Undergraduate Academic Regulations & Procedures

Attendance at Lebanon Valley College is a privilege, not a right. To provide the necessary atmosphere in which teaching and learning can occur, the College expects that the conduct of all campus citizens will conform to accepted standards. The College has the right to require the withdrawal of any student whose actions are inimical to the purposes of the institution. The following academic regulations are announcements and do not constitute a contract between the student and the College. The College reserves the right to change these regulations and procedures as it deems necessary for the accomplishment of its purposes, but wherever possible, a student will proceed to graduation under the regulations in effect at the time of his or her entrance at the College.

Degrees

Baccalaureate Degrees

Lebanon Valley College confers five baccalaureate degrees. Bachelor of Arts for students completing requirements in the following major programs: art and art history, criminal justice, economics, English, French, German, historical communications, history, international studies, music, music business, philosophy, political science, religion, sociology, Spanish and certain self-designed majors.

Bachelor of Science for students completing requirements in the following major programs: accounting, actuarial science, biochemistry and molecular biology, biology, business administration, chemistry, computer science, cooperative engineering, digital communications, early childhood education, health-care management, health science, mathematics, music education, physics, psychobiology, psychology and certain self-designed majors. Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, and Bachelor of Music: Emphasis in Music Recording Technology for students completing requirements for the appropriate major program.

Associate Degrees

An Associate degree may be earned by students who have been admitted through the Office of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education and who have pursued the degree through part-time study. Students may earn an Associate of Science degree in accounting, general studies and business administration or an Associate of Arts degree in general studies.

Privacy of Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment, helps protect the privacy of student records. The Act provides for the right to inspect and review educational records, to seek to amend those records, and to limit disclosure of information from the records. The Act applies to all institutions that are the recipients of federal funding.

Annually, Lebanon Valley College informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This Act, with which the institution intends to comply fully, was designated to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings.

Students also have the right to file complaints with the FERPA office concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the act.

Local policy explains in detail the procedures to be used by the institution for compliance with the provisions of the Act. Copies of the policy can be found in the following offices: Office of the Registrar, Office of Student Services, and Office of the Dean of the Faculty. The policy is also printed in the Faculty Advising Handbook. The offices mentioned also maintain a Directory of Records that lists all education records maintained on students by this institution.

Questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Registrar’s Office.

Credit Hours

A credit hour is the unit to measure academic progress. Each course has a credit designation approximately equal to the number of hours to be spent in class each week. A course requiring three hours of class attendance each week will carry 3 credit hours. Credit for laboratories is generally awarded at one half the regular rate.

Application for Graduation

As a student nears completion of the degree requirements, the student must file an application for the degree and a graduation plan with the Registrar’s Office. Graduation application deadlines and the semester Course List and Registration Schedule are available in that office. This application process provides the student with a timely opportunity to review his or her degree requirements and to plan or change the student’s course schedule to ensure completion of all requirements.

The student must complete an Application for the Degree and a Graduation Plan, meet with his or her advisor, obtain all required signatures for graduation, including major and minor requirements, and deliver the forms to the Registrar’s Office in the Humanities Building.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for a baccalaureate degree shall complete successfully 120 credit hours, including the requirements for the general education program and the requirements for majors and minors as appropriate. Credit hours are accumulated in three separate categories: general education requirements, major requirements, and electives.

The general education program is that part of the curriculum shared by all students in all majors. The required courses reflect 54-56 credit hours. The major programs each require at least 30 credit hours of course work. Electives are those courses selected by the student that reflect neither major nor general education requirements.

Candidates for the bachelor’s degree must also take in residence 30 credit hours of the 36 taken immediately prior to graduation. Course work taken in all of the College’s programs qualifies as work done in residence.

Candidates for an associate’s degree must accumulate at least 60 credit hours including the course work appropriate to their major program. Fifteen of the last 18 credit hours toward the degree must be taken in residence. Coursework taken in all of the College’s programs qualifies as work done in residence.

For first Bachelor degrees, no more than twelve credits from student teaching (ECE 440, ECE 441, MED 441, MED 442, SED 440, and SPE 441) and internships combined may be counted.

Candidates for a degree must obtain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 and a major grade point average of at least 2.00. Additional majors and any minors also require a 2.00 grade point average.

Students who have 11 or fewer credits remaining to complete the degree may participate in the graduation ceremony.

Advising Program

Each student has a faculty advisor whose role is to counsel about registration procedures, course selections, academic requirements, and regulations. The student is expected to obtain the advisor’s counsel and approval before registration, withdrawal, election of pass/fail option, and/or change in credit/audit status.

Arrangement of Schedules

Each student arranges a semester program of courses in consultation with his or her faculty advisor. Students already in attendance do this during registration periods. New students accomplish this on orientation days.

Limit of Hours

To be classified as full time, a student must take at least 12 credit hours in a semester. Seventeen credit hours is the maximum permitted without approval from the student’s advisor and permission of the registrar. To be permitted to take more than 17 credits, the student should have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, or be a senior. Audited courses are counted in determining the course load, but music organizations are not. Students shall pay the prevailing tuition rate for each credit hour beyond 17 (not counting music organizations).

