Academic Policies
Degree and Certificate Policies
What academic policies apply to students enrolling in Bachelor’s Degree, Associate Degree, or Undergraduate Certificate programs? You can find a directory of current academic policy on this page or in our catalog.
If you have a question about any information on this page, please contact a Student Advisor at advisor@sessions.edu.
Admissions Criteria
General Admissions Policy
Students entering Bachelor’s Degree, Associate Degree, and Undergraduate Certificate programs are expected to have earned a high school diploma, GED, or state-approved home school equivalent. Any student under 18 years of age must provide the signed permission of a parent or guardian. Applicants are notified of acceptance or denial by email. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that Sessions College has received all required elements by the application deadline.
Degree Program Admissions
The following is a detailed list of application requirements:
- Completed application form.
- 500-word essay expressing why you are interested in your chosen major (Graphic Design, Digital Media, Illustration, and so on.) Essays will be evaluated for style and content, as well as grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling.
- 5-10 samples of your original art, design, or digital media work* OR a written creative skills assessment (Available on request.)
- Transcripts from your high school ** OR any college courses and/or programs completed. (Transcripts must be provided for any course you wish evaluated for credit transfer.)
- A $75 Application Fee to process your application.
Notes:
*”Original art, design, or digital media work” means that you created the work yourself and did not alter someone’s work and/or use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create your work. If you included royalty free images in your work, include a document that features your source materials along with links to the images.
** GED and state-approved home school transcripts are acceptable alternatives to high school transcripts.
Undergraduate Certificate Admissions
The Undergraduate Certificate is an open admissions program, with a convenient online application process. Students entering the program are expected to have earned a high school diploma, GED, or state-approved home school equivalent.
English As a Second Language
Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of a valid, minimum score of 61 (iBT) or 500 (PBT) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or 44 on the Pearson Test of English Academic Score Report or 50 on the Duolingo English Proficiency Test or a high school diploma completed at an accredited high school where the medium of instruction is English.
The code for submitting TOEFL scores is 6346.
Verification of High School Diploma
Students enrolling in degree or certificate programs are expected to self-certify that they have received a high school diploma or acceptable alternative in their college application and their FAFSA application (if applicable). If there is reason to believe that a student’s high school diploma or alternative is not valid, the school reserves the right to confirm its validity through dialogue with the high school and/or relevant department or agency in the state.
Prior Learning Assessment
Sessions College offers a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program that enables prospective students with evidence of college-level skills or knowledge to have their skills and experience evaluated for credit towards a degree. Prior Learning Assessment is available to students applying for Associate or Bachelor’s degree classes beginning in the January 2023 term.
Evidence of prior learning is evaluated by qualified experts and awarded when the evidence of skills or knowledge provided meets or exceeds the competencies defined for selected Sessions College courses. Students awarded credits through the PLA program may lower their program costs and earn their degree more quickly.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Sessions College is in compliance with all requirements imposed by or pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The institution does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, creed, age, or national origin in its activities, programs, or employment policies, in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws.
Disability Policy
Sessions College is committed to providing qualified students who have a disability an equal opportunity to access the benefits of educational programs and activities in compliance with The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Accommodations are provided to qualified students with disabilities. Students who believe they require accommodations should contact a Student Advisor at advisor@sessions.edu or call 800-258-4115 Option 2.
When Do Classes Start?
Students may enter Bachelor’s Degree, Associate Degree, and Undergraduate Certificate programs in January, April, and August. (Midterm starts are available in February, June, and September.)
Classes are administered in three 15-week semesters each year. See our Academic Calendar.
What Kind Of Computer Do I Need?
To enroll in any program at Sessions College, you need a computer with an Internet connection, and may need specific software and/or art supplies. Click here to see requirements by program.
What if I Don't Have a Portfolio?
That’s OK. We are not looking for professional-level work from our entering degree program students, but rather evidence of creativity or passion for design. Any examples of design, drawings, photographs, or other creative work are acceptable.
Check out our Degree Program Application Guide for helpful advice.
Credit Transfer
Credit Transfer Policy
Sessions College for Professional Design welcomes students who wish to transfer credit from other accredited institutions. Credit will only be accepted for courses that are comparable in level and focus to Sessions degree program courses.
- Credits will be accepted for college-level courses from accredited schools and colleges.
- Courses transferred must be comparable in level and focus to Sessions degree program courses and will be evaluated on an individual basis.
- Students seeking to transfer credits must have earned a “C” grade (GPA 2.0) or higher.
- Students can transfer a maximum of 50% of credits (60credits) to the Bachelor’s Degree program.
