA is met.
- A staff advisor or faculty advisor approves/adjusts academic plan in consultation with the student. If a registration block is imposed on the student record it can be lifted only with the approval of the faculty and staff advisor.
Preferably the plan should be submitted to the advisor in advance of the initial appointment. This allows the student the opportunity to think through the situation before the meeting, and also encourages him or her to be more proactive in finding a solution to the situation.