Academic Load and Enrollment Requirements
All academic credit is stated in semester credit hours. Full- and part-time student status is determined by the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled during any given term. In credit hours, the academic load for undergraduate semester students is as follows:
Full-time
Twelve or more credit hours
Part-time
Nine to eleven credit hours: three quarter-time
Six to eight credit hours: half-time
One to five credit hours: less than half-time
Notes: (1) International students must maintain full-time student status to remain in compliance with U.S. visa regulations.
(2) Course extensions (including capstone extensions and thesis extensions) are not counted among a student’s “hours enrolled.” For this reason, students who are enrolled only in the completion of a thesis or capstone experience are considered less than half-time students.
(3) Missouri students expecting to qualify for Missouri State Grant funds are required by the state to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours per semester both at the time the funds are requested and at the time the funds are received.
Academic Overload
Any full-time traditional student who wishes to take up to 18 hours may do so without seeking any additional approvals. Students wishing to take 19-24 credit hours must petition for academic course overload. Note: Any student that exceeds the number of hours included in the block tuition rate will incur additional tuition charges.
Honors Overload
With administrative authorization, full-time traditional students with cumulative grade-point averages above 3.5 may take courses up to 24 credit hours of undergraduate coursework at no extra charge as long as the traditional student matriculated prior to the 2021-22 academic year. Students that matriculate during the 2021-22 or any future academic years will not be eligible for the honors overload. In addition, the honors benefit shall apply to early access graduate courses.
International students studying at Lindenwood University adhere to specific enrollment requirements in accordance with their F-1 visa status.
For international students enrolling in online courses:
8 CFR § 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G) For F1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per term may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken online or through distance education and does not require the student’s physical attendance for classes, examination, or other purposes integral to completion of the class. An online or distance education course is a course that is offered principally through the use of television, audio, or computer transmission including open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, or satellite, audio conferencing, or computer conferencing.
- One online course will count towards full-time status.
- Lindenwood University policy states that undergraduate students cannot be enrolled in the same number of online as on-ground classes.
Undergraduate On-Ground and Online Course Combinations
| Enrollment Status |
Number of Online & On-Ground Courses |
| Enrolled in 12 credit hours |
Three on-ground and one online |
| Enrolled in 15 credit hours |
Three on-ground and two online |
| Enrolled in 18 credit hours |
Four on-ground and two online, etc. |
Graduate On-Ground and Online Course Combinations
| Enrollment Status |
Number of Online & On-Ground Courses |
| Enrolled in six credit hours |
One on-ground and one online |
| Enrolled in nine credit hours |
Two on-ground and one online |
For international students wanting to take an approved reduced course load:
Reduced Course Load (RCL) is when a student is authorized to take less than full-time course load. There are several reasons that RCL can be authorized for an international student:
- Illness or medical reason.
- Improper course level placement.
- Initial difficulty with reading requirements.
- Initial difficulty with the English language.
- Unfamiliarity with the U.S. teaching method.
- To complete course of study in current term.
Each of the items listed have specific requirements in order to be authorized. Please read the requirements on the Study in the States - reduced course load website before selecting the reason.
RCL can be requested by submitting the Reduced Course Load form to the (P)DSO located in the Center for Diversity Inclusion (DCI). If the student needs to have an RCL authorized in mid-term, the form should be submitted prior to completing the add/drop form. (Reduced Course Load form can be found on the International Services Website or on the J-drive).
For international students taking courses at different location:
- International students are required to take the majority of their program courses on the St. Charles campus.
- The required courses for the international student’s program cannot have more than 50% of the courses taught at an off campus Learning Center.
For international students participating in Curricular Practical Training (CPT):
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is special work authorization for international students. It allows students to participate in internships or work off campus as long as the student is enrolled in an internship course for that term. CPT is approved for students in their junior year of their program.
- CPT is term based, meaning that it is only authorized for the term that the student is taking the internship course.
- Students must have CPT added to their I-20 if they are receiving compensation or participating in a paid internship opportunity. If they are non-paid/volunteer internships, then CPT does not need to be authorized on their I-20.
- CPT will only be authorized for part-time while the term is in session.
Undergraduate/Graduate students:
- During the fall and spring semesters, graduate and undergraduate students only can work part-time.
- Graduate and undergraduate semester students can work full-time during the summer session.
CPT Procedures
- Students are required to fill out all four sections of the CPT form.
- If the student has an internship procedure/packet, it will need to be included with the CPT form.
- The student can include a copy of the employer hire letter in lieu of the employer filling out the requested section of the CPT form.
Students are required to satisfy the degree requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of matriculation. A continuing student who desires to pursue a course of study added to the curriculum in a subsequent catalog year or who wishes to fulfill degree requirements that have changed since the student’s matriculation must submit a catalog change request to the Office of Academic Services. If the request is granted, the student will be bound by all policies and requirements in the new catalog. Students who discontinue study at Lindenwood University may be required to adopt the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of readmission depending upon the length of the absence.
Note: The University reserves the right to modify its policies (other than degree requirements) at any time. Students must adhere to all university policies that are in effect during each term of enrollment.
Academic progress is calculated in credit hours.
- To be classified as a sophomore, a student must have successfully completed at least 24 credit hours.
- To be classified as a junior, a student must have successfully completed at least 54 credit hours.
- To be classified as a senior, the student must have successfully completed at least 84 credit hours.
The classification of a student is changed only at the end of a term. A minimum of 120 credit hours (not including courses completed at the preparatory or pre-college level, numbered 01000-09999) is necessary to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Attendance
All students at Lindenwood University are expected to attend all classes and all class activities for which they have enrolled. Students who miss class are expected to inform the instructor and to make up the work to the instructor’s satisfaction.
At times, absence from class may be unavoidable - as in instances of prolonged illness, hospitalization, mandatory religious practices, or participation in an approved student activity. (For information regarding absence due to university-sponsored activity, see the Excused Absence Policy for Students Engaged in LU Authorized Events.) A student who has been hospitalized should submit official doctor’s or hospital documentation to the accessibility manager located in the Library and Academic Resource Center, Suite 346. Written verification of religious observances may be required.
In the case of unsatisfactory work due to excessive absences from class, the instructor may give ample warning to the student that the work is unsatisfactory and may report a final grade of F or AF to the registrar.
Notes: Persons receiving benefits from the Veterans Administration are governed by special regulations concerning class attendance See Veterans’ Benefits, appearing earlier in this catalog.
Rationale
In the event that a student experiences the death of a loved one during the course of an academic term, the student may request to utilize the Bereavement Policy for Students. Lindenwood recognizes the impact that a loss may have on the emotional and academic well-being of a student and wishes to support the student during this stressful time. Lindenwood also understands that grief impacts every student differently and, therefore, this policy is not an attempt to quantify the impact of the death of a loved one or in any way address the nature of the grief process. Rather, the purpose of this policy is to provide a formal process to allow grieving students the time to attend the bereavement services, as well as the opportunity to be available for their families during times of death and grief.
Policy
Under this policy, a student will be excused from class for funeral leave, subsequent bereavement, and/or travel considerations. A student is entitled up to five (5) consecutive academic days of bereavement to mourn a death in the immediate family as defined below. For a death outside the immediate family as defined below, a student is entitled up to three (3) consecutive academic days of bereavement. While this policy excuses a student from class attendance, the student remains responsible for all material covered in class and must work with each individual professor upon return to complete any required work.
The immediate family includes:
- Parent(s) or legal guardian(s)
- Spouse
- Parent
- Stepparent
- Sibling
- Child
- Stepchild
- Grandparents or grandparents-in-law
- Father-in-law
- Mother-in-law
- Brother-in-law
- Sister-in-law
- Son-in-law
- Daughter-in-law
- Grandchild
International Students
An international student will be granted up to ten (10) consecutive days if there is a death in their immediate family. The student must provide the SASS office with relevant and appropriate documentation to certify the death of a relative. Such documentation may include a copy of a death certificate, a letter from a recognized religious leader (such as an Imam), a police or consular report, official government certification or similar. All submitted documentation must be official copies in English (or be accompanied by an official translation).
Exceptions
The University reserves the right to review specific situations to determine if exceptions to the established bereavement policy are warranted. Exceptions must be discussed and agreed upon prior to the start of the leave with the Director, Student Support Services in consultation with the Associate Provost, Academic Affairs and the AVP, Student Affairs.
Scope of Applicability
This policy is applicable to all full- and part-time graduate and undergraduate students.
