Dec 03, 2024

Lee University Catalog 2019-2020

Lee University Catalog 2019-2020 [Archived Catalog]

Division of Adult Learning Policies and Procedures

Click on a link to be taken to the entry below:

ADULT PROGRAMS ADMISSIONS POLICIES
ADULT PROGRAMS ACADEMIC RESOURCES

ADULT PROGRAMS ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures
Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures

Adult Programs Admissions Policies

To be eligible for undergraduate admission the applicant must have graduated from an approved high school, or satisfactorily completed the GED test, have taken the ACT/SAT exam, AND have three (3) years of life experience beyond high school graduation. Applicants who are 25 years old or older are exempt from submitting their ACT/SAT scores.

Graduate program admissions policy requires that the applicant must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75. All persons who register at Lee University are required to file an application. Acceptance of students is based upon discernible qualities and potential. The university admits students regardless of race, color, national origin, religious preference or disability.

Undergraduate Application Procedure

Applicants may apply for undergraduate admission to the Division of Adult Learning by clicking here. All students expecting to enroll at Lee University in the DAL program for the first time must submit the following:

A DAL undergraduate application for admission.
Three (3) years of life experience beyond high school graduation.
Official high school and/or college transcripts mailed directly from the institution, or evidence of GED-equivalent. All students must have achieved a C average or above on all high school and college work. (Students transferring with more than 15 semester hours are not required to provide a high school transcript; however, they must request an official transcript be mailed from previous colleges or universities attended.) An official test score report from ACT or SAT is required for all students under the age of 25 and having under 16 semester hours of college credit. Applicants who have not already taken the entrance examination (ACT or SAT) will be required to take it prior to acceptance. The ACT/SAT should be taken on a national test date. Exceptions to this policy should be forwarded to the Director of Enrollment Services for consideration.
An advance matriculation fee of $25 (not refundable). The matriculation fee may be applied to the account of the student for a period of two semesters following the date of payment.

When the above requirements have been fulfilled, a student will be notified of his/her acceptance by DAL. The university may refuse admission and registration to students not meeting the minimum requirements for college, or may admit them on probation for limited work. Students who have a break in attendance of one year or more must reapply for admission.

Graduate Application Procedure

Applicants may apply for graduate admission to the Division of Adult Learning by clicking here. All students expecting to enroll at Lee University in a DAL graduate program must submit the following:

A DAL graduate application for admission.
Official transcripts of all college work.
An advance matriculation fee of $25 (not refundable). The matriculation fee may be applied to the account of the student for a period of two semesters following the date of payment.

Email

With acceptance into the DAL program, a student is assigned a Lee email account __@leeu.edu and is granted access to register for classes through Portico/WebAdvisor.

DAL Tuition and Fees

	DAL Undergraduate Tuition (per credit hour)	$378
	DAL Graduate Tuition (per credit hour)	755
	Application Fee	25
	Registration Fee (per semester, non-refundable)	25
	Deferred Payment Plan Fee (per semester)	100
	Student Services Fee (per semester)	55
	Student Activity Fee (optional)	50
	Health Service Fee (optional)*	75
	Late Enrollment Confirmation Fee	50
	Schedule Change Fee (per transaction)	10
	Proficiency Exam Administration Fee	30
	Proficiency Exams (for each hour’s credit established)	30
	Returned Check Fee (per check)	30
	Graduation Application Fee - Undergraduate Students	125
	Late Graduation Application Fee - Undergraduate Students	155
	Graduation Application Fee - Graduate Students	150
	Late Graduation Application Fee - Graduate Students	180

*The Health Service Fee must be paid in order to use the services offered by the Health Clinic and Counseling Center.

Ministry Discounts

A DAL undergraduate ministry discount is available to all students studying in one of our undergraduate ministerial degree programs (Bible and Theology, Christian Studies, or Ministry Leadership). The DAL undergraduate ministry discount is $126 off the per credit hour rate (tuition per hour is $252 instead of $378)

A graduate ministry discount is also available for students studying in our graduate ministerial degree program (Ministry Studies). The graduate ministry discount is $205 off the per credit hour rate (tuition per hour is $550 instead of $755).

Military and First Responders Discount

Lee University Online offers a discounted tuition rate of $250/hour for all Military and First Responders enrolled in undergraduate, non-ministry degree programs. Eligible students include all active duty U.S. service members or any veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. This tuition rate is extended to any active First Responder as well. For questions about eligibility, please see Homeland Security’s definition of First Responder:
“…Federal, State, and local emergency public safety, law enforcement, emergency response, emergency medical (including hospital emergency facilities), and related personnel, agencies, and authorities.” (The Homeland Security Act, 6 U.S.C. 101).
Enrollment Services will make the final determination of a student’s eligibility for the discount.

Refund Policy (Tuition only)

Based on enrollment in seven-week courses, the percentage of tuition to be refunded is as follows:

SEVEN WEEK COURSES:
During the first week of class	80%
During the second week	40%
During the third week	20%
After the third week	0%

Withdrawal from classes does not exempt a student from payment of tuition and fees. Upon registration, the student is responsible for tuition, application fee, registration fee, late enrollment confirmation fee, deferred payment plan fee, and textbook costs.

