Academic Policies and Procedures

Academic Advising of the Undergraduate

Mission

Advising at Rockhurst University establishes personal relationships between students and advisors to engage students in the development of meaningful educational plans consistent with their academic, personal, and professional goals. As an integral part of the transformative experience, advisors should encourage students to explore opportunities in the areas of learning, leadership, service, and the pursuit of justice.

Goals of Advising Program

Rockhurst University academic advising supports the institutional goal of transforming lives.

Through the advising process, students should be able to:

1. Clarify individual values and career goals.
2. Take ownership of their education by developing suitable educational plans, selecting appropriate courses, and choosing programs of study.
3. Evaluate their progress toward educational goals and graduation requirements.
4. Share responsibility in the advising process.
5. Utilize University resources, such as: The Learning Center, Greenlease Library, Campus Ministry, Career Services, Counseling Center, Rock Stop, etc.

First Year Advising Outcomes:

• Students establish working relationships with their advisors
• Students can access campus resources
• Students can identify information about the Rockhurst University Core requirements
• Students know how to access information about majors and minors
• Students understand registration policies, procedures, and deadlines
• Students can use Rockweb to run degree evaluations, access grades, class schedules, and financial information
• Students can locate and use the Rockhurst University Academic Calendar

Roles and Responsibilities

Academic Advising is a system of shared responsibility. While we outline specific roles and responsibilities here, the ultimate responsibility for making decisions about educational plans and life goals rests with each student.

Students are responsible for:

• Accessing the Rockhurst catalog to learn about academic programs and policies
• Checking the Academic Calendar to be aware of important dates and deadlines
• Using the online course schedule to plan for each semester
• Meeting with their assigned academic advisors (required at least once a term)
• Arranging and preparing for meetings with their advisors
• Using degree evaluations to monitor their academic progress
• Submitting paperwork to appropriate offices (transcripts of all college coursework, add/drop forms, declaration of major forms, degree applications, etc.)
• Regularly checking Rockhurst email account (official notices and announcements will be sent via email)
• Providing current contact information
• Making decisions about their academic career

Advisors are responsible for:

• Helping advisees understand student responsibilities
• Understanding and explaining graduation requirements
• Being reasonably available to advisees
• Preparing for meetings with advisees
• Assisting advisees to define/assess and develop realistic goals and plans
• Using degree evaluations to monitor progress of advisees
• Reviewing their advisees’ mid-term grades
• Helping advisees understand registration policies, procedures, and deadlines
• Maintaining advising records
• Being familiar with campus resources
• Making referrals when appropriate

In addition to advisor responsibilities, Advising Directors are responsible for:

• Assigning advisors to students
• Coordinating the distribution of advising materials
• Serving as a resource to students and advisors
• Updating advisors on curriculum changes
• Providing regular training and support for advisors
• Evaluating advising process (program) regularly

Institutional Standards

Academic Year

The Rockhurst University academic year is divided into two semesters, Fall and Spring, of approximately 16 weeks each, and Summer semesters variable in length. Semester-length as well as accelerated sessions are offered during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.

Credit Hour

The semester credit hour is the basic unit of academic credit used by Rockhurst University. The semester credit hour at Rockhurst University is defined as 50 minutes of faculty classroom instruction time per week for 15 weeks (no less than 750 minutes or 12.5 hours total per credit hour), and a minimum of two hours of student preparation time outside of the classroom each week. An equivalent amount of work is required for other academic activities at Rockhurst University including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

The measure of instructional contact time may be adjusted to reflect different formats of study or lengths of academic sessions. These adjustments are reflective of the intended student outcomes and established equivalencies of the credit hour set by Rockhurst University and reasonably reflect the requirements established by the Department of Education Program Integrity Regulations published October 29, 2010.

Enrollment Status and Normal Study Load

Full-time status as an undergraduate student at Rockhurst University is defined as a minimum enrollment of 12 semester hours during a regular Fall, Spring, or Summer semester. An undergraduate student is considered to be attending full-time if the minimum 12 semester hours is taken over the course of multiple sessions within a regular semester. Half-time status as an undergraduate student is enrollment in six to eleven semester hours during a regular Fall, Spring, or Summer semester. Undergraduate enrollment status is considered to be less than half-time if the student is enrolled in fewer than six semester hours during a regular Fall, Spring, or Summer semester.

Although the minimum number of semester hours for undergraduate full-time status is 12, the normal study load for full-time students is 15 to 18 semester hours per semester, varying with the student’s curriculum and scholarship record. In order to graduate in four years, a student must average 16 semester hours each Fall and Spring semester. Study load is different from Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. See the Financial Aid section of this catalog for more information.

No student may register for more than 18 semester hours in either fall or spring semesters, or more than 9 semester hours in summer semester, without permission of the appropriate dean. Permission to register for more than 18 semester hours in fall or spring, or more than 9 semester hours in summer semester, normally will not be granted to a student whose cumulative point average is below a B (3.0).

Course Policies

Course Numbering System

Courses are identified by a title and a designation. The title is usually self-explanatory. The first two letters of the designation indicate the discipline or program in which the course is offered. The first number approximates the course’s level. Undergraduate courses are numbered from 0100 to 4999. Courses numbered from 0100 to 0999 are remedial in nature. These courses count toward graduation hours, but may or may not fulfill specific requirements. Courses numbered from 1000 to 1999 are lower-division courses intended primarily for students in their first year of post-secondary work and are generally basic or introductory. Courses numbered from 2000 to 2999 are lower-division courses but may indicate a somewhat greater degree of academic achievement as found at the sophomore level. They are intended primarily for sophomore students. Courses numbered from 3000 to 3999 are more advanced upper-division offerings and are intended primarily for junior students. Courses numbered from 4000 to 4999 are also more advanced upper-division offerings and are intended primarily for senior students. Courses numbered 5000 and above are graduate-level courses.

In this catalog, departments, programs, and course descriptions are listed alphabetically within the section for each school or college. The number in parentheses following the course number and title indicates the semester credit hours that the course usually carries.

Courses that are cross-listed are those courses which are taught at the same time in the same classroom and listed by more than one department, (ex: Chemistry 3510 and Physics 3510). Students should enroll for courses with the designations for which they wish to earn credit. See below for additional information on courses which are co-listed for both graduate and undergraduate credit.

Note that in undergraduate programs, course numbers ending in -940, -960, -970-979, and -990 have been assigned specific uses across all departments and programs for upper-division (3000- and 4000-level) courses. General descriptions for these course numbers are given here. Some specific applications are also provided within individual department or program course listings.

Students wishing to enroll in courses with the designations indicated in the following listing should confer with their advisor at the time of pre-registration and initiate the required paperwork.

XX _940. Senior Capstone. Independent and collaborative research into major focus area; written/oral/artistic presentations required to demonstrate mastery of major area of study. In some departments a senior capstone may be required to fulfill major requirements.

XX _960 Seminar. A course for upper-level students in a department which involves significant individual study or research by each student leading to the presentation of the work. Various department restrictions may be applied (senior status, majors only, specific prerequisites, etc.) If the seminar has a common theme required of all participants, such theme may be reflected in the title, but is not required. Thus, a seminar in which all participants present a paper on a topic concerned with ecology may be listed on the transcript as: BL 3960 Seminar: Ecology. A seminar in which students may freely elect a topic would be listed simply as: BL 3960 Seminar.

XX _970-979. Practicum or Internship. Used to designate those courses with substantial experiential component, generally under the direct supervision of a member of the department faculty. Responsibility for assessment and grading rests with the supervising faculty member even though recommendation of any cooperating agency or company may be relied upon substantially in making the assessment. On the transcript the course may be titled to designate the nature of the practicum experience. Department and instructor approval required. An approved internship study form must be on file in the Registrar’s Office prior to (or concurrent with) enrollment in this course option.

XX _990 Independent Study or Research. Guided study or research on some aspect of the field generally culminating in preparation of a major essay or report. Various department restrictions may be applied. Department, instructor, and Dean’s approval required. The transcript will reflect the topic of the research or study. For example: PY 3990 Research Experience I: Identity and Spirituality. Students can request independent studies with the approval of the department chair. An approved independent study form must be on file in the Registrar’s Office prior to (or concurrent with) enrollment in this course option.

XX_xxxxR Readings. “R” at the end of the course number designates enrollment for a standard course listed by a department, but taught on individual arrangement during an academic period when the course is not available in the regular schedule; the readings course follows the syllabus of the regular course. Departmental approval and approval of the instructor is required and an approval form must be on file in the Registrar’s Office prior to (or concurrent with) enrollment in this course option. On the student permanent record (transcript), the standard course number will be listed with an “R” at the end. The standard title will remain the same.