Process and Notification
The student or a representative (family member, room/suitemate, on-campus faculty/staff) must notify the Student Academic Support Services (SASS) Office prior to the start of the bereavement leave. The student is required to provide appropriate documentation to the SASS Office. Upon receipt of the appropriate documentation, a representative from SASS will notify the necessary and appropriate on-campus offices (faculty, success coach/academic advisor, athletic coaches, Residence Life) of a student’s bereavement leave and anticipated return date. Upon return to the institution, it is the responsibility of the student to communicate with their instructors about any missed assignments and arrange to complete missed work. In keeping with this policy, instructors shall excuse the student from class according to this policy and provide an opportunity for the student to complete missed quizzes, exams, papers, other required work and/or alternative assignments. Students who have followed this policy should not incur academic penalties. Members of the faculty shall have the option to adjust course requirements at their discretion to assist the student in ways deemed appropriate including, but not limited to, the following:
- Extension of due dates
- Providing make-up exams
- Assigning alternative assignments and/or evaluations
- Assigning a grade of Incomplete
- Issuing the student a final grade for coursework earned to date without a requirement to complete remaining academic assignments (typically for situations occurring within the last two weeks of the semester)
- Other measures agreed upon by the instructor and the student
Documentation
Any student who wishes to utilize this policy is required to provide documentation to the Student Academic Support Services (SASS) Office. Acceptable documents may include: a funeral program, obituary, signed letter from funeral home, or death certificate. Failure to provide documentation will result in the absences being considered unexcused.
Appeal
If an instructor fails to follow this policy, the student may appeal the instructor’s decision in writing to the Associate Provost, Academic Affairs.
Counseling Services
Lindenwood University’s Student Counseling and Resource Center is available to assist students and provide counseling services if so desired by the student. Students may also access free crisis and scheduled teletherapy through Uwill while away from campus and upon their return.
Academic Support
Lindenwood University’s Student Academic Support Services (SASS) Office is available to assist students and provide academic support if so desired by the student.
Excused Absence Policy for Students Engaged in Military Duties
Lindenwood University allows students participating in required military duties to be excused from class. Military duties covered under this policy include but are not limited to military deployment, required annual military training, ROTC activities and civilian deployments in support of federal operations. For service members holding Reserve and National Guard status, weekend duty (drill) requirements should not interfere with normal school schedules. However, if a situation arises that requires absence from class due to duty/drill requirements, this absence can also be excused if the required absence is verified by the commanding officer or other affiliated Guard leader.
If circumstances permit, students should notify instructors of all absences for military duty prior to the absence. Instructors may request documentation/verification of the military duty and require that the absence be verified by the Office of Veteran Affairs. If an exigent circumstance arises, where notification is not possible prior to the absence, the student should contact the instructor and/or university as soon as possible to present documentation of the reason for the absence as well as the reason for late notification. When make-up work is pertinent, students who have provided their professors with notice should be afforded the opportunity to complete assigned work. Alternatively, students can be assigned an educationally equivalent substitutable activity at a time and place mutually agreed upon by the student and the instructor.
No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student with excused absences for official university activities or military duties.
Notes: Students enrolled in classes with extremely compressed meeting schedules will not be excused from class attendance if participation in the activity would cause the student to miss a significant portion of the scheduled meeting time. Students who enroll in such a class and find that they must be absent will be advised to withdraw from the class.
Excused Absence Policy for Students Engaged in Lindenwood University Authorized Events
Lindenwood University allows students engaged in official sports contests, arts events, approved field trips, approved conferences, etc., to be excused from class for University-sponsored events in which those students are officially representing the university. Students are required to communicate personally with their professors regarding their anticipated absences and to arrange for missed work in advance of their university-authorized absences. When make-up work is pertinent, students who have provided their professors with advance notice should be afforded the opportunity to complete that work or an educationally equivalent and substitutable activity at a time and place mutually agreed upon by the student and the instructor.
Notes: Students enrolled in classes with extremely compressed meeting schedules will not be excused from class attendance, even for a university-authorized event if participation in the event would cause the student to miss a significant portion of the scheduled meeting time. Students who enroll in such a class and find that they must be absent will be advised to withdraw from the class.
Responsibilities Related to Excused Absence Policy
All members of the Lindenwood community have responsibilities to ensure that the Excused Absence Policy functions properly and efficiently for students, staff, and faculty. Below are the responsibilities of each party affected by or involved with the Excused Absence Policy:
The Lindenwood Athletics Department will provide notice of any upcoming student-athlete absence for a sporting event or related, excused sports activity. The notice will be sent through LindenCircle. This notice is to inform faculty the student-athlete is representing the University in an athletics event or function. It is the responsibility of the student-athletes to remind professors of their absence at least 48 hours in advance and to arrange for any missed work. Exceptions to the 48-hour rule should be noted in the LindenCircle excuse form and include last-minute travel roster substitutions, changes in schedule due to inclement weather, and/or qualifying competition.
A faculty member or academic department sponsoring a special co-curricular event or outing should first complete a field trip form and submit it to the associate provost for engaged learning for approval. This form should list the name of each student attending the outing, along with a sponsor signature, confirming all students who will be traveling have signed a travel waiver. Once the outing is approved, the associate provost will send notice via LindenCircle of the excused absence.
Professors affected by excused student absences should make reasonable accommodations for excused students who are missing class or other academic activities because of their participation in an event or other function related to their participation in a scheduled, university-authorized co-curricular event. Professors should, in advance of any such excused absences, stipulate in writing in the course syllabus their expectations of and procedures for students who must miss class for authorized reasons. Each professor’s expectations and procedures should meet the parameters outlined in this Excused Absence Policy and should be reviewed with all students during the first week of class.
Students who must miss class for a Lindenwood sporting event or other Lindenwood-authorized activity must, in person or via email, provide advance notice to all professors whose classes they will miss with specific details of their upcoming absence. If possible, this notice should be provided at least 72 hours in advance of the affected class meetings. If 72-hours’ notice is not possible, the student should notify professors as soon as possible. This personal notice shall be given in addition to the general notice provided by the Lindenwood Athletics Department or academic department sponsoring the event. In each case, the student also is expected to prepare thoroughly for and promptly engage in any substitute or make-up assignment or activity.
All undergraduate students must declare a major by the time they complete their fourth semester of full-time enrollment by submitting a Change of Major/Advisor form to the Office of Academic Services. This form must be completed, signed by the student and the major advisor(s).
Change in Degree Program Students wishing to pursue a degree or program other than the one they originally sought should consult with an advisor in the new program to determine whether additional application materials must be submitted for admission to the new program. For any subsequent change in degree/major program, the same procedure should be followed as above.
It is possible for a student to earn more than one undergraduate baccalaureate degree type from Lindenwood University. These degrees may be pursued either simultaneously or sequentially. They may be earned in the same college, or in two or more colleges of the University.
Degree types offered at Lindenwood include BA, BAS, BFA, BM, BS, or BSW. A student may earn a given degree type only once. For example, a student pursuing majors in accounting and sociology may not earn more than one BA. (See: information on double major.) A student who pursues multiple majors leading to different degree types may earn multiple degrees. For example, a student majoring in exercise science and social work may earn both a BS and a BSW. Students may earn any combination of degree types. (See information on second bachelor’s degree.)
Double Major
If a student simultaneously completes the requirements of two majors leading toward the same degree type, the student will earn one degree, and both majors will be noted on the student’s transcript. Students will receive one diploma. The student must complete the core requirements for both majors in addition to the general education requirements for the degree earned. (Refer to General Education Requirements by degree.)
Second Bachelor’s Degree
If a student simultaneously completes the requirements of majors leading towards degrees of different types, the student will earn two degrees, with each major noted under the appropriate degree on the student’s transcript. The student must complete the requirements of each major.
Second Bachelor’s Degree
A student who has previously earned a baccalaureate degree from Lindenwood University may return to earn a second bachelor’s degree if the student is seeking a major leading to a degree type not previously earned at Lindenwood University. The student must complete the core requirements of the major. Students will be required to take only those specific general education classes that are degree requirements for their major. Upon completion of all requirements, the second degree and major will be added to the student’s transcript. The student will receive a new diploma listing the degree and major earned.
Students seeking an undergraduate degree who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree from another regionally accredited university based in the United States may petition to waive the Lindenwood University general education requirements. If approved, students will be required to take only those specific general education classes that are degree requirements for their major.
