Students are expected to be familiar with the academic procedures of
the university. The procedures of greatest importance to students are
listed in this section of the catalog. Additional information about
these procedures is available in the Office of the Registrar and the
Office of the Provost.
Both the value and the success of any academic activity, as well as the entire academic enterprise, have depended for centuries on the fundamental principle of absolute honesty. The university expects all its faculty and students to honor this principle scrupulously.
Since academic dishonesty is a serious breach of the universally recognized code of academic ethics, it is every faculty member's obligation to impose appropriate sanctions for any demonstrable instance of such misconduct on the part of a student.
The university's policy on academic integrity and its procedures for
dealing with academic misconduct are detailed in the Student Handbook at www.plu.edu/print/handbook.
It is the responsibility of each undergraduate student to know and
follow the procedures outlined in this catalog and to abide by the
established deadlines.
The university expects that all students will benefit from assistance in planning academic programs consistent with their educational goals. Both to help students make their initial adjustment to the academic load at PLU and to provide counsel throughout their academic careers, the university has established a network of faculty and administrative staff advisors as well as an Academic Advising Office.
All students enrolled in degree programs have advisors whose overall responsibility is to guide academic progress. Until students have attained junior standing, they are required to meet with their advisor (and receive a current Registration Access Code) prior to registering for an upcoming term. In their work with individual students, advisors often work closely with and refer students to personnel in a number of student services offices. At the time of entry, each first-year student is assigned an academic advisor, usually according to interests expressed by the student.
Students who wish to explore the general curriculum before choosing a major program are assigned to exploratory advisors (professional advisors in the Academic Advising Office or especially trained faculty or administrative staff) who will help them to make educational plans appropriate to their interests and talents. All academic advisors are supported by educational planning workshops and by resources available through the Academic Advising Office.
Transfer students who are ready to declare their major are assigned to a designated transfer advisor in each department or school. Transfer students who wish to explore educational goals are assigned an academic advisor in the Academic Advising Office.
Progress toward general university requirements can be accessed by the student and the advisor online via the Curriculum, Advising, Program Planning (CAPP) report available on Banner web. In addition, advisors receive an advising file for each student they advise.
Major Advisors
Upon formal declaration of a major, students are assigned faculty major advisors within the major department, which in many cases will replace the current academic advisor. Major advisors guide students' progress toward their chosen degree goals. Students are always welcome to see a professional academic advisor in the Academic Advising Office in addition to their major advisor. Students and advisors are expected to meet regularly, though the actual number of meetings will vary according to individual needs. Students are responsible to meet with their advisor who serves as an academic guide as students make choices and determine their educational goals.
Academic Standing Policy
he following terms are used to describe academic standing at PLU. Academic standing is determined by the Committee for the Admission and Retention of Students, which reserves the right to review any student's record to determine academic standing.
Good Standing
All students enrolled at the university are expected to stay in good academic standing. Good standing requires a semester grade point average of 2.00 or higher for the immediate past semester and satisfactory academic progress.Academic Warning
Students whose most recent semester grade point
average was less than 2.00, whose cumulative grade point average is
2.00 or higher, and whose academic progress is satisfactory are placed
on academic warning and sent warning letters. Students whose cumulative
and semester grade point averages are below 2.00 at the end of their
first semester at PLU are also placed on academic warning. Academic Warning is noted on the transcript.
Academic Probation
Students other than first semester students are placed on probation if their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00, or if they have been on warning in the previous semester and have failed to return to good academic standing, or (at the discretion of the Committee for the Admission and Retention of Students) if they have failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Probationary students must meet with the director of advising before the tenth day of a probationary semester to draw up a plan for improving their academic work. Academic probation is noted on the transcript. Failure to satisfactorily complete each course attempted in a probationary semester may result in dismissal from the university. Failure to complete includes withdrawals, incompletes, and grades of E or F.
Continued Probation
Students whose cumulative grade point averages are still below 2.00 after a probationary semester, but whose last semester grade point averages are above 2.00 and who are otherwise in good standing, may be granted one additional semester of probation at the discretion of the Committee for the Admission and Retention of Students. Such students must participate in the probationary semester program. Failure to satisfactorily complete each course attempted in a probationary semester may result in dismissal from the university. Failure to complete includes withdrawals, incompletes, and grades of E or F.
First Academic Dismissal
Students not in good standing at the end of a probationary semester are dismissed from the university. They may apply for reinstatement by petitioning the Committee for the Admission and Retention of Students (in care of the director of advising). If the petition is approved, the reinstated student is on probation and must participate in the probationary semester program. If the petition is denied, the student may petition again after one semester unless otherwise informed. Students are dismissed for academic reasons after each fall and spring semester.
