Academic Regulations and Procedures

Academic Honor Code

Definition of a Credit Hour and Course Level Policy

Lander University Definition of a Credit Hour
Lander University adheres to the Federal definition of a credit hour for cumulative contact time per semester:
• One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
• At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
Lander University ensures a minimum of 700 minutes of instruction per credit hour (2,100 minutes of instruction for a standard, three-hour course), regardless of mode of delivery. The fall and spring semester standard meeting times for three-hour courses are a 50-minute Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule and a 75-minute Tuesday, Thursday schedule.
Summer session classes follow the same standard of 700 minutes of instruction per credit hour but because the summer sessions are shorter than a fall or spring semester, the summer terms standard meeting times are longer and more frequent.

Course Level Policy
Lander University identifies courses with numbering that labels undergraduate courses as 100s, 200s, 300s, and 400s. Lower division or introductory 100/200-level courses are typically taken during the freshman and sophomore year. Upper division 300/400-level undergraduate courses are more advanced and are typically taken during the sophomore, junior, and senior years. Graduate courses are numbered 500s – 800s. The course level for undergraduate and graduate courses indicates the level of content knowledge or skills expected for students entering the course and the level of knowledge and skills the course and its student learning outcomes are designed to produce.

Credits, Course Load, and Classification
A graduate enrolled for 6 or more credit hours during a 16-week term is classified as a full-time student.

Repetition of Coursework - A student is allowed to repeat any course, subject to the current prerequisites and the following stipulations:
1. A student can receive credit only once for any course, unless noted differently in the course description.
2. If a course is repeated once, the repeat grade will be recorded on the transcript and included in computing the cumulative grade point average. The first grade shall be recorded on the transcript but shall not be used in determining the cumulative grade point average. If a course is repeated more than once, all repeat grades will be recorded on the transcript and all repeat grades will be included in computing the cumulative grade point average.
3. Courses taken elsewhere to repeat Lander coursework may not be used to improve one’s grade point ratio average (GPA). A transfer course cannot be used to replace a Lander University course. If a student has earned a “D” or better for the same course at Lander, the transfer credit will be excluded from the student’s earned hours.
4. A student will not be allowed to repeat a course for a higher grade after a higher-level sequential course has been passed unless it is a specific graduation requirement.
The University is not obligated to continue to offer courses or programs in a prior year’s catalog that have been deleted officially from the curriculum.

Procedures regarding course substitutions, exceptions to requirements, and establishing transfer equivalencies
A course substitution means that a student may apply the credit earned in one course and substitute that credit in place of another course.
Exception to a requirement means that the student is given an exemption from completing the specific coursework necessary to satisfy a requirement. The student receives no credit for the exemption and must complete comparable elective hours. For example, a student granted an exemption to a specific requirement would have to complete another 3-hour course to make up the hours.
Transfer equivalency means a course taken at another institution covers the same set of topics and material as a course offered at Lander. If the transfer course has an accepted Lander equivalency, the student will receive credit for the corresponding Lander course. If the transfer course does not have a direct Lander equivalent, the student will receive elective credit for that transfer course. Transfer credit decisions are made by the relevant academic program coordinator and/or dean who communicates the decisions to the registrar’s office. The registrar’s office notifies the student.

Procedures for students seeking exemptions to requirements
A student seeking an exemption to a requirement established by a program must consult his or her academic advisor and fill out the Course Substitution Appeal form. The advisor will then forward the form to the Department Chair/Assistant Dean for their review, and they will then forward the form to the College/School Dean. When the review is completed and a decision is reached, the form will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar, and the Registrar will notify the student of the decision. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Auditing

Auditing a course consists of attending classes and listening without the responsibility for any course assignments or examinations. No credit is earned by auditing a course and no credit may be earned in an audited course by examination or otherwise.

Requirements:
• All students who wish to audit must be admitted to the University to be eligible to audit a course.
• Students may only audit the same course once.
• No audited course may be repeated for credit later.

After the application process is complete, students must contact the Office of the Registrar. The dean of the college offering the course will be notified of the audit request. Once approval is granted, the Office of the Registrar will complete the course registration if all requirements have been met.

A student who has registered for a course on an audit basis and who wishes to change the registration to take the course for credit or a student who has registered for a course on a credit basis and who wishes to change the registration to take the course by audit must do so no later than the last day to add or register for courses as published in the University’s academic calendar. Notification of the change must be made to the Office of the Registrar by the appropriate deadline.

Grading System

Credit will be granted only for courses in which a student earns a grade of A, B+, B, C+, C, D+, or D and for the grade of P, explained below. Symbols used in the grading system and their meanings are as follows:

A: Excellent - Indicates achievement of distinction. Four quality points are given per credit hour.

