Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions policies

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions believes students are its greatest resource. It strives to put the well-being of students at the center of every policy and program. Each student situation is unique, and students are encouraged to work directly with the advising staff to address concerns and issues within the stated policies and procedures.

Academic integrity

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions' academic integrity process models the ASU process. Students should review the college's grievance process for more information on the process, including next steps.

Notice of nondiscrimination

ASU prohibits all forms of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Students should review ASU’s policy ACD 401: Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation.

Title IX protects individuals from discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. As required by Title IX, ASU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education programs or activities that we operate, including in admission and employment. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX may be referred to the ASU Title IX coordinator or to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or to both. For more information, students should email titleixcoordinator@asu.edu, call 480-965-0696, or visit the office located at 1120 S. Cady Mall, INTDSB 284. For information on making a report, students should reference the Report It webpage.

Undergraduate policies

Academic standing

Students in Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions are considered to be in good standing for the purpose of retention if they maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or greater in all courses taken at ASU. Certain majors within Public Service and Community Solutions may require a progressively higher GPA than 2.00 as a student advances toward their degree. These requirements are outlined in the student's major map.

Changing majors

A student changing their major into Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions should have a GPA of 2.00 or greater.

Probation

Any student who does not maintain good standing is placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation is required to observe any limitations or rules the college may impose as a condition for retention.

Disqualification

A student who is on probation becomes disqualified if either of the following occurs:

  • The student has not returned to good standing.
  • The student has not met the required semester GPA.

Disqualification is exercised at the discretion of the college and becomes effective on the first day of the fall or spring semester following college action. A disqualified student is notified by the college and is not allowed to register for a fall or spring semester at the university until reinstated. A student who is disqualified may not attend as a nondegree student.

Advising

The mission of Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions' professional academic advising staff is to assist students in developing meaningful educational plans for meeting their academic, career and personal goals. This is done through an ongoing process of evaluation and clarification. The advisors strive to perform their duties in a professional, ethical, confidential, accurate and supportive manner, respecting student diversity and needs and always holding the individual in the highest regard. The student and advisor should accomplish this process in a spirit of shared responsibility to help the student develop academic excellence, strong decision-making skills and self-reliance. A student who has been admitted to Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions works with professional advisors and student services staff with expertise in the student's major area of study. Questions about advising should be directed to the student’s advising team or to the Public Service and Community Solutions student services office.

Contact information for college advising can be found at the college's advising page.

Mandatory advising

The following categories of students are required to receive advising and be cleared by a program advisor before they may register for classes:

  • all first-year students
  • all students majoring in social work
  • readmitted students
  • students on probation
  • students who have been disqualified
  • students with admission competency deficiencies
  • students with special admission status
  • transfer students in the first semester at ASU

Credit and registration

Course load

A normal course load per semester is 15 or 16 credit hours. The maximum number of hours for which a student can register is 18 credit hours (fall or spring semesters) unless an overload petition has been approved by the department or school standards committee and dean or dean's designee. Semester course loads may be further limited for students in mandatory advising status. Petitions for overload ordinarily are not approved for students who have a cumulative GPA less than 3.00 and who do not state valid reasons for the need to register for the credits. Students who register for an excess of 18 credit hours and do not have an approved overload petition on file may have courses randomly removed through an administrative drop action. Specific degree requirements are explained in detail under the respective college, school and department sections.

Degree requirements

Interdisciplinary public service requirement

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions has a college-level graduation requirement for all undergraduate students majoring within the college. This degree requirement is called the interdisciplinary public service requirement. Each student must complete coursework from other schools within the college. Students may choose a core course from their major and two courses from the approved course list for this requirement in addition to completing ASU 101-CPP The ASU Experience, which must be completed in the first year at ASU; the other courses can be taken while completing the degree. The approved course list for each catalog year is available on the major map. Questions about this requirement should be directed to the academic advisor for the major.

Solution-based learning requirement

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions has a second college-level graduation requirement for all undergraduate students majoring within the college. This degree requirement is called the solution-based learning requirement. Each student must complete coursework from their school or another school within the college that has an SBL designation. Students must choose a course from the SBL list to meet this requirement. The approved course list for each catalog year is available on the major map. Questions about this requirement should be directed to the academic advisor for the major.

Concurrent degrees

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions supports students who wish to pursue concurrent degrees. Students earn a separate diploma for each degree. Degrees may not be too closely related and will be reviewed by an academic advisor during the approval process.

The structure of a student’s academic program is customized to meet degree requirements for both programs of study. Students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor from each degree to establish a feasible program of study and to start the concurrent degree approval process. If a student is adding a concurrent major outside of the college, the university approval process must be completed for both Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and the college of the other major.

Reinstatement/readmission

Students seeking reinstatement after disqualification should contact Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions student services office regarding procedures and guidance for returning to good standing. When reinstatement includes readmission, application must be made through the ASU readmission process. All academic disciplinary action is the function of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions student services office under the direction of the dean of the college. Students having academic problems should contact Watts Advising at 602-496-1658 or the college's academic advising page.

Graduate policies

Advising

Advising is usually handled by a professional academic graduate advisor, graduate faculty or a committee. Once admitted, each student is typically assigned an advisor in their degree's department; this advisor assists in planning a course of study. For degree programs that require the completion of a thesis or dissertation, a chairperson and thesis or dissertation supervisory committee is selected by the student, approved by their degree program's director of graduate studies, and appointed by the dean of the Graduate College. Each graduate degree program in Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions has its own set of policies regarding academic performance expectations. Students should contact their graduate advisor to review policies relevant to their degree.

Students must fulfill all requirements of their individual graduate programs to remain in good academic standing, and they must abide by all university policies including those of the Graduate College and Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.