XX_xxxxS Special Topics. “S” at the end of the course number designates new or occasional courses which may or may not become part of the department’s permanent offerings; courses capitalizing on a timely topic, a faculty member’s particular interest, an experimental alternative to existing courses, etc. Prerequisites are established by the department as appropriate for the specific course. The course title will be shown on the student transcript.

Course Schedule Delivery

Courses may be delivered through a variety of ways. The method through which a course will be delivered is identified under “Schedule Type” in the online Course Schedule. Students may search for the schedule delivery type that best suits their needs.

NOTE: During the 2021-2022 academic year the following schedule delivery types are in use:

• Schedule Type of CBC = “Classroom-Based Course”: In these courses, all students attend face-to-face (F2F) class sessions in a classroom that can seat all enrolled students. All students and instructor will be required to wear face masks. The Instructor follows the Canvas Minimum Use Policy and will make arrangements with individual students when accommodations are needed.

• Schedule Type of CH3 or CH4 = “Classroom Hybrid Course”: These courses have one of the following hybrid formats, each of which includes some amount of required face-to-face (F2F) learning (typically at least 50%). Instructors will contact the students in each of their classes prior to the start of classes to clarify all details about the particular hybrid model being used and when students will meet face-to-face (F2F):
  • CH3: In this model, students are assigned by the instructor to smaller groups within a course section. Students attend face-to-face (F2F) class sessions on a rotating basis according to their small groups to engage in an interactive lesson. All students will also engage in asynchronous online learning activities via Canvas.
     
  • CH4: In this model, all students attend face to face (F2F) class sessions in a classroom large enough to accommodate all enrolled students. The F2F class sessions alternate with synchronous online class sessions or asynchronous online learning activities via Canvas.
• Schedule Type of OH1 or OH2 = “Online Hybrid Course”: These courses have one of the following hybrid formats, which may include options for students to engage entirely remotely, entirely F2F, or a combination of the two. Instructors will contact the students in each of their classes prior to the start of classes to clarify all details about the particular hybrid model being used and when students will meet face-to-face (F2F):
  • OH1:  In this model, all students will be enrolled in the face-to-face (F2F) class section on campus. However, some students will be scheduled or choose to attend a F2F class session on campus, while at the same time other enrolled students will join the class session online via technology such as Zoom.
     
  • OH2:  In this model, all students will be enrolled in the fact-to-face (F2F) class section on campus. However, some students will be scheduled or choose to attend a F2F class session on campus, while other students engage in the class session online using asynchronous technology. The class recording is posted on Canvas for students to watch along with asynchronous learning activities.

• Schedule Type of OSC = “Online Synchronous Course”: In these courses, all students attend online class sessions that meet at specified times listed in the course schedule. There is no F2F component. The Instructor has RU Online Instructor Certification. The instructor will make arrangements with individual students when accommodations are needed for students who cannot attend a synchronous online class session.

• Schedule Type of OAC = “Online Asynchronous Course”: In these courses, all students engage in online learning activities with specified due dates; however there are no requirements for specific meeting times. There is no F2F component. The Instructor has RU Online Instructor Certification. There is no real-time interaction; however there are opportunities for students to engage with one another and with the instructor, such as through an online discussion forum or online office hours.
   
• Additional Schedule Delivery Modes:
  • B = Laboratory
  • C = Combined Lecture/Laboratory
  • P = Practicum/Internship
  • I = Independent Study
  • S = Seminar

Corequisite, Prerequisite, and Concurrent Courses

Courses listed in the catalog which are required to be taken prior to enrollment in other courses are referred to as prerequisite. Courses required to be taken during the same semester are corequisite. Courses which may be taken optionally during the same semester are considered concurrent.

Courses Listed for Both Graduate and Undergraduate Credit

Co-listed Courses

Courses that appear on the schedule as co-listed for both Graduate and Undergraduate credit:

• Are to be listed as 4000- and -6000 level courses respectively.
• Require that students taking the course for graduate credit must enroll in the graduate section of the co-listed course and complete additional work at an accelerated level appropriate for graduate credit.
• The course syllabus is to outline the additional work and student learning outcomes required for the graduate level of the co-listed course.
• Students taking the undergraduate level of the co-listed course may not repeat the graduate level of the course to count towards a graduate degree.

Undergraduate students enrolled in such co-listed courses (whether for graduate or undergraduate credit) pay undergraduate tuition rates; graduate students pay graduate tuition rates for such courses.

Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses for Undergraduate Credit: Graduate course offerings (courses numbered 5000 and above) may be taken for undergraduate credit only with the approval of the instructor of the course and the concurrence of the appropriate dean.

Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses for Graduate Credit: With the exception of special accelerated programs such as the Occupational Therapy accelerated 5.5 year program and the RN-BSN to MSN Bridge program, most undergraduate students are restricted in the number of graduate credit hours they may take as undergraduate students. Students who meet the following criteria may take up to nine (9) credit hours of graduate level courses for graduate credit at Rockhurst University.

The student should:

• be of senior standing, and
• have a GPA of 3.0 or better, and
• have approval from the instructor of the course, and
• have approval from the appropriate Dean or his or her designee.

With the exception of the above mentioned accelerated programs, those graduate courses taken as an undergraduate student can count either toward the undergraduate degree or toward the graduate degree, but cannot count toward both degrees. Upon enrolling in the course, the student must identify whether the course credit hours should count toward the undergraduate or graduate degree. This decision cannot be reversed at a later date. Undergraduate students enrolling in courses for graduate credit will pay undergraduate tuition rates for such courses.

Students admitted to one of the accelerated degree programs [5.5 year accelerated Occupational Therapy program or RN-BSN to MSN Bridge program] may take graduate courses in the final year of their undergraduate program which may be counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate level of the program.

For further information on these Rockhurst accelerated programs, see the RN-BSN to MSN Bridge Program   or Pre-Occupational Therapy Program .

Undergraduate Cross-listed Courses

Cross-listed courses are two or more course sections that are linked together on the schedule and in the Canvas learning environment, in order to enable the instructor simultaneous access to both/all courses. Cross-listed courses may also be offered through two departments in which the same course content is taught, in which each course may be offered on the schedule through two distinct subject and course numbers (ex: PL 4665/PS 4665). The course is taught simultaneously by the same instructor(s) with the same syllabus for both cross-listed courses. Students may enroll for the course using the department designation in which they wish to earn credit. Cross-listed courses between departments are subject to department chairs and dean’s approval.

In cases of inter-departmental crosslisting, deans and department chairs are responsible to: 

• ensure all departments/faculty are informed where policy guidelines may be found
• provide scheduling instructions to schedulers for cross-listed courses
• ensure the policy is enforced
• approve exceptions to the policy before scheduling

Credit for Non-Traditional Work

Advanced Placement Tests

Rockhurst grants advanced placement and/or credit to high school graduates who have proved their competence by their scores on the Advanced Placement Tests administered by the College Entrance Examination board. Scores of 4 or 5 may result in the granting of college credit and a score of 3 will allow consideration of advanced placement in the subject. A student wishing to have Advanced Placement Test results evaluated for credit should submit official score reports to the Registrar’s Office if not previously submitted to Admissions. (See “Note .”) See also “Placement and Course Equivalencies for Advanced Placement Tests” on the Rockhurst University website.

Student must achieve a score of either 4 or 5 on an AP test to receive either academic credit or advanced placement. Scores of 3 will be reviewed by the appropriate department for possible credit or advanced placement, but students should realize that credit or advanced placement for scores of 3 will be granted only in unusual circumstances.  No credit or advanced placement will be granted for scores of 1 or 2.

Of the 128 hours required for a bachelor’s degree at Rockhurst, no more than 32 may be earned by Advanced Placement examination.  The university does not give credit by examination to students who already have college credit in the area the examination covers.  Rockhurst does not assign grades for credit earned by examination.  Such credit appears on the transcript as “Advanced Placement Program” followed by the title of the examination, credit allowed and a grade code of  *CR .

Dual Credit

Students who were jointly enrolled in college courses (from regionally accredited institutions) while attending high school may receive college credit provided the work falls within the Rockhurst curriculum guidelines. There is no limit on the number of dual credit hours which may be counted toward the 128-hour graduation requirement for the undergraduate Rockhurst degree (note there is a limit on the number of credits that may be transferred in from a two junior year or community college-see Transfer Credit Policies below). There is no limit on the number of dual credit hours which may be earned through the Rockhurst University Advanced College Credit Program (ACCP). However, a student may earn no more than 11 hours of ACCP credit in any given semester from Rockhurst University, with the exception of those students taking ACCP courses under a vocational or certificate program agreement that exists between Rockhurst University and their high school. If an ACCP student is enrolled at Rockhurst University full time, then they would not incur the additional full-time undergraduate student fees.