Class Standing

Students are classified academically at the beginning of each year. Membership in the sophomore, junior or senior classes is granted to students who have earned a minimum of 28, 56 or 84 credit hours respectively.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory academic progress toward a degree as a full-time student is defined as completion of 24 or more credits per academic year while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 1.6 (1–27 credits), 1.7 (28–55 credits), 1.8 (56–83 credits), 1.9 (84 or more). A 2.0 grade point average is required for completion of the baccalaureate degree. It is also necessary for full-time students to complete at least 24 credits per academic year in order to maintain eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial aid.

Transfer Credit

A student applying for advanced standing after having attended another accredited institution shall send an official transcript to the Admission Office. If requested, the student must provide copies of the appropriate catalogs for the years of attendance at the other institution or institutions.

Credits are accepted for transfer provided the grades are C– (1.67) or better and the work is equivalent or similar to work offered at Lebanon Valley College, and the institution is regionally accredited. Grades thus transferred count for credit hours only, not for quality points.

A candidate for admission holding an associate degree from a regionally accredited college can be admitted with full acceptance of course work at the previously attended institution. However, course work in the major field for which the applicant has received a D shall not be counted toward fulfilling the major requirement.

Because Lebanon Valley College is a liberal arts institution, consideration of full acceptance of the associate degree will be granted with the understanding that the candidate has followed a basic course of study compatible with the curriculum and academic programs of the College and has been enrolled in a transfer program. A total of 60 credits will be accepted for an associate degree and 57 credits for a diploma program. A maximum of 90 credit hours will be accepted toward a baccalaureate degree.

In most instances the applicant may be expected to complete the baccalaureate degree within two years. However, when the requirements of a particular major field or the nature of the previous study demand additional work beyond two years, the applicant will normally be notified at the time of admission.

Students transferring to Lebanon Valley College in order to complete work on a baccalaureate degree will normally be expected to pass at least one 3-hour course in their intended major for each semester they spend at the college. “Semester” shall normally be defined as 15 credit hours. Beyond this minimum requirement, departments may require additional courses if they so desire.

Lebanon Valley College students enrolled for a degree may not carry courses concurrently at any other institution without prior consent of their advisors and the registrar. Students who desire to study away from campus for summer study must obtain prior approval from their advisors and the registrar.

Discontinuance of Courses

The College reserves the right to withdraw or discontinue any course.

Registration and Preregistration

Students are required to register for courses on designated days of each semester. Preference is given to upper-class students in the preregistration process to ensure registration in courses required for their major fields of study. Students desiring to register later than one week after the opening of the semester will be admitted only by special permission of the instructor and the registrar.

On entering Lebanon Valley College, students indicate that they are open or that they have a particular intended major. Students may make a formal declaration of major during the second semester of their freshman year and must make a formal declaration by the time they have completed 60 credit hours.

Change of Registration

Change of registration, including pass/fail elections, changes of course hours credit, changes from credit to audit and vice versa, must be approved by signature of the advisor. In most instances, registration for a course shall not be permitted after the course has been in session for one full week. With the permission of the advisor, a student may withdraw from a course during the first 10 weeks of the semester. However, first-time, first- semester freshmen may withdraw from a course at any time through the last day of semester classes with permission of the advisor. A fee is charged for every course added at the student’s request after the publicized Add/Drop Period (the first full week of classes).

Students who drop below full-time status (below 12 credits) during the publicized Add/Drop Period (the first full week of classes) will be re-billed as part-time students. Resident students who drop to part-time must have the permission of the associate dean of student affairs. Other considerations regarding financial aid, academic progress, and health insurance must be made before dropping to part-time status.

Students who drop courses after the publicized Add/Drop Period will not have their status changed to part-time. However, consideration must be given to academic progress and future eligibility for financial aid and scholarship monies.

Students enrolled in courses meeting during the summer or for an abbreviated period during fall and spring semesters may drop a course before the second class meeting. Thereafter, students may withdraw from a course up to the first two-thirds of the course.

 

Auditing Courses

Students may register to audit courses with the approval of their academic advisor. Audited courses are counted in considering the course load relative to the limit of hours and may result in an overload charge. No grade or credit is given for an audited course, but the registrar will record the audit on the transcript if the student attends regularly. A change of registration from credit to audit or from audit to credit, with the approval of the instructor, must be accomplished by the end of the tenth week of semester classes.

Pass/Fail

After attaining sophomore standing (28 credit hours), a student may elect to take up to two courses per semester and one per summer session on a pass/fail basis; however, only six such courses can be counted toward graduation requirements.  In addition to courses elected to be pass/fail, students are permitted to count courses designated as pass/fail, which are required within a major or minor. With the exception of courses that are designated pass/fail, no courses elected by students to be taken pass/fail may be used to meet the requirements of the general education program or other programs, the major(s), the minor(s) or secondary education certification. A student may select or cancel a pass/fail registration any time during the first 10 weeks of a semester, or up to the first two-thirds of a course meeting during the summer or for an abbreviated period during fall and spring semesters.

