This publication is not to be viewed as an irrevocable contract between the University and the student and is subject to change consistent with policies of the Board of Trustees. The University reserves the right to repeal, change, amend, modify, add, withdraw the contents herein, without notice of obligation.

At the end of each semester the Registrar classifies undergraduate students according to the number of credit hours they have completed:

• A freshman is one who has completed fewer than 30 credits.
• A sophomore is one who has completed between 30 and 59 credits.
• A junior is one who has completed between 60 and 89 credits
• A senior is one who has completed 90 credits or more.
• A full-time student is one who is registered for 12 or more credit hours in a regular semester.
• A part-time student is one who is carrying less than 12 credit hours in a regular semester.
• A matriculated student is one who has satisfied all admission requirements for a degree program and is taking courses leading to a degree.
• A special student is one who is not pursuing a degree or certificate program at La Roche University.  All special students are required to register each term through the Graduate Studies and Adult Education Office.

Dean's List

Each semester those full-time students with 12 graded credits or more, who have earned a term GPA of 3.500 or higher are placed on the dean's honor list.  Part-time students who have accumulated 12 credits in consecutive semesters in an academic year, including summer, and have earned a GPA of 3.500 or higher are placed on the dean's honor list.

Good Academic Standing
Undergraduate students are in good academic standing at the University when their cumulative and semester quality point averages are 2.000 or above.

Not in Good Academic Standing
Undergraduate students are not in good academic standing at the University when their cumulative and/or semester quality point averages are below 2.000. Students not in good academic standing may be required to work with a designated academic support advisor on strategies to enhance their academic performance. The Academic Standing Review Board carefully considers the individual circumstances of all students who are not in good standing and, at its discretion, may recommend that students not in good standing be subject to one of the following four categories of action: 1) Academic Warning; 2) Academic Probation; 3) Academic Suspension; or 4) Academic Dismissal.

Academic Warning
Students whose cumulative quality point averages (GPAs) are 2.000 or above but whose semester GPAs are below 2.000 will be placed on academic warning for the subsequent fall or spring semester.

Academic Probation
Full-time students whose cumulative grade point averages are below 2.000 (1.800 for freshmen), or who are subject to a second placement on academic warning, will be placed on academic probation for their subsequent fall or spring semester of enrollment.
Part-time students who have accumulated 12 credits attempted and whose cumulative grade point averages fall below 2.000 (1.800 for freshman) will be placed on academic probation for their subsequent fall or spring semester of enrollment.
Any student placed on academic probation may be required to work with a designated academic support advisor on strategies to enhance his or her academic performance. Any student placed on academic probation may be restricted to no more than 13 credits for his or her subsequent fall or spring semester of enrollment, and may be subject to other conditions as required by the academic support advisor or the Academic Standing Review Board.

Academic Suspension
Any full-time student whose semester grade point average (GPA) is below 1.000 or who is subject to a second placement on academic probation may be immediately suspended from the University for the subsequent spring or fall semester. Suspension decisions are made by the Academic Standing Review Board. Students who have been suspended will be assigned an academic support advisor with whom they will work to accomplish the prescribed strategies necessary for their reinstatement. Reinstatement of any student who has been suspended will be at the discretion of the chair of the Academic Standing Review Board, in consultation with all necessary university constituents, based on consideration of the student's written request for reinstatement. Students reinstated from a suspension will remain on academic probation during the semester of their re-enrollment and will be required to comply with an academic support plan set forth by the Office of Student Academic Support Services. Students will be informed, in writing, prior to the beginning of the semester of the Academic Standing Review Board's decision, and the terms with which the students must comply.

Academic Dismissal
Students may be dismissed from the University if they are subject to placement on academic probation for two consecutive semesters or fail to make progress after reinstatement to the University from suspension. Dismissal decisions are recommended by the Academic Standing Review Board to the Provost and Executive Vice- President for Academic Affairs. The Academic Standing Review Board will carefully consider the student's total academic record prior to making a recommendation to dismiss. Reinstatement of any student who has been dismissed will be at the discretion of the Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the chair of the Academic Standing Review Board and all necessary University constituents, based on consideration of the student's written request for reinstatement. Students reinstated from dismissal may have to serve a semester of suspension or will remain on academic probation during the semester of their reenrollment if permitted to return. Returning students will be required to comply with an academic support plan set forth by the Office of Student Academic Support Services. Students will be informed, in writing, prior to the beginning of the semester of the Academic Standing Review Board's decision, and the terms with which the students must comply.

Appeal Policy and Procedure
Students may appeal an academic suspension or academic dismissal by submitting a letter to the Dean of Academic Support Services within ten business days of the date of the Academic Standing decision letter. The deadline for appeals will be specified in each letter sent to the student. The written appeal should fully describe the student's reason for poor academic performance, others who might be aware of the situation, and specific steps they plan to take toward improvement. Once received and considered by the appropriate parties, the appeal decision will be communicated in writing to the student by U.S. mail and by other means if necessitated by time constraints.

La Roche University recognizes that the development of students is not solely one of academic growth and that other activities contribute to the achievement of the goals set by the University in carrying out its mission with students.

Participation in varsity sports serves as an important function for participating students and also serves as a method of public relations, recruitment of students, visibility for the University and retention of students.

It is understood that academic growth of students has the highest priority.  It is also understood that the University's membership in intercollegiate conferences or associations requires commitment to certain standards shared with other member schools.

To show concern for and to assure that academic growth is not impeded by participation in varsity athletics, certain restrictions are placed on student participation.  These restrictions are intended for the student's guidance and assistance just as restrictions on students in general are imposed when academic growth is not satisfactory.

Policy

No student will be permitted to participate in an intercollegiate sports program during the time that the student is ineligible according to the standards of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and La Roche University.

