Undergraduate Student Academic Policies

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Academic Advising

Academic advising is available to all students. In the College of Business, Arts, Sciences and Education (CBASE), faculty and staff serve as academic advisors; in the College of Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS), Program Directors and Academic Success Coaches serve in advisory capacities.

Academic Course Taxonomies

Friends University classifies online course and program offerings according to four discrete taxonomies. These taxonomies are consistent with many other colleges and universities that offer online courses and programs.

• Online Course/Program (ONL): Online courses have all content delivered online through a Learning Management System (LMS) and do not have regularly scheduled classroom meetings.
• Blended Course / Program - BLD (formerly Hybrid Course/Program - HYB): Blended courses are a mix of classroom meetings and technology mediated distance delivery. Those courses through which a predominance of the instruction (50% or more) is delivered at a distance are considered blended.
• Web Facilitated Course / Program (formerly Web-Enhanced Course/Program - WEB): Web facilitated courses are traditional courses that use a LMS to facilitate communications and content delivery. Regularly scheduled meetings are not substituted with technology mediated content delivery.
• Traditional (TRA): Traditional courses are delivered as regularly scheduled classroom meetings that utilize methodologies such as lecture, discussion, group work, writing, etc. and do not use a LMS to support communications or content delivery.
• Synchronous e-learning (SEL): Synchronous learning courses enable the simultaneous participation of students and instructor at the same time but not in the same place.  It is often referred to as “real-time” instruction.  Technology tools to allow interaction, desktop and file sharing and the ability to collaborate and ask questions in real time are used.  Students are required to be online at a specific time in order to participate.

Online and Blended delivered courses are managed through specific University policy and approval processes.  Web Facilitated courses are guided and managed by University policies consistent with on-ground courses.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

Academic Probation

A CBASE student will be placed on probation upon earning a cumulative grade point average of less than 1.60 for freshmen, less than 1.80 for sophomores, and less than 2.00 for juniors and seniors. Students on Academic Probation cannot participate in intercollegiate athletics, hold office in student organizations nor compete for membership in performing groups, which represent the institution.

A CAPS student will be placed on academic probation if their Friends University cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0. Probationary students will have the following semester to raise their Friends University cumulative grade point average above 2.0. If the student does not register in the subsequent semester and does not withdraw, their academic standing will be reviewed at the end of the first enrolled semester.  Students must comply with all Admissions policies in effect.

Academic Dismissal

Students will be dismissed if their Friends University cumulative grade point average falls below the minimum probationary threshold for two consecutive enrolled semesters. Those who fail will be dismissed at the conclusion of this period. The University reserves the right to suspend anyone failing to make normal progress at the end of any semester.

Students who are withdrawn due to Academic Dismissal may apply for re-admission after sitting out at least one semester. 

Appeal

Students who are academically dismissed will have 10 business days to appeal the dismissal in writing. If the appeal is denied, or if the student chooses not to appeal, an application for readmission may be made after sitting out a minimum of one semester (spring/fall for CBASE and spring/summer/fall for CAPS).Dismissal does not release the student from his/her financial responsibility to the University.

Auditing Courses

Current Students wishing to audit undergraduate courses may do so by contacting their advisor or academic success coach and obtaining needed permissions for specific courses. Tuition is charged as noted on the current year fee schedule, no credit is given and there may be fewer obligations for coursework. Audit registration may not be converted to credit registration after the second week of a regular semester; credit registration may not be converted to audit registration after the second week of a regular semester. Private lessons from the Fine Arts department are not available for audit.

Students who are not seeking an undergraduate degree at Friends University, but who wish to continue personal and professional development may be admitted to undergraduate courses as an audit student. The ability to enroll in a course for auditing purposes is subject to seat availability. 

Badge and Certificate Policies

Individuals wishing to enroll in badge and/or certificate courses offered through Friends University should apply for Non-Degree Seeking admission as a special student. Graduate degree-seeking students may enroll in undergraduate-level badge and/or certificate courses, but they may not be applied toward a degree program; Undergraduate degree-seeking students are ineligible to enroll in badge and/or certificate courses.

Badges

Badges may be credit bearing or non-credit bearing. Credit bearing badges are .5 credit hour courses that comply with the Friends University Credit Hour Definition and appear on the academic transcript. Non-credit bearing badges are a digital representation of a specific skill or knowledge obtained. They are not for academic credit and do not appear on an academic transcript.

Badges may be Independent or Stackable:

• Independent: Content of the badge stands alone. It is not associated with a certificate, stackable badge, or specialization.
• Stackable: Content in the badge accumulates from one badge to the next stackable badge as defined by the offering. A maximum of six stackable credit bearing badges can be associated with the content of a three credit hour course. 

Badges are awarded the grades of BG (Badge Earned) or NBG (No Badge Earned). Work must be consistent with at least a letter grade of a ‘B’ (80%) to receive a BG. NBG indicates that the quality of the work was such that, to obtain credit, the student must repeat regular coursework. 

There is no limit on the number of badges a non-degree seeking student may accumulate; however, a maximum of 24 credit bearing badges are eligible to be applied toward an Undergraduate Degree Program (maximum of 12 credit hours) and a maximum of 12 graduate-level, credit bearing badges are eligible to be applied toward a Graduate Degree Program (maximum of 6 credit hours). The number of badges accepted by each individual program will vary and may only be applied under the following conditions:

1. The work is approved by the division;
2. The work is approved by the dean of the college; and
3. The work is an integral part of a program planned by the candidate and the advisor.

Badge courses are ineligible for Title IV (federal financial aid) funding.

Certifications

Certifications are learning experiences that meet course-level learning expectations as defined by the university.

Certifications may be earned through the completion of one course or a defined sequence of courses based on internal curriculum standards.

Professional Certifications may be earned through the completion of one course or a defined sequence of courses based on external curriculum standards associated with a professional organization. The curriculum is approved by the professional organization to be offered at Friends University and the certificate is awarded by the professional organization.

