Academic Policies

University as college or university equivalent will be accepted for transfer credit. The final 30 semester hours must be consecutive credits at Avila University.

• Credits earned through transfer, prior learning credit, military service or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) do not count as resident credits.

• Credit will be granted for work completed at a foreign institution based on a foreign transcript evaluation. All transcripts must be in English.

• A student who has CLEP credit on another institution’s transcript and wants that credit transferred must request that an official copy of the test score(s) be sent to the Avila University Registrar. Credit will be granted for those courses with scores meeting the Avila University criteria for CLEP examinations. The student will not be charged any additional fees if CLEP is on a transcript from another accredited institution.

• Course work from unaccredited institutions that has been granted credit at another accredited institution will not be accepted as transfer credit at Avila University. Avila University accepts credit from institutions which are accredited by Middle States, North Central, New England, Northwest, Southern and Western Associations of Colleges and Schools. A student wanting credit for unaccredited coursework may apply through the Prior Learning or Credit by Examination Programs.

Transfer Evaluation Fees

First evaluation: no charge. Second evaluation: $5. Third and additional evaluations: $10 each.

Student Load and Classification

A full-time undergraduate student carries from twelve to eighteen credit hours each semester. More than eighteen credits may be carried only with the written approval of the academic dean. A part-time undergraduate student carries from one to eleven credit hours.

First-year 1 to 31 hours

Sophomore 32 to 63 hours

Junior 64 to 95 hours

Senior 96 hours

Academic Advising

Students must meet with their assigned academic advisor. Academic advising is required prior to each registration. Students are encouraged to contact their advisor at other times throughout the semester for information about university policies, services or professional opportunities.

Student Responsibility for Degree Completion

Students should discuss their specific degree requirements with their academic advisors throughout their academic career. While an academic advisor is to be of help to a student in planning and confirming the student’s progress toward graduation, ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with the requirements for graduation, and to be aware of the number of hours he or she has completed towards graduation.

Exceptions to Academic Policies

A student may request an exception to an academic policy or the degree requirements. An “Exception to Academic Regulations/Policies” form may be obtained from the Registration and Student Records Office. The request must be completed by the student with recommendations from the academic advisor and the department chairperson. The form is submitted to the Academic Dean’s Office for the final decision.

Registration

Students should register prior to the beginning of classes. Late registration or class section changes may be permitted:

• During the first week of a 15-week course, including arranged classes;

• On the first day of class for 5-week, 6-week, 7-week and summer classes;

• Up to one week prior to the beginning of a Weekend Intensive course or an Avila Advantage course.

A late registration fee will be charged.

A student may not enroll in classes which meet simultaneously.

Permission to Attend Another College

A student in a degree program must have the written approval of the academic advisor and the Registrar to take courses at another college. This request may not be granted if the student is within thirty hours of a degree, if the course is available on campus, or if the student does not have a “C” average. Students not obtaining written permission prior to studying off campus may risk not receiving credit at Avila University. Permission forms may be obtained in the Registration and Student Records Office.

Repeated Course Work

Once enrolled at Avila University, a student may repeat a course only twice regardless where the course is taken. If a student repeats or duplicates a course, the most recent grade earned is reflected in the cumulative grade point average. However, all course entries remain a part of the permanent record, and credit is forfeited for all previous attempts.

The Registration and Student Records Office cannot be responsible for notifying students of loss of credit by repeat course work until the student files an application for a degree. The student record is carefully checked at that time and repeats are reflected on the summary sheet sent to the student.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all sessions of courses for which they are registered. Excessive absence may result in a grade of “F”.

Active Military Duty

Avila University supports students who are members of a branch of the United States armed services and makes efforts to accommodate them academically when possible if they are called to active duty. All requests under this policy must be sent to the Academic Affairs Office.

Academic Honesty

Avila University expects and requires academic honesty from all members of the university community. Cheating, plagiarism and falsification of documents will not be tolerated and appropriate sanctions will be imposed.

The university defines “cheating” to include the following practices: stealing an exam; collaborating on projects where not allowed by the instructor; copying during exams; exchanging information during exams; using unallowable information as designated by the instructor; and buying, selling or stealing copies of exams or other projects.

The university defines “plagiarism” as taking ideas from another and passing them off as one’s own. Included would be the practice of incorporating portions from a printed or online book or article into a paper and not acknowledging the source; copying a whole paper or report directly from a book or article; securing a paper or report from another person or an online source and submitting it as one’s own work.