Athletic academic eligibility is defined as having a cumulative GPA of 1.800 in the student's first year (first two semesters) at La Roche University. Students must receive a cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the completion of the following six semesters.  If a first year student earns a semester GPA of more than 1.500, but less than 1.800 in the first semester of attendance, that student may participate during the second semester under the following conditions:

1. The student, the academic advisor, the athletic director, and the coach agree to the participation.
2. The student carries no more than 12-13 credits in the semester.
3. A written contract is agreed to by the player, the academic advisor, and the coach, whereby the student adheres to a specific plan of study including regular involvement with the Academic Enrichment Center, tutoring if deemed advisable and continual reports and checks with instructors.
4. The contract so established will be filed with the athletic director prior to the first game of the new semester.  Any student who is in his/her third through eighth semester and receives a semester GPA below 2.000 while still maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or above is athletically eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics.  In any case when a student-athlete is brought to the Academic Standards Review Board at La Roche University and the review board, in coordination with the athletic department, finds that it is in the student's best academic interest not to participate in an intercollegiate sport for a particular semester; that recommendation will be upheld to meet La Roche University's academic standards.  Thus, a student who is academically eligible by the NCAA standards must comply with the more stringent standards of La Roche University, if applicable.

Purpose:  As required by Middle States Commission on Higher Education, to verify compliance with Federal Regulations requiring that institutions have effective procedures in place to ensure that the students who register in a distance or correspondence education course are the same students who participate in and complete the course, and receive the academic credit (34 CFR 602.17 (g)).

This policy is intended to reflect La Roche University’s commitment to the principles, goals, and ideal described in the University’s Mission Statement.

Revision History:  New

Persons Affected:  Faculty and students

Policy:    A new federal policy to verify the identity of online students has been put into place by the U.S. Department of Education. In response to this policy, La Roche University is requiring that all students enrolled in courses where all or part of the graded activity is delivered online, to verify their identity with the student authentication system, Biometric Signature ID.

Biometric Signature ID, through their gesture biometrics technology, will ensure that La Roche University maintains the highest level of academic integrity in online learning.

Faculty teaching only face-to-face classes, with no online component, are not required to use BioSig-ID. However, if they use the LMS (Canvas) as a supplemental classroom aid to allow students to submit assignments through the site, then the student identity verification through BioSig-ID will be required.

Every course syllabus should include the following paragraph:

Biometric Signature ID

Online courses at La Roche University require students to participate in a new security system.  This new software system is used to verify a student’s ID using just your mouse, touchpad, stylus, or touch screen, and all courses which require taking an exam, quiz and/or any gradable assignment online will require student verification.  No special hardware or software downloads are necessary.  This identification technology is from a company called Biometric Signature ID (BSI).  Verifying student identification is a new mandate from the federal government with which our institution needs to comply.  Instructions to enroll can be found on the intranet in the Online Student Services page.

This new software system enables a student to easily verify their identity using a mouse, stylus, touchpad or touch screen and does not require any special hardware or software.

• Students will register and enroll ONE TIME ONLY to create a password in the first course of the session.
• This same password will be used for all courses to access gradable events.
• Students will be required to watch a short instructional video to understand “HOW” to use the gesture biometric technology.
• Faculty will place the instructional video as a link with introductory remarks and as an assignment.
  https://intranet.laroche.edu/OL/bio-sig.cfm 
• During the first contact into the course, and after viewing the video, the student will register and enroll using the link provided.

PROCEDURES:

1. At the beginning of each semester, the student establishes a “password” using BioSig-ID in the first course in which they receive a BioSig-ID assignment. Returning students simply verify their identity using their existing password.
2. It is strongly suggested that faculty create an assignment (gradable event) where the students must authenticate their identity as suggested for any gradable event such as a test or assignment that is turned in remotely via Canvas.
3. The more times a student uses BioSig-ID, the more valid the authentication becomes and the less likely the student is to forget his or her BioSig-ID password.

      Definitions:

1. Biometric Signature ID – BioSig-ID
2. Learning Management System (LMS) - La Roche uses Canvas as their learning management system.
3. Online course – Asynchronous online instruction delivered to a group of students or an individual student, without any face-to-face meeting requirement.
4. Online hybrid course – Blended classes with some face-to-face component, but where 51% to 99% of the direct instruction is online.
5. On-campus course is delivered face-to-face, including those that use web-based technology to facilitate what is essentially a face-to-face course.  This includes the use of Canvas to post syllabus and assignments. An on-campus course requires less than 50% of that course to be offered online.

Authority:  The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean delegates the authority to implement and oversee this policy to the Online Learning and Faculty Support & Technology Coordinator.

Continuous renewal:  This policy will be reviewed two years from its effective date to determine its effectiveness and appropriateness; or sooner to reflect substantive change.

 Notification of Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.  La Roche University respects the rights of all students and fully complies with FERPA.  These rights are:

• The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 15 days of the day the University receives a request for access.  Students should submit written requests identifying record(s) they wish to inspect to the Registrar.  The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.  If the records are not maintained in the Registrar's Office, the student will be directed to the appropriate University administrator.

• The right to request amendment of the student's education record.  Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading.  They should write to the University administrator responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.  If the administrator makes the decision not to amend the record as requested by the student, the student will be notified and advised of his or her right to a hearing.

• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.  One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.  A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

• A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee such as disciplinary or grievance or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks (work study).

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by La Roche University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.  The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-4605

 In accordance with FERPA, La Roche University has designated the following information as "directory information," which may be made available upon request without the student's written permission:

• Student's name, address and phone number
• Date and place of birth
• Major field of study
• Participation in officially recognized activities or sports
• Weight, height and physical condition of members of athletic teams
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees and awards received, including Dean's List (not QPA)
• Student's photograph
• Most recent previous education agency or institution attended

This information may be routinely made public by the University unless the student informs the Registrar (ZCC204) in writing that any or all of the information designated should not be released without the student's prior consent.