  Passing with honors will be designated by the grade PH indicating that a grade of B+ or higher was earned. If a student does not pass the course, the student will receive an F on the transcript.

Repetition of Courses

A student may repeat as often as desired, for a higher grade, a previously taken course, subject to the following provisions: the course must have been taken in courses staffed by the College, the course has to be retaken at Lebanon Valley College, and the semester credit hours are given only one time. The higher grade received each time taken is computed in the cumulative grade point average. Each semester grade report will show hours credit each time passed, but the total hours toward a degree will be equal only to the semester hours credit for the course. For a course previously passed P/F, the grade received in the subsequent registration for regular grade is the “higher grade.” Each grade received remains on the permanent record and a notation is made thereon that the course has been repeated.

Concurrent Courses

A student enrolled for a degree at Lebanon Valley College may not carry courses ?concurrently at any other institution without prior consent of his or her advisor and the registrar.

External Summer Courses

A student registered at Lebanon Valley College may not obtain credit for the courses taken during the summer at another college unless such courses have prior approval of his or her advisor and the registrar.

Attendance Policy

At Lebanon Valley College, the academic program is the centerpiece of the student’s experience. Commitments to one’s academic program take priority over other obligations, college-sponsored or otherwise. Regular attendance at all courses is essential to academic success. It is the student’s responsibility to attend class and to be accountable for all work missed in the event of being absent from class. Faculty are not obligated in any way whatsoever to make special arrangements for any student who is absent from class.

Specific class attendance policies are determined by individual faculty members. These may include regulations regarding tardiness. Faculty members have the right to reduce a student’s final course grade based on his or her attendance. Each individual faculty member’s attendance policy—and the consequences students face when exceeding the allotted number of absences—must be clearly stated in the course syllabus and explained to students on the first day of class. Academic departments may also have an attendance policy, particularly one regarding practicums, student teaching or clinical experiences.

Long-Term Absences

A long-term absence from a class may severely impact a student’s ability to complete a course successfully.

Notifications. In the event that a student will be absent for more than one calendar week during the 15 week semester or two class days during accelerated courses, he or she should notify the Assistant Dean for Advising and Student Success, who will facilitate communication among key personnel at the College. The student should also contact his or her faculty. Assuming it is possible, the student should indicate to both the faculty and the Assistant Dean the dates he or she will be absent.

Administrative Withdrawal. A long-term absence from a class or classes may result in administrative withdrawal from the course or the College. In a traditional, fifteen week semester, a student will be administratively withdrawn with a grade of “W” after three calendar weeks or three class days during accelerated courses. This is assuming the deadline to withdraw has not passed.

Departmental policies, particularly those pertaining to a clinical or practicum experience, take precedence over the College’s generalized policy on long-term absences. Students should consult the Student Handbooks for their academic programs in order to familiarize themselves with the department’s attendance policy.

Practice, Activities and Athletic Contests

An excused absence is defined as an absence for which a student is not penalized. It is possible, but not guaranteed, for a student to be excused from class when participating in an authorized college activity, such as field trips, athletic competitions, performances, and departmental or College events. The faculty member of the academic class from which the student will be absent has discretionary authority to grant or not grant the excusal. In general, student attendance at academic classes has priority over other college functions.

When faculty require attendance at class sessions or events outside of students’ regularly scheduled academic classes, the faculty member must provide alternative methods of fulfilling the assignment for students who are legitimately unable to participate.

Faculty planning class trips or other activities resulting in student absences from classes in other courses must provide each participating student, as far in advance as possible, with a written request for excusal, which students are then expected to present to their other instructors. The request must detail the nature of the event, date(s), and times, the names of participating students, and include the signatures of the instructor(s) and the instructor must also notify the registrar. Sponsors of co-curricular events (aside from semester-long sports events), must follow this process as well.

Sports rosters are issued team by team at the beginning of each semester, with the names of participating students, the dates of the athletic contests, and requested excusal times listed on each roster. Unscheduled games will be announced through the Athletic Department. Students are responsible for requesting class excusals for any athletic events. Athletic practices do not warrant a request for class excusal.

In all cases, when a student is absent from class—whether the absence is excused or not—the student remains responsible for all and any work missed. When requests for excused absences are granted, the faculty member may stipulate when and in what manner the missed work must be completed by the student.

If attendance requirements conflict, the Vice President of Academic Affairs/Dean of the Faculty will mediate.

In-Absentia

The College treats students in domestic or foreign study programs as students-in-absentia. Any student who studies for a semester or academic year at another institution with the intent of returning to the College is considered a matriculated student. A student desiring in-absentia status should complete the form in the Registrar’s Office and secure the approval of the advisor, the registrar and the director of study abroad and domestic programs. Students will receive information on registration and room sign-up after they notify the registrar of their address abroad or in the United States.

Leave of Absence

For reasons of health or other compelling circumstances, students may request a voluntary leave from the College for the duration of one or two semesters. The option to take a leave of absence is usually available to students who have attended classes past the add/drop period of their first semester. Prior to the end of the drop/add period, new students should contact the Admission Office to learn what their options are for re-enrollment.

