Concordia University - Cohort Policies and Procedures

Cohort Policies and Procedures

Class Attendance

A. Students are expected to attend all class meetings and laboratory sessions for the courses in which they are enrolled.

B. Excessive absences as determined by the instructor and written in the course syllabus may result in disqualification or failure.

C. Instructors must include policies for handling absences and make-up work in the syllabus. Instructors may not penalize (not accept papers, not allow a student to make up a test or quiz, remove participation points, etc.) students who are required to be absent from class because of official university activities. Examples of such activities are intercollegiate athletics, university music tours, theater productions, and so forth. Students, however, are responsible for informing the instructor in advance of the impending absence (according to a timetable determined by the instructor) and for making up any missed work at a time determined by the instructor. Instructors have the right to contact the appropriate person to determine the legitimacy of the intended absence.

D. Instructors planning field trips or any other official university activities must secure the appropriate approvals as outlined in Faculty Handbook Policy 6.65.

E. Instructors must be able to determine the student's last day of attendance.

Students are required to attend all classes/chats and submit coursework according to assigned deadlines. Any accommodations to the attendance or coursework requirements must be coordinated with the instructor for approval in advance. Instructors are not required to allow missed class/chat time or to accept late coursework. Makeup options are at the discretion of the course instructor and ARE NOT to be considered a precedent for the program as a whole.
Failure to meet attendance guidelines or coordinate accommodations with the instructor may result in a lower grade being earned. Concordia graduate policy states that ONLY whole letter grades, i.e. A, B, etc., can be assigned.

Attendance Guidelines and Requirements:

Students who must miss a class/chat are required to complete the regular assignments and complete a make-up assignment that contributes to the subject being studied and enhances the class-learning environment. A missed class/chat may result in a grade reduction if the pre-determined accommodation(s) are not met.
Two missed classes/chats will result in additional grade reduction if the pre-determined accommodation(s) are not met.
Regular attendance is a key factor in determining student success. Three or more absences will require retaking the course. The student will be billed and a grade will be issued each time the course is taken.
Instructors understand the uncertainty of military requirements and other contractual obligations, and they will work with the student to meet educational goals.
It is the student?s responsibility to contact the instructor to make appropriate arrangements.

Punctuality is also a priority in any job setting. Students may find it necessary to be late for class once or twice. The student is responsible to notify the instructor of his/her presence and not assume that has been noted. Except in an emergency, the student will contact the instructor three days prior to the anticipated absence. A student will notify the instructor within 24 hours of the reason for any unexpected absence.

Assignments are due when scheduled. If there is need to modify the due date, the arrangement must be made three days in advance of the due date.

Registration Process

Cohort course registration takes place automatically for all cohort classes. Initial registration for the first term happens approximately two weeks prior to the first date on the calendar and subsequent terms are registered approximately one month prior to the first meeting date of the next term. Change of Status forms, processed through your academic advisor, are the only way to modify your cohort course registration.

Grade Posting

Grades are processed every Tuesday and Friday by noon. You may check your CSPConnect account for these grades two to three weeks after a course has completed. Students are responsible for monitoring their grades and academic status.

Financial Holds

If you are not current in your payments to Concordia University (on an approved payment plan) or have an unpaid balance on your student account, you may be placed on financial hold. While you are on financial hold:

You will not be registered for or allowed to attend the next term.
Your unpaid balance is subject to finance charges or late fees.
Since you are not registered, financial aid for the next term will be canceled.
If you do not register for the upcoming term, your student loans will lose current in-school deferment and may go into repayment status.
You will be responsible for payment of all costs associated with the collection of your unpaid balance, including finance charges, collections fees, and attorney's fees.
You will not receive any transcripts or diploma.
If you are a veteran, your benefits will be discontinued.
You will not be retroactively registered for any course missed. You will need to contact your academic advisor to make up missed courses.

Change of Status Procedure

A Change of Status form must be completed by your academic advisor if you drop or add a course, discontinue, or take a leave of absence. You are allowed two, after those two, a fee of $75 will be charged for each Change of Status.

