Academic Policies and Procedures / Academic Services

Academic Policies

Academic Load and Enrollment Designations

All academic credit is given in semester credit hours. Full- and half-time student status is determined by the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled during a given term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer). The recommended load for students enrolled in eight-week courses is nine credit hours or less. Permission of the dean is required to enroll in more than nine credit hours per each eight-week course offering. In credit hours, the academic load designations for graduate students are as follows:

Full-time Enrollment

• Doctor of Education students - six or more credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Specialist students - six or more credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Graduate students - six or more credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Certificate seeking students - six or more credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)

Half-time Enrollment

• Doctor of Education students - three to five credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Specialist students - three to five credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Graduate students - three to five credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Certificate seeking students - three to five credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)

Less than Half-time Enrollment

• Doctor of Education students - two or fewer credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Specialist students - two or fewer credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Graduate students - two or fewer credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Certificate seeking students - - two or fewer credit hours per term (e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer)

Notes: (1) In order to remain in compliance with U.S. visa regulations, students on an F1 visa must maintain full-time enrollment status by enrolling in a minimum of six credit hours per term.

(2) Course extensions (including culminating project extensions, capstone extensions, and thesis extensions) are not counted among a student’s hours enrolled. For this reason, students who are only enrolled in the completion of a thesis or capstone experience are considered less than half-time students.

(3) Active duty military personnel pursuing certain online graduate programs in the semester format may qualify for full-time enrollment status at six credit hours. Such students should contact the VA certifying official for more information.

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.

Additional Graduate Degrees/Majors

Second Master’s Degree

A student who has previously earned a master’s degree from Lindenwood and desires another master’s degree type may apply a maximum of nine hours of credit from the first degree into the second degree if the credit is applicable. All other requirements for the second degree, including the thesis, must be completed. If the student is seeking a major leading to a degree type not previously earned at Lindenwood University, the major will be added to the student’s transcript and a new diploma will be received listing the degree and major earned.

Second Master’s Major

If the student previously earned a degree at Lindenwood University and is seeking a major leading to the same degree type, the second major will be added to the student’s transcript with the notation “Second Master’s Major”, but no new diploma will be issued as no new degree type has been earned.

Additional Master’s Degrees

A student who would like to pursue any additional master’s degree type beyond completing a second master’s degree will have to complete all degree requirements including the total earned hours for the degree program.

Pursuing a Master’s Degree after Completion of a Graduate-Level Credit-Bearing Certificate

A student who has previously earned a Graduate-Level Credit-Bearing Certificate from Lindenwood and desires to earn a Master’s degree in the same discipline may “stack” or apply all credits from the certificate into the degree if the credit is applicable.  All other requirements for the degree, including the thesis, must be completed. Any credits earned from another institution would be subject to the “Transferring Credit” procedures in the Graduate Catalog. If the student pursues additional Master’s degrees, the policies for “Second Master’s Degree”, “Second Master’s Major” and “Additional Master’s Degrees” will apply.

Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP)

Lindenwood University offers an accelerated master’s program in selected majors that allows high achieving undergraduate students an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in as few as five years. Traditional first-time college students will complete the majority of their undergraduate curriculum, as well as most general education requirements, during their first three years. Then, upon formal acceptance into the master’s degree program, the students will complete their graduate coursework during their fourth and fifth year. Current undergraduate students and transfer students are also eligible for participation in an accelerated master’s program, but graduation timelines vary and are dependent on an official review of their prior academic history. Students who elect not to complete the graduate portion of the program can still graduate with an undergraduate degree following the completion of all undergraduate degree requirements.

Enrollment Process and Eligibility

The accelerated master’s program is designed for traditional first-time college students, but current students and transfer students can declare their interest in an accelerated master’s program and follow the academic pathway at any time. Interested students should inform their academic advisor of their intent to complete an accelerated master’s program as early as possible to ensure they follow the necessary academic degree plan. Additionally, some accelerated master’s programs offer early assurance programs that require an initial application or screening process prior to the student’s first semester at the university.

