Student Life
BFIT remains committed to the well-being and overall development of each student. Thus, the Institute supports a number of offices dedicated to Student Services. This collection of offices, the Dean of Students, Academic Support, Career Placement and Student Life/Activities, seek to assist students in every facet of their lives at the college. This begins with students' orientation to campus and continues right on through graduation with lifetime career placement. Throughout the course of their studies students' mental health, physical health and development are encouraged through co-curricular activities and genuine support from the Student Services staff. All students enrolled at BFIT are treated with respect and seen as adults.
Accordingly, students are expected to take responsibility for their decisions and to judge wisely their personal, social, and educational activities. The faculty and administration of the college expect that all students will contribute positively toward the enhancement of student life at BFIT. In the unlikely event that it becomes necessary, BFIT holds the right to notify the parents or guardians of financially dependent students (see 1954 Internal Revenue Code, Section 152), with regard to the health, academic, or disciplinary status of students. Specifics pertaining to these three areas are detailed in the BFIT Student Handbook. BFIT's student services offices and programs are dedicated to the enhancement of learning opportunities for students as they complete their courses of study. Student rights are respected and nurtured. In this atmosphere, conducive to academic and personal growth, it is believed that all students can succeed in their preparation for careers in the engineering and industrial technology fields.
Freshmen Orientation
All new students are introduced to BFIT at the beginning of their entering semesters. Orientation gives students the chance to meet with the college administration, professors, and current students to assist in better understanding the academic expectations and requirements. Overall, orientation assures all students a comfortable starting point for their studies so that all questions concerning programs of study, courses, financial aid, career and student services, advising and other personal matters may be addressed to their satisfaction before they begin classes.
Academic Support Center (ASC)
The Academic Support Center coordinates academic support for all students throughout the year. Two Institute-wide programs are designed to help students get the most from their BFIT academic life. The Office of Academic Support coordinates both. The Center welcomes all students and is designed to support students in doing their best work.
Tutoring & Study Skills Enrichment
The ASC is staffed with faculty and peer tutors to assist students with their coursework. Tutors are available throughout the day Monday through Friday. Tutoring is available on a walk-in basis but scheduled sessions are also available and encouraged for more intensive assistance. Overall, the ASC provides students with the opportunity to receive extra help in groups and on an individual basis for their course work throughout the academic year. Services are also available to help students develop strong study skills, i.e. time management, and use computers for self-directed tutorials.
Faculty Advisory System
The Center also coordinates the Faculty Advisor Program. The purpose of the faculty advisory system is to encourage close contact between faculty members and every student enrolled at the Institute. Each BFIT student has a faculty member who serves as his or her advisor. Your Faculty Advisor is someone who is very familiar with the Institute and the demands of college study. The advisor's role is to understand your academic needs and progress so that he or she can assist you in making the most appropriate decisions to meet your goals, and to enjoy a positive and rewarding experience at BFIT.
Personal Counseling
At various times, students find a need to speak with someone about issues that are both personal and in need of attention. The Office of Student Services welcomes students for this purpose at all times; in fact, the Director of Student Services encourages students to drop in when they need someone to advise them concerning personal matters. Sometimes it may be appropriate for the Director of Student Services to refer students elsewhere for professional counseling, but this can only begin with a visit.
Career and Placement Services
The Career and Placement Services Office eagerly provides many services directed towards students' future success. Central to this effort is the "Professional Readiness Certification" training provided by the Office. All BFIT students complete this Certification during their first year and prior to attending the annual BFIT Job Fair held each spring. The Certification training includes: writing strong cover letters, creating polished resumes, practicing interview skills, conducting a job search, exploring employment decisions, learning professional etiquette, ethics & dress.
The Career and Placement Services Office also provides individual "Next Step" coaching, career & placement counseling assistance with applications for advanced study at Northeastern University and other colleges offering Bachelor-level studies and lists of available employment opportunities.
Additionally, the Career and Placement Services Office welcomes the opportunity to be of assistance to BFIT alumni at any time. Every effort is made to assist graduating students and alumni in securing suitable employment. However, it should be understood that BFIT does not guarantee job placement. The Placement Office subscribes and adheres to the recommended recruiting practices and procedures adopted by the General Council of the American Society for Engineering Education. Whether the next step is the job market or additional advanced technical study, the staff at the Office is ready to help in many ways.
Academic Information
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory academic progress is determined by the faculty in terms of a student's ability to complete his or her academic program. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to be eligible for financial aid (federal, state, or institutional). The requirements for satisfactory academic progress are detailed below.
- Full-time students enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours of class work per academic year. Full-time students have 1.5 times the normal length of their programs in which to complete their graduation requirements. Part-time students, defined as students enrolled in less than 12 credit hours per semester, are allowed a maximum of three (3) times the normal program length to graduate and must satisfactorily complete 50% of the credits attempted each year.
