ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR STUDENTS IN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS AT THE MONTERREY CAMPUS

Transcription

1 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR STUDENTS IN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS AT THE MONTERREY CAMPUS CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Chapter I. The Scope of this Document 3. Chapter II. Academic Policies 4. Chapter III. General Policies and Academic Norms of the Tecnológico de Monterrey Section III.1 Section III.2 Section III.3 Section III.4 Section III.5 Section III.6 Section III.7 Section III.8 Section III.9 General Definitions Student Admission Revalidations, Equivalencies and Accreditations The Academic Calendar Registration Evaluation of Learning Issuance of High School, Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees Academic Awards Sanctions for Poor Academic Performance 5. Chapter IV. Academic Regulations for Students in Undergraduate Programs at the Monterrey Campus

2 Section IV.1 Section IV.2 Section IV.3 Section IV.4 Section IV.5 Section IV.6 Section IV.7 Section IV.8 Section IV.9 Section IV.10 Section IV.11 Section IV.12 Section IV.13 Student Admission Revalidations, Accreditations and Transfers The Academic Calendar Standard Registration Registration for Intensive Courses Academic Load for Students Evaluation of Learning Attendance and Punctuality in Class Graduation Requirements for Undergraduate Programs Academic Awards Sanctions for Poor Academic Performance Sanctions for Academic Dishonesty General Dispositions

3 INTRODUCTION This legislation is based on the following documents: 1. General Academic Policies and Norms of the Tecnológico de Monterrey System 2. Academic Regulations for Undergraduate Programs According to Article 162, Sections 2-b, c, d, e, f and g of the General Statutes of the Tecnológico de Monterrey System, the Academic Senate of the Monterrey Campus is responsible for establishing the norms and policies which regulate the admission and academic performance of the students at this campus. Chapter I. THE SCOPE OF THIS DOCUMENT These Academic Regulations apply exclusively to the undergraduate level, which is one of the principal levels in which the educational mission of the Tecnológico de Monterrey System is carried out. These Academic Regulations contain the rules which students must follow in support of their academic activities, and these rules are regarded by the Monterrey Campus to be useful in contributing toward the adequate development of the students. Likewise, these norms establish the general rules that must be followed by the various divisions and academic departments in attending to students. However, divisions and departments should establish specific norms for those courses or academic activities using innovative educational methodology as

4 well as laboratories, workshops, clinics or seminars that may all require special management. Certain articles establish dispositions for administrative procedures which are indispensable in complying with academic norms. Chapter II. ACADEMIC POLICIES The following basic premises which govern the educational process in the Tecnológico de Monterrey form the basis for establishing the academic norms contained in this document: 1. The selection of students for admission to the Tecnológico de Monterrey should be consistent with the Mission of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. 2. The selection of students for admission to the Tecnológico de Monterrey, in addition to complying with its Mission, should take into account the responsibility of the Tecnológico de Monterrey in avoiding the possible academic failure of those students who do not meet the admission standards of the Institution. 3. The importance of establishing norms for the revalidation and accreditation of studies is obvious when we consider that the Tecnológico de Monterrey, when granting a high school, undergraduate or graduate degree, is certifying the education of a student. In this sense, it is particularly important to consider that the final courses in an undergraduate program are the ones which consolidate the professional formation which the Tecnológico de Monterrey certifies when awarding the corresponding degree.

5 4. Registration norms contained in academic regulations take on great importance when considered not as restrictions to a student s freedom, but rather as a way to structure academic activity within a framework that the Tecnológico de Monterrey considers best for the education of the student. 5. The academic load of a student should have a maximum limit to assure the opportunity to reach the highest academic achievement. 6. Legislation referring to exams, grades, and evaluations takes into consideration that the teaching-learning process must provide constant feedback to students so they may see their achievements and errors, as well as their progress. 7. The final evaluation of a course is a fundamental part of the learning process because it helps students integrate all of the knowledge acquired in a course. 8. It is essential that students attend most of the face-to-face or virtual sessions of a course. This requires the Tecnológico de Monterrey to ensure that these sessions be significant for the students learning. 9. All procedures to evaluate learning should ensure the academic rigor demanded by the Mission of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. 10. In spite of a careful student admissions process, there will be some who do not achieve the desired academic achievement. This requires the establishment of norms that may identify students who are academically deficient, and will not be able to take advantage of the resources provided by the Tecnológico de Monterrey. The norms referring to this issue have as their purpose the selection of those who want to continue

