Undergraduate Student Academic Policies

The administration and faculty of Friends University attempt to outline clearly and advise consistently concerning requirements for graduation and the student’s progress in meeting these requirements. Part of the student’s personal development, however, is the recognition and acceptance of responsibility in meeting all graduation requirements. The student is expected to take the initiative and to follow through in the completion of all requirements and details of the academic program.

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 academic course instruction according to four modalities. These instructional modalities are critical for setting expectations for students, faculty, and staff, as well as complying with accreditation requirements.

Course Sections: Each course can have only one instructional mode. If a faculty member is offering a course utilizing multiple instructional modes, separate sections must be created for each mode, and students must be enrolled in the section/mode by which they will participate throughout the entire term.

Academic Forgiveness

Friends University undergraduate, degree-seeking students may petition to remove previous academic credit from calculating toward hours attempted, hours earned, and their CGPA. This is available for students returning to Friends University. To qualify, the student is required to have been separated from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education for a minimum of two calendar years.  The student must initiate the request and may appeal only one time. Students may not submit a request until completing one semester at Friends University with a minimum of 6 credit hours (fall, spring, or summer) with a semester GPA of 2.00 or higher.

Students may petition to remove either up to two consecutive semesters of coursework or up to 24 consecutive hours of coursework. This will only apply to coursework completed at Friends University. Academic Forgiveness must apply to all coursework within a given term or semester. Once approved, coursework will remain on the transcript with a designation of Academic Forgiveness, but may not be used to satisfy any graduation requirements. The identified coursework will be excluded in future calculations of CGPA, hours earned, and hours attempted.

Academic Forgiveness may be used one time and is non-reversible. Coursework leading to a previously earned Associate or Bachelor’s degree from Friends University does not qualify for Academic Forgiveness. For further information, please contact your academic advisor or the Office of the Registrar. 

The granting of Academic Forgiveness does not supersede institutional financial aid policies governing Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students should be aware this policy might not be honored at other institutions of higher learning.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

Academic Probation

A student will be placed on academic 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. Academic Probation may affect participation in intercollegiate athletics, student organizations, or membership in performing groups, which represent the institution.

Probationary students will have the following semester to raise their cumulative grade point average to the minimum required threshold. 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 next enrolled semester. After two years of absence, students must comply with all admissions policies in effect.

Continued Academic Probation

Students on academic probation who do not raise their cumulative grade point average to the minimum required threshold may be continued on academic probation if their term grade point average is at least 2.00.

Academic Dismissal

Students on academic probation who fail to meet the minimum cumulative and term grade point averages will be academically dismissed from the University.

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 5 days to appeal the dismissal in writing. Appeals must minimally include an extraordinary circumstance that contributed to the student’s academic performance and how the circumstance has been resolved. If the appeal is granted, the student will be reinstated to the University on academic probation. 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.

Acadeum Course Sharing

Online courses are available to Friends University students through Acadeum course sharing platform, formerly known as College Consortium. Courses are offered through various universities which may hold consortial or transfer agreements with Friends University. Friends University currently engages in a consortial relationship with the other member institutions of the Kansas Independent College Association (KICA) and the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). These consortia are a medium for students of member schools to take advantage of online courses offered by other mission-aligned campuses.

Students may request registration for Acadeum courses by visiting https://students.acadeum.com/institutions/friends-university. 

Students wishing to drop an Acadeum 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 WD grade, or a WDF 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.

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:

• 3 or above for undergraduate students.

Further information may be obtained from the University Registrar’s Office. Credit may be obtained for Composition but not for Researched Composition.

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 certificate courses offered through Friends University should apply for Non-Degree Seeking admission. Graduate degree-seeking students may enroll in undergraduate-level certificate courses, but they may not be applied toward a degree program; Undergraduate degree-seeking students are ineligible to enroll in 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 Academic Dean; 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 on 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. The 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.

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 Academic Dean or University Registrar. The institution reserves the right to limit the academic load of students whose outside employment, campus activities, or academic performance makes 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 Academic 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 the 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.