A student desiring a leave of absence should complete the form available from the Registrar’s Office, indicate their anticipated date of return, and secure the approval of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. This form must be returned to the Registrar’s Office by 4:30 p.m. on the last day of classes in order for the leave of absence to take effect that term. Students who have stopped attending classes but failed to complete the leave of absence application and secure the official approval for the leave will be administratively withdrawn from the College.

Students on leave are regarded as continuing students and retain their status for registration, residency, assuming rooms are available, and merit scholarships. For all other forms of financial aid, the student should contact the Financial Aid Office directly.

Students should contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs when they are ready to return to the College. They will be instructed what to do and whom to contact to facilitate their return. Students who do not provide due notice (60 days) of a change in the date of expected return will be administratively withdrawn from the College and must petition the Associate Dean for formal readmission.

The College reserves the right to require a leave of absence for medical reasons at any time it is deemed reasonably necessary to protect the student, other students, members of the College community, or the interests of the College itself. Before a student returns from a mandated medical leave of absence, a clearance interview and receipt of documentation from an authoritative source may be required.

Withdrawal from College and Readmission

To withdraw from the College, a student must complete an official withdrawal form obtained from the Registrar’s Office. Continuing Education students may secure this form from the Office of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. Submission of this form to the Registrar’s Office means that the student has authorized the Registrar’s Office to drop his/her classes for any upcoming terms. If a student withdraws during the semester, classes will be dropped after the withdrawal form has been submitted.

The withdrawal form must be returned to the Registrar’s Office by 4:30 p.m. on the last day of classes in order for the withdrawal to take effect during the semester. A decision to withdraw must be made before any final grades are recorded. Final grades submitted by the faculty will not be converted. Oral notification of a withdrawal does not constitute a formal withdrawal.

Students who officially withdraw from the College after the add/drop period will receive grades of W on their transcripts.

Students who withdraw and later return to the College have forfeited their merit scholarships. Readmission of a student requires written permission from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Emergency Withdrawal or Medical Leave of Absence

Depending on the circumstances, the College reserves the right to immediately withdraw a student from the College. Such action will be taken only when a student demonstrates the inability to continue as a student or presents an immediate danger to self or others. Such action will be the responsibility of the vice president of student affairs and dean of students, or his or her designee, in consultation with other members of the College professional staff. After an emergency withdrawal or medical leave of absence, an evaluation supporting return is required and must be submitted to the vice president of student affairs and dean of students, or his or her designee. Such clearance includes full written documentation from the attending psychologist or psychiatrist to the vice president of student affairs and dean of students substantiating competency to return to the demands of the College environment, and documentation setting forth what follow up treatment is required, if any. The student may not return to campus without this documentation. Additionally, the student is required to meet with the vice president of student affairs and dean of students, or his or her designee, prior to finalizing re-enrollment responsibilities.

Second Bachelor’s Degrees

A person who has earned a bachelor’s degree from Lebanon Valley College or another accredited college or university may earn a second bachelor’s degree by meeting the ­following requirements:

1. A minimum of 30 additional undergraduate credits must be completed successfully at Lebanon Valley.

2. All graduation requirements for the major of the second degree must be met satisfactorily.

3. Course work completed successfully as part of the first degree program may be used to satisfy the graduation requirements of the second major

4. No course already taken in the first degree program may be repeated in the second degree program.

5. No more than three credits from student teaching (ECE 440, ECE 441, MED 441, MED 442, SED 440, SPE 441) and internships combined may be counted toward a second degree. To ensure maximum flexibility, if both degrees are completed at LVC, a maximum of 15 credits internships/student teaching may be counted between the two degrees.

6. Graduates from other accredited colleges or universities shall not be required to meet any general education requirements of Lebanon Valley College.

7. No courses in the second degree program may be met satisfactorily through such non-traditional means as challenge examinations, CLEP, or credit for life experience.

8. No courses in the second degree program may be taken pass/fail.

NOTE: Students carrying a second major do not automatically receive a second degree. Student carrying a second major will not receive a second degree without having met all the requirements listed above for a second bachelor’s degree.

Undergraduate Nontraditional Credit

Lebanon Valley College recognizes the ability of highly motivated students to master specific areas of study on their own initiative and provides programs to allow these students the opportunity to gain credit. Except for those seeking a second bachelor’s degree, any matriculated student may earn a maximum of 30 credits toward a bachelor’s degree or a maximum of 15 credits toward an associate’s degree through nontraditional means (challenge exams, advanced placement, CLEP, and credit for life experience). All non­traditional means of examination are graded satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U). An unsatisfactory grade on any nontraditional examination will not be recorded on the ­permanent record.

Challenge Exam Policy

Many LVC courses can be challenged for credit by examination. Full-time students should request challenge examinations through their academic advisors. Part-time students and those students enrolled through continuing education should make application for challenge exams through the continuing education office. All requests must be approved by the registrar and the chairperson of the department in which the course is listed.

Challenge exams are considered comprehensive examinations in the subject area. The grading criteria for challenge exams will be determined by each department. The exact nature of the examination will be determined by the faculty member and chairperson of the department involved and may include any means of evaluation normally employed by the department. There is a fee for preparation and grading of each challenge exam, and it is charged without regard to the test results.