Certificate coursework must be consistent with at least a letter grade of a ‘B’ (80%) to receive a passing grade (A or B). NC (No Credit) indicates that the quality of the work was such that, to obtain credit, the student must repeat regular coursework. NC is a non-punitive grade. Badges may also be included within a certification course.

Up to a maximum of 12 credit hours earned under non-degree status are eligible to be applied toward an Undergraduate Degree Program; up to a maximum of 6 credit hours earned under non-degree status are eligible to be applied toward a Graduate Degree Program. The number of badges accepted by each individual program will vary and may only be applied under the following conditions:

1. The work is approved by the division;
2. The work is approved by the dean of the college; and
3. The work is an integral part of a program planned by the candidate and the advisor.

Transfer hours and substitutions are not acceptable in certificate programs, as the certification program area is specific to Friends University.

Certificate courses are ineligible for Title IV (federal financial aid) funding unless they are a requirement of the degree program for which the student is already enrolled.

Classification

Classification is based upon the student’s academic standing in terms of hours and credit points at the beginning of the semester.

Regular Students: Those who have satisfied entrance requirements and are pursuing a course of study leading to a degree. They are classified as follows:

Freshmen: Students with fewer than 28 semester hours and 56 credit points.
Sophomores: Students who have completed 28 semester hours and 56 credit points.
Juniors: Students who have completed 58 semester hours and 116 credit points.
Seniors: Students who have completed 88 semester hours and 176 credit points.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions. When absence is unavoidable, students should arrange in advance with the instructor for the completion of all work missed. Penalty for unexcused absences rests with the teachers concerned. Excessive absences or tardiness may jeopardize the student’s academic standing.

CAPS students who have missed more than two class meetings normally will receive an “F” unless they have formally withdrawn.

College Consortium

Online courses are available to Friends University students through the College Consortium. Courses are offered through various universities which may hold consortial or transfer agreements with Friends University. Central Christian College of Kansas currently engages in a consortial relationship with Friends University.

Students may request registration for College Consortium courses by visiting https://www.collegeconsortium.org/institutions/friends-university/. 

Students wishing to drop a College Consortium course must immediately notify the Friends University Registrar’s Office and comply with the other institution’s add/drop/withdrawal dates. Either no grade, a W grade, or an F grade will be given based on the Friends University grading policy on dropping courses. No refund is given after seven days of the course start.

For transcription purposes, courses from institutions that hold consortial agreements with Friends University are considered Friends University courses.

Course Load

CBASE Students

The normal CBASE student load at Friends University is 12 to 18 semester hours during both the fall and spring semesters.

Students with a “B” average may register for more than 18 hours with signed permission from the College Dean or University Registrar. The institution reserves the right to limit the academic load of students whose outside employment, campus activities or academic performance make such limitations advisable.

CAPS Students

CAPS students identified as juniors or seniors may not be enrolled in over 25 hours at any point in time at the University without prior written approval by the CAPS College Dean.

CAPS students identified as freshmen and sophomores may not be enrolled in more than 7 credit hours per 8-week term without prior approval.  The freshman or sophomore student requesting more than the maximum hours allowed must be achieving academically as demonstrated by a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and receive written approval from a CAPS Academic Success Coach by submitting the Overload Request Form prior to enrolling. No freshman or sophomore level student will be allowed to exceed 10 credit hours per 8-week term - no exceptions.

Course Equivalencies, Substitutions and Waivers

For degree auditing purposes, the following course definitions will be used:

Equivalent

The course is considered to be the same in description, academic credits, rigor, pre-requisites / co-requisites, and learning outcomes.  Any student who has taken a course considered equivalent to another will only have the most recent grade and hours calculated into the earned hours and GPA.  This will be processed as a ‘repeated’ course.

Substitution

The course is determined not to be equivalent in nature, but comparable in breadth/depth, content, learning outcomes, level and academic credits. The course will replace a current or prior degree requirement, or a discontinued course that is part of the student’s degree program.  An approved course substitution form must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar.  A substitution will not be processed as a ‘repeated’ course.

Waiver

A course waiver will be considered if a student has documented prior knowledge (coursework, test scores, experience, or other evidence) that has been determined to satisfy a particular degree requirement.  The student is required to submit all required documentation to support the request.  No earned hours or GPA will be awarded.  A waiver does not exempt the student from satisfying the total number of hours required for the degree.  An approved waiver form must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar.

Course Registration and Withdrawal

Students are listed on official class rosters upon completion of their registration, which includes course selection and the payment of fees and tuition.

To add or withdraw from a class when online registration is unavailable, a student must complete the proper form and obtain the necessary signatures. A Change of Registration form must be completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Attendance or non-attendance in a class does not constitute addition or withdrawal from a class.

Adding a Class

4-week courses:  Students must be enrolled in 4-week courses prior to the start of the term.  No additions may be done after the term has started.

8-week courses:  Students must be enrolled in 8-week courses within the first 5 academic days of the term. No addition to a student’s schedule may be made after the 1st week of classes has passed.  

16-week courses: Students must be enrolled in 16-week courses within the first 10 academic days of the term. No addition to a student’s schedule may be made after the 2nd week of classes has passed.

Any exceptions must be approved by the College Dean (or his/her designee) as well as the instructor of the course. A student who does not properly add a class to their registration will not receive credit or a grade for the class.  Attendance in a class does not constitute addition or withdrawal from a class.

Withdrawing from a Class

4 week courses:  Students may not drop a course after the 2nd week of the term has ended.

8 week courses:  Students may not drop a course after the 5th week of the term has ended.

16-week courses: Students may not drop a course after the 10th week of the term has ended.