- Students can transfer a maximum of 50% of credits (36 credits) to the Associate Degree program.
- Students can transfer a maximum of 50% of credits (12 credits) to the Undergraduate Certificate program.
- Students requesting credit transfer must submit official college transcripts prior to the registration deadline.
- Students who received a score of 3 or above on high school AP English, Art History, or Psychology exams may receive credit for specific general education requirements. CLEP scores in English and Psychology may also be considered for credit. Official AP and/or CLEP scores must be submitted to Sessions prior to the registration deadline.
- Sessions College Vocational certificate program graduates may be able to transfer to the Bachelor’s Degree, Associate Degree, or Undergraduate Certificate credits for courses in which their work and grades are strong. See Academic Bridge Program.
All credit transfer requests will be evaluated on an individual basis. All Sessions College credit transfer decisions will be at the discretion of the Acceptance Committee.
Military Service Members
Sessions College pledges to use military-friendly policies and practices and provide easy access to information about programs, policies, and procedures. Sessions College also supports the credit transfer policies defined by the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) and the SOC Military Student Bill of Rights. This institution will inquire about each veteran or veteran benefits eligible person’s previous education and training, and request transcripts from all prior institutions, including military training, traditional college coursework and vocational training.
Foreign Transcript Policy
Any transcripts not created in English (such as at non-U.S. Institutions) must be translated by a competent third party service at the applicant’s expense. The applicant must provide both the transcript and the translation.
Articulation Agreement
Students looking to earn a Bachelor’s degree can apply credits from a Sessions College Associate Degree or Undergraduate Certificate programs to a Bachelor’s degree at Excelsior College, a regionally accredited online college. Visit this page for more information.
Statement on Credit Transfer to Other Schools
Some students may consider further academic study after completing their Sessions College degrees courses or programs.
While Sessions College is an accredited school, credit transfer is not guaranteed. The acceptance of earned credits is determined by the receiving institution.
Students who seek to transfer credit beyond their current program should always check with the college or university that they wish to transfer credits to before they enroll.
Can I apply for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)?
Yes. Sessions College now offers a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program that enables prospective students with evidence of college-level skills or knowledge to have their skills and experience evaluated for credit towards a degree.
Academic Model
In Sessions College degree programs, the assessment of skills, knowledge, and abilities is formal and continuous. The main focus of the program is on helping students attain technical and creative skills in art/design courses. A secondary important focus is on meeting analytical, communicative, and quantitative skill objectives in general education courses.
Throughout the programs, student learning is primarily assessed through the evaluation of practical exercises. Practical exercises account for 80% of the grade in each course. Student participation in scheduled activities, such as discussions and critiques, is also an important factor. Participation accounts for 20% of the grade in each course.
In the week following each lecture, students are required to complete an exercise that they submit to their instructor in an online Dropbox for grading and feedback. Depending on the course, course exercises can range from digital imaging to Web page layouts, drawing, animation, and written essays, and more. Each exercise is designed to test the achievement of course and program objectives and contains specific instructions, performance objectives, and grading criteria. Instructors will provide grades and detailed critiques for each exercise within a week. Students may revise assignments based on instructor feedback and resubmit them for further evaluation.
for feedback. In addition to presenting their own work, students
are expected to comment on the posts of two other students.
Program Requirements
Program Orientation
Upon completing registration, students are enrolled into an online Orientation class which must be completed by the end of the week before the start of term. In order to complete Orientation, students must:
1. Create a student profile.
2. Complete an advisor interview via telephone or email.
3. Get comfortable with how to access and utilize the Sessions learning environment.
4. Confirm their program schedule with their Student Advisor.
Elective Courses
One three-credit elective is available to all Associate Degree students, and two three-credit electives are available to all Bachelor’s Degree students. See program information pages for course options available for each major. The elective course may be selected at time of enrollment or no later than the semester prior to the elective course. Students may contact their student advisor to make or change their selection.
Program Start
All students are expected to start their programs on a timely basis. In order to start, a student must submit at least one graded exercise/discussion during their first week of scheduled assignments each semester. Students who are non-starts will be dismissed within 10 calendar days of the start of term.
Add/Drop
Add/drop period occurs during the first five days of the semester. During this period, students may add or drop classes, subject to advisor approval, without academic or financial penalty. No new student will be admitted after the add/drop period.
Academic Load
Students in degree programs generally enroll on a full-time basis, earning a minimum of 12 credits in each semester. Students who wish to pursue an accelerated schedule may request permission to take up to 18 credits per semester.
Part-time schedules are available for students with busy work commitments. Part-time programs are completed over a longer time frame. Per-credit tuition is higher for part-time programs and tuition must be paid by semester.
