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Click on a link to be taken to the entry below.
General Curricular Information
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General Education Core
The Lee University General Education Core has been designed to prepare Lee graduates to take their place in a rapidly changing world which is both technologically complex and culturally diverse. Lee has developed a program which is intended to ground students in their faith and help them discover their calling while introducing them to the interrelatedness of the humanities, the complexity of contemporary society, the wonder of the natural world, and the diversity of culture.
Please click on this link to find out specific requirements in the General Education Core (53-59 hours) .
Major Requirements
By the beginning of the junior year, each student should select one subject area as his or her major field of study (sometimes called the specialty area) and will complete no fewer than 36 semester hours of his/her major area requirement. A minimum cumulative average of “C” (2.0) must be maintained in the major area (2.75 for teacher education programs; 2.5 for nursing programs). Each transfer student must earn at least 6 semester hours in his/her major area at Lee University; School of Business majors must earn 15 hours at Lee University, 6 at the upper level; while Science and Mathematics majors must take at least 12 hours of their 300 and 400 level courses at Lee, and History majors must take at least 15 hours of their major courses at Lee. Students desiring to apply transfer work or work done through correspondence or continuing education to a major program must file an academic petition through the office of the dean of the school in which the major is offered.
Asian Studies Minor
A minor in Asian Studies enhances the education of students in business, science and the liberal arts, especially those students working on a major in business. Not only does this minor teach students more about histories, cultures, languages, and societies throughout the Asian region that continue to grow in influence and significance, but it prepares students to work and live in various Asian countries. The minor itself requires an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Asia, providing a broad understanding of the complexity of the region while respecting the uniqueness of each country and its culture.
* It is highly recommended that students holding a minor in Asian Studies engage in a study abroad experience in an Asian country either as a member of one of the Lee University sponsored trips or by an individually arranged trip.
Latin American Studies Minor
A minor in Latin American Studies enhances the education of students in business and the liberal arts. Not only does this minor teach students more about history, culture, language and society throughout a very important region of the world, Latin America, it will prepare students to work and live in the countries of a region that continues to increase in importance. The minor itself requires an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Latin America, providing a broad understanding of the complexity of the region.
A minor consists of a minimum of 18 hours in one discipline and is used to complement the student’s major. Many majors allow enough flexibility for students to select a second minor. For minors offered and specific minor requirements, check the listing in “Degree Programs Offered.”
Electives
Subject to approval of the faculty advisor and to regulations requiring a minimum of 120 semester hours for graduation, remaining hours and courses needed for graduation may be selected from any in the Lee University catalog for which the student is qualified to register.
Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedure
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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 in residence at Lee, students must earn a minimum grade point average in accordance with the following scale of attempted hours:
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Hours attempted
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Grade Point Average Required
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0-29 |
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1.5 |
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30-59 |
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1.7 |
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60-89 |
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1.9 |
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90-120 |
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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:
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A student on academic probation is limited to 12-14 credit hours each semester.
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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.
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No student will be continued on probation more than two consecutive semesters, unless approved by the Retention Committee.
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A student who has been authorized by the Retention Committee to continue on probation may be required to register for a specified class schedule which may include an Academic Success Implementation course.
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:
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Freshman |
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0-29 |
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Sophomore |
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30-59 |
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Junior |
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60-89 |
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Senior |
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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 one full semester. The summer sessions are not considered a semester. 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.
Credit Hour Standards
Lee University’s definition of a credit hour corresponds to the Federal definition of the credit hour. One semester hour is defined as approximately 50 minutes of class work or faculty instruction per week for approximately fifteen weeks of the semester. Additionally, the average minimum requirement for out-of-class work is the equivalent of two hours per credit hour, per week for the fifteen week term. Laboratory science courses are assigned four hours of credit. Students meet for three 50-minute periods of instruction and a minimum of 100-minutes of additional activity in laboratory each week.
Practices for awarding credit hours in various academic activities are consistent with commonly accepted practices in higher education and are reviewed by the various bodies in the curriculum approval process to ensure compliance and consistency.
