Academic Life
Academic Life is coordinated by the academic dean, Dr. R. Joseph Dieker. His office is located in room 201 of Henderson Hall. His telephone number is 6325.
The Culver-Stockton College Academic Catalog is the official statement of policy in academic matters. Each student has the responsibility of studying the catalog and understanding the academic requirements of the college. Selected academic policies are summarized here.
Absences
Students who are ill and cannot attend class should contact the instructor for the class(es) they are missing. If a student is hospitalized or must miss classes due to family illness or death, he/she should contact the Student Life Office (ext. 6334). That office will take care of sending absence notices to all appropriate instructors.
Academic Advisor
The academic advisor provides assistance in the selection of courses and choice of major and is also available for regular consultation and special help with study habits or other problems. Advisors are assigned initially according to stated student interests and are changed if major or career preferences change. Change of advisor forms are available in the Office of the Registrar; all advisor changes must be approved by the academic dean.
Academic and Cultural Events Program
The ACE program seeks to broaden academic pursuits, introduce current issues, serve as a forum for ethical concerns, offer cultural breadth and refinement and stimulate new directions and perspectives for thought. The program has an educational focus, and each program will embody one or more of the following goals: 1) stimulate the intellect, 2) stimulate creativity, 3) offer new experiences, 4) explore societal concerns, and 5) provide aesthetic opportunities. The ACE program includes two components: Artistic and Cultural Events and Leadership Lecture Series. Students enrolled at Culver-Stockton College for four years must attend a total of 28 events; transfer students will have this requirement prorated according to the number of years they must complete at Culver-Stockton. These 28 events are divided as follows:
Artistic and Cultural Events
Each student is required to attend 21 artistic and cultural events during his or her enrollment at C-SC.
Leadership Lecture Series
A lecture series that includes an interesting mix of speakers and views from around the world. Each student is required to attend seven lectures during his or her enrollment at C-SC.
All students are strongly encouraged to begin working to complete their ACE requirements during their freshman year and to complete their ACE requirement by the end of their sophomore year.
Irrespective of enrollment in the ACE program in a given semester, all full-time students are required to attend all-college convocations, including the Honors Day Convocation. Students may not miss more than three all-college convocations during their career at Culver-Stockton College.
Academic Honesty
Expectations of Students and Faculty
Academic honesty is required in all circumstances, and students are expected to conduct themselves in such a way that their integrity is unquestioned. Cheating and plagiarism are strictly forbidden and will not be tolerated. The instructor of any course has the right to challenge any student when questionable circumstances arise and to require the student to furnish any relevant material. Appropriate sanctions will be imposed when cheating or plagiarism occurs.
Faculty are required to uphold the college Academic Honesty Policy, discuss it in their classes and include a reference to it in their course syllabi. Faculty will treat all cases of academic dishonesty as opportunities to impart knowledge, teach skills, and promote the value of academic integrity. Faculty members are required to notify the Academic Dean of all actions taken with respect to students accused of academic dishonesty. This applies even if a student drops the class after the instructor makes the accusation. The dean will, when in the dean’s discretion it is deemed appropriate, notify other college personnel of the infraction.
Definitions
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, engaging in any of the following practices in regards to any class assignment (which includes papers, projects, homework, examinations, presentations, etc.): stealing an examination or any other material, copying or getting assistance from another student during an examination, collaborating on projects when not allowed by the instructor, submitting work that is not one’s own, or assisting a student in any of the aforementioned activities. Due to the nature of certain classes and programs, individual instructors may also have additional academic honesty policies that students should be aware of when in any such classes or programs.
Plagiarism is defined as taking someone’s ideas or words and passing them off as one’s own. Examples include, but are not limited to: buying or otherwise securing a paper or assignment from someone and submitting it as one’s own work; presenting the exact words of a source without citing the source and without putting those words in quotation marks; using another person’s ideas without acknowledging the source of those ideas.
Sanctions for Dishonesty
An instructor who finds a student to be guilty of cheating or plagiarism has the right and duty to impose an appropriate sanction. The instructor has wide latitude in this; however, and may choose such options as asking the student to redo an assignment (perhaps with a lowered grade), giving the student a ‘0’ on a paper, examination or class assignment, or failing the student in the class. Students should also be aware that certain academic and co-curricular programs may have academic honesty policies of their own.
First and Second Offense
A first offense and a second offense reported to the academic dean carries with them the sanctions imposed by the instructor and a letter from the academic dean. Upon graduation, a first and second violation of this policy will be removed from any student record.
Third Offense
A third offense reported to the academic dean carries with it possible expulsion from the college.