Mandatory refunds and repayments to Federal Title IV student financial aid programs will be calculated based upon earned and unearned aid percentages as outlined by the Federal Government. The formula for such calculations is based on the number of days in a given semester and the number of days attendance completed by the student prior to his/her withdrawal. Refunds mandated by the calculation could possibly increase the amount a student must pay after he/she withdraws from school. Please refer to “Return of Federal Title IV Financial Aid Policy” in the Undergraduate Financial Aid section.

NOTE: Textbook costs and fees will not be refunded.

Book Vouchers

Students will receive a book voucher only when their financial aid exceeds the amount of their school bill. If a student qualifies for a book voucher, the student will be able to go to the bookstore and use his or her Lee ID to purchase textbooks after he or she completes registration. (Non-textbook purchases may not be paid for with a book voucher.) Charges for textbooks purchased will be applied to the student’s account at the time of purchase. Questions regarding book vouchers should be directed to the Student Financial Services Office.

NOTE: Students are not required to use book vouchers to purchase textbooks. Vouchers are issued by the semester, not by the session.

Settlement of Accounts

Students should be prepared to pay full semester charges on or before registration. Money may be submitted in advance to the Student Financial Services Office. This payment will facilitate registration. Students are required to pay $225 down on or before registration according to the deferred payment plan. Students who are unable to pay their accounts in full must either borrow the necessary funds or enroll in the university’s deferred payment plan. Students who will have difficulty paying the full charges within the semester are encouraged to make advance arrangements for borrowing the needed funds. The university also offers services by which students may use Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express to make payment on their accounts.

Accounts with the school must be settled in full before a diploma is released, a transcript of credits is issued, or a letter of honorable dismissal is granted. NO STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO GRADUATE UNTIL HIS/HER ACCOUNT IS PAID IN FULL.

In the event of default in payment of the account with the school, and if the same is placed in the hands of a 3rd party collector, the student must pay all costs and expenses incurred by the university for collection efforts which may be based on a percentage of no more than 33% of the amount owed to the school. Delinquency of the account will be reported to the credit bureau and may negatively impact the credit score of the student. The amount owed to the school is considered a student loan and is not dischargeable under Bankruptcy Law.

Deferred Payment Plan

Any student desiring to participate in the university’s deferred payment plan is required to pay $225 at registration and the balance of semester charges in equal monthly payments. The same financial requirements apply to veterans and others in cases when money is not sent directly to Lee University. Students enrolling in the deferred payment plan will be charged a $100 fee for this service. This fee will apply to all students owing a balance in excess of $500 at the time of confirming enrollment. If balance of semester charges is not paid in full by the end of the term, a $35 late fee will be assessed.

Financial Aid

The Federal Pell Grant program is available for qualified DAL students enrolled in DAL programs. Some additional scholarship and loan programs are available to qualified applicants as well. To determine need, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filed through the Federal Processor. This will allow a student to be considered for the range of financial aid options available through the Lee University Financial Aid Office. All information must be filed with FAFSA online (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and received by Lee University before April 15 to be included in the priority group.

Lee University is approved for veterans and dependents of disabled or deceased veterans under existing public laws. Eligible persons should contact the Veterans Administration regional office of the state in which they maintain a permanent residence. One must have authorization for VA or vocational rehabilitation training before registering. If in doubt about the procedure, check with your local VA office (800-827-1000 or 888-442-4551).

To find out more about the availability of Financial Aid, see the Undergraduate Financial Aid section of the Lee University Catalog, or visit http://www.leeuniversity.edu/financial-aid.

Graduate Financial Aid

Graduate students are eligible to apply for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Graduation from a program can impact eligibility for future federal aid. Maximum annual loan amounts are indicated below:

Unsubsidized Stafford 20,500

Aggregate Loan Limits can be viewed in the Undergraduate Financial Aid section of the catalog. These amounts will be subject to the student’s filing for federal aid, showing eligibility for loans and cost of attendance for school. Students may or may not be eligible for the maximum possible award based on these criteria. Students must be enrolled at least half-time to receive Federal Student Aid.

Half-time Enrollment 5 to 6 credit hours

Three Quarter-time Enrollment 7 to 8 credit hours

Full-time Enrollment 9 credit hours or more

All graduate students who receive federal financial aid must be working toward an eligible degree from Lee University. In order to assure that students make satisfactory academic progress, requirements have been established. Please view the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards in the Undergraduate Financial Aid section of the Lee University Catalog.

Federal Graduate Plus Loan

A Federal Grad Plus Loan is a loan for graduate students who need further assistance after the use of Federal Direct loans. This is a federal loan with a fixed interest rate and is approved based on a student’s credit. Applications are made at www.studentloans.gov. Students are eligible for an amount up to the Cost of Education, less other aid received. Grad Plus Loan Entrance Counseling is required before funds can be disbursed. Entrance counseling can also be completed at www.studentloans.gov.

Grad Plus Loan Entrance Counseling

This interview process provides valuable information about the Federal Graduate Plus Loan Program. It is a Federal requirement that recipients must complete the interview prior to receiving funds from this program.

Grad Plus Loan Exit Counseling

Federal regulations require all students who borrow Graduate Plus funds to complete exit counseling when graduating or dropping below half-time enrollment.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

All students who receive federal financial aid must be working toward an eligible degree from Lee University. In order to assure that students make progress the following requirement have been established. Lee University will utilize the following policy in determining federal financial aid eligibility. Progress will be evaluated at the end of the academic year or at the end of a term as described under Review of Eligibility listed below.