Official college transcripts must be submitted at time of admission for evaluation of dual credit taken while in high school. Official transcripts of dual credit courses that are not provided at time of admission may result in the student taking duplicate courses for dual credits previously completed. There is no limit on the number of hours accepted toward the degree for college credits earned during high school if taken from regionally accredited institutions. An official transcript is required for all college credit received from dual credit courses.

International Baccalaureate Credit

Rockhurst University recognizes the rigorous course of studies undertaken by high school students enrolled in approved International Baccalaureate programs. Therefore, high school students enrolled in higher-level International Baccalaureate courses are entitled to consideration for the granting of college credit for these courses. A score of 5 to 7 on the higher-level examinations will result in the granting of college credit equivalent to the lower-division courses published in this catalog. A score of 4 will allow the student consideration for advanced placement in a given subject, but will not warrant the granting of college credit. A student wishing to have International Baccalaureate test results evaluated for credit should submit official score reports to the Registrar’s Office if not previously submitted to Admissions. (See “Note .”) See also “Placement and Course Equivalencies for International Baccalaureate Examinations” on the Rockhurst University website.

College Level Examinations

Rockhurst University enables students who have had advanced courses in high school and have done well in them to proceed at a faster pace in college and to take advanced work more quickly. For this purpose, those who wish, may take Subject Level Examinations in various areas of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) administered at centers throughout the United States during the year. General CLEP Examinations are not accepted. A student wishing to have CLEP test results evaluated for credit should contact the Educational Testing Service for official score reports and submit them to the Registrar’s Office if not previously submitted to Admissions. (See “Note .”) See also “Placement and Course Equivalencies for College Level Placement Examination Program” on the Rockhurst University website.

Note: Students who achieve acceptable scores may be granted exemption from requirements and/or credits up to a maximum of 32 semester hours from Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, CLEP, or other non-traditional work. There is no limit on the number of hours accepted toward the degree for college credits earned during high school if taken from accredited institutions.

Transfer Credit Policies

Rockhurst University accepts transfer credit under the following guidelines:

1. Institutions must be accredited by a nationally recognized higher education accrediting association.
2. General Rockhurst policy allows for a maximum of 64 credit hours to be transferred from two-year junior or community colleges-all community college credit is lower division credit. Note that differences may apply for certain Saint Luke’s School of Nursing programs – see School of Nursing  for those specific transfer policies.
3. Coursework must have a minimum grade of “C-” achieved in order to be accepted. Coursework accepted with a minimum grade of “C-” may not be used to satisfy upper-division major or minor requirements.
4. Coursework with a grade of Pass, Credit, or Satisfactory will be accepted only with documented evidence that such grades are at least equivalent to a minimum “C-” grade.
5. Credit hours, not grade points, are counted toward Rockhurst degree programs.
6. Practicum, cooperative education, field experience, internship, etc. are not accepted.
7. Correspondence work is accepted only under special circumstances, and with prior approval of the academic dean.
8. Transfer coursework attempted after enrolling at Rockhurst must first be pre-approved in order to count toward the student’s Rockhurst degree program. Pre-Approval of Transfer Credit forms are available online through www.rockhurst.edu/academics/registrar or may be be picked up from the Registrar’s Office. The pre-approval is necessary to verify if/how the transfer credit will count towards the student’s major and/or core requirements, as verified by the faculty advisor and academic department.

For institutional accreditation reasons, the University is required to have on file official transcripts from all institutions of higher education a degree-seeking student has attended, whether or not the credit is applied to their Rockhurst degree program.

Rockhurst University reserves the right not to accept credits from technical institutions, or from other institutions not accredited through North Central Association of Colleges and Schools or other national accrediting associations, as determined by the Registrar’s Office. Such course work is not accepted for transfer or satisfaction of bachelor’s degree requirements at Rockhurst University. 

Note: Transfer credits accepted towards Rockhurst associate level programs may or may not be accepted for bachelor level programs, and will be re-evaluated at time of admission into any bachelor degree program.

Associate Degree Block Transfer Programs

Rockhurst University accepts Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees from regionally accredited community colleges in place of the full Rockhurst core requirements. Students who have received their AA or AS degree at time of admittance to Rockhurst will only be required to take a few 3 credit hour upper-division courses in place of Rockhurst’s full core requirements. This allows those Associate degree students to graduate within two years of enrollment.
 

Students in the AA or AS block program will need to complete the following three-credit-hour upper-division courses:

• Philosophy: PL 3100, Ethical Theory
• Theology: An upper-division course in Christian Theology
• An upper-division course (3000 level and above) in another liberal arts field 
• Note: the AS degree requires two upper-division courses in another liberal arts field)

Grade Policies

Undergraduate Grading System

Rockhurst University uses the following system of grading to designate a student’s scholarship rating as determined by the combined results of examinations and class work. Note that individual programs/courses may choose not to employ the plus or minus in grading. Students should check the individual course syllabus for grading details. The quality point value for each grade is also shown as follows:

Final Grades

It is the student’s responsibility to meet the requirements established for each course taken at Rockhurst University. It is the course instructor’s responsibility to establish course requirements for grades as part of the course syllabus and to evaluate students fairly according to the standards established. For more information, see Policy for Review of the Final Grade.

Grade Point Average

Grade point averages at Rockhurst University are calculated on the basis of hours attempted and quality points earned. Courses taken on a pass/no pass basis are not computed in the grade point average. With the exception of graduation honors, the grade point average is calculated using Rockhurst University coursework only. At time of graduation, all previous transfer coursework is considered in the calculation of final graduation honors. See also Graduation Honors .

Viewing Grades

Currently-enrolled students may view their midterm and final session or semester grades on Rockweb in a secure environment directly through the Rockhurst Campus Portal. Final grades are available for viewing after the close of the academic session or semester.

Midterm grades, issued for undergraduate students, are progress reports only and do not affect the student’s GPA. Midterm grades provide an opportunity for students and advisors to discuss academic progress.

Incomplete Grade Policy

Students are encouraged to complete courses during the assigned semester. A grade of “I” (Incomplete) may be assigned only for serious reasons by the course instructor. Failure to complete course work within six weeks after the close of the semester will result in a grade of “F”. Any exceptions to this policy require approval of the appropriate Dean. The initiative in arranging for the removal of the “I” (Incomplete) grade rests with the student. Instructors cannot issue grades of “W” (Withdrawal).

Change of Grade

Changes of original grades must be made within six months of the assignment of the original grade and require the approval of the appropriate Dean.

Grade Requirements for Undergraduates

The standard denoting the minimum requirement for satisfactory academic progress is a grade point average of 2.00.

Grade point averages are computed on the basis of points earned and hours attempted. The quality point values assigned to each letter grade are shown in the section regarding the grading system.

A candidate for a degree must earn the required number of credit hours, attaining the minimum standard of a C (2.00) average. It should also be noted that a C grade (2.00) is required in EACH COURSE presented to satisfy the upper-division major, minor, and related area requirements. Grades of C- will not satisfy the requirement.

Failure in 40 percent of class work in any semester renders a student liable to dismissal for poor scholarship. Exception to this rule is made only for weighty reasons and with the approval of the Academic Board.

Academic Board

The Academic Board approves, for undergraduate students, exceptions to the curriculum which do not fall under the jurisdiction of individual departments/programs. In addition, the Academic Board reviews the academic record of each student whose grade point average falls below 2.00 either cumulatively or for the most recent term. The Academic Board notifies students of the academic action taken after this review. The academic action may involve a warning, probation, or dismissal.

Any student who has been dismissed by the Academic Board may apply for reinstatement by contacting the Academic Board Chair.  If a student receives a second final dismissal from the Academic Board, that student is not eligible for academic reinstatement.

Academic Board Policy Guidelines

Decisions by the Rockhurst University Academic Board relate solely to students’ academic standing at Rockhurst.  These decisions do not determine students’ financial aid eligibility or adhere to Department of Education requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress that are tied to financial aid.  Students should, therefore, meet independently with a representative of the Financial Aid office regarding their financial aid eligibility.

To be considered in Good Academic Standing:

• All students must receive passing grades in 61% or more of their completed credits in any one semester; and earn:
• A minimum 1.67 cumulative GPA with 29 or fewer completed credit hours;
• A minimum 1.85 cumulative GPA with 30-59 completed credit hours, and,
• A minimum of 2.00 cumulative GPA with 60 or more completed credit hours.