Generally, traditional undergraduate students following an accelerated master’s program degree plan will formally apply to the graduate phase of the program during the fall semester of their third year. Accelerated master’s programs will have program-specific eligibility requirements, application procedures, selection criteria, and retention criteria. Typical program requirements include the following, but please refer to the specific accelerated master’s program for additional information:

• Completion of the accelerated master’s program application
• Completion of the university graduate program application
• Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
• Completion of at least 75 undergraduate credit hours at time of application submission (credit hours for courses enrolled in at time of application should be included)
• Completion of at least 90 undergraduate credit hours at time of entry into program
• Letters of recommendation

Earning Graduate Credit as an Undergraduate Student

Students participating in an accelerated master’s program may take up to 9 credit hours at the graduate level during their senior year at no additional charge. Enrollment in these graduate courses will require approval from the director of the accelerated master’s program. These credit hours can count toward the graduate degree. To earn graduate credit as an undergraduate student, 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 6 graduate credits may be earned in a single semester. Please see the specific accelerated master’s program for additional information.

Grading Policy for Undergraduate Students Enrolled in Graduate Courses

Undergraduate students enrolled in graduate-level courses will be graded in accordance to the undergraduate grading policy. The undergraduate student may receive grades of A, B, C, F, W, AF, N, I and Audit (see appropriate definitions in the Grading System section of the graduate catalog).

Student Classification and Degree Conferment

Students participating in an accelerated master’s program will be classified as an undergraduate student until all undergraduate degree requirements have been met. Under normal circumstances, this should be accomplished by the end of the fourth year. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree requirements, the bachelor’s degree will be conferred, and the student shall be considered a graduate student for all university purposes.

Tuition

Students participating in an accelerated master’s program will be subject to undergraduate tuition rates until the undergraduate degree is conferred. Therefore, graduate courses completed as an undergraduate student in an accelerated master’s program that provide credit for the undergraduate degree or graduate degree will be subject to undergraduate tuition and financial aid. Upon conferment of the undergraduate degree, the student will be considered a graduate student and will be subject to graduate tuition, graduate financial aid, and all other fees associated with graduate programs. Please see the specific accelerated master’s program for additional information regarding tuition, program expenses, and all other fees.
For additional information on financial aid, please see the Federal Financial Aid sections in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs.

Honors Academy

Undergraduate students participating in an accelerated master’s program can continue to participate in the Honors Academy. With prior approval of the course instructor and academic advisor, students participating in the Honors Academy can register for 500-level courses for undergraduate Honors credit. The student must earn a final grade of AH or BH to receive Honors credit in these courses.

General Honors

Students participating in an accelerated master’s program will have all graduate courses that count toward undergraduate credit included in their determination for general honors.

Academic Integrity

Undergraduate students enrolled in graduate level courses as part of an accelerated master’s program will continue to be subject to the undergraduate student policies for academic dishonesty. Upon the conferment of an undergraduate degree, the student will be formally recognized as a graduate student and will be subject to the graduate student policies for academic dishonesty. Please see the Academic Integrity section of the undergraduate or graduate catalog for additional details.
For students participating in an accelerated master’s program, any report of academic dishonesty as an undergraduate student will remain in the student’s record throughout the entire program. Thus, a single report of academic dishonesty by a graduate student with a previous offense at the university as an undergraduate or graduate student will result in expulsion from the university.

Transfer of Credit

A student wishing to transfer undergraduate credit to Lindenwood University from an accredited college or university should request official transcripts be sent directly to Lindenwood University’s Office of University Admissions by the school(s) previously attended.