- Students must also maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) as shown in the table below. The percentage represents total credits attempted compared to the credit hours required to complete the particular program.
% Credit Hours |
Completed CGPA Required |
0-25% |
1.60 |
26-50% |
1.80 |
51-75% |
1.90 |
More than 75% |
2.00 |
- All students are evaluated each academic year to determine whether standards of academic progress are being met. Students not maintaining the standards outlined above will not be eligible for financial aid until their academic standing complies with the conditions of satisfactory academic progress. These students may appeal to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee, which will consider extenuating or unusual circumstances.
Academic Probation
Any student, whose cumulative grade point average (CGPA) falls below the standard outline in the section on Satisfactory Academic Progress, will be placed on academic probation and may be subject to academic action by the faculty. To remove the academic probation status, the student must meet the academic standard by the end of the next enrolled semester. When a student has been placed on academic probation, the Dean of Faculty will notify him or her in writing. A student on academic probation will be excluded from membership in student organizations, but is not excluded from participation in student or class activities.
Grade Point Average
The grade point average is calculated from the grade weight and semester credit hours. Each grade weight is multiplied by the appropriate semester credit hours. The sum of these products is divided by the total semester credit hours to determine the grade point average.
Grading System
The grading system employs the five letter grades and corresponding values defined below:
| Grade |
|
Grade Weight |
| A |
Superior |
4.00 |
| A- |
|
3.67 |
| B+ |
|
3.33 |
| B |
Above Average |
3.00 |
| B- |
|
2.67 |
| C+ |
|
2.33 |
| C |
Average |
2.00 |
| C- |
|
1.67 |
| D+ |
|
1.33 |
| D |
Below Average |
1.00 |
| F |
Failure |
0.00 |
| I |
Incomplete |
0.00 |
A grade of "I" (incomplete) is given to students who — due to circumstances acceptable to their instructors — failed to complete all the requirements of a course. The incomplete must be made up before the end of the third week of the following semester or it will be changed to an "F" (failure). Any request for extension of the three-week time limit must be made in writing to the Dean of Faculty, before the end of the extension period.
Course Withdrawal
A student may withdraw from a course through the eighth (8th) week of class with the grade of "W" (withdrawal) recorded on his/her official transcript. After the eighth (8th) week, an earned grade will be recorded on the official transcript. Withdrawal forms require the signature of the faculty advisor and the Dean of Faculty.
Repetition of Courses
Any student who receives an unsatisfactory grade in a course may repeat that course and both grades will appear on the official transcript. Only the higher of the two grades will be used in the GPA calculation.
Dean's List
The Dean's List comprises those students who have a grade point average of 3.35 or higher, with no current grade below "C", and are taking a minimum of 12 credit hours or have been relieved of other subjects by reason of having received advanced credit in those subjects.
Scholastic Reports
Progress grades are distributed by academic advisors at mid-semester. Final grades are mailed at the end of each semester.
Attendance Policy
Students of the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology are expected to attend all classes. Attendance is taken at each class meeting and absences become a part of students’ records. The Institute recognizes that occasions may arise that prevent students from attending class. If this occurs, a student should talk to the instructor as soon as possible to determine any missed work. It is important for students to understand that they are responsible for any work missed and that missed classes and/or work can seriously harm grades. As a guide for students who wish to avoid failing grades, the Institute has established a fixed number of hours a student might be able to miss in a class before falling into the danger of failing for lack of attendance. These fixed hours are determined by multiplying the total credit hours for the course by two. Once a student has exceeded this maximum in any class, that student may be strongly advised to withdraw from the course. Two consecutive weeks of absences may result in an automatic withdrawal from the Institute.
Graduation Requirements
Students who are in good standing and satisfy the following minimum requirements will be recommended by the Faculty for graduation:
- Completed successfully the prescribed curriculum with no failure in any
subject.
- Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better.
- Satisfactory recommendation by the Faculty on the basis of attendance, interests, and character.
Candidates for degrees, or certificates of proficiency with honors must meet these additional requirements:
- Cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better.
- Dean's List all semesters.
Registration
All entering students are required to register in person on the appropriate registration dates in September and/or January. Information about registration dates and related matters will be mailed in August and December. Students must be cleared for registration through the Office of Financial Aid or have paid their semester bills prior to registration.
Health Certificate
Entering students must file a health certificate with the Registrar before or during registration. This certificate may be in the form of a statement from a physician, indicating that the student is in good health and free from communicable diseases, and should include date of last immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and hepatitis. Failure to file a health certificate will require that the student be suspended from school until the certificate is obtained.
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