Course numbering serves to identify the course, the course level, and its sponsoring department (based on subject area). To facilitate the transfer of courses to and from La Roche University, clear definitions of lower-level and upper-level courses are required. Although the content of various academic disciplines differ, lower and upper-level courses can generally be distinguished by the prerequisite knowledge required and the relative academic challenge of the course.

Lower-Level – Courses numbered 1000- to 2999

The primary intent of lower-division coursework is to provide students with general education, to expose students to the breadth of different fields of study, and to provide a foundation for specialized upper-level coursework. They are courses that may be counted in majors, minors, and electives at the basic level in baccalaureate programs.

Lower-level courses generally focus on foundational theories, concepts, perspectives, principles, methods, and procedures of critical thinking. Although lower-level courses sometimes serve as prerequisites for upper-level courses, they are not always stepping-stones to more advanced study. Rather, they may be ends in themselves, providing breadth, enrichment, or general knowledge.

Lower-level courses have one or more of the following characteristics:

• They acquaint students with the breadth of (inter) disciplinary fields in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and to the historical and contemporary theories and practices of professional fields.
• They introduce essential skills of literacy (e.g., information gathering, reading, and writing), language, (e.g., oral communication and language and culture other than English), science, and mathematical competence, to prepare for continuing work in any discipline.
• They lay the foundation for upper-division coursework and to begin development of analytical thinking and theoretical application.
These courses are designed for freshmen and sophomores, but may be taken by others. Community College courses may be comparable.

Upper-Level Courses – Courses numbered 3000 – 4999

Upper-level courses are specialized, in-depth, advanced, and emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications. These courses often build on the foundation provided by the skills and knowledge of lower-level courses.  Upper-level courses may require the student to synthesize topics from a variety of sources and may also require greater responsibility, or independence on the part of the student. 

 
Upper-level courses have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Depth/Focus: students make in-depth study of a discipline’s theories and methods, developing an understanding of the applications and limitations of those theories.
• Specialization: students develop specific intellectual and professional abilities that will enable them to succeed or progress in a particular field or professional practice.
• Refinement: students build upon the “general education” background noted above, applying these skills more discerningly or in more challenging contexts.
• Preparation: prerequisites may include more general courses, student classification, GPA requirements, or admission to a pre-professional program. Thus, majors and minors generally take upper-level courses in their junior and senior years.
Capstone or Integrative Inquiry courses, though not necessarily specialized or focused on in-depth study of one discipline, have an integrative function. Because one of the primary goals of these courses is to integrate knowledge gained from earlier studies, these are offered at the upper-level and limited to juniors and seniors or, in some cases, seniors only.
These courses are designed for juniors and seniors, but may be taken by others.  Community College courses may or may not be comparable.

Graduate Level – Courses Numbered 5000- and above

Courses numbered at the 5000- and 6000-level are graduate courses. Typically, graduate courses are restricted to students who have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree. At La Roche, 7000-level courses are at the doctorial level.

The primary function of graduate courses is to broaden the perspective and deepen the knowledge students have of a particular discipline or professional field of study, or to provide students with preparation in an advanced professional field that requires foundational knowledge and experience in a related discipline or field of study. Courses at this level are also used for post-baccalaureate certificate and certification programs.
Graduate courses are structured in a manner that allows for a variety of approaches to the subject matter, a wide range of source material, considerable student interaction, and a significant emphasis on independent study and/or research. They are designed to extend the knowledge and intellectual maturity of students beyond the baccalaureate level. They are intended for students who are capable of analyzing, exploring, questioning, evaluating, and synthesizing knowledge.

Reserved Course Numbers:

LRUXXXXX  La Roche Experience CORE
INQU3XXX  Interdisciplinary Inquiry CORE
XXXX4050 Special Topics and Experimental Courses offered one-time only
XXXX4051/4052 Internships
XXXX4055  Capstone/Senior Seminar
XXXX4057  Independent Study
XXXX4097  Directed Study
XXXX4056  Directed Research
XXXX6051 Graduate-level Internship
XXXXXXXXH Honors Courses available to Honors Institute members and students with GPA 3.5 and above
SASUXXXX  Study Abroad/Study USA

XRXX1000  Cross-Registered (Where XX = Host Institution)

Federal Regulations

The credit hour is defined by the U.S. Department of Education as a basic institutional measure of the
level of instruction and academic rigor that establishes eligibility for federal funding.1 Both within and between institutions, consistency in credit hour determinations has implications for the transferability of credit and for demonstrating that all courses and programs—regardless of teaching and learning formats
or delivery mode—are of sufficient academic rigor, content, and depth.

The U.S. Department of Education defines “credit hour” as:

“…An amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:

(1) one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or,

(2) at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.”

The Carnegie unit, represented in point (1) above, has served as the traditional unit of measure, but the Department also recognizes that institutions are developing other measures of educational content and credit equivalency.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, in its Credit Hour Policy, effective August 23, 2013, requires institutions to verify compliance with Credit Hour regulations.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides guidelines to remind institutions of their responsibility to meet all Federal, state, and other relevant policies, regulations, and requirements governing credit hours. 

U.S. Department of Education Office of Post-Secondary Education, “Guidance to Institutions and Accrediting Agencies Regarding a Credit Hour as Defined in the Final Regulations Published on October 29, 2010.”
 

Credit Hour Definition for Online Courses

Although government agencies set reasonable and suitable expectations for time spent earning credits,  the Middle States Commission on Higher Education “considers assessment evidence to be the most compelling evidence that an institution’s academic offerings are of appropriate academic content, breadth, length, and rigor.”

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education, in any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through, for example, classroom attendance, examinations, practica, laboratory work, internships, and supervised studio work. In the case of distance education and correspondence education, academic engagement would include, but not be limited to, submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; attending a study group that was assigned by the institution; contributing to an academic online discussion; and initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course. Merely logging into the electronic classroom does not constitute academic engagement. Source: U.S. Department of Education CH-A5, 2.22.2013.