Second Academic Dismissal
A readmitted student who fails to attain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average in the semester after reinstatement, but whose semester grade point average is above 2.00, may be granted one additional semester of probation at the discretion of the Committee for the Admission and Retention of Students. If a semester grade point average of 2.00 is not earned in the probationary semester, or if a student fails to achieve a 2.00 cumulative grade point average after a second probationary semester, the student is dismissed a second time and may not apply for reinstatement until one full semester has passed, and then only if new evidence is presented indicating the student's probable success. This rule also applies to a readmitted student who attains good standing and is then dismissed a second time for academic reasons.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory academic progress is defined as completion of at least 75 percent of the credit hours attempted in an academic year. Failure to complete includes withdrawals, incompletes, and grades of E or F. The Committee for the Admission and Retention of Students reserves the right to review for academic status those students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress. The committee shall regularly identify such students, review their records, consider extenuating circumstances, and decide whether or not the students shall be placed on academic probation.
Eligibility for Student Activities
Any regularly enrolled, full-time student (12 semester hours or more) is eligible for participation in university activities. Limitations on a student's activities based upon academic performance may be set by individual schools, departments or organizations. A student on academic probation is not eligible for certification in intercollegiate competitions and may be advised to curtail participation in other extracurricular activities.
Midterm Advisory Letters
In the seventh week of each fall and spring semester, instructors may choose to send warning letters to students doing work below C level (2.00) in their classes. No transcript notation is made, and academic standing is not affected.
The university assumes that all registered students have freely accepted personal responsibility for regular class attendance. Course grades reflect the quality of students' academic performance as a whole, which normally includes regular participation in the total class experience and is evaluated accordingly. Absences may lead to a reduction of a student's final grade. In the event of unavoidable absence, students are expected to inform the instructor. Assignment of make-up work, if any, is at the discretion of the instructor.
First-year: Students who have met first-year entrance requirements.
Sophomore: Students who have successfully completed 30 semester hours.
Junior: Students who have successfully completed 60 semester hours.
Senior: Students who have successfully completed 90 semester hours.
Graduate Student: Students who have met graduate entrance requirements and have been accepted into the Division of Graduate Studies.
Non-Matriculating Undergraduates: Undergraduate students who attend part-time for a maximum of nine semester hours but are not officially admitted to a degree program.
Non-Matriculating Graduate Students: Graduate students who attend part-time for a maximum of nine semester hours but are not officially admitted to a degree program.
The normal course load for undergraduate students during fall and spring semesters is 13 to 17 semester hours per semester, including physical education. The minimum full-time course load is 12 semester hours. The minimum full-time load for graduate students is eight semester hours. A normal course load during the January term is four semester hours with a maximum of five semester hours.
Students are permitted, within limits, to obtain credit by examination in lieu of regular enrollment and class attendance. No more than 30 semester hours may be counted toward graduation whether from the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or any other examination. Exceptions to this rule for certain groups of students or programs may be made, subject to recommendation by the Educational Policies Committee and approval by the faculty. Credit by examination is open to formally admitted, regular-status students only and does not count toward the residency requirement for graduation.
To receive credit by examination, students must complete a Credit By Examination Registration Form available on the display wall located across from the Student Services Center, obtain the signatures of the respective departmental dean or chair plus instructor and arrange for the examination. The completed form must be returned to the Registrar's Office by the add/drop deadline for the appropriate term.
CLEP subject examinations may be used to satisfy general university requirements as determined by the Registrar's Office. CLEP subject examinations may be used to satisfy requirements for majors, minors or programs as determined by the various schools, divisions and departments.
CLEP general examinations are given elective credit only.
CLEP examinations are subject to recommendations by the Educational Policies Committee and approval by the faculty.
Official CLEP transcripts must be submitted for evaluation of credit.
The university does not grant for college-level general equivalency diploma (GED) tests.
An undergraduate student may repeat any course. The cumulative grade point average is computed using the highest of the grades earned. Credit toward graduation is allowed only once.
Credit is not allowed for a mathematics or a foreign language course listed as a prerequisite if taken after a higher-level course. For example, a student who has completed Spanish 201 cannot later receive credit for Spanish 102.
