Academic Policies and Procedures

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In addition to all academic policies and procedures stated elsewhere in the catalog, all graduate students must abide by the following regulations. Please note that specific programs may require additional policies and procedures as noted in their respective sections within the Catalog and/or in program student handbooks.

Advisors

Each graduate student will be assigned an advisor upon acceptance into the graduate program. Each student is expected to consult with his/her advisor. The Program Coordinator serves the role of advisor for non-degree post-baccalaureate students.

Application for the Degree

Each candidate for a graduate degree must file an Application for Degree. The application is available in the Office of the Registrar and on-line at http://www.lr.edu/academics/office-of-registrar under “forms.” The form should be filed two semesters prior to the student’s anticipated graduation date.

Change of Program Procedure

A student admitted to a graduate program may only change to another graduate program under the following conditions:

1. The student must be in good standing with the University,
2. The student must complete application to the new program through the Office of Graduate Admissions.
3. The student must receive a letter of endorsement from a faculty member from the original program of study and/or the Dean of The Graduate School.
4. The student must be available for an interview upon request.
5. The student must submit any supplemental admission documents as requested.

Comprehensive Evaluation

The Graduate School of Lenoir-Rhyne University requires each student receiving a graduate degree to demonstrate cumulative knowledge through a final comprehensive evaluative process. The particular kind of evaluation, relevant policies, and procedures vary by program and are outlined under program specific information in the catalog.

Continuing Student Status

In order to maintain continuing student status in a given program, a student must complete at least one course in the graduate program during each academic year after acceptance. If a student is not enrolled in three consecutive semesters (including summer term) within an academic year, they must either request an extension of their program or reapply through The Graduate School. Requests for program extensions must be made to The Graduate School and are reviewed by the Graduate Studies Council.

Course Loads

Course loads for graduate students are calculated as follows:

Course Repeats

Graduate students may repeat a course in which a grade of F has been earned. A student must request the permission of the advisor to repeat a course in which a grade of C has been earned (except in programs that do not permit grades of C for progression). The grade earned in the repeated course replaces the first grade. A student may repeat no more than six (6) hours of course work with grade replacement.

Directed Study

With approval of the Advisor, Program Coordinator, and Provost, a student shall be permitted to enroll in a maximum of six credits of directed study. A graduate student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and the approval of the course instructor to register for a directed study. A graduate student may enroll in only one directed study course per semester. A course may not be taken as a directed study when it is offered on a regular basis or during the semester in which the student wishes to enroll in directed study.

Grades

The following grades are given in the graduate program:

An academic average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for the master’s and doctoral degrees. No credit toward the degree will be granted for a grade below “C-“. No more than two grades below “B-” will be allowed for graduate credit. A student who earns an “Incomplete” should refer to the section on Incomplete Grades.

Graduate Course Designation

Graduate courses will be numbered at the 500 level or above. Qualified undergraduate students may be allowed to register for graduate level courses. Undergraduate students requesting to take graduate courses MUST work with their academic advisor to gain appropriate approvals. The forms must be completed and on file in the Registrar’s Office by the end of Add/Drop for that semester.

Incomplete Grades

Course work reported “incomplete” must be completed by midterm of the subsequent (fall, spring or summer) semester of the official ending of the course, after which a grade of “F” will be assigned. Students should submit the completed course requirements no less than two weeks prior to the mid-term point of the subsequent semester. A student with two “incompletes” will not be allowed to register for additional courses until at least one of the “incomplete” grades is removed. Furthermore, students may not begin a final capstone course, final internship, or final fieldwork experience with an incomplete grade on the record.

Academic Probation, Dismissal, And Appeal

Once fully admitted to a degree program, a student will be placed on probation for:

1. earning a grade lower than a “B-” in two graduate courses since enrollment; or
2. earning a cumulative grade point average that falls below a 3.0; or
3. earning a grade of F in a graduate course.

The Dean of Graduate and Adult Education will review the record of each student on probation at the end of the term. The outcome of the review by the Dean may be one of the following: (1) removal from probation, (2) continuation on probation, or (3) dismissal from the Graduate School.

A student will be removed from probation by:

1. earning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, and
2. repeating any graduate course work with a grade of “F” and earning a grade of “B-” or higher.

