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Conception Seminary College
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Academic InformationPARTICIPATION IN THE ASSESSMENT PROGRAMConception Seminary College continually assesses its educational and formational programs for effectiveness. Results of surveys and national tests are reported to accrediting agencies and to the Coordinating Board of Higher Education; the faculty and staff periodically evaluate program quality. Students may be required to take tests designed to measure general education achievement for these purposes. No minimum score or level of achievement is required for graduation. All degree students are required to participate in the learning portfolio project. The learning portfolio is a means of personal reflection on learning and an important assessment tool. Students who do not participate in scheduled and approved assessment projects may not pre-register, register, or receive a final transcript until the obligation is completed. CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTSStudents carrying 12 or more semester hours are considered full-time; those carrying less than 12 are considered part-time. A regular student is defined as anyone who, normally on a full-time basis, is actively pursuing a degree. A special student takes courses for credit or audit but is not committed to a formal program. The Academic Dean classifies students for an entire academic year as Freshmen, Sophomores, or Juniors on the basis of the projected date of their graduation. Seniors plan to complete degree requirements during the current year. Pre-theology students have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and are fully enrolled in the College program to complete additional undergraduate study and priestly formation before entering a school of theology. Undergraduates are classified according to the total number of semester hours earned toward a bachelor’s degree from Conception Seminary College:
Students in the Pre-Theology Program are classified Pre-Theology I or Pre-Theology II according to their years of residence. COURSE NUMBERSCourses numbered 100-199 and 200-299 are designed primarily, though not exclusively, as introductions to the methodology and content of the various academic disciplines encountered in a liberal arts curriculum. Courses numbered 300-399 and 400-499 introduce students to the specialized skills and knowledge within the disciplines previously studied. In most cases, the numbering series indicates the general sequence in which the courses should be taken. ADVANCED PLACEMENT, CREDIT BY EXAMINATION AND NON-COLLEGIATE PROGRAMSDegree credit by examination is granted to students through the Advanced Placement Program and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), both offered by the College Board, by some formally structured programs offered by military and civilian sponsors, and by testing done at Conception Seminary College. These credits may be treated as ungraded transfer credits and are not considered in calculating the student’s cumulative average. A student may earn a maximum of 24 semester hours of such credit to fulfill degree requirements at Conception Seminary College. In other cases, the practical effect may simply consist in the waiving of a particular course requirement or a prerequisite to higher study. INTENSIVE FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAMSUp to five semester hours of college credit may be awarded for successful completion of intensive study of a foreign language during the summer months. The amount of credit awarded is based on the level of proficiency reached as determined by an examination by the Conception Seminary College language department. LEARNING RESOURCESThe Student Assistance Program sponsors workshops on study skills, coordinates the peer tutoring program, and provides advice and assistance to help all students improve their academic performance. Students are welcome to participate in any program events that are of interest to them. The program is directed by a full-time faculty member. TRANSFER OF CREDITCredits earned toward a liberal arts degree at other colleges will be honored by Conception Seminary College for those courses in which a grade of ‘C’ or above has been earned (See Transfer Students under Admissions). Enrolled students who wish to pursue work at other institutions and to have the credit transferred into their degree program at Conception Seminary College must obtain prior approval from the Academic Dean. This approval is required for all transfer of extension work, correspondence work, and summer school work. REGISTRATIONAt the beginning of each semester a period of time is set aside for academic advising, handling of fees, and registration. Each student should see to it that he is duly registered and is meeting his program requirements at the proper time. Students arriving late or desiring to register outside the time designated for registration on the college calendar will be assessed a $25.00 late registration fee. CHANGE OF REGISTRATIONAny change affecting one’s current registration must receive the Academic Dean’s approval and be reported to the Registrar by means of an official Add/Drop card. Adding a course will not be permitted beyond the second full week of instruction. (See Withdrawing from a Course for rules on subsequent changes.) WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSEWithdrawing from a course is permitted until two weeks after This provision is adjusted for accelerated courses. For those courses which end at mid-semester, the last day to withdraw is the end of the fourth week. A fee of $5.00 is assessed for each course withdrawal. Failure to obtain the required authorization for withdrawing from a course will result automatically in a grade of ‘XF.’ LEAVE OF ABSENCEA student who informs the College Administration of his intention to interrupt his formal educational program will be granted an official leave of absence if the reasons are approved by the President-Rector. A student officially on leave may normally resume his studies with a minimum of administrative procedure. A leave of absence may be granted for up to two semesters. READMISSION OF FORMER STUDENTSA student who has interrupted his program for a full semester or more must apply for readmission. A new application form and supporting documentation are required. The last day to apply for readmission for the fall semester is 15 July. For spring semester, the last day to apply for readmission is 15 December. A student on official leave of absence is exempt from this requirement. SEMESTER HOURS AND CREDIT LOADThe unit of credit is the semester hour, representing 15 class
meetings of 50 minutes each (or 15 lab periods averaging 100 minutes
each). The normal credit load is 15 or 16 semester hours. The upper limit is 18 semester hours. AUDITORSStudents may audit a course by obtaining permission from the Academic Dean and the faculty member teaching the course concerned, either at registration or during the first two weeks of instruction. Part-time students pay the regular per-credit tuition fee. Auditors commit themselves to regular class attendance, but are not obligated to participate in examinations. If, having registered as an auditor, the student decides later to pursue the course for credit, he must change his registration within the first two weeks of instruction. During the same period he may reduce enrollment from credit to audit status. CLASS ATTENDANCERegular class attendance is expected of each student of Conception Seminary College. When it is necessary for a student to be absent from class, the instructor should be informed beforehand or as soon afterwards as conditions allow. Instructors will announce at the beginning of each semester any particular policies they may have in this matter, including the penalties a student may incur if a given number of absences is exceeded. Arrangements for make-up work must be pursued at the student’s own initiative. GRADINGThe quality of academic work accomplished, as shown by classroom attendance and contribution, assignments, papers and examinations, is recorded in letter grades with official interpretation and numerical point values for each semester hour of credit as follows:
Semester grades are reported to the student and (if applicable) to the appropriate official of the diocese or religious order with which the student is affiliated. Grades are reported at mid-term only to warn of deficiencies; they do not appear on the permanent record. All grade changes must be approved by the Academic Dean and submitted by the faculty member to the Registrar before the close of the semester following the term in which the erroneous grade was assigned. PREREQUISITESA grade of at least ‘C-’ must be earned in all prerequisite courses in order to advance to the next level. In special cases, the Academic Dean may waive this requirement if, for example, concurrent tutoring is provided. INCOMPLETESThis temporary grade may be assigned for objective and serious reasons beyond the student’s control (prolonged or debilitating illness, urgent business at home requiring extended leave from campus, etc.). If not removed within one month from the final day of semester examinations, the ‘I’ is replaced either by an ‘F’ or by a grade representing the work actually completed and the calculation of the incomplete elements as zero in the grading formula. REPEATED COURSESStudents who have received a grade below ‘A’ in a course may repeat the course to raise the grade, provided they have not completed a more advanced course for which the repeated course is a prerequisite. When a course is repeated, the first grade remains on the record, but the second grade is used in computing grade point averages. Students must have the permission of the Academic Dean to repeat a course. Students may not repeat a course failed in resident study at Conception Seminary College by correspondence study or credit by examination. GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA), DEAN’S LISTTo each letter grade (‘A’ through ‘F’, also ‘I’ and ‘XF’) a numerical point value is assigned, as shown above, in order to facilitate the computation of a student’s overall average. Grade Point Averages are determined on the basis of courses attempted at Conception Seminary College or under provisions of the student exchange program at Northwest Missouri State University, except for honors and scholarships, which are determined on the basis of career GPA. A candidate for the degree must have earned not only the necessary amount of credit (126 semester hours), but also a cumulative GPA of no less than 2.00 in his major and on the sum total of the point-bearing studies he has attempted. Appropriate