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2009/credit.html

POLICY:

La Roche University assigns credit hours in ways that are consistent with U.S. Department of Education credit hour regulations by adopting the “credit hour” as the unit measure of instruction for awarding credit, based on the Carnegie Unit system:

• One lecture (taught) or seminar (discussion) credit hour represents 1 hour per week of scheduled class/seminar time and 2 hours of student preparation time.  Most lecture and seminar courses are awarded 3 credit hours. Over an entire semester, this formula represents at least 45 hours of class time and 90 hours of student preparation.

• One laboratory credit hour represents 1 hour per week of lecture or discussion time plus 1-2 hours per week of scheduled supervised or independent laboratory work, and 2 hours of student preparation time. Most laboratory courses are awarded up to 4 credit hours. This calculation represents at least 45 hours of class time, between 45 and 90 hours of laboratory time, and 90 hours of student preparation per semester.

• One practice credit hour (supervised clinical rounds, visual or performing art studio, supervised student teaching, fieldwork, etc.) represents 3-4 hours per week of supervised and /or independent practice. This in turn represents between 45 and 60 hours of work per semester. Blocks of 3 practice credit hours, which equate to a studio or practice course, represent between 135 and 180 total hours of academic work per semester.

• One independent study (thesis or dissertation research) hour is calculated similarly to practice credit hours.

• Internship or apprenticeship credit hours are determined by negotiation between the supervising faculty and the work supervisor at the cooperating site, both of whom must judge and certify different aspects of the student’s work. The credit formula is similar to that for practice credit.

LA ROCHE CLASS MEETING TIMES IN HOURS – 3 CREDIT COURSES

**Accelerated Courses must meet the same semester credit hours as traditional semester-length classes. Within the shortened time frame, accelerated classes must supplement face-to-face contact with the one or more of the following:

• Lecture/discussion/chat sessions delivered synchronously directly by the instructor via Canvas, Skype, etc.

• Required and faculty-involved asynchronous interaction via discussion boards, blogs, wikis, other appropriate social media, etc. in Canvas or other means.

• Proctored tests/exams or student evaluation tasks delivered through Canvas.

• Assignments (reading, writing, video, experiential/field work, service learning, laboratory work, studio work, supervised or independent practice, etc.) that exceed assignments required for a face- to-face course.

Departments must document, through their course syllabi, how accelerated courses will meet the minimum semester credit hour requirement. Faculty will complete a Credit Hour Compliance form and submit to the department secretary along with corresponding course syllabus prior to each semester the course is taught.

Online Courses

In accordance with Middle States recognition of assessment evidence as the most compelling evidence for measuring level of instruction and academic rigor, all online courses must be designed to include the content and meet the outcomes and level of rigor that would be expected to be covered in a course that meets face-to-face according to the La Roche Credit Hour Policy.  Faculty will complete a Credit Hour Compliance form and submit to the department secretary along with corresponding course syllabus prior to each semester the course is taught.

Regular Review

Department Chairs are responsible for conducting a regular review of courses within their departments to ensure that all courses are in compliance with the credit-hour policy. This review is conducted across all schools, disciplines, and course levels, and modes of instruction.
The Core and Curriculum Committees of the Senate review and approve all new courses, according to procedures established and published in the Faculty Handbook.

An annual review by Department Chairs ensures that courses continue to meet the established student learning outcomes, with the results documented in the online assessment tool.

Registrar to regularly audit the semester schedules to ensure that on-campus classes comply with established credit-hour requirements.

DEFINITIONS

Academic Rigor

Teaching, learning, and assessment which promotes student growth in knowledge of the discipline and the ability to analyze, synthesize, and critically evaluate the content under study.

Asynchronous

A student-centered teaching method that uses online learning resources to facilitate information sharing outside the constraints of time and place among a network of people.

Web-Facilitated

Course that uses Web-based technology to supplement what is essentially a face-to-face course.

Course Methods

La Roche University has adopted the following course method definitions:

To qualify for a degree from La Roche, a student must:

1. Complete the core curriculum (see Core Curriculum).
2. Successfully earn a minimum of 120-136 credits and fulfill the residency requirement (must complete the last 30 credits at La Roche).
3. Select a major and complete the program of studies that meets the divisional requirements and the approval of his/her advisor.
4. Achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.000 or "C" and GPA of all courses required to complete the major except those majors where more than a 2.000 is required.  In those instances, students must achieve the major GPA as stated in the University catalog.
5. Students must file an online application for graduation by the deadline published in the academic calendar.  A graduation fee is payable at that time. 

Credit For Life Experience

Credit for life experience may be earned for learning gained prior to enrollment at La Roche University. To earn credit for life experience, learning must relate directly to a course offered by La Roche and appear in the catalogue, with the exception of courses listed as internship, independent study or directed research. The total number of credits awarded for life experience may not exceed 30 and may not be included in the last 30 credits required for residency. Each division determines the number of credits awarded for life experience to be counted toward a major. Students should contact their advisor or the Registrar for a description of each program, restrictions and procedures.

Directed Study

A Directed Study offers students the opportunity to study individually with a faculty member, on a contractual basis, to substitute for a course that is needed for the student’s program of study, but is not available in a particular semester.  The Directed Study must provide a rigorous academic experience equivalent to that of any undergraduate course, and all student learning outcomes for the course must be met.

Students will be expected to meet with faculty as agreed upon in the Directed Study proposal. The amount of supervision will be determined by the faculty member and included on the Directed Study form. The student must also complete independent work time commensurate with in-class courses, where 45 hours of learning activities are required for every one credit earned. (135 hours for a three-credit course.) Students must document their hours on the Directed Study Time Sheet.