B+: Very Good - Indicates achievement well above what is required for graduation. Three and one-half (3.5) quality points are given per credit hour.

B: Good - Indicates achievement above what is required for graduation. Three quality points are given per credit hour.

C+: Above Average - Indicates slightly above average achievement. Two and one-half (2.5) quality points are given per credit hour.

C: Average - Indicates average achievement. Two quality points are given per credit hour.

D+: Below Average - Indicates achievement slightly below what is required for graduation. One and one-half (1.5) quality points are given per credit hour.

D: Poor - Indicates achievement at a level below what is required for graduation. One quality point is given per credit hour.

P: Passing - Indicates satisfactory achievement in no credit or no grade options. No quality points are given and grade is not considered when calculating grade point average.

F: Unsatisfactory achievement. No quality points are given in the calculation of the grade point average. This grade is assigned to a student who attended and/or academically participated in the course through the end of the term but failed to meet the minimum requirements for passing.

FA: Failure due to excessive absences. No quality points are given, and the grade is included in the calculation of the grade point average. This grade should be assigned to a student who attended the course at least once but ceased attending and academically participating in the course before the end of the term, and where the basis for the failing grade is attendance rather than academic performance. Students receiving this grade are considered to have stopped academically participating in the course and are therefore regarded as having unofficially withdrawn. Instructors assigning this grade must provide on the final grade roster the student’s last date of academically related activity, defined as the most recent date on which the student engaged in an academically related activity in the course.

AU: Audit - Indicates status as auditor. No credit is earned by auditing a course and no credit may be earned in an audited course by examination or otherwise.

W: Withdrew - Indicates withdrawal from the course.

I: Incomplete – A grade of Incomplete is assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, in the instructor’s judgment, a student, who has a passing grade in the course, or a reasonable prospect of earning a passing grade, is unable to complete some limited portion of the assigned work in a course (e.g., final project, final exam) because of extenuating circumstances (e.g., extended illness, accident, unavoidable work-related responsibility, or family hardship).
NOTE: An Incomplete is not intended to give students additional time to complete course assignments unless there is some indication that the specified condition or event prevented the student from completing course assignments on time.

By arrangements with the instructor, a student assigned a grade of Incomplete will have up to six months from the last day of examinations for the semester in which to complete the work before a permanent grade is recorded. Within two weeks of assigning a grade of Incomplete, the instructor will prepare an “Incomplete Grade Form” that specifies the assignments that must be submitted and the deadline for each assignment. The student will sign the form indicating acknowledgement of the requirements, and the instructor will place a copy on file with the Registrar’s Office. If the instructor does not complete a grade change request by the end of the six-month period, the grade of Incomplete will automatically be changed to a grade of “F”.
NOTE: Re-enrolling in the course will not make up an incomplete grade. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all arrangements for removal of the Incomplete have been made and that all work for completing course assignments has been accomplished by the deadline established by the instructor.

XR: A placeholder notation applied by the Registrar’s Office at the end of the term when a grade has not been submitted by the instructor.

XS: A placeholder notation applied as a final grade for Study Abroad courses upon receipt of official transcripts. No quality points.

Grade Point Average - Grade points in any course are computed by multiplying the number credit-hours assigned to the course by the number of quality points associated with the grade earned in the course, according to the following scale:
Grade Description Quality Points

The grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of institutional quality points earned by the total number of institutional credit-hours attempted for courses receiving any grade in the preceding list. The following grades do not affect the grade point average: AU, I, P, XR, XS, W.

Grade Reports - At the end of each Fall, Spring, and Summer term, students will access their final grades online through MyLander.

Grade Appeals and Changes --The Student Handbook describes the grade appeals process. Neither grade changes nor appeals for grade changes can be made after one calendar year from the time the grade was given. After graduation, no grade can be changed or appealed.

Transcripts

Requests for official transcripts of a student’s academic record should be made online through the National Student Clearinghouse. Procedures for requesting an official transcript can be found at:
https://www.lander.edu/intranet/academics/registrars-office/transcripts.html.

A transcript of a student’s record carries the following information: current status; a detailed statement of the scholastic record showing courses pursued with credit hours carried, credit hours earned, grades, grade points, the system of grading, all failures, incomplete grades, and academic penalties such as academic probation, suspension, or other restrictions. A student’s official record concerns academic performance only. No partial record will be issued.

No official transcript will be issued to or for a student who is indebted to Lander University.