Grades will not be recorded for courses dropped by the end of the first week of 16-week courses or prior to the end of the 100% refund period for 4 and 8-week courses. Courses dropped after that peiod will be recorded as “WD” (withdrawn). Permission to withdraw from a course after the deadline is possible only in extenuating circumstances by special permission of the College Dean (or his/her designee) or University Registrar. A student who does not properly withdraw from a class will receive a failing grade (F) in the course. Attendance or non-attendance in a class does not constitute addition or withdrawal from a class. (See the Student Initiated Withdrawal section for procedures on complete withdrawal from the University.)

All drops will be subject to the refund policies in effect at the time of the drop.  Students are responsible for impacts that schedule changes may have to their current financial aid awards.

Electives

Students requiring elective credits to meet the 124 hour minimum may focus on meeting the requirements for a specific minor or enroll in coursework outside their major area of concentration. Students enrolling in elective coursework must meet any and all prerequisite requirements of the course for which they are enrolling.

Credit Hours and Credit Points

Friends University defines the unit of credit hour as follows:  A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
(1) one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, 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) of this definition for other activities as established by an institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, experiential and prior learning, and other academic work leading toward the award of credit hours.

Friends University Credit Points are assigned as follows for the purpose of determining scholastic averages:

Each semester :
1 hour of “A”	=	4 credit points
1 hour of “B”	=	3 credit points
1 hour of “C”	=	2 credit points
1 hour of “D”	=	1 credit point
1 hour of “F”	=	0 credit points

The Cumulative Grade Point Average, commonly spoken as a GPA, is determined by dividing the credit hours taken in all graded courses accepted by or completed at Friends University into the credit points received. Example: Four hours with a “C” grade (or 8 credit points) results in a GPA of 2.000.

In Good Standing means that a student has met academic and other requirements and has paid all University financial obligations. Registration may be denied to students not in good standing. Transcripts and diplomas are withheld until past due financial obligations are paid.

Credit by Examination, Non-Collegiate Training & Experiential Learning Credit

Friends University confers credit by examination, particularly College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Hours earned through credit by examination are listed on the student’s transcript but will not affect the cumulative grade point average. A student may earn up to 60 semester examination hours. Scores will not be recorded if they fail to meet minimum standards for conferral of credit; scores below minimum standards for conferral will not penalize the student who has attempted the exam.

CLEP General Examinations

CLEP General Examinations measure general education in five broad areas: History and Social Sciences, Composition and Literature, Science and Mathematics, Business, and World Language.

Students may take any of the tests (up to 27 semester hours of Friends University credit) except the one entitled “College Composition Modular” to meet a specific course requirement or serve as an elective if the scores are at or above 50. Level 2 language tests require higher scores as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) and endorsed by College Board.

Students may take the test called “College Composition” to meet the Composition requirement. Only three credit hours will be awarded and this test will not meet the Researched Composition requirement. 

General examinations may be taken at any time during the college career, but credit will not be granted after a student has attempted an accredited college course equivalent to the course to be tested by the CLEP examination.

CLEP Subject Examinations

If a student takes a CLEP subject examination to meet a course requirement, all prerequisite course requirements must have been completed prior to completion of the CLEP subject examination.

ACT-PEP Examinations

Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) examinations of the American College Testing (ACT) program also may be utilized for credit in most instances, with similar proficiency minimums as the CLEP examinations.

Advanced Placement Program

Students who have participated in the Advanced Placement Program at the high school level, sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board of New York, will receive college credit if their grades on the Advanced Placement Examinations are:

• 4 or above for CBASE students
• 3 or above for CAPS students.

Further information may be obtained from the College Dean. Credit may be obtained for Composition but not for Researched Composition.

DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)

The DSST program is an extensive series of 38 examinations in college subject areas that are comparable to the final or end-of-course examinations in undergraduate courses. Friends University follows the ACE recommendations regarding passing test score criteria and credit hour equivalents when granting institutional credit to students who take DSST exams.

Credit By Examination

When no satisfactory standardized test is available, a student may request permission to take a campus-created exam to demonstrate proficiency in a particular course or subject. Permission for such an exam must be received from both the College Dean and the Division Chair or professor who would design and administer the exam.

Credit earned by examination saves repetition, time and money. Test fees are charged per credit hour and are non-refundable although a student may fail to score high enough to receive credit.

A student may earn up to 60 semester hours of credit by examination. Credit by examination is recorded only for degree-seeking students, after a semester in residence has been completed. Credit by examination will not be figured into the cumulative GPA.

Prior Learning Portfolio Assessment (PLA)

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is the process of earning college credit for college-level learning acquired outside of the college classroom such as work, professional/occupational/vocational training, volunteering, self-education, life experiences, and sponsored non-collegiate training (i.e. U.S. Military). A maximum of 30 credit hours can be granted toward a bachelor degree through PLA. Duplication of credits earned will not be granted for courses already transcripted. Additionally, licensure, certificates, or training credits may not be duplicated through the Experiential Learning process.

Prior and Experiential Learning Credit

Students may demonstrate what skills and competencies they have learned from their training (including coursework completed at a non-regionally accredited college), work, volunteer and life experiences following high school that are equivalent to courses and/or outcomes offered at Friends University in prior learning portfolios. A prior learning portfolio is a compilation of written evidence that supports a student’s prior and experiential learning accomplishments in a specific subject that is assessed by a PLA faculty evaluator for course credit. The learning experience demonstrated must have the academic equivalence of college-level learning. Developmental/remedial courses and/or courses numbered below 100 are not comparable to college-level learning and may not be used as course equivalencies in the prior learning portfolio.

CAPS students seeking portfolio credit are required to successfully complete the CAPS 201: Prior Learning Portfolio Development course prior to their initial petition for prior learning portfolio evaluation.  Upon completion, credit is awarded for the course only. Completed prior learning portfolios must be submitted to the PLA Administrator for evaluation.  A fee will be charged for the evaluation and recording of credit.  Payment is due at the time the petition for portfolio evaluation is submitted. Students who are asked to submit additional information and/or make revisions to their prior learning portfolio by a faculty evaluator have four (4) weeks from the date of notification to fulfill the request.  If the student fails to do so, PLA credit will not be awarded.