DEFINITIONS

Academic year is fall, spring and summer.
Attempted hours are defined as any course which appears on the transcript.
Satisfactory grades are A, B, C and D.
Unsatisfactory grades are W, F, or I.

PROGRESS STANDARDS

Quantitative (Pace) Standard: Both undergraduate and graduate students must satisfactorily complete 67% of all hours attempted.
Qualitative (GPA) Standard: Undergraduate students must maintain the following cumulative grade point averages to be considered making satisfactory progress.

Total Hours Attempted Minimum Required GPA

0-29 1.5

30-59 1.7

30-89 1.9

90-above 2.0

Graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average which is the academic standard to remain in the graduate programs.

Maximum Hours: Any undergraduate student who has attempted 195 hours or more will not be making progress. Graduate students will be allowed to receive federal aid for a maximum of 150% of the published required hours of their program of study.
Transfer Students: All transferable credits will be counted toward the maximum number of hours allowed to be eligible for financial aid. Satisfactory progress will be evaluated at the end of the first academic year attended at Lee University.
Repeat, Remedial and ESL Courses: Courses will be evaluated consistent with the academic standards of the university.
Change in Major: All course work appearing on Lee’s transcript will be included in the evaluation process regardless of the association with the current declared major.

REVIEW OF ELIGIBILITY

Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed annually for all financial aid applicants to ensure that they meet the required qualitative, quantitative, and maximum time frame standards as previously outlined. Progress will be evaluated at the end of the academic year or at the end of a term of probation. Applicants who do not meet the standards outlined under Progress Standards will be notified.

FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION

A student who fails to meet any of the above standards of progress will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.
Removal from financial aid does not prevent the student from enrolling at Lee University if:
- the student has an alternative method of payment, and
- the student meets the academic requirements to re-enroll.

Course Registration Procedure

All undergraduate students must complete ENGL-106 and ENGL-110 by the completion of the 18th hour of college credit. If a student does not meet this requirement, he/she must enroll in ENGL-106 or ENGL-110 before enrolling in any additional courses. B.A. degree candidates must complete six hours of a foreign language at the intermediate level or higher.

INSTRUCTION FOR DAL COURSE REGISTRATION

Must be accepted into the DAL program or currently a DAL student.
All Lee University/DAL students must register with the university via Portico/WebAdvisor. Portico is the secure electronic gateway for student access to their academic, billing, financial aid, and registration records.
- Go to the Lee University Homepage: http://www.leeuniversity.edu
- Select: Current Students
- Under Web & Technology Services select: Portico/WebAdvisor Student Instructions
Your advisor will review and approve your course(s) through Portico/WebAdvisor.
A student is not officially enrolled until all paperwork and payments are secured and students have checked into each of their courses in Moodle. Payment for all associated charges is cleared with the Lee University Office of Student Financial Services. Payment can be made by VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express through the Portico/WebAdvisor, in the Business Office, or by calling 1-800-LEE-9930. Payment may also be made by check or money order and sent to:

Lee University
ATTN: Student Financial Services
PO Box 3450
Cleveland, TN 37320-3450

If you are receiving Financial Aid, please include a copy of your award letter with your payment.

Books for DAL courses can be obtained by visiting the Lee University Bookstore in person or by visiting the campus bookstore web page, www.lee.bkstr.com. All inquiries regarding textbooks should be addressed to the bookstore.

REGISTRATION & CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR DAL STUDENTS

DAL students register for twelve months at a time. The student and their advisor work to select the courses needed for all six sessions, Session A through Session F. Once the course schedule selection is determined, students then register in Portico for the full year schedule. There is no need to register again in January or May, as long as the student is successfully completing their courses throughout the year.

POST-ENROLLMENT CHECKLIST

Pay for your course(s).
Find out which textbooks are required and purchase them.
Familiarize yourself with Moodle and Portico.
Read the syllabus and the course schedule.
Log into Moodle at least twice a week to stay updated on announcements and assignments.

Questions regarding course content, assignments, and grades should be directed to your professor. Questions regarding technical issues or general online questions should be directed to DAL Office of Enrollment at 1-800-533-9930, 1-423-614-8370, or dal@leeuniversity.edu.

COURSE CHECK-IN

In order to stay compliant to changes in the US Financial Aid system, DAL students must check-in to each of their courses the first week of the class before proceeding to Unit 1 in Moodle. US Title IV regulations require that students be actively engaged in their classes in which US financial aid is utilized. By checking-in to each course every session, students will be fulfilling this requirement. Students who do not check-in by the second unit of a course will be purged from the course.

Changing a Schedule (Add, Drop, Withdraw)

Adding or dropping courses may be accomplished only during the registration add/drop period at the beginning of each term. Change of schedule requests must be submitted in writing or via email to the student’s academic advisor. The request must include the student’s name, ID number, the name of the course(s) and any other essential information. The official date of the changed schedule will be the date on which the request is received.

After the registration add/drop period at the beginning of the term, the student may wish to withdraw from class in order to avoid negatively impacting his/her GPA or to reduce a heavy academic course load. To withdraw from a class, the student must initiate this transaction by following the guidelines as listed above. The last day to withdraw from a course with a grade of “W” is the final day of each session. Dates are published in DAL Academic Calendar which can be found at www.leeuniveristy.edu/adult-learning. A student who never attends or stops attending a class for which he or she is officially registered will receive an “F” in that course if accepted procedures for withdrawal outlined above are not followed.