Challenge exams may not be taken by students who have received any grade in a course equivalent to or more advanced than the course for which the student is requesting credit by examination. Challenge exams may not be used for the purpose of acquiring credit for a course previously failed. Practicums, internships, seminars, research courses, independent study, writing-intensive courses, and courses with laboratory components are normally not subject to credit by examination. Individual departments may have additional criteria regarding challenge exams. Consult the chairperson of the department in which the course is listed for specific information.

Advanced Placement Policy

Advanced placement with credit in appropriate courses will be granted to entering students who make scores of 4 or 5 on College Board Advanced Placement examinations. The official Advanced Placement College Grade Report must be submitted by the student for evaluation by the registrar.

Advanced Placement without credit may be granted on the basis of the Achievement Tests of the College Board examinations or such other proficiency tests as may be determined appropriate by the registrar and by the chairperson of the department.

CLEP (College Level Examination Program) Policy

Credit shall be granted to those students who score well on CLEP examinations that are approved by the College. To receive credit, a student must score above the 50th percentile on the objective section and above a C, as determined by the appropriate academic department for general and subject examinations. The English composition essay is required to receive credit for English Communications with a minimum score of 64 and at the 80th percentile for this CLEP examination. Credit for foreign language at the intermediate level requires a minimum score of 62 (for French), 63 (for German), and 66 (for Spanish) on Level 2 tests.

A maximum of six credits shall be awarded for each examination; of these credits, only three may be applied to the general education requirements in the appropriate area. Credit shall be granted only to students who have matriculated at Lebanon Valley College. Normally, requests for CLEP credit must be approved by the registrar before the student has completed 30 credits.

Credit for Life Experience Policy

Lebanon Valley College provides for the awarding of undergraduate academic credit for knowledge acquired through nonacademic experience in subjects in the College curriculum. The experience should have a direct relation to the material taught in a course in the College curriculum and should extend over a sufficient period to provide substantive knowledge in the relevant area. Matriculated students who believe they qualify for such credit may petition the appropriate department through their academic advisors. Students enrolled in the continuing education program must petition through the Continuing Education Office. This petition must:

(1) detail the relevant experience in question

(2) provide appropriate supporting evidence

(3) note the equivalent College course by department and number

(4) state the number of credit hours sought.

The appropriate department will consult with the academic advisor or the Continuing Education Office to determine the best means (interview, examination, portfolio, etc.) for evaluating the experience.

Approval of experiential credit for full-time students must be made in writing over the signatures of the academic advisor, the appropriate department chair, and the associate dean for academic affairs. Approval of experiential credit for students enrolled through the continuing education program must be made in writing over the signatures of the director of graduate studies and continuing education, the appropriate department chair, and the associate dean for academic affairs.

Experiential credit cannot exceed 6 credit hours in one academic year and cannot exceed a maximum of 12 credit hours in the degree program.

International Baccalaureate Program

Credit for appropriate courses will be granted to entering students who achieve scores of 5, 6 or 7 on International Baccalaureate individual subject examinations. The official International Baccalaureate transcript must be presented by the student for evaluation by the registrar.

Grading Systems and Grade Point Averages

Student work is graded A (excellent), B (good), C (satisfactory), D (requirements and standards met a minimum level), F (course requirements not met). For each credit hour in a course, students receive the following quality points:

A 4.00
 C 2.00
A- 3.67
 C- 1.67
B+ 3.33
 D+ 1.33
B 3.00
 D 1.00
  
B- 2.67
 D- .67
  
C+ 2.33
 F .00
  
 

F carries no credit or quality points, but grades of F are used in calculating the grade point averages. The cumulative grade point average is calculated by dividing the quality points by the credit hours completed.

Candidates for a degree must obtain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and a major grade point average of 2.00. Additional majors and any minors also require a 2.00 grade point average.

A student may not take a course that has a prerequisite course he or she has failed.

In addition to the above grades, the symbols I, IP, and W are used. I indicates that the work is incomplete (certain required work postponed by the student for substantial reason with the prior consent of the instructor) but otherwise satisfactory. This work must be completed within the first four weeks of the end of the course or the I will be converted to an F.  Instructors may set an earlier deadline. Appeals for an extension of the incomplete grade past the four-week period must be approved by the instructor and presented to the registrar prior to the incomplete due date. IP (in progress) is a temporary grade for certain courses that have not concluded by the end of the semester. W indicates withdrawal from a course through the tenth week of semester classes (or up to the first two-thirds of course meeting during the summer or for an abbreviated period during fall and spring semesters), except for first-semester freshmen who may withdraw through the last day of the semester.

 

Once a grade has been recorded it may not be changed without the approval of the instructor and the registrar. Students who feel the grade may be inaccurate must contact the instructor within 30 days from the end date of the course in question.

Grievances Filed by Students against Faculty Members Concerning Final Grades

A student may file a grievance against a faculty member if the student has sufficient reason to dispute a final grade earned in a course.