CBASE students seeking portfolio credit should be referred to the PLA Administrator for further information. CBASE faculty members (approved by Division Chair) will evaluate a student’s competency level based on the ability to demonstrate equivalent or greater academic learning aligned to the learning objectives from one or more designated undergraduate-level courses.  Prior learning evaluations will be completed on an individual basis and will include, but not limited to, a review of documentation supporting academic equivalence and/or a series of assignments to determine whether or not the learning is college-level work.

Non-Collegiate: College credit is awarded for certain types of non-collegiate training programs and U.S. Military service where college credit recommendations have been established by the American Council on Education (ACE) and/or the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS).  ACE and NCCRS transcripts must be submitted to the PLA Administrator for evaluation.

The amount and type of credit awarded will vary in accordance with faculty review, the recommendations of the appropriate guide (such as ACE and NCCRS) and the educational policies of the University. A fee will be charged for the evaluation and recording of this credit.  Evaluation results will not be recorded until full payment is received.

PLA Credit for First Aid & CPR

First Aid and/or CPR certifications have been pre-approved for PLA credit by faculty and are awarded at one (1) credit hour EACH. Multiple CPR credits will not be awarded; the maximum credit for CPR is one hour regardless of CPR category. Examples of classes in the CPR category are Infant/Child CPR, Adult CPR, and CPR/AED. Valid documentation (card or certificate) must be submitted to the PLA Administrator.

A fee will be charged for the evaluation and recording of all PLA credit. Evaluation results will not be recorded until full payment is received.  

The CAPS 201 Prior Learning Portfolio Development course is not required for First Aid and CPR credit. 

PLA Appeals Process

Students who wish to appeal the denial of credit for PLA evaluations must contact the PLA Administrator. The appeal must be in writing and address why he/she feels credit should have been awarded. PLA Appeals must be received within eight (8) weeks of the date of denial notification. The PLA Administrator will discuss the appeal with the faculty evaluator and make the decision concerning the appeal. Students may be required to present additional evidence to verify learning. If the denial decision stands, students may submit an additional appeal to the Dean or Associate Dean of the College. The Dean or Associate Dean’s decision on a PLA credit denial is final. The student will be informed in writing of the decision for the requested appeal. Additional fees are not required for the appeals process.

Transcription of PLA Credit

PLA credit is recorded as Prior Learning Assessment/Portfolio credit with the course/subject title and number of credits awarded. PLA credit will be documented as transfer hours on the students “Official” academic transcript, as such, transfer detail is not displayed on the official transcript. PLA credit is not issued a letter grade and does not affect GPA. PLA credit does not meet residency requirements and may not be accepted if transferring to another institution. Duplicate credit will not be granted for courses already recorded on a student’s transcript.

Returning Students

Returning and former students who wish to submit prior learning are required to meet with the PLA Administrator and establish a plan for requesting credit for prior learning.  

PLA Fee

A Fee will be charged for the evaluation and recording of all PLA credit. Evaluation results will not be recorded until full payment is received.   

Cross-Registration at Newman University (CBASE Students)

Many courses offered by Newman University are open to Friends CBASE students for cross registration on a space-available basis. These courses are counted as resident credit at Friends University.

The Registrar’s Office manages all cross-registration procedures. Most courses are available on both campuses without separate registrations or added costs.

The student exchange program is designed to enrich the educational opportunities of Friends and Newman students.

Degree Requirements and Graduation Information

Degree Requirements

Students should familiarize themselves with the following requirements for baccalaureate degrees. Students who continue in college without interruption will meet requirements in effect at the time of their first registration, modified by curriculum and certification changes deemed essential by the faculty. Students who leave college for two or more years will meet graduation requirements in force at the time of return. Due allowance may be made for changes in course offerings.

1. All students seeking a baccalaureate degree must complete general education requirements, common core courses, and required declared major coursework.

2. Minimum Credit Hours, Scholarship, Residence: Baccalaureate degrees require a minimum of 124 semester hours with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 on all courses accepted by or completed at Friends University.

3. Residence:

   1. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned in residence at Friends.

   2. CBASE students must earn 24 of the last 30, or 50 of the last 60 semester hours in residence at Friends. B.A., B.B.A., B.S., B.M. and B.F.A. students who completed a minimum of 60 semester hours at Friends during their early college years but have since transferred out will be permitted to re-establish residency with an additional 12 hours in residence.

   3. CAPS students must earn 30 of the last 40 semester hours in residence at Friends unless otherwise identified by major or college requirements.

4. Correspondence and Extension: Not more than 30 semester hours earned by correspondence and extension may count toward a degree. (Friends University does not offer courses by correspondence.) Advance written approval for correspondence or extension courses should be secured from the University Registrar before taking the course or by the Vice President of Academic Affairs if study abroad is contemplated. As a general policy, Friends University does not approve extension or correspondence courses when coursework applicable toward degree requirements is being offered on campus.

5. Remedial Study: Developmental/Remedial courses and/or courses numbered below 100 may not be included in the 124 credit hours required for graduation.

6. Credit for Activities: A maximum of 8 credits earned in physical activity courses may be counted in the 124 hours required for graduation. Activity credit may be earned in physical education, intercollegiate athletics, leisure activities, ensembles and drama groups. Hours earned as part of a previous program of study will be exempt from activity limits.

7. General Education: All students must meet the general education requirements in effect when they entered Friends University. See the section on General Education for specific requirements.

8. CAPS 200 must be completed by all CAPS students.

9. Foreign Language Requirements for CBASE Students: All B.A., B.F.A. and B.M. degrees are required to have 8 hours in a single foreign language at the beginning level. This requirement may be met in the following ways:

   1. University Foreign Language Study: Student earns a passing grade in beginning foreign language 101 & 102 coursework for 8 credit hours.