6 studying at the Tecnológico de Monterrey as returning students or internal transfer students. 11. In order to incorporate an international component into student education, the Tecnológico de Monterrey has exchange agreements for students and international agreements of academic cooperation with foreign educational institutions which are officially recognized in their country. Through these agreements, students at the Tecnológico de Monterrey have the opportunity to realize part of their academic program at universities abroad. 12. The Tecnológico de Monterrey participates with foreign universities in double degree programs at the undergraduate level, and at the master s level with double degree or joint degrees. Students participating in double degree programs receive independent degrees from each university; students in joint degree programs receive one degree issued by both institutions. 13. The Tecnológico de Monterrey promotes social mobility through its scholarship and educational credit programs for students of high academic achievement who lack sufficient economic resources. 14. Professors at the Tecnológico de Monterrey constitute the nucleus of its fundamental activity and are expected to have high personal and academic quality. 15. Research by professors at the Tecnológico de Monterrey must have the quality and relevance congruent with the mission of the institution. 16. Extension activities must contribute to the realization of the Mission of the Tecnológico de Monterrey; the participants are professors who belong to the academic departments and research chairs.

7 17. Through the sabbatical period, the Tecnológico de Monterrey distinguishes professors for their years of teaching and awards them a further opportunity for academic development. CHAPTER III. GENERAL ACADEMIC POLICIES AND NORMS OF THE TECNOLOGICO DE MONTERREY Section III.1 General Definitions Article 1 Academic regulations need to consider the following types of students, classified according to their prior academic relationship to the Tecnológico de Monterrey: 1. New students are those who have never before studied at the Tecnológico de Monterrey at any level--high school, undergraduate, and graduate--at any institution which carries out the main educational tasks of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. 2. Returning students are those enrolled at a specific campus of the Tecnológico de Monterrey, whose previous registration at the Tecnológico de Monterrey had been at the same campus, regardless of the level. 3. Internal transfer students are those enrolled at a specific campus of the Tecnológico de Monterrey, whose previous registration had been at another campus of the Tecnológico de Monterrey.

8 4. External transfer students are those enrolled full-time at foreign universities, who study some subjects at the Tecnológico de Monterrey for a period of time less than the duration of an academic program. Section III.2 Student Admission Article 2 Those seeking admission to the Tecnológico de Monterrey must fulfill the following requirements: a. To take an admission exam, the specifications of which will be established by the President of the Tecnológico de Monterrey, and to obtain at least the minimum score set by the President of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. For undergraduate students participating in double degree programs or graduate students participating in double or joint degree programs with foreign universities, the admission requirements in the foreign universities will be considered equivalent. This consideration is valid for external transfer students, according to the disposition in Article 1. b. To have obtained, in the previous academic cycle, the minimum grade point average established for admission to the different educational levels. Other campuses may establish additional admission requirements such as letters of good conduct and interviews.

9 Article 3 The establishment of a minimum average score in the admissions exam for the Tecnológico de Monterrey does not limit regional zones from demanding higher scores or establishing other specific requirements for some of the academic programs they offer. Article 4 All academic regulations must contain, in reference to admissions, an article that specifies that students must fulfill the legal requirements that are in force in the country. In the particular case of specialization programs, master s programs, medical specialization, and doctoral programs, the applicant s undergraduate studies must be equivalent to those offered by the Tecnológico de Monterrey and must have included high school or its equivalent. Moreover, the admission requirements for specialization programs, master s programs, medical specialization, and doctoral programs is that candidates possess a comprehensive grade point average of 80 in their undergraduate studies, as a minimum, on a scale of 0 to 100, or its equivalent on other scales. Article 5 If a student was admitted to a campus in one regional zone and wishes to transfer to another region, he or she must fulfill the internal transfer norms established at the zone to which he or she wishes to transfer. Article 6 The admission norms stated here may be applicable, in exceptional cases, to returning students or students of internal transfer. Article 7 All academic regulations must establish the means to resolve cases not covered in the admission policies.

10 Section III.3 Revalidations, Equivalencies and Accreditations Article 8 In order to establish norms related to the transfer of courses taken by a particular student at other campuses, either at the high school, undergraduate or graduate level, the legal terms established in the Academic Regulations defined in the following paragraphs should be used, as well as the terms established for the registration of subjects that are passed or failed at the Tecnológico and at universities with which there are collaborative agreements. 1. Revalidation: the act by which credit is given by a Mexican educational institution for subjects taken and passed by a specific student at a foreign educational institution. For the Tecnológico de Monterrey, this act currently requires a revalidation agreement issued by the Mexican Secretary of Public Education. 2. Equivalency: the act by which credit is given by a Mexican educational institution for subjects taken and passed by a specific student at another Mexican educational institution. For the Tecnológico de Monterrey, this act currently requires an equivalency agreement issued by the Mexican Secretary of Public Education. 3. Accreditation: this act registers on the student s transcript the subjects taken by the student, whether passed or failed at: a. the same campus but in a different study plan, when these subjects are equivalent in content. b. another campus of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. c. a foreign university that has a collaborative agreement with the Tecnológico de Monterrey. This act substitutes revalidation, as described in clause 1 of this article.