Changing a Schedule (Add, Drop, Withdraw)
Adding or dropping courses and changing from credit to audit and audit to credit may be accomplished only during the 12-day registration (“add/drop”) period at the beginning of each term. Appropriate instructor and advisor signatures as communicated by the Records Office must be obtained on the Change of Schedule Form. The student must bring the completed Change of Schedule form to the Records Office upon securing the appropriate signatures so that the computer record can be updated.
After the 12th day of registration (“add/drop”) period at the beginning of the term, the student may wish to withdraw from a 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 with a Change of Schedule Form obtained from the Records Office. The form must be filled out in its entirety, signed and dated, and signed by his/her academic advisor. The student should submit the form, complete with signatures, to the Office of Records to update the electronic record. The last day to withdraw from a course with a grade of “W” is published in the university academic calendar which can be found at http://www.leeuniversity.edu/LeeEvents.aspx?category=Academic . A student who never attends a class or stops attending a class for which he/she is officially registered will receive a grade of “F” in that course if established procedures for class withdrawal outlined above are not followed.
During Advance Class Selection (ACS) the student will build his/her schedule for the upcoming term using the online student information system. Following the face-to-face advising session with the academic advisor, the advisor will note on the student’s online account that the advising appointment has been completed. Scheduling agreements made with the student will be documented on the advisor’s account. After the advising session is completed, students are then activated according to the priority registration schedule which is based on completed academic hours.
There is a fee applied for each schedule change beginning with the first day of classes. The tuition refund policy is explained in the section on “Tuition and Fees”.
Questions regarding schedule changes, registration, or Advance Class Selection should be directed to the Office of Records.
Questions regarding course offerings should be directed to your respective academic department.
Questions regarding the bill should be directed to Student Financial Services.
Questions regarding financial aid should be directed to the Financial Aid Office.
Auditing a Class
Any student who has been admitted may request to audit a class. Some classes may be excluded from auditing status by the department in which the class is taught. Students who wish to audit a class may do so at registration and pay the applicable fees. The audit fee is applicable regardless of the number of credit hours the student is currently enrolled in. Auditors must attend and participate in a minimum of sixty percent of the class sessions but are not responsible for exams and/or term papers. On the first day of class, the student must ask the instructor for permission to audit that class. If the request to audit is declined, the student must drop the audit class or change it to credit status, with a refund of the audit fee subject to the provisions of the university’s refund policy. Students who successfully complete the minimum audit requirements will receive a grade of “U” for the class. Should a student not meet the minimum requirements, the instructor will inform the Office of Records, which will purge the course from the student’s transcript with no refund of the audit fee. Any change in registration status (such as audit to credit or credit to audit) must be made by the last day to add a class (during the registration period at the beginning of each term).
Class Attendance
Regular attendance is essential to realize the purposes and objectives of the student’s academic program. Each student is responsible to the professor for class attendance and participation. Specific requirements for each course will be determined by the professor and outlined in the course syllabus during the first full week of each semester.
Each professor has the prerogative of developing his/her own attendance policy. The professor may develop a system by which grade reduction can be made, not to exceed one letter grade per semester based on absence alone. Faculty members are encouraged to report cases of excessive absences (defined as two weeks of class or more) to the dean of the college/school within which the course is taught. The dean will then meet with the student and/or faculty member to determine an appropriate course of action. Possible courses of action include but are not limited to the following: a request that the student withdraw from the course, a request that the student make up work that was missed with permission of the faculty member; a request that the student demonstrate an intent to attend regularly for the remainder of the semester; or, in extreme situations, a request to the Deans Council and Vice President for Academic Affairs that the student be brought before the council in order to determine the best course of action for his/her future.
Absences because of university-related events will be a part of the regular absence policy. For such events, it will be the student’s responsibility to contact the professor in case of such absence and to do whatever reasonable make-up work may be required to keep the student current with the class progress. Sponsors of university-related events should supply students with appropriate information to offer their professors well in advance of the event. This information should include the name of the sponsor, the name of the event, the day and time of the expected absence, and the name of the class/group participating in the event. Students should present this information to their professors/instructors and request any make-up work.