   2. 1 year of HS Foreign Language Study + University Foreign Language Study: Students who have passed 1 year of high school foreign language study may take 102 in the same language.  Upon earning a passing grade in 102, student will meet the foreign language requirement.

   3. 2 years of Foreign Language Study + Demonstration of Proficiency: Student who passed two years of High School Foreign Language must demonstrate proficiency in one of the following ways:

      1. Passing a qualifying exam with a minimum score of 70%.
      2. CLEP Examination & Evaluation with an institutionally acceptable score.
      3. Passing a departmental proficiency examination with a minimum score of 70%.
      4. Earning a passing grade in a Foreign Language course 102 or 201.

** NOTE:  Proficiency/qualifying exam will only be taken once. Students who do not pass the proficiency exam may be advised to enroll in “Foreign Language” 101 or 102. Contact Chair of Foreign Languages for details.

Graduation Information

1. Declaration of Intent to Graduate: The Intent to Graduate form is required to initiate a review of the student’s academic record for degree award and to ensure the student’s place on the commencement program. Students should file an Intent To Graduate Form with the Registrar’s Office as soon as the final plans for completing all graduation requirements have been made. The final date for filing the Intent to Graduate Form is February 1 prior to the May commencement exercises. Applications received after this date may be placed on the following year’s Commencement program.

2. Financial Obligations: No student will be granted a diploma until all financial obligations to the university have been met. 

3. Commencement Attendance: Each candidate for a degree is encouraged to attend the May Commencement Ceremony at which the degree is to be conferred.

4. Major Fields - Baccalaureate Degrees: In addition to General Education, each student will complete a concentration in a field of special interest known as a “major” along with supporting courses for the major field concentration. The major consists of at least 24 hours.

5. Unremoved “D” grades cannot be counted toward meeting the minimum requirements in a student’s major. This includes all specifically named courses and elective hours required by the major program but does not include requirements from other academic areas.

6. Grades of “D” are permissible in the areas of the major program if the hours of “D” are in excess of the minimum major named and elective requirements. These can be used as general electives and will count toward graduation to the extent they do not exceed the maximum hours permitted in the major.

7. Double Majors: Many students complete two majors in the course of their studies. Double majors must fulfill all requirements for both majors; however, if the majors cross degree requirement lines, general education requirements for only one degree shall be required. Second majors cannot be listed on the academic record after the first degree is awarded.

8. Multiple Degrees (Awarded at Same Time): A second baccalaureate degree will require 30 semester hours of credit in addition to the hours required for the initial baccalaureate degree. Requirements for all general education and major courses must be fulfilled for both degrees. Both degrees could be awarded at the same Commencement.

9. Optional Minor: Optional minors consist of a minimum of 18 semester hours for CBASE students and 15 semester hours for CAPS students; 9 of the 15 semester hours required of CAPS students must be earned in residence at Friends University. All courses applied to the minor must be completed with a grade of “C” or above. Specific minor programs proposed by divisions are approved by the faculty. Students may not select a minor in the same content area as the major. Recognition of minors cannot be added to the student transcript after the initial degree is awarded. 

10. Other Programs of Study: Individuals whose interest or needs are not met by a recognized major should consult with the College Dean on the possibility of an individually-designed program of study in Liberal Studies or General Studies.

11. Second Degrees: Students entering Friends University with a recognized baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution will not be required to fulfill general education requirements but must meet requirements for the major and any supporting courses required as well as the minimum number of hours for any degree from Friends University (30 hours).

12. CAPS Expiration of Credits: Elective and General Education credits from a regionally accredited institution will be considered non-expiring. Any student returning after an absence of two catalog years becomes subject to the Catalog and program requirements in effect at the time of their re-entry. Courses required by the major, either core requirements or those in direct support of the major, will be reviewed for currency. Additional courses may be required.

Degree Conferral

Friends University will confer degrees at the conclusion of each 8-week term of the semester. Students who desire to graduate must submit an Intent to Graduate Form to the Office of the University Registrar as stated in the Graduation Requirements Policy.  Degrees are not posted to the Official Transcript until they are conferred.  Diplomas are prepared after degrees have been conferred.

Participation in Commencement Ceremony

CBASE students may participate in the Commencement Ceremony if their expected total is no more than 9 credits less than the minimum credit hour requirement of their degree program.

CAPS students may participate in the Commencement Ceremony if all requirements are planned for completion by August 31st of the commencement year.

Policy for Degrees in Non-Current Majors

Any student who remains continuously enrolled (consecutive fall & spring terms) at a regionally accredited institution from the time of completion of major coursework at Friends, may receive a degree no longer offered in the College of Adult and Professional Studies upon successful petition submitted to the College.  If a student has not successfully completed the major requirements, the degree may not be conferred.

Any student not having successfully completed and passed the major classes (retake situation) must comply with the current degree requirements.

Any student returning after an absence of two catalog years becomes subject to the catalog and program requirements in effect at the time of their re-entry.  Students returning within a two-catalog year time frame will follow the catalog year of their last enrollment.

If the major requirements have been completed more than two years prior, the College will determine what/if additional classes will be required to bring the non-current major up to date.  Some reviews may result in a change of major for the student.

Previous DCP Students and Completed Coursework Requirements

Any student returning after an absence of two catalog years becomes subject to the Catalog and program and/or degree requirements in effect at the time of their re-entry to the University. Returning students in certain majors identified by the College (Accounting, Human Resource Management, Criminal Justice, Computer Information Systems, or as the College designates) who have previously accomplished coursework with a final grade of ‘C’ or better will have their coursework reviewed at the time of their re-entry for currency. The College reserves the right to determine what/if additional course will be required to bring the student’s coursework up to date if prior major requirements have been completed more than two years prior.