Add, Drop, or Withdraw from a Class

Each student is responsible for managing their own enrollment. Students may add or drop courses during the add/drop period indicated below. Grades will not be recorded for courses dropped during the add/drop period and courses will not appear on the academic transcript.

A week is defined as Monday through Sunday or seven (7) consecutive calendar days. Day one (1) refers to the first day of the session/term, regardless of the day of the week a class meets for the first time.

Add, Drop, or Withdraw from a Class with Grade Definitions

Courses dropped after the add/drop period will appear on the academic transcript and be recorded with a “WD” (Withdrawn) grade. Students may not drop course(s) after the WD period and will receive the grade as assigned by the instructor. Appeals due to extenuating circumstances may be submitted in writing to the Academic Dean (or his/her designee) or University Registrar.

Withdraw from Friends University

Students who completely withdraw from Friends University after the last day to drop a course will receive “WD” grades (Withdrawn) in all courses. A Withdrawal from the University form must be completed with an Advisor/Academic Success Coach.

A student who does not properly add a class will not receive credit or a grade for the class. Attendance or non-attendance in a class does not constitute adding or dropping a class. 

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

Electives

Students requiring elective credits to meet the 124 credit 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 Hour Policy and Credit Points

Friends University follows the traditional “Carnegie Unit” as a measure of academic credit. This unit is known in the University by the familiar term, “semester credit hour,” and is the primary academic measure by which progress toward a degree is gauged. Friends University defines the semester 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:

• one hour (50 minutes) of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for a minimum of fifteen weeks per semester hour of credit, or
• at least the equivalent amount of work adjusted proportionally for a modified academic calendar; or
• at least an equivalent amount of work for other activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, experiential and prior learning, and other academic work leading toward the award of credit hours.

Semester credit hours are granted for various types of instruction as follows:

1. In-Person Course Delivery: Traditional courses utilizing lectures, seminars, discussions, group work, writing, recitation, etc. formats meeting 50 minutes per week per semester credit hour for a minimum of 15 weeks for a total of 12.5 hours per credit hour.
2. Other Course Deliveries: Courses delivered using modalities other than in-person – such as Hybrid, Distance Virtual, or Online – are reviewed by content experts who have taught the course in a traditional, in-person modality to ensure that the workload and engagement required of the student are equivalent to standard credit hours. Course developers are responsible for identifying the amount of work that is represented in intended learning outcomes established for the course and verified by student achievement. Student engagement may include seated or online seminars, threaded discussions, meeting with advisors, additional independent work in lieu of class time, etc. Conformity with the policy is reinforced by a review of course content by the administrators of the academic programs. When the course is taught for the first time, it is also monitored for pedagogy to ensure conformity with the standard credit hour requirements. Continuous assessment of course outcomes is used to verify that the assignment of workloads set in the original course design is consistent with the achievement of learning objectives.
3. Short Sessions: Credit hours may be earned in short sessions (8-week terms, summer sessions, etc.) proportionately to those earned for the same activity during a regular term of the institution, normally at no more than one credit per week of full-time study. The calculation of credit hours awarded for short sessions shall be verified through the University-approved Course Credit Audit.
4. Activity Supervised as a Group (Laboratory, Fieldwork, Internship, Workshop, Group Studio): A semester credit hour is awarded for the equivalent of fifteen periods of workshop or studio work where each activity period is 50 minutes or more in duration with little or no outside preparation expected for a total of 12.5 hours. Fieldwork, Internship, and travel courses involve experiential learning in a professional setting under the direct supervision of faculty/fieldwork educators who serve as site supervisors and performance evaluators. The minimum contact time per credit for fieldwork courses is 160 minutes per week for at least 15 weeks or 2400 minutes (40 hours). Laboratory and studio courses involve experiential learning in group settings under the direct supervision of a faculty member with students conducting laboratory experiments or studies. The minimum out-of-class student work for one credit for a laboratory course is 50 minutes per week per semester credit hour for a minimum of 15 weeks for a total of 12.5 hours per credit hour.
5. Supervised Individual Activity (Independent Study, Individual Studio, etc): One credit for independent study (defined as a study given initial guidance, criticism, review, and final evaluation of student performance by a faculty member) will be awarded for the equivalent of fifteen 50-minute sessions of student academic activity. Credit for the individual studio (defined as the study which is given initial faculty guidance followed by repeated, regularly scheduled individual student conferences with a faculty member, and periodic as well as a final evaluation of student performance) will be awarded for regularly scheduled instructional sessions meeting 50 minutes per week per semester credit hour for a minimum of 15 weeks for a total of 12.5 hours per credit hour.
6. Full-time Independent Study (Student Teaching, Practicum, etc): Practicums, full-time internships, and student teaching courses require a minimum of 37.5 hours of on-site work per credit hour. If a student’s academic activity is essentially full-time (as in student teaching), one semester credit hour may be awarded for each week of work. The standard number of hours a student must complete for each hour of academic credit is 37.5 or as stipulated by specialized accrediting agency requirements.