Associate Degree example:
- Three-quarter time (3/4) students take 9 credits a semester and complete in under 3 years.
- Half time (1/2) students take 6 credits a semester and complete in 4 years.
Students wishing to change their status from full-time to part-time or vice versa will be assessed a status change fee of $150.
Attendance Policy
The program of study is delivered in 15-week semesters. Each week, students are expected to complete a scheduled academic assignment in each class. Academic assignments in classes are categorized as Exercises, Discussions, or Critiques. These assignments are due by midnight, 11:59AM on Friday, Arizona time. Additional points for discussions/critiques can be earned by posting earlier in the week. Assignments will be evaluated by instructors and grades will be posted within seven days from the assignment deadline. Students can access a detailed schedule of assignment due dates in their online courses at the beginning of each semester.
Students are considered “attending a class” if they participate in assigned Discussions/Critiques or post assigned Exercise on a weekly basis. If a student repeatedly fails to participate in class by not posting their exercises or participating in discussions/critiques, they can be dropped from that class. Being dropped from a class due to lack of participation results in a grade of AF (Administrative Failure). This counts as a failing grade and will affect the student’s GPA and could result in financial implications.
There are two scenarios that could lead to a student being dropped from a class or classes due to non-participation:
Scenario 1: Student does not post/submit a scheduled academic assignment (Exercise, Discussion, or Critique) for three consecutive weeks.
Scenario 2: Student fails to submit three Exercises (not submitted and are overdue).
If a student faces challenges that interfere with their ability to actively and consistently participate in class, we strongly recommend that the student contact their Academic Advisor or the Student Services department as soon as possible.
Proctored Assessments
In our degree programs, general education courses contain final exams to be overseen by live proctors. Two exams in the Undergraduate Certificate have the same requirement. Online proctors are provided by ProctorU (www.proctoru.com/sessions) for a fee of $22.50 per exam. The Design Business and Portfolio Review classes each have a live event proctored by Sessions College faculty. Complete details regarding scheduling and completion of proctored assessments are provided in the Orientation class and in each class that has a proctored assessment.
Graduation Requirements
In order to complete the Bachelor’s Degree program, students must:
- Complete a total of 120 credits of course work.
- Complete 30 credits of general education course work.
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above.
- Have resolved all financial obligations to Sessions College for Professional Design.
In order to complete the Associate Degree program, students must:
- Complete a total of 72 credits of course work.
- Complete 18 credits of general education course work.
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above.
- Have resolved all financial obligations to Sessions College for Professional Design.
In order to complete the Undergraduate Certificate program, students must:
- Complete a total of 24 credits of course work.
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above.
- Have resolved all financial obligations to Sessions College for Professional Design.
Any questions about graduation requirements can be directed to your Student Advisor.
Academic Policies
Credit Hour Definition
Program credit hours are consistent with the Carnegie Unit in which a semester credit hour is based on “one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit . . . or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time.” This definition is consistent with the definition of the credit hour under 34 CFR 600.2 issued in the Federal Program Integrity Final Regulations published on October 29, 2010.
Copyright Policy
All courses and programs are owned by Sessions College and are protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions. Therefore, you must treat Sessions College Course Material like other copyrighted material (e.g. a book or musical recording). Your course is limited to your personal use and you are prohibited from sharing your password or any of the Course Materials. You may not rent or lease the Course Material, nor may you modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, or dissemble them. If you violate any part of the Agreement, your right to take Sessions College courses terminates immediately and your password will be deactivated. Under no circumstances shall Sessions College be liable for any incidental, special or consequential damages that might result from the use or inability to use the Course Material or related documentation. Sessions College Course Material and related documentation are provided with RESTRICTED RIGHTS. Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in Subdivision (b) (3)(ii) of The Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause. Responsible developer is Sessions College, 404 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 201 Tempe, AZ 85281.
Exhibition of Work
Student work posted in the online classes may be nominated by instructors for the online Sessions Student Gallery. Nominations for the Sessions Student Gallery are evaluated by the Education Department and the gallery is updated each term. Gallery selections are based on many factors, and not all work that is submitted can be included. Sessions also reserves the right to publish excellent student work posted in the school learning environment in its promotional materials, including catalog, handbook, and website. Sessions does not own the original work and will not use the work for any other purposes than those outlined above.
