131| Withdrawal from an Online Course If it becomes necessary to withdraw from a course, the student should first visit with his or her Student Services Advisor and facilitator of the course. The last day to withdraw from an online course is the corresponding day when 80 percent of the course is completed. There is no tuition refund once a session begins. Withdrawal from the University for Students in Online Programs Students who must withdraw from all courses for the semester are required to withdraw from the university. Contact the Student Services Advisor for your program for information on withdrawing from the university. This process must be completed prior to the final week of the session. Students may not withdraw from the university after completion of a Session 1 course.
Expected Participation in Online Courses Online courses invite students into a community of engaged practitioner scholarship. Courses consist of 7-8 weekly modules, with a new module beginning each Tuesday morning in Canvas LMS (Learning Management System). We expect students to log in to the course frequently (at least 5 days per week), master the course material, whether written or in other digital media formats, and to engage the professor and fellow students through the Canvas medium. Weekly individual assignments will allow students to demonstrate mastery over the course outcomes and competencies. Weekly readings and discussion boards will allow students to do what advanced scholar practitioners do: Question the material, reflect on application, note areas of interest, respectfully challenge each other, and discover connections to other reading in peer-reviewed journals. If a student fails to participate in the course for 7 days, meaning that s/he has not logged in and/or submitted assignments (whether graded or not), s/he will be dropped from the course. If a life situation occurs that will prevent the student from participating in the course for a brief period of time, the student is responsible for communicating this to his/her instructor so appropriate arrangements can be made.
Academic Integrity ACU expects its students to practice absolute academic integrity. Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are not acceptable at ACU. ACU's Academic Integrity Policy and the ACU Code of Conduct for Online Programs provide full descriptions of the expectations of students and procedures for dealing with violations.
Faculty and Learning Resources
Admissions Requirements ACU is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students without regard to race, color, sex, creed, handicap, genetic information, or national origin. As a private educational institution, however, ACU reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant whose academic preparation, character or personal conduct is determined to be inconsistent with the purposes and objectives of the university. Purpose The purpose of the admission process is to identify applicants who are likely to succeed academically in a graduate program and at the same time contribute positively to the campus community. To admit students who cannot, or will not, persist until they have accomplished their academic goals is an expensive mistake for both the university and the students. Consequently, the admission process typically evaluates a combination of academic readiness and graduate capability. The admissions criteria are listed below but may include additional departmental reviews such as undergraduate coursework, standardized test scores, professional experience, writing samples, reference letters, or interviews. Admission Criteria The minimum graduate admission requirements are: 1. Complete an application and application fee (see online link to admission); 2. An official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent; 3. A cumulative undergraduate approximate B average or above in the area of focus or related area and evidence of an overall productive GPA; 4. Departmental requirements as stated for each department. Individual graduate programs may have higher standards or additional requirements for admission to their programs. Some programs have higher demand for admission or are limited in the number of students who can be accepted each semester, so are more selective in admission criteria. Admission committees from these programs are also involved in making admission decisions. Admission Types Standard admission is for students who may be fully admitted without further conditions.
The university has assembled a competent and outstanding group of scholars and experts on our faculty. To be a member of the graduate faculty, a faculty member must demonstrate competence in teaching and dedication to scholarship in the field. He or she must also hold a terminal degree or document exceptional qualifications to teach at the graduate level. Students will get to know the faculty, who are highly visible in their professional organizations and are recognized internationally, nationally and regionally for their research, teaching and creative presentations. Beyond their professional expertise, ACU faculty are committed to mentoring graduate students through individual contact and personal example.
If a student requires leveling work, the student may be admitted provisionally.
To create a community of learners, ACU encourages small interactive graduate classes and supports learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. ACU graduate students have access to nationally-known experts through our state-of-the-art learning technology and computer laboratories. ACU encourages interaction across disciplines through graduate student activities and symposia. Students also have opportunities for applied learning activities throughout the community and region.
Application Fee The application fee is nonrefundable. No action can be taken on an application until the fee has been received. The fee is waived for McNair Scholars. No other waiver of this fee will be considered for domestic or international applicants.
Occasionally, the department may recommend probational admission for an applicant who does not meet all the admission criteria. For probational admission, graduate admission committees will make a holistic judgment on the applicant’s potential for success and contribution to the program mission. Generally, students admitted probationally must maintain a 3.0 average in the first 9 hours of coursework, and may be asked to retake a standardized examination or produce evidence of academic readiness.