11 Article 9 The Secretary of Education must issue the revalidation and equivalency agreements for students enrolled at the Tecnológico de Monterrey who have some studies from another cycle, taken at another educational institution, and these agreements are based on a proposal for each case from the Tecnológico de Monterrey. The academic senates should establish the norms which govern these proposals, in accordance with the remaining articles of this Section. Article 10 All courses, at any level, registered as passed in a student s study plan, either by revalidation or equivalency should be similar in content and duration to those courses offered by the Tecnológico de Monterrey. To accept a revalidation or equivalency agreement, the following requirements must be met: 1. Subjects taken at another institution must have a minimum grade of 80/100 or the equivalent on another grading scale. 2. A subject taken at another institution for which a revalidation or equivalency agreement is requested must have at least 80% of its content similar to that of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. 3. If a subject includes remedial courses as a prerequisite, the candidate may be required to pass the corresponding remedial exam. 4. No revalidation or equivalency will be accepted for a subject whose academic prerequisites have not been fulfilled. Article 11 No more than 50% of the subjects in the study plan of high school, undergraduate studies, specialization, master s studies, a medical specialization, or a doctoral program may be accepted for revalidation, equivalency, or accreditation of subjects taken abroad,

12 Article 12 No more than 75% of all subjects in the study plan of students in undergraduate programs and graduate programs with double degrees established with foreign universities may be revalidated; furthermore, those subjects must have been taken at the same foreign university in the agreement. Article 13 If a student wishes to study a second undergraduate program at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, no more than 75% of the subjects taken in the first program may be accredited toward the second degree program. Article 14 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 15 Certain subjects may not be transferred or approved by equivalencies at the Tecnológico de Monterrey: courses in the last semester of a high school or undergraduate student s study plan; courses in the last two semesters of a specialization; the last four courses in a master s degree, medical specialization, or doctoral program. There may be flexibility in this norm for double degree undergraduate and graduate programs, as established in conjunction with foreign universities. Article 16 High school or undergraduate courses taken simultaneously at another educational institution while a student is at the Tecnológico de Monterrey cannot be revalidated or accepted as equivalent. However, graduate students may request revalidation or equivalence for courses in the circumstances referred to in this article, if authorized by the dean of the program, who must

13 ensure compliance with article 10 and that the academic load in both institutions does not exceed that authorized by the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Article 17 Undergraduate students may study a maximum of two academic semesters and two academic summer periods in a foreign university with which the Tecnológico de Monterrey has a collaborative agreement. This means that a student may earn credits for no more than 16 subjects in his or her study plan, as long as they comply with the requirements. If a student wishes to stay at a foreign university for a time longer than that specified in this article, he or she may transfer the courses taken, as long as the subjects do not exceed 50% of those corresponding to his or her study plan, as established in article 11 of this document. Article 18 When undergraduate and graduate programs establish revalidation and equivalency norms, they must consider the graduation requirement which establishes that at least the subjects corresponding to the four last semesters of undergraduate studies or to the final half of a graduate program must be taken and passed at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. This norm is based on the consideration that this group of subjects provides the foundation for the major or graduate program in question. For double degree or joint degree programs, there may be some flexibility in the application of this norm. Article 19 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 20 First semester students desiring revalidation or equivalency of subjects are required by the Tecnológico de Monterrey to take placement exams as a prerequisite for the revalidation or equivalency. Proficiency exams may be

14 requested since they may evaluate the knowledge of subjects which have been requested for revalidation or equivalency. Article 21 Although revalidation and accreditation norms may vary at different regional campuses, the revalidation or equivalency agreement obtained by a student for admission to any campus of the Tecnológico de Monterrey System will be valid for any other one, provided the student transfers after having studied and passed at least two semesters of courses at the initial campus. Section III.4 The Academic Calendar Article 22 High school and undergraduate courses must be given during semesters; specialization courses may be during the semester or have other formats, and master s courses, medical specializations and doctoral courses may be offered in semesters or trimesters. Article 23 Regional zones may adopt other types of academic calendars for some academic programs, when those programs are in conjunction with other universities. For each case in particular, written authorization from the President of the Tecnológico de Monterrey is required. Article 24 A semester is comprised of at least 75 work days, which means that a course meeting three hours a week will have a minimum of 45 class hours. Intensive courses in a semester program must have at least five weeks of class and should also include a minimum of 45 class hours.

