Academic Life

What is BannerWeb?
BannerWeb is Richmond’s online system which students use to register for classes, access grades, view their accounts, and make changes to their meal plans.

Will my daughter’s or son’s grades be sent to me at the end of each semester?
No, they will not. The University does not mail grades to students or parents (see information about FERPA below). To access grades, the student logs into BannerWeb and enters his or her ID number and PIN number.

Grades only appear at the end of each semester; there are no mid-semester grades. However, professors may submit a “Student Progress Report” to the appropriate academic advisor at any point during the semester for students doing poorly (e.g., earning a D or F) in a course. The advisor can then meet with the student to discuss approaches for improving the grade.

What is FERPA?
FERPA is The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) which is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

The law applies to all institutions that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high-school level (whichever occurs first). University of Richmond faculty and staff members cannot release information about the educational records of a student to a parent or other family member without the written consent of the student (for exceptions, please see the question below regarding disclosure of information). This includes grades.

What is FERPA designed to do?
FERPA protects the confidentiality of the records that educational institutions maintain on their students and gives students access to their records to assure the accuracy of their contents. The act affords students certain rights with respect to their education records:

Access to education records: students have the right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a written request for access, anytime after their matriculation.
Request for amendment of education records: students have the right to request amendment of education records if they believe the records are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of their privacy rights.
Disclosure of education records: students have the right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information in education records, except to the extent that the Act or any other superseding law authorizes disclosure without student consent.
Compliance: students have the right to contact the Family Policy Compliance Office with complaints concerning the University’s compliance with the requirements of FERPA.

When would the University of Richmond disclose information about my student?
The University of Richmond will disclose information from a student’s education records only with the consent of the student, except in specific instances as allowed by law. Such instances may include release to the following:

To school officials determined by the University to have a legitimate educational interest. A school official is determined to have legitimate educational interest if the information requested is necessary for that official to perform appropriate tasks that are specified in his or her position description or by a contract agreement; perform a task related to a student’s education; perform a task related to the discipline of a student; or provide a service or benefit relating to the student or student’s family, such as health care, counseling, job placement, or financial aid.
To agents acting on behalf of the institution (e.g., clearinghouses, degree/enrollment verifiers).
In connection with a student’s request for or receipt of financial aid, as necessary to determine the eligibility, amount or conditions of the financial aid, or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
As required by law to various government agencies in connection with an audit or evaluation of federal or state-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with federal legal requirements that relate to those programs.
To comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
To an alleged victim of any crime of violence or the results of any institutional disciplinary proceeding regarding the alleged perpetrator of that crime with respect to that crime.

Other Situations

Crisis situations/emergencies: There is a caveat in the law—if non-directory information is needed to resolve a crisis or emergency situation, an educational institution may release that information if the institution determines that the information is “necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.” A number of factors are considered in making this assessment including the severity of the threat to the health or safety of those involved and the need for the information.

Instances involving the use of controlled substances or alcohol: The University retains discretion to disclose to a student’s parents information regarding any violation of law or of University rule or policy as to alcohol or controlled substance use or possession, if the student is under age 21 at the time of the disclosure and the University determines that such alcohol/drug use or possession constitutes a disciplinary violation (Warner Amendment).

Study abroad situations: When students opt to study abroad for a semester or year, they are given the opportunity to allow their parents or guardians access to their records and the option to make decisions regarding their records and registration for that period of time. This has proven helpful given the sometimes limited communication access students may have in some locations.

What is the role of the academic advisor?
The University of Richmond has an academic advising system that provides each student with an academic advisor when s/he first begins at Richmond, in most cases later shifting advising responsibilities to a faculty member in the student’s chosen major. The University’s Academic Advising Resource Center provides training and resources to advisors, and provides services to students whose advisors are for some reason (e.g., illness, sabbatical) unavailable.

Advising conversations typically stretch far beyond the discussion of which classes to take. Academic advisors will pose questions which are designed to stimulate intentional decisions behind course selection. You will have an opportunity to meet with your student’s academic advisor during orientation, at which point you will be able to ask questions and speak directly with the advisor.

Though academic advisors encourage students to make thoughtful decisions around course selection, and they will discuss those and related issues with your student each semester, advisors do not make decisions for students about which courses to take, nor do they put together a class schedule for students. Academic advisors assist students in understanding the purposes of a liberal education and help them explore their general education program in particular by doing the following:

Assisting students in developing a suitable education plan.
Assisting students in monitoring the implementation of that plan.
Assisting students in finding ways to deal with issues that come up along the way, referring them whenever appropriate to other campus support services.
Assisting students in exploring life and career goals and in identifying relevant emphases within their course of study.
Assisting students, through the foregoing means, in enhancing their decision-making skills and self-esteem.