Students wishing to complete a Directed Study must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and may complete up to six credits of Directed Study during their tenure at La Roche. Exceptions for graduating seniors will be made with the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Directed Research

Directed research involves the student in the research process by actually engaging in research under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in a related discipline.  The purpose of a Directed research project is to explore a theoretical or experimental research problem, the goal of which is a substantive paper or written report containing significant analysis and interpretation. 

Directed Research is not a replacement for an existing course, but requires greater direct supervision by a faculty member than an independent study. The amount of supervision will be determined by the faculty member and included on the Directed Research form.

In accordance with the University’s Credit Hour Policy, students must complete work time commensurate with laboratory courses, where between 45 to 90 hours of learning activities are required for every one credit earned. (135 to 180 hours for a three-credit course.) Students must document their hours on the Directed Research Time Sheet.

Directed Research is limited to 2-4 credits per semester for upper class students in an academic major which establishes the prerequisites.  Students may take up to a total of 8 credits of directed research during their tenure at La Roche.

Students must register for a Directed Research by the end of the established add/drop period for the semester or session.

Independent Study

Independent study is an in-depth examination of a particular topic, on a contractual basis and under the limited supervision of a full-time faculty member in a related discipline.  Independent study is not a substitute for a formal course, but provides the student with the opportunity to pursue a subject in more depth and in a more independent manner than is possible in a traditional course. Students are responsible for developing their own proposal, following through with assignments and working independently. The amount of supervision will be determined by the faculty member and included on the Directed Research form.

Student initiated proposals, including rationale and goals, must be submitted via the Independent Study Form and approved by the faculty member, the student’s advisor and the department chair. 

In accordance with the University’s Credit hour policy, students must complete independent work time commensurate with in-class courses, where 45 hours of learning activities are required for every one credit earned. (135 hours for a three-credit course.) Students must document their hours on the Independent Study Time Sheet.

Students wishing to complete an independent study must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Students may take up a total of 6 credits of independent study during their tenure at La Roche.

Students must register for an Independent Study by the end of the established add/drop period for the semester or session.

Internship

An internship is completed in an area related to a student’s major. One to twelve (1-12) internship credits may be earned over the course of a student’s time at La Roche University. Internship credits are limited to no more than 6 credits per semester. While students may complete multiple internships at the same company, if appropriate, the student may not earn more than 6 credits in one internship experience. Each “internship experience” is defined by the responsibilities, duties, and learning objectives of the position. Students may apply for an internship once they have earned 30 credits. Students must be in good academic standing to begin an internship. Good academic standing is defined as having both a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Internships may begin when a student has completed a minimum of 45 credits. Individual academic departments may have more restrictive guidelines/requirements/grading policies than those printed here. 

If an internship is being done for academic credit, the online internship application process must be completed, including all approvals, prior to the registration deadline of the given semester/session. Internship paperwork may not be backdated to a previous semester or saved to be added in a future semester.

Internship credits to be earned must be determined at the point of registration for the internship and not while it is in progress or once completed. Additional credits cannot be added retroactively should the student work in excess of the required number of hours (see chart below).

Students may not do an internship at their place of regular employment unless the internship experience is in a different department/capacity than their regular job.

All expenses incurred during an internship are the responsibility of the student. There is no guarantee that a student will be paid or will earn a stipend for an internship. If a student opts to do an internship for credit, the internship is billed to the student’s account as is any other academic course taken at La Roche University.

The La Roche University faculty supervisor will generally be a full-time faculty member from the student’s major department area. If a full-time faculty member from the academic area is unavailable to be a supervisor, the department chair may designate another qualified supervisor.
It is the responsibility of the student and the faculty supervisor, in conjunction with the internship-site supervisor, to set the parameters of the internship in order to ensure that all requirements are met and that all parties agree to the terms of the internship contract. For each credit, the student must document a minimum of 45 hours of work between the internship site and related academic assignments such as a journal, paper, research project, or presentation. Of the 45 hours per credit, experiential learning must comprise a minimum of 30 hours. The exact proportion of time spent in the field and on related academic work is determined by the faculty supervisor.

All paperwork must be submitted to the faculty supervisor at the end of the internship in order for a grade and credit to be granted. This includes the timesheet, final-hours documentation, and both the employer and student evaluations.

A single internship may be taken for one to six (1-6) credits. The breakdown of credits and required hours is as follows:

CREDITS TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED APPROXIMATE HRS/WK *

1 CREDIT      45 hours    3 hours per week
2 CREDITS    90 hours    6 hours per week
3 CREDITS  135 hours    9 hours per week
4 CREDITS  180 hours  12 hours per week
5 CREDITS  225 hours  15 hours per week
6 CREDITS  270 hours  18 hours per week

*Approximate hours per week are based on a 15-week semester

October 2020

The University awards the following grades and assigns quality points on a 4-point per credit scale:

Midterm Grade Policy

Midterm grades are required for all undergraduate students in full-semester courses both fall and spring semesters; with the exception of internships, independent studies, clinicals, and student teaching.

Midterm grades are required for labs and directed study and directed research courses.

Incomplete Grade Policy

In exceptional cases, a student may be granted an incomplete grade ("X") for a course. Incomplete grades are intended for students who, based on extenuating circumstances, need additional time to complete tests or assignments. To be eligible, the student must have completed at least 50% of the required coursework. Attending the class in the following semester without registering is not an option for completing an incomplete.

The student must submit an online “Incomplete Grade Request Form” by the last day of the final exam period of the semester in which the student is enrolled in the course.  The request must include specific details concerning the reason for the request.  Before the request is approved, the student must discuss with the instructor the expectations and conditions governing completion of the coursework. Upon the approval of the instructor, the request, outlining these conditions, is automatically forwarded to the Registrar's Office who will issue the X grade.  Instructors cannot assign “X” grades through My.LaRoche.

Students granted an incomplete grade for a course may take up to six (6) weeks from the beginning of the following academic semester, including summer semester, to complete the outstanding coursework.  The instructor may set an earlier, but not later deadline date.  Incomplete grade deadline dates for each semester are published in the online Academic Calendar.