readjustments will be made whenever a course has been repeated to remove an ‘F,’ or when a course with a deficient grade of ‘D’ or ‘F’ is legitimately replaced in the calculation by another. A Dean’s List is published at the end of each semester. All full-time students are eligible for this list whose Grade Point Average on a load of at least 12 semester credit hours is 3.25 or higher. Students with a semester grade of ‘D,’ ‘F,’ ‘U,’ or ‘I’ in academic courses cannot be considered for this honor, or for merit scholarships. ACADEMIC PROBATIONAny student whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.00 at the completion of a semester shall be placed on academic probation and have one full semester to raise the average to at least 2.00. A student on academic probation may not register for more than 15 semester hours, is ineligible for elective or appointed office, and may be restricted from participation in work-study and other extra-curricular activities. A student on probation may be required to follow a program of learning skills development prescribed by the college. A student who is placed on academic probation, and who in the subsequent semester has a cumulative grade point average below 2.00, shall be automatically suspended for one semester, at the end of which he may reapply for admission. If a student is academically suspended two times, he has not met the minimum academic standard of the college and will be recommended for dismissal. If dismissed, he will not be permitted to enroll in any future term at the College, subject to an appeal to the Committee on Academic Admissions, Probations, and Dismissals as set forth below. DECISION ON APPEALSAny student shall be entitled to appeal a dismissal to the Committee on Academic Admissions, Probations, and Dismissals. The appeal must be made in writing, but the student may also be required to appear in person before the committee to discuss the requested reinstatement. The Committee shall consider the totality of the circumstances it deems relevant, including the following:
The Committee shall make a recommendation to the President-Rector, incorporating in its recommendation any terms or conditions it considers necessary. The decision of the President-Rector shall be final. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COLLEGEA student who intends to withdraw from the College before the end of a semester should follow the procedure described in the Intent to Withdraw form available from the Registrar’s Office. This is to insure that the student’s academic record accurately reflects the date of withdrawal. A student who does not withdraw formally will receive an ‘XF’ (technical failure to withdraw) for all classes in which he was enrolled that semester. Students formally withdrawing will receive a ‘W.’ ACADEMIC HONESTYAcademic dishonesty occurs when a student uses unauthorized information while taking a test; submits work someone else has done as his/her own or misrepresents work done; gains access to materials to achieve a private advantage in preparing for an examination or course activity; or knowingly assists in such practices. The following are some of the most common examples of academic dishonesty:
The instructor or staff member of Conception Seminary College will immediately report all cases of academic dishonesty to the Academic Dean. A student accused of academic dishonesty should immediately meet with the accuser and discuss the charge. If the act is course-related and proven, the student will receive an automatic ‘F’ in the course and be prohibited from participating further in the course. The second instance will result in immediate dismissal from the seminary college. A student may appeal any charges of academic dishonesty by petitioning the Academic Dean to establish a review committee. The petition to that committee should be timely and should thoroughly explain the charge, circumstances, and facts upon which the appeal is based, presenting all the information the student wishes the committee to consider. The decision of the committee will be placed in the academic file of the student. ENTRANCE AND EXIT TESTING FOR ASSESSMENTTests covering the humanities, social sciences, philosophy, theology, the natural sciences and mathematics, are administered to all entering students in September, and to all degree candidates during the final spring semester of residence. The seminary college uses an internally-designed exam, developed by the faculty, as an assessment tool and aid to students, faculty and administration in measuring educational outcomes. SENIOR STATEMENT AND PRE-THEOLOGY CANDIDATE FORMSAll candidates for the bachelor’s degree must complete a Senior Statement at the end of their junior year. This procedure is intended to enable each student to confirm all remaining course requirements before enrollment in his final semester of classes. Responsibility for meeting all academic requirements rests with the student. Similarly, candidates for the Pre-Theology Certificate must make a review of their progress before their final semester of residence, in consultation with their academic advisor. GRADUATION WITH HONORSDegrees with honor citations are awarded for outstanding achievement determined on the basis of career GPA. In order to qualify, a senior must have attained an appropriate GPA level, as shown below, and be endorsed by the faculty.