Oversight and Compliance

The faculty, Program Directors, and Division Chairs have the responsibility for developing, maintaining, and evaluating the curricula comprising specific academic programs. Existing courses are evaluated for adherence to federal and state credit hour regulations on an annual basis. New courses are developed and approved at the program level and are subsequently submitted to the Curriculum Committee (CC) for approval or denial. The CC is responsible for certifying that all proposed new or revised courses conform to the federal and state credit hour regulations. Syllabi submitted with proposals for new or revised courses are examined by the CC for contact time and for verifying that the expected student learning outcomes for the courses meet the credit hour standard.

Appeal and Review

Academic divisions may present educational justification for departures from these policy provisions to the Curriculum Committee (CC) which will be responsible for their interpretation. Credit hours to be earned in approved overseas academic programs will be considered on an individual basis following established procedures. Other special arrangements will be considered on an individual basis by the CC.

Credit Points

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” (Undergraduate Only)	=	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: 3 credit hours with a “B” grade (or 9 credit points) results in a GPA of 3.00.

Only courses numbered 500 and above carry Graduate Credit. Other courses may be taken in support of a specific course of study but are not counted toward an advanced degree and are not computed in a student’s graduate grade point average.

In Good Standing means that a student has met academic and other requirements and has paid all University financial obligations. Students in their first semester at Friends University are considered in Good Standing regardless of admission status. Registration may be denied to students, not in good standing. Transcripts and diplomas are withheld until all financial obligations are paid.

Credit for Prior Learning

The Friends University Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Policy was developed in accordance with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and Kansas Board of Regents: Kansas Credit for Prior Learning Guidelines best practices.

Students entering or returning to college bring with them a wealth of learning experiences that the University recognizes as important to the total college experience. In recognition of the value of these experiences, the University provides students with several opportunities to receive college credit for the knowledge gained through non-college experiences.

College-level learning can be evaluated through the use of credit recommendation databases, national exams, and course credit by exam. The University does not award credit for experience alone; credit for prior learning is awarded for verifiable skills and college-level learning gained through the experience.

Hours earned through Credit for Prior Learning are listed on the student’s transcript as “CR” but will not affect the cumulative grade point average. 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.

Credit for Prior Learning Limitations

The number of credit hours awarded through all CPL avenues outlined herein shall not exceed sixty (60) for all undergraduate programs. The number of credit hours awarded through any avenue for CPL shall not exceed thirty (30).

CPL will only be awarded to degree-seeking students, in good standing, after the completion of twelve (12) semester-hours in-residence.

CPL will not be awarded for an internship, capstone, practicum, independent study, or previously transcribed courses.

CPL does not count toward residency hours, nor does it affect full-time or part-time status.

CPL may fulfill some, but not all, requirements for athletic eligibility; see the NAIA Official & Policy Handbook, and verify eligibility with the Faculty Athletics Representative.

CPL will not be transferred from another institution. The University makes no promise of transferability of CPL to other institutions.

Graduate-level CPL course equivalencies must be recommended by the division chair.

Graduate-level CPL may be awarded in non-cohort programs only and, in combination with transfer credit, shall not exceed six (6) credit hours.

