Academic Regulations
Withdrawal From the University A student who desires to officially withdraw from all courses in a given semester must do so before the beginning of final examinations. Once final examinations have begun, a student may not withdraw from that semester unless documented emergency or medical reasons merit an exception being approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. To officially withdraw from all courses for which a student is registered, the student must complete the appropriate forms in the Office of the Registrar. This withdrawal process is necessary in order to clear the appropriate financial and academic records. Protracted absences or failure to attend classes does not constitute withdrawal from courses and will be treated as failure unless the withdrawal process is appropriately followed. See Chapter 5 on “Financial Information” for policies on refunds of tuition and fees when official withdrawal from the University is processed. Administrative withdrawals may be initiated when a student fails to obey University policies, fails to comply with procedures, or has been suspended or expelled from the institution. The grading and refund policies which apply to voluntary withdrawals also apply to administrative withdrawals. Cancellation of Registration: A student’s registration for a semester may be canceled for failure to meet financial obligations to the University. Normally, cancellation would only occur during the first two weeks of a semester, and record of enrollment would not appear on the student’s permanent academic record.
Classification of Students Students are classified according to the total number of hours for which they have credit. The requirements for classification as a candidate for a degree on the basis of hours are: Freshman Standing: Must have met all entrance requirements and be registered as a candidate for a degree. Sophomore Standing: 30 hours Junior Standing: 60 hours Senior Standing: 90 hours or above Students are classified at the beginning of each semester and the minimum requirements for the respective classes must be met at that time. Class activities and listing in University or student publications will be carried out in accordance with the above classification. Unclassified Students: “Special” or part-time students who meet all entrance requirements but who are carrying fewer than eight semester hours, and mature and otherwise qualified students who are not pursuing the regular course of study may, with the approval of the Academic Dean and the consent of the department concerned, be admitted to the University as unclassified students to take such courses as are open to them without respect to candidacy for a degree. Such work is limited to 29 semester hours.
Class Attendance Policy Admission to Olivet Nazarene University is a privilege that represents an investment by the supporters of the University as well as the student. The opportunities provided by the University are open only to those who are willing to devote themselves to the serious business of education. Students are expected to attend all class meetings for which they are registered except in cases of prearranged field trips, official assignments by the University, participation in scheduled intercollegiate athletic events, or participation in official music ensemble tours as may be considered excusable by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. With the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, a faculty member may stipulate a limit on the number of excused absences permitted in a course. Attendance requirements in each course are determined by the professor, and will be clearly stated in the course syllabus filed with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and distributed in class during the first week of the semester. The student is personally responsible for all class work assigned in a course, even during absence. In case of absence, the student should inquire about the possibility of making up work missed. The student may be penalized for work missed, even though the reason for the absence is legitimate, if he or she fails to explain the reason for the absence and meet the requirements of the instructor in making up the work. If the explanation of the absence is acceptable to the instructor, the student will be permitted, to the extent possible, to make up work missed. When absences not covered by educational leniency are not acceptable to the instructor, the student may be refused the privilege of making up the work, and may be assessed a consequent grade penalty. Those who do not expect to attend a class regularly should not enroll in the class. Those who find it impossible to attend class regularly should withdraw from the University before their record is marred by irregular attendance. Protracted absence does not constitute a withdrawal, and will be treated as a failure in the course. For the procedure to be followed in changing or dropping a course, see the section on “Registration” in this chapter of the Catalog.
Grading/Course Repeat Policy Grading: A record of attendance and scholarship is kept for each student. A report of the student’s class standing is given at the close of the semester. The alphabetical system of grading, with +/- added at the discretion of the instructor, is used [i.e., “A” for superior; “B” for above average; “C” for average; “D” for below average, but passing; “F” for failure; “H” for audit; “S” for satisfactory work (credit toward graduation); “U” for unsatisfactory work (no credit toward graduation); “X” for deferred work; “W” for withdrawn before quality of work can be determined; “WP” for withdrawn passing; “WF” for withdrawn failing; and “I” for incomplete]. A student may be marked “incomplete” only in case of serious illness or other unavoidable causes of delay. All incompletes must be removed within one month after the grade period ends or the record will be marked “failure.”
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