1996-1997 Academic Catalog

30 Academic Information Graduation All students must realize that it is their own responsibil– ity to check on their progress toward meeting all require– ments for graduation. They are urged to plan the class schedule for each quarter of the senior year at early registration time at the end of the junior year. This plan should be approved by the faculty counselor and checked to see that when it is completed all degree requirements will have been met. The catalog in use when a student first enrolls governs his graduation requirements unless that catalog is over 10 years old, or that student has left and then re-enrolled more than one year later . Conse– quently, that catalog should be retained and used as a guide in case changes are made in the course or gradua– tion requirements during the time the student is enrolled. However, a student may select a subsequent catalog if the student wishes; but all requirements from that catalog must be completed. Students who cannot complete their graduation require– ments before the end of the spring quarter in their senior year, but who can complete them during the following summer or fall, will be granted their diplomas in Septem– ber or December, as appropriate. A separate application is required, however, along with a $100 deposit. Seniors who are eligible to receive their diplomas in September or December may be approved to participate in the June commencement preceding the completion oftheir work. Information concerning eligibility for September or December graduation is available in the Academic Records Office. Sessions and Credits The regular college year consists of three quarters of 11 weeks each, extending from September to June. Credits are earned in terms of quarter hours, a quarter credit hour being one 50-minute period a week for one term. As an illustration, a student completing the work required in 15 such periods a week for one quarter receives credit for 15 quarter hours. Laboratory sessions, applied music courses, physical education courses, compressed courses, and internships are exceptions to this pattern. Academic Advising Each student is assigned to an academic counselor who offers advice concerning course scheduling. A student who has not declared a major will be assigned to a special advisor equipped to offer assistance in selecting a field of study. The student should consult with his or her advisor not only at registration but also throughout the year whenever an academic problem is encountered or plans for changes of educational programs or procedures are being formulated. A student with low grades in a major or minor field may be advised to select another field of study. Transient Study Coursework to be completed at other institutions by a student emolled at Cedarville College must be approved by the registrar, his or her academic advisor, and the chairperson ofthe academic department governing the course requirement that the transferred course is to satisfy. This approval must occur before the course is taken. Course approval forms are available in the Aca– demic Records Office. Academic Course Load Assuming that proficiency requirements have been satisfied, a minimum of 192 quarter hours is required for graduation. A student should average 16 credit hours each quarter to graduate upon completion of the 12th quarter. A normal course load is 15 or 16 hours each quarter. Students working more than 20 hours per week are not advised to carry a full course of studies. The student's academic load is subject to reduction or limitation by the academic vice president for poor schol– arship or excessive work outside of school hours. Students who wish to take more than 18 credit hours must obtain special permission. Those who wish to take 18-21 credits with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 must obtain approval by the registrar. Those who wish to take 18-21 credits with a cumulative grade point average ofless than 2.5 must obtain the approval of the academic vice president. All students who wish to take more than 21 credits must obtain permission from the Education Policies Committee. Classification of Students Regular students are those who have met the require– ments for admission. Regular standing implies that the student is enrolled in a degree program and is carrying at least 12 quarter hours of credit in that academic quarter. Special students are those who are not enrolled in degree programs. Part-time students are those who have met all admission requirements, are seeking a degree, and are taking fewer than 12 quarter hours. Transfer students are those who have studied full-time for at least one term at another accredited college or university. Assignment to Classes Official class membership is determined according to the following schedule: Class Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Special Quarter hours completed 1-41 42-89 90-134 135 and up assigned