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.
To view the full policy manual click here.
If you have any questions not covered in this listing, please email gslis@simmons.edu for assistance.
- Add/Drop
- Advising
- Credits allowed per semester
- Grading system
- Incompletes
- Independent Study
- International Travel (see Transfer of Credit policy)
- Maximum Credit Load
- Non-degree students
- Petition to Graduate
- Refunds
- Student Grievances
- Time needed to complete the program
- Transfer of Credit
- Tuition Refund Policy
- Waiver
- WISE (Online) courses
- Withdrawal from school or courses
Add/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. However, a student can add up to four courses in a fall or spring term. (Specific dates are available at ; 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.
Advising
Each new student is assigned a faculty adviser. Students are required to meet with their advisers prior to their first semester in attendance to outline a program of study. (Download Advising Statement) Periodic consultations with advisers are recommended. See more on advising.
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.
Students in either the dual-degree programs of Archives Management/ History or Library Science/ Children's Literature should consult with their faculty advisor about exceptions.
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 posted to the student's AARC account 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.
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 Services must review it. If approval is granted, the incomplete must be finished by the end of the following semester.
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."
- Independent Study Form (Master's candidates)
- Independent Study Form (Doctoral candidates)
- 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.
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 summer session. The option to audit a course is available on a space-available, non-credit basis to GSLIS and Simmons alumni for $400 per course, and to non-Simmons applicants for one half the prevailing tuition. The activity fee is required as well. Audits are non-refundable after the first class meeting. 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. If you are interested in being considered for non-degree coursework, please email the Admission Office with the term and program for which you wish to apply. That office will then send you the correct 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 at capacity with degree-seeking students that at this time we can not accommodate anyone who is not in the master's degree program. Additionally, please note that doctoral courses are not open to non-degree students.
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 alumni or others who have earned their master's in LIS from an accredited institution are allowed to audit as many courses as they would like as long as there is space available. If credit is necessary, no more than 6 credits may be completed. The student may petition the Assistant Dean for Student 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 SLTP 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. Also, please see the GSLIS continuing education workshops page for more options.
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.
Petition to Graduate
Please see our Graduation Information page for additional information on graduation policies and procedures.
Students who have completed all degree requirements, from the previous graduations of August, January, and May, are invited to participate in the May Commencement Ceremony. Students in the dual-degree program of Archives Management/ History and have completed the courses in the Library and Information Science program may be conferred for graduation. Students in the Library Science/ Children's Literature program must complete all requirements in this dual-degree program in order to be conferred.
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.
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.
Transfer of Credit
Under special circumstances, a student may receive credit for graduate work completed at another ALA accredited graduate institution, with approved exceptions. The School will accept credit for graduate work completed at another institution towards the Master of Science degree with the approval of Simmons-GSLIS faculty. A student may petition to transfer up to six credits. Courses taken at the graduate level as part of an earned degree may not be considered for transfer of credit. You may contact Dr. Em Claire Knowles, Assistant Dean for Student Services by email, or by telephone at 617-521-2798 with questions not answered in this information sheet.
Please download the PDF for the full petition procedure and for the petition form.
International Travel Courses
Students interested in taking an international travel course offered by a school other than Simmons GSLIS should consult the approved list of international travel courses offered at ALA-accredited LIS programs. If the course is on the approved list, the student must complete the "Transfer of Credit" form, and submit it to the Assistant Dean for Student Services for processing. If the course is not on the approved list the student must consult with the Associate/Assistant Deans for approval. The approved list of courses and the Transfer of Credit Petition Form can be downloaded as a PDF. (Simmons GSLIS travel courses often require an application; information is sent out to GSLIS-Info when courses are available.)
Petition for Transfer of Credit/Waiver form
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 Registration (gslisreg@simmons.edu). 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 . 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.
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 a course waiver upon completion of 12 credits in addition to a transfer of credit. If there is no transfer of credit, a waiver may be requested to substitute an elective course from the library and information science curriculum for a required course. A waiver may only be requested if there is sufficient proof of the knowledge of the material covered in the required course to warrant such a waiver.
Please download the PDF for the full petition procedure and petition form.
Petition for Transfer of Credit/Waiver form
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.
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 Assistant Dean for Student Services. 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.