15 For courses equivalent to semester courses offered by the Virtual University, it is not necessary to comply with the minimum number of class hours specified in this article. Nevertheless, these courses must comply with the total work load assigned to each course, whether undergraduate, specialization, master s or doctoral courses, according to articles 92, 105, 110 y 123, in the document of General Academic Policies and Norms of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Article 25 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 26 According to clause 14 of Article 20 of the General Statute of the Tecnológico de Monterrey, the academic calendar should be the same at all campuses. Specialization programs may have different calendars in the various zones and campuses when not offered in semester or trimester format. Section III.5 Registration Article 27 Student registration for courses in their study plan should be carried out according to the academic requirements of the subjects and according to their sequence in the study plan. Article 28 Students may not be enrolled in two or more undergraduate or academic programs simultaneously.

16 Article 29 A student who falls behind in his or her study plan because of poor academic performance or because he or she did not register during one or more academic periods will be subject to the modifications that may incur in his or her study plan. Article 30 The course load of a student is measured in units, which are defined in article * 78 of the document General Academic Policies and Norms. The Tecnológico de Monterrey considers 48 units to be an adequate course load, and all study plans and registration norms should be structured around this number, except those corresponding to medical specialization programs, as indicated in article 77 of the document General Academic Policies and Norms. Note: *Article 78 establishes that the units of a course are defined as the hours of work per week that a student should dedicate to a course to meet its objectives. The units include both hours of classroom attendance as well as individual work outside of class. Article 31 The maximum course load permitted during an academic term should be similar in the various undergraduate majors and academic programs at the different levels, except those corresponding to medical specializations, as indicated in article 77 of the document General Academic Policies and Norms. Article 32 Academic regulations may have norms of exception in what refers to the permissible course load for students who have demonstrated outstanding

17 academic achievement or to avoid having students take only one subject in their last semester in a particular study plan. Article 33 This article is not applicable to undergraduate programs. Article 34 All registration norms should apply, in essence, to intensive courses as well. Section III.6 Evaluation of Learning Article 35 The evaluation of students academic achievement in each of their courses in semester programs should be measured by several partial (monthly) evaluations and a final evaluation. In trimester courses there will be at least one partial evaluation and a final one. The results of the partial evaluations will lead to the partial grades; the result of the partial evaluations and the final evaluation will lead to a final grade. All of these grades must be reported according to officially established academic administrative processes. For specialization programs that follow neither the semester nor the trimester format, and for programs in the Virtual University, these evaluation norms may vary. However, a final grade must be assigned to each course or group of activities that integrate these academic programs. Article 36 The final grade should be integrated by assuring an adequate balance between the weight of partial evaluations and the final evaluation Article 37 The final evaluation is obligatory and no student may be exempt from it.

18 Article 38 Partial and final evaluations may be carried out by diverse means. Nevertheless, there should always be physical evidence of the course evaluation that attests to the fulfillment of the evaluation procedure established in the course program. Article 39 Grades at the Tecnológico de Monterrey are expressed numerically in whole numbers on a scale from one to one hundred. Article 40 The minimum passing grade at the Tecnológico de Monterrey is seventy. Article 41 The only way to pass a subject forming part of a study plan at the Tecnológico de Monterrey is to take the course, comply with all required evaluations, and obtain a final passing grade. Exemptions from this procedure apply to those subjects that have been accepted for revalidation or equivalency as studies carried out at another university, subjects registered through the accreditation process, subjects that the study plan establishes as liable to being accredited through sufficiency exams, and those that may be subject to a special procedure for accreditation, as established in article 43. Article 42 All academic regulations should include norms that encourage students to acquire the habit of punctuality and comply with class attendance. Article 43 Besides regular evaluation procedures mentioned in the previous clauses, special procedures may be established to help students avoid having a final

19 semester in which they need to enroll in only one course, either in high school, or in an undergraduate or graduate program, as could happen in the case of the student having previously taken a subject and failed. Article 44 The regulations should allow students who were not able to be present at the established evaluation dates, for truly important motives, to be evaluated individually at another date. Article 45 The regulations should establish the conditions under which a final grade may be left pending at the end of the study period. Article 46 When there are non-traditional teaching systems, such as personalized instruction, for example, there may be alternative forms of evaluation. Article 47 Non numerical grades may be used to evaluate academic achievement in the following cases: 1. IN (Incomplete). The final evaluation of a course may be left pending and a provisional grade of IN may be reported to the registrar in courses in which: a. Research is carried out but progress in the course is interrupted because of the nature of the work or for causes beyond the student s control. b. Work requires physical resources that are limited or that cannot be controlled by the student. c. The teaching methodology requires a system such as personalized instruction.

