CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS

Full-time: Enrolled for 12 or more hours

Part-time: Enrolled for less than 12 hours

Degree: Seeking an Associate in Arts, a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science degree, or a Bachelor of Social Work

Non-Degree: Not seeking a degree

Church Vocation Students: Full-time students who are preparing themselves for one of the church vocations within The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and have maintained a grade point average of at least 2.00.

Part-time students are not eligible to participate in intercollegiate competition or to hold any campus office.

A student enrolled in a degree program must matriculate through admissions. Upon his/her acceptance, the University is committed to all it can to help the student successfully complete his/her chosen program. Accordingly, each degree seeking student is assigned to an advisor.

A non-degree student wishing to change to degree status shall make application to the Vice President of Enrollment Services (cf. Special Admissions.)

Classification is determined by the total number of credits completed including those accepted by Concordia from other college or university and is established as follows:

         Freshman                 0-29

         Sophomore             30-59

         Junior                     60-89

         Senior                      90-graduation

STUDENT COURSE LOAD FOR FULL-TIME STUDENT

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Upon matriculation to the University, each degree student is assigned a faculty/staff member as his/her personal academic advisor. Advisors are constantly kept informed of changes in the curriculum and thus are in a good position to help their advisees make decisions relating to their academic needs. However, it remains the responsibility of the student to ascertain that he or she is meeting all the requirements of the program and for the degree.

The advisor has both the professional training and responsibility to offer sound advice to his/her advisees. All questions relating to a student’s academic program at the University should be directed to their acaedmic advisor. Prior to the assignment, additional information about the academic advisor/advisee responsibilities or advising resources may be found on the CUW website at www.cuw.edu/advising.

ACADEMIC ETHICS

Mutual respect and concern for one another in the atmosphere of a Christian caring community is the basic principle which should govern the relationship between student and instructor. Faculty are professional in their expectations of academic excellence and students respond with an appropriate level of effort and commitment. Unprofessional conduct and unethical behavioral are serious breaches of the academic contract. The ethics code of the university provides for due process, and grievance procedures are detailed in the Student Handbook.

GRADING

Formal reports of the student’s progress are issued at the close of each semester. At mid-semester, a report of very low grades (D’s and F’s) is given to the student.

The following grade point systems is used in connection with these grades:

GRADE CHANGES

Once a course grade has been made available to the student, a change of that grade will be permitted on the following time basis:

1. For a course taught in the traditional semester format (Fall or Spring semesters) the grade change is to occur before the end of three calendar weeks into the following semester.
2. For a course taught in the non-traditional format the change is to occur within six calendar weeks.

The above policy does not apply to grades of Incomplete.

FINAL EXAM EXEMPTIONS

Each individual instructor may choose to allow certain high-achieving students to exempt from taking the final examination at the end of a regular semester course. For an exemption to be given, the student must be carrying an A for the course. First semester freshmen cannot be exempted. Second semester freshmen and sophomores may be exempted from one exam. Juniors and seniors can be exempted from up to two exams.

INCOMPLETE GRADES

An incomplete grade given in any term (i.e., first and second semester, Winterim, Summer Session) becomes a failing grade if the work is not completed within three weeks after the end of the final examination period for that term or by the time agreed to between the instructor and student. Requests for extension of time to resolve an I grade will be approved only when the instructor is satisfied that circumstances prompting the request justify waiving this three-week policy. In unusual circumstances, beyond the control of the student and the approval of the instructor, incomplete grades can be held for one semester.

INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION/INDEPENDENT STUDY PROPOSALS

Independent study proposals must be processed 60 days prior to the beginning of the new semester.

TRANSCRIPTS

An ‘‘Official’’ transcript is one bearing the seal of the University and the signature of the Registrar or his/her representative. Official transcripts are not normally given to students or alumni, but are mailed directly to institutions or persons considering the applicant for admission or for employment.

An ‘‘Unofficial’’ transcript is one given to the student whose credits are listed thereon and is marked ‘‘unofficial’’ or ‘‘student copy.’’ Concordia University accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of an unofficial transcript after it has been issued.

Federal regulations require the student’s signature before the record can be released.

CLASS ADDS-DROPS

A student may add a course before no more than 15% of the scheduled class periods have occurred. The table below is a guide for the various courses and the maximum times of meeting after which registrations are not permitted. Consent of the instructor must also be secured.

A regular semester class may be dropped without penalty through the end of tenth week of class (for seven week classes - end of the fifth week). Drops require the signature of the advisor. Failure to withdraw from a class will result in a WF grade.

                                    Course Credit                Value Class Periods

                                            1/2                                    1

                                             1                                       2

                                             2                                       4

                                             3                                       6

                                             4                                       8

                                             5                                      10

A full-time student may register through the last day of the first full week (5 days) of classes in the semester.
The instructor’s signature is required after the first week.

CHANGE OF NAME OR ADDRESS

Students are to promptly notify the Registrar in writing of any change in name or address.

ACADEMIC HONORS

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMICS’ SCHOLASTIC HONORS LIST

The Vice President of Academics’ Scholastic Honors List for the University is composed each semester of those full time student(s) who have a semester grade point average of 3.6 or above.

