Definition of Credit Hour

WITS offers courses over 15-week spring and fall semesters and two overlapping 8-week summer semesters (Summer Session I and Summer Session II). A student who enrolls in a minimum of 12 credits per a fall or spring semester is considered a full-time student. For the summer semester, full-time status is determined by adding the total number of credits taken in Summer Session I and Summer Session II. A student who enrolls in a minimum of 12 credits per summer semester is considered a full-time student.

WITS defines one credit hour as an amount of work that approximates the following:

1. Not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for 15 weeks or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
    

2. At least an equivalent amount of work (as required in paragraph 1) in courses and academic activities where direct instruction is not the primary mode of learning, such as laboratory work, independent study, distance learning, internships, practica, or other academic work leading to the award of credit.

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Incomplete Grades

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If a student has not completed all required course work but has completed at least 50%, the student may request an incomplete in the course. Granting an incomplete is at the discretion of the faculty member and the Executive Dean/Menaheles (kodesh courses) or the Academic Dean (general studies courses). The course grade is marked as incomplete. A course in which a student receives a grade of incomplete is not included in the GPA as long as the Incomplete remains on the transcript. A course marked incomplete is included in the student’s number of credits attempted but not credits completed.

Changes of grade or adjustments to incomplete grades after the conclusion of the semester for contracted courses are in accordance with the policies of the contracting institution.

If granted an incomplete, a student will have until that semester’s deadline to complete their missing coursework. Beyond that point, a student must petition in writing to the Executive Dean/Menaheles (kodesh courses) or the Academic Dean (general studies courses) for a further extension. Faculty are not authorized to grant individual extensions beyond the deadline. If no written request is submitted by the deadline, a student who has not completed the required coursework will receive a grade of zero for the missing coursework. The deadline for Fall Semester courses is May 15. The deadline for Spring and Summer semester courses is December 1.

Withdrawn Courses

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Courses that a student withdraws from before the first drop deadline will not appear on the student’s transcript and will not be included in the number of credits attempted. From that point until the second drop deadline, a student dropping a course will receive a grade of W (Withdrawal) for the course and the credits will be included in the number of credits attempted. After the second drop deadline, the student must complete the course or receive a grade of F (Failure). While a W (Withdrawal) does not factor into the GPA, an F (Failure) does. Dropping a course due to health reasons requires documentation from a medical professional and approval from the Executive Dean/Menaheles (kodesh courses) or the Academic Dean (general studies courses). There are no academic or financial penalties. All drop deadlines are noted on the Academic Calendar.

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Transfer Credits

Transfer credits are not included in the calculation of the grade point average. However, the credits accepted are counted toward the number of credits attempted and earned by the student.

Appeals Process and Mitigating Circumstances

A student who wishes to appeal a determination of probationary status, lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress, or similar issues must submit an appeal in writing to the Menaheles. The Menaheles will consider all relevant information, i.e., mitigating circumstances such as illness or death in the immediate family or other unusual situations. The student must also explain how her situation has changed to allow her to make satisfactory academic progress. The Menaheles will consult with faculty members as appropriate. The Menaheles’s decision will be conveyed to the student in writing within ten days of receipt of the student’s written appeal.

Repeating Courses

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A student who wishes to raise the grade of a specific course may repeat the same course. Both courses and grades will appear on all official transcripts. However, credit is only earned once. The lower grade will not be calculated as part of the semester grade point average nor the overall grade point average.

All repeated courses are counted in the number of the student’s attempted credits. For determination of a student’s enrollment status, if a student is repeating a course in which she received a passing grade, for the purpose of grade improvement, it is counted towards her enrollment status only the first time the course is retaken. If a student is repeating a course in which she received a failing grade, it is counted towards her enrollment status for as many times as she is repeating that course in an attempt to pass.

A student repeating a course must remain within the time frame required for satisfactory academic progress standards.

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Class Performance

Class performance is considered in determining a student’s final grade in a course. Attendance is an integral element of course performance. The instruction and guidance offered in the classroom is the cornerstone of a student’s education. While there is no formal attendance policy at WITS, students are expected to attend all class and laboratory sessions. Faculty factor attendance into the class performance element of the final grade. Classroom participation, another aspect of class performance, is expected and encouraged in order to facilitate the integration of independently prepared assignments with the subject matter covered in the classroom. Specific grading and class performance guidelines are found in the syllabus of each course.

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Students are responsible for all material, assignments or exams missed during absences. Students who anticipate prolonged absences should inform their respective faculty member(s) and the Menaheles (Kodesh courses) and/or the Academic Dean (General Studies courses).