Avenues for Credit

The avenues for credit include (1) Credit Recommendation and (2) Credit by Examination.

All petitions for CPL must be submitted to the CPL Office.

Processing times vary for the different avenues for credit; please contact the CPL Office for details.

(1) Credit Recommendations

National Database Recommendation

The University considers ACE and NCCRS credit recommendations for courses and exams available through corporate training, commercial providers, military and government training, and trade union and industry certification and licensure programs. ACE and NCCRS transcripts must be submitted to the CPL coordinator for evaluation.

First Aid and CPR certifications are granted one (1) credit hour of elective credit. Only one (1) credit hour may be granted in each category for a total of two (2) credit hours.

Credit recommendations are typically used to fulfill general education and free elective requirements. If an ACE or NCCRS recommendation is to be substituted for a specific course, faculty evaluation may be necessary.

Military Personnel

Military personnel, other than U.S. Air Force, will have their training and Military Occupation Specialty credit recommendations listed on a Joint Services Transcript (JST), which identifies the ACE credit recommendations. JSTs are received and processed by the CPL office. Air Force personnel have their credit recorded through the Community College of the Air Force, a regionally accredited institution.

University Evaluated Experiences

The University may evaluate licenses, professional certificates, or local programs for college-level learning opportunities. Current students must coordinate with their academic advisors and the CPL office before taking a local program for course-equivalent credit. Professors may require additional assignments or exams in conjunction with the evaluated learning.

(2) Credit by Examination

National Exams

Friends University grants credit for National Examinations including CLEP, Advanced Placement (AP), DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests), and International Baccalaureate (IB).

The Registrar’s Office maintains a list of exams which have been evaluated as equivalent to University courses. Other exams may be used as Free Elective credit. Credit may not be awarded for any exam taken after a course of the same or higher level has been attempted in that subject.

The University uses the ACE recommended cutoff scores to determine the award of credit. The following guidelines are also used:

• 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 undergraduate college credit if their grades on the Advanced Placement Examinations are a 3 or above.
• The University may only award credit for CLEP General Exams to satisfy general education requirements when the course is not required for the major.

Students should work closely with their academic advisors and the CPL Office to determine the applicability of any particular exam to their programs of study.

University Course Credit by Exam

If no national exam is available, a student may request a course challenge exam. The request will be submitted through the CPL Office which will coordinate with the academic division for which the exam is requested. If approved, an exam will be produced and administered by the University. Payment for the exam is required prior to the attempt. Credit for the course will be granted if a passing score is achieved. This policy does not apply to placement exams for which no credit is awarded.

All exam fees are non-refundable, whether or not a passing score is achieved.

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, the student will meet the foreign language requirement.

   3. 2 years of Foreign Language Study + Demonstration of Proficiency: a 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 the Chair of Foreign Languages for details.

Graduation Information

1. Declaration of Intent to Graduate: The Intent to Graduate application is required to initiate a review of the student’s academic record for the degree to be awarded and to ensure the student’s place in the commencement program. Students should file an Intent To Graduate application 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 application 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 interests or needs are not met by a recognized major should consult with the Academic 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 session of the semester. Students who desire to graduate must submit an Intent to Graduate application 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 credit hours less than the minimum credit hour requirement of their degree program, and all requirements are planned for completion by August 31 of the commencement year.

CAPS students may participate in the Commencement Ceremony if all requirements are planned for completion by August 31 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 a 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 the additional courses 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 a 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 (a 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 the 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”. “I” grades assigned must be resolved within 12 weeks of the end of the semester in which the “I” was assigned. The responsibility for completing all coursework rests with the student.
• 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.
• “WDF” means withdrawn failing. 
• “SP” is the grade submitted by an instructor to indicate satisfactory progress in a course. This grade may only be submitted for internship or practicum courses that have been approved by the instructor and Academic Division as a two-term study, or for a course that continues for more than one term. At the end of the next term, a grade of A, B, C, D, F, P, or I will be recorded. If this grade is changed to an Incomplete, the student follows the regular Incomplete procedure.
• “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.
• Undergraduate students may apply up to 15 credit hours taken on an alternate grading system toward a bachelor’s degree. These hours may fulfill major, general education, or elective requirements. Students electing this alternate grading system must so indicate before the end of the add/drop period of the term in which the class(es) will be taken.
  • Courses on an alternate grading system will indicate grades of Pass, D, or Fail (“P”/”D”/”F”). A passing grade (P) will be assigned for a grade of “C” or above and will not affect the student’s grade point average.
• 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.