Students seeking an undergraduate degree who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree from an international institution must submit an official transcript to Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Evaluation Services (WES) for an evaluation. The ECE/WES evaluation will be reviewed to determine the university general education requirements that the student must complete, and the requirements that the student can petition to be waived.
Second Bachelor’s Major
A student who has previously earned a baccalaureate degree from Lindenwood University may return to earn a second bachelor’s major if the student is seeking a major leading to the same degree type previously earned at Lindenwood University. The student must complete the core requirements of the second major. Upon completion of all requirements, the second major will be added to the student’s transcript with the notation “Second Bachelor’s Major.” The student will not receive a new diploma as no new degree type has been earned.
In the event of a student’s untimely death, the University may grant a posthumous degree if the following criteria are met.
Undergraduate students
Eligibility:
- The student had reached senior status and had completed at least 50% of the major requirements.
- The student was in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
- The student had no pending disciplinary sanctions.
- The academic college in which the student was enrolled recommends the awarding of a posthumous degree.
Procedure:
- Anyone can request a deceased student be considered for a posthumous degree. It is recommended that this request be made within two years of the student’s passing.
- Once a request has been made, the student’s academic college dean and department faculty will review the student’s eligibility. If the college representatives determine that the student is eligible for a posthumous degree, the recommendation will be forwarded to the Provost.
- If approved, the Provost will direct the Registrar to award the degree and request a diploma to be sent to the next of kin.
- The statement “Awarded Posthumously” will be printed on both the student’s transcript and the diploma.
Credits earned at Lindenwood University will be accepted toward a degree no matter when they were earned, except for requirements in the student’s major. Credits earned in the student’s major will be reviewed for approval by the department head. If any course must be repeated within a major and the course is not being offered in the normal sequence of course offerings, it may be offered as a special topics class with credit counting toward graduation. Such a course will be calculated as a part of the student’s GPA.
At the instructor’s discretion, extra credit opportunities may be offered. Such opportunities must be equally accessible to all students enrolled in the course. Please direct any questions about this policy to the Office of the Provost.
Student work is defined as assignments, homework, and other academic activities to be completed outside of instructional time, including reading, studying, writing, research, etc. Students should expect to spend a minimum of two hours per week completing this work for each credit hour enrolled (thus, six hours of work outside of class for a three-credit-hour course), although the time spent outside of class may increase based on the topic and level of the course.
All courses are required to meet until the end of the scheduled academic terms defined in the University calendar. Professors are required to hold a final exam or other significant evaluative activity at the scheduled final exam time as outlined in the final exam schedule.
There are no exceptions to these requirements. Faculty members are not to change the time of the final exam, either by changing the date of the exam or by changing the time of the exam. Students must take their final exams at the designated time and place except under extenuating circumstances beyond the students’ control.
In the event that classes are officially cancelled during final exams, the students’ final course grades will be calculated based on the work in the course completed to that point if 75% of the graded work in the class has already been assigned. If 75% of the graded work in the class has not been assigned by the time of the final exam, a make-up exam will be scheduled.
The Early College Academy allows high school students to earn college credit via dual credit, concurrent enrollment, and early college credit. High-school students are eligible to take most 10000-level courses and some 20000-level courses.
- Dual Credit Classes meet both high school requirements and the requirements for university credit at Lindenwood. These classes take place in the high school as part of the high school schedule. Dual credit classes are taught by high school teachers that meet credentialing requirements of the University. Participating high schools must have an agreement on file with Lindenwood.
- Concurrent enrollment classes are existing Lindenwood classes that high school students can take, either online or on-campus, in which the high school has also agreed will count toward high school credit. These classes are taught by Lindenwood faculty and may or may not take place within a student’s high school schedule. Participating high schools must have an agreement on file with Lindenwood.
- Early college credit classes are existing Lindenwood classes that high school students can take, either online or on-campus to earn college credit. These classes do not also count toward high school credit. Because these are existing university classes, they are taught by Lindenwood faculty; students are in the same classes as other Lindenwood students; and these classes are not part of the high school schedule.
Any tuition or fees paid for enrollment in the Early College Academy program are non-refundable.
A student who is not seeking certification or any degree with Lindenwood University may be accepted as a non-degree, “Special Status” student. Students accepted under this status must meet university admissions standards and may not take more than 15 credit hours of regular, undergraduate, or graduate credit without being fully admitted. This policy does not apply to cooperative (workshop) credit. Students accepted with special status are not eligible for financial aid or student loans as they are not fully admitted to the university. Payment arrangements must be made with the Bursar’s Office prior to attending class. Please direct any questions about this policy to the Office of the Registrar.
Academic Standards
In addition to making satisfactory academic progress to maintain financial aid eligibility, students must also meet an additional set of academic expectations in order to remain in good academic standing with the university. Failure to meet these standards will result in academic probation, academic suspension, or dismissal from the university.
Maintaining Good Academic Standing
Academic standing is assessed at the end of each academic standard term. To remain in good academic standing, undergraduate students enrolled in three or more credit hours in a given term must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 will be placed on probation. Students whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 after the subsequent term will be permitted to continue on probation as long as the term GPA is 2.0 or higher. Students are removed from probation when the cumulative GPA reaches 2.0. A student on probation who earns a term GPA below 2.0 will be placed on suspension.
**Students who enrolled for the term and received at least 1 GPA-bearing grade will have their standing re-evaluated by the Office of the Provost. If a student’s academic standing changes to academic probation or academic suspension as a result of this review, they will be notified of the change via their university email.
If a student believes their status has been evaluated incorrectly or requires reevaluation, they must submit a written appeal for reevaluation to the Office of the Provost no later than 8 a.m. (Central) on the Friday before the start of the next 16-week fall or spring term or 12-week summer term. If the re-evaluation is the result of an academic record update (such as a changed grade or new transfer credit), the student’s Lindenwood transcript must represent the change at the time of appeal.**
Policy updated after publishing - April Addendum - 4/22/2025**
Academic Probation
Academic probation indicates that a student is not in good academic standing and is subject to suspension if the student’s work does not reach a satisfactory level. Students remain on academic probation until the cumulative GPA reaches the minimum level of 2.0, as long as each term GPA is 2.0 or higher.
Academic Suspension
Academic suspension indicates that a student is not in good academic standing and has been dismissed because the student’s work has not reached a satisfactory level. Academic suspension must be appealed in writing before a student may continue in a subsequent term.
Appealing Academic Suspension
Upon academic suspension, a student who wishes to resume studies must first appeal the suspension in writing. The appeal must be received and reviewed prior to the beginning of the term following the student’s suspension. The Provost and an appeals committee will review the student’s letter of appeal, along with the student’s academic history and overall academic performance.
Continuously enrolled students whose appeals of academic suspension are granted will resume their studies on probation. Any student who discontinued studies for one term or more and who departed the University under academic suspension must appeal the suspension before being readmitted. Upon readmission, students who have discontinued enrollment for less than one year will be subject to the requirements in the catalog in effect at the time they were first admitted to the University.
Students who discontinued studies for more than one year will be subject to the requirements in the catalog in effect at the time of their return.
**Students will be notified of their academic suspension by email and will be provided a link with guidelines for submitting the appeal online, including a specific date by which the appeal must be received. If a student’s appeal is not received by the date specified, the student will be dropped from all classes, and, if a resident, the student’s campus housing will be canceled.
To allow ample time for registration and the acquisition of course materials, unless otherwise stated by the Office of the Provost, appeals for a given term must be received no later than 8 a.m. (Central) on the 10th calendar day before the start of the 16-week or 8-week fall/spring or each unique summer term. Appeals submitted after the deadline will be considered for future terms.
Policy updated after publishing - April Addendum - 4/25/2025**
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the foundation of any educational institution. Lindenwood University students belong to an educational community invested in the exploration and advancement of knowledge. Academic integrity is a critical part of that investment: all students have a fair opportunity to succeed, and as such, all students owe their classmates, instructors, administrators, and themselves the duty of scholarly and creative work untainted by plagiarism, dishonesty, cheating, or other infringements of academic integrity. In turn, instructors, staff, and administrators will also uphold these policies in order to promote student intellectual development and preserve the integrity of a Lindenwood degree.
As part of this educational community, students are always expected to familiarize themselves with the university’s policies on academic standards in the Lindenwood University Student Handbook and academic catalog and to adhere to these policies. Students are also encouraged to consult the resources of the university library and the Writing Center and Academic Success Center for assistance with compliance with academic standards, cheating, and lying or deception.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, lying or deception, or collusion.