Make-Up Exams and Late Work

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WITS’ policy on missed exams and late work is designed to promote a consistent and fair procedure for administering exams, quizzes, and related forms of learning assessment.  

• All students are expected to take exams and submit assignments as scheduled.  

• A student requiring an extension or accommodation must receive approval from the faculty member prior to the day of the exam or assignment due date. In the case of emergency, a student should contact the faculty member at the earliest possible time. Informing the faculty demonstrates the derech eretz expected of WITS students.  

• Students with permission to reschedule an exam should complete the Make-Up Exam Scheduling Form - Kodesh Courses or Make-Up Exam Scheduling Form – General Studies Courses. Students will receive confirmation and details via their Populi Activity Feed. All rescheduled exams must be completed in the WITS Testing Center. Faculty do not administer make-up exams and students do not submit late exams directly to faculty. There is a proctor fee of $10 for make-up exams taken within a week of the scheduled time, and $25 for exams taken after one week.   

• There are special guidelines for final exams. Students who cannot take a final exam as scheduled, must submit a Request to Reschedule a Final Exam Form and provide explanation of extenuating circumstances. Students should not consider their request approved until they receive approval via their Populi Activity Feed. A rescheduled final exam must be taken during the designated make-up exam slot. The proctor fee for final exams is $35. Students applying to graduate school and requiring expedited transcripts must be aware that rescheduling a final exam will delay transcripts.  

• Faculty have the right to deduct points or otherwise penalize students for missed exams and late assignments, with the exception of true medical emergencies. Any late work will have five points deducted from the grade. After one week past the due date, an additional 5 points will be deducted. For each additional week past the due date, another five points will be deducted. Faculty may have additional policies regarding late work which will appear in the course syllabus.

• If a student arrives late to any exam without a valid excuse, the exam must be completed in the remainder of the allotted time.  

• Students may not negotiate with faculty for a different way to make-up a missed exam, e.g. substitute a paper. 

Final Exams

Final exams are scheduled Sunday through Friday and must be taken as scheduled. Work schedules or other commitments must be adjusted to conform to the final exam schedule. Any student who fails to take a final exam as scheduled will receive a grade of zero for the exam. There are special guidelines for final exams. Students who cannot take a final exam as scheduled, must submit a Request to Reschedule a Final Exam Form and provide explanation of extenuating circumstances. Students should not consider their request approved until they receive approval via their Populi Activity Feed. A rescheduled final exam must be taken during the designated make-up exam slot. The proctor fee for final exams is $35. Students applying to graduate school and requiring expedited transcripts must be aware that rescheduling a final exam may delay transcripts.  ​

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Student Records

The official academic records of all students, past and present, are maintained in the Office of the Registrar. The official transcript contains identifying information, a complete record of all coursework, transfer credits, academic status and any degrees or certificates granted. The transcript is retained as a permanent record of WITS.

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Transcripts
 

Students are encouraged to periodically review their transcripts. Students have one semester after the completion of courses to inform WITS of any error on their transcripts.

Students may request an official WITS transcript to be sent to a designated recipient. This request must be submitted online with the required transcript fee. The link to request a transcript is available on the institutional website. Students should allow two weeks from the date of submission of the transcript request for processing. Telephone requests cannot be honored. Students may receive unofficial copies of their transcript at no charge. 

WITS is an academically challenging institution that seeks applicants interested in pursuing a liberal arts education with an Orthodox Jewish foundation. The educational experience at WITS focuses on the development of Jewish educators, Jewish communal leaders, and professionally accomplished Jewish women who are committed to the perpetuation of Jewish ideals and mesorah (Jewish tradition). The overarching academic Torah-based framework and extracurricular programs are designed to cultivate social awareness, build professional knowledge and career skills, and enhance spiritual growth and development.

General Admission Requirements

Acceptance to WITS demonstrates the institution’s confidence in an applicant’s readiness to maximize her personal and academic growth. Applications are accepted throughout the year and evaluated on a rolling basis. The application form is available on the institutional website.

Requirements for admission are as follows:
 

• An applicant must demonstrate commitment to Orthodox Jewish lifestyle and practices.
   

• An applicant must be a high school graduate and provide evidence of high school graduation or equivalent. Recognized equivalents of high school graduation are as follows:
   

  • Successful completion General Educational Development (GED); or

  • Successful completion of an associate degree; or

  • Successful completion of at least 60 semester or trimester credits or 72 quarter credits that does not result in the awarding of an associate degree, but that is acceptable for full credit toward a baccalaureate degree at any institution; or

  • Enrollment in a baccalaureate degree program where at least 60 semester or trimester credits or 72 quarter credits have been successfully completed, including credits transferred into a baccalaureate degree program; or

  • Completion of a homeschooling program as per the requirements of the state of residence.
     