Degrees Awarded

Degrees Awarded by Friends University may be found on the Academic Programs tab.

Grading System & Definitions

Faculty have primary authority for the assignment of grades.  Students have the right to appeal a grade through the University Exception process.

The grade symbols and their significance are as follows:

• Grade “A” indicates superior work.
• Grade “B” indicates good work.
• Grade “C” indicates satisfactory work.
• Grade “D” indicates inferior work, but is a passing grade.
• Grade “F” indicates failure to complete work sufficient in quantity or quality to receive credit. Credit may be earned only by repeating the course.

Note: A student may not repeat a course more than twice (total of three attempts) in an effort to achieve a satisfactory grade. The most recent grade achieved by repeating a course is the grade utilized in student records and averages. Withdrawn courses are not counted toward total attempts. 

• Grade “S” or “SS” when given, indicates satisfactory completion of course.
• Grade “NS” when given, indicates a letter grade was not submitted by the course instructor.
• Grade “I” indicates an incomplete. A grade of “I” may be given by the course instructor if circumstances beyond the student’s control, which are verifiable, prevent completing the coursework.  The student must have started the course and done passing work in the course to receive the grade of “I”. The instructor of record for the course will work with the student to outline any remaining course requirements and determine an expected completion date. The instructor will designate a “replacement grade” that will be assigned if the missing work is not completed. If no replacement grade is designated, the outstanding “I” will convert to an “F”. The responsibility for completing all coursework rests with the student.
  • “I” grades assigned in CBASE courses must be resolved by the end of the semester (fall or spring) following the one in which the “I” was assigned.
  • “I” grades assigned in CAPS courses must be resolved within the time specified by the course instructor but cannot exceed six months from the end date of the course.
• The mark “AU” (auditor) is used to indicate enrollment on a “no credit” basis. Audit registration may not be converted to credit registration after the second week of a regular semester; credit registration may not be converted to audit registration after the second week of a regular semester. Private lessons from the Fine Arts department are not available for audit.
• “WD” means withdrawn. It signifies that the student has officially withdrawn from the course. The grade “F” is given for unofficial withdrawal from a course.
• “NC” indicates no credit and is used to indicate failure to complete work sufficient in quantity or quality to receive credit. Credit may be earned only by repeating the course but does not affect the GPA.
• Grade “CR” indicates Credit is being awarded for the course.
• Up to 12 semester hours of elective credit may be taken on an alternate grading system. These hours are to be taken in courses outside of the student’s program, major, or general education requirements and may not be in the same area as the major field of study.Students electing this alternate grading system must so indicate at the time of registration; they may not be converted to traditional grading registration after the second week of a regular semester or vice versa.
  • CBASE courses on an alternate grading system will indicate a Pass/No Credit Option (“P”/”NC”). “Pass/no credit” courses are available to juniors and seniors and will not affect the student’s grade point average. Certain approved courses offered on “pass/no credit” basis may be applied toward appropriate major field course requirements.
  • CAPS courses on an alternate grading system will indicate a “Pass/Fail” Option (“P”/”F”). P will be assigned for a grade of “D” or above. 
• CBASE courses may also be assigned “0” Credit, which indicates that a student is electing to take courses for no credit. This must be done at the time of registration. The credit cannot be converted to traditional grading at any time after registration. The course grade will be recorded as “0” only on student transcripts. Students taking music courses for “0” credit must have the Fine Arts Chair’s approval. “0” credit courses will receive the grade “SS” to indicate enrollment in the class on the transcript.
• CAPS coursework missed during an approved Leave of Absence is graded as “LA”. A final letter grade will be issued to the student following their completion of the coursework required upon their return from Leave. A student who returns from a Leave of Absence but later withdraws from the University prior to completing the coursework missed during the Leave period will have the grade of “LA” converted to a final grade of “F”.

Grade Change requests must be initiated within one year of completing the course and prior to receiving the degree.

Graduate-Level Coursework

Graduate Level Elective Courses

Graduate level courses may be taken by CAPS upper division undergraduate students with CAPS program director approval prior to enrollment in a graduate course.  A maximum of 18 graduate credit hours (excluding workshops) may be taken for undergraduate elective credit in pursuit of an undergraduate degree.

Graduate School workshops are eligible for a maximum of two (2) elective credit hours toward undergraduate degree requirements, subject to individual program policies.

A course taken for elective credit must be so identified at the time of enrollment in that course and students must meet any prerequisite requirements. 

Tuition is charged at current rates as established by the tuition and fees schedule.

Seniors Earning Graduate Credit in the Special Education Program

CAPS seniors (i.e. completed at least 88 credit hours) pursuing a bachelor’s in education may begin taking course work toward the Special Education license endorsement by:

1. Completing a formal application for graduate study and submitting an official transcript.
2. Having a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
3. Prior to actually enrolling in a 500/600 level course for graduate credit, the student must complete a Request for Graduate Credit form.  The form must include signatures from the student’s advisor, the special education faculty member or Program Director in lieu of the course instructor, the College Dean and the Registrar.  This form must be submitted to the graduate office prior to enrollment.  Once the form has been received and approved, the 500/600 level class will be flagged for graduate credit.  Refer to Graduate School Policy in current catalog for additional information regarding this process.

Honors: Graduation, Honor Societies & Honor Roll

Graduation Honors

• The minimum standard for graduating SUMMA CUM LAUDE is both an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.90 and a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 on Friends University coursework.
• The minimum standard for MAGNA CUM LAUDE is both an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.75 and a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 on Friends University coursework.
• The minimum standard for graduating CUM LAUDE is both an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.60 and a cumulative grade point average of 3.60 on Friends University coursework.

Order of the Tower

Students graduating with a bachelor’s degree and receiving honors automatically become eligible for the Order of the Tower, the honorary society of the University. These students are presented the crimson honor cord at Commencement and receive special mention during the exercises. Students who earn both an overall grade point average of 4.0 and a 4.0 on Friends University coursework are awarded a gold honor cord at Commencement.