Attendance Policy

University Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend class as regularly scheduled and are responsible for consulting instructors’ syllabi regarding attendance requirements. Instructors with specific attendance requirements can hold students accountable for absences from class. Consequences for violating attendance requirements will vary from instructor to instructor and may include failure of the course. Students who anticipate missing class must seek relief from attendance requirements at least one week prior to the date of absence. Students missing class are expected to consult with their instructor(s) to request permission to make up missed coursework.
University Student Representatives (approved by the President) who must attend university-sponsored events will be given relief from an instructor's attendance requirements if they notify the instructor(s) at least one week prior to the event. University Student Representatives must meet the attendance requirements stated in the previous paragraph for all other absences.
Students may request attendance accommodations for documented disabilities by contacting The Office of Student Disability Services prior to the beginning of classes.
Students in laboratory sections offered by the College of Science and Mathematics or clinical sections offered by the School of Nursing must attend the first class meeting to remain on the roster.
Students who have never attended class during the first two weeks of the semester may be dropped from the course at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor will notify the Registrar and the student will be dropped from the course. However, students should not assume that they have been dropped from the course because they have not attended class. It is the responsibility of the student to drop a course that they are not planning to attend by the deadline published on the Academic Calendar. Failure to do so may result in a failing grade for the course.

Official Drop/Withdrawal
From a Course – Students should refer to the appropriate academic calendar to determine the dates that they may drop a course completely or withdraw from a course without academic penalty (earn a grade of “W”). Any petition to drop or withdraw from individual classes after the posted withdraw date will be considered only if the petition presents circumstances which are compelling, non academic and beyond the control of the student (e.g., extended illness or related distress) and which would directly impact the student’s ability to fulfill the course requirements. Individual course drops or withdrawals do not automatically guarantee a refund of tuition.
From the University - Students who find it necessary to withdraw from all classes must process an Official Withdrawal and/or Temporary Leave form with the Registrar’s Office. Complete withdrawal after the drop deadline will result in grades of “W” for all registered coursework. Students may not completely withdraw following the last day of classes. MyLander will not allow students to withdraw themselves from all courses; instead, this process begins in the Student Success Center.

Temporary Leave
Students who intend to reenroll at Lander after an attendance break of one or two regular semesters may request an official temporary leave. Such a leave may be granted for either one or two regular semesters if the applicant was in good standing at the end of the last term completed at Lander. The Official Withdrawal and/or Temporary Leave form process begins in the Student Success Center. Completion of the application and approval of the request constitutes a contract between Lander and the student involved. This contract obligates Lander to furnish access to certain services during the non-enrollment period and binds the student to reenroll by no later than the mutually agreed upon date. Lander approvals include signatures of the Assistant Vice President for Student Success, a financial aid counselor, a student accounts official, a housing official (if applicable), and a registrar’s office official.

Students approved for a temporary leave are eligible for:
1. Registration for classes without the necessity of applying for readmission (as long as the application for a Temporary Leave is processed no later than two weeks prior to the registration in question).
2. Participation in residence hall room requests at the same time as students currently in residence (as long as the application for a Temporary Leave is processed at least two weeks prior to the appropriate housing deadlines).
3. Certain university scholarships; and
4. Use of the Jackson Library with a temporary ID.

Students not eligible for temporary leave:
1. Foreign students, because of Federal laws governing them, may not have a break in their studies except during the summer.
2. Special and Non-Degree students, whether undergraduate or graduate, are admitted for one semester only.

Expulsion
A student found guilty of an infraction of the Academic Honor Code may be expelled from the university and not be allowed to reapply for admission.

Degree Requirements

General Degree Requirements
The student is solely responsible for meeting all program requirements for graduation. The academic advisor will assist and advise students prior to the decision to enroll in courses but is not responsible for ensuring that students satisfy all the program requirements.

Change of Major or Program
Students in good standing may change to another major or program as long as their academic record meets or exceeds the entrance requirements of the program they wish to enter. If the academic record does not meet the criteria for automatic admission, students may submit supplementary material to the appropriate program coordinator or college dean. To change programs, the student’s current academic advisor will need to complete an Online Student Green Card in MyLander.

Graduating Under a Catalog
The catalog in place at the time the major is declared becomes the one used to determine graduation requirements for the major and minor. A student may choose a subsequent catalog for purposes of meeting graduation requirements. Students in majors leading to teacher certification may be required to use the most current catalog to be eligible for certification by the South Carolina Department of Education.
If a student enrolled at Lander leaves the university for less than two years, the student may remain under the catalog previously selected. If a student enrolled at Lander leaves the University for a period of two or more years, when he or she returns, the catalog in effect at the time of readmission is used to determine graduation requirements.
A student may not graduate under a catalog that is more than eight years old.
Students must provide notification of a change in catalog year to the Office of the Registrar one semester prior to graduation. Students must then submit the Request for Graduation Form and complete the online application in MyLander by the deadline set by the Registrar’s Office.

