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C A D E M I C
O L I C Y
Academic Catalog
A student’s program is governed by the catalog under which the student w
as 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 satisf
y 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 is
outlined through a written course syllabus which includes learning resources and activities, clearly defined learning outcome
or competencies, and the means through which these outcomes are to be assessed, 2) a credit unit (semester hour) reflects a
minimum of 45 clock hours of instruction and learning activities per credit hour (the equivalent of 50 minutes of classroom
study per week for at least 15 weeks, plus two hours per week of learning activities outside the classroom), 3) a CIU-approved
and qualified instructor (doctoral degree in the discipline for graduate-level courses) provides and supervises all aspects of
the course, 4) the faculty member submits grades to the Office of the University Registrar to verify learning outcomes and the
completion of the study, and 5) every course, regardless of delivery mode, is reviewed by the faculty during the regularly
scheduled 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 are considered full time; those registered for 6 to 11
credits are considered at least half time. At the graduate level, students registered for at least nine semester hours are
considered full time; those registered for six 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 and Doctor of Education programs is defined as three
semester credit hours within any of the four terms: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer (includes both Summer sessions).
Academic Petitions
Students seeking exceptions to program requirements or academic policies may submit an academic petition. Students must
petition any changes to the curriculum as outlined in this catalog at least one semester prior to graduation. 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 they are registered for. 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.
Auditing
An auditor is one who registers to attend a class, but not for academic credit. Auditors are to be observers and not full
participants in the course. Students wishing to audit a course must pay the audit form and complete an Audit Registration
form which is available in the Office of the University Registrar. No more than 25 percent of students registered for any course
may be auditors. Freshmen may not audit courses. Skills courses may be audited only with permission from the academic dean
of the course. The student may take the course for credit even after auditing it.
OLUMBIA NTERNATIONAL NIVERSITY
CADEMIC OLICY