Alpha Chi National Honor Scholarship Society 

Alpha Chi National Honor Scholarship Society recognizes the achievement of students in the College of Business, Arts, Sciences, and Education. It was established at Friends University in February 1986 to promote academic excellence and exemplary character. Based on GPA and Friends University hours in residence, membership is by faculty invitation only to students of junior or senior status. The members are presented the Alpha Chi blue and green cords to wear on their gowns during the Commencement ceremony.

Alpha Sigma Lamda Honor Society

The Alpha Sigma Lambda Society recognizes the achievement of adult students in the College of Adult and Professional Studies.  The top 20% of CAPS students with a minimum GPA of 3.2 and 24 earned credit hours are eligible for membership.

Honor Roll (CBASE Only)

For semester-based programs, the following honor rolls are posted with the following qualifications at the end of each semester:

• President’s Honor Roll: 12 or more semester hours earned with a semester grade point average of 3.900 or above.
• Dean’s Honor Roll: 12 or more semester hours earned with a semester grade point average between 3.600 and 3.899.

All students must be in good standing, with no incompletes to be considered.

Honors Program

In the 1981 fall semester Friends University established an Honors Program designed to enrich the educational experience of selected students through a process involving group interchange of ideas and independent research projects. Participating CBASE students are challenged by their peers and by faculty members to reflect upon significant contemporary issues in a number of different fields and to attempt to respond to and integrate the ideas encountered with their own personal values and faith. The experience is intended to develop powers of analysis and evaluation in an environment where encouragement is given to pursue excellence. It is also intended to deepen the appreciation of those involved for the entire range of the liberal arts.

The entrance requirements for University Honors for incoming first-year students is a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher, and an ACT score of 27 or higher, the completion of an Honors Program application, and the approval of the Director of the Honors Program.  The Director of the Honors Program may make exceptions for other first-year, advanced, or transfer students who otherwise did not meet the entrance requirements if they are recommended to the Director by another faculty member.  Students who do not maintain a 3.5 GPA for more than one concurrent semester (that is, if they receive less than a 3.5 GPA for two semesters in a row) during their time as a full-time student will be removed from the University Honors Program.  the Director of the Honors Program may make exceptions for particular student upon the recommendation of another faculty member.

Internship Program/Clinical Training

Students may earn up to twelve hours in an internship or clinical training program.  These hours can be transferred (upon approval) or earned in residence.  Internship credits earned in residence at Friends University must be approved by the Advisor, Program Director, or other designee prior to course enrollment.  Please refer to the internship course descriptions for complete details.

Leave of Absence

In the event that unforeseen circumstances prevent class attendance for a period of time, the student may request a temporary leave of absence. Circumstances which would qualify for a leave could include but are not limited to: 1) serious illness of the student or immediate family member; 2) temporary employment relocation and/or reassignment; or 3) birth of a child.

A student who does not return to class following an approved Leave of Absence will be withdrawn from the University as of the last date of class attendance prior to the start of the Leave of Absence. Additional information is available through the Advisor, Registrar’s Office, Student Account Services or Financial Aid.

CAPS coursework missed during an approved Leave of Absence is graded as “LA”. A final letter grade will be issued to the student following their completion of the coursework required upon their return from Leave. A student who returns from a Leave of Absence but later withdraws from the University prior to completing the coursework missed during the Leave period will have the grade of “LA” converted to a final grade of “F”.

Mid-Term Grade Policy

Instructors will be required to submit grades of P (passing), D, or F, at the mid-term of any 16-week semester for all enrolled CBASE students. Instructors will also have the option to assign a letter grade of A, B, C, at their discretion. Student grades at mid-term are used for counseling purposes and are not recorded on the student’s permanent record.

Online Course Academic Week Definition

An academic class week for all online courses is defined as Monday through Sunday.

Special Programs, Courses and Sessions

Required International Travel Courses

Students traveling internationally as part of any Friends University course, regardless of college, for the purposes of meeting a requirement for graduation will enroll in the Friends University course for the term of travel and pay the standard tuition and fees for their college in addition to any direct costs associated with the trip.
Students traveling as part of a program in partnership with another university or institute where contractual agreements regarding tuition, fees, and other direct expenses are in place will enroll in the appropriate Friends University course(s) and pay the tuition, fees, and other direct expenses set by the partnership agreement.

Policy for International Travel Courses (where students do not fall into the above categories)

All persons wishing to travel with a Friends University international course but where the course does not fall under one of the cases listed above must enroll in the course for (graded) credit. This includes each of the following:
• Students wishing to travel with, and earn credit for, a course in their current college of enrollment but not for graduation credit.
• Students wishing to travel with, and earn credit for, a course in their current college of enrollment but beyond the current package load.
• Students wishing to travel with, and earn credit for, a course outside of their current college of enrollment where the course will not apply toward graduation credit.

Note: Those persons not currently enrolled as a student at Friends University, who wish to audit an international travel study course, must apply to and be accepted by the University as a “Non-Degree Seeking Special Student” or a “Non-Degree Seeking Guest Student” and must obtain a student ID. The fee for admission to the University will be waived if admission is solely for the purpose of participation in a travel course. For these Non-Degree Seeking students, tuition will be assessed a per credit hour fee set at the current Education Workshop rate for the number of hours of the course.

CBASE Summer Sessions

CBASE Summer sessions are open to off-campus travel programs and a limited number of special arranged courses.