- Plagiarism is the fraudulent presentation of another person’s ideas or work as the person’s own, or the presentation of the student’s own previous work as new or original. Whether by accident or design, does not properly acknowledge source(s) in any academic assignment, that person is stealing the ideas and effort of another.
- Cheating is giving or receiving unauthorized aid, help, on an assignment or other graded work. Regardless of where the aid comes from-e.g., cell phone, crib sheet, another student, online source, or AI language generator (when prohibited)-it qualifies as academic dishonesty.
- Lying/Deception refers to words, actions, or omissions directed to university personnel by a student to improve the academic or financial standing.
-
Collusion is the unauthorized collaboration by students who have intentionally worked jointly on an assignment, examination, or other graded work that is to be completed partially or entirely out of the classroom, and passed it off as their own individual efforts, or where one student has authorized another to use their work, in part or whole, and to submit it as their own.
Consequences of Academic Dishonesty
The penalty for the first reported offense of academic dishonesty will be determined by the instructor and may result in a reduced or failing grade on the work/test, failure in the course, or other appropriate penalty. Upon a first report of dishonesty, the student is also required to complete an online academic integrity tutorial. A charge for the tutorial will be applied to the student’s Business Office account. For undergraduate students, a second offense will result in failure of the class, and a third offense will lead to expulsion from the university. Graduate students will be expelled after a second offense is reported. When failure of the course is the consequence for an undergraduate’s second offense, it is not permissible to drop the course to avoid that consequence.
Any questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Associate Provost, Academic Operations who maintains confidential records of academic dishonesty reports. These records are accessible only to limited personnel in the provost’s office and are not linked to the student’s academic or financial records at the university. To ensure compliance with NCAA policies, information about academic integrity cases involving NCAA athletes (to include only the student’s name, sport, charge and brief summary) will be shared with the Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Success and Development.
Appeals
Appeals are not new or additional reviews and are not granted based solely on a student’s disagreement with an academic integrity decision. Ignorance and accident are not sufficient cause to overturn a dishonesty report. Students who wish to formally appeal an academic integrity case, may do so under specific conditions. Grounds for an appeal must be based upon one or more of the following conditions:
- Procedural error: A procedural error(s) occurred during the original review process that may have impacted the outcome of the review.
- New information: Specification of new information, not available at the time of the initial review that, if introduced, may have altered the outcome of the review. A detailed account of the new information must be clearly described and be accompanied by supporting documentation
- Evidence of discrimination or bias on the part of the individuals making the decision, or an inability to consider the case objectively and completely.
The appeal form must be submitted within 7 business days of the receipt of the notification letter. In addition to the factual information requested, the appeal letter and accompanying form must include:
- a statement explaining the grounds for the appeal;
- relevant supporting information and documentation; and
- a statement of the desired outcome of the appeal request.
Once the appeal is received:
- The Associate Provost for Academic Operations and Student Success will review the appeal to ensure it is based on one of the acceptable grounds. However, if the student is facing expulsion, the appeal will be forwarded to the Academic Integrity Appeals Committee regardless of the grounds.
- If the Associate Provost determines there are not acceptable grounds for an appeal, they will notify the student.
- If the Associate Provost determines there are acceptable grounds for an appeal, they will convene the Academic Integrity Appeals Committee to consider the appeal. Copies of all pertinent documentation will be made available to the committee at the time of the review. Students should be aware that documentation that contains confidential student information will be viewed by the committee who will hold this information in strict confidence.
- The Academic Integrity Appeals Committee will review the documentation and make a determination to either uphold or recommend a modification of the original decision.
- The Associate Provost will notify the student of the outcome of the appeal within two weeks of receipt of the appeal.
- The decision to uphold or modify the original decision is final.
- No student will be subjected to negative consequences or suffer retaliatory action as a result of filing an appeal.
Dismissal
The University reserves the right to dismiss a student who fails to adhere to University academic and social standards at any time. Students can be dismissed for any of the reasons outlined below:
(1) The student is unable to meet academic standards for the university or specific academic program. (2) The student’s continuance at the university is considered a danger to the student’s own health or well-being or the health or well-being of others. (3) Lindenwood University supports an environment of respect for the dignity and worth of all members of the Lindenwood community. Students may be dismissed for failure to uphold the social standards and regulations of the university. Violations include but are not limited to:
- Harassment
- Bullying
- Bias incidents
- Sexual misconduct
- The use of improper language
- Failure to respect campus authority
- Aggressive or inappropriate actions directed toward University employees, external partners of the University or other students
- Disruptive behavior within the campus or classroom setting
- Failure to adhere to any other relevant student conduct policy as outlined in the Lindenwood Student Guidebook.
Students dismissed from the University in the middle of a term will be withdrawn from the classes in which they are enrolled and will not be allowed to complete classes in which they received an Incomplete (I) grade in previous terms.
If expelled or dismissed from the University, a student is still responsible for all tuition, room, board, and other charges incurred for that term, subject to the withdrawal and refund policies set forth in the University Academic Catalog.
Academic Honors
Dean’s List
Following the end of the fall and spring semesters, the provost announces the names of undergraduate students who were enrolled full-time and achieved a grade-point average of 3.5 or above.
General Honors
The Lindenwood faculty awards general honors to those undergraduate students who have completed all degree requirements with academic distinction. In order to be eligible for general honors, a student must have completed a minimum of 50 credit hours in residence at Lindenwood University. (Transferred credits and experiential learning credits do not count toward in-residence credit hours.) Students whose Lindenwood cumulative grade point averages fall within certain ranges are eligible for honors as follows:
- The student who achieves a cumulative grade-point average between 3.70 and 3.85 receives the degree cum laude.
- The student who achieves a cumulative grade-point average between 3.86 and 3.93 receives the degree magna cum laude.
- The student who achieves a cumulative grade-point average of 3.94 or above receives the degree summa cum laude.
Service Learning Honors
Students who acquire 500 hours of qualified community service will receive a designation on their permanent academic transcript to recognize their achievement. In addition, they will receive special recognition in commencement publications and receive a service cord that they can wear at graduation. When entering Service Hours, it is critical that in the Description field, that you state exactly what you were doing. You must also include the name of the agency and a contact person so that the hours can be verified. Graduating seniors must have achieved 500 documented, approved hours by March 1 of each year to allow time for verification and inclusion in commencement publications (July 1 for August conferral; November 1 for December conferral). Click here to learn more about the criteria to satisfy the requirement. Contact the Office of Service Learning and Responsible Citizenship at servicelearning@lindenwood.edu if you have any questions.
Honors Academy
The Honors Academy provides an enriched experience for undergraduate students who want to be part of an engaged community of scholars. The Academy challenges students to go beyond regular undergraduate requirements and cultivate depth and breadth in their education.
The Honors Academy offers undergraduate students from all majors a distinctive opportunity to be recognized for excellence in their coursework. Upon graduation, these students earn University Honors. Graduating with University Honors is the highest recognition Lindenwood awards at graduation. This achievement is announced at graduation and recipients wear Honors cords at commencement. “University Honors” also appears on the student’s diploma and transcript.
Acceptance into the Honors Academy is by application only. First-year students, transfer students, current students, and returning students with minimum cumulative GPAs of 3.5 are eligible to apply. At time of application, current students are also required to have a minimum of four semesters left to degree to have ample time to complete the 24 Honors credit hours required for University Honors. Students must be formally admitted to Lindenwood University to apply for admission to the Honors Academy.
There are two types of Honors courses. In Honors-designated courses, every student is automatically enrolled for Honors credit. A student must earn a final grade of A or B to receive Honors credit in these courses, for which the instructor will then enter special grades of AH or BH. In addition, any undergraduate course may be taken for Honors credit with the permission of the instructor. To earn Honors credit in a regular undergraduate course, students and instructors must agree on a project that enhances the course and makes it equivalent to an Honors course. To earn Honors credit for this type of a course, students must complete the Honors Course Agreement, the agreed-upon enhanced assignments, and earn a final course grade of A. The instructor will then enter a special grade of AH.
To graduate with University Honors, Honors Academy members must earn at least 24 Honors credit hours at various course levels (at least 12 Honors credit hours must be earned in 30000- and/or 40000-level courses) and have cumulative university GPAs of 3.5 or above. The 24 Honors credit hours may include up to 12 credit hours of Honors transfer credit. Acceptance of transfer credit toward the completion of students’ Honors credit requirement is at the discretion of the Honors Academy.