There is a fee applied for each change beginning with the first day of classes. Withdrawal from a course(s) does not exempt a student from payment of tuition, registration fee, and book fees. The tuition refund policy for dropping courses after classes have begun is explained in the section titled Refund Policy Tuition Only. Registration and book fees are non-refundable.

Withdrawing from the University

If a student withdraws from all courses of study, the student is considered to be withdrawing from the university. Students may withdraw from the university at any time beginning the first day of classes until the final day of classes for the session. Students who withdraw will be assigned the grade of “W” for all courses. The procedure is as follows:

Withdrawal from the University requests must be submitted in writing or via email to the student’s academic advisor. The request must include the student’s name, ID number, name of course(s), and any other essential information.
Upon receipt of this request, the student will be sent via an email attachment, the required Withdrawal Permission Form. It is the student’s sole responsibility to complete this form in its entirety and return it back to the Division of Adult Learning.
Upon receipt of the complete form, the appropriate offices will be notified.

Financial aid recipients should note that withdrawing from the University can affect eligibility for current and future aid. See Undergraduate Tuition and Fees Refund section and the Undergraduate Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy respectively. Students who are recipients of federal student loans should complete required loan exit counseling. This can be completed online at www.leeuniversity.edu/financial-aid or in the Financial Aid Office.

The office of Student Financial Services will issue a final statement of the student’s account.

Veterans and Dependents of Veterans

Transcripts containing college credits acquired through USAFI courses and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or through colleges in the various branches of the military should be submitted with your application. The transcript(s) will be reviewed by DAL Enrollment Services to determine the number of hours and the specific courses that are acceptable.

Statements of Compliance

Lee University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1961 and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, status as a veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law in any of its policies, practices or procedures. The Director of Human Resources is the campus coordinating officer for Title IX and all inquiries should be made to Human Resources.

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Lee University does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the recruitment and admission of students, or in the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by federal laws and regulations. Persons with questions about the Rehabilitation Act may contact the Office of Academic Support.

Lee University complies with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Lee University also complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Policy Regarding False Information

Any applicant who fails to acknowledge attendance or who submits false records from any college or university where he/she has previously registered is subject to dismissal from the university.

Academic Support

The Academic Support Office acts as a liaison between students with disabilities and the Lee University academic community. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the Academic Support Office works to ensure that students with disabilities, (physical, sensory, learning, and/or emotional), have equal access to educational opportunities. The Academic Support Office also provides information on issues of accessibility and reasonable accommodations. These services give students with disabilities equal access to academic programs.

Students with Disabilities

Lee University is committed to the provision of reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, as defined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students who think they may qualify for these accommodations should contact the Office of Academic Support to set up accommodations.

Center for Calling and Career

The Center for Calling & Career is dedicated to helping the Lee University community reach their professional and life goals. The CC&C assists current and former students, as well as faculty and staff, in the lifelong process of discovering their gifts, talents and strengths, and using those gifts with a sense of purpose to create a meaningful life. Students are encouraged to choose a major and develop career goals which are aligned with their callings, strengths and interests.

To support students in aligning their calling with their career, the CC&C provides resources and services for strengths and calling discovery, as well as for career exploration, preparation, and connections. In addition to hosting career events, CC&C advisors are available for individual appointments for strengths coaching, major exploration, resume reviews, mock interviews, graduate school advising, job search strategies and social media audits. Students may declare or change their major at the CC&C. Students are also invited to join CC&C’s LeeU Briefcase, an online career preparation resource and job search platform that connects students directly with employment recruiters. For more information about any of the services of the Center for Calling and Career or to schedule an appointment, students may connect with CC&C staff at ccc@leeuniversity.edu.

Academic Advising

Upon acceptance into a DAL program, each student is assigned a continuing academic advisor through the DAL Faculty Services Office. Advisors work to serve the needs of students throughout the course of their programs, up to graduation.

Writing Center

The Lee University Writing Center has designated hours for DAL students to receive assistance through synchronous online tutoring. The Writing Center Schedule can be viewed in Portico. For information on scheduling an appointment, click here.

ADULT PROGRAMS ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Confidentiality of Student Records

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Lee University students have the right to review, inspect and challenge the accuracy of information kept in a cumulative file by the university unless the student waives the right. The law further ensures that records cannot be released except in emergency situations without the written consent of the student other than the following:

to all school officials within the educational institution who have legitimate educational interest;
to officials of other schools in which the student intends to enroll, upon condition that the student be notified of the transfer, receives a copy of the record if desired, and has an opportunity for a hearing to challenge the content of the record;
to authorized representatives of (1) the Comptroller General of the United States, (2) the Secretary of Education, (3) an administrative head of an educational agency or (4) state educational authorities;
in connection with an emergency or legal situation;
in connection with any publicly-announced honor such as the Dean’s List;
in cases of information classified as “directory information.” (See below for definition.)

In order for a third party to access the student’s confidential information by contacting university personnel, a signed release form must be completed by the student giving the third party permission to access this information, and the third party must be able to provide several items of personally identifiable information to ensure the authenticity of the third party.

In order for a student to release his/her confidential academic record (grades, GPA, race, gender, religion, country of citizenship) or on-hold directory information to a third party, the student must specifically state the information to be released, the purpose of the disclosure, and to whom the information is being released. This documentation must also be signed and dated to ensure its validity. This form is available in the Office of Records. Requests to release confidential information will be maintained permanently in the student’s permanent file.