Each year, one or two outstanding seniors will be nominated to the annual edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. The criteria for this award are scholastic excellence, leadership on campus, and volunteer service to the wider community. RESIDENCEA candidate for the Bachelor’s degree must have been a regular full-time student, in residence, throughout the final year (or two consecutive semesters) of study. An alumnus who did not satisfy some other degree requirement, however, may petition to resume his candidacy without the need for further residence, provided:
STUDENT RECORDSSeminary policies in regard to the collection, use, and retention of student records, including confidentiality and student access thereto, are in conformity with the “Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended.” Information will not be given to third parties without the request or consent of the student (or former student), except to the extent this law permits. Students who are affiliated with a diocese or religious order are asked to sign a consent form, valid for the duration of enrollment, allowing regular transmittal of grades and evaluation reports to specific diocesan or religious officials. A current statement of policies and procedures is available from the Registrar’s Office. Exceptions to this rule include information released to: College officials, student workers employed to assist those officials, officials of other schools where the student is seeking admission, federal or state educational authorities, financial assistance officials in connection with the receipt of financial assistance, state law officials or subpoenaed requests, accrediting organizations, and parents of dependent students. These parties will receive a notice that the information released to them must not be further distributed without the consent of the student. The following records are not available for inspection by a third party: Parents’ financial records, confidential letters of recommendation written before January 1, 1975, personal records of educators (e.g., instructor’s grade books), law enforcement or security records, employee records, and medical or other professional records unless the individual wishes to have a qualified professional examine his or her record. Certain information about the currently enrolled student - name, age, address, phone, place and date of birth, major, participation in activities and sports, weight and height of athletes, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent educational institution attended, photograph, diocesan affiliation - is considered public information and may be released in the Student Directory. If a student does not want this information published, he or she should contact the Office of the Registrar within ten days of the beginning of the term. Students have the right to inspect and review their education records upon application to the Academic Dean or Registrar. Inaccurate records may be challenged through a hearing requested from the Academic Dean. The burden of proof that a record is inaccurate lies with the student. A hearing panel will be appointed, to whom the student will have full opportunity to present his or her case. If desired, a student may submit a written explanation of the content of a record, which will become part of the record. A student has the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures to comply with the requirements of the “Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.” For any further information on student and former student educational records and record privacy, contact the Office of the Registrar. TRANSCRIPTSThe first transcript of record is free. Additional transcripts cost $5 each. Requests should be addressed to the Office of the Registrar, giving full name, current address, years of attendance, and personal signature. Exact mailing instructions should be included if the transcript is to be sent to a third party. At least five days should be allowed for processing and delivery. There are two kinds of transcripts:
One unofficial transcript (student copy) is given to the student automatically and without charge at the end of the senior year. Transcripts requested initially by telephone will not be sent until a signed confirmation is received in writing. This necessary safeguard to the integrity of student records is added reason to make one’s request in good time. No transcript will be issued for any student or alumnus whose financial obligations to Conception Seminary College have not been paid in full. DIRECTED INDEPENDENT STUDYStudents whose GPA is 2.50 or better, who are enrolled full-time, and who possess the requisite background may pursue scholarly interests, for credit, without attendance at formal classes. This option is known as directed independent study. Upon request to the Academic Dean, guided independent study projects may be arranged with the cooperation of a faculty member. The student is responsible for proposing a project and selecting an appropriate faculty member for the course. PASS-FAIL GRADING SYSTEMThe pass-fail grading option encourages full-time students to broaden their education by enrolling in courses beyond the general education requirements for the Bachelor’s degree or Pre-Theology Certificate. Pass-fail grades refer only to the final grade in the course. Normal course work, assignments and examinations are given. Performance is evaluated on the same standard as a course for grade credit. The pass-fail option is open to students who:
Students are limited to one course per semester (up to a total of nine hours) of pass-fail credit. Pass-fail courses are counted as other course offerings in determining academic load. A grade of ‘P’ (representing an ‘A,’ ‘B,’ or ‘C’ grade) does not affect the GPA. However, a grade of ‘F’ (representing a ‘D’ or ‘F’) is treated as a regular ‘F’ grade when calculating the GPA. Pass-fail courses may not be repeated for a letter grade, but only on a pass-fail basis if failed initially. Individual professors may determine if their courses may be taken on a pass-fail basis. Students must declare their choice of the pass-fail option either at registration or within the first two weeks of classes. RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT WITH OTHER COLLEGESBy special agreement between Northwest Missouri State University (Maryville, MO) and Conception Seminary College, students from one institution may enroll for classes at the other through a simplified procedure of admission and cross-registration. The range of learning opportunities is thus expanded. Enrollment forms are available in the Office of the Registrar. Students wishing to include NWMSU courses in their registration must have completed their freshman year, must be earning satisfactory grades, and have the Academic Dean’s approval. The first 9 semester hours of credit will be regarded as residence credit, carrying quality points for inclusion in the GPA. CSC students are responsible for payment of tuition fees at NWMSU unless CSC itself recommends that a course be taken at that institution. Students from NWMSU may enroll in classes at CSC and pay the tuition at either the CSC or NWMSU rate, whichever is lower. |
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