The instructor who discovers that a student has cheated or plagiarized has the right and duty to impose an appropriate sanction. The maximum sanction available to the instructor is to dismiss the student from class and administer an “F”. Lesser sanctions, appropriate for the offense, may be selected at the discretion of the instructor. An attempt must be made by each instructor to treat each offense in a consistent manner within the same course. Repeated offenses may result in dismissal from the university.

After informing the student of the sanction, the instructor may (if this is a first offense) notify the Academic Dean as to the nature of the offense and the sanction imposed. After the student’s second offense, the instructor must notify the Academic Dean who will relate this confidential information to the academic advisor.

For the third reported offense of cheating or plagiarizing, the student will be required to appear before the University Judicial Board. After hearing the case, this board has the right to impose a further sanction beyond that imposed by the instructor. The maximum sanction available to the University Judicial Board is to dismiss the student from the university for repeated offenses.

Records of accumulated reported offenses of cheating and plagiarizing will be maintained in the office of the Academic Dean. When the student graduates from Avila University, these records will be destroyed.

Program Changes and Withdrawals

Program changes and withdrawals are official when forms that are available in the Registration and Student Records Office have been obtained, completed and returned by the student to that office. Students who do not officially withdraw from a course by the date published in the class schedule will receive a final grade of “F”.

All schedule cancellations or complete withdrawals will result in charges of $100.00 or $25.00 according to student status; all other changes in schedule will be charged $15.00 for each change. There is no fee for changes made as a result of classes cancelled by the university.

Credit Hours and Grading System Points per Grades credit hour

A = Superior 4

B = Above Average 3

C = Average 2

D = Below Average 1

F = Failing 0

W = Withdrawal without academic assessment prior to the eleventh week of classes. Note: For policy on weekend classes, see section on weekend classes.

AU = Audit. Courses may be taken for audit with the approval of the instructor. Students may change a credit course to audit prior to the eleventh week of classes; students may also change an audit course to credit with the permission of the instructor prior to the SECOND week of classes. Students auditing a course are required to meet the attendance and participation requirements of the course. If these requirements are not met, students will be withdrawn from the course by the instructor. A final grade of “AU” is recorded on the transcript.

CR/NC = Credit/No Credit. A grade of CR, Credit, indicates that a student has successfully fulfilled all the requirements of a course. Courses outside the major/minor may be taken for the Credit/No Credit option with the written approval of the instructor and the major advisor. Forms for this grading option are available in the Registration and Student Records Office. For semester-long courses, this option must be contracted with the instructor during the first week of the course. For a course that meets once, this grading option must be contracted prior to the beginning of the course. For a non-semester-long course that meets more than once, this grading option must be contracted prior to the second meeting of the course. Departments and programs may specify certain courses which may not be taken for this grading option. A department may require designated courses in the major to be graded Credit/No Credit. A student may choose up to 12 credit hours for this grading option excluding those hours designated by the department as Credit/No Credit.

I = Incomplete. Incomplete grades are only issued at the instructor’s discretion due to extenuating circumstances. Course work required for a grade must be completed within six weeks after the close of a session unless a different time is stipulated by the instructor; if not, the grade of Incomplete will be changed to an “F”. All assigned incomplete grades must have a Contract for an Incomplete Grade Form completed and submitted by the instructor along with the final grade sheet. The Contract for an Incomplete Grade Form can be obtained in the Registration and Student Records Office. The charge for changing an Incomplete Grade is $5 per Incomplete.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The basis for determining the academic standing is the point-hour ratio. The Grade Point Average (GPA) is obtained by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of semester hours, including transfer credits, but excluding grading assessments of W, AU, CR/NC and I. Transcript letter grades may be assigned with + or -, but grade points will reflect only a letter grade in the computation of the GPA. All grades for courses retaken will be displayed on the transcript, but only the most recent grade will be averaged into the GPA.

For undergraduate students completing their first baccalaureate degree, all coursework completed (excluding developmental courses), including all transfer work, will be transcripted and averaged in the grade point average.

Grade Reports

Students with a “D” or “F” grade in any course at mid-semester will be notified.

At the end of each semester a copy of the student’s grades is mailed to the student’s permanent address.

Transcripts

Students who have satisfied all financial obligations to the University are entitled to a transcript of their academic record.

Due to the confidential nature of a student’s record, transcripts are issued only on written authorization of the student concerned. Telephone requests will not be accepted. Written requests should be directed to the Registration and Student Records Office.