• An applicant must have extensive knowledge of the Hebrew language.
   

• An applicant must demonstrate the potential for academic success in college-level coursework in Jewish studies and general studies.
   

• An applicant may be required to schedule a personal interview with the Executive Dean/Menaheles.

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Verification of High School Graduation Documentation

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Completion of a legitimate high school program is a pre-requisite for admission as a regular student to WITS and for eligibility for federal financial aid.

To comply with these requirements Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary and College staff review the students’ high school documentation on file (generally a transcript or diploma) to determine its legitimacy.

The review checks if the information is complete and clearly documents high school graduation from a legitimate high school. Specific focus is placed on the name and address of the high school to ensure that the entity issuing the documentation is not a bogus institution or an entity that charges a fee for the issuance of the diploma while requiring the student to perform little or no work.

Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary and College utilizes the following procedure to verify the high school information:

1. Is the high school well known to Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary and College staff as a legitimate institution? (Faculty and staff are familiar with the majority of high schools that students who apply to Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary and College have attended). If yes, high school is verified and so documented on a student checklist.

2. If the high school is unfamiliar, the name of the high school is checked against established and reliable national high school directories to see if school is listed. If yes, high school is verified and so documented on a student checklist.

3. If the high school does not appear in any established national directories, the high school is contacted directly and information about the school‘s high school curriculum, programs, faculty, officials and graduation requirements is gathered. A professional and informed determination is then made as to whether the high school information received appears legitimate and consistent with generally acceptable high school standards. If yes, the school is verified and so documented on a student checklist.

4. If the high school cannot meet any of the criteria listed above, the high school is not verified and cannot be used to satisfy the requirement of successful high school completion.

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Application procedures and other requirements are dependent upon the selected enrollment status according to the following:

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Degree-Seeking Students

Degree-seeking students may apply for admission as follows:

• Submit an online application, which includes the following:

  • $150 non-refundable application fee

  • Recent photograph

  • Personal statement

• Submit two letters of reference

• Provide official high school transcript (with degree date) or equivalent

• Provide official transcripts from seminary and study abroad programs, if applicable

• Provide official transcripts from all previously attended colleges/universities, if applicable

• Provide official SAT Score Report (Code 5491) and/or ACT Score Report (Code 7796) or request a waiver

High school graduates attending a college-level seminary program during their freshman year may earn up to 30 credits as part of the Israel Study Abroad Program (ISAP).

Requirements for participation in ISAP are as follows:
 

• Acceptance as a WITS student; and

• Acceptance to a WITS-approved seminary program; and

• Commitment to attend WITS following completion of the first year of the WITS-approved seminary program

Certificate-Seeking Students

Certificate-seeking students may apply for admission as follows:

• Submit an online application, which includes the following:

  • Recent photograph

  • Personal statement

• Submit two letters of reference

• Provide official transcript documenting highest degree earned (high school or college)

Non-Degree Seeking Students (Non-Matriculating Student)

Applicants seeking to enroll in coursework without earning a degree may apply for admission as follows:
 

• Submit an online application, which includes the following:

  • Recent photograph

  • Submit names of two references

International Applicants

WITS welcomes international applicants. International applicants should begin the admission process at least six months in advance of the intended semester of enrollment. In addition to the general admissions requirements for all students, international students requiring I-20 or IAP-66 forms for student visas must also submit the following:
 

• Proof of English proficiency; and

• Written documentation showing sufficient financial support and resources to cover educational, living, and miscellaneous expenses.
   

Student Health Insurance

WITS does not provide health insurance or medical care. Costs of health insurance and medical expenses are the sole responsibility of each student. Upon acceptance, all students must provide proof of health insurance.

Strategic Goals

To continue institutional success, WITS recognizes the need to articulate long-term strategic goals to guide the institution into the future. The strategic goals 2020-2025 are as follows:

• Academic Excellence and Student Success - WITS will sustain an academically-rigorous and student-centered learning environment that advances knowledge of Orthodox Jewish culture and which is informed by reliable assessment of effectiveness.

• Fiscal Sustainability and Resources - WITS will build a financial foundation that strengthens and sustains institutional vitality through diverse sources of revenue.

• Reputation and Influence - WITS will grow in awareness and reputation as a respected provider of quality undergraduate education for Orthodox Jewish women.                  

• Collaboration and Relationships - WITS will strengthen the sense of community through improved connections with stakeholders.