A failure of 40% or more credits in one semester takes precedence over any other policy guidelines.  Those students who do not maintain Good Academic Standing will be subject to the following disciplinary actions:

Semester and/or Cumulative GPA below 2.00 – Warning

The Chair of the Academic Review Board will convey Warnings to any students whose semester GPAs and/or cumulative GPAs dip below 2.00 but whose grades do not warrant either Probation or Dismissal based on the specific good academic standing policies outlined below in the appropriate sections.  The Chair will copy the student’s Advisor and appropriate Associate Dean for follow-up with the student.  But it is the student’s responsibility to keep track of her or his academic standing at all times and to recognize that dropping below a cumulative or semester GPA of 2.00 can, if the situation proceeds unchecked, readily lead to Probation or even Dismissal.

Cum GPA Below Required Minimum for Graduation – GPA Probation

GPA Probation: a two-semester probation will automatically follow if the student does not obtain the required gpa based upon the successful progress needed to graduate according to their completed credit hours.

• GPA Probation may last for a maximum of two consecutive semesters.  Failure of 40% or more during one of those maximum of two semesters will automatically supersede the GPA Probation.
• Student’s Cumulative GPA must reach their appropriate level for credit hours completed by the end of second semester: i.e. 1.67 for freshman level, 1.85 for sophomore level, 2.0 for junior or senior level.
• Please note that one could begin the second semester of GPA Probation as a Freshman, but complete the semester as a Sophomore, meaning that the required Cumulative GPA would be higher than when one first went on GPA Probation. The same would be true for a Sophomore whose earned credits move him or her to Junior/Senior status.

40% Rule with a Cum GPA above 2.00 – Failure Probation

• Failure Probation: a one-semester probation will automatically follow for students who fail 40% of their completed credits in any term, but whose cumulative GPA remains above 2.00 or is a first semester RU student with no established GPA.  Such students are at risk for Dismissal I, but warrant special consideration given their overall successful academic performance as indicated by their cumulative GPA above 2.00 or not having an established RU GPA before that semester. 
• For that one semester of Failure Probation, students must pass 61% or more of their completed credit hours; and their cumulative GPA will need to reach the required minimum for the total number of credits completed: i.e., 1.67 for 29 or fewer completed credit hours, 1.85 for 30-59 completed credit hours, or 2.00 for 60 or more completed credit hours. 

40% Rule with a Cum GPA below 2.00 – Dismissal I

• Dismissal I: students who fail 40% of the credit hours completed in any one semester and whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 will receive Dismissal I.

Failure to Meet Probation Guidelines – Dismissal I

• Dismissal I will also result from one or both of the following sets of circumstances:
• Students on GPA Probation who do not reach the required cumulative GPA for credit hours completed by the end of the second semester of GPA Probation.
• Students on Failure Probation who do not pass 61% or more of their completed credits completed by the end of the one semester of Failure Probation.

Final Dismissal – Dismissal II

Dismissal II or Final Dismissal permanently separates a student from the University.  It follows if, after reinstatement from a Dismissal I, a student is dismissed yet again.

Reinstatement from Dismissal I

Dismissal I students can submit a written request to the Chair of the Academic Review Board for reinstatement from a Dismissal I, detailing both the circumstances that explain the unacceptable academic performance and the student’s detailed plans to address the circumstances and improve the performance.

For a student requesting reinstatement for the semester immediately following the dismissal, there will be a limited time period for requests for reinstatement, with the deadline specified in students’ letters of dismissal.

Students whose requests for reinstatement are approved by the Academic Review Board will be reinstated under GPA Probation as detailed above for a maximum of two consecutive semesters (note: the student may be reinstated as early as the very next semester).

The two-semester GPA Probation begins once a reinstated student actually enrolls.

If a request is not submitted by deadline or the request is not approved, we recommend a student engages in activities that demonstrate a commitment to academic success.  Students must provide plausible reasons why they would likely be successful in their studies at RU this time – given their prior difficulties.  For example, they might demonstrate changes in lifestyle – a job, success at another college/university, a study plan, and so on.

If a reinstated student is dismissed again, there is no option to appeal for reinstatement – the second dismissal from the university is final.

A single course may only be repeated a maximum of three times. To repeat a course for the third time, the student must obtain permission from the academic dean and meet with the Student Learning Center in order to set up an academic success plan. Courses may be repeated with the understanding that all grades will appear on the student’s permanent academic record, regardless of grade. Only the grade received in the most recent Rockhurst enrollment will be computed in a student’s quality points and grade point average and count toward their degree program. The repeated course must be taken through Rockhurst in order to replace the original grade. The hours of the repeated course can not double-count toward the 128 hours required to graduate. This formula only applies to those courses that are not designated as repeatable. Some courses are designated as repeatable and will count toward the student’s degree program and will be computed in their grade point average.

Note: Saint Luke’s Nursing program, in alignment with the program dismissal policy, will allow a student to repeat a course only once in the nursing curriculum.

Transcripts of Academic Records

The transcript of the permanent academic record reflects all credit work attempted at Rockhurst University and transfer credit which has been accepted to fulfill Rockhurst degree requirements. The student is the only person with the authority to request a transcript of their academic record. There is a fee for transcripts with an additional fee for same-day service. Rockhurst University has authorized National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to provide students with the ability to order transcripts online. This service is available to current and former students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students are encouraged to use NSC to order transcripts as the request can be tracked and the service charge costs less. Current and former students with a Rockhurst ID number and password may view or order their unofficial and official transcript through NSC using Rockweb through the Campus Portal.

Former students who do not have their Rockhurst ID and password may order their transcript through NSC at www.studentclearinghouse.org. All transcripts ordered through NSC are processed through the Registrar’s Office. Students may also order their transcript in person at the Registrar’s Office, by mail, or by fax. A complete description of the transcript ordering process is available on the Registrar’s Office webpage. No transcript, official or unofficial, will be issued to a student who is delinquent in financial or other obligations to the University.

Undergraduate Honors and Awards

The University recognizes outstanding academic merit with a variety of awards and honors:

• Dean’s List Honors. Full-time students whose grade point average at Rockhurst through the end of the current semester was 3.5 or above are awarded Dean’s List Honors for that semester. Courses taken on a Pass/No Pass basis are not computed in the grade point average and do not count toward fulltime hours. Students who are not enrolled fulltime, have Incomplete grades, or who have not taken final exams are not eligible for Dean’s List Honors. 
• Graduating Senior Dean’s List Honors. Awarded to all graduating students whose cumulative grade point average at Rockhurst was 3.5 or above as of completion of the Fall semester for the commencement ceremony held in May. Honors recipients are listed in the commencement program. Highest Honors are awarded to those students in the Dean’s List category who have earned the highest grade point average. In computing highest honors, the average of all college work or only Rockhurst work, whichever is lower, is used. To be eligible for highest honors, students must have completed at least half of the total degree hours at Rockhurst.
• Graduation Honors. A candidate for a degree who has a grade point average of 3.5 graduates Cum Laude; one who has an average of 3.7 graduates Magna Cum Laude; and one who has an average of 3.85 and above graduates Summa Cum Laude. In computing undergraduate graduation honors, the average of all college work or only Rockhurst work, whichever is lower, is used. These honors are announced at commencement. Graduation honors announced for any commencement ceremony are based on the cumulative grade point average at the end of the penultimate semester and may change based on grades received during the final semester.
• Senior Gold Medal. This award is presented annually by the President of Rockhurst University to the highest ranking graduating senior. Rank is computed as explained under Graduation Honors above. However, for the Senior Gold Medal recipient, the calculation is based on the graduation semester cumulative grade point average. To be eligible for the senior gold medal, a student must have completed at least half of his/her total 128 hours earned toward their degree at Rockhurst.