Faculty and students should be aware that there are several types of absences under consideration. First, there are university-related events. These include but are not limited to the following: athletic events; field trips; music ensemble traveling; drama traveling; public relations events for the university; and other ad hoc requests for student involvement by the president’s office or a vice president’s office. Professors are asked to consider these absences as a part of student and university responsibility and should therefore “excuse” the absence, requiring whatever make-up work is necessary. As noted above, students are responsible for contacting their professors and making up the work.
Second, there are personal events that may cause student absences. These may include the following: extended illnesses; hospitalization; death or emergency in the family. Students are responsible for contacting their professors (where feasible) and making up the work required. However, it is the prerogative of the individual professor to consider these absences and make up work in whatever way he/she thinks appropriate within the guidelines stated in the course syllabus.
In all cases of absences, students should take the initiative to contact their professors and discuss with them appropriate courses of action. If students feel they are being handled unfairly regarding absences, they should appeal their case to the dean in writing, with a copy presented to the professor involved. The dean will attempt to resolve the situation, but may also choose to appoint an independent board of appeal to settle the matter.
Confidentiality of Student Records
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), 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 release of student records requires written consent of that student, or may be released without written consent in an emergency situation or in one of the following situations:
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to all school officials within the educational institution who have legitimate educational interest;
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to officials of other schools in which the student intends to enroll;
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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;
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in connection with an emergency or legal situation;
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in connection with any publicly-announced honor such as the Dean’s List;
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in cases of information classified as “directory information.” (See below for definition.)
If a student wishes to share confidential information with the parent(s), s/he may grant access via “person proxy” created in Portico/Self-Service. The designated person(s) will receive an email invitation with link. Currently, person proxy grants the ability to view financial details and/or to make a payment. Future enhancements are planned which will grant access to academic information. Therefore, in order for faculty to discuss a student’s academic progress, a Consent to Release Information form, signed and dated by the student, must be on file in the Office of Records. The staff in the Office of Records has no access to academic progress reports during the term; this is maintained by each individual instructor.
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 fill out a release in the Office of Records which specifically states 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. There are two forms available to request release of information. (1) To request a transcript (i.e., academic history), go to the main web http://www.leeuniversity.edu, scroll down to “Quick Links”, click on Transcripts and Records, click on Lee University, and follow the prompts to electronically submit your request and make payment for your transcript. (2) To request a portion of the permanent academic record to be released, the “Release of Education Record” form is available in the Office of Records or on the Lee University main website (http://www.leeuniversity.edu, Quick Links at the bottom of the screen, Transcripts and Records, Release of the Education Record).
FERPA allows release of “directory information.” However, in order to provide the utmost protection of our Lee students, the University rarely shares directory information. Directory information contains but is 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. Frequently the Office of Records receives a background check for potential employment, especially with the U.S. Government. A directory hold blocks release of this information. On the other hand, if there is no directory hold on the account, the University is allowed to participate in helping the student/alumnus obtain employment. 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, even to potential employers. An updated consent form submitted to the Office of Records will remove this hold.
For these reasons, 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.
Additional FERPA information can be found online at these websites:
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html (general information)
http://familypolicy.ed.gov/ferpa-parents-students?src=ferpa (FERPA for Parents and Students)
Questions concerning this law and the university’s policy concerning release of academic information may be directed to the Registrar. If a student feels that his or her FERPA rights have been violated as it relates to the release of confidential information, refusal to view their file, or refusal to add a statement to their file, 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 recommended by the department chair and approved by the dean of the college or school in which the course is offered.
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 protected characteristics. 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.
Final Examinations
A schedule for final semester examinations is prepared by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and is posted online each semester. Students and teachers must adhere to this schedule. No exams are to be given other than at the time designated in the published schedule.