Refund Procedure

Refunds are on a per course basis. Students will receive a 100% tuition refund for a course paid for and not started if they notify their academic advisor before the first night of the course that they want to drop.

University Closings

A. The personal safety of students, faculty and staff is vital to the Concordia University. While Concordia University expects that individuals make a good faith effort to travel to campus during inclement weather conditions if the university is operating and does not declare an emergency closing, it is also important for individuals to use their own discretion in determining whether it is safe for them to travel to campus.

B. On rare occasions when weather has been determined to pose a potential threat to the life or safety of students, staff, and faculty, the decision to close the university will be made using these guidelines:

By 7:00 a.m. decisions regarding closing and cancellation or delay of day classes will be made.
By 11:00 am decisions regarding cancellation of afternoon classes will be made
By 2:00 p.m. decisions regarding cancellation of face-to-face evening classes or University sponsored evening events will be made.
Notices regarding closings, cancellations or delays will be immediately posted on the Concordia University Campus Portal web page. This should be used as the primary resource for students, staff and faculty, since detailed will be included in this location.
Cohort-based online classes are canceled on a class-by-class basis.
The university will notify local media stations (including KARE channel 11; WCCO channel 4; KSTP channel 5 as well as WCCO Radio (AM830) and KTIS Radio (FM 98.5FM) regarding closings or cancellations. Please be reminded that we cannot control how rapidly these media locations update their announcements.
Use the E2 campus notification that is available for text message announcements. Sign up at here.

Grading System

Undergraduate Students
A	Superior	4 grade points
A-
B+
B	Above Average	3 grade points
B-
C+
C	Average	2 grade points
C-
D+
D	Below Average	1 grade points
D-
F		0 grade points
P	Pass	Not included in grade point calculations
N	No Pass	Not included in grade point calculations
X	Continuing registration for more than one term
V	Audit
W	Withdrawal	0 grade points	Student officially withdrew from a course during the third through the eighth week of the semester.
I	In Progress	0 grade points	This grade is given to students who have missed part of their assigned work due to circumstances beyond their control, but who are otherwise doing satisfactory work

Graduate Students
A	Superior	4 grade points
B	Good	3 grade points
C	Fair	2 grade points
D	Poor	1 grade points
F	Failure	0 grade points
I	In-Progress	0 grade points	A student not completing required coursework before the end of a course may, at the discretion of the instructor, receive an "in-progress" (I) grade for the course. The student must complete an "In-Progress Request Form" and have it approved by the course instructor and the Program Director or Chair.
W	Withdraw	0 grade points	A student may request the grade of "W" before a course is 80% complete, based upon the course calendar. If the course is more than 80% complete, the student's grade is calculated based upon graded components stated in the syllabus.
P	Pass	Not included in grade point calculations
N	No-Pass	Not included in grade point calculations

In Progress Grades

A. In-Progress (I) grades may be given to students who have missed part of their assigned work due to circumstances beyond their control, but otherwise have done satisfactory work. Students who are unable to finish all the required coursework for a course may request an "I". There is a system in place for students to request an "I" grade.

B. Instructors will give students the grade they earned at the end of a course based on the work that was turned in, unless students request an In-Progress grade. Instructors must submit the In-Progress Request forms by the grading deadline to the Registrar's office.

C. It is the student's responsibility to initiate the In-Progress grade process. However, instructors may deny an In-Progress Grade request.

D. Students, in consultation with the instructor, must fill out a Request for an In-Progress Grade. This form must be complete before the last day of class. This form is now considered an agreement with the instructor and Concordia University for the completion of the student's work.

E. Guidelines:

All course requirements to remove "In-Progress" grades and in some cases to remove probationary or disqualification status must be completed within four weeks of the last day of class.
If students are unable to complete the work within four weeks, extensions may be requested from the instructor for a maximum of six months from the last day of the course.
If the work is not completed within the agreed upon time, the instructor will submit a grade, based on course grading procedures specified in the syllabus.
If a grade is not submitted to the Registrar by the agreed upon time, the recorded "I" will become an "F" or "N".
Any course earning an "F" or "N" may be retaken.