Students are graded according to the following designations:
| Grade |
Points per Hour |
Credit Awarded |
|
| A |
Excellent |
4.00 |
Yes |
| A- |
3.67 |
Yes | |
| B+ |
3.33 |
Yes | |
| B |
Good |
3.00 |
Yes |
| B- |
2.67 |
Yes | |
| C+ |
2.33 |
Yes | |
| C |
Satisfactory |
2.00 |
Yes |
| C- |
1.67 |
Yes | |
| D+ |
1.33 |
Yes | |
| D |
Poor |
1.00 |
Yes |
| D- |
0.67 |
Yes | |
| E |
Fail |
0.00 |
No |
The grades listed below are not used in calculating grade point averages. No grade points are earned under these designations.
| Grade |
Description |
Credit Awarded |
| P |
Pass |
Yes |
| F |
Fail |
No |
| I |
Incomplete |
No |
| IP |
In Progress |
No |
| AU |
Audit |
No |
| W |
Withdrawal |
No |
| WM |
Medical Withdrawal |
No |
| NG |
No Grade Submitted |
No |
Pass (P) and Fail (F) grades are awarded to students who select the pass/fail option or who are enrolled in exclusive pass/fail courses. These grades do not affect a student's grade point average.
Pass/Fail Option
The pass/fail option permits students to explore subject areas outside their known abilities by experiencing courses without competing directly with students who are specializing in those areas of study. Grades of A through C- are regarded as pass; grades of D+ through E are regarded as fail. Pass/fail grades do not affect the grade point average.
Exclusive Pass/Fail Courses
Some courses only award pass/fail grades. The goals of these courses are typically concerned with appreciation, value commitment, or creative achievement. Exclusive pass/fail courses do not meet major or university requirements without faculty approval. If a student takes an exclusive pass/fail course, the student's individual pass/fail option is not affected.
Incomplete Grades
Incomplete (I) grades indicate that students did not complete their work because of circumstances beyond their control. An incomplete contract is to be completed and signed by the student and the instructor. To receive credit, an incomplete must be completed and a passing grade recorded within the first six weeks of the following semester. The earned grade is recorded immediately following the I, which remains on the record (for example IB+). Incomplete grades that are not completed are changed to the default grade indicated by the instructor when the incomplete was submitted. If no incomplete contract was submitted or a default grade was not indicated, the incomplete grade will be defaulted to an E or F grade upon expiration of the time limit for submitting grades for an incomplete from that term. An incomplete does not entitle a student to attend class again without re-enrollment.
In Progress
In Progress (IP) grade signifies progress in a course that normally runs more than one term to completion. In Progress carries no credit until replaced by a permanent grade.
Medical Withdrawal
Medical Withdrawal (MW) is entered when a course is not completed
due to medical cause. A medical withdrawal does not affect a student's
grade point average. See Withdrawal from the University.
No Grade (NG)
A temporary grade entered by the Registrar's Office when no grade has been submitted by the established deadline.
Students expecting to fulfill degree requirements within the
academic year (including August) are required to file an application
for graduation with the Registrar's Office according to the following:
| Degree Completion |
Bachelor's and Master's Deadline |
| December 2006 |
May 1, 2006 |
| January 2007 |
May 1, 2006 |
| May 2007 |
December 1, 2006 |
| August 2007 |
December 1, 2006 |
| December 2007 |
May 1, 2007 |
| January 2008 |
May 1, 2007 |
There are four degree award dates (end of summer session, fall semester, January, and spring semester). Degrees are formally conferred at December and May commencements. Students with January degree dates participate in the December commencement. Students with August degree dates participate in the previous May commencement.The actual date of graduation will be recorded on the permanent records.
Students who plan to transfer back to Pacific Lutheran University for a degree must apply for graduation before or during the first semester of their junior year so that deficiencies may be met before they leave campus.
Graduation Honors
Degrees with honors of cum laude, magna cum
laude, and summa cum laude are granted. A student must earn a
cumulative grade point average of 3.50 for cum laude, 3.75 for magna
cum laude, and 3.90 for summa cum laude.
All transfer grades are
combined with PLU grades to determine honor eligibility. Physical education
activity courses are not included in determining graduation honors.
Dean's List
A Dean's List is created at the end of Fall and Spring semesters. To be eligible, a student must have attained a semester grade point average of 3.50 with a minimum of 12 graded-semester hours.
