Academic Regulations

Graduation

Applying to Graduate

Because enrollment is solely up to the student, completion of a degree may not and often does not occur on a predictable timetable. Therefore, students are required to apply for graduation upon completion of one-half of the credit hours required for the degree sought. The student is encouraged to apply as early as possible so that the Graduation Degree Audit can be prepared. This can take up to two weeks, depending on volume of applications received. There is no penalty for changing the graduation date, so the student can apply for the earliest possible date and change it later if needed.

Applying to graduate initiates a number of services that will help the student determine how best to meet all graduation requirements. Failure to apply to graduate can cause delays in these services and may result in a later graduation date.

Graduation application is available on Tigernet. A student submits an application online through the portal. If you have any questions regarding the application, please call the Registrar’s Office at 270-789-5233.

General Requirements for Graduation

A candidate for a degree must meet the following requirements for graduation:

1.  All candidates must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of academic work with a minimum standing of 3.0 in the area of concentration and a minimum overall average of 3.0. No “D” grade is accepted in graduate level course work and no “C” grade is accepted unless specifically stated in the program description or approved by the dean of the school or college.
2. Students seeking teacher certification must have an overall 3.0 cumulative grade point average and a 3.0 grade point average in professional education courses.
3. A student may transfer a maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate level work, unless a specific school has approved a different maximum amount.
4. All candidates must file an APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION.
5. The student must, in all cases, be responsible for meeting the requirements for graduation.
6. The student must have paid all fees due the University before transcripts will be released showing the degree is conferred.

Satisfying Academic Requirements for a Degree

This section explains how courses are applied to a student’s program of study to determine progress toward degree completion.

All programs of study leading to a degree consist of a series of components called “aims.” A typical program of study will include the following components: emphasis/concentration, (secondary) areas, and  electives. As each course is completed with a minimum passing grade or higher, it is applied to the appropriate degree aim. Courses that do not apply to any other aim are consigned to the free elective aim.

When a course is required in two aims, it will satisfy the requirement with the highest priority only, as follows: emphasis/concentration, (secondary) areas. If a higher priority has been met, the course will meet the next highest priority that is unmet.

Progress toward completion of academic degree requirements is maintained electronically and may be monitored by the student and the academic advisor via TigerNet. Upon applying to graduate, a formal degree audit will be performed and provided to the student for review. The audit provides detailed information regarding what courses have been taken, what courses remain to be taken, and any course substitutions that have been made and more.

Academic Regulations

Unit of Academic Credit

The University operates on the semester system. All academic credit for satisfactory work is given on the basis of the term that each student matriculates (8-week, semester). Credit hours for face-to-face course are based on 12 to 15 contact hours per credit hour granted and for online courses is based on class objectives covered and assessed.

Grading System

The quality of a student’s academic work is indicated by letter grades on a quality point system that determines the grade point average on the 4.0 scale. An explanation of the grades used, the scale, and how grades are calculated follow.

Letter Grade Definitions

Grade “A” represents a work of definitely superior quality. It is distinctly the honor mark.

Grade “B” indicates a higher level of performance than is the satisfactory performance required for a “C” grade. It indicates effective capacity and initiative on the part of the student to do work over and above acceptable course requirements.

Grade “C” represents a satisfactory level of performance on the part of the student. This level of performance can be expected from any student of normal ability who devotes an average amount of time, effort, and attention to the work of the course.

Grade “D” indicates below standard performance. It indicates work which in one or more aspects falls below the minimum accepted standard, but which is of sufficient quality to be counted toward meeting graduation requirements provided it is balanced by superior work in other courses.

Grade “F” indicates an unacceptable level of performance. It indicates work in which several aspects fall below the minimum acceptable standard, work which is not of sufficient quality or quantity to be counted toward meeting graduation requirements.

Grade “I” is assigned to a student when the course requirements are not completed due to illness, accident, death in the immediate family, or other verifiable, extenuating circumstances. The course requirements to change the “I” grade must be completed within 12 months from the time it was awarded. It is the student’s responsibility to complete requirements within the 12 month period. It is the professor’s responsibility to change the grade by filling out the proper forms in the Office of Student Records.

Grade “S” indicates satisfactory work, but no quality credits are recorded.

Grade “U” indicates unsatisfactory work and no quality credits are recorded.

Grade “W” indicates official withdrawal from the course or University through the 12th week for the regular semester. The withdraw date is prorated for other terms.

Grade “WA” indicates official withdrawal due to excessive absence.

Grade “X” indicates that the student was absent from examinations. The grade of “X” may be changed by special examination within one month after the student re-enters the University, provided the vice president for academic affairs and the instructor concerned give permission for the examination; otherwise, it becomes a failing grade.

