Graduate Catalog 2022-2023 > Academic Policies and Procedures/Academic Services > Academic Policies

Academic Policies

All academic credit is given in semester credit hours. Full- and half-time student status is determined by the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled during a given term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer). The recommended load for students enrolled in 8-week courses is nine credit hours or less. Permission of the dean is required to enroll in more than nine credit hours per each 8-week course offering. In credit hours, the academic load designations for graduate students are as follows:

Full-time Enrollment

• Doctor of Education students - six or more credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Specialist students - six or more credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Graduate students - six or more credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Certificate seeking students - six or more credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)

Half-time Enrollment

• Doctor of Education students - three to five credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Specialist students - three to five credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Graduate students - three to five credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Certificate seeking students - three to five credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)

Less than Half-time Enrollment

• Doctor of Education students - two or fewer credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Specialist students - two or fewer credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Graduate students - two or fewer credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Certificate seeking students - two or fewer credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)

Notes: (1) In order to remain in compliance with U.S. visa regulations, students on an F1 visa must maintain full-time enrollment status by enrolling in a minimum of six credit hours per term.

(2) Course extensions (including culminating project extensions, capstone extensions, and thesis extensions) are not counted among a student’s hours enrolled. For this reason, students who are only enrolled in the completion of a thesis or capstone experience are considered less than half-time students.

(3) Active duty military personnel pursuing certain online graduate programs in the semester format may qualify for full-time enrollment status at six credit hours. Such students should contact the VA certifying official for more information.

Students wishing to pursue a degree or program other than the one they originally sought should consult with an advisor in the new program to determine whether additional application materials must be submitted for admission to the new program.

Second Master’s Degree

A student who has previously earned a master’s degree or a graduate-level credit bearing certificate from Lindenwood and desires another master’s degree type may transfer a maximum of nine hours of credit from the first degree into the second degree if the credit is applicable. All other requirements for the second degree, including the thesis, must be completed. If the student is seeking a major leading to a degree type not previously earned at Lindenwood University, the major will be added to the student’s transcript and a new diploma will be received listing the degree and major earned.

Second Master’s Major

If the student previously earned a degree at Lindenwood University and is seeking a major leading to the same degree type, the second major will be added to the student’s transcript with the notation “Second Master’s Major” but no new diploma will be issued as no new degree type has been earned.

Additional Master’s Degrees

A student who has earned a master’s degree from Lindenwood and desires another master’s degree type may transfer a maximum of nine hours of credit from the first degree into the second degree if the credit is applicable. All other requirements for the second degree, including the thesis, must be completed. A student who would like to pursue any additional master’s degree type beyond completing a second master’s degree will have to complete all degree requirements including the total earned hours for the degree program.

In the event of a student's untimely death, the university may grant a posthumous degree if the following criteria are met.

Graduate students

MA/MBA/MFA/MHA/MME/EdS

Eligibility:

• The student had successfully completed at least 70% of their degree requirements.
• For graduate certificates, the student must have successfully completed at least 75% of the coursework required.
• The student was in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
• The student had no pending disciplinary sanctions.
• The academic college in which the student was enrolled recommends the awarding of a posthumous degree.

EdD

Eligibility:

• The student had successfully completed at least 75% of all program-associated coursework.
• For graduate certificates, the student must have successfully completed at least 75% of the coursework required.
• The student had completed the comprehensive exam or all program benchmark exams.
• The student had secured IRB approval to proceed with the implementation of the dissertation research.
• The student was in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
• The student had no pending disciplinary sanctions.
• The College of Education and Human Services recommends the awarding of a posthumous degree.

Procedure:

• Anyone can request a deceased student be considered for a posthumous degree. It is recommended that this request be made within two years of the student’s passing.
• Once a request has been made, the student’s academic college dean and department faculty will review the student’s eligibility. If the college representatives determine that the student is eligible for a posthumous degree, the recommendation will be forwarded to the Provost.
• If approved, the Provost will direct the Registrar to award the degree and request a diploma to be sent to the next of kin.
• The statement “Awarded Posthumously” will be printed on both the student’s transcript and the diploma.