OFFICIAL transcripts are forwarded directly by mail to other institutions. UNOFFICIAL transcripts are issued to the student for personal use. The fee for each transcript is $2, payable in advance.

Release of Student Information - FERPA

Avila University is in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. This Act, also known as the Buckley Amendment, helps protect the privacy of student records. The Act provides for the right to inspect and review educational records, to seek to amend those records, and to limit disclosure or information from the records.

Official student records are maintained in the Registration and Student Records Office. Students and parents of dependent students may request to review official educational records under the following procedure.

1. The students must provide a written request to review the record. Parents of dependent students must supply evidence of the income-tax dependency of the student if the student does not sign a release. If the parent provides documentation, the academic advisor and/or instructor will be notified.

2. An appointment to review the record will be set with the Registrar/Director of the Office or with the Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs.

Institutions may disclose information on a student without violating FERPA if they have designated the information as “directory information.” At Avila University, this includes:

a. Verification of enrollment status including full-time, part-time, graduate, undergraduate, and classification.

b. Student name, major and minor fields of study, academic honors, and degrees.

c. Student address, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers only in connection with campus events and to persons with legitimate reason.

d. Dates of attendance.

e. Participation in campus activities and sports.

f. Weight and height of members of athletic teams.

g. Most recent education agency or institution attended and hometown.

h. Student photograph.

Students have the right to “opt out” of providing directory information. Requests to limit the release of directory information must be provided in writing to the Registration and Student Records Office by the end of the second week of the semester.

Institutions may disclose non-directory information without violating FERPA under the following conditions:

a. with the student’s written request;

b. to school officials with “legitimate educational interests;”

c. to parents of dependent students;

d. to a person in response to a lawfully issued subpoena or court order.

For further details, please contact the Registration and Student Records Office.

Probation and Dismissal

All students who have been officially admitted to the university must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. The Admissions and Academic Progress Committee reviews the academic status of students at the end of the fall and spring semesters.

A student who receives two or more grades of “F” or whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 in any semester is placed on academic probation. Probationary students may be required to participate in a university skills program and/or may be limited in the number of hours in which they may enroll while on probation.

The Committee on Academic Progress may remove a student from probationary status when the student has completed at least 12 credit hours while on probation, has shown progress toward a degree and has raised the cumulative grade point average to at least 2.0. Failure to meet the conditions may result in dismissal from the university. The probationary period may be extended beyond 12 credit hours with the approval of the committee.

Dismissal from the university without a probationary period is possible if the student was admitted on a provisional status, has a cumulative grade point average below 1.6 or is classified as a senior.

Procedure for Grade Appeal

Students have recourse to an appeals procedure for the review of student course grades received at Avila University. Guidelines and Request Forms are available in the Office of the Academic Dean. The deadline for appealing grades is published in the course schedule.

Application for Degree

Students must file an application for degree with the Registration and Student Records Office during the semester prior to their final semester at the university, stating the expected date of degree completion. There is a penalty fee for filing after the published deadline date.

Deadline dates for filing:

February for Summer degree candidates

April for December degree candidates

August for May degree candidates

(check the academic calendar listed in the class schedule for specific dates)

If students do not complete the degree requirements by the expected date of completion, they must file a new degree application in the Registration and Student Records Office.

After the degree application is filed with the Registration and Student Records Office, a survey of all academic work is reviewed by the Registrar to verify degree requirements still needing to be satisfied. Written notification of those requirements will be sent from the Registrar to the student and advisor.

Participation in Commencement

Students who have nine (9) or fewer credits to complete during the summer session may participate in the May Commencement exercises.

Academic Honors

Semester Honors

Dean’s List

Full-time admitted undergraduate students are eligible for the Dean’s List during fall and spring semesters. Students must have successfully completed at least 12 credit hours with at least a 3.500 semester grade point average. Students on the Dean’s List will receive notification and a certificate from the Provost, are eligible to attend the Honors Banquet in the spring of that academic year, and are listed in the student newspaper.

Honor Roll

Part-time admitted undergraduate students who have successfully completed between six and eleven credit hours during the fall or spring semester are eligible for the Honor Roll. Students must have at least a 3.500 grade point average for the eligible semester. Students on the Honor Roll will be listed in the student newspaper.

Graduation Honors

Graduation honors are awarded for baccalaureate degrees only. Honors for the first baccalaureate degree will be based on all work completed, including transfer work. Honors for the second baccalaureate degree will be based on Avila University work only. Students must have completed at least 64 hours of coursework at Avila after the completion of the first degree to be eligible for honors.