20 In these cases, the grade IN must be modified by the professor in charge of the course, no later than the last day of classes of the following academic period, in which case it must be changed to a numerical grade. To assign this grade, the professor must be authorized by the head of his department. The grade of IN is not considered to be a failing grade, either for the calculation of the GPA, or for the academic status of the student. 2. SC (No grade). The grade SC (No grade) will be used by the registrar when unforeseen circumstances have made it impossible for the professor to assign a grade by the deadline established for partial or final grades. In the case of a partial grade, the professor should substitute the SC for a numerical grade before the deadline for grades for the following partial evaluation. In the case of a final grade, the head of the department and the professor of the subject in question should assign a numerical grade no later than 48 hours after the deadline for final grades. The grade SC is not included in the calculation of the GPA. 3. SD (Not entitled). The final grade of SD (Not entitled) is assigned when a student has surpassed the number of absences permitted in a course, or when there is an administrative situation according to the terms established in the academic regulation of the rectory and zone. With respect to the calculation of the GPA, it will be equivalent to a numerical grade of 10 on a scale of 1 to 100. This grade SD will be assigned by the registrar. 4. DA (Academic Dishonesty).

21 When a student commits an act of academic dishonesty in a course, according to the definitions in the academic regulations of the rectories in the zone, the professor may assign a grade of DA (Academic Dishonesty) to the partial or final evaluation of the course, whichever applies. With respect to the calculation of the GPA, the grade DA will be equivalent to a numerical grade of 10 on a scale of 1 to NA (Not Accredited). A final grade of NA (Not Accredited) is assigned when an undergraduate student, after taking the subject Lengua Extranjera [Foreign Language], has not achieved the minimum score [on the TOEFL] for mastery of English, as required in his rectory zone, and established in article A (Accredited). The grade of A (Accredited) is assigned to subjects in which the student has obtained a revalidation or equivalency for studies carried out in another university, and in those universities which have been registered in an accreditation process as established in Article 41. The grade A is not included when calculating the GPA. Article 48 After an undergraduate student takes the subject Lengua Extranjera [Foreign Language], without reaching the minimum score [on the TOEFL] as required for graduation in his regional zone, then a final grade of NA (Not Accredited) is assigned and the student may repeat the course or take the [TOEFL] exam again in order to modify this grade.

22 The grade NA may be modified in the following cases: a. After taking the subject in the next registration period, the student obtains a passing numerical grade. b. The student achieves the required minimum graduation score on the [TOEFL] exam for the evaluation of English proficiency, as specified by the rectory of his zone, so he or she will be assigned a final grade of Accredited. The grade NA is not considered failing, nor will it affect the calculation of the GPA or the academic status of the student. Article 49 The president of the Tecnológico de Monterrey may establish policies for all campuses with respect to the obligation of students to submit to global evaluations of their knowledge at the end of their high school, undergraduate, or graduate program. Furthermore, students may be required to take comprehensive exams for a particular nucleus of subjects in their study plan. These exams will be common to all campuses of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Section III.7 Diplomas Issuance of High School, Undergraduate and Graduate Article 50 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 51 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs.

23 Article 52 The requirements for obtaining a bachelor s degree from the Tecnológico de Monterrey System are the following: 1. To have earned a high school diploma prior to completing the first subject in the study plan of an undergraduate program. 2. To have complied with the current academic requirements of the corresponding study plan, by means of placement exams or the corresponding remedial courses. 3. To have passed all of the subjects in the corresponding study plan, whether by passing all of the subjects at the Tecnológico de Monterrey or through agreements of revalidation or equivalence- according to the corresponding norms- of some subjects taken at other institutions and the rest taken at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Subjects taken at foreign universities with which this Institution has agreements will be considered, with respect to this article, to have been taken at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, as long as they do not exceed the equivalent of two semesters of the study plan. 4. To have taken at the Tecnológico de Monterrey at least the equivalent of the four last semesters of the corresponding study plan in the case of students who have revalidation or equivalence of studies at this level. There can be flexibility with regard to this norm in joint programs established with other universities. 5. To have completed the required social service, in accordance with the current legal precepts and the norms approved by the President of the Tecnológico de Monterrey.