Special Awards

• The American Institute of Chemists Medal, presented annually by the Kansas City Section of the American Institute of Chemists to two outstanding graduates-one in Chemistry and one in Biochemistry, selected by the faculty of the Department of Chemistry.
• The Arrupe Service Learning Award. The School of Education awards the Arrupe Service Learning Award to those students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and commitment to community partnership during a service learning course. These students embrace the ideal of being men and women for others in the Jesuit tradition.
• The Bourke Extemporaneous Speaking Medal, the gift of Dr. T. S. Bourke, awarded annually to the student who is judged best in extemporaneous speaking.
• The Robin Bowen Leadership Award. This was first awarded in 2009 in honor of Robin Bowen, a leader at Rockhurst University and among the occupational therapy profession. The purpose of this award is to recognize a Master of Occupational Therapy graduate student who exhibits superior leadership skills during his/her time in the Department of Occupational Therapy Education program.
• The Father Aloysius Breen English Award, given annually by the English faculty to the senior English major who has shown the greatest achievement throughout all four years.
• The Ted Calfas Award, established by his family, friends, and co-workers at Armco Steel, in memory of Theodore N. Calfas, a graduate of the Evening Division and parent of a Rockhurst alumnus.
• The Donna J. Calvert Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Communication. This award recognizes a student who exhibits superior professional behaviors and communication skills while in the Physical Therapy Education Program. Dr. Calvert was a co-founder of this program and served as a professor in the department from 1983-2003.
• The Barbara Clemence Award is given in honor and remembrance of Barbara A. Clemence, President and Dean of Research College of Nursing, 1985-1992, to students who demonstrate quiet strength and a willingness to be a risk-taker, as well as exhibiting insightfulness and a team player mentality.
• The Delta Sigma Pi Award. This annual award is presented to the student(s) with the highest GPA in the Helzberg School of Management.
• The Distinguished Service Award. Awarded to the graduating senior who has made significant contributions to Research College of Nursing through leadership and service.
• The Dowling Oratory Medal, founded by Mrs. Frank P. Walsh, in memory of Rev. Michael P. Dowling, S.J., founder and first president of Rockhurst University, awarded for the best oration in the annual oratorical contest.
• The Ignatian Outstanding Student Teaching Award. The School of Education awards the Ignatian Outstanding Teaching Award to undergraduate and graduate students who actively seek opportunities to promote Ignatian pedagogy. This award is presented to the education student who goes beyond the mastery of the skills and understandings normally found in the well-informed and competent student. They truly reflect and pursue the “Magis.”
• The Charles M. Kovich Dramatist Prize, an annual prize for excellence in dramatic writing awarded each spring to the Rockhurst University student who submits the best original script for stage or screen. The award is named in honor of Charles M. Kovich, Ph.D., Rockhurst professor of English, and administered by the Walter J. Ong Society for English Study (the Rockhurst University English Club).
• The Lampe-Loescher Award, created by Gerald N. Lampe, PT, and Georgia Lou Loescher-Junge, PT, original members of the Physical Therapy Advisory Group, is given annually to a graduating physical therapy student. The award recognizes the student who exemplifies exceptional leadership and service while in the physical therapy program and who demonstrates the potential for exceptional leadership and service to the profession.
• The William V. Longmoor Award, given in honor and remembrance of Mr. William V. Longmoor, consistent friend and supporter of nursing education at Research College of Nursing, to the graduate of the nursing program selected by the College of Nursing faculty as best exemplifying the standards and aims of Research College of Nursing.
• The William A. Luby Medal, in honor of a prominent Kansas City mathematics scholar and author, is awarded by department faculty to an outstanding student in mathematics, computer science or physics.
• Magis Leadership Award. The School of Education awards the Magis Leadership Award to those students who model exemplary leadership. These students inspire excellence in all endeavors through magis, meaning more in Latin; a core value of our Jesuit university.
• Missouri League for Nursing Outstanding Graduating Student Nurse. This award is presented to the graduate who best fulfills the criteria of leadership potential, interpersonal skills and continuing professional growth as determined by the Research College of Nursing faculty.
• The Michael D. O’Connor Medal in Psychology is presented to the senior student who is judged to have contributed most to the personal and intellectual growth of other students in the department. The award also recognizes in an important way a long-term friend and faculty member of the University, Professor Michael O’Connor.
• Outstanding Student Leader. Any officer (chairperson, vice-chairperson or their equivalent) of officially recognized clubs and organizations at Rockhurst University are eligible for this award, with the exceptions of Student Senate President and Social Activities President. The student leader must accept and fulfill responsibilities; use an appropriate mix of authority and participation; maintain high standards or commitment/ performance by the group; encourage team work; engage a leadership style to the organization, its membership and purpose; delegate authority and appropriate follow up; while achieving personal and organizational goals.
• Jane Rues Service Recognition. The purpose of this award is to recognize Master of Occupational Therapy graduate students who exhibit an exemplary commitment to service while in the Occupational Therapy Education Program. The student recipient will have completed a minimum of 60 hours of service. This may include but is not limited to service which meets the requirements of the program, service as a member of a professional occupational therapy association, and service with community organizations.
• The Scrivener Medal, awarded annually to members of the graduating class who have made outstanding contributions to Rockhurst University in the area of publications, particularly during their junior and senior years. Recipients of the award are selected by faculty moderators of student publications and by the appropriate dean.
• Dr. Reva R. Servoss Chemistry Prize was established in 1996 by Dr. Servoss, who taught in the chemistry department for more than 30 years. This endowed fund is dedicated to young women who, like Dr. Servoss, seek to appreciate and master the study of chemistry through desire and hard work. Preference is given to female sophomores who have a declared major in chemistry.
• The Linda Z. Solomon, Ph.D., Memorial Award, established by friends and family to honor Dr. Solomon’s passion for Speech-language pathology. The award provides support for a second year graduate student in communication sciences and disorders to attend the national convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
• The Ellen Spake Award for Outstanding Leadership. This award recognizes a student who exhibits superior leadership skills during his/her time in the Physical Therapy Education Program. Dr. Spake was one of the co-founders of the Department of Physical Therapy Education and was a member of the PT faculty from 1983 to 2012 (serving as department chair from 1983 to 2003).
• The Rev. Robert F. Weiss, S.J. Award honors Fr. Weiss, President of Rockhurst College from 1977 to 1988. This award is presented to the graduating senior of the Research-Rockhurst nursing program who demonstrates the values of integrity and personal caring for others that were modeled consistently by Father Weiss during his years at Rockhurst.
• The Barbara Wynne Outstanding Biology Student Award honors graduating seniors majoring in biology who have demonstrated academic achievement and service to the department. It is named for a biology major who died shortly after her graduation from Rockhurst.

Honor Societies

• Alpha Psi Omega. Alpha Psi Omega was organized as a theatre honor society for the purpose of providing acknowledgement to those demonstrating a high standard of accomplishment in theatre and providing a wider fellowship for those interested in theatre. Founded in August of 1925, Alpha Psi Omega was built upon the desire to develop talents in all aspects of theatre, to foster the cultural values theatre develops, and to encourage cooperation and collaboration among other member chapters. Nominations are limited to participation in at least two areas in show production and a minimum GPA of 3.0. This is the Phi Eta Cast.
• Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society. Alpha Sigma Nu is a national honor society for men and women. The group was organized to honor students of Jesuit colleges and universities who have distinguished themselves in scholarship, loyalty and service to the University. A limited number of juniors, seniors, and graduate students are selected for membership each year. The society offers its services to the University, particularly in an effort to stimulate intellectual interest and accomplishment.
• Beta Beta Beta. TriBeta is a national honor society with more than 430 chapters throughout the world. The Pi Epsilon chapter is active at Rockhurst, and invites any students interested in biology to consider membership. Activities are designed to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment, investigation in the biological sciences, and to promote the dissemination of information and new interpretations among students of the life sciences. In addition to campus activities, students may attend regional and national conventions.
• Beta Gamma Sigma. Beta Gamma Sigma is the honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in a business program accredited by AACSB-International. Invitation for membership is limited to: undergraduate B.S.B.A. students who rank in the upper seven percent of the junior class or upper ten percent of the senior class; and Executive Fellows M.B.A., M.B.A., and dual degree DO/MBA students who rank in the upper twenty percent of their graduating class.
• Kappa Delta Pi. The International Honor Society in Education was organized to recognize excellence in education. Kappa Delta Pi elects those to membership who exhibit the ideals of scholarship, high personal standards, and promise in teaching and allied professions. Kappa Delta Pi is an honor society of, about, and for educators. Selection as a member of Kappa Delta Pi is based on high academic achievement, a commitment to education as a career, and a professional attitude that assures steady growth in the profession.
• Phi Alpha Theta. Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society, was organized at the University of Arkansas in 1921. Its purpose is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. Phi Alpha Theta seeks to bring students, teachers, and writers of history together both intellectually and socially. Students who achieve excellence in the study of history, have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours in history, and maintain a strong overall academic record are eligible to join. National and regional Phi Alpha Theta conferences provide students with the opportunity to present papers they have written and to meet distinguished historians.
• Phi Lambda Upsilon. Phi Lambda Upsilon was founded in 1899 as an honorary chemistry society. It was the first honor society dedicated to a single scientific discipline. The Beta Phi chapter is active at Rockhurst and counts as a part of its membership students majoring in chemistry or biochemistry who have met the chapter and national qualifications. The aims and purposes of the Society are summarized in its constitution: the promotion of high scholarship and original investigation in all branches of pure and applied chemistry.
• Phi Sigma Tau. Phi Sigma Tau is an international philosophy honor society for undergraduate students. Founded in 1930, it fosters academic excellence as well as philosophical interest. In addition to providing a means of awarding distinction to students with scholarly achievement, the Society also promotes interest in philosophy among the general collegiate community. The National Society publishes an official journal twice yearly. The Missouri Beta Chapter here at Rockhurst hosts an annual dinner honoring initiates, and sponsors regular campus-wide discussion on timely philosophical subjects. The chapter selects those students who show advanced philosophical abilities and who can demonstrate the significance of philosophy in Jesuit education and its overall primacy in liberal education.
• Pi Delta Phi. Pi Delta Phi is the National French Honor Society, founded in 1925. The purpose of the Society is to recognize outstanding scholarship in the French language and its literatures, to increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world, and to stimulate and encourage French and francophone activities. Students are nominated in recognition of their academic achievement. Honorary members are faculty and community members recognized for their strong support of French cultures. Pi Delta Phi publishes a newsletter and offers study abroad awards.
• Pi Theta Epsilon. The mission of Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) is to support the practice of occupational sciences and the practice of authentic occupational therapy by promoting research, leadership, and scholarly activities. The organization serves not only the profession, but helps to ensure quality health care services for the general public. The purposes of Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE), as stated in the society’s constitution are as follows: 1) Recognize and encourage scholastic excellence of occupational therapy students; 2) Contribute to the advancement of the field of occupational therapy through scholarly activities; and 3) Provide a vehicle for students enrolled in accredited programs in Occupational Therapy to exchange information and to collaborate regarding scholarly activities. Rockhurst’s local PTE chapter was founded in 2015.
• Psi Chi. Psi Chi is the International Honor Society in Psychology. It was founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Students who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests and who meet the minimum national and chapter qualifications are invited for membership into Psi Chi each year. Members are expected to becomed actively engaged in research, either with a faculty mentor or in a lab at a nearby institution. Psi Chi members present their research project at local and regional conferences.
• Sigma Delta Pi. Sigma Delta Pi is the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. The purposes of this society are: to honor those who excel in the study of Spanish language and Hispanic literature and culture; to encourage college students to acquire a deeper understanding of Hispanic culture; to foster friendly relations and mutual respect between Spanish and English speaking nations; and to serve its membership in ways that will further the goals and ideals of the Society. Students are nominated in recognition of their academic achievement. Honorary members are faculty and community members recognized for their strong support of Spanish culture. Sigma Delta Pi publishes an official journal twice yearly and offers scholarships to study during the summer in Spain and Ecuador, and stipends to study abroad during the summer with a program in a Spanish speaking country.
• Sigma Tau Delta. Consisting of more than 800 active chapters, the International English Honor Society, founded in 1924, confers distinction upon students of the English language and literature and seeks to facilitate its members’ academic, professional, and personal growth. Members have the opportunity to share their interests in literature and linguistics with like-minded peers, participate in rewarding intellectual and service activities, and be recognized for their accomplishments. Each year, the Honor Society assembles for a national convention, publishes creative arts and critical journals, and sponsors numerous awards and scholarships.
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Sigma Theta Tau International is the nursing honor society founded in 1922. The mission of the society is to provide leadership and scholarship in practice, education and research to enhance the health of all people. It supports the learning and professional development of its members who strive to improve nursing care. Membership is by invitation to selected senior, accelerated and graduate students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing. There are nearly 500 chapters on college campuses in the United States and 24 other countries.
• Theta Alpha Kappa. Theta Alpha Kappa is a national honor society founded in 1976 for those involved in the academic pursuit of religious studies and/or theology. The society’s primary purpose is to honor academic excellence in these fields. TAK grants awards to members who have achieved the high standards of their discipline. The society publishes a journal every year in which students may submit articles. Students who meet the membership qualifications are encouraged to become part of this national society.