GRADUATION WITH HONORS

A candidate who achieves a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or better will be graduated Summa Cum Laude; one who achieves a cumulative grade point average of 3.80 or better will be graduated Magna Cum Laude; and one who achieves a cumulative grade point average of 3.60 or better will be graduated Cum Laude.

AWARDS

Concordia considers it right and proper to recognize through special awards unusual proficiency and performance in a certain area of learning as well as in worthwhile and purposeful co-curricular activity. Many such awards are given annually to students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement or who have made unusual contributions. From time to time, friends of Concordia have established such awards and have usually stipulated conditions under which the respective award should be given. Since in these instances the recognition aspect is more important than the financial element, Concordia has listed these as awards rather than scholarships. Such awards include:

    Walter W. Stuenkel Award

    E.R. Brann Citizenship Award

    Science Awards

    William Schickard Award in Computer Science

    Moeller Award in English, German, Greek,

    Hebrew, Latin, and Spanish

    Religion Award

    Northup-Bartelt Memorial Music Award

    Wall Street Journal Award 

    American Bicentennial Award in Business Administration

    Nightingale Nursing Award

    Charles W. Finke Health and Human Performance Award

    Marsha Konz Student Educator Award

    Marsha Konz Graduate Educator Award

    Zondervan Publishing House Award in Greek

    Student Life Awards

    Charles W. Finke Physical Education Award

ACADEMIC STANDING

A student is considered in good standing if a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 is maintained. If the cumulative grade point average falls below a 2.00, the good standing becomes jeopardized and the student will be placed on academic probation.

The status of the student will be evaluated at the end of the semester. If the semester grad point average during the next semester is raised to a 2.00 but the cumulative grade point average remains below a 2.00 then academic probation remains. However, if the semester grade point average is below a 2.00 at anytime while on probation, the student will be academically dismissed. The student must use the appeals procedure to present extenuating circumstances which might lead to readmission.

A student who has been suspended for poor academic achievement is no longer considered in good standing.

APPEALS PROCESS

A student who does not maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 must make an appeal to the Appeals Committee in order to remain for another semester. The Appeals Committee is composed of: The Vice President of Academics or his designee, the Director of the Learning Center, the Registrar, a representative from Student Life, the student’s advisor, and one of the instructors from the previous semester as appointed by the Vice President of Academics.

The student must meet with the Committee on the appointed day and must bring along a letter explaining why an adequate GPA has not been maintained and what specific steps are planned to improve the low GPA standing.

Immediately upon conclusion of the hearing, the Appeals Committee will reach a decision and inform the student of the resulting action.

If a student is not readmitted, he must sit out for at least one semester, after which time they can re-apply for admission. It would be helpful for the student to take courses elsewhere to indicate their ability to succeed at college level work.

GRADUATION

Concordia University confers the degree of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Social Work on a student of good character who must have met all the requirements listed here:

1. accumulated a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better for all credited work completed at Concordia.
2. earned a minimum of 36 semester credits of academic work on campus at least 12 of which should be in the major and have spent the last two semesters in residence including the one immediately prior to graduation. Residence is defined as registration for course work.
3. filed application for candidacy before registering for the final semester.
4. met all financial obligations to the University
5. every candidate is expected to attend graduation exercises. Requests for excuse in extenuating circumstances should be directed to the Registrar.

Concordia University confers the degree of Associate in Arts on a student of good character who has met all the requirements listed here:

1. a cumulative grade point average of (2.00) or better for all credited work completed at Concordia University.
2. completed all necessary degree requirements for the program in which the student is enrolled, including participation in one Winterim.
3. spent at least two semesters in residence, including the one immediately prior to graduation. Evening division degree candidates need not meet residency requirements, but instead must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours of academic work on campus.
4. filed application for candidacy before registering for the final semester.
5. met all financial obligations to the University.
6. every candidate is expected to attend graduation exercises.

Requests for excuse in extenuating circumstances should be directed to the Registrar.

Students must be enrolled in sufficient course(s) during their final semester at CUW to anticipate receiving their degree.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY

Students who wish to withdraw from the University during a term must notify the Director of Academic Advising and Retention Services. If withdrawal is authorized, the student will receive the notation ‘‘W’’ on their permanent academic record for each course in which they are in good academic standing; for each course, in which the student is doing failing work, they receive the notation ‘‘WF.’’

In the event that a student is seriously injured/ill, receives an official leave of absence, or cannot continue for any acceptable reason, the student will receive a ‘‘W’’ in all registered courses.

A student who discontinues attending classes without official permission to withdraw will receive a grade of ‘‘WF’’ for all registered courses. 

All students who are dismissed for conduct/behavioral reasons are to leave the campus and remain away until permission to return is granted. Any deviation from this policy may result in forfeiting the possibility of readmission. Requests for exceptions are to be addressed to the Vice President of Student Life.

Students dismissed for academic reasons are able to be on campus visiting unless otherwise noted in their dismissal. Students wishing to return to the University must wait at least one semester before re-applying for admission through the Office of the Vice President of Enrollment Services.

WINTERIM

Winterim offers students the opportunity either to explore topics not in their regular course of studies or to take courses that are part of their Core, major, or minor programs. Students pay a reduced per credit tuition for these three week January courses. 2-3 credits are typical; 4 is maximum.