If an incomplete grade is issued for a spring semester course, the student will assume sole responsibility for maintaining contact with the faculty member, who may not be resident over the summer.

In the event that the student does not complete the necessary work within the six (6) week period, the “X” grade will be changed by the instructor to the grade earned given zero points for all missing tests or assignments.  “X” grades not changed within 72 hours of the incomplete grade deadline will be converted to an “F” grade by the Registrar’s Office.  A request for extension beyond six (6) weeks may submitted in writing to the Registrar, and will be granted only by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and only under the most compelling circumstances.

September, 2014

Pass or Fail

A student may register for one pass or fail course each semester.  Major, major elective courses, and University graduation requirement courses are not available for the pass or fail option, except for internship courses.  Individual departments will determine whether internship courses will be graded on a pass or fail basis.

Application for the pass or fail option may be obtained from the Registrar's Office.  Signed applications must be submitted at the time of registration.  This formal application is irrevocable after the last day to add.  Since no quality points are assigned for a pass grade, the grade is not used in the calculation of the GPA; quality points will be assigned to a fail grade and used in the GPA calculation.

Repeated Course

A course may not be repeated more than twice without the approval of the student’s academic advisor and department chair.  When a course is repeated, the grades received in both the original course and the subsequent course will remain on the student’s academic record.  The higher of the two grades earned is included in the computation of the cumulative grade point average (GPA).

The repeated course must be the same in which the original grade was earned.  In extenuating circumstances where a course is no longer offered, another course of similar content, verified by the chair of the department offering the course, may be approved as the replacement.  If a course number or title changes, with no change in content, the new number and title will be accepted as the replacement.

Courses may not be repeated at any other institution and have that grade accepted as a replacement for the original grade earned at La Roche.

Semester Credit Maximum

The average number of credits carried by full-time students is 12-15 hours each semester.  Full-time tuition rate will be charged to students who take up to 18 credits.  Students with a 3.00 GPA for the preceding semester and a 2.5 cumulative average may take more than 17 credit hours during a semester with approval of the student's academic advisor.

Student Evaluation

During the last week of each semester each student confidentially and anonymously evaluates each course in which s/he is enrolled.  The faculty use these evaluations as a guide in improving their teaching and advising.

Temporary Transfer

Students who have earned more than 90 earned may not take a summer course as a Temporary Transfer.  Once a student is matriculated at La Roche University, no more than two courses, not to exceed 8 credits, may be taken and transferred from other colleges.  Authorization to have these credits transferred to La Roche must be obtained in writing via the Summer Temporary Transfer Request form before enrolling at another college.  Students may not transfer credits during their residency (the last 30 credits of their coursework).  Students must have a GPA of at least a 2.0 to be eligible. In most cases, permission for temporary transfer will be granted for the summer semester only.

Transcripts

All requests for official transcripts are obtained through an online system.  A fee is charged for each official transcript requested.  A transcript will not be released for any student who has not met their financial obligations to the University.

Withdrawal from the University

If a student voluntarily withdraws from the University for any reason he/she must complete an exit survey and withdrawal on-line.  This procedure must be followed by all students wishing to withdraw from La Roche.  All refunds of tuition and fees are based on the official date of withdrawal.  Failure to properly complete the withdrawal process may result in the loss of good standing.

Students who plan to graduate in December, May, or August must formally apply for graduation by the deadline published in the academic calendar.   Students will need to complete an on-line graduation application, and meet with their advisor to confirm completion of graduation requirements.  Graduation fee is due at time of completion of the application, and can be paid on-line, in the Registrar's Office or Student Accounts Office.  Students will not be certified for graduation without filing an on-line graduation application.

Academic Honors

In order to recognize and encourage excellence in academic achievement, the University acknowledges at commencement those individuals who attain superior performance.  Students may be graduated with University or major honors if they have completed at least 45 graded credits at La Roche.  A student with a cumulative GPA as follows:

• GPA of 3.900 - 4.000 Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors)
• GPA of 3.750 - 3.899 Magna Cum Laude (with high honors)
• GPA of 3.500 - 3.749 Cum Laude (with honors)

Major honors are awarded by faculty as outlined for the honors program.

MAJOR DELCARATION POLICY

Undeclared degree-seeking students at La Roche University are required to declare a major before or upon completion of 60 credits.  An undeclared transfer student who transfers in 60 or more credits must declare a major during or at the completion of their second semester at La Roche University.  

Prior to declaring a major, students will be advised to meet with a department chair or faculty member from the department of the intended major to discuss their academic plans.  The appropriate “Major Declaration or Change” form must be signed by that department chair/faculty member before the official change of major is made.

Students must declare a major by the published due date each semester in order to ensure proper advisor assignment for that semester’s advising and registration period.  The due date for major declarations will be published on the Academic Calendar.

MAJOR DECLARATION PROCEDURE

A student may officially declare a major by following these procedures:

• Meet with a faculty member in the department of the intended major to discuss the major and the student’s academic progress toward that major
• Fill out the “Major Declaration, Add, Change, or Remove Request” form found online at https://intranet.laroche.edu/Registrar/secure/majorDeclaration.cfm   Once submitted, the form will be routed to the appropriate faculty/offices.
• Follow up with the Office of Student Academic Support Services to ensure all electronic signatures have been obtained.  

RATIONALE
          
Among the many benefits of declaring a major early in one’s academic career are the following: the ability to work with a faculty advisor, access to special programs and/or courses reserved for declared majors, and invitations to specific career-information events. 

Working with a faculty advisor allows students to gain first-hand information on recommended course sequences, internships, departmental activities, student organizations, conferences, honor societies, professional affiliations, and scholarships.  In addition, it encourages the development of a long-term academic plan and allows ample time to fulfill that plan.

November 2021

Students in on-campus programs should consult with financial aid to determine if there are any limitations on the number of online classes completed each semester.