In order to provide the utmost protection of our Lee students, the University rarely shares directory information. Directory information contains but it not limited to: name, address, telephone listing, email address, dates of attendance, degrees and awards, date/place of birth, major field of study, athletic involvement, and the most recent previous educational institution attended by the student. If contacted by prospective employers, the University will assist students without a directory hold in obtaining employment by responding to employment background checks, especially from the U.S. Government. However, if the student has a directory hold in place or left Lee with a directory hold in place, that hold remains in effect until removed by the student, thus blocking release of any information to potential employers. An updated consent form submitted to the Office of Records will remove this hold.

It is highly recommended that a “directory hold” be placed on a student account only when there are security or safety issues. Once the threat is resolved, it is recommended that the student remove the directory hold.

If the student does not wish academic information to parents or directory information to be released, the student should notify the Office of Records at any time during the semester to place a hold on this information.

Questions concerning this law and the university’s policy concerning release of academic information may be directed to Office of Records. If a student feels that his or her rights have been violated as it relates to the release of confidential information, the student may file a complaint of the alleged violations with the Department of Education no later than 180 days from the date one learned of the circumstances of the alleged violation. Complaints should be addressed to: Family Policy Compliance Office, US Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington DC 20202-5901.

Course Substitutions

Any substitutions for, changes in, or exceptions to courses which are required for the granting of a degree from Lee University must be approved by the DAL Executive Director.

Discrimination and Harassment

No person in whatever relation with Lee University shall be subject to discrimination because of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability or other basis protected by law. Lee University is also committed to providing an environment free of harassment and/or hostility. The university maintains a strict policy prohibiting harassment because of race, color, sex, religion, disability, national origin, age, veterans’ status or other basis protected by law.

Transcripts

A transcript of academic credits will be issued by the Office of Records upon written request of the student. Transcripts can be ordered online at www.leeuniversity.edu, QuickLinks at the bottom of the screen, Transcripts and Records. The transcript will not be released until the office has received the student’s signature granting permission to release his/her record. Further, no transcript will be furnished until all accounts have been satisfactorily settled. An official transcript will be sent to another institution or other authorized person or agency. Official transcripts cost $7.50 each.

Replacement Diploma

The University will replace a diploma if destroyed, damaged, lost, or stolen. No diploma will be replaced due to a personal name change since this would alter a historical document. A Lee College diploma will not be replaced with a Lee University diploma for the same reason.

The replacement diploma will maintain historical accuracy as much as possible. A Lee University diploma will be issued with current signatures (President, VP for Academic Affairs, Chairman of the Board of Directors) if the graduation date is after 1997. A Lee College diploma with current signatures will be issued if the graduation date was 1997 or before. A note will be added to the bottom of the replacement diploma indicating that it is a replacement for a diploma issued on (date).

Although Lee University is the “records keeper” for East Coast Bible College, Charlotte, NC and Northwest Bible College in Minot, ND, Lee is not able to fulfill requests to replace a diploma from East Coast Bible College or Northwest Bible College. Lee does not have the authority to issue a replacement diploma from another school.

Academic Integrity

Rationale

As a Christian community of scholarship, we at Lee University are committed to the principles of truth and honesty in the academic endeavor. As faculty and students in this Christian community, we are called to present our academic work as an honest reflection of our abilities; we do not need to defraud members of the community by presenting others’ work as our own. Therefore, academic dishonesty is handled with serious consequences for two fundamental reasons: it is stealing - taking something that is not ours; it is also lying - pretending to be something it is not. In a Christian community, such pretense is not only unnecessary, it is also harmful to the individual and community as a whole. Cheating should have no place at a campus where Christ is King because God desires us to be truthful with each other concerning our academic abilities. Only with a truthful presentation of our knowledge can there be an honest evaluation of our abilities. To such integrity, we as a Christian academic community are called.

Definitions

Students will not knowingly perform or assist others in performing acts of academic dishonesty. The following acts are those which we consider to be dishonest:

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is presenting as your own work the words, ideas, opinions, theories, or thoughts which are not common knowledge. Students who present others’ words or ideas as their own without fair attribution (documentation), are guilty of plagiarizing. Unfair attribution includes, but is not limited to, a direct quotation of all or part of another’s words without appropriately identifying the source. It is also unfair attribution to have included a source within a Works Cited page without having carefully cited the source within the text of the document. Plagiarism also includes, but is not limited to, the following acts when performed without fair attribution:
1. directly quoting all or part of another person’s words without quotation marks, as appropriate to the discipline.
2. paraphrasing all or part of another person’s words without documentation.
3. stating an idea, theory, or formula as your own when it actually originated with another person.
4. purchasing (or receiving in any other manner) a term paper or other assignment, which is the work of another person, and submitting that work as if it were one’s own.
Unauthorized assistance
Giving or receiving assistance that has not been authorized by a faculty member in connection with any exam or academic work is academically dishonest. Students should assume that any assistance on exams, quizzes, lab work, etc., is unauthorized unless the faculty member involved in the exercise has approved it. Examples of prohibited actions include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. copying or allowing others to copy answers to an exam.
2. transmitting, receiving, or in some form obtaining information during an exam which would offer answers within the framework of the material being tested.
3. giving or receiving answers to an exam scheduled for a later time.
4. completing for others or allowing others to complete for oneself, all or part of an assignment.
5. submitting as a group assignment work which was prepared by less than all of the members of that group. It is the responsibility of the student to inform an instructor of the lack of participation of one member of a group.
6. unauthorized use of calculators or other electronic devices.
Lying/Tampering/Fabricating
Offering false information with regard to one’s performance in academic work is academically dishonest. Such activity includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. giving false reasons for failure to complete an academic assignment.
2. falsifying the results of a laboratory talk or other data.
3. altering work after it has been submitted.
4. altering grades, lab work, or attendance records.
5. falsely signing another person as present when he/she is absent in a class.
6. submitting for academic advancement an assignment which has previously been submitted for academic advancement, unless so authorized by the faculty member supervising the work.
Theft
Stealing or otherwise taking in an unauthorized manner information which relates to academic work is academically dishonest. Such activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. removing from a professor’s office materials which would give a student an unfair advantage on an academic assignment.
2. procuring information from a professor’s computer hardware or software.
3. taking exams, grade records, forms used in grading, books, papers, or other materials related to grading or evaluation of academic performance.
4. stating an idea, theory, or formula as your own when is actually originated with another person.