Grades
Grades and quality points are assigned and recorded as follows:
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Grade
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Quality points per semester hour
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A |
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4.0 |
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A- |
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3.7 |
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B+ |
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3.3 |
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B |
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3.0 |
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B- |
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2.7 |
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C+ |
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2.3 |
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C |
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2.0 |
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C- |
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1.7 |
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D+ |
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1.3 |
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D |
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1.0 |
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D- |
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.7 |
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F |
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0 |
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I |
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0 |
(Incomplete; converts to “F” at the end of the following semester; see explanation below.) |
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W |
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0 |
(Withdrawal from a course or from the university; see explanation below) |
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U |
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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 becomes “F” if the work is not completed by the end of the following semester, 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” 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.)
The final grade earned in a class is between the instructor and student, based on the grading scale for that respective class. If a student considers a grade to be in error, the student has one semester from the date the grade was originally posted to refute the grade. The student needs to contact, in writing, the instructor of the class to discuss the grade. If a grade change is appropriate, the instructor will submit an official change of grade form to the Office of Records. 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. The request will be fulfilled only if the student has signed a consent to release academic information to the parent(s). The paper grade report will be sent to the confirmed home address provided in the system. To request a paper grade report, students may contact the Office of Records by email (records@leeuniversity.edu) or by phone (423-614-8200).
If a student wishes to share confidential information with the parent(s), s/he may grant access via “person proxy” created in Portico/Self-Service. The designated person(s) will receive an email invitation with link. Currently, person proxy grants the ability to view financial details and/or to make a payment. Future enhancements are planned which will grant access to academic information. Therefore, in order for faculty to discuss a student’s academic progress, a Consent to Release Information form, signed and dated by the student, must be on file in the Office of Records. The staff in the Office of Records has no access to academic progress reports during the term; this is maintained by each individual instructor.
Proficiency Examinations
Students taking proficiency examinations will be required to present evidence that they have developed those abilities and aptitudes expected of students who have taken the course involved. When possible, this evidence should be in the form of recognized standardized tests and must be approved by the school dean and the Director of Academic Services. Upon passing the examination with a minimal grade of “B,” the student may be given credit toward graduation provided this does not duplicate credit accounted for admission to Lee University and the course is acceptable in his/her curriculum. Proficiency examinations may not be taken to repeat coursework or be used in lieu of “I” or “F” grades. In order to take a proficiency examination, the student must be enrolled for other courses and may take the proficiency test only once. Credit earned through proficiency and advanced placement shall be recorded with a grade of “P” and will not affect the student’s GPA. Students interested in proficiency credit should inquire with the respective department chairperson for the course.
Native speakers (those educated in target language countries) of Spanish, French, German or Chinese may not receive proficiency credit by examination for either 211 or 212. Native speakers may have their foreign language requirement waived by successfully completing both ENGL 105 or 106 and ENGL 110.
Native speakers who minor or major in Spanish or French must begin their coursework with any course numbered SPAN 310, FREN 213 or above. Additional upper-level courses must be taken to complete the required 36 hours in either major. Heritage speakers (those who learned Spanish or French in the United States, not formally educated in target language country) must pass both a writing exam and a speaking proficiency exam to receive proficiency credit for either 211 or 212. If passed, they begin their minor or major coursework with SPAN 310, FREN 213 or above.
Registration
Registration may be completed online or on campus. It is critical that students register during the stated registration periods at the beginning of each term. Students who fail to complete registration (including financial arrangements) by the first day of classes will be charged a late registration fee. Registration is not complete until the student has made arrangements for payment of the semester charges at the Student Financial Services and has signed the registration statement and promissory note or has “confirmed enrollment” online. Until such settlement has been made, the student is not entitled to participate in any class or other activities at the university. Students who have failed to make financial arrangements will be de-registered (i.e., schedules will be purged).
First-time students will be required to meet with an academic advisor to plan their selection of courses before being allowed to register. For subsequent semesters, the student will meet with his/her academic advisor and register online to expedite the registration process. After completion of the first semester, the registration process includes a period of advance class selection (“pre-registration”) toward the end of each semester.
Change in credit status for any course (from audit to credit or from credit to audit) must be done by the last day to register.
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.