Academic Freedom
Sessions Colleges is committed to supporting the expression of academic freedom by faculty, staff, and students. Academic freedom is the right of faculty, staff, and students to engage in creative exploration and research by examining, questioning, teaching, learning, exploring, critiquing, and producing work without adherence to prescribed doctrines. The expression of academic freedom does come with certain responsibilities including a commitment to accuracy, integrity, and adhering to respective Codes of Conduct. Controversy can arise and is not unexpected as a result of creative inquiry, however, the expression of academic freedom needs to include discretion and attention to distinguishing between knowledge and belief.
Student Confidentiality and Privacy Policy
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the confidentiality of student education records. FERPA requires that schools provide a written policy protecting student privacy rights. Student privacy rights at Sessions College are as follows:
“Student” status applies immediately upon access to the individual’s first course at Sessions College. All students are covered under FERPA while attending Sessions College and upon exiting Sessions College for any reason.
Students have the right to request access to their education records, have their education records provided within 45 days of student request, and challenge the contents of their education records. The request for access must be in writing, by email to registrar@sessions.edu, by fax to 866-308-9411, or by mail to Sessions College for Professional Design, Main Campus, 404 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 201, Tempe, AZ 85281.
Amendments or challenges to the education record must be presented in writing to the Registrar, who will review the request and notify the student of the decision.
A student’s education records are only released to outside parties (such as spouses, parents, or employers) with written consent of the student, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. Students’ education records are disclosed to Sessions College officials with legitimate academic interests.
Sessions College collects general “directory information” about students that may be disclosed or published publicly. For a full guide to the kind of information considered “directory information” under FERPA, visit this ED.gov page. Students may opt out of release of directory information. The complete directory information policy and opt-out form is available from the Financial Aid Department.
Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by a school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202
Faculty Conflict of Interest
As an educational institution, Sessions College has a firm policy on preventing faculty conflict of interest. A conflict of interest occurs when a faculty member’s outside interests or commitments unduly affect his or her performance as faculty member. Any student or staff member who believes there is a faculty conflict of interest may provide a written summary of the complaint to advisor@sessions.edu. The complaint will be resolved using the same institutional process as our student grievance procedure.
Natural Events and Emergencies
When a natural event or other emergency issue impacts student/faculty access to online classrooms, Sessions College will send an announcement to faculty and students. Sessions College requests that faculty members defer to Sessions College recommendations regarding specifics situations and accommodations. In general, we request that faculty members apply flexibility for students who are significantly impacted by natural events and related concerns such as power outages that interfere with their ability to actively engage their online courses. We recommend that students facing classroom access issues contact their advisors to discuss options for maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
Grading Policies
In degree level programs, grades are based on the faculty evaluation of assignments that include practical exercises, exams, discussions, and critiques. In each course, 80% of a student’s overall grade is based on the evaluation of exercises and exams, and 20% on participation in discussions and critiques.
Exercises and Exams | 80% |
Discussions and Critiques | 20% |
Course exercises are evaluated on 1-100 scale by the end of day Friday following a student assignment deadline. Instructors base their grades on criteria published in each course exercise. Exercises submitted late maybe subject to a grade penalty.
Discussions and critiques are moderated by instructors each week they are scheduled, with grades assigned after weekly deadlines. Discussions and critiques submitted late will not be graded. Course work is assessed using an A – F grading system, where A = Excellent, B = Good, C = Satisfactory, D = Marginal, F = Failing.
A+ | 97-100 |
A | 93-96 |
A- | 90-92 |
B+ | 87-89 |
B | 83-86 |
B- | 80-82 |
C+ | 77-79 |
C | 73-76 |
C- | 70-72 |
D | 65-69 |
F | 64 or less |
Resubmission policy: Each student assignment can be submitted a maximum of three times. The resubmission of assignments can help you to hone your work into a portfolio piece based upon instructor feedback or pass an assignment, if it initially missed the mark.
A+ | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
A | 4.0 | C | 2.0 |
A- | 3.7 | C- | 1.7 |
B+ | 3.3 | D | 1.0 |
B | 3.0 | F | 0 |
B- | 2.7 |
Transferred and incomplete courses do not count towards GPA. When a failed course is repeated and passed, the passed course grade counts toward the GPA.
For more information, see Calculation of GPA below.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy is applied equally to all students enrolled in Bachelor’s Degree, Associate Degree, and Undergraduate Certificate programs. Satisfactory academic progress is determined by cumulative grade point average (GPA) and progress made through the program. Satisfactory academic progress is evaluated at the end of every semester.
All students must meet the following requirements for satisfactory academic progress:
- Achieve a GPA of 1.5 or higher in the first semester and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all subsequent semesters. (AOS and BFA program)
- Achieve a GPA of 2.0 or higher in the first semester and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all semesters. (Undergraduate Certificate program)
- Complete at least 50% of all credit hours attempted each semester up to the program midpoint.