Honors Academy membership requires continuous cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or above and completion of Honors credit hours at a pace needed to graduate with University Honors (at least 24 Honors credit hours). Example: If a student has earned a total of 60 credit hours toward their university degree, they should have also already earned at least 12 Honors credit hours. Members who do not meet these requirements may be removed from membership at any time at the discretion of the Honors Academy.
Academic Procedures
Transferring Credit
Transferring Credit while a Lindenwood Student
A student at Lindenwood who wishes to take courses at another college or university while pursuing a degree at Lindenwood must first obtain permission for the transfer of these courses from the student’s academic advisor, the dean of the college in which that course resides, and the registrar. A Prior Approval form may be obtained from the Office of Academic Services. Credits accepted in transfer do not affect the student’s grade-point average at Lindenwood University.
Transferring Credit from U.S. Institutions
New students wishing to transfer credit from a regionally accredited university should submit official transcripts from each university attended to the Office of University Admissions. Evaluation of transfer credit will be made by Academic Services. For the evaluation of credit, official transcripts must be sent directly from the U.S. institution to Lindenwood University.
For more information regarding the transfer of credit go to Admission, Application, and Fees and Financial Assistance.
Transferring Credit from International Institutions
Students with transfer credit from an international institution must submit official transcripts from the international university attended to University Admissions by uploading with their application or emailing InternationalAdmissions@lindenwood.edu. The transcripts must be in their original language and must be accompanied by a certified English translation, provided by the student.
Applicants should contact ECE at www.ece.org or WES at http://www.wes.org for more information about how to get transcripts evaluated. Students should list Lindenwood University as the recipient of the transcript evaluation. WES will also provide a copy of the evaluation directly to the applicant. The applicant should keep this copy.
Note: Evaluations or translations of transcripts from companies other than WES are not accepted by the university and will not be considered.
The transcript translation documents will not be returned to the student. The transcript and the translation will become part of the student’s official file at Lindenwood University. If the applicant intends to transfer credits into an undergraduate program, the applicant will incur the cost for the evaluation. For further information regarding the transfer of international credit, please contact international@lindenwood.edu.
For more information regarding the transfer of credit go to Admission, Application, and Fees and Financial Assistance.
Academic Renewal
Academic Renewal allows returning students to remove previous course work from calculation of their GPA after an extended absence. A returning student seeking to resume a program of study or begin a new program of study after a prolonged absence is eligible for Academic Renewal under the following conditions:
- The student must have been absent from the Lindenwood University system for at least three consecutive academic years.
- The student must not have obtained a degree at Lindenwood or any other institution of higher education in the years between taking leave from Lindenwood and applying for academic renewal.
- The student must declare a major or program of study.
- The student must be enrolled in and complete at least one academic term at full-time status, earning a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or graduate GPA of 3.5 before applying for Academic Renewal.
In addition to the conditions outlined above regarding student eligibility, Academic Renewal is subject to the following conditions:
- Academic Renewal can only be applied once.
- Academic Renewal can only be applied to academic terms completed prior to the student’s leave of absence.
- Academic Renewal can only be applied to courses taken at Lindenwood University.
- For undergraduate students, up to three terms can be selected for Academic Renewal; for graduate students, up to two terms can be selected.
- Once implemented, the Academic Renewal cannot be removed.
- Students approved for Academic Renewal are subject to the degree requirements listed in the catalog that is active at the time they are reinstated.
- No course from a term selected to be removed from GPA calculation can be used to satisfy an academic requirement (e.g., toward graduation, prerequisites, or certifications).
- All courses from terms will be removed from calculation of the student’s GPA regardless of the grades earned. However, these courses will not be entirely erased. All courses taken by the student will still appear on their transcript. A note will appear on the student’s transcript for each redacted term.
- A student may not apply for Academic Renewal in their final semester.
Students considering applying for Academic Renewal must inform an academic advisor of their intent to do so. The advisor will consult with the student regarding which academic terms to remove from calculation of the student’s GPA. The student should submit a petition for Academic Renewal to the Office of Academic Services signed by the student’s academic advisor and college dean. The student will be notified of a decision within 30 days of submission of the petition.
Notes: (1) Applying for Academic Renewal can affect a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Financial Services SFS@lindenwood.edu before applying for Academic Renewal.
(2) Students on the GI Bill® should contact the VA certifying official before applying for Academic Renewal.
Grading System
Lindenwood University operates under the 4.0 grading system. The grade point average is computed by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. An A carries four quality points; thus, a course worth three semester hours in which a student earned an A would merit a total of 12 quality points. A grade of B carries three quality points; a grade of C carries two quality points; and a grade of D carries one quality point. A grade of F or AF (attendance failure) carries no quality points and no credit. Only grades earned at Lindenwood are used in computing the GPA.
A grade of A represents work of outstanding quality; it indicates that the student has shown initiative, skill, and thoroughness and has displayed originality in thinking. A grade of B is awarded for work of high quality, well above average. The grade of C indicates average work and satisfactory completion of course requirements. The grade of D indicates minimally satisfactory completion of course requirements. A grade of F or AF indicates unsatisfactory coursework, and no credit is given.
Note: Honors courses will indicate in the course title that the student completed the course for honors credit and/or the student will receive an AH, which equals a grade of A with Honors.
Attendance Failure (AF)
A student is given this grade if they stop attending a particular class prior to the published deadline to receive a grade of W but does not withdraw from the course. The grade of AF is treated as a grade of F in the calculation of the student’s grade point average.
Audit (AU)
A student may enroll in any lecture course as an auditor. Students are not permitted to audit skill courses such as studio or laboratory courses involving extensive supervision by an instructor. Auditors will be expected to attend all classes. No credit may be earned or later claimed by a student who audits a course. A student has one week into a regular term and two class meetings into a summer session to make a change in registration to audit a class or to take it for credit. The audit fee is 50% of the posted tuition for a course.
Incomplete (I)
A grade of I (incomplete) is given at the end of a term only for incomplete coursework due to exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control, such as an extended illness, hospitalization, or death of a close relative requiring absence from class for a significant period. When assigning an incomplete grade, the professor should consider whether the student is capable of successfully completing the course. Incompletes should be offered only toward the end of the term for students who were progressing satisfactorily in the class before the exceptional circumstances arose.
A grade of I (incomplete) must be resolved prior to the end of the subsequent term; otherwise, the incomplete will be converted to an F. Any request to extend the time needed to resolve the grade of incomplete must be submitted to the Office of Academic Services no later than two weeks before the date the grade is due. Requests will then be sent to the appropriate college dean and the assistant provost to be considered for approval.
No Grade (N)
An administrative grade of N is assigned by the registrar when final course grades have not been submitted prior to making grades accessible to students. Under normal circumstances, the N grade will be cleared within two weeks after the end of the term. Faculty members are not authorized to submit a grade of N.
Pass/Fail (P/F)
Some academic activities such as practica, internships, residencies and thesis projects are graded on the basis of pass/fail. In these cases, the grade of P denotes successful completion of the assigned requirements for the aforementioned academic activity courses.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)
A grade of S indicates that a student completed satisfactory work in an academic activity. This grade does not have points associated with the course and will not be included in computation of the grade point average. A grade of U indicates that a student completed unsatisfactory work in an academic activity. This grade does not have points associated with the course and will not be included in computation of the grade point average.
Withdrawal (W)
A grade of W indicates that the student withdrew from a class with no effect to the student’s GPA. To withdraw from a course with a grade of W, students must complete, sign, and submit a withdrawal form before the last day to withdraw with a W, with the signature of the academic advisor. The deadline to withdraw is set at the two-thirds mark of the term.
The only circumstance in which the student will not be charged for a course is if the student never attends a class session. If the student attends one class session or more, the student will be charged a determined percentage of the course’s tuition cost. The percentage applied to the student’s account depends on how many classes the student attends and the withdrawal date. For further information, please contact either the Student Financial Services or the Office of Academic Services.
Note: A student who is a first responder may elect to withdraw from a course with a grade of W at any time during the term if documentation is provided verifying that the student’s first responder duties were the cause of absences exceeding the number of allowable excused absences. This policy applies to academic withdrawal only.
Administrative Withdrawal
When it is in the best interest of a student or of Lindenwood University for a student to withdraw, a student may be given a W and put on administrative hold. This action of administrative withdrawal results in removal of all credits associated with the affected classes and places the student on administrative suspension. Before re-enrolling at the University, the student on administrative suspension must write a letter of appeal to the associate vice president, Student Affairs at studentaffairs@lindenwood.edu. An administrative withdrawal does not affect the student’s grade point average.
Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses
Adding Courses
Within the first week of a semester, a student may add or drop classes via the student portal without having to obtain the signature of a faculty member. Students may not add a course via the student portal after 5 p.m. on Friday of the first week of the term. Students may add a class during the second week of class only under extenuating circumstances and with signatures of the course professor, dean of the appropriate college, and the registrar. A Petition for Policy Exemption is required in addition to a drop/add/enrollment form to add a course after the deadline.
Only students who have fulfilled prerequisite requirements and have submitted approved documentation may register for PIF (Practicum, Internship, Field Experience) courses. Required documentation must be submitted to designated staff and faculty by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday of the third week of the term so that students can be registered no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the Friday of the third week of the designated 8- or 16- week term. Students may be registered for a PIF course after the third week of the term only under extenuating circumstances and with the prior approval of the course instructor, the Dean of the appropriate college, and the Registrar. Late enrollment requests into PIF courses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and approval is not guaranteed. Should a change to the registered number of credit hours occur because of PIF course enrollment or appeal, students will maintain responsibility for any impact to related policies-examples include but are not limited to the student’s bill, financial aid eligibility, VA benefits, and athletic eligibility.
Dropping Courses during Week One
Within the first week of a term, a student may drop classes via the student portal without having to obtain the signature of a faculty member. No grade of W will appear on the student’s transcript as a result of dropping classes during this week, and the classes will be dropped as a “never attended”.
Withdrawing with a Grade of W
To withdraw from a course with a grade of W, students must complete, sign, and submit a withdrawal form before the last day to withdraw with a W, with the signature of the academic advisor. The deadline to withdraw is set at the two-thirds mark of the term.
Late Withdrawals
Late withdrawals will be approved only under extreme, documented circumstances. A late withdrawal requested due to a low grade in the class, lack of interest in the subject matter, a different learning style from that of the classroom professor, or a change of major/requirements will not be granted.
If a student believes that extraordinary circumstances require withdrawing from a class after the deadline, the student must complete the following steps:
- Write a letter fully specifying the reasons for the withdrawal.
- Gather supporting documentation (physical report, court documents, hospital documents, etc.).
- Meet with the academic advisor for a signature on a Petition for Late Withdrawal.
- Meet with the dean of the college for a signature on the petition.
- Submit the signed petition, along with the letter and documentation, to the associate provost or registrar.
- If approved for a late withdrawal, the student will receive a W.
Notes: (1) Students are not permitted to withdraw from a course to attend another course if the second course has already had two class meetings.
(2) A student who is a first responder may elect to withdraw from a course with a grade of W at any time during the semester if documentation is provided verifying that the student’s first responder duties were the cause of absences exceeding the number of allowable excused absences. This policy applies to academic withdrawal only.
(3) Calculation of the return of Title IV aid will be based on the last date of attendance for the term. This may result in a balance due to the university for which the student will be responsible.
(4) Petition for Late Withdrawal may be denied based on implications of the financial aid cycle.
Repeating a Course
An undergraduate student may repeat any course in which they earn a grade of C or lower. Only the highest grade earned will be used in the calculation of the grade point average. Repeating a course does not remove the previous grade from the transcript. Additional credit hours are not earned when a student repeats a course. A student’s eligibility for federal financial aid may be affected if they choose to repeat a course. The university is under no obligation to offer a course aside from its usual schedule to accommodate a student repeating the course.
Appealing Grades
Students who wish to appeal a final grade must first contact the course instructor. If the matter cannot be resolved through the instructor, the student may appeal in writing to the appropriate college dean. If resolution is not reached at that time, the student may appeal in writing to the provost. An Academic Grievance Committee may be convened to review a grade appeal before a recommendation is made to the provost for review.
Information concerning these procedures is available through the Provost’s Office. Notice of intent to file a grade appeal must be made in writing to the appropriate college dean or assistant provost within six weeks of receipt of the grade. Changes under this procedure will be made only during the term immediately following the term in which the disputed grade was given.
Lindenwood University shares information from students’ formal written complaints with the Higher Learning Commission as part of its normal accrediting process. This information is shared in such a manner as to shield all individual identities of complainants. No letters or documents revealing the identities of individual complainants will be shared without the express written permission of the complainants.
Leave of Absence (LOA)
Lindenwood University allows students to take a Leave Of Absence for one academic semester. The Leave of Absence involves a notification process that requires submission of the Leave of Absence form to the SASS office along with attached supporting documentation from qualified/appropriate sources. Individuals in a Leave of Absence status do not intend to make academic progress toward the completion of their degree. Students must be enrolled at least half-time for one term (6 credit hours for undergraduate and 3 credit hours for graduate) and complete at least one term successfully prior to applying for a Leave of Absence. Students must be in good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress within the parameters set in the university catalog. Taking a leave of absence means you agree not to take classes at any other higher education institution during your leave. Reasons for a leave of absence include (but are not limited to):
- Medical issues (physical or mental)
- Family circumstances such as death, pregnancy, or parental leave
- Circumstances regarding someone you aren’t related to but are close to
- Financial concerns
- Military service
A leave of absence could have implications to your financial aid up to and including going into repayment if you have student loans. Students are encouraged to speak with their financial aid counselor to discuss Title IV implications as a result of an LOA.
When returning from a Leave of Absence, students can begin the reentry process with their advisor. Students returning after the leave of absence period has expired must be readmitted to the university by submitting a new application to the Office of University Admissions. Upon review of the new application, the admissions office will update the student’s profile in preparation for their return to Lindenwood. Students not enrolled for one calendar year and eligible to return to Lindenwood will do so under the current catalog of re-entry and will be directed to contact their advisors to enroll once the readmit process has been approved.
Readmission for Service Members
Students may be temporarily unable to attend classes or be required to suspend their studies in order to perform military service. Lindenwood University encourages such students to resume their education once a military service obligation has ended and adopts this policy to ensure the timely readmission of such students.
In accordance with federal regulations, 34 C.F.R. § 668.18 and the Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the university will promptly readmit servicemembers who seek readmission to a program that was interrupted due to a uniformed service obligation.
This policy shall apply to: (1) servicemembers who are unable to attend classes for more than 30 consecutive days; and (2) servicemembers who are unable to attend classes for less than 30 days when such an absence would result in a withdrawal from the university.
A student is eligible for readmission under this policy if, during an absence, the student performs uniformed service, voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserve, active duty, active duty for training or full-time National Guard (under federal authority). The cumulative length of all absences for uniformed service (service time only) must not exceed five years.
A student must provide oral or written notice of a uniformed service obligation to the Office of Veterans Affairs as far in advance as possible, unless precluded by military necessity. Such notice does not need to indicate when the student will return to the university.
The student must also give oral or written notice of his/her intent to return to Lindenwood University within three years after the completion of the period of service. Immediately upon the student’s return to school, the student must provide notice that he/she may be entitled to the tuition and enrollment benefits outlined in this policy. The returning student may be required to provide supporting documentation.
Notification under this section must be provided, by the student, to the Office of Veterans Affairs VAquestions@lindenwood.edu or (636) 627-2922.
A returning student readmitted to the same program must be charged the same tuition and fees in effect during the last academic year the student attended, unless veterans’ education benefits or other servicemember education benefits will pay the amount in excess. For a student admitted to a different program, and for subsequent academic years, the returning student may not be charged tuition and fees in excess of what other students in the program are charged.
A returning student will be permitted to reenroll in the next class(es) scheduled in the same academic program, unless the student requests a later date of reenrollment or agrees to a different program. A returning student will be readmitted into the same academic program the student was enrolled in prior to the military service obligation. If the exact program no longer exists, the student must be admitted to the program that is most similar, unless the student requests or agrees to admission to a different program. Returning students will be reenrolled with the same enrollment status, number of completed credit hours, and academic standing as the last academic year of attendance. If the student is returning to a cohort program, the university will coordinate with the student to determine an appropriate reentry date to ensure the student can successfully resume their studies.
If the university determines that a returning student is not prepared to resume the program or is unable to complete the program, the university must make reasonable efforts to enable the student to resume or complete the program at no additional cost to the student. If such efforts are unsuccessful or place an undue hardship on the university, the university is not required to readmit the student.