Required or Permitted Loads
The minimum academic load for classification as a full-time student is 12 semester hours. For a class load beyond 16 hours, there is an additional tuition charge for each hour beyond 16 and approval from the academic department is required. An overload of 17 hours requires the signature of the department chair; an overload of 18 hours requires the signature of the school dean. This approval is granted only on the basis of superior academic achievement. The maximum course load is 19 hours. The maximum course load for summer is seven hours per session.
To qualify for the Honor Scholarship, the undergraduate student must be enrolled full-time, have a minimum 3.70 GPA, and have completed at least 30 hours of post-secondary credit. However, final eligibility will be determined by the Financial Aid Office by taking into consideration other institutional scholarships.
A student on academic probation will normally register for 12 hours. Probationary students cannot enroll for more than 14 hours without special permission from the Director of Academic Services.
International students must maintain a full-time load of at least 12 hours each semester unless (1) they have received prior approval for a part-time load or (2) it is their final semester and less than 12 hours are required to complete their graduation requirements. For further information, refer to the Office of Admissions for discussion of I-20 and SEVIS agreements.
Athletes must maintain a full-time load in order to meet eligibility requirements. For further information, contact the Athletic Director.
Students participating in a traveling choir/ensemble must remain enrolled full-time for insurance coverage purposes.
Students living in Lee University campus housing are required to remain enrolled full-time.
Transcripts
A transcript of academic credits will be issued by the Office of Records upon written request of the student. The transcript can be requested online (www.leeuniversity.edu, scroll down to Quick Links, Transcripts and Records). Follow the prompts to request your transcript and make payment.
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, Vice President 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 in 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.
Withdrawing from the University
Students may withdraw from the university from the date in which they confirm enrollment until the final day of classes for a particular term. If a student withdraws before the first day of classes, the course will not appear on the transcript. If a student withdraws on or after the first day of class, a grade of “W” will be assigned for all courses and the student will not be allowed to continue on the meal plan or remain in campus housing. The student should make arrangements to check-out of their on-campus housing within 48 hours upon withdrawal. Following is the withdrawal procedure:
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The office of Student Success is designated by the University as the office to process official withdrawals. Any student wishing to withdraw from all courses must notify this office. Students are required to present both his/her current University I.D. card and parking permit. The student will be asked to complete the Withdrawal Permission Form.
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The Director of Student Success and Retention must approve the withdrawal request. Upon approval, the appropriate offices will be notified.
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Financial aid recipients should note that withdrawing from the University can affect eligibility for current and future aid. See the 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/programs/federal-programs.aspx or in the Financial Aid Office. Recipients of the Tennessee Hope Scholarship should go the Financial Aid Office to complete the Tennessee Hope Enrollment Change Request Form to avoid loss of eligibility for future funding.
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Student Financial Services will issue a final statement of the student’s account. See the Undergraduate Tuition and Fees section of this catalog from refund policy information.
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:
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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:
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directly quoting all or part of another person’s words without quotation marks, as appropriate to the discipline.
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paraphrasing all or part of another person’s words without documentation.
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stating an idea, theory, or formula as your own when it actually originated with another person.
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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.
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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:
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copying or allowing others to copy answers to an exam.
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transmitting, receiving, or in some form obtaining information during an exam which would offer answers within the framework of the material being tested.
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giving or receiving answers to an exam scheduled for a later time.
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completing for others or allowing others to complete for oneself, all or part of an assignment.
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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.
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Unauthorized use of calculators or other electronic devices.
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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:
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giving false reasons for failure to complete an academic assignment.
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falsifying the results of a laboratory task or other data.
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altering work after if has been submitted.
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altering grades, lab work, or attendance records.
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falsely signing another person as present when he/she is absent in a class.
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submitting for academic advancement an assignment which has previously been submitted for academic advancement (unless so authorized by the faculty member supervising the work).
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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:
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removing from a professor’s office materials which would give a student an unfair advantage on an academic assignment.
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procuring information from a professor’s computer hardware or software.
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taking exams, grade records, forms used in grading, books, papers, or other materials related to grading or evaluation of academic performance.
