ACADEMIC CATALOG 2018-2019

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218 │COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2018-2019 │ACADEMIC POLICY
Students are placed on academic probation at the end of any semester in which they earn a GPA below 2.5* during that
semester. During the following semester the student is allowed to register for no more than 9.0 semester hours. (At his/her
discretion, the dean may limit enrollment to fewer than 9.0 hours.) If the student’s cumulative GPA by the end of the
subsequent semester does not improve so graduation is assured, enrollment normally is terminated.
* 3.0 in the M.A. in Counseling; 3.2 in the Education Specialist or Doctor of Philosophy; 3.0 in the M.A. in Teaching, and
below; 2.7 for all other College of Education programs.
Any student dismissed because of academic probation who desires to resume studies must complete the full application
process through the Admissions office, provide evidence that they can expect to be academically successful, and receive
approval by the Admission Review Committee.
Residence Requirements
Undergraduate-level: Associate degree students, regardless of previous undergraduate credits earned, are required to
complete a minimum of 15 semester hours of coursework at CIU. Bachelor degree students, regardless of previous
undergraduate credits earned, are required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework through CIU. While
no statutes of limitations for undergraduate degree completion exists, CIU requires that the final 15 semester hours of
coursework must be CIU credits unless defined otherwise in a cooperative program.
Graduate-level: A majority of credits toward a graduate degree must be earned at either CIU or a CIU site. SSM programs*
permit a maximum of 2/3 of the degree to be earned through online courses. (This limit also applies when two degrees are
earned concurrently.)
* M.A. (Theological Studies), Bible and Theology Certificate, and the Biblical Ministry Certificate are exempt from this
restriction.
Standardized Testing
Undergraduate-level: All standardized testing must be completed within one calendar year of a student’s matriculation to
CIU. CLEP and DANTES credit must be earned prior to the student’s graduating semester. For additional information
regarding Advanced Placement Exams (AP Exams), Foreign Language Proficiency Testing Program, College Level
Examination Program (CLEP), and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), see the “Standardized Test Acceptance
and Test Score Criteria” available from the Office of the University Registrar.
Graduate-level:
CoE, CICS, SSM Clinical Counseling: Standardized test credit can be utilized to satisfy prerequisite requirements for
graduate-level programs if documented on the student’s undergraduate transcript. Scores of 3-5 on AP courses, a score
of 50 on the CLEP or 55 on the DANTES examinations can be credited to satisfy M.A. in Counseling, M.A. in Teaching,
and Master of Education undergraduate prerequisites. Standardized test credit is not accepted for SSM graduate-level
programs.
Student Assessment for Institutional Improvement
In order to assess and improve our academic programs, periodic measurements of student perceptions and intellectual
growth must be obtained. Students may be required to participate in one or more evaluative procedures, including
examinations in general academic development and/or a major field of study. Data obtained through evaluative
measurements are collected and used solely to improve the quality of the educational experience of future students.
Suspension (See “Probation” in the Student Life Section of this Catalog)
Transcripts
Official transcripts are maintained by the Office of the University Registrar. Students must provide written authorization for
the release of transcripts, even to themselves. Transcript requests and payment are made online throug
Unofficial transcripts can be printed by current students on My.CIU.edu with no associated cost.
Transfer Credit
Applicants who have completed work in an institution that is accredited regionally or nationally (CHEA recognized) may
receive transfer credit for courses in which they received a grade of “C” (2.0) or above. Transfer credit may apply to a
student’s program at CIU. For complete policy, please see Transfer Credit Policy in CIU Policy Library .
Withdrawal
Courses for which students are registered at the close of the Add/Drop Period, will appear on the transcript, calculate as
attempted hours, and may result in a grade penalty. Failure to attend classes does not constitute withdrawal; failure to follow
withdrawal procedures (below) will result in an “F” grade for the course. A student is financially responsible for courses from
which he/she has withdrawn under any and all circumstances (excluding military withdrawal) according to the published