Experimental Courses

In addition to the courses which are described in the Catalog, Friends University offers experimental courses. These courses are not listed in the Catalog since they are designed to meet the special needs of the community or students or arise out of the interest of faculty. These courses are offered a maximum of three times and require the approval of the Division Chair/Program Director and the College Dean. Such a course is designated with the following numbers in the class schedule publication: 

• CBASE: 300EX
• CAPS: 400 EX
• GRAD: 600EX

Independent Study Courses

When necessary or upon recommendation of the instructor and the student’s advisor, the Division Chair/Program Director and College Dean may grant permission for a student to take a course by Independent Study (IS). IS courses must be equivalent in quality, substance and objectives to the original course. Written permission to take work by Independent Study must be given and residence credit is granted. Special course arrangement forms must be completed and are available in the Registrar’s Office. Any lab fees attached to the course will be charged.

CAPS students may be approved for IS when required for special circumstances such as: needing a limited number of credits within the major to complete the degree when it becomes a hardship or impossibility to attend regular classes or supplementing coursework for legitimate reasons approved by the program director(s). CAPS IS courses must be directly related to the student’s academic program and may not exceed the number of credit hours of the original course if a substitution or retake (course substitution arrangements should be indicated in the comments field on the Independent Study Request Form).  No more than 3 credits or one class will be allowed as substitution.

Transfer Credit Policies

Friends University accepts, within the limits reflected in this policy, post-secondary academic work completed for credit at other regionally-accredited institutions and recognized foreign universities. An official transcript from each institution previously attended is required in order to be admitted to the university. A transcript is considered official when delivered directly to Friends University from the previous institution via mail or secure PDF. The final determination of whether a transfer course may be used to meet a degree requirement is made by the College Dean in conjunction with the appropriate departmental/program faculty.

Credit is transferred with the grade earned in the course at the institution where the course was taken; only passing grades are accepted for credit. All grades are calculated for a transfer GPA except courses that might have been deleted from consideration by an “academic fresh start” at the transferring institution. Students should be aware that credits may be transcribed but not counted toward major or graduation requirements based on the below transfer credit parameters.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit Parameters

• A maximum of 69 credit hours earned from a 2-year or community college will apply toward a degree.
• A maximum of 8 credit hours earned in activity coursework, including intercollegiate athletics, will apply toward a degree.
• A maximum of 12 credit hours of internship, practicum, or clinical coursework will apply toward a degree.
• “D” grades may not be used to fulfill major/minor course requirements, the Written Communication requirements of General Education Goal 3, and certain other specified courses.
• Remedial Coursework will not count toward the transfer GPA or apply toward a degree.

Graduate Transfer Credit Parameters

• A maximum of 6 credit hours of graduate-level coursework may be transferred to Friends University and apply toward a graduate degree.
• Courses must be completed with the minimum grade of a “B” to be eligible for transfer.
• Courses must have been completed within 5 years prior to the semester in which degree work at Friends University begins to be eligible for transfer.
• Approval of the applicable Program Director is required prior to the semester in which degree work at Friends University begins to be eligible for transfer.

Duplicate Credit

Credit is generally not awarded for a course that duplicates coursework previously completed, either at the same or a different institution.  If a transcript shows a course has been repeated, credit is awarded based on the most recent grade earned.

Mathematics Course Levels

Credit will not be given for mathematics coursework if a “C” or better has been received in a prior higher-level (numbered) mathematics course. See individual course descriptions for additional information.

Previously Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions

Students submitting transcripts from previously non-regionally accredited institutions will have coursework transcribed in accordance with the accreditation of the transferring institution at the time of the student’s entry.  All courses and credit hours will be evaluated for appropriate course equivalency or elective credit at Friends University.

Quarter Credit Hours

Credits from colleges on the quarter system will be converted to semester credit hours prior to being transcribed by multiplying the credits by two-thirds. Under this formula, a 3 quarter-credit hour course converts to 2 semester credit hours.

Clock Hours

For courses with transcripted clock hours only, including clinical clock hours, Friends will request the granting institution calculate a conversion.  If no conversion is submitted, Friends will employ the following conversion calculation:  40 clock hours equal to 1 credit hour.  If a grade scale is not provided, a grade of “CR” (credit) will be transcribed.

Non-U.S. Credentials

Students requesting transfer credit from a post-secondary institution outside of the United States must provide an official transcript to a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member organization (www.naces.org) or InCred (www.playnaia.org/InCred) for evaluation. Post-Secondary institution evaluations must include the U.S. equivalency, course-by-course evaluation, number of earned credits and cumulative GPA.  The official evaluation from a NACES accredited service or InCred must be sent directly to Friends University.

Experiential Learning Credits

Experiential learning credits (portfolio) will count as four-year college credits but not as residency credits. Further information on policy and submission may be found in “Credit by Examination, Non-Collegiate Training and Experiential Learning Credit” section.

Articulation Agreements

Transfer credit policies may be superseded by individual articulation agreements between Friends University and other institutions, in keeping with the spirit of the Mission of the University.  

International Baccalaureate Credit (IBC)

Friends University will grant 30 hours of General Education credit upon entrance to students who have successfully completed an International Baccalaureate Diploma. (Diploma with high school transcript and standard admissions procedures.)

IB Area		Requirement		Course		Hrs
Language A		Competency		Writing 1, 2		6
Language B		B.A. Requirement		Foreign Lang		8
Exp. Science		Perspective		Phy/Biol Sci		4
Mathematics		Competency		College Algebra		3
Theory of Knowl.		Perspective		Intro to Phil.		3
Study of Man		Foundations		World Civ. OR		3
				American Character
Electives		Perspective		Art/Music OR		3
		Competency		Intro to Comp.
Total Credit Hours						30

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to modify or change policies, programs, curriculum and schedules contained in this catalog at its sole discretion at any time without further notice. Further, the University reserves the right to correct data entry issues or correct erroneous information contained in this catalog at its sole discretion at any time without further notice.The contents of this catalog do not constitute a contract between students or prospective students and the University.

Friends University does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding this policy: EEOC/Title IX Coordinator, Friends University, 2100 W. University Ave., Wichita, KS 67213, 316-295-5000.