Degree Requirements

Catalog Requirements: Progress Toward a Degree

Although requirements are subject to change without notice, as a general rule, and whenever possible, students may elect (1) to comply with the new requirements or (2) to remain under the requirements set forth in the catalog in effect when they began their studies (provided they have maintained continuous enrollment). Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment must satisfy the academic requirements of the catalog under which they re-enroll. Students who initially declare or change their major may be bound by the regulations for the new major that are in effect the semester when they declare or change their major and officially begin studies in that program.

Declaring a Major

To provide organization, intensive work and a comprehensive grasp of a field of knowledge, each student must elect a field of study on which most of the work of the upper-division (courses numbered 3000-4999) will center.

Upon admission to Rockhurst, students may declare a major or at anytime thereafter. It is recommended that a student declare a major within their first 30 credit hours, and they must declare a major by the time they complete 60 credit hours (junior status). Majors may be changed and/or added at any time. However, students should consult with their academic advisor on how major changes may or may not impact degree completion timelines.

Some programs require pre-requisite coursework, admission to the program by the department, and/or a minimum GPA prior to formal declaration. Students should consult the appropriate section of the catalog to learn the requirements to be admitted to their intended major. Once a major is declared, the student should review a degree audit with their academic advisor. The degree audit indicates all course requirements of their academic program and serves as a necessary tool to track the student’s progress toward degree completion.

Declaration of major forms are now available online through www.rockhurst.edu/academics/registrar. Completed forms will be submitted to the Dean’s office for a new faculty advisor to be assigned.

Specific Degree Requirements

Rockhurst University offers Baccalaureate degrees through the College of Arts and Sciences, Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the College of Business, Influence and Information Analysis, as well as Associates, BSN, and MSN degrees through Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. See the Programs of Study  section for a listing of all degrees offered by each college/school.

For an overview of all Rockhurst Graduate programs and policies, see  https://www.rockhurst.edu/academics/registrar/university-catalog.

Although each school may have additional degree requirements specific to particular programs, these are the minimum institutional requirements for all baccalaureate degrees offered:

1. Minimum of 120 semester hours, that normally include the Core and academic major requirements, with at least 64 hours from an accredited four-year institution. All undergraduate degree programs, except for associate degree programs and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, require 128 credit hours and completion of the core curriculum. Students should refer to their specific program requirements outlined in this catalog.
2. Minimum of 30 hours of upper-division coursework. At least 18 hours but no more than 42 hours to be in the major discipline, except when dictated by accreditation requirements, with at least 12 hours of related upper-division coursework as required by the major.  Note: Interdisciplinary programs may differ in their requirements. Both interdisciplinary and traditonal majors require a minimum of 30 upper-division credits to complete. 
3. Minimum 2.00 (C) overall GPA; A C grade (2.00) is required in each upper-division course counted toward fulfillment of the major; this includes the 12 hours of related upper-division coursework. (Grades of C- are not accepted to fulfill this requirement.)
4. The completion of the prescribed courses in the Liberal Core as described in the “The Liberal Core Curriculum ” section of the Catalog for degrees offered in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, and College of Business, Influence, and Information Analysis.
5. Successful completion of major requirements (see individual programs).
6. Successful completion of senior comprehensive exam or equivalent, and/or required service hours as required by the program.
7. Additional Qualifications:
   1. Maximum of 8 hours of activity credit.
      Note: As of Fall 2010, varsity sports physical education activity courses are no longer accepted toward the degree for both incoming and continuing students.
   2. Maximum of 6 hours of practicum, cooperative education, field experience, internship, etc. (Student teaching hours may exceed this maximum.)
   3. Maximum of 64 transfer hours from an accredited two-year college.
   4. Maximum of 32 non-traditional hours earned by exam (CLEP, AP, IB, military training).
   5. Maximum of 42 hours of upper-division coursework in the academic major, unless dictated by accreditation requirements.
   6. At least 30 hours of coursework must be completed at Rockhurst.
   7. Research College of Nursing requires that a minimum of 15 hours be completed at Rockhurst and a minimum of 15 hours be completed at Research.
   8. Half of the upper-division hours required for the major, and half of the minimum 12 hours of upper-division related coursework, must be earned at Rockhurst.
   9. The final 30 hours of coursework must be taken at Rockhurst.

8. Even after the requirements for a degree have been fulfilled, each student must complete the degree application in order to graduate. The University still reserves the right to deny the degree if, in its judgment, the objectives of the University have not been adequately realized in the candidate.

See individual departments for specific major, minor, and certificate requirements.

Associates Degrees

1. Minimum of 60-63 semester credit hours, depending on the track. See individual Associate program for specific requirements.
2. Minimum 2.00 (C) overall GPA.

Requirements for Earning a Second Degree

1. The completion at Rockhurst of a minimum of 30 additional semester hours above the hours completed for the first degree. At least 18 of these 30 hours must be in the major. These additional 30 hours must be taken beyond all hours earned for the previous degree. If a student successfully completed courses required in the major for the second degree while pursuing the first degree, those classes may count toward the second degree with departmental approval. In that case, the student must take additional upper-division hours to equal the number of hours required for the major.
2. At least one-half of the major and one-half of the related courses must be completed at Rockhurst.
3. The completion of requirements as stated in numbers 2 through 8 in the previous section.
4. Students may not earn two of the same degree concurrently, for example, a B.A.; but they may earn two different degrees concurrently, for example, a B.A. and a B.S. or B.S.B.A.