Procedures - Faculty Discretion

When any form of academic dishonesty occurs, the faculty member should determine in consultation with the Office of Faculty Services an appropriate course of action.

The faculty member may award the grade of “0” or “F” on the assignment, assign an “F” for the course, or in outstandingly bad circumstances recommend the student be considered for academic expulsion.
In addition, the faculty member is responsible to provide written documentation to the Office of Faculty Services of the charges made and course of action taken.

Student Appeal

If a student is deemed to be complicit in academic dishonesty, and he/she feels this decision is in error, he/she may appeal to the Director of Faculty Services.

UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Academic Fresh Start

This policy allows Lee University degree-seeking students who have experienced academic difficulty to make a fresh start and have one final opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree. This option benefits those students who early in their college careers failed to perform satisfactorily. The student must not have been enrolled in Lee University or any other post-secondary institution for a period of three consecutive years immediately prior to readmission, and must have had a cumulative GPA of below 2.0 prior to the three years’ absence.

Students who meet the above criteria may obtain further information regarding eligibility and application procedures for Academic Fresh Start from their faculty advisor or by contacting the Office of Academic Services.

Academic Probation

To graduate from Lee University a student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0, as well as a 2.0 (or higher if specified) in the major. In order to continue studies in the Division of Adult Learning, students must earn a minimum grade point average in accordance with the following scale of attempted hours:

	Hours attempted		Grade Point Average Required
	0-29		1.5
	30-59		1.7
	60-89		1.9
	90-120		2.0

Any student failing to achieve this average will be placed on academic warning but remain in good academic standing with the university. The status of academic warning may be removed during the next semester by bringing the GPA up to the required standard. Students who do not achieve the required cumulative GPA for the hours attempted by the end of the next semester will then be deemed as being on academic probation and considered not in good academic standing with the institution. Those who fail to achieve the required average will be subject to the following action:

DAL students on academic probation are limited to 6 credit hours per 7-week session.
All students on academic probation are reviewed by the Retention Committee. This committee will grant an extension to probation only when a student’s record demonstrates that such an extension would benefit the student in removing the probation and progressing toward graduation.
No student will be continued on probation more than four consecutive 7-week sessions, unless approved by the Retention Committee.
A student who has been authorized by the Retention Committee to continue on probation may be required to register for a specified class schedule.

Academic Standing

Academic standing is computed by dividing the total number of quality points by the total hours attempted by a student. Continuance and promotion from one academic classification to another is based on completion of the following number of hours:

	Freshman		0-29
	Sophomore		30-59
	Junior		60-89
	Senior		90-120

Academic Suspension

A student will be subject to academic dismissal after it becomes evident to the Retention Committee that he/she lacks the necessary academic qualifications or discipline. Any student who is suspended for academic reasons is ineligible for readmission until after two full 7-week sessions. Students who are suspended have the right to appeal for reentry if they believe there are valid extenuating circumstances responsible for their poor academic performance. Appeals must be put in writing and forwarded to the Chair of the Retention Committee for review by the committee.

Grades

Grades and quality points are assigned and recorded as follows:

Grade	Quality points per semester hour
A	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
C-	1.7
D+	1.3
D	1.0
D-	.7
F	0
I	0	Incomplete; converts to “F” at the end of the following semester; see explanation below.
W	0	Withdrawal from a course or from the university; see explanation below.
U	0	Audit successfully completed; see explanation below.

It is the instructor’s choice whether to use a straight letter-grading system or to incorporate plus/minus increments.

A grade of “I” indicates the student’s work is incomplete. The “I” grade normally becomes “F” if the work is not completed by the end of the following seven week session, unless a written extension has been approved by the DAL Office of Faculty Services. A grade of “I” is given only to students who encounter some personal difficulty such as a severe illness or an extreme family emergency near the end of the semester. The “I” grade is not given in order to allow students additional time to complete assignments.

A grade of “W” is assigned to a student who, for any reason, officially withdraws from the university or withdraws from a course at any time after the registration add/drop period. The “W” is assigned without academic penalty to the student. See the section on “Changing a Schedule” for details regarding this process.