Grade Changes

All requests for a grade change must be initiated within one year of completing the course and prior to receiving the degree.

Graduate-Level Coursework

Graduate Level Courses

Graduate-level courses may be taken by upper-division undergraduate students with Division Chair approval prior to enrollment in a graduate course. A maximum of 15 graduate credit hours (excluding workshops) may be taken for undergraduate 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 unless otherwise required by the degree program.

Students must meet any prerequisite requirements prior to enrollment in a graduate-level course. 

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

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 with 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 

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 in the entire range of the liberal arts.

The entrance requirements for University Honors for incoming first-year students are a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher, an ACT score of 27 or higher, the completion of an Honors Program application, and the approval of the Director of the Honors Program. For students that do not have an ACT score, qualifying for a math placement in MATH 201 and an English placement in COMP 201 may be sufficient with the required GPA and application.

The entrance requirement for continuing or transfer students of sophomore status or less is a two-semester academic record (potentially both high school and college-level courses) with an overall 3.5 GPA, an ACT score of 27 or higher, the completion of an Honors Program application, and the approval of the Director of the Honors Program. For students that do not have an ACT score, qualifying for a math placement in MATH 201 and an English placement in COMP 201 may be sufficient with the required GPA and application.

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 full-time students will be removed from the University Honors Program. The Director of the Honors Program may make exceptions for a particular student upon the recommendation of another faculty member.

International Baccalaureate Credit (IBC)

Friends University will grant up to 30 credit hours of General Education credit upon entrance to students who have successfully completed an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Education Programme. (Diploma with high school transcript and standard admissions procedures.) Credit will be given to the following areas of study for scores 3 or higher on the standard (SL) or higher (HL) level exams. 

IB Area	Requirement	Course	Hrs
Language A	Communication Skills	Writing 1, 2	6
Language B	B.A. Requirement	Foreign Lang	8
Exp. Science	Natural Science	Phy/Biol Sci	4
Mathematics	Quantitative Literacy	College Algebra	3
Theory of Knowl.	Humanities	Intro to Phil.	3
Study of Man	Humanities	World Civ. OR	3
	Social Sciences and History	American Character
Electives	Arts	Art/Music OR	3
	Business	Intro to Comp.
Total Credit Hours			30

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, Division Chair/Program Director, or another designee prior to course enrollment. Please refer to the internship course descriptions for complete details.

Mid-Term Grade Policy

Instructors will be required to submit grades of P (passing), D, or F, at the mid-term for 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 as a per credit hour fee set at the current Education Workshop rate for the number of hours of the course.

CBASE Summer Sessions

In addition to a minimal number of traditional and online courses, CBASE Summer sessions include 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 Academic Division and the Academic 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 and Academic 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 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 Division Chair. 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 a 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 Academic 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. In the Bachelor of General Studies degree program, a maximum of 90 credit hours earned from a 2-year or community college will apply.
• 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.

Transfer of Previously Awarded Bachelor Degree

Students entering Friends University with a recognized baccalaureate degree from a regionally 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 residential credit hours for any degree from Friends University (30).

Transfer of Previously Awarded Associate Degree (A.A. or A.S. from Kansas Institution)

Students entering Friends University with an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree from any Kansas, regionally accredited institution (KBOR) will not be required to fulfill general education requirements with the exception of General Education Outcomes 7 and 8. Students must still meet the requirements for the major and any supporting courses required as well as the minimum number of total credit hours (124) and residential credit hours for any degree from Friends University (30).

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 the “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.  

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 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.