Certificates
Because state law specifies that four-year degree-granting institutions may not offer undergraduate degrees lower than a baccalaureate, Lander University offers certificate programs to students who are required to either 1) already have completed a baccalaureate degree, and/or 2) be concurrently enrolled in a baccalaureate program at Lander University. In the event that a student completes the coursework for the certificate and does not graduate from Lander with a baccalaureate degree, the courses for the certificate will appear on the student’s transcript, but the certificate will not be awarded.
Students who earn certificates are not recognized at commencement. They may come to the Registrar’s office to receive their certificate or they may choose to have the university mail their certificates to them.

Students’ Right to Petition
Students have the right to seek specific relief from the application of the academic policy of the University. To do so, the student must submit the request in writing on an Academic Petition form to the Office of the Registrar or an Appeal for Readmission form to the Office of Admissions. The request should include a concise letter of the circumstances which have led to the request and any required or suggested supporting documentation. At a minimum, the following deadlines must be observed:
• Petitions that must go to the University Petitions Committee must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the close of business on the workday prior to the committee meeting day at which the student wants the request to be heard. Petitions and supporting documents submitted after this deadline will be considered at the next monthly meeting of the committee.
• Appeals for Readmission must be completed and submitted to the Office of Admissions (additional instructions are on the form) no later than the close of business on the workday prior to the Admissions Committee meeting day at which the student wants the request to be heard. Students can appeal for readmission only to a Fall or Spring semester. Appeals and supporting documents submitted after this deadline will be considered at the next monthly meeting of the committee.
The University Petitions Committee and the Admissions Committee meet at least once during each month of the year; contact the Office of the Registrar or the Office of Admissions for the specific dates and times of these meetings.

Graduation

Graduation
Application for degree – Students are eligible to apply for a degree if all degree requirements are completed by the end of the semester in which they are applying to graduate. A candidate for a degree must file a Request for Graduation form with the Office of the Registrar and complete the online graduation application in MyLander by the date published in the current catalog. An application for a degree is not complete until the student has paid the graduation fee. Graduation fees cover a student’s cap, gown, and diploma. Graduating students with physical disabilities are expected to communicate with the Office of the Registrar regarding accommodations needed for their participation in the commencement ceremony upon submission of their application. If a student's graduation plans change, academically or personally, the student must reapply for graduation during the next anticipated term of graduation and pay the graduation fee. Students who apply to graduate in August and who complete all requirements receive their diploma in August and are automatically included in the following December ceremony.

Participation in Commencement Ceremony

Student participation in the commencement ceremony is allowed if:
• the student has filed a Request for Graduation form with the Office of the Registrar and has completed the online graduation application in MyLander for the specific commencement ceremony, and
• the student has completed all degree requirements during the semester of graduation (August graduates may participate in the December commencement ceremony).
An official or unofficial withdrawal of all classes during the graduation semester will disqualify participation.
Any other conditions which disqualify a student from participation in the commencement ceremony may be appealed.

Students may not take coursework at another institution during their term of graduation. All coursework from other institutions must be received and posted prior to the semester of their graduation from Lander University. Students bear the responsibility of requesting their transcripts to be sent to the Office of the Registrar.

Posthumous Degrees - Enrolled undergraduate and graduate students whose untimely death prevents degree completion may be awarded a posthumous degree. The award of a posthumous degree may be an appropriate recognition of a student’s academic achievement when that student’s progress would have likely fulfilled the requirements of a degree except for the occurrence of death. Posthumous degrees may be awarded to the deceased students at the discretion of the appropriate college dean and the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and with the consent of the deceased student’s family under the following conditions:
A. When a student death occurs after ALL requirements for the awarding of the degree have been completed; or
B. When a student death occurs at a time when the student is enrolled in courses that would complete the degree requirements and that student otherwise has met all university, college and department requirements and is in good financial standing with the university.
If the University approves awarding of the degree posthumously, the Office of the Registrar will place the student’s name on the appropriate degree list. The diploma and a copy of the commencement program will be released to the family. Upon posting the degree, the transcript will be annotated to indicate that the degree was awarded posthumously.
The family may wish to have someone attend the commencement ceremony and receive the student’s diploma. These arrangements should be made with the University through the Office of the Registrar prior to the commencement date. If the person representing the student wishes to participate in the commencement ceremony and receive the diploma, the reader for the ceremony will announce his/her name as follows: “Jane Doe on behalf of Robert Jones”.