24 6. To have taken the General Exam for Undergraduate Degrees of the National Center for the Evaluation of Education in order to evaluate the knowledge and skills acquired in college. This requirement is applicable only for students in majors for which an exam exists. The results of this exam will be registered in students files and are included in their transcripts. 7. To have obtained at least the mínimum score established by the Tecnológico de Monterrey on the exam chosen by the Tecnológico de Monterrey for the evaluation of English language skills (TOEFL). Article 53 In the case of undergraduate students who have transferred internally, the campus where the students took at least twelve subjects in the final three semesters of the oficial study plan will issue the degree. However, a campus may issue a degree to a student who, for some reason and with the authorization of the campus, takes the final subjects of the study plan at another campus, provided these courses do not exceed in number the courses corresponding to the last semester of the study plan. Article 54 En double degree programs with foreign universities, students may obtain an undergraduate degree from the Tecnológico de Monterrey and another from the participating foreign institution, provided that the legal and academic requisites established by the participating institutions for double degrees are satisfied. Foreign students who receive an undergraduate degree from the Tecnológico de Monterrey in these programs must accept that the degree they receive may only be used for academic purposes and will not make them eligible for a profession license in Mexico.

25 Article 55 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 56 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 57 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 58 In academic programs that have an agreement to grant joint degrees with foreign universities, students may obtain an undergraduate, a master s or doctoral degree from Tecnológico de Monterrey and from one of the participating universities, as long as they meet the legal and academic requirements for the joint degree as established by the participating institutions. The registry of undergraduate and academic degrees issued in this type of programs will be subject to the norms of the Dirección General de Profesiones de la Secretaría de Educación Pública (General Directory of Professions of the Secretary of Public Education). Section III.8 Academic Distinctions Article 59 The Tecnológico de Monterrey confers recognition to students with excellent academic achievement. At the high school and undergraduate level, there are the following distinctions: - Honorable Mention to the top 10% of the students in each generation, provided they have a final GPA equal to or greater than 90; and, - Honorable Mention with Excellence to a subgroup of these students.

26 At the graduate level, there are: - Honorable Mention with Excellence to the best student in each program of each generation, provided he or she has obtained a final GPA higher than 95 and has not failed any of the subjects in his or her study plan. Regional academic senates may establish other distinctions that must be in accordance with those established in all of the Tecnológico de Monterrey System. Section III.9 Sanctions for Poor Academic Performance Article 60 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 61 The norms contained in this section for undergraduate and graduate levels will be uniform in all of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Article 62 For students with poor academic performance, it will be necessary to take two types of action at the high school and undergraduate levels: those which tend to help them improve academically and those which imply dismissal from the Tecnológico de Monterrey for repeated poor performance. At the high school level there is also a conditional status, which is specified in Article 66 of the document General Academic Policies and Norms. Article 63 The norms related to sanctions for poor academic performance at the high school and undergraduate levels should include the existence of academic aid, according to the previous article. However, for campuses with few

27 students, the senates may substitute for high schools only another academic sanction considered to be equivalent, instead of the obligation to register for academic aid programs. It will be the prerogative of the regional presidents to authorize a campus in their zone not to offer the academic aid program. Article 64 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 65 If a regional academic senate wishes to realize changes to any of these norms in the future, it must submit the proposal to the President of the Tecnológico de Monterrey, in order for the norms to be changed in all of the campuses of the zone. Article 66 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 67 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. Article 68 Academic regulations for the undergraduate level must contain the following norms with respect to the permanence of students in the Tecnológico de Monterrey for academic reasons: 1. The right to register in an academic aid program is limited to students who fail the following for the first time: a. Three or more subjects in each of the last two semesters. b. Two or more subjects in each of the last three semesters.

28 c. Ten or more courses prior to the completion of 50% of the total units which comprise the study plan of their major. Remedial courses and courses in the Academic Counseling Program do not count either toward the sum of units or for the sum of failed courses. For the purposes of the previous three items, laboratory courses which are part of a theoretical course in the study plan will not be counted as failed courses. In relation to items a and b of this article, all subjects taken by the student, including remedial courses and courses in the Academic Counseling Program will count, although the student changes majors; however, the results of intensive courses will not be counted. For the purposes of item c of this article, the results of intensive courses will be taken into account. In the case of students who have changed their major, courses failed in the first major will be counted if they are common to both majors, as well as any courses failed in the second major. 2. Students at this level will be expelled for poor academic performance under the following conditions: a. if they fail two or more subjects while in the academic aid program. b. if they fail two or more subjects in each of three consecutive semesters or three or more subjects in each of two consecutive semesters, after having taken a program of academic aid. c. If they fail a total of four or more of the following eighteen courses, once they have enrolled in an academic aid program. Article 69