In accordance with federal regulations, returning students who receive a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) are not eligible for readmission under this policy. However, servicemembers who receive dishonorable or bad conduct discharge may remain eligible for readmission even though they will not be entitled to the benefits outlined in this policy.
Students who have been away less than one calendar year may complete a Returning Student Form and work with the Office of Veterans Affairs and their Academic Advisor to enroll in courses.
Students who have been away more than a calendar year will need to apply for re-admission to jumpstart the process and will work with the Office of Veterans Affairs and their Academic Advisor to complete a Catalog Revert Application if needed.
Please direct any questions about this policy to the Office of the Provost.
Advanced Placement (AP Credit)
Lindenwood University accepts Advanced Placement (AP) credit earned in most areas of study. Students who take AP exams should request scores to be sent to the Office of Academic Services for an evaluation of credit. Credit will be awarded based on the score received (3-5) and approval of the academic college affected.
Earning Credits for Prior Learning and Experience
Earning Credit by Examination
Internal Examination
In addition to the standardized CLEP/DANTES exams described below, students may seek credit for (or waiver of) university coursework by means of taking and passing internally administered proficiency exams. Students should approach their respective departments to learn more about the proficiency exams that have been created for this purpose within their college. A student who passes an internally administered proficiency exam may (1) request to have the course waived, in which case no credit will be granted or (2) request credit for the exam and have the appropriate credit posted to the transcript for a fee of $100 per credit hour. In this case, the student’s cumulative grade point average is not affected because only credit (no grade) is recorded for a course completed in this manner.
External Examination (CLEP or DANTES)
Lindenwood University accepts College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) credit earned in several areas of study. Lindenwood students who take CLEP or DANTES exams should request official score reports be sent to the Office of Academic Services for an evaluation of credit. Credit will be awarded based on the current minimum score matrix available on the university’s Academic Services webpage and approval of the academic college affected.
Effective July 1, 2023, students no longer pay a per credit hour posting fee to receive credit for CLEP or DANTES exams completed on or after July 1, 2023.
Notes: (1) Students may not use CLEP and/or DANTES credit in the place of the following requirements or courses: student teaching, internships, studio courses, laboratory courses, or private music lessons.
(2) Students may not receive credit for courses they have previously audited or attended unofficially.
(3) CLEP and/or DANTES credit will not be awarded to non-native English speaking students who complete a CLEP exam in their native language.
(4) Lindenwood University does not currently administer College Board Examinations; the student must arrange to have test results sent directly to Lindenwood for evaluation.
(5) Students may only earn up to 27 credit hours of experiential learning from all sources. Credit earned from CLEP and/or DANTES examinations is included in the 27-credit hour experiential learning credit limit.
Missouri Seal of Biliteracy Policy
Students who have earned the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy may receive up to 12 hours of college credit. Six of the credits awarded through this process will be accepted as Foreign Language coursework within Lindenwood’s General Education curriculum (GE-HC: Foreign Language / Human Diversity).
The number of credits granted will be determined by the score attained and by the specific assessment used to confer the Seal at the granting school:
- STAMP4S Exam: With a score of at least Intermediate Mid in all test areas, 6 hours of credit; with a score of at least Intermediate High in all test areas, 9 hours of credit; with a score of at least Advanced Low in all test areas, 12 hours of credit.
- AAPPL Exam (ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages): With a score of at least Intermediate 3 in all test areas: 6 hours of credit; with a score of at least Intermediate 4 or 5 in all test areas: 9 hours of credit; with a score of at least Advanced: 12 hours of credit.
- Other exams may be accepted dependent upon available subject matter expertise in the relevant language(s).
Transcription fees for credits awarded will be waived.
Note: Students who have earned the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish and wish to continue their Spanish coursework at Lindenwood University must take the University’s Spanish placement test (online and at no cost to students) to determine at which level they will continue their Spanish language study.
Experiential Learning
For some students, professional experience or life experience may be accepted as university credit and be recorded as such onto the student’s Lindenwood transcript. Credit earned in this fashion is referred to as credit for experiential learning.
The following skills or experiences may be considered equivalent to university credit for purposes of receiving experiential learning credit:
- Professional skills acquired on the job.
- Participation in business seminars.
- Experience in community affairs.
- Professional training in particular fields.
- Non-credit-bearing coursework that contain academic content.
Notes: (1) Credit is awarded only for university-level knowledge and the learning gained from the experience. Experiential learning credit is not granted for non-university level learning, having completed routine professional tasks, having acquired outdated or forgotten knowledge, or for private experiences.
(2) Limits for experiential credits earned may be imposed on the acquisition of such credit for certain technical skills and specialties.
(3) Credit is not given for learning that duplicates a university course the student has already taken.
Students may request to receive up to 27 hours of credit for experiential learning, depending on the requirements of their degree programs. The total number of credit hours awarded for experiential learning may vary according to the time spent on particular activities and the nature of the learning experience. Some national and state certifications and licensures may be eligible for more than 27 hours based on industry standards and levels of assessed learning.
Students may satisfy some of the requirements for their majors through experiential learning credit; however, a student must complete the greater of 18 credit hours or 40% of all coursework toward the major must be taken at Lindenwood University.
Note: Lindenwood cannot guarantee how any other university might interpret transfer credit earned from the Experiential Learning Credit program.
Experiential Learning Not Requiring a Portfolio
Students having the experience or credentials below may apply for experiential learning credit without submitting an additional portfolio of supporting documentation. (Any documentation that is required for the final approval of credit is listed along with each item below.) The credit for prior learning for the following credentials will be evaluated upon presentation of proof of the required certification or transcripts.
The American Council on Education (ACE): Lindenwood University accepts the recommendations for credit as set by (ACE). To earn experiential learning credit, the student must provide the ACE transcript or certificate verifying that the experience or training is or has been recognized by ACE.
- Certified legal assistant: Up to 24 hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of certificate required.
- Certified professional secretary in selected business and economic areas: Up to 14 hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of completion certificate required.
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B): Up to nine credit hours may be awarded for the completion of training and certification for EMT. Student must present official current license.
- Information Technology Certifications: Up to 27 credit hours may be awarded for current certifications from ITIL, Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA, EC Council, copy of certification or official transcript required.
- Life insurance license (completion or training) and certification for life insurance licensure: Up to three hours of credit may be awarded. Students may be eligible for an additional three credit hours in an area of specialization. Copy of license required.
- Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) or Radiologic Technician: Official transcript from accredited school of MLT or school of radiology and completion of an accredited course of medical laboratory science required.
- Nursing (RN-BSN Track): Thirty-two (32) credits will be granted to students entering the RN-BSN nursing degree track based on the candidate’s professional experience as a licensed registered nurse. Proof of current and unencumbered registered nurse licensure in the state of declared primary residency is required for admission to this track and before awarding credits. A $250 administrative fee is charged instead of a per-credit cost for experiential credit. All students in this track will be charged the fee regardless of how previous nursing education credit was obtained.
- Paramedicine: Forty-five (45) credits will be granted to students entering the paramedicine degree (experienced track) based on the candidate’s professional experience as a licensed paramedic. Proof of current national registry or state paramedic license is required for admission to this track, and prior to awarding credits. A $500 administrative fee is charge in lieu of a per credit charge for experiential credit. All students in this track will be charged the fee regardless of how previous paramedic education credit was obtained.
- Radiologic Technology: Up to sixty (60) credits may be granted with successful completion of the national license exam, becoming certified, and registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART). Proof of licensure and registry are required before awarding credits. A $500 Radiologic Technology Credit Transfer Fee is charged instead of a per-credit cost for experiential credit.
- Real estate broker’s license: Up to three hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of license required.
- Real estate sales license: Up to three hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of license required.
- Respiratory Therapist (RT): Up to 12 hours of credit may be awarded for the completion of training and certification in respiratory therapy. Official transcript from accredited school of RT required.
- Up to 27 Lindenwood experiential credit hours may be awarded to undergraduate students who have completed a certified police officer training academy. After submitting police academy training certificates along with transcripts verifying contact hours, students will be awarded Lindenwood credit hours as follows:
- 200 - 499 Academy contact hours = 12 Lindenwood credit hours awarded
- 500 - 799 Academy contact hours = 15 Lindenwood credit hours awarded
- 800 - 899 Academy contact hours = 21 Lindenwood credit hours awarded
- 900 and above Academy contact hours = 27 Lindenwood credit hours awarded
Hours for In-Service training are not accepted, and experiential learning credit will only be applied as free electives and not toward any requirements for the Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ) program of study unless a given student has declared CCJ as the minor. For students who have graduated from an academy with 900 or more contact hours, a total of 15 credit hours may be applied toward the police academy emphasis area of the CCJ degree. The remaining credits will apply toward experiential learning free electives. Additionally, credits will not be applied retroactively, meaning students who complete a police academy training program, while enrolled, as a student at Lindenwood University, will not satisfy the experiential learning credit requirements. Experiential learning is reserved for those who have completed services and gained experience in the appropriate area. However, students may enroll in the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy partnership course and earn 15 credit hours of the police academy emphasis area of the CCJ degree, even if the student chooses to attend a separate accredited police academy, as described above for the emphasis area.