With whom could my Richmond student discuss applying to medical school, law school, or other graduate program?
Getting into medical, law, or graduate school in a given discipline is just one step in the process of deciding to further your Richmond student’s education. What is the best major for medical school or law school? Is a law degree, an M.D., or a Ph.D. really what a student needs to do the work s/he finds most interesting? Because such questions are challenging and the answers vary from person to person, seeking the advice of a professional advisor in addition to a faculty advisor is an important step.

For many graduate programs, faculty members in related areas can provide appropriate assistance to students. In addition, the University of Richmond has both pre-law and pre-health professions advisors to help students investigate these options. These advisors and faculty members can give good suggestions about top programs, schools with specialties that may interest our students, and even ways to improve their chances for admission. For questions about careers in law and law school, students may contact Dr. Mark McGarvie, the Director of Pre-Law Advising, at mmcgarvi@richmond.edu. To find out more about medical professions and education, students may contact Dr. John Vaughan at (804) 287-6484 or by e-mail at jvaugha2@richmond.edu.

What is the procedure for a student to declare a major?
Students cannot declare a major in their first year at Richmond. Often, the major students plan on choosing when entering college is not the one they decide on after a semester or two of courses. Initial courses in new areas, and courses in subjects that were disliked in high school but that suddenly take on new life in college, can lead students to choose a major that’s a “better fit” than one they thought they would pursue. In most cases, by January of their second year students should be ready to declare a major.

To declare a major, students go to the Registrar’s Office and complete a fairly simple major declaration form. They can declare several majors and/or minors, although only one major is required for graduation. Once this is done, students are assigned a faculty advisor from the department that houses the major they have chosen. At this point, their major faculty advisor formally becomes the resource for class information and registration requirements, replacing the academic advisor they worked with when they entered Richmond.

Are research opportunities available to all students?
Yes. Doing research with a faculty member can greatly enrich a student’s undergraduate experience, helping him or her develop as an independent learner. Research with faculty is an exploration of a question and the creative process. Students may be surprised to learn that these opportunities aren’t restricted to the sciences. In fact, the Undergraduate Research Committee, the University group that provides financial support for students pursuing independent research, has given money for student research in nearly every program at the University. Financial support is available for summer research as well as for work during the academic year. Students can get involved in research projects with faculty even in their first year at the University.

Does Richmond offer classes during the summer?
Yes, there are several sessions offered during the summer months. Summer school includes various courses regularly offered during the academic year along with specialized summer courses (some departments offer their specialized courses only during the summer).

Is there tutoring is available outside of the classroom?
The Academic Skills Center, located in the administrative wing of Boatwright Library, provides academic skills support to University of Richmond students. Operating from a holistic vantage point, the center incorporates counseling and study skills techniques (e.g., test-taking, note-taking, information processing, concentration, time management, etc.) which address the academic performance of students and their social adjustment to the University environment. The Center offers free tutoring in a variety of subjects to students through its Peer Academic Skills Tutoring program. Both individual and group tutoring options are available in one-hour sessions.

Is there a resource on campus where my Richmond student can receive tutoring in writing?
Yes. The Richmond Writing Center, located in the administrative wing of Boatwright Library, provides free writing tutoring for undergraduate, continuing studies, and graduate students in any course or academic discipline. Tutors, who complete a semester-long training program, can assess an essay’s organization, development, style and documentation.

What library resources are available on campus?
The University of Richmond library system offers students and faculty services and ample scholarly resources to begin and sustain their studies. Boatwright Library, the Music Library (in the Modlin Center), and the Law School library hold more than one million items selected to support students’ coursework. The Media Resource Center offers audio, video and electronic technologies to increase their learning opportunities. Laptop computers compatible with the wireless network in the libraries are available for loan in both Boatwright Library and the Music Library. More than 100 desktop computers in Boatwright Library support student work. The Science Reading Room in the Gottwald Center for the Sciences offers assistance with science research and a small collection of printed science reference works. While the collections are always expanding, the best resources of all are the librarians who will help students discover new avenues to information.

What are Library 100 and 101?
All first-year students are required to attend two 75-minute class sessions (Library 100/101), one in the fall and one in the spring, designed to develop essential library research skills. These two library and information skills classes are a graduation requirement, to be completed in the student’s first year. Check with your son or daughter to make sure he or she is registered for Library 100 for fall semester and Library 101 for spring semester.

How can I learn more about the study abroad opportunities available to my Richmond student?
In an increasingly international and complex world, exposure to other cultures and perspectives is a powerful learning experience. Studying abroad teaches students to adapt to unexpected situations, to be more resourceful, and to use the academic and personal growth opportunities available at the host university abroad. Over 300 Richmond students study abroad each academic year. Tuition for Richmond study abroad is the same as the on-campus general tuition fee. Most scholarships and financial aid apply to Richmond semester abroad programs. Additional information about international programs is available on the Study Abroad Web site.