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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 teacher has the authority of deciding how to deal with it. Faculty have the following options:
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The faculty member may determine an appropriate course of action ranging from giving the student an F on the assignment or exam to awarding an F for the course.
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If the faculty member wants additional input from colleagues, he/she may ask the department chair to convene a committee to discuss the situation. If the incident involves students in courses from other departments, the school dean may convene a committee including members of other departments faculties. The committee may then determine the penalty.
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If the academic dishonesty is of the most serious nature, the committee may refer the case to the Dean’s Council. The Vice President for Academic Affairs may then determine the penalty or refer the case to the Judicial Council.
Student Appeal
If a student is accused of academic dishonesty, and he/she feels this judgment is in error, or the penalty is inappropriate, he/she may appeal to the department chair of the faculty member making the decision. If the committee determined the penalty, the student may appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. If the Judicial Council determined the penalty, he/she may appeal through the Judicial Appeal Board.
Purpose of a Directed Studies Program
Directed study should enrich the program of the above-average student by allowing him/her to pursue an area of specific interest. The opportunity to be involved in a directed study should foster initiative, resourcefulness and creativity.
Initiation of Directed Studies
A directed study should be generated by the interest of the student. A student should indicate to a faculty member his/her interest in doing a directed study in a specific area.
Requirements for participating in a Directed Study are as follows:
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A student must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5.
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He/she must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in his/her major field.
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He/she must be at least a junior at the time he/she registers for the study.
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Each student must be approved by a faculty member, his/her advisor, and the chairperson of the department in which he/she wishes to conduct the study. A special form for this purpose may be obtained in the office of the school dean.
Supervision of the Study
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The study will be conducted under the supervision of a committee consisting of the following members: a faculty member who will serve as a supervisor, the chairperson of the department in which the course is offered, and one other faculty person.
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The number of directed studies supervised by any one faculty member will not exceed one per semester.
Restrictions
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A student may take no more than three hours of directed studies during his/her junior year and no more than six hours during his/her senior year.
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Directed studies may be conducted only in the major or minor field. Students acquiring teacher certification may conduct a study in either education or their field of emphasis.
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A student may apply for and complete a directed study only during the regular registration period.
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Students may not take a directed study for a course that is offered during the academic semester.
Requirements of Study
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The student must meet with his/her committee regularly at times designated by the faculty supervisor.
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The student must submit to each committee member a written presentation of the study.
Grading
The grading of the directed study will be a committee endeavor with the faculty supervisor making the final decision.
Pre-Enrollment Programs
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Theatre Camp
The Lee University Theatre Camp is sponsored by the Department of Communication Arts. This event invites elementary, middle and high school students to the Lee University campus for intensive study in theatre. These camps involve two weeks of intensive training in the field of theatre and end with a performance showcasing their learned techniques.
High school juniors and seniors who participate may receive one hour elective credit to be applied to their transcripts when accepted to Lee as full-time students.
Music Camp
The Lee University Music Camp is sponsored by the School of Music. This event invites high school students to the Lee University campus for six days of intensive study in music. The camp provides: (1) clinics for improving individual skills in the area of performance; (2) ensemble experience for musicians; (3) applied instruction; (4) masterclass opportunities with music faculty members; (5) jazz studies opportunities, including jazz combo masterclasses and performance; and (6) a variety of social activities. High school juniors or seniors who participate in this camp may receive one hour elective credit to be applied to their transcripts when accepted to Lee as full-time students. (A student may only receive one lifetime credit for Music Camp.)
Piano Festival
Piano Festival is a week-long opportunity for talented pianists to study with guest and faculty artists in June of each year. It features pre-college and college divisions; students in both categories may compete for cash and scholarship awards.
Summer Honors
Summer Honors is a two-week program of intensive study in June on the Lee University campus that affords rising and graduating high school seniors the opportunity to earn six hours of college elective credit before enrolling in college. Participants will experience a first-rate academic challenge while living in a university residence hall, getting acquainted with professors and fellow students, and enjoying extracurricular activities. Applicants must have a minimum designated GPA and ACT or SAT score.
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