- Complete at least 67% of all credit hours attempted each semester from program midpoint to graduation.
- Be able to complete the program within 150 percent of the published length of the program, measured in credit hours.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
Credit hours attempted | Minimum cumulative GPA | Minimum credit hour completion rate | Maximum time to complete program |
0-12 | 1.5 (AOS & BFA) 2.0 (UC) | 50% | 150% of published program length |
12.5-36 | 2.0 | 50% | |
36.5-72 | 2.0 | 67% | |
72.5-120 (BFA only) | 2.0 | 67% |
All transfer credits that apply toward a student’s current program will be counted as hours completed and not towards hours attempted. Undergraduate Certificate students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA during the first 1-12 credits attempted.
Calculation of GPA
Grade point average in degree courses is calculated by the total number of grade points earned divided by the total number of credit hours attempted.
A+ | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
A | 4.0 | C | 2.0 |
A- | 3.7 | C- | 1.7 |
B+ | 3.3 | D | 1.0 |
B | 3.0 | F | 0 |
B- | 2.7 |
Non-passing grades are figured into satisfactory academic progress in the following ways:
- Incomplete (I) or Withdrawal (W): Not calculated in a student’s GPA, but counted towards a student’s attempted coursework for the semester. If the course is retaken, only the new grade will be calculated in the student’s cumulative GPA, but both attempts will be counted towards a student’s cumulative attempted coursework.
- Administrative failure (AF): Calculated in a student’s GPA and counted towards a student’s attempted coursework for the semester. If the course is retaken, both the AF and the new grade will be calculated in the student’s cumulative GPA, and both attempts will be counted towards a student’s cumulative attempted coursework.
- Failure (F): Calculated in a student’s GPA and counted towards a student’s attempted coursework for the semester. If the course is retaken, both the F and the new grade will be calculated in the student’s cumulative GPA, and both attempts will be counted towards a student’s cumulative attempted coursework.
- Repeated (R): If a course is repeated the original course will be marked R when the student passes the repeated course. The original attempt will count towards a student’s cumulative attempted coursework but not towards his or her GPA.
- All transfer credits that apply toward a student’s current program will be counted as hours completed and not towards hours attempted.
Students may enroll in any incomplete, withdrawn, or failed course the following term. Students who are dismissed from the program may re-apply to Sessions following the standard admissions process and are not guaranteed admission.
If a student receives a passing grade (D grade or better) and the student retakes the course to obtain a better grade, that course can be counted for the enrollment period. However, a student may only take one repetition of a previously passed course or any repetition of a previously passed course due to the student failing other coursework and still receive Title IV aid.
Academic Warning
Students who fail to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements will receive official notification from the Student Services Department within 2 business days of the end of term. A student who fails to meet the satisfactory academic progress will receive a notice of academic warning. Any student receiving an academic warning is expected to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements at the end of the next semester. A student who does not meet satisfactory academic progress requirements at the end of the semester may face dismissal from the College.
Any Federal Student Aid eligible student on Academic Warning may continue to receive assistance under the Title IV, HEA programs for one semester only. If the student does not meet SAP at the end of the Academic Warning period; he or she will lose Title IV, HEA eligibility; with the right to appeal. The student will be placed on an Academic Development Status, with a loss of Title IV, HEA funding, and will be required to meet specific criteria of an improvement plan to assist them in regaining SAP and Title IV, HEA eligibility.
During this period the student will not be eligible to receive Title IV, HEA funds but he/she may continue on a cash-pay basis with an approved institutional payment plan. Arrangements for payment must be approved within 10 school days of notification of development status.
Academic Probation
A student who fails to meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements after a semester on Academic Warning and who successfully appeals may be placed on Academic Probation. A student on Academic Probation is notified that he/she is expected to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements at the end of the next semester. Any Federal Student Aid eligible student on Academic Probation may continue to receive assistance under the Title IV, HEA programs for one semester only.
An Academic Probation student who does not meet satisfactory academic progress requirements at the end of the next semester may face dismissal from the College. The student may re-establish satisfactory academic progress by meeting SAP requirements, by meeting a personal learning plan established for the student by the College, or by appeal. See Appeals Process below.
Appeals Process
Any student may appeal an academic progress decision by submitting a written appeal letter explaining the mitigating circumstances that hindered academic progress. Appeals must be in writing and sent to the attention of the Academic Appeals Committee at appeals@sessions.edu within five (5) business days of receiving the SAP notification.