A student will be continued on probation if satisfactory academic progress is made in all additional course work with grades of “B-” or higher, thereby progressing toward a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

A student will be dismissed following probation if a grade below a B- is received in any additional course work. No more than two grades below “B-” will be allowed for graduate credit.

A student is subject to dismissal without probation for the following:

1. Receiving a grade below “B-” in 3 or more courses in the same semester;
2. Receiving a grade of “F” in 2 or more courses in the same semester.

Academic Appeals

A student who wishes to appeal a decision regarding admission, transfer of credit, dismissal, readmission, or graduation must file a written letter of appeal. For specific information on appeals contact the Dean of The Graduate School. The appeal will be forwarded to the Graduate Studies Council which will act as the Appeals Board.

The decision of the appeals committee is the final step for the student appeal process. The Graduate Studies Council will meet to review student appeals no later than the Friday preceding the start of classes for the new semester.

Non-Academic Probation, Dismissal, And Appeal

Lenoir-Rhyne University reserves the right to exclude from further enrollment any graduate student whose conduct is deemed improper or prejudicial to the best interests of the University. A student may be placed on non-academic probation or dismissed for non-academic reasons based on violation of University and/or Program Policies.

Non-Academic Appeals

Once notified of the non-academic dismissal the student has 3 days to initiate the appeal process with the Dean of The Graduate School. The Dean of The Graduate School programs, together with the Graduate Studies Council, will handle such cases.

The Graduate Studies Council will have 2 weeks to meet and review the case. During this time, the student can attend didactic courses but may not participate in any community based coursework such as fieldwork, internship, etc.

If the decision of the Graduate Studies Council is that the dismissal is upheld, a letter is drafted and financial aid and the registrar will be notified. If the decision of the Graduate Studies Council is that the dismissal is overturned, a letter is drafted, and the Provost is consulted for approval. If the reason for the dismissal jeopardizes the safety of the public or existing relationships with community partners, the student will not return to community based coursework without remediation.

Remediation Plans

Students placed on probation may be required to complete a remediation action plan. These plans are developed by the Academic Programs and must be signed/dated by the Student and the appropriate Program Director, School Chair, and College Dean. The signed plan must be submitted to the Registrar for tracking purposes. Failure to complete the remediation action plan may result in dismissal.

Readmission Policies

A student dismissed from the Graduate School is not eligible for readmission until one semester has past. A student who has been dismissed must reapply for admission with the Division of Enrollment Management. The request should address remediation of issues and circumstances related to dismissal. The Graduate Studies Council will review the application and make a decision within one month during the regular academic school year or one term during the Summer Session.

Progress Toward Degree

1. An academic grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for the master’s and doctoral degree.
2. An application for graduation should be filed with the Registrar’s Office two semesters prior to the student’s anticipated graduation date. Forms may be found on the University’s website at http://www.lr.edu/academics/office-of-registrar.

Second Master’s Degree

A student wishing to obtain an additional master’s degree must meet all admission requirements for the desired program of study. Many graduate programs waive standardized test requirements for second master’s degree candidates. To determine if test scores are required please contact The Graduate School . A minimum of 30 unique credit hours must be earned in the student’s second master’s degree program. The majority of the student’s course work must be completed at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Note: Students may be required to repeat course work older than six years.

Time Limitation

Once a student is admitted to a graduate program at Lenoir-Rhyne University, the student has six years to complete degree requirements. Transfer credit must have been completed within the 10-year period preceding the completion of the degree program.

Transfer Credit

With approval from the Program Coordinator and/or the School Chair, a student may include in the program of study up to six (6) semester credits of graduate work completed at another accredited institution or at Lenoir-Rhyne as a non-degree student prior to formal admission.

Exceptions to this limit may only be made with the approval of the Program Coordinator and the Dean of The Graduate School. The majority of a student’s program of study must be completed at Lenoir-Rhyne.

Transfer credit for work completed prior to admission to Lenoir-Rhyne University must meet the following criteria:

1. A grade point of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent, must have been earned for each course transferred.
2. Transfer credit must have been completed within the ten-year period preceding the completion of the program of study (student’s graduation date).

Transfer credit for course work completed subsequent to admission to Lenoir-Rhyne must meet the following criteria:

1. Prior written approval must be obtained;
2. A grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale must be earned for each course;
3. No course may be taken for transfer credit during the semester in which the degree is to be awarded.