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Frequently Asked Questions -- Students

What do I do if I think an English course should have transferred but didn’t?

First, you should check the Office of Admissions CredTran list to see if the course should automatically transfer as an equivalent KU course. If the course is on the list and should have transferred, you need to contact the Admissions Office at 864-3911. If the course is not on the list or is on the list as not transferring, and you think the course is the equivalent of a KU course, you should go to College Student Academic Services in 109 Strong to pick up a gray petition form. You will need to bring this form along with your statement about why you think the courses are equivalent and supporting materials (syllabi are best, but descriptions of the course, what you read, and the types and number of papers you wrote will also work) to Robin Holladay in 3001J Wescoe. The Associate Director of Freshman-Sophomore English will make a recommendation to the College as to whether or not the courses are equivalent. The petition is forwarded to College Student Academic Services, and someone from this office will notify you of the results.

What English course should I take, based on my ACT, SAT, AP, or IB score? (If you have been accepted to the honors program, please contact them for placement information.)

ACT ENGLISH SCORES:
34-36 Enroll in ENGL 105 with Freshman-Sophomore English requirement reduced to six hours.
31-33 Enroll in ENGL 102 and petition for honors placement for possible admittance to ENGL 105. The FSE requirement is reduced to six hours.
00-30 Enroll in ENGL 101.

SAT VERBAL SCORES:
650+ Enroll in ENGL 105 with Freshman-Sophomore English requirement reduced to six hours.
600-649 Enroll in ENGL 102 and petition for honors placement for possible admittance to ENGL 105. The FSE requirement is reduced to six hours.
00-599 Enroll in ENGL 101.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCORES - LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION EXAM
AP 5 Exemption from Freshman-Sophomore English and six hours credit given.
AP 4 Enroll in ENGL 205; three hours credit given and completion of ENGL 205 satisfies the FSE requirement.
AP 3 Enroll in ENGL 105 or 102*. No credit is given for ENGL 101 or 102, but the FSE requirement is reduced to six hours.
AP 2 Enroll in ENGL 101 and petition for honors placement. If the petition is successful, it admits the student to ENGL 105, the FSE requirement is reduced to six hours.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCORES - LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION EXAM
AP 4 or 5 Enroll in ENGL 205; three hours credit given and completion of ENGL 205 satisfies the FSE requirement.
AP 3 Enroll in ENGL 105 or 102*. No credit is given for ENGL 101 or 102, but the FSE requirement is reduced to six hours.
AP 2 Enroll in ENGL 101 and petition for honors placement. If the petition is successful, it admits the student to ENGL 105, the FSE requirement is reduced to six hours.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SCORES:
IB 6 or 7 Enroll in a 200-level English course. Credit given for ENGL 101 and ENGL 102.
IB 5 Enroll in ENGL 102. Exempt from ENGL 101.

*If you choose to take ENGL 102, you will need to petition to enroll in ENGL 205 next. You could choose to take ENGL 203, or 209-211, for your required second English course. NO credit is given for ENGL 101, but the FSE requirement is reduced to six hours.

Can I test out of an English course?

Placement in English courses is determined by the scores on ACT, SAT, AP, or IB. If a student earns a grade of A in ENGL 101, he or she is eligible to petition for honors placement. A successful petition admits the student to ENGL 105. If a student earns a grade of A in ENGL 102, he or she is eligible to petition for honors placement. A successful petition admits the student to ENGL 205.

How can I find out if a course I want to take while studying abroad will fulfill my English requirements at KU?

If the requirement you want the course to fulfill is a general education requirement (the equivalent of ENGL 101, 102, or 200-level), you should contact Dr. Lancaster, the Associate Director of Freshman-Sophomore English. If you want the course to fulfill a humanities requirement or to be the equivalent of a 300-level-or-above English course, you should contact Professor Neill, Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of English. In both cases, you will need to arrange for an appointment so that the information about the study abroad course can be reviewed and the necessary forms completed.

What is the English Department’s attendance policy?

As a general rule, students perform best in classes they attend regularly. This guideline is especially relevant for the required English courses because of the written work, discussion of various rhetorical principles, and peer review done in class. Students must follow the attendance policy outlined in the instructor’s syllabus.

Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled meetings of their class, including those directly before and after vacation periods (see current Undergraduate Catalog, page 37). According to University policy, (passed, University Senate Rules and Regulations, 2/12/98), students may be exempt from required class activities at times of mandated religious observances. Students with a verifiable medical crisis (their own or that of a relative or friend) may be excused from being present for scheduled examinations and in-class papers.

What should I do if I am having a problem with my instructor?

First, it is extremely important that you discuss this problem with your teacher as soon as possible. Either stop by during your instructor's office hours or, if those times are not convenient for you, make an appointment with your teacher to see him or her at another time. During that meeting, explain your problem or concern to the teacher and ask him or her for feedback on the situation. Frequently, students and teachers find that they can resolve problems in this way.

If you've already met with your teacher and the two of you have not managed to generate a workable solution to the situation, you may make an appointment with Dr. Lancaster, the Associate Director of Freshman-Sophomore English, to further discuss the situation. At that meeting, you will present your understanding of the situation and describe what steps you've taken to resolve it (such as meeting with the teacher). Dr. Lancaster will talk with you about what next steps might be taken.

What should I do if I want to appeal my grade?

Students who feel that a teacher has not assigned a course grade fairly should appeal to the Director of Freshman-Sophomore English, who will mediate the case. Dr. Lancaster,the Associate Director of Freshman-Sophomore English, can answer student questions about documentation and the process of the appeal. For a grade appeal to be accepted, the student must make a case that the instructor did not adhere to his or her announced standards, that is, that the student was not treated fairly by the instructor’s standards.

1. No appeals will be considered for single papers or quizzes. ONLY the course grade may be appealed.
2. The student must try to resolve semester grade conflicts with the instructor first.
3. If the student and the teacher cannot resolve the conflict, the student may appeal to the FSE Director with the following materials:

    a. all quizzes and exams for the course
    b. all written work for the semester along with the original assignments
    c. a statement in writing describing in what way the instructor deviated from announced or published standards.
4. No appeals will be considered without all of the above materials.


When you have compiled your materials, please bring them to the Freshman-Sophomore English office in 3081 Wescoe. Please address your letter and materials to:

Professor Michael L. Johnson
Director of Freshman-Sophomore English

If a student decides to go forward with the appeal after talking to the Director, the Chair of the English Department will appoint a three-person committee to hear it. If the hearing sustains the instructor's original grade, the student may then appeal to the Judicial Board.

If the Departmental hearing sustains the student's appeal, the three-person committee will review the student's work, consult with the instructor, and assign a course grade. The instructor and the student will be informed of their right to appeal to the Judicial Board.

If the Judicial Board sustains the student's appeal, the three-person committee will, in accordance with University Senate Rules and Regulations 2.3.5.3, assign the course grade for the student. If the Board sustains the instructor's appeal, the instructor will assign the course grade.

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