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198 COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2016-2017 ACADEMIC POLICY
ACADEMIC POLICY
Academic Catalog
A student’s program is governed by the catalog under which the student was admitted. Should a student break matriculation
for two consecutive regular terms (or two consecutive Summer sessions for
M.Ed.students), the catalog in effect at the time
of readmission to Columbia International University must be used to satisfy the requirements for the degree. Students may
request a degree change by submitting a Degree Change Application form.
Academic Credit
An academic unit of credit at CIU is based on the following criteria: 1) a defined academic plan for the student or course
that is outlined in a written syllabus including learning resources and activities, learning outcomes or competencies, and the
means to assess these outcomes, 2) instruction and learning activities in which a credit unit (semester hour) includes at
least 45 class hours of such instruction and activities (a class hour is the equivalent of 50 minutes of study either inside or
outside the classroom), 3) provision and supervision of the course by a qualified and CIU-approved instructor, 4) submission
of a grade to the Office of the University Registrar by the faculty member to verify learning outcomes and the completion of
studies, and 5) regular review of every course, regardless of delivery mode, by the faculty in periodic program reviews.
Academic Dean’s List
Any full-time undergraduate student (12 credits or more) who completes a semester of study with a minimum of a 3.5 GPA
during a semester will be identified and honored as a student on the Academic Dean’s List. Any undergraduate student who
completes a degree program maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above and has completed a minimum of 48 credit
hours in residence will qualify for graduating with scholastic honors.
Academic Load
At the undergraduate level, students registered for at least 12 credits within a term are considered full time; those registered
for 8 to 11 credits are considered three-quarters time; and those registered for 6-7 credits are considered half time. At the
graduate level, students registered for at least 9 semester hours within a term are considered full time; those registered for
6 hours are considered three-quarters time; and those registered for 4.5 hours are considered half time. Full-time student
status in the Doctor of Ministry, Education Specialist, and Doctor of Philosophy programs is defined as 3 semester credit
hours within any of the three terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Academic Petitions
Students seeking exceptions to program requirements or academic policies may submit an academic petition. Graduate-
level students seeking to transfer credit from another institution after matriculation must seek prior permission through an
academic petition. Courses taken without prior approval through petition may, in some cases, not be applicable as transfer
credit to the student’s CIU program. For details regarding academic petitions contact the Office of the University Registrar.
Advising
Each student is assigned a faculty advisor according to the student’s program. Academic advising is intended to foster
developmental relationships between faculty members and individual students as a context for helping students progress
toward the academic, spiritual, and vocational goals of their program. Undergraduate students meet with their academic
advisors during two to three chapel periods each semester, during pre-registration periods, and when counsel is desired.
The advisor approves the courses the student selects and keeps a record of the student’s progress. Students are
encouraged to contact their academic advisors whenever they desire academic or spiritual advice.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all class sessions for all registered courses. Student attendance in online courses will be
defined as active participation in the course as described in the course syllabus. Professors will provide their specific
attendance policies, including penalties for absences, within their course syllabi. Students will receive a failing grade for any
course in which they have missed more than 25 percent of the class sessions in any case. If a student is a military veteran
and receiving government benefits, he or she is responsible for following the attendance regulations established by the
Veterans Administration.
Failure to attend a course or complete online course activities does not constitute withdrawal from the course. (See
“Withdrawal” below.) Initial attendance in all registered courses must be confirmed prior to the release of financial aid. Initial
attendance in an online course is established based on the completion of any course activity (e.g. forum post, submission
of assignment, or appropriate communication with instructor). In the event that federal funds must be returned, last date of
attendance will be established based on a student’s last access of the course website, last assignment submitted, or last
contact with the instructor.