DEFINITIONS:

Online Asynchronous:  online instruction delivered without any face-to-face meeting requirement.  Student learning is on a student's own schedule, within a certain time frame.  There is no set meeting time.

Online Synchronous:  online instruction delivered virtually, with scheduled meeting times via an online platform. Students must attend the online class at the scheduled meeting time.  

Online Hybrid:  A blended class with some face-to-face component, but 51% or more of the instruction is delivered asynchronously online. (Considered “online” for financial aid purposes.) For hybrid classes, the course details must contain the percentage of in-classroom hours and the percent of online hours so that the expectations are clear to the student.

On-Campus:  On-campus, face-to-face classes (which may use Canvas) or blended classes where 50% or more of the course is delivered face-to-face, and 50% or less is delivered online.

A student is permitted to attend only those classes for which he or she is officially registered.  New students are registered for classes prior to the beginning of their first semester.  Returning students register on-line during mid-semester for the following term.  Dates of registration are published in the academic calendar. Early registration is granted to Veteran students.

Credits will not be granted nor grades recorded on a transcript for any course for which a student is not officially registered.

Many advanced (upper level) courses have prerequisites as indicated in the catalogue.  A student may not register for a course until he or she has met the prerequisites or unless the division chairperson or department chairperson grants permission in writing.

Full-time Status

Full-time status for undergraduate students is12 credits in the fall and spring semesters, and 9 credits in the summer session.

Full-time status for graduate students is 6 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 3 credits in the summer semester. Graduate students registered for 3 credits in the first accelerated session and 3 credits in the second accelerated session within the same semester are considered full-time.

Adding or Dropping of Classes

Classes may be added only during the scheduled add/drop period each semester; the last date to add a class is published in the academic calendar.  The final date of the drop period is published in the academic calendar. After the first week of classes, students can only withdraw from a course; withdrawn courses are included on the student's transcript and indicated by a withdraw "W" grade.

Non-attendance does NOT constitute an official class drop.  Failure to drop or withdrawn from a class will result in an "F" grade on the student's transcript.  Attendance does NOT constitute an official class add.  Grades will not be issued nor recorded for a student who completes a class for which he/she is not officially registered.

Audit

Students may audit courses.  An audit signifies that the student will not be asked to meet the course requirements such as written assignments or examinations, but that he or she has the privilege of class attendance and participation.  Formal application for this grading option must be made at the time of registration or no later than the end of the add/drop period.  The tuition for an audited course is identical to the tuition for degree status.  No credits toward graduation can be earned for audited courses, and no grade.  One may not change from an audit to a regular credit basis once the add/drop period has ended.

Class Attendance

Each instructor is responsible for determining attendance requirements and informing students.  Every student enrolled in a course is fully responsible for meeting the requirements stipulated by the instructor.  In most cases class time will be integral to the thorough understanding and effective use of the subject matter of the course.  A student who misses class may endanger his/her progress and seriously hinder successful completion of the course.

Prolonged absence from classes due to serious illness or emergency should be reported as soon as possible to the Student Academic Support Services Office.  Such prolonged absence may necessitate a withdrawal from the course or courses in question.

Credit by Examination

La Roche University affords a student the opportunity to demonstrate that the knowledge associated with a particular course has already been gained through instructor prepared challenge examinations (the “exam”). Matriculated La Roche students may challenge an exam only if they have completed 30 credits of La Roche University class instruction. A maximum of 60 credits may be earned through credit by challenge exam. Departments determine and maintain both a list of available challenge courses and the restrictions on those courses. Normally, a course is challenged only during the semester in which it is offered. Students may not challenge a course which they have failed or retake a failed challenge exam. Students may not challenge a course for which they have registered after the last day of the add period. Challenge exams are not recommended for students unfamiliar with the subject area. Credits earned through challenge exams will be applied to degree credit requirements.

Students must pay an application fee and complete the appropriate form, available from the Registrar's Office.  Signatures from the instructor, the advisor & division chair or department chairperson are necessary.  An additional per credit fee is required when credits are granted for the completed exam.

Standardized Examinations

The University will award credit for the following standardized examinations:CLEP, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccaluereate (IB).  A student can earn CLEP credit in the general examinations and the various subject examinations.  Each academic division determines if credit by exam is applicable to their specific majors.  No standardized examinations are permitted during the student's residency.

Credit is awarded based on minimum score needed for credit, found in the standardized exam credit equivalency charts maintained by the Registrar’s Office. DSST results are evaluated on a per course basis with the academic department. Official test scores must be received from the organization providing the exam, in order for credit to be received.  

Cross Registration

Any full-time student may cross-register for one course each semester at any one of the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE) institutions, provided the course is open for cross-registration.  The grade earned for a cross-registered course is calculated in the student's GPA.  There is no PCHE cross-registration available in the summer or for intercessions.  An authorized registration form must be approved by the advisor and the Registrar's Office. Forms are filed with the registrar of the host and home institutions before the deadline for such registration.

La Roche students should use the La Roche University tuition, refund, and add/drop policies any time they cross-register at another institution.  However, students are responsible for paying for special course or laboratory fees to the host institution.  For further information concerning cross-registration, contact the Registrar's Office.

Members of PCHE, in addition to La Roche, are: Carlow, Carnegie Mellon, Chatham, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Point Park, Robert Morris, and University of Pittsburgh. 

Tuition and Fees

If you have questions, please contact the Student Accounts Office at:

• PHONE: 412-536-1030

• FAX: 412-536-1075

• E-MAIL: studentaccounts@laroche.edu

 Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.

The purpose of the “Academic Fresh Start” policy is to provide students who earned less than a 2.0 during their initial enrollment at La Roche, the opportunity to return for a “one-time only” option of having their GPA restarted.   To be eligible for an Academic Fresh Start, a student must:

• be a former La Roche undergraduate who left La Roche without completing an academic program
• have left the University with a GPA of less than 2.0
• have been absent for a minimum of four years (twelve academic semesters)
• have not been previously dismissed

The Registrar will determine if the criteria for “Fresh Start” has been satisfied.  Eligibility for “Fresh Start” does not guarantee readmission.