Requirements for Earning More than One Major

1. The two majors may be in different degree programs. If the majors are in different degree programs, the student shall designate one as a primary major and shall then receive the degree corresponding to the primary major. (To earn two separate degrees, see requirements listed above.)
2. All requirements for both majors must be met.
3. Courses within each major may be accepted as fulfilling the related hours requirement of the other major, subject to approval.
4. The requirements for both majors must be fulfilled at or before the awarding of the degree.

Declaring a Minor

A minor is a structured concentration of courses consisting of upper-level courses totaling between 12 and 20 semester hours. Rockhurst University offers minors in a number of different areas. Minors may be declared when the declaration of major is filed, or may be added or changed at any time; but the minor must be declared by the time of filing for degree candidacy. Advice on course selection should be sought early from a faculty member in the intended minor area. The specific requirements for minors are outlined in this publication immediately after the description of the major for those disciplines that offer them. Lower-division courses may be required in addition to the minimum 12 upper-division hours. Students who elect to complete a minor must complete the requirements for both the major and the minor by the time the degree is granted. Both the major and the minor will be indicated on the student’s permanent academic record (transcript).

Students in most majors have the option to complete a minor or to complete the “related area” requirement, but they do not need to do both. Students earning their degrees in the College of Business, Influence, and Information Analysis, Research College of Nursing, or Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences must fulfill all degree requirements specific to those degrees, with the option of adding a minor area. Courses completed to fulfill Liberal Core requirements may also fulfill minor requirements where appropriate. Students may complete more courses in the minor area than are specified for the minor.

Students who elect to complete a minor must satisfy certain requirements. Some academic areas allow students, in consultation with a faculty member in the appropriate discipline, to choose from a list of approved courses to fulfill minor requirements. Other minors are more prescribed in nature. Students should refer to the appropriate section of this Catalog and confer with an appropriate advisor.

In general, the requirements for minors are:

1. At least half of the upper-division hours in the minor must be completed at Rockhurst University.
2. All of the upper-division courses required for the minor must be completed with grades of C or better. (A grade of C- will not satisfy this requirement.) Some minors may have higher GPA requirements.
3. Students cannot earn a major and a minor in the same subject area, nor can they apply specified upper-division courses required for a major toward a minor. Students may count Liberal Core or Related courses toward their minor.
4. Students completing a minor must have fulfilled all the minor requirements by the time the degree is granted.

Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors

An interdisciplinary major or minor is one that seeks to integrate and synthesize broad perspectives, knowledge and skills by combining the study of two or more academic disciplines into one program of study. The interdisciplinary major or minor is created by thinking across boundaries and drawing from multiple fields of expertise. General guidelines include:

• Interdisciplinary majors may share a maximum of 12 credit hours with other majors.
• Interdisciplinary minors may share a maximum of 6 credit hours with other minors.

Please refer to the catalog page of the individual major or minor for additional restrictions.

Certificates

Certificates may be earned by non-degree seeking students or by currently enrolled degree seeking students. Certificate guidelines and standards will apply equally to both groups.

Where appropriate, certificate programs meet industry, professional society, and accreditation standards. Certificate programs generally require no less than 15 upper-division credit hours.

A minimum grade of “C” is required in each course in order to be awarded a certificate at Rockhurst University. The final two-thirds of the total credits required for the certificate must be earned at Rockhurst University.

Credit hours earned during the pursuit of a certificate may be applied toward elective credit hours (or in the case of an exact match, toward core hours) necessary to earn an undergraduate degree, provided both are completed within six years following registration in the certificate program. Conversely, credit hours previously applied to an undergraduate program which resulted in an awarded degree are not eligible to fill the requirements of a certificate.

Note: The associate’s level Medical Assisting Certificate has different criteria than bachelor level certificate programs. For further information on the Medical Assisting Certificate please see Medical Assisting Certificate One Plus Program .

Degree Candidacy

An online Degree Application is to be completed through the student’s Rockweb portal in the semester prior to the graduation term. Students must complete their degree applications in accordance with the deadline published by the Registrar’s Office in the Academic Calendar at the Rockhurst University web site. The application deadline is as follows: September 30 for a May degree, January 30 for an August degree, March 30 for a December degree. Failure to meet the deadline date may affect a student’s participation in commencement and/or receipt of diploma. Once the application is received by the Registrar’s Office, a review is made of the student’s academic record to ensure that they will have met the requirements of the degree. A graduation fee will post to the student’s account as the degree application is processed by the Registrar’s office. 

The graduation fee covers the cost of the diploma and cover, program expenses, mailing fees, and other expenses related to graduation. All graduates are listed in the commencement program and all graduates are required to pay the fee, regardless of their decision whether to participate in the commencement ceremony. 

All May degree candidates are eligible to walk in the May commencement ceremony; August and December degree candidates are eligible to walk in the December commencement ceremony.

Applications for degree candidacy are completed online through the student’s Rockweb portal. Degree conferral is not automatic - students must file for degree candidacy in accordance with the deadline published by the Registrar in the Academic Calendar on the Rockhurst University website.

NOTE: Students seeking a second degree must complete two degree applications in order for the second degree to be processed.

Other Academic Policies

Policy on Web- or Distance- Based Course Credit hour requirements

Web- or Distance-based courses are courses where 25% or less of instructional time is spent in face-to-face interaction between instructors and students; the remainder of the instructional time provided occurs through distance education. These types of courses require a minimum 12.5 hours (750 minutes) per credit hour of active course time that may include writing, responding, discussion of student-written case studies and analysis, readings of instructor postings, lectures, assigned case studies, course-related videos, posted discussions, as well as review of articles.

Online Attendance Policy

Regular engagement with online course materials, peers, and faculty is essential to student success in an online course.  Federal regulations require instructors to confirm student attendance within the first week of the class along with regular attendance updates throughout the academic term.

Online students are expected to meet the same policies and procedures as those attending face-to-face courses. Participation, however, is defined differently for online courses than face-to-face courses. 

For the purposes of verifying student participation, faculty are required to have academic related activities for students to complete or participate in each week. The following items are considered examples of “academic related activities” for the purpose of this policy.

• Participating in an assigned online activity
• Attending a synchronous online class session meeting
• Submitting a gradable assignment, prepared responses to an online assignment, including draft material
• Taking an online exam/quiz, including a video quiz
• Participating in an online class discussion forum
• Completing activities related to interactive tutorials or to other computer-assisted instruction
• Participating in an assigned online student group activity
• Documentable discussion, interaction, and discourse between student and faculty member on the academic subject matter covered in the course

The following items are not considered as evidence for verifying participation:

• A student’s login into a course’s learning management system as participation in that course as attendance
• A student’s activity log of viewing course pages within the learning management system

Students’ absences from the online course must be reported by instructors according to the Rockhurst University roster check procedure during the first week of class. 

In an effort to support student success, instructors should also report lack of attendance or other academic activity to the dean and to the appropriate University contact for the Student Success Network as per the current “early alert” procedures, as set by the Associate Provost for Student Success.

In order to earn credit or be considered a student in an online course the student must contact the instructor at least one time during the first week of classes.  Contact is defined by the instructor, but it must require the student to engage in some activity other than simply logging in.  Online students are expected to meet the same attendance guidelines and procedures as regular courses. Participation, however, is defined differently for online courses than face-to-face courses.  Online courses at Rockhurst are designed to be interactive and collaborative. Guidelines and mechanisms for student activities, online discussion, postings, readings, etc. will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.  Students are expected to participate in class at least once per week. Instructors of online classes must provide at least one engagement activity each week in order to verify attendance.  Failure to log in and participate as assigned may be deemed an absence for that week at the discretion of the instructor.

The online activity determines whether the student attended the class. The Canvas Learning Management platform does not have a built-in attendance tool. Therefore, faculty should use tools to assist them within the grade center, course reports, and/or using quizzes or exercises to record participation.

Undergraduate Attendance Policy

Rockhurst University students are expected to attend classroom and laboratory sessions regularly. It is believed if they are not present they will not benefit fully from the educational opportunity being offered. Tardiness may be recorded as an absence at the discretion of the professor. Classes missed as a result of delayed registration may affect the student’s success in the course. Late enrollees should consult with their instructor immediately upon registration. Classes missed as a result of delayed registration may also be recorded as absences at the discretion of the instructor….When the total hours of class time missed exceeds twice the number of credit hours assigned to the course, a student may be assigned an “F” at the discretion of the professor for “excessive absences”.  Thus, in a course that is worth 3 credit hours, the student may be assigned an “F” when more than 6 hours of class time have been missed; or when 8 hours of class time have been missed in a 4 credit hour class (i.e. 7 absences in a 3 credit hour class that meets 50 minutes on Monday/Wednesday/Friday for 15 weeks or 1.5 absences in accelerated classes that meet 4 hours once a week for 8 classes, etc.)

