2005-2006 Academic Catalog

Academic Information 20 Graduation All students must realize that it is their own responsibility to check on their progress toward meeting all requirements for graduation. They are urged to plan the class schedule for both semesters of the senior year at early registration time at the end of the junior year. This plan should be approved by the faculty advisor and checked to see that when it is completed all degree requirements will have been met. To participate in the May commencement ceremony, stu- dents must submit applications for graduation by February 1st of the year they plan to graduate. This includes May, August, and December graduates. The catalog in use when a student first enrolls governs that student’s graduation requirements, unless that catalog is over 10 years old or that student has left and then re-enrolled more than one year later. Consequently, that catalog should be retained and used as a guide in case changes are made in the course or graduation requirements during the time the student is enrolled. A student may select a subsequent catalog if the student wishes; however, all requirements from that catalog must be completed. Early Commencement Students who cannot complete their graduation requirements before the end of the spring semester of their senior year, but who can complete them during the following summer or fall terms, must apply to participate in commencement before degree requirements are met. Students who have more than 18 semester hours to complete after the spring term must obtain approval from the academic vice president to participate in commencement. Information concerning eligibility for August or December graduation and early commencement is available in the Academic Services Office. Sessions and Credits The regular college year consists of two semesters of 15 weeks each plus final exam days, extending from August to May. Credits are earned in terms of semester hours; a semester hour equals one 50-minute period each week for one term. As an illustration, a student completing a course that meets 50 minutes a day, 3 days a week, for 15 weeks, receives 3 semes- ter hours credit. Laboratory sessions, applied music courses, physical education courses, compressed courses, and intern- ships are exceptions to this pattern. Academic Course Load Assuming that proficiency requirements have been satisfied, a minimum of 128 semester hours is required for graduation. A student should average at least 16 credit hours each semester to graduate upon completion of the 8th semester. A normal course load is 15-18.5 hours each semester. Students working more than 20 hours per week are advised not to carry a full course of studies. A student’s academic load is subject to reduction or limitation by a school dean or academic vice president for poor scholar- ship or excessive work outside of school hours. Students who wish to take more than 18.5 credit hours must obtain permis- sion through the following procedure: To request 19-21.5 credit hours The following students require advisor approval: • SENIORS with at least a 2.3 cumulative GPA • SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS with at least a 2.5 cumula- tive GPA • FRESHMEN with at least a 2.7 cumulative GPA • All students without a Cedarville University GPA who scored at least a 25 or equivalent on the ACT The following students require department chair approval: • Any student not meeting the criteria above • Any student whose advisor is not available The following students require dean approval: • Any student whose department chair is not available To request 22 or more credit hours • All students require approval of advisor, department chair, and dean The following situation requires academic vice president approval: • When dean is not available Classification of Students Regular students are those who have met the requirements for admission, are enrolled in a degree program, and are carrying at least 12 semester hours of credit from Cedarville University in that academic semester. 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 semester hours. Transfer students are those who have studied full time for at least one term at another accredited college or university. High school students are those who have not completed high school graduation requirements. Students show their support and demonstrate school spirit by attending the lively Cedarville basketball games.