A grade of “U” is given when a student successfully completes the minimum requirements for auditing a class. See section on Auditing a Class for details regarding this process. Online courses are not available for audit.

A grade change must be requested in writing by the student and approved by the instructor. The instructor will submit a change of grade on the appropriate form. Grade changes must be made within one session. All grades are distributed through the student’s online account and are available at the end of each term. Paper grade reports are available only when requested from the Office of Records. If this service is desired, the request must be renewed each term.

Repeating a Course

A course can only be repeated twice. A course taken at another university and transferred onto the Lee transcript can be repeated if Lee offers an equivalent course. When a student elects to repeat a course, only the grade received for the repeat will be counted in the computation of the cumulative grade point average. This is true even if the second grade is lower than the first.

Graduation Policy

DAL students who are applying for commencement must complete all coursework and degree requirements in the 7-week session prior to the respective Lee University commencement for which they are applying. Students may not walk at commencement without completing all graduation requirements prior to commencement. Even with the convenient nature of DAL programs and course schedules, some DAL students may have to defer until the next scheduled commencement in order to receive their diplomas.

Transfer Student Admission

A student from an accredited college or university will be admitted without further requirements, provided he/she withdrew in good standing and has completed at least 16 hours of college work. Transfer applicants must request that their former institution(s) send an official transcript showing evidence of at least a 2.0 average in all academic work previously taken. If the student has fewer than 16 hours, he/she will be required to request a copy of their high school transcript be sent to Lee. Ministry students with Church of God School of Ministry credit are exempt from this requirement. Transfer students who have less than a 2.0 grade point average may be accepted on academic probation.

An official transcript must be sent from each institution attended, regardless of whether credit was earned or is desired. A student who fails to acknowledge attendance in any college or university where he/she has been previously registered is subject to dismissal from Lee University.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has authorized each institution to review and decide for itself how much, if any, credit will be accepted from other educational institutions. Therefore, Lee University has adopted the following policy regarding the review process for transfer work from post-secondary schools that are accredited, non-accredited and outside the United States.

Transfer of credit shall not be denied solely on the basis of the agency or association that accredited such other institution of higher education if that agency or association is recognized by the Secretary of the Department of Education pursuant to Section 496 to be a reliable authority as to the quality of the education or training offered. Transfer of credit is the result of an academic review process that may include the Registrar, the Director of Academic Services, the Director of Enrollment Services, the Executive Director, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. This review is required in order to determine how and if transfer credits will apply toward courses within the major.

Requests for transcript review will be submitted to the DAL Enrollment Services Office in a timely manner. During non-registration periods, at least one week will be allowed for review. However, during peak registration periods, at least two weeks will be allowed for the complete review process. Furthermore, if transcripts from multiple institutions are being reviewed, original transcripts from each institution will be required and all coursework will be reviewed separately and individually.

No credit or transcripts from Lee will be issued until all previous transcripts are on file in the Division of Adult Learning.

A student in good standing at an accredited college or university who wishes to enroll in the DAL may be considered for admission as a non-matriculated (transient) student. Such admission will terminate at the end of the term and does not presuppose acceptance by the university. A non-matriculated student may submit, in lieu of official transcripts of college credits, a statement of good standing from the Dean/Registrar Advisor of the last school attended. This statement must state that the student’s institution will accept the credit from Lee University.

All work from previous schools is reviewed and evaluated for acceptance. The cumulative grade point average includes credit hours attempted on all accepted courses.

Removal of entrance conditions must be accomplished by the end of the first year.

Credit may be awarded for prior learning at an unaccredited institution provided Lee University has sufficient evidence of the quality of the prior learning experiences. Such credit will be placed on the Lee transcript only after the successful completion of a semester at Lee and will be subject to an evaluation of the appropriate application of such prior learning credits to the specific program of studies chosen by the transfer student.

All of the courses completed at an accredited junior college by a transfer applicant may be accepted provided the courses are submitted at the time of the original application. A junior college graduate, however, must complete a minimum of 60 additional hours at a senior level institution and the last 30 hours are required to be taken at Lee.

From Accredited Institutions

For schools accredited by agencies recognized by the Council for Higher Education and Accreditation (CHEA) or the Secretary of the Department of Education, Lee University will review and accept all coursework and the corresponding letter grade earned for courses which are comparable to those offered by Lee. For courses for which Lee does not offer an equivalent, credit for related electives will be considered. A review may be conducted by the Registrar, the Director of Academic Services, the Director of Enrollment Services, the Executive Director, or the Vice President for Academic Affairs and will make the final decision on credit awarded. If accreditation cannot be established, the transcript will be treated as if from a non-accredited institution.

From Non-Accredited Institutions

For schools in which accreditation cannot be established, Lee reserves the right to examine coursework requested to be transferred to the Lee transcript. Each transcript will be considered individually and separately. Letter grades will not be given; only pass-fail status will be recorded on the transcript. Documentation required for transcript review is the following: (1) original transcript, (2) a school catalog (for course comparison), (3) a description of faculty credentials (if not included in the catalog), (4) proof that the school is post-high school, (5) a research means, such as web-site and/or phone number. Securing this documentation is the responsibility of the student. If the above criteria are met, a review committee which may be composed of the Director of Academic Services, the Director of Enrollment Services, the Executive Director in conjunction with the Vice President for Academic Affairs will make the final decision as to whether transfer work is accepted and how much credit is awarded.