Quality Points

Each letter grade (A, B, C, D, F, and WA) has a numeric point value, called “quality points.” (See the Letter Grade Definitions table above.) These points, combined with credit hours, determine the Grade Point Average. This applies to a single course, a term, and an academic career. An explanation of how quality points are used in the grade point average calculation appears below.

Grade Point Average (Gpa)

The grade point average is the calculated value that determines and indicates a student’s academic standing. The term or career grade point average (GPA) of a student at Campbellsville University is calculated only on the basis of grades of A, B, C, D, F, and WA. Letter grades are not weighted, meaning “plus/minus” do not affect the number of quality points. Grades I, S, U, and X are not included in the calculation of the term or career grade point average, although those grades are included as total hours attempted.

Formula to Compute Grade Point Average (Gpa)

Quality Points ÷ GPA Hours Attempted = GPA “GPA Hours Attempted” refers to those in which the grade impacts the GPA (A, B, C, D, F, or WA).

Recording of Grades

All grades are recorded in the Registrar’s Office upon submission by the course instructor.

Grade Changes

Grade changes are made by the course instructor who submits appropriate documentation to the Office of Student Records.

Reporting Grades to Students

Final grades are available to students online via TigerNet the week following final exams. No midterm grades are given for graduate programs.

Transfer of Graduate Credit

Upon approval of the dean, a maximum of twelve credit hours of graduate course work may be accepted from another regionally accredited institution. Courses to be transferred in must have been taken within the past five years, and only courses in which grades of B or higher were earned will be accepted for transfer. Students seeking to transfer course work must submit a written request along with transcripts, university course catalog descriptions, and other course information such as a syllabus or book list for faculty use in establishing course equivalency. International Students must submit all/any foreign academic credentials to be evaluated by an acceptable third party evaluators such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., or Educational Perspectives. Credit transfer will be based upon the evaluation report and review of English translations of the course descriptions being considered for the credits to be transferred.

Academic Appeal and Complaint Process

A student may appeal the fairness of any academic action or register a complaint, including a course grade, to the Academic Council following consultation with his/her advisor, the professor, and the appropriate department chair and/or the dean. Such an appeal must be submitted in writing to the vice president for academic affairs by end of the regular semester after the semester in which the action was taken. The Academic Council will then determine whether a hearing is necessary. The decision of the Academic Council is final. Student complaints other than appeals for course grades should be submitted in writing to the vice president for academic affairs. When the complaint is against the vice president for academic affairs, it should be submitted in writing to the president of the University.

Minimum Required Grade Point Averages

A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 is required for a student to graduate from Campbellsville University. A student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in areas of concentration and fields of specialization for all degrees granted. Students interested in teacher preparation must have a 2.75 GPA to be admitted to the Teacher Education program and must graduate with an overall 3.0 cumulative GPA. See the School of Education section for complete requirements.

Academic Integrity

Policy Statement

Integral Part of the Established Curriculum/Off-campus Employment Opportunities

International students may obtain authorization to work off-campus when the work is considered to be an “integral part of an established curriculum”. Defining what is considered an “integral part of an established curriculum” is critical to determining the appropriate processes students must follow to obtain authorization for off-campus employment.

Academic programs which have educational components that are considered to be “integral” to the program of study may permit F-1 international students, who meet eligibility requirements, to engage in Curricular Practical Training (F-1 students) for any paid employment.

For the purposes of this policy, Campbellsville University defines “integral” to mean any curricular component that is required or optional provided it furthers the pedagogy of the discipline and that involves academic coursework while engaged in the employment/training. This requires identifying the course name, number and course description in departmental/college literature. Students are required to be enrolled for the appropriate course during the duration of the Curricular Practical Training. Educational components developed for the sole purpose of facilitating employment are not permitted. There must be a clear curricular/pedagogical purpose for the employment.

Attendance Policy

The academic integrity of graduate programs at Campbellsville University depends on students attending all scheduled class meetings. Students should discuss with faculty, in advance, any portion of a class meeting they cannot attend. Students are expected to attend and to participate fully in all class meetings. In exceptional circumstances when students need to be absent from a class, they should discuss with the faculty member, in advance, any portion of a class meeting they cannot attend. One absence is allowed, generating a warning, two absences result in a WA.

As part of their syllabus, faculty members establish expectations regarding family or medical emergency and “milestone” circumstances that may necessitate student absence from class.

Residency Attendance Policy for 16-week hybrid courses

All graduate students enrolled in professional programs requiring 16-week hybrid courses must adhere to the following attendance policy:

1. All residencies are required.
2. Only 1 day of residency can be missed over a 12 month academic period.
3. Missed residencies, if any, must be made up within the same semester of the course.
4. Make-up residences are subject to an additional $300 fee.
5. Make-up residencies, if available, will likely be on a Thursday or Friday.