F. The maximum number of In-Progress grades that may appear on a student's transcript at any one time is two. Approval for exceptions will be considered by the Dean of the appropriate college.

Academic Advisor Notification

Students receiving a D, F, or No Pass for a course in their major or in the online A.A. program will be notified by their academic advisor about retaking the course.
A second D, F or No Pass will result in contact from your academic advisor and the department chair with discussion of your continuation in the program.

Student In Good Standing

Students who are not in good standing may be ineligible for certain privileges or activities. A student in good standing at Concordia University, St. Paul is one who is:

Registered for the current term,
Attending class in accordance with Concordia's class attendance policy,
Not delinquent in meeting financial obligations to the University,
Not on disciplinary probation, and
Not on academic probation.

Graduation Ceremony

Students who have 15 or fewer credits left to complete at the time of the graduation ceremony are allowed to participate. Your program courses must be completed by the following September. All students must complete an Application for Graduation whether or not they plan to participate in commencement.

Graduation Requirements

An undergraduate student must maintain a 2.5 grade-point average for all courses in their major or in the on-line A.A. program.
A graduate student must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average for all courses in their major

Graduation Honors for Undergraduate Students

Students who have earned at least 64 credits at Concordia and who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or higher are designated as graduating summa cum laude; those students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75-3.89 are designated as graduating magna cum laude; those students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.60 to 3.74 are designated as graduating cum laude.

Students in bachelor degree programs at Concordia University, St. Paul who have earned fewer than 64 credits and have at least a 3.90 GPA at Concordia will be recognized as graduating "with high distinction." Students who have earned fewer than 64 credits and have a GPA between 3.75 and 3.89 will be recognized as graduating "with distinction."

Academic Integrity

Definition of Terms

A. Academic integrity is essential to any academic institution and is in keeping with the mission of Concordia University. In order to protect the rights of students, the disciplinary procedure for dealing with cases of academic dishonesty follows these broad guidelines. Violations of academic integrity include cheating and plagiarism as defined by the Student Code of Conduct.

B. The term cheating includes, but is not limited to: (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or (3) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the University faculty or staff.

C. The term plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

D. Implementation of Academic Integrity Policies

The instructor will gather and document all evidence of academic dishonesty in a clear and concise manner.
The instructor will present this evidence to the student.
The instructor may prescribe academic penalties, including but not restricted to, the requirement of additional work, an assignment of a failing grade on the work in question, or a failing grade for the entire course. Any prescribed penalties must be in writing and include instructions for the appeal process.
The instructor will send documented academic dishonesty violations and prescribed penalties to the Vice President for Academic Affairs office, will notify the student in writing that this has been done, and will provide instruction for the appeal process. The Vice President for Academic Affairs or his or her designee will notify the student?s academic adviser, Department Chair, and the Dean of that college. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will file the documentation in the student?s Disciplinary File in the Judicial Affairs Office.
If this is a repeated occurrence the Vice President for Academic Affairs or his or her designee may impose additional penalties, including but not limited to dismissal from the departmental program, suspension from the university, or expulsion from the university.
A student has the right to appeal the academic penalties imposed by the instructor by filing an appeal with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs within 72 hours (three business days) of the documented imposition of penalties.
Decisions made by the instructor are appealed to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Decisions by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs are appealed to the Educational Concerns Committee. The Educational Concerns Committee does not serve to evaluate university policy, but to determine facts and apply stated policies.

Official Communication By Email

A. Official University communication to individual students often contains private and/or time-sensitive material. In order to ensure that information is being sent only to the enrolled student (and not co-workers or family members), Concordia University sends official communications electronically to its students through the University's email system, the @csp.edu address.

B. Because much of the information includes materials that must be completed or responded to by a deadline that can affect such things as enrollment or financial aid, students are expected to read and respond to all official communications sent by the University to their @csp.edu address in a timely way.

Other Policies and Services

The practice of bringing children to class is discouraged due primarily to the impact of such on the learning environment. Children may not attend class without prior approval by the instructor.

Complete Student Policies Handbook (PDF)

*All items subject to change without notice and may be superseded by University policies

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