Initial Steps

  • The student must first contact his/her instructor to question the disputed grade. This must be done writing and must take place as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the end of the course in which the concern originated. The student may seek the support of his/her academic advisor, or other faculty person, in preparing this written communication.
  • If the matter is not resolved, the student should arrange a meeting with the instructor to review the grade. If agreement is reached, the matter is settled. Otherwise, the student may proceed to Mediation.

Mediation

  • Within ten days of completing the initial steps, the student shall send a written request to the faculty member's chair, outlining the basis of the grade appeal and requesting a meeting. A copy of this communication must be provided to the instructor by the chair. The department chair will schedule a meeting with the student, the chair, and the instructor. If an agreement is reached at this level, the problem is resolved and no further action needs to be taken. If no agreement is reached, the student may elect to proceed to an appeal. In the event that the grade appeal is directed against the chair, the process proceeds without mediation directly to an appeal.

Appeal

  • Within ten days of completing mediation, the student will send to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs (ADAA) a written request to have the case heard by an Appeals Board. The Associate Dean will, within 14 calendar days of receiving the written request, convene an Appeals Board which will serve for the term of the appeal in question. The Board will be made up of two faculty members and one member of the student body. The ADAA will serve as chair of the Appeals Board, as a non-voting member, is responsible for documenting the events of the hearing and appointing the two faculty members. The student will be selected by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs (ADSA). Both the student and the instructor involved in the appeal must be present at the entire hearing, excluding deliberations. Each may be assisted during the hearing by an advisor from current students, faculty, administration or staff. This individual serves in an advisory capacity only. He or she may not actively participate in the hearing.
  • The Appeals Board shall have 72 hours from the time it is convened to make a decision. Both the student and the faculty member are to be notified in writing of the board’s decision. The decision of the Appeals Board is final.

Records

The Appeals Board is the final source of appeal and will also serve as repository of records which are kept of the grievance. After the dissolution of the board a repository of grievance records will be kept for a period of seven years in the Registrar’s Office.

Academic and Graduation Honors

The Dean’s List

The Dean’s List recognizes undergraduate students for outstanding academic achievement during each semester. Students achieving a 3.40 or higher grade point average while carrying at least 12 credit hours for grade (excluding courses taken pass/fail) shall be named to the Dean’s List at the end of each semester. Students with any incomplete grades will not be awarded Dean’s List. If, when all incompletes are resolved, the student meets the Dean’s List criteria, he/she may submit a request to be added to the Dean’s List through the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Honors

After completing a minimum of 60 calculated credit hours of residence work, a student may qualify for graduation honors. The honors to be conferred are summa cum laude for grade point averages of 3.75–4.0, magna cum laude for grade point averages of 3.60–3.74, and cum laude for grade point averages of 3.40–3.59.

Departmental Honors

All major programs provide the opportunity for departmental honors work during the junior and senior years. For specific information, interested students should contact the appropriate department chairperson. The minimal requirements for departmental honors are a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, both at the time of application and at the time of graduation; a written thesis; an oral presentation; and approval by a majority vote of the full-time members of the department. This project is undertaken on a subject of the student’s own choosing under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Opportunity also exists to do creative work. A maximum of 9 hours credit may be earned in departmental honors.

Honor Societies

Alpha Kappa Delta

Alpha Kappa Delta is the international sociology honor society. Students who maintain a 3.0 average in sociology and a 3.3 average overall are eligible to be inducted into the honor society at a ceremony during their senior year. Inducted students will be awarded a teal honor cord to be worn at Commencement.

Alpha Sigma Lambda

Alpha Sigma Lambda is a national honor society whose aim is to recognize the special achievements of continuing education students who accomplish academic excellence while facing completing interests of home and work. To become a member, students must be at least 22 years old, a matriculated student seeking an initial degree, completed 24 credits at LVC, and have a minimum 3.2 overall GPA.

Beta Beta Beta

Beta Beta Beta, a national biological honor society, is open to majors in the biological sciences by invitation. To become a member, one must have completed three courses in biology with a GPA of 3.0 in biology and 3.0 overall.

Kappa Delta Pi

Kappa Delta Pi is an international honor society for education students dedicated to promoting excellence in the profession through the advancement of scholarship, leadership and service. Membership is open to students who have completed at least 30 credit-hours with a minimum of 12 credits in professional education courses. Leadership abilities and a cumulative GPA of 3.6 are also required.

Phi Alpha Epsilon

Phi Alpha Epsilon (the Greek initial letters of the words, “lover of learning and finder of truth”), the College's honor society, was established in 1935 and recognizes academic achievement and service to others. To be eligible for his award, students must achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.60, complete at least 24 credits of general education coursework at LVC, and achieve the “bronze” level of service hours (as determined by the Office of Spiritual Life) at the conclusion of the fall semester prior to graduation. Ordinarily, seniors are formally welcomed into the society at a spring banquet.

Phi Kappa Pi

Phi Kappa Pi, LVC's honor society in business, is open to business, accounting, and economics majors. Selection is made by business department faculty. Membership is open to those with junior or senior status and a department GPA of 3.40 or higher and a College GPA of 3.25 or higher. Candidates for membership must also exhibit participation in department, College, or community activities demonstrating leadership and non-academic involvement.