Faculty should clearly communicate their expectations and policies at the start of each academic session for each class they are teaching. Likewise, students should familiarize themselves with each individual professor’s expectations and policies at the beginning of the semester. Each instructor sets their course policies and possible consequences of missed classes depending on the variables involved, taking into consideration the requirements of the course and the student’s specific circumstances. Students should discuss any concerns or questions about course policies with the professor at the start of the semester.

No refunds are processed, either for withdrawal from a single class or for complete withdrawal from the University, unless the student has officially withdrawn from the class or from the University. All students must initiate any class withdrawal through the online “Change of Registration” form found at www.rockhurst.edu/academics/registrar . Course refunds will be paid according to the refund schedule.

On Location Policy

Rockhurst University also supports learning experiences afforded by involvement in co-curricular activities, such as student leadership conferences, athletics, theater competitions, etc. Often these co-curricular activities require students to represent Rockhurst University and to be “on location” somewhere off campus for both the participation in the event as well as travel to and from the location. The following guidelines refer to Rockhurst University’s expectations for both students and faculty regarding “on location” activities that result in student absences and missed class work. The “on location” policy only applies to those authorized co-curricular activities that have been approved by the respective Dean’s offices and verified to the faculty members impacted.

Student Expectations

A Rockhurst University student engaged regularly in approved co-curricular activities which will necessitate missing classes is expected to do the following:

1. Inform each of his/her instructors about his/her participation at the beginning of the academic semester, indicating which classes will be missed.
2. Agree to an appropriate procedure for obtaining the missed class notes and other coursework.
3. Recognize that authorized absences for co-curricular activities do still count towards the total absences allowed in a course, and absences allowed under the “excessive absence” policy (as noted above in the Undergraduate Attendance Policy) are not considered “in addition” to those granted to students who participate in authorized activities (i.e., if a student knows that 4 classes will be missed for athletic events, this does not mean they are allowed a total of 10 absences in a 3 credit hour MWF class).
4. Understand that absences are “authorized” only when they are documented by the appropriate dean’s office. The “on location” policy does not extend to include practice time, team meals, or departure preparations prior to the time a team, group, or student is expected to leave on a trip.

Faculty Expectations

Rockhurst University faculty are asked to respect the educational value that co-curricular activities add to a student’s education. Faculty are expected to:

1. Refrain from academically penalizing a student whose absence has been authorized by the dean’s office.
2. Work with students involved in official co-curricular activities to provide a mechanism for students to receive missed information or to participate in tests, assignments or other classroom work.
3. In their academic advising role, become familiar with the information in the online resource “Academic Advising” located on the Rockhurst University website under academics/academic support. In particular, a section entitled “Advising the Student Athlete” is included for faculty information.
4. Immediately notify their dean’s office when a student is believed to be abusing the policy. 

Students and faculty are asked to communicate expectations and needs clearly so that the value of classroom education is not minimized and at the same time students are still afforded the opportunities of participation in co-curricular activities.

Examinations

In undergraduate full-term courses, mid-term examinations occur at the mid-point of the semester. Final examinations are held at the close of the semester for all undergraduate programs. A student who is absent from the regularly scheduled semester examination in any course will receive a grade of “F” for the course unless the dean has been informed of illness or has granted an extension of time in advance of the examination and for serious reasons.

Academic Honesty Policy

Rockhurst University is a learning community. Consistent with the mission and purpose and the Judeo-Christian principles the University seeks to foster within its whole community, it is expected that academic honesty and integrity guide the actions of all its members. It is the responsibility of every person in the academic community – faculty members, students, and administrators – to ensure that academic dishonesty or misconduct is not tolerated.

Academic honesty includes adherence to guidelines pertaining to integrity established for a given course as well as those established by the University for conducting academic, administrative, and research functions. All forms of academic dishonesty or misconduct are prohibited. The examples given are not intended to be all inclusive of the various kinds of academic dishonesty, cheating, plagiarism, or misappropriation which may occur.

Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Cheating

i.   Copying, or the offering, requesting, receiving or use of unauthorized assistance or information in examinations, textbooks, reports, computer programs, term papers, or other assignments.
ii.   Attempting to change answers after an exam has been submitted.

b. Plagiarism

i. The appropriation of ideas, language, or work of another without sufficient attribution or acknowledgment that the work is not one’s own.
ii. Violations include but are not limited to:

1. Submitting as one’s own work material copied from a published source.
2. Submitting as one’s own work someone else’s unpublished work.
3. Submitting as one’s own work a rewritten or paraphrased version of someone else’s work.
4. Allowing someone or paying someone to write a paper or other assignment to be submitted as one’s own.
5. Utilizing a purchased pre-written paper or other assignment.

c. Manipulation, alteration, or destruction of another student’s academic work or faculty material.

d. The unauthorized removal, mutilation, or deliberate concealment of library or other resource material or collections.

e. Unauthorized use of University facilities, equipment, or other property, including computer accounts and files.

f. Any other act which might give one an unearned advantage in evaluation or performance.

All course materials from Rockhurst University are restricted to use in and by the university and are not to be shared or sold to any external sources. The posting of course material on social media or other internet arenas (unless approved by the instructor in writing) is prohibited. Materials include are but are not limited to all course content such as syllabi, handouts, rubrics, reviews, lecture notes, powerpoints, assessments, quizzes and tests, media recordings and other materials made available to students as part of the course or the participation in university programs. Rockhurst University reserves the right to impose penalties should any version of sharing or selling such materials occur.

III. Nurturing Academic Honesty:

Faculty members, administration, staff, and students are responsible for modeling and nurturing academic honesty. Faculty members, especially, should strive to nurture academic honesty by citing sources in lecture and class material thereby modeling for their students and advisees the type of precautions to be taken to ensure academic honesty. It is further expected that faculty will take reasonable actions to reduce opportunities for dishonesty through such practices as monitoring examinations or requiring sequences of an assignment to be submitted. It is further expected that each student will be informed of the definition of academic dishonesty and the processes the University will take in dealing with it.

IV. Academic Dishonesty: Procedure, Penalties, and Due Process

Level I – As much as possible, a member of the faculty, staff or administration (hereafter referred to as University representative) will deal individually with suspected violations of the Academic Dishonesty Policy. Level I constitutes the initial level of action, including resolution. The University representative who suspects that such a violation has occurred will confer with the student, present support, listen to and evaluate the student’s explanation, and then, if the student is found to have violated the Academic Honesty Policy, impose a penalty based upon the findings. Penalties relate to specific violations and may include, but are not limited to:

i. Warning the student;
ii. Lowering the grade of the assignment or examination;
iii. Requiring the student to repeat the assignment or examination;
iv. Assignment of a failing grade for the semester.

The university representative will provide the student with a written Level I decision within three working days of conferring with the student. This decision can be delivered in person, via email, or via the United States Postal Service (with a delivery receipt) using the student’s last known local or permanent address on file with the University. A student who wishes to appeal the Level I decision must indicate, in writing, her/his intent to appeal within three working days following the delivery of the Level I decision to the student. This intent to appeal must be received by the dean of the college in which the alleged offense took place within three working days. If the student chooses not to appeal, then the violation and penalty will be reported to the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs using the “Academic Honesty Policy Violation Report.”

Appeal Process for Level I Decisions:

The Academic Disciplinary Board:

For cases involving academic departments, the Academic Disciplinary Board will be composed of three individuals consisting of the department chair, a faculty member to be appointed by the dean of the college or school within which the student is enrolled or the violation arose, and either the division chair or academic dean, or his/her designee (who serves as chair). Should the department chair be the faculty member bringing the charge(s) the appropriate academic dean will appoint a faculty substitute.

For cases involving units other than academic departments (i.e. Library, Registrar’s Office, Computer Center, or other similar unit), the Academic Disciplinary Board will be composed of the director of that unit, a faculty member to be appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and an appropriate member of the administration (generally a dean) who serves as chair and is also appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The composition of the Academic Disciplinary Board will avoid a conflict of interest. This may result in the Vice President for Academic Affairs appointing other representatives in lieu of the aforementioned Board compositions. The Board may uphold, modify, or reverse Level I decisions.

In cases before it, the Academic Disciplinary Board will consider relevant supportive information presented by any side. Based on its evaluation of relevant supportive information before it, the Academic Disciplinary Board may impose any penalty thus far listed and, in addition, may recommend to the Vice President for Academic Affairs the suspension or dismissal of a student.

Procedures Before the Academic Disciplinary Board Hearing:

1. The Academic Disciplinary Board must be formed within three working days of the dean or VPAA receiving the student’s written intent to appeal the Level I decision.
    
2. Within three