A graduate student is expected to complete a graduate program within five years of the date of entry.

All students at Lindenwood University are expected to attend all classes and all class activities for which they have enrolled. Students who miss class are expected to inform the instructor and to make up the work to the instructor’s satisfaction.

At times, absence from class may be unavoidable—as in instances of prolonged illness, hospitalization, mandatory religious practices, or participation in an approved student activity. (For information regarding absence due to university-sponsored activity, see the Excused Absence Policy for Students Engaged in LU Authorized Events.) A student who has been hospitalized should submit official doctor's or hospital documentation to the accessibility manager located in the Library and Academic Resource Center, suite 346. Written verification of religious observances may be required.

In the case of unsatisfactory work due to excessive absences from class, the instructor may give ample warning to the student that the work is unsatisfactory and may report a final grade of F or AF to the registrar.

Note: Persons receiving benefits from the Veterans Administration are governed by special regulations concerning class attendance See Veterans’ Benefits, appearing earlier in this catalog.

Lindenwood University allows students engaged in official sports contests, arts events, approved field trips, approved conferences, etc., to be excused from class for university-sponsored events in which those students are officially representing the university. Students are required to communicate personally with their professors regarding their anticipated absences and to make arrangements for missed work in advance of their university-authorized absences. When make-up work is pertinent, students who have provided their professors with advance notice should be afforded the opportunity to complete that work or an educationally equivalent and substitutable activity at a time and place mutually agreed upon by the student and the instructor.

Note: Students enrolled in classes with extremely compressed meeting schedules will not be excused from class attendance, even for a university-authorized event if participation in the event would cause the student to miss a significant portion of the scheduled meeting time. Students who enroll in such a class and find that they must be absent will be advised to withdraw from the class.

Lindenwood University allows students participating in required military duties to be excused from class. Military duties covered under this policy include, but are not limited to, military deployment, required annual military training, ROTC activities, and civilian deployments in support of federal operations. For service members holding Reserve and National Guard status, weekend duty (drill) requirements should not interfere with normal school schedules. However, if a situation arises that requires absence from class due to duty/drill requirements, this absence can also be excused if the required absence is verified by the commanding officer or other affiliated Guard leader.

Students should notify instructors of all absences for military duty prior to the absence. Instructors may request documentation/verification of the military duty and require that the absence be verified by the Office of Veteran Affairs. If an exigent circumstance arises, where notification is not possible prior to the absence, the student should contact the instructor and/or university as soon as possible to present documentation of the reason for the absence as well as the reason for late notification. When make-up work is pertinent, students who have provided their professors with notice should be afforded the opportunity to complete assigned work. Alternatively, students can be assigned an educationally equivalent substitutable activity at a time and place mutually agreed upon by the student and the instructor.

No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student with excused absences for official university activities or military duties.

Note: Students enrolled in classes with extremely compressed meeting schedules will not be excused from class attendance if participation in the activity would cause the student to miss a significant portion of the scheduled meeting time. Students who enroll in such a class and find that they must be absent will be advised to withdraw from the class.

All members of the Lindenwood community have responsibilities to ensure that the Excused Absence Policy functions properly and efficiently for students, staff, and faculty. Below are the responsibilities of each party affected by or involved with the Excused Absence Policy:

Athletics Department

The Lindenwood Athletics Department will provide notice of any upcoming student-athlete absence for a sporting event or related, excused sports activity. The notice will be sent through LindenCircle. This notice is to inform faculty that the student-athlete is representing the university in an athletics event or function. It is the responsibility of the student-athletes to remind professors of their absence at least 48 hours in advance and to make arrangements for any missed work. Exceptions to the 48-hour rule should be noted in the LindenCircle excuse form and include last-minute travel roster substitutions, changes in schedule due to inclement weather, and/or qualifying competition.