From Institutions Outside the United States

Grading systems and coursework vary greatly outside the United States. Therefore, in order for international transfer students to receive full credit for their post-high school educational experience, they will be required to submit all transcripts from international education institutions to World Education Services (WES) for credit review for a course-by-course academic credit evaluation. The fee for this service is the responsibility of the student requesting the services. Instructions for submitting a transcript for review can be found at www.wes.org. This website provides specific submission instructions for each country. The transfer work will not be added to the Lee transcript until the official academic credit report is received from WES. Lee University reserves the right to further review all courses that are being transferred to Lee. International transfer credits with a WES evaluation will be recorded on the Lee transcript with letter grades as reported by the WES analysis. International transfer credits without a WES Evaluation will be recorded with a pass-fail status (if the courses are deemed transferable to the Lee transcript).

Associate of Arts/Associate of Science Transfer Agreement

Any student entering Lee University for the first time in Fall 2009 or later is eligible to be considered for the A.A./A.S. Transfer Agreement. Under this agreement, any student who has completed an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from an accredited post-secondary institution will be considered to have met all general education requirements at Lee University, with the following exceptions:

Students will be required to take one religion course each semester for up to 4 semesters.
Students will be required to complete any pre-requisites for upper-division courses.
Students enrolled in Bachelor of Arts (BA) academic programs will be required to complete the Foreign Language requirement of two semesters at the intermediate level or higher. The intermediate level is the 200-level for French, Spanish, and American Sign Language, and the 300-level for Greek and Hebrew.

NOTE: This agreement does not apply to students who have been awarded the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.

Transfer Agreements with Other Institutions

Lee University has entered into transfer articulation agreements with the following institutions and organizations: Cleveland State Community College (TN), Chattanooga State Community College (TN), Church of God School of Ministry (TN), SIAS University (China), and The National Academy Foundation (NY). Students planning to transfer to Lee University from these institutions should contact the DAL Enrollment Services Office or the Director of Academic Services for details about course equivalencies.

Lee University has also entered into collaborative study agreements with The University of Strasbourg (France), Tokyo Christian University (Japan), and other institutions and organizations associated with the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Further information concerning collaborative study agreements is available from the Office of Global Perspectives or the Office of Academic Services.

GRADUATE ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Graduation, Academic Probation and Disqualification

Satisfactory progress toward the degree is required. A student may be disqualified from further graduate work if a 3.0 grade-point average is not maintained. In the event that the grade-point average drops below the minimum level, the student may be given one enrollment period to raise it to the satisfactory level. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.

Course Numbering System

Graduate courses are identified by a departmental abbreviation followed by a three-digit 500-level course number.

Grading

The Lee University graduate programs use the following system of grading and quality points for all graduate- level courses. These letter grades are assigned grade point values as follows:

A	Excellent	4.0 quality points
A-	Excellent	3.7 quality points
B+	Good	3.3 quality points
B	Good	3.0 quality points
B-	Good	2.7 quality points
C+	Passing	2.3 quality points
C	Passing	2.0 quality points
F	Failing	0 quality points
I	Indicates the student’s work was incomplete	0 quality points
P	Passing Credit (no quality points)	0 quality points
IP	In Process	0 quality points
W	Student officially withdrew from the class without penalty	0 quality points

A grade of “I” indicates the student’s work is incomplete. The grade becomes “F” if the work is not completed by the end of the following seven week session unless a written extension has been approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. A grade of “I” is given only to students who encounter some personal difficulty such as a severe illness or an extreme family emergency near the end of the semester. The “I” grade is not given in order to allow students additional time to complete assignments.

A grade of “W” (withdrawal) is assigned to a student who, for any reason, officially withdraws or is withdrawn by the official semester date. This “W” is assigned without quality point penalty to the student.

Policies for Thesis

Some of the Lee University graduate programs require a thesis as a demonstration of the student’s research, writing and critical thinking skills. If a thesis is required, the specific requirements for the number of copies, binding, and distribution and housing of the final product may be obtained from the office of the appropriate graduate program director.

Study Load

To be classified as a full-time graduate student, students must enroll in no fewer than nine hours per semester. Maximum graduate enrollment is twelve hours per semester. Students enrolled in summer sessions may take a maximum of six hours per session. For summer sessions shorter than four weeks, the maximum load is four hours.

Time Limits

Course work completed more than 10 years prior to admission is generally not accepted toward meeting degree requirements. The student has a maximum of six years from the date of admission to degree standing (and registration for course work) in which to complete the requirements for the master’s degree. Refer to specific program sections within the catalog for detailed policies.

Transfer Credit

Lee University will allow up to six semester credit hours of a graduate program to be comprised of transfer credit from a regionally accredited graduate program when the grade received is a “B” or better. The individual program committee must approve application of transfer credits. Exceptions to this policy may be determined by the respective graduate program committees.

Up to six semester credit hours of appropriate graduate work with a grade of “B” or better from institutions outside the United States may be approved by the individual graduate program committee. The program committee will normally require these credits to be evaluated by World Education Services (WES). Instructions for submitting a transcript for review can be found at www.wes.org. This website provides specific submission instructions for each country. The transfer work will not be added to the Lee transcript until the program committee has approved the hours and, if requested by the committee, the official academic credit report is received from WES. All costs associated with obtaining the WES evaluation are the responsibility of the student.

Academic Catalog