29 The academic senates may establish exceptions to the norms of Article 68 for students who are about to complete the study plan of their major. Article 70 This article does not apply to undergraduate programs. CHAPTER IV. ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR STUDENTS IN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS AT THE MONTERREY CAMPUS Section IV.1 Student Admission Article 1 In order to be admitted to an undergraduate program at the Monterrey Campus, candidates must present proof of having completed high school, vocational school or their equivalent and comply with the requisites established for enrolling in the program of their choice. Persons who wish to increase their knowledge in a particular area of study may be admitted as visiting students, provided they prove to the registrar that they have the knowledge and academic formation necessary to take the subjects they are interested in, according to the criteria and conditions of the Academic Regulations established by the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Anyone who has not obtained the required score on the admissions exam may not be admitted as a visiting student. Persons registered as visiting students will receive a certificate of studies, but this document will not be officially recognized for revalidating studies in Mexico.

30 A person who wishes to continue as a visiting student for more than one semester must request a confirmation of admission from the registrar each semester, and this will be granted according to academic performance and the conditions established by these Regulations for that purpose. A person who has taken courses as a visiting student may request admission as a regular student in an academic program at this campus if he or she complies with the criteria and standards for enrollment; likewise, the subjects taken while enrolled as a visiting student (passed or failed) will be officially validated. Article 2 Mexican students who have taken high school courses abroad must comply with the corresponding legal requisites for the recognition of these studies in Mexico. Article 3 Candidates for admission must prove that they have the necessary knowledge to enter the academic program of their choice, by passing exams. These exams may be taken more than once, provided at least a week has passed between attempts, and only prior to the first registration of the student. A student who does not pass these exams must take the remedial courses which the Campus offers for this purpose. These courses will then become part of the study plan of the student for the purposes of these regulations. Article 4 In order to change majors, a student must comply with the admissions requirements of the new major. Article 5

31 Students who are expelled for poor academic performance from any campus of the Tecnológico de Monterrey System may not be admitted to the Monterrey Campus. Article 6 Cases not covered by the articles in this Section will be studied and decided upon by a committee formed by the Director of Admissions, the registrar and a representative of the corresponding academic division. Section IV. 2 Revalidations, Accreditations and Transfers Article 7 Undergraduate studies carried out in a foreign university may be revalidated at the request of the student, in accordance with the articles of this chapter and the current legal norms. Article 8 Undergraduate studies carried out in a Mexican institution may be accredited at the petition of the student, in accordance with the articles of this chapter and the current legal norms. Article 9 Only studies carried out at officially recognized institutions may be revalidated or accredited. Article 10 Only courses which have been completed with what is a passing grade at the institution where they were carried out and whose grade satisfies the standards established by the Committee for Revalidations and Accreditations may be revalidated or accredited.

32 Article 11 A course which has been previously taken and failed in the Tecnológico de Monterrey System may not be revalidated or accredited. Article 12 In applications for transfer, the subjects previously taken and failed at other campuses of the Tecnológico de Monterrey System will be registered by the Director of Admissions for the purposes of the section on sanctions for poor academic performance. Article 13 The only subjects that may be accredited by means of achievement tests are subjects taken and passed by students in the Advanced Placement Program administered by the College Board. Students who have passed subjects in the International Baccalaureate may accredit equivalent subjects in their study plan without taking an achievement test, provided they comply with the academic criteria defined for that purpose. Article 14 After the first semester has passed and the revalidation or accreditation of the student s studies has been effected, the agreement for revalidation or equivalency may not be modified. Article 15 Cases not covered by the articles in this Section will be studied and decided upon by the Committee for Revalidations or Accreditations formed by the Director of Admissions, the registrar and the director of the program to which admission is requested.

33 Section IV.3 The Academic Calendar Article 16 The undergraduate courses are taught during semesters which last from August to December and from January to May. Article 17 During the months of June and July, the Campus offers intensive courses in some courses of the current study plans. Section IV.4 Standard Registration Article 18 Those students may register who: 1. Were students at the Monterrey Campus during the previous term, and completed their courses without being expelled for academic performance, according to the terms of this regulation. 2. Were admitted by the Admissions Department. It is understood that anyone who does not conclude the registration process during the time established by the registrar loses their right to register. Article 19 The registration of students is subject to the following norms: 1. Students must register in courses in the order in which the courses appear in the study plan.