Academic Probation
A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below the specified minimum forfeits good standing and is placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation may be limited in participation in the academic, athletic, or social life of the college and will be subject to special conditions for the privilege of continued enrollment at the college. The special conditions of academic probation are as follows:
•A student on academic probation forfeits the right to exercise independent choice in matters of total credit hours, classes, and housing.
•A student on academic probation may not hold student office.
•A student on academic probation is no longer in good standing and is therefore not eligible to participate in intercollegiate competitions.
Contract Student Status
At the time that students are considered for suspension or academic probation, the Academic Council may designate certain students as "contract students." Students thus designated will be assigned to a special contract advisor, with whom the planning of course work, social co-curricular, and extracurricular activities will take place. The contract developed through this process will, after approval by the contract advisor, the student’s regular advisor, and the student, become the measure against which continued enrollment will be determined. Regular weekly or bi-weekly contact with the contract advisor will be a condition of the contract. The contract will reflect both institutional and student needs and interests and will be subject to review by the Academic Council at such time as the possibility of continued enrollment is once again considered.
Academic Standing
A student is in good academic standing if the cumulative grade point average is at or above the minimum standards. Good standing is a condition necessary for unrestricted participation in the academic and social life of the college. Entering freshmen and transfer students whose work has been satisfactory will be admitted in good standing. In certain instances, students who do not meet college entrance requirements may be admitted on probation.
Campus Tutorial Services
Culver-Stockton College provides free tutorial help to students through the Tutorial and Academic Support Center (TASC). TASC offers a wide variety of academic support services, including:
•tutoring for general education courses and specific academic disciplines;
•assistance with study and test-taking skills, time management and note-taking;
•assistance with writing and the use of the various styles for composing papers-APA, MLA, etc.; and
•one-on-one assistance or group tutoring, as needed or requested.
Change of Class Schedule
Following registration, each student is responsible for attending those classes in which he/she is enrolled. No student may discontinue a course, change from one course to another, or enter a course without approval of the advisor and registrar. The last drop date is two weeks after midterm. A student who wishes to withdraw after the last drop date due to extenuating circumstances may petition the Academic Council for an exception to the policy. Forms to drop or add courses may be obtained from the student’s academic advisor or the Office of the Registrar.
Course Load
A full-time student normally registers for 12-18 hours of course work each semester. A student may not enroll in more than 18 semester hours without permission of the academic dean. In order to earn 120 semester hours and graduate in eight semesters, a student must average 15.5 hours each term.
Financial Obligations
Students must have paid their bills in full by Aug. 15 for the fall semester, and Jan. 2 for the spring semester. Registration is not considered complete until all college financial obligations have been met. Final grades and transcripts will not be released until any and all unanticipated and unusual situations (bad checks, late debts, parking, library fines, etc.) have been paid. Further, re-enrollment cannot occur until all debts are paid.
Grade Reports
Reports showing grades, semester average, and cumulative average are available to students and advisors at midterm and at the end of the semester via MyCulver. A printed copy may be obtained in the Registrar’s Office. Midterm grades are for informational purposes only and are not included in students’ official records.
Following the review of their midterm grades, students should schedule an appointment with their advisor.
Graduation Requirements
Each student is responsible for ensuring that all graduation requirements are met. Prior to their junior and senior years, students should schedule an appointment with the registrar to ensure they are progressing satisfactorily toward meeting all academic requirements.
Inclement Weather Policy
Unless otherwise ordered by the president of the college, Culver-Stockton College does not cancel classes due to inclement weather. It is, however, up to the individual faculty member/student to use his or her best judgment regarding safety when traveling to class.
If a student is unable to attend class because of severe weather conditions, the college encourages the faculty to be compassionate. If a faculty member is unable to get to class, he or she should inform the Office of the Academic Dean as soon as possible so that students can be notified.
Incomplete Grades
Grades of incomplete may be awarded under special circumstances and upon approval of the instructor, registrar, and academic dean. Appropriate paper work must be completed through the Office of the Registrar. Upon completion of required work, the grade point average will be recalculated. Incomplete grades must be made up by midterm of the following semester in which the student is enrolled.
Repeating Courses
A student may repeat a Culver-Stockton College course, provided it is retaken at Culver-Stockton College. Under these circumstances, the last grade earned will be used in recalculating the GPA, and academic credit will be granted only once.
Selection of Major and Minor
Students may declare a major as early as they wish, but they must declare a major by the end of their sophomore year. Majors and minors are declared by completing a major/minor card and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar. If a student changes his/her major, he/she is encouraged to seek out an advisor in the new major.
Transfer of Credit
Culver-Stockton College transfers credit from other institutions, provided the course meets the academic regulations and standards of Culver-Stockton College and is pre-approved by the registrar prior to the student enrolling in the course. The student is responsible for seeing that a copy of the final official transcript is sent to the Culver-Stockton College registrar upon completion of the course.
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