Phi Sigma Iota

Phi Sigma Iota is an international honor society that recognizes outstanding ability in the field of language studies, literature, and cultures. It promotes international communication and understanding and is the highest academic honor in the field of languages. Selection is made by languages faculty. Members are selected from language majors and minors with a department GPA of 3.00 or higher and a College GPA of 3.00 or higher.

Phi Sigma Tau

Phi Sigma Tau is the international honor society for philosophy, dedicated to encouraging interest and activity among students and to promote ties between philosophy departments in accredited institutions. Eligibility requirements include the completion of three full semesters and at least two philosophy courses and a 3.5 GPA in philosophy classes. Inducted students must rank in the upper 35 percent of their class.

Psi Chi

Affiliated with the American Psychological Association, Psi Chi is the national honor society for students who are psychology or psychobiology majors or psychology minors. Students must have a College and departmental GPA of 3.20 or higher.

Sigma Pi Sigma

The national physics honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma, recognizes outstanding scholarship in physics and promotes an attitude of service. Members must have completed 45 credit hours, 12 credits of physics coursework, and have at least a 3.5 GPA for physics courses and for cumulative course grades. All members must rank in the upper third of their college class.

Sigma Tau Delta

Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society, is open to junior and senior English majors who achieve a major and cumulative GPA of 3.5 and obtain faculty approval

Theta Alpha Kappa

Theta Alpha Kappa is the only national honor society in the fields of religious studies and theology. Members must have completed three full semesters with a minimum of 12 credits in religion. A GPA of at least a 3.5 in religion courses is also required, as is a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Inducted students must rank in the upper 35 percent of their class.

 

Academic Honesty

Lebanon Valley College expects its students to uphold the principles of academic honesty. Violations of these principles will not be tolerated. Students shall neither hinder nor unfairly assist the efforts of other students to complete their work. All individual work that a student produces and submits as a course assignment must be the student’s own. 

Cheating and plagiarism are acts of academic dishonesty. Cheating is an act that deceives or defrauds. It includes, but is not limited to, looking at another’s exam or quiz, using unauthorized materials during an exam or quiz, colluding on assignments without the permission or knowledge of the instructor, and furnishing false information for the purpose of receiving special consideration, such as postponement of an exam, essay, quiz, or deadline of an oral presentation. 

Plagiarism is the act of submitting as one’s own the work (the words, ideas, images, or compositions) of another person or persons without accurate attribution. Plagiarism can manifest itself in various ways: it can arise from sloppy, inaccurate note-taking; it can emerge as the incomplete or incompetent citation of resources; it can take the form of the wholesale submission of another person’s work as one’s own, whether from an online, oral or printed source. The seriousness of an instance of plagiarism—its moral character as an act of academic dishonesty—normally depends upon the extent to which a student intends to deceive and mislead the reader as to the authorship of the work in question. Initially, the instructor will make this determination.

In the unfortunate event of an alleged breach of academic honesty, a student will be assured due process as follows:

  • No later than three weeks after the instructor's observation of academic dishonesty, the instructor will present to the student (orally or in writing) the specific charge with all supporting documentation. Documentation should include the nature of alleged academic dishonesty, a description of the incident, and the evidence supporting the charge. At the moment the work has been submitted, the student involved forfeits the right to withdraw from the course or to change his or her course status in any way.
  • Following this notification, the instructor will meet the with student and permit the student to respond to the charge with factual information and mitigating circumstances related to the charge.
  • Once the instructor and student have met, if the instructor concludes that the student is culpable of academic dishonesty, the instructor shall report the suspected incident to the associate dean of academic affairs.
  • Information related to the offenses of academic dishonesty must the passed by the faculty member to the associate dean who shall retain the information for as long as the student involved is enrolled at the College. information and evidence concerning academic dishonesty are the property of the College.
  • The associate dean and the student charged with academic dishonesty will meet in a closed session to review the charges and the supporting evidence. Following this meeting, the associate dean shall send the student a formal correspondence describing the consequences of this offense and any further offenses.
    • For the first offense of academic dishonesty, the instructor has the option of implementing whatever grade-related penalty he or she deems appropriate, up to and including failure in the course.
    • For the second formally established offense of academic dishonesty, failure in the course is warranted; the associate dean shall notify the faculty member(s) involved. Additionally, the associate dean had the authority to take further action against the student, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the College.
    • For the third formally established offense of academic dishonesty, failure in the course and removal from the College are warranted. Removal may take the form of either suspension for one for two semesters or permanent expulsion.
  • The associate dean has the authority to determine whether actions by a student constitute "offenses of academic dishonesty" as described previously.
  • The student may appeal the determination of academic dishonesty within ten (10) business days following the date of the decision sent to the student from the associate dean. Failure by the student to appeal within the limited time period constitutes a waiver of the student's right to appeal.
  • The appeal must be made in writing and forwarded to the vice president for academic affairs/dean of the faculty. An appeal will be awarded given either of the following conditions:
    • The college's policies and procedures were not followed by the instructor;
    • Significant and new evidence supporting the student's defense was discovered after the hearing.
  • The VPAA/dean of the faculty will assemble an Appeals Committee, consisting of two members of the teaching faculty and one member of the student body. The VPAA/dean of the faculty will appoint one of the two faculty members to serve as chair of the Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee has the authority to: (a) affirm or reverse the findings and actions of the instructor and the associate dean, and; (b) reduce or moderate the associate dean's decision on suspension or expulsion. The Appeals Committee does not have the authority to change a grade decision. Findings will be communicated in writing to the student, the instructor, the associate dean and the VPAA/dean of the faculty.
  • The chair of the Appeals Committee will consult with both the student and the instructor to schedule an appeals hearing. Both the student and the instructor will be given at least two days' notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing. Both the student and the instructor must be present at the hearing. The student may be assisted during the appeals hearing by an advisor of choice from among the current full-time students, faculty, administration or staff, but may not be assisted during the appeal hearing by anyone else. The selected individual may function in an advisory capacity only. He or she may not actively participate in the appeals hearing.
  • The student will be informed in writing of the committee's decision within twenty-four hours following the appeals hearing.