Evaluation of undergraduate transfer credit will be made by the registrar. For more information regarding the transfer of undergraduate credit, please refer to the Admission, Application, and Fees & Financial Assistance section of the undergraduate catalog.
A student wishing to transfer graduate credit to Lindenwood from an accredited college or university should request official transcripts be sent directly to Lindenwood University’s Office of University Admissions by the school(s) previously attended. Evaluation of graduate transfer credit for an accelerated master’s program will be made by the appropriate program coordinator. For more information regarding graduate credit transfer policies, please refer to the “Transferring Credit” section of the graduate catalog. Please also refer to the specific accelerated master’s program for more information, as additional program-specific policies may exist regarding transfer credit policies.

Posthumous Degree - Graduate

In the event of a student’s untimely death, the University may grant a posthumous degree if the following criteria are met.

Graduate students

MA/MBA/MFA/MHA/MS/EdS

Eligibility:

• The student had successfully completed at least 70% of their degree requirements.
• For graduate certificates, the student must have successfully completed at least 75% of the coursework required.
• The student was in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 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.

EdD

Eligibility:

• The student had successfully completed at least 75% of all program-associated coursework.
• For graduate certificates, the student must have successfully completed at least 75% of the coursework required.
• The student had completed the comprehensive exam or all program benchmark exams.
• The student had secured IRB approval to proceed with the implementation of the dissertation research.
• The student was in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
• The student had no pending disciplinary sanctions.
• The College of Education and Human Services 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.

Degree Time Limit

A graduate student is expected to complete a graduate program within five years of the date of entry.

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.

Note: Persons receiving benefits from the Veterans Administration are governed by special regulations concerning class attendance See Veterans’ Benefits, appearing earlier in this catalog.

Bereavement Policy

Rational

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 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 make arrangements 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.

Note: 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.

Excused Absence Policy for Students Engaged in Military Duties

Title 38 of the U.S. Code (Law) states that an educational institution may not take the following actions when a member receives orders for a period of service:

• Assigning the member a failing grade,

• Reducing the member’s grade point average,

• Characterizing any member’s absence(s) as unexcused, or

• Assessing a financial penalty on a member because of a withdraw or leave of absence due to receiving orders for service.

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.

Note: 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.

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:

Athletics Department

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 that 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 make arrangements 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.

Academic Departments

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 office of 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 that 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

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

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 is also expected to prepare thoroughly for and promptly engage in any substitute or make-up assignment or activity.

Extra Credit

No extra credit is permitted at the graduate level.

Expectation of Student Work

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 per week for a three-hour course), although the time spent outside of class may increase based on the topic and level of the course.

Final Exams

All courses are required to meet until the end of the scheduled academic periods as stated 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 to be no exceptions to these requirements.

Faculty members are not to change the schedule of the final exam, either by changing the date of the exam or by changing the time of the exam. Students should plan to attend their final exams on the scheduled dates.

In the event that classes are officially canceled 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 final exam, a makeup exam will be scheduled.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

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 12 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.

Catalog of Entry

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 Standards

In addition to making the satisfactory academic progress required 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.

To earn a graduate degree from Lindenwood University, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 overall and in the required coursework for the degree. Some programs may require a higher minimum GPA. In such a case, the program requirement will supersede the University minimum.

Maintaining Good Academic Standing

Academic standing is assessed at the end of each academic standard term. To remain in good academic standing, graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on probation. Students whose cumulative GPA remains below 3.0 after the subsequent term will be permitted to continue on probation as long as the term GPA is 3.0 or higher. Students are removed from probation when the cumulative GPA reaches 3.0. A student on probation who earns a term GPA below 3.0 will be placed on academic suspension.

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 3.0, as long as each term GPA is 3.0 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

Note: If individual programs have more stringent definitions of probationary or suspension status than does the University as a whole, that program’s definitions will prevail over the university’s definition.

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.

Note: 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.