Mitigating circumstances may include death of a relative, unexpected injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstance for which there is documented proof. The College may request such documentation when reviewing the appeal.
The College will review the appeal within five (5) business days of receipt. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the academic decision will stand. If the appeal is successful, the student will be permitted to continue subject to meeting satisfactory academic progress requirements or the requirements of a provided personal learning plan at the next evaluation point.
Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility
As a result of not meeting SAP requirements, a student who was previously eligible for Federal Student Aid may wish to reestablish financial aid eligibility while continuing their program on a self-funding basis.
A student receiving Federal financial aid who loses financial aid eligibility may continue to attend the program subject to meeting the general satisfactory academic progress policy, but during a period without financial aid, the student will be responsible for all expenses associated with attending the program.
A student wishing to re-establish financial aid eligibility must agree to meet the requirements of a provided academic plan and fulfill that plan. The student may regain eligibility by securing a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and/or resolving other SAP requirements by completing courses with satisfactory grades in a defined time period. The student may then be approved to receive aid for the aid period after re-establishing eligibility.
Leave of Absence
Students are expected to adhere to the published schedule of their program and maintain satisfactory academic progress. If a student needs to take off a semester but wishes to stay enrolled, he or she must submit a leave of absence request.
By filing a leave of absence, a student requests permission to withdraw from classes for a semester and be readmitted in the following semester. A leave of absence for any semester cannot be granted any later than the end of the first week of that semester. A student who withdraws from classes after week one will be subject to the withdrawal and refund policies for that semester.
In order to be granted a leave of absence, a student must:
- Have completed at least one semester of coursework.
- Be meeting the school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy.
- Have tuition account paid in full at the time of request.
Leaves of absence requests must be made using a Leave of Absence form and are subject to approval of the Student Services and Bursar offices. The fee for a leave of absence is $150. Students are expected to return to classes at the beginning of the next semester and may return without a re-enrollment fee.
If a student does not return from a leave of absence, the student will be considered unofficially withdrawn on the date of last attendance before they leave, or officially withdrawn on the date that the student informs the College that they do not expect to return from their leave.
Student Integrity and Code of Conduct
Student Identity Verification
Sessions College establishes the identity of each program student at enrollment by collecting identifying data that includes name, address, telephone number, date of birth, and social security number, and official documents that can range from high school or college transcripts to financial aid documents. Any information used for student identification is private and confidential and not shared with third parties.
During interactions with staff, students may be asked to provide their Student Identification Number, along with other requested sources of personally identifiable information, at any time, in order to verify their identity.
In order to access their classes, students are issued unique passwords for secure entry to the online learning environment. It is the responsibility of students to protect their passwords to prevent unauthorized access to their accounts at all times. School administrators can track IP addresses and login patterns at any time.
In our Bachelor’s Degree, Associate Degree, and Undergraduate Certificate programs, proctored written examinations are administered at regular intervals. Proctored exams must be facilitated by an online proctor through ProctorU or by an approved alternate proctor.
Behavior and Code of Conduct
In the pursuit of their educational goals, Sessions College students have certain responsibilities toward their fellow students, to their school, and to themselves. To fulfill these responsibilities, students are expected to adhere to the following items in the DEAC Student Code of Conduct. I will:
• Conduct myself with professionalism, courtesy and respect for others in all of my dealings with the institution staff, faculty, and other students.
• Present my qualifications and background truthfully and accurately for admission to the institution.
• Observe the institutional policies and rules on submitting work, taking examinations, participating in online discussions and conducting research.
• Never turn in work that is not my own, or present another person’s ideas or scholarship as my own.
• Never submit or post creative or written work that has been developed using generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools unless authorized.
• Never ask for, receive, or give unauthorized help on graded assignments, quizzes, and examinations.
• Never misrepresent or overstate my role producinga part or whole of a submitted assignment or other
artwork.
• Never divulge the content of or answers to quizzes or examinations to fellow students.
• Never improperly use, destroy, forge, or alter my institution’s documents, transcripts, or other records.
• Never divulge my student login information or password.
• Always observe the recommended study schedule for my program of studies.
• Always report any violations of this Code of Conduct to the appropriate institution official, and report any evidence of cheating, plagiarism or improper conduct on the part of any student of the institution when I have direct knowledge of these activities.
Disciplinary Action and Dismissal
Sessions College students are expected to behave with respect toward their instructors and fellow students. Every individual has the right to be treated with respect in the school learning environment. Individuals who breach this code of behavior may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
• Plagiarism. Students may not copy another student or artist’s work (whether the work is an essay, a piece of visual artwork, or a page of code) without attribution.