Graduation honors are based on the cumulative grade point average as follows.

• Summa cum laude: 3.900 – 4.000

• Magna cum laude: 3.700 – 3.899

• Cum laude: 3.500 – 3.699

Honors announced at the graduation ceremony will be based on the work completed the fall semester prior to May graduation. If a student did not attend the fall semester, the announced honors will be based on the grade point average from the last semester of attendance prior to the fall semester. Students eligible to graduate with honors are eligible to attend the Honors Banquet in the spring.

Official honors will be recorded on the student’s diploma and transcript. Official honors are based on the final grade point average after the last semester of coursework is completed. Official honors may be different than those announced at graduation ceremony if a student’s grade point average changes the status during the last semester of coursework.

Honor Societies

DELTA EPSILON SIGMA is a national scholastic honor society for students of Catholic colleges and universities.

KAPPA DELTA PI is an international honor society for students majoring in education.

KAPPA GAMMA PI is a national honor society for graduating seniors of Catholic colleges.

SIGMA TAU DELTA is an international honor society for students majoring or minoring in English.

SIGMA THETA TAU, Beta Lambda chapter, is a national honor society for nurses.

PSI CHI is a national honor society for students completing a major or minor in psychology.

Degree Requirements

General Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree

• Completion of at least 128 semester hours of academic work with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (average grade of “C”).

• Completion of FS 101 First Year Seminar (Required of first-year students entering Avila directly out of high school).

• Completion of the Core Curriculum as stated on the following pages. All students must receive a grade of “C” or above in Core Composition and Communication courses. Students enrolling in a college-level mathematics course beginning Fall, 2000 and beyond must earn a grade of “C” or above to meet the core requirement.

• Completion of Communication Intensive Courses.

• Completion of a major of not fewer than 27 semester hours in one subject area including 21 semester hours in courses numbered 200 or above; a minimum grade of “C” in each upper-division course in the major.

• Completion of at least 12 upper-division hours in the major at Avila.

• No more than 60 hours in one area may be counted toward the 128-hour requirement for a bachelor’s degree. Exceptions to this limit may occur in specific degree programs. Any additional credit hours earned in a single subject beyond the designated limit will be counted as credits earned over and above the 128 required for the bachelor’s degree.

• Completion of any additional course requirements specified by the major degree program.

• Successful completion of recital, exhibit, project, research paper, oral examination and/or any other department evaluation requirement.

• Of the minimum 128 semester hours required for graduation, at least 64 semester credits must be from accredited four-year colleges/universities. Only those courses designated by Avila University as college/university equivalent will be accepted for transfer credit.

• Completion of the final 30 hours at the university.

Double Major and Degree Conferred

When two majors are completed in different degree areas, (e.g., B.S., B.A.) the student must indicate from which area the degree will be conferred.

Second Degree

• Requirements for earning two degrees to be awarded simultaneously.

- Completion of a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours at Avila University in addition to the hours required for the first baccalaureate degree.

- Completion of both majors with at least 12 upper-division hours in each major taken at Avila University; a “C” grade is required in each upper-division course in the majors.

• Requirements for earning a second degree after having been awarded a baccalaureate degree.

- Completion of a minimum of thirty (30) additional semester hours at Avila University after the awarding of the first baccalaureate degree.

- Completion of a major with at least 12 upper-division hours in the major taken at Avila University; a “C” grade is required in each upper-division course in the major.

- Completion of the core curriculum as stated earlier in this catalog.

Minor

At least 18 semester hours in a subject area are required for a minor. A minimum of 9 hours in the minor must be earned at Avila University with at least six (6) of these semester hours at Avila in courses numbered 301 or above. (Note: If the minor is in Biology or Chemistry, only four (4) of the 9 semester hours in the minor at Avila must be in courses numbered 301 or above. If the minor is in Natural Science, only three (3) of the 9 semester hours must be in courses numbered 301 or above.) A grade of “C” or better must be earned for all graded courses required for the minor.

Course Numbering System

001-099 Skills courses - these courses will not count toward total hours for graduation

101-199 Introductory courses

201-299 More advanced introductory courses; may have prerequisites

310-449 Upper-division courses open to all students

451-499 Upper-division courses open to majors/minors only

501-599 Pre-graduate courses

601-699 Graduate courses

The number in parentheses after the course title indicates the credit in semester hours.

The Roman numeral following the course description indicates the semester in which the course is given. First semester course offerings are indicated by I; second semester, II; summer session, S. Where frequency of course offering is not indicated, the course is given as required.