Academic Departments

A faculty member or academic department sponsoring a special co-curricular event or outing should first complete a field trip form and submit it to the office of the provost for approval. This form should list the name of each student attending the outing, along with a sponsor signature, confirming that all students who will be traveling have signed a travel waiver. Once the outing is approved, the sponsor must provide at least 48 hours’ advance written notice to the university community by sending the list of names of all students who will be absent to the Lindenwood University Digest. If a situation arises in which 48 hours’ notice is not possible, the sponsoring professor or department should notify the faculty of changes or additions to the list of excused students as soon as possible.

Professors

Professors affected by excused student absences should make reasonable accommodations for excused students who are missing class or other academic activities because of their participation in an event or other function related to their participation in a scheduled, university-authorized co-curricular event. Professors should, in advance of any such excused absences, stipulate in writing in the course syllabus their expectations of and procedures for students who must miss class for authorized reasons. Each professor’s expectations and procedures should meet the parameters outlined in this Excused Absence Policy and should be reviewed with all students during the first week of class.

Students

Students who must miss class for a Lindenwood sporting event or other Lindenwood-authorized activity must, in person or via email, provide advance notice to all professors whose classes they will miss with specific details of their upcoming absence. If possible, this notice should be provided at least 72 hours in advance of the affected class meetings. If 72 hours’ notice is not possible, the student should notify professors as soon as possible. This personal notice shall be given in addition to the general notice provided by the Lindenwood Athletics Department or academic department sponsoring the event. In each case, the student is also expected to prepare thoroughly for and promptly engage in any substitute or make-up assignment or activity.

No extra credit is permitted at the graduate level.

Student work is defined as assignments, homework, and other academic activities to be completed outside of instructional time, including reading, studying, writing, research etc. Students should expect to spend a minimum of two hours per week completing this work for each credit hour enrolled (thus six hours of work outside of class per week for a three-hour course), although the time spent outside of class may increase based on the topic and level of the course.

All courses are required to meet until the end of the scheduled academic periods as stated in the university calendar. Professors are required to hold a final exam or other significant evaluative activity at the scheduled final exam time as outlined in the final exam schedule. There are to be no exceptions to these requirements.

Faculty members are not to change the schedule of the final exam, either by changing the date of the exam or by changing the time of the exam. Students should plan to attend their final exams on the scheduled dates.

In the event that classes are officially cancelled during final exams, the students’ final course grades will be calculated based on the work in the course completed to that point if 75 percent of the graded work in the class has already been assigned. If 75 percent of the graded work in the class has not been assigned by the final exam, a makeup exam will be scheduled.

A student who is not seeking certification or any degree with Lindenwood University may be accepted as a non-degree, “Special Status” student. Students accepted under this status must meet university admissions standards and may not take more than 12 credit hours of regular, undergraduate, or graduate credit without being fully admitted. This policy does not apply to cooperative (workshop) credit. Students accepted with special status are not eligible for financial aid or student loans as they are not fully admitted to the university. Payment arrangements must be made with the Bursar's Office prior to attending class.

Students are required to satisfy the degree requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of matriculation. A continuing student who desires to pursue a course of study added to the curriculum in a subsequent catalog year or who wishes to fulfill degree requirements that have changed since the student’s matriculation must submit a catalog change request to the Office of Academic Services. If the request is granted, the student will be bound by all policies and requirements in the new catalog. Students who discontinue study at Lindenwood University may be required to adopt the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of readmission depending upon the length of the absence. See the Academic Policies and Procedures/Academic Renewal section of this catalog for further information regarding catalog requirements after a leave of absence from the university.

Note: The university reserves the right to modify its policies (other than degree requirements) at any time. Students must adhere to all university policies that are in effect during each term of enrollment.