Under the Academic Fresh Start option, the Office of the Registrar begins a new GPA for the student upon readmission.  The student retains the credits for all previous courses completed with a grade of C or better, although the quality points earned from those courses will no longer be counted in calculation of the GPA.  Only quality points earned from courses taken after readmission will then apply to the student’s GPA.  A notation indicating the beginning of an “Academic Fresh Start” will appear on the student’s transcript.  Students should be aware that the previous academic record will remain on the transcript.

Under this policy:

• A student may not select some grades and credits to retain while excluding others.
• To be eligible for a degree, a student must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours after re-admission.
• An Academic Fresh Start may be awarded only once, and once granted, is irrevocable
• At any time, La Roche may designate certain majors as “enrollment controlled” and not available for an Academic Fresh Start

The Academic Fresh Start policy does not allow the student to regain Financial Aid Eligibility.

Students transferring to La Roche University will have their transcripts evaluated by the Registrar after they have been admitted. Credits will be awarded on a course-by-course basis, taking into account course descriptions, outcomes and objectives. The Registrar may choose to consult faculty for further review of the courses.  In all cases the academic departments will have final determination in the evaluation of courses which satisfy department/major requirements.

Transfer Credit Limits:

• La Roche University will accept a maximum of 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree from four-year degree-granting institutions, regionally accredited by one of the six accrediting organizations recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.
• A maximum of 90 credits will be accepted toward an undergraduate degree from regionally accredited Community or Junior Colleges that offer two-year education programs and award associate degrees.
• A maximum of 45 credits will be accepted toward an undergraduate degree from a technical school, accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education.  A technical school is defined as a two-year institution of higher education that focuses on an occupational or technical curriculum, and awards associate degrees at the conclusion of the program.
• La Roche will accept a maximum of 90 credits towards an undergraduate degree to include to all transfer credits, credit by standardized examination, and credit for life experience.
• La Roche may accept up to 6 semester hours of graduate credit toward a graduate degree at the discretion of the department.

In all cases, only those courses which are congruent with the academic programs of La Roche will be accepted.

Students may transfer in no more than 50% of the courses counted for a major. Individual departments may further limit the number of credits accepted to fulfill major requirements.

Students may transfer in no more than 50% of the courses counted for a minor.

All transfer students must request and file official transcripts of courses taken at other institutions before transfer credit will be awarded. Transfer students who attended universities outside of the United States must submit an international credential evaluation report which explains how their international education compares to the U.S. system. (Transcripts must be translated into English before an evaluation can be processed.) A course-by-course evaluation including a grade point average (GPA) must be sent directly from an approved evaluation service to La Roche University.

Residency Requirement:  All students must complete the last 30 credits (in residency) at La Roche University. In extenuating academic circumstances, the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean may grant an exception to the residency policy. Transfer credit and credits from all other sources (see below) cannot be included within the last 30 credits.

Courses Not Accepted In Transfer:

• Computer technology courses completed more than 10 years before a student’s matriculation at La Roche.
• Courses completed more than 10 years before a student’s matriculation at La Roche into a nursing major, unless the student is a licensed Registered Nurse.
• Courses offered for non-credit Continuing Education Units (CEU).
• Remedial courses, usually numbered below 100 or 1,000.
• Non-credit courses providing instruction in English as a Second Language.
• Undergraduate courses completed with a grade below “C”.
• Course completed with a grade of “P” or “S” (Pass or Satisfactory); unless verified in writing by the Registrar of the prior institution that such grade is equivalent to a grade of “C”.

Non-Traditional Learning Options

La Roche University will accept a maximum of 60 credits total from non-traditional sources listed below:

• Advanced Placement (AP).  Departments approve qualifying scores through the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board.  Students must have their scores sent directly from the College Board to the Registrar to receive credit.

• International Baccalaureate Program (IB).  Credit is awarded based on minimum score needed for credit, found in the standardized exam credit equivalency charts maintained by the Registrar’s Office. Students must have their examination results sent from International Baccalaureate directly to the Registrar to receive credit.

• Challenge Examinations.  A qualified applicant may earn credit by proficiency examination upon the recommendation of the department chair and the approval of the registrar.  The exam is administered by a La Roche faculty member and must be completed prior to the last 30 hours at La Roche with a minimum grade of C.

• External Examinations.  Satisfactory scores on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and other examinations evaluated by American Council on Education (ACE) for college-level credit.  Students must have scores reported directly to the Registrar.

• Credit for Training.  Credit will be awarded for military training that has been evaluated and recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE).  Students must submit documentation (AARTS or SMARTS transcript is recommended, at minimum a DD214 or DD295) of training to the Registrar.

• Credit for Life Experience. A La Roche student can earn up to 30 credits at the undergraduate level through work and life experience through the development of a portfolio.  Portfolios are submitted to the Registrar’s Office and evaluated by La Roche faculty in the student’s intended major.  Credit for Life Experience credit hours can be applied toward general and major electives and courses for lower and upper division requirements for your major.

Updated 2021

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), La Roche University adopted the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA.

La Roche will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to;
• Require student secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny their access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Provide Chapter 33 Certificate of Eligibility (or its equivalent) or for Chapter 31, VA VR&E’s contract with the school on VA Form 28-1905 by the first day of class.
  • Note: Chapter 33 students can register at the VA Regional Office to use E-Benefits to get the equivalent of a Chapter 33 Certificate of Eligibility. Chapter 31 students cannot get a completed VA Form 28-1905 (or any equivalent) before the VA VR&E case-manager issues it to the school. 
• Provide written request to be certified.
• Provide additional information to properly certify the enrollment, as needed.