Honor Societies:
Election to the Areté Society is a special recognition of a student's commitment to the liberal arts together with a record of high achievement in relevant course work. The society was organized in 1969 by Phi Beta Kappa members of the faculty to encourage and recognize excellent scholarship in the liberal arts. Student members are elected by the faculty fellows of the society each spring. Both juniors and seniors are eligible; however, the qualifications for election as a junior are more stringent. Students must have:
The university also has chapters of a number of national honor societies on campus, including the following:
- Beta Alpha Psy (Accounting)
- Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology)
- Alpha Psi Omega (Theatre)
- Beta Gamma Sigma (Business)
- Mu Phi Epsilon (Music)
- Phi Alpha (Social Work)
- Pi Kappa Delta (Forensics)
- Psi Chi (Psychology)
- Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics)
- Sigma Theta Tau International (Nursing)
- Sigma Xi (Scientific Research)
To encourage liberal learning of all kinds, above and beyond enrollment in courses leading toward formal degrees, the university offers a variety of opportunities for informal study:
Guest of University Status
Any professional persons who wish to use university facilities for independent study may apply to the provost for cards designating them as guests of the university.
Auditing Courses
To audit a course is to enroll, with the permission of the instructor, on a non-credit basis. An auditor is not held accountable for examinations or other written work and does not receive a grade. If the instructor approves, the course may be entered upon the transcript as audit. Audit fees are the same as credit fees.
Visiting Classes
Members of the academic community are encouraged to visit classes that interest them. No fee is charged for the privilege. Doing so requires the permission of the instructor.
Students register by using Banner Web, an online registration system. In addition to registering, Banner Web also offers students the ability to add or drop a class, check their schedules, and access final grades. Banner Web may be accessed through the PLU home page (www.plu.edu). Students may contact the Student Services Center with registration questions.
Adding or Dropping a Course
All add or drop activity must be completed by the listed add/drop deadline for the specific term or semester. Please refer to the front pages of the specific term class schedule or go online at www.plu.edu/~regi. Before adding or dropping courses, students are encouraged to contact their academic advisor for assistance. Students may add a course without an instructor signature only during the first five business days of a full/half semester-length class. In extraordinary circumstances, a student may add after the deadlines, but must have the instructor's signature, and is charged a $50 late registration fee, plus any additional tuition. A student may drop a course without an instructor's signature only during the first ten business days of a full semester-length class or the first five business days of a half semester-length class. The add/drop form may be found online at http://www.plu.edu/%7Eregi/doc/adddrop.pdf
Returning
students will receive registration time appointments to register for
summer/fall terms and for January and spring terms. Registration
dates are determined by the number of hours, including transfer hours,
completed by the student. Students may register for each new term or
summer session on or after the designated date.
Early registration for entering students occurs during June or January, depending on whether students begin in the fall or spring semester. Early registration is conducted by the Advising Office. Registration materials are sent to all accepted entering students well in advance of their arrival on campus for their first semester.
Most students meet in person with a registration counselor as they register for courses. Students may also register by phone.
Official Withdrawal
A student may withdraw from a class with an instructor's signature after the add/drop deadline and before the withdrawal deadline published on the calendar page of the specific term Class Schedule. Tuition is not refunded, a $50 late registration fee is charged and any additional tuition will be charged for adding any other classes. A grade of "W" is recorded on the student's academic transcript.
If a student is enrolled in a class, has never attended and did not drop the course before the published deadline, tuition will be charged to the student's account, unless the instructor's signature has been obtained. If the student obtains the instructor's signature, tuition is not charged, but a $50 late registration fee is assessed.
The add/drop form may be obtain from the Student Services Center, filled in, instructor signature obtained, and returned to the Student Services Center by the appropriate dates that impact fee assessment. The add/drop form may also be found online at www.plu.edu/~regi.
Withdrawal during the term
Students are entitled to withdraw honorably from the university if
their record is satisfactory and all financial obligations are
satisfied. Students must complete and sign the "Notification of Student
Withdrawal" form in the Student Services Center. Partial tuition
refunds may be available depending on when the student withdraws. Refer
to the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog for more information.
Grades of W will appear on the student's transcript for the term.
Withdrawal from a future term
Students are required to notify PLU if they do not plan to return for
the following term. Students are entitled to withdraw honorably from
the university if their record is satisfactory and all financial
obligations are satisfied. Students must complete and sign the
"Notification of Student Withdrawal" form in the Student Services
Center.
Medical Withdrawal
Students may also withdraw completely from the university for a term
for medical reasons. The student must complete a Medical Withdrawal
Petition, provide written evidence from a physician and a personal
explanation to the vice president for Admission and Student Life. This
must be completed in a timely manner and in no case later than the last
day of a class in any given term. If granted, the grade of WM will
appear on the student's transcript. Physician clearance is required
prior to re-enrollment. For more information contact Student Life, 105
Hauge Administration Building, 253.535.7191 or slif@plu.edu.