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 Procedures

Transferring Credit

A student wishing to transfer graduate credit to Lindenwood from an accredited college or university should request that official transcripts be sent directly to Lindenwood University’s Office of University Admissions by the school(s) previously attended. An evaluation of transfer credit will be made by the appropriate college dean. Credit may be transferred from regionally accredited institutions only. A maximum of nine semester credit hours of transfer credit is allowed for graduate students. Any credit hours awarded for experiential learning will be counted toward the maximum number of credits allowed as transfer credit. Appeals of transfer credit evaluations should be submitted in writing to the registrar.

If transfer credit is requested from an international institution, students must submit their transcripts and their English translations to Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Evaluation Services (WES) for evaluation. For more information regarding obtaining an ECE or WES transcript evaluation, please refer to the International Application Procedures section of this catalog or email internationaladmissions@lindenwood.edu.

For policies regarding transfer credit into a specific graduate program or college, please refer to the section of this catalog which describes that program.

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 academic advisor and the registrar. A Prior Approval form may be requested at academicservices@lindenwood.edu. Credits accepted in transfer do not affect the student’s grade-point average at Lindenwood University.

Earning Credits through Prior Learning and Experience

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 6 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. The total number of credit hours awarded for experiential learning will be counted toward the maximum number of credits allowed as transfer credit. The current transfer credit limit is nine credit hours.

Note: Lindenwood cannot guarantee how any other university might interpret transfer credit earned from the Experiential Learning Credit program.

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.

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 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 essay describing the knowledge gained in the learning experience must accompany all other documentation provided.

The manager of alternative credentials will help the student develop a portfolio. The manager will identify potential experiences that may be posted to the student’s transcript as university credit and discuss the organization of the portfolio with the student.

Students wishing to receive experiential learning credit in their majors must apply for 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.

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. An A carries four quality points; a B carries three quality points; and a C carries two quality points. A grade of F carries zero quality points and no credit. Thus, a course worth three credit hours in which a student earned an A would merit 12 quality points. The grade point average is computed by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. Only grades earned at Lindenwood are used in computing the GPA unless the student is seeking teacher certification.

Graduate students may receive grades of A, B, C, F, W, AF, N, I, and Audit (AU) (see appropriate definitions.) A grade of A represents work outstanding in 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 below average work but completion of course requirements. An F grade indicates coursework so unsatisfactory that no credit is given. No grade of D is awarded at the graduate level.

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 register to audit lecture courses, not to include studio or laboratory courses. 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 16-week term and two class meetings into an eight-week term or summer session to make a change in registration to either audit a class or 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 practicum placements, 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, and, if the student has attended the course at least once, the signature of the instructor of the course. Students wishing to withdraw from the university altogether must obtain the signatures of the instructors for each course from which they wish to withdraw. 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 Office 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 term, 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.

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.

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.

Repeating a Course
A 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.

Thesis/Capstone Experience Extensions
Registration for extensions on graduate thesis or capstone experience must be completed by the student each succeeding term after the student’s initial enrollment for the thesis, Capstone III, or Problem of Practice III. The fee charged for extension is listed on the fee page of this catalog. If the student fails to register for a term during in which the student plans to complete the thesis, capstone experience, the student will no longer be considered a degree candidate. Should the student wish to resume the thesis or capstone experience the student must pay the full tuition rate for the thesis, capstone experience, at the time of re-enrollment.

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. 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 recommended deadline may postpone the posting of the student’s degree.

The recommended application deadlines are as follows:

Leave of Absence

Lindenwood University allows students with extenuating circumstances to apply for a Leave of Absence for no more than 180 days. The Leave of Absence involves an approval 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 (six credit hours for undergraduate and three 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 When returning from an approved Leave of Absence, students can begin the reentry process with their advisor. Students returning without an approved Leave of Absence who wish to resume coursework 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 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.

Policy added after publishing - July Addendum - 7/15/2024.**

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 cost of transcripts are $9.50 per copy. 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.

Note: All information in each student’s university record is considered confidential and is issued only to authorized individuals.

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 written 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.