 


Academic Probation and Suspension

At the conclusion of each semester, the Dean’s Academic Advisory Council meets to review the academic performance of all undergraduate students. The members of the council are the vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, the vice president for student affairs, the dean of student affairs the associate dean for academic affairs, the assistant dean for academic advising and student success, and the registrar. To maintain themselves in good academic standing at the College, students must achieve minimum cumulative grade point averages appropriate to progress toward their degree, and they must complete coursework at a regular and sustained pace. Minimum cumulative GPAs are as follows:

Semester Hours Completed Required Cumulative

 Semester Hours Completed
  Required Cumulative GPA
1-27
 1.60
28-55 1.70
56-83 1.80
84 or more
 1.90
 

At the conclusion of each semester, the College examines students’ academic records. Students who have not achieved the above minimum grade point averages will be given an Academic Warning, placed on Probation, or Academically Suspended from the College.

Academic Warning: The first time students fall below the required cumulative GPA as listed above, they will be given Academic Warning. Academic Warning constitutes a formal notification that a student’s academic performance is weak and that he or she needs to devote increased attention to academic work. Students receiving Academic Warning are cautioned that unless they achieve an acceptable cumulative grade point average, they will be placed on Probation and thereby lose the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities (including such activities as intercollegiate sports, student government, campus media, student clubs, and Greek and service organizations).

Probation:Students who fall a second time below the required cumulative GPA (whether in consecutive or nonconsecutive semesters) will be placed on Probation. A student on Probation will not be permitted to take part in extracurricular activities.

Final Probation: Students who fall a third time below the required cumulative GPA (whether in consecutive or nonconsecutive semesters) will be placed on Final Probation. A student on Final Probation will not be permitted to take part in extra­curricular activities, and the student will be informed that unless the student restores himself or herself to good ­academic standing and maintains that status, the student will be suspended from the College.

Academic Suspension: Students will be suspended academically from the College when (1) they fall a fourth time below the required cumulative GPA (whether in consecutive or nonconsecutive semesters); (2) they fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 0.75 at the conclusion of any semester; (3) they have not earned by the conclusion of the second and subsequent semesters of full-time enrollment a total of at least 6 credit hours of coursework for each semester completed. Students suspended for academic reasons will not be permitted to return for at least the full subsequent semester (fall or spring).
In the event of an academic suspension, a student may appeal the decision and will be assured due process as follows:

• No later than ten (10) business days following the date of the letter informing the student that he/she has been suspended, the student may appeal the decision. Failure to appeal within the limited time period constitutes a waiver of the student’s right to appeal.

• The appeal must be made in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. An appeal will be awarded given the following conditions:
1. a change was made to a student’s grade in a course, and this change occurred prior to the start of the semester for which the student was suspended;
2. severe mitigating circumstances sufficiently documented by an authority contributed to the student’s poor academic performance.
• The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will assemble an Appeals Committee, consisting of at least two members of the Dean’s Academic Advisory Council and one member of the faculty. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will serve as the chair of the Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee has the authority to affirm or reverse the decision to suspend the student.
• The chair of the Appeals Committee will consult with the student and members of the assembled committee to schedule a hearing. All persons will be given at least two business days’ notice of the date, time and place of the hearing. The student must be present at the hearing to present his or her case to the committee.
• The student may be assisted during the hearing by an advisor of choice from among current full-time students, faculty, administration or staff, but may not be assisted during the hearing by anyone else. The selected individual may function in an advisory capacity only. He or she may not actively participate in the appeals hearing. If the student has documentation from an authoritative source, the Committee will review that material as well.
• Within twenty-four hours following the appeals hearing, the Committee’s decision will be communicated in writing to the student, the student’s advisor, the Registrar, the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of the Faculty and the Vice President for Student Affairs. The decision of the Appeals Committee is permanent and final.
To request reinstatement following a suspension, students must submit a written petition to the associate dean for academic affairs. Upon reinstatement to the college, a student will have two semesters to bring up his or her cumulative GPA to the minimum required for good academic standing at the College. A suspended student who returns to the College and who is suspended again for academic reasons will be regarded as permanently separated from the College.