• Submitting AI Generated work. Students may not submit either creative work or written documents/discussion posts that have been generated by AI unless authorized by their instructor and/or per the assignment criteria. If AI generated work is submitted in lieu of original creative or written work, this action is considered plagiarism. The same disciplinary process for plagiarism will be followed for unauthorized submission of AI generated work (written or creative).
• Obscenity. Students may not post or send obscene material within the learning environment. The judgment as to whether posted material is offensive and needs to be removed will be made by school administrators.
• Harassment. Students will not engage in verbal hazing and/or make derogatory remarks degrading an individual’s gender, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disabled status.
• Email spamming. Students will not engage in any mass emailing of other students for any purpose, whether promotional or informational.
• Privacy infringements. Students will not share any private student information with third parties.
Committing any of the above actions may subject the student to disciplinary action. A student who violates the Enrollment Agreement or the Behavior and Conduct Policy will be subject to the appropriate disciplinary action, which may include: Written or verbal warning, suspension from a course or program, or dismissal from Sessions College.
Disciplinary Actions Appeals Process
Any student may appeal a disciplinary action, including dismissal from the College, by submitting a written appeal letter explaining any mitigating circumstances that led to the disciplinary action and/or any evidence that contradicts the disciplinary action. Appeals must be in writing and sent to the attention of the Appeals Committee at appeals@ sessions.edu within 15 days of notification of disciplinary action. The College will review the appeal promptly. If the appeal is successful, the disciplinary action will be removed or reduced, as appropriate. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the disciplinary action is final and will stand.
Complaint Policy
Student Grievance Procedure
Students who feel they have been treated unfairly relating to some aspect of school policy or procedure may register a formal complaint with school administration. Before registering a formal complaint, students are encouraged to make every effort to resolve the problem directly through constructive dialogue with their instructor, advisor, or other individual(s) involved. If a student wishes to register a complaint, he or she may use the following procedure:
Step 1: The student shall submit a written summary of the complaint to advisor@sessions.edu. Complaints must be filed within 3 months of cause of grievance.
Step 2: A Student Services representative will be assigned to the complaint and gather relevant data from student records, the learning environment, and third parties such as the instructor or other students if necessary.
Step 3: The Director of Student Services or designee will review the complaint and provide a written resolution to the student within 15 days.
Step 4: A student who wishes to appeal the Director of Student Services or designee’s decision may present an appeal to the school President or designee within 7 days. The President or designee will review the appeal and render a final decision to the student within 15 days.
If the student complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting the Institution’s grievance procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. The student may contact the State Board at 1740 W. Adams Street, Suite 3008, Phoenix, AZ 85007, (602) 542-5709, or https://ppse.az.gov.
Filing Official Complaints
Individuals who have exhausted institutional grievance procedures and wish to file a complaint with appropriate authorities may do so at the following Web pages:
SARA Complaints
If an individual who wishes to register a complaint is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process for handling complaints, the complaint may be appealed with the Arizona SARA Council. The Arizona SARA Council has jurisdiction over Arizona SARA-approved institutions and may be approached with any non-instructional complaint for Distance Education students residing outside of Arizona. Prior to registering a non-instructional complaint with the Arizona SARA Council, the student/complainant must complete the Sessions College and the Arizona Board of Private Postsecondary Education complaint process outlined above. Complaints (except for complaints about grades or student conduct violations) may be appealed, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, using this SARA page: https://azsara.arizona.edu/complaints. In addition to submitting complaints to AZ SARA, Distance Education students who are taking online classes from outside of Arizona may also submit a complaint to the state consumer protection agencies listed in this document. However, please note that SARA member states will direct a submitted complaint back to AZ SARA as the host state of the institution.
Change of Status, Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Change of Program
To change a program, a student must:
1. Communicate with their Student Advisor,
2. Submit a “Program Change Request” document – request from advisor@sessions.edu.
The Program Change Request and the student’s academic/financial standing with the college will be reviewed by the Director of Student Services, a member of the Finance Team, and a member of the Education Team. Upon approval of this change, the student is required to sign a new enrollment agreement which will be filed in the student’s academic file.
If a student is at the point of dismissal for Satisfactory Academic Progress in the first major, that student must be put on Academic/ Financial Aid Dismissal, appeal the dismissal, have the appeal granted based on mitigating circumstances before transferring to the new major. Under no circumstances can a request to change majors circumvent a dismissal of Satisfactory Academic Progress.
In cases in which a student has graduated from one program in the College then subsequently begins work in a different program, grades earned in the first program, if applicable to the new program, will be recorded as transferred credit and will not be included in the Cumulative Grade Point Average. Only courses in taken in the new program will be added to the Grade Point Average.