34 2. Students may drop out of one or more courses during the first six weeks of the semester, without it counting as a failure. Authorization will be given by the program director, as long as dropping the subject does not violate the registration norms contained in this document. 3. Students may drop out of all of their courses on any working day of the semester before the last day of classes. If grades have already been reported for the first two months of the semester, these grades will be taken into account when considering the readmission of the student to this Campus. Article 20 Simultaneous registration in two majors is not authorized. However, if a student has already completed a major and wishes to study another one, he or she may register in the second one under the following conditions: 1. The study plan of the second major must have at least 25 percent of courses which are different from the courses in the first major. The required courses in one major may not be considered as electives in another major. 2. The student must comply with the requisites for admission to the major in question. 3. The director of the second major must agree to the admission of the student, based on his or her performance in the first major. Section IV.5 Registration for Intensive Courses Article 21

35 Both intensive courses and semester courses are governed by the current academic regulations. Article 22 The academic load that may be authorized for a student in intensive courses may not exceed 16 units of theoretical courses. Article 23 The student may only register for courses included in the study plan of his or her major. Article 24 Students may drop out of intensive courses in the registrar s office prior to the tenth day of classes. Article 25 Students who wish to take any intensive courses at another campus must have the authorization of their program director. Article 26 Students who have been expelled due to poor academic performance may not register for intensive courses. Section IV.6 Academic Load for Students Article 27 According to Article 76 of the General Academic Policies and Norms of the Tecnológico de Monterrey System, the units of a course are defined as the hours of work and/or study per week that a student is expected to dedicate to complying with the objectives of a course. These units include the time

36 dedicated to attending class, as well as the time dedicated to carrying out the learning activities outside of class. Article 28 The maximum academic load, in units, which may be authorized for a student during a semester is that which corresponds to the study plan of the student s major. If a student is authorized to take courses from different semesters, the maximum load, for purposes of registration, is the greatest amount allowed for any of these semesters. Students may register for a maximum of eight additional units, provided they do not exceed sixty units, and if they meet one of the following conditions: a. To have an average final grade of 85 or more in the previous semester, having carried a full load of courses. b. To be registering in the next-to-the-last semester, and not have failed any subject in the previous semester. c. To be registering in the final semester of the major. Article 29 Students who, in order to graduate, would need to carry a heavier academic load than what is mentioned in the previous article may be authorized to carry up to 64 units. Section IV.7 Evaluation of Learning Article 30

37 In order to measure achievement and provide feedback to students on their academic performance, partial and final grades have been established for each subject the student is enrolled in, as well as the grades obtained on institutional exams, make-up exams, extemporary exams and evaluations carried out by external organizations determined by the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Article 31 The evaluation system used by the professor in each course should incorporate partial (monthly) grades, grades in complementary learning activities and the grade on the final evaluation. The instruments of evaluation and feedback for students, the application dates, criteria for evaluation and the manner of integrating grades to obtain the final grade in the course will be given to students by the professor at the beginning of the term. Article 32 The partial (monthly) grade represents the achievement and academic performance of the student during the corresponding period on a scale of from one (1) to one hundred (100), and it is obtained through evaluations which generate proof of their application during the period. Article 33 The grade for complementary learning activities is obtained throughout the semester and may include activities such as homework, case studies, projects, presentations, etc. Any type of evaluation activity that is not part of the final evaluation should be concluded by the due date established by the professor, and this date may not be later than the last day of classes. Article 34 The grade on the final evaluation is obtained at the end of the term and is based on proof of the application of at least one evaluation activity. This grade

38 is obtained by instruments of evaluation such as a written exam, the presentation of final projects, the results of projects and, in general, activities which the professor designs for the overall evaluation of the student s performance in the course. If the final evaluation is a written exam, it must be carried out on the date and time indicated by the registrar. This exam should be designed to last two hours, and its application should not exceed three hours. In case of an event which can be proven to prevent the student from taking the final exam on the designated date, a request may be made to the registrar to take the exam on a previous date. If permission is granted, the student and the director of the department administering the exam will be notified. Article 35 The final grade of a course represents the achievement and academic performance of the student by the end of the course. It is obtained from the partial (monthly) grades, the grades on complementary learning activities and the grade on the final evaluation, in accordance with the evaluation system made known by the professor at the beginning of the course, according to Article 31. Article 36 The professor will report to the registrar three partial (monthly) grades and one final grade for the course within the time periods indicated by the registrar. The three partial grades reported to the registrar will be used to calculate the average of the partial grades established in diverse articles of these regulations. The grading scale ranges from 1 to 100, and is expressed in whole numbers only. This scale must be applied to partial grades and the final grade for the course.