- Stockbroker’s license completion of training and certification for a stockbroker’s license (series 6 or 7): Up to six hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of completion certificate required.
- YMCA leadership development courses: Up to five credit hours may be awarded. Submission of YMCA transcript required.
Training courses offered by specific companies or corporations may also be awarded credit for experiential learning. For a list of these companies and eligible courses, check with the registrar or the experiential learning coordinator.
Students who wish to have experiential learning credit posted to their Lindenwood transcript must pay a fee of $100 per credit hour. Credit will not be applied to the transcript until the fees are paid.
The following organizations have agreements with the university that permit the application of experiential learning credit as follows:
- Military Service: Students seeking an experiential learning award for military experience, formal courses taken in the military or for proficiency in a military occupational specialty must provide official military records. Military credits are posted to a student’s transcript at no charge, based on the recommendations of the American Council of Education. For credit derived from military experience or from formal courses taken through the military, veterans should submit a DD Form 95, DD Form 214, Joint Services Transcripts, depending on the branch of the military, or a transcript of in-service training.
Experiential Learning Requiring a Portfolio
If the student does not have one of the professional credentials listed on these pages or does not have credit from a course that is specifically listed as being accepted for experiential learning credit, that student may be required to create a Portfolio for Prior Learning in order to earn University credit for the experience before that credit is posted to the student’s Lindenwood transcript.
The portfolio must validate the student’s experience by providing proof (by certificate, diploma, syllabi, letters of testimony, and/or samples of work accomplished) that such experience led to university-level knowledge. An experiential learning essay describing the knowledge gained in the learning experience must accompany all other documentation provided.
Students must enroll in the Portfolio for Prior Learning course where guidance is given to the student in the development of the portfolio. During the course, the instructor and student will determine potential experiences that may be equivalent to college level learning and posted to the student’s transcript as university credit. The format and process of the portfolio will be a part of the classroom experience.
Students wishing to receive experiential learning credit in their majors must request this credit before taking courses in their majors. Once the portfolio has been approved, the student will be charged a portfolio fee of $310, plus $100 per credit hour. Credit will not be applied to the transcript until payment is received. Financial aid may be applied to experiential learning, but the student must be enrolled in classes at the time the request for funding is made.
Earning Graduate Credit as an Undergraduate Student
With the approval of the dean of the appropriate college, traditional day undergraduate students may take up to 9 credit hours at the graduate level during their senior year at no additional charge. These hours will count toward a graduate degree if one is ultimately pursued but not toward the student’s undergraduate degree. Under this option, the student must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours at the undergraduate level for each semester that the student is taking graduate credit and have a minimum undergraduate 3.0 GPA. A maximum of six graduate credits may be earned per semester. Students in the early access program must maintain a 3.0 in all master’s credits.
Note: Some LU colleges may have additional requirements for admission to their Early Access programs. Please review the college-specific section of the catalog for more information.
Preparing for Graduation
Students are responsible for tracking their own academic progress and eligibility for graduation. Specifically, in order to track the progress through a degree, each student must maintain a checklist of all requirements, including major and minor requirements, general education requirements, free electives, number of courses completed at or above the 30000-level, and total number of credit hours completed. The academic advisor will confirm that all degree requirements have been met; however, ultimate responsibility for tracking the student’s progress through a program and assuring that all degree requirements for graduation are met lies with the student. Only the provost and the registrar have the authority to certify that all requirements for graduation have been fulfilled and post a notification of degree completion on a student’s transcript.
In addition to tracking their own progress through academic programs, students must submit an Application for Degree. This form is available in the student portal to submit online to the advisor. The application must be signed by the student and the student’s academic advisor and be submitted to the Office of Academic Services at academicservices@lindenwood.edu. Failure to submit an application by the appropriate deadline may postpone the posting of the student’s degree.
The recommended application deadlines are as follows:
| Conferral |
Application Deadline |
| March 30 |
January 15 of same year |
| May 30 |
February 1 of same year |
| August 15 |
June 1 of same year |
| October 30 |
September 15 of same year |
| December 30 |
September 15 of same year |
Academic Services
Requesting Transcripts
All transcript requests must be placed via the online service provider. Students will have three options to select from this service, US Postal Service, electronic, or pick-up from campus. The initial cost of transcripts is $9.50 per copy. Sales tax may be applied to requests based on several factors including the type of credential, delivery method, and destination. Price per copy may change without notification.
Official transcripts are sent directly to a college, employer, or other agency and bear the university seal. Student copies may be sent directly to the student and are identified as such. The fee for either type of transcript is the same.
In accordance with federal law (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), student transcripts are issued only at the written request of a student. A transcript will not be released without the student’s signature appearing on the request. Transcript requests are not accepted by telephone or email.
A transcript is a picture of the student’s complete record at Lindenwood University. Partial transcripts are not issued. Transcripts of work completed at other colleges must be obtained directly from those institutions.
Requesting Grade Reports
Grade reports are available through the student portal, as are unofficial transcripts, class schedules, and information regarding ledger statements and financial aid. Because grade reports are available online to all students, Lindenwood University no longer mails grade reports to students.
Students who need a copy of their grades for employer reimbursement may print a copy from the student portal. If a student’s workplace will not accept the printed copy, the student should submit a written request to Academic Services (academicservices@lindenwood.edu) and a copy will be sent to the employer. The request must include the mailing address to which the report should be sent, student ID, term for which grades are requested, the signature of the student making the request, and a contact telephone number.
If students have any questions about their email accounts or their student portals, they can contact Helpdesk@lindenwood.edu.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
In conformance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (the Buckley Amendment), Lindenwood University has established a system to ensure that students have complete access to their educational records and the right to challenge information they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. Information about these procedures can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Unless specifically prohibited by the student, Lindenwood University may release “directory information” at its discretion for government-mandated reporting, news releases, and other purposes that it believes serve the student’s interest. This includes:
- Full name
- Local and home addresses
- Local and home telephone numbers
- Email address
- Date and place of birth
- Most recent educational institution attended
- Enrollment status
- Class level
- Dates of attendance
- Degrees, awards, and honors received
- Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
- Weight and height of athletic team members
- Photographs
Students may withhold information from some of these disclosure requests by editing FERPA options within their student portal during the first week of each term. All requests for non-disclosure will be honored by the university for only one term; therefore, authorization to withhold student information must be filed during each term of attendance. Students have a right to voice any concerns to the U.S. Department of Education.
FERPA permits the disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from students’ education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in §99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, §99.32 of FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A postsecondary institution may disclose PII from the education records without obtaining prior written consent of the student
- To other school officials, including teachers, within Lindenwood University system whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in §99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) - (a)(1)(i)(B)(3) are met. (§99.31(a)(1))
- To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of §99.34. (§99.31(a)(2))
- To authorized representatives of the U.S. comptroller general, the U.S. attorney general, the U.S. secretary of education, or state and local educational authorities, such as a state post-secondary authority that is responsible for supervising the university’s state-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of federal- or state-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§99.31(a)(3) and §99.35)
- In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§99.31(a)(4))
- To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§99.31(a)(6))
- To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (§99.31(a)(7))
- To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§99.31(a)(8))
- To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§99.31(a)(9))
- To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to §99.36. (§99.31(a)(10))
- If it is information the school has designated as “directory information” under §99.37. (§99.31(a)(11))
- To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of §99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding. (§99.31(a)(13))
- To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the requirements of §99.39, if the school determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the school’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against the student. (§99.31(a)(14))
- To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any federal, state, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21. (§99.31(a)(15))
Definitions:
- A “school official” is not defined in the statute or regulations, Lindenwood University interprets the term to include parties such as: professors; instructors; administrators; health staff; counselors; attorneys; clerical staff; board members; members of committees and disciplinary boards; and a contractor, volunteer, or other party to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions.
- A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill a professional responsibility.
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