Leave of Absence
Students are expected to adhere to the published schedule of their program and maintain satisfactory academic progress. If a student needs to take off a semester but wishes to stay enrolled, he or she must submit a leave of absence request.
By filing a leave of absence, a student requests permission to withdraw from classes for a semester and be readmitted in the following semester. A leave of absence for any semester cannot be granted any later than the end of the first week of that semester. A student who withdraws from classes after week one will be subject to the withdrawal and refund policies for that semester.
In order to be granted a leave of absence, a student must:
1. Have completed at least one semester of coursework
2. Be meeting the school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
3. Have tuition account paid in full at the time of request.
Leaves of absence requests must be made using a Leave of Absence form and are subject to approval of the Student Services and Bursar offices. The fee for a leave of absence is $150. Students are expected to return to classes at the beginning of the next semester and may return without a re-enrollment fee.
If a student does not return from a leave of absence, the student will be considered unofficially withdrawn on the date of last attendance before they leave, or officially withdrawn on the date that the student informs the College that they do not expect to return from their leave.
Retake Policy
Students who received a failing grade in a course or who wish to repeat it may retake the course at standard tuition. Upon third attempt of a course, a $100 retake fee is required in addition to standard tuition.
Federal Student Aid: Please note that students eligible for Federal Student Aid may only receive aid for a single retake of a course that has already been passed.
VRRAP Program: Students in the VRRAP program can be eligible for up to 12 months of tuition and fees in order to complete a program, and a monthly housing allowance based on Post-9/11 GI Bill rates. In order to assist students with achieving their educational goals within that timeframe, a VRRAP student will be entitled to retake a maximum of two courses at no tuition charge. A student who fails more than two courses will not be permitted to continue the program under VRRAP funding. Under VRRAP program rules, all students must complete their programs within the allocated 12 months and complete their program by 12/11/22.
Re-Entry
Students who have voluntarily withdrawn from the college and are in good standing, may re-enroll in the program and will be subject to a $150 re-enrollment fee.
Students who were on Academic Warning, or Academic Probation at the time of their voluntarily withdrawal, will be placed back on their warning or probation status and same requirements will apply, upon successful re-admission and will be subject to a $150 re-enrollment fee. The students who were on Academic Probation will be conditionally accepted with the understanding that the student will submit a revised personal learning plan, approved by their Academic Advisor and uploaded to the student’s academic file to complete the enrollment process. Any student who returns a year after leaving the program is required to re-apply for a program.
Students who were academically dismissed must wait one year after leaving the program before they re-apply. Reinstatement will be at the discretion of the college.
Repeated Non-Starts and Withdrawals
A “Non-Start” student is an individual who repeatedly (more than once) enrolled in a Sessions College degree level, matriculated into a program, but did not officially start the program. A “Withdrawal” student is an individual who has previously started a semester and withdrawn after the “drop add” period.
Any student who has repeatedly become a non-start or withdrawal from a degree level program (Undergraduate Certificate, Associate Degree, or Bachelor’s Degree) will be required to submit a Returning Student application for Acceptance Committee review, in addition to submitting all the required materials per admissions and financial aid. Returning Student applications will be evaluated to assess whether the student is academically prepared to enter the program, with answers evaluated for logic, critical thinking, and quality of written communication.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
A student applying to the degree program must pay a non- refundable application fee of $75. Upon acceptance to the program, a student registering for a program must pay tuition plus a registration fee of $200.
A student who cancels a degree program within five days of the beginning of orientation is entitled to a full refund of the registration fee and tuition. After five days, if a student cancels this contract, the school may retain the application and registration fees plus a percentage of tuition based on the number of weeks elapsed in each semester not to exceed the following amounts.
Refundable tuition due to the student in each semester:
After 1 week | 80% |
After 2nd week | 70% |
After 3rd week | 60% |
After 4th week | 50% |
After 5th week | 40% |
After 6th week | 30% |
After 7th week | 20% |
After 8th week | 10% |
After 9th week | 0% |
For example, a student canceling after the 2nd week of a semester would be entitled to a refund of 70% of the tuition for that semester. A student withdrawing from a course or program may notify the school of cancellation in any manner, by email, fax, phone, or mail:
Email: bursar@sessions.edu
Fax: 1-602-354-9436
Mail: Sessions College ATTN: Bursar Main Campus
404 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 201, Tempe, AZ 85281
Within 30 days after withdrawal or dismissal, Sessions College shall tender to the student any refund that is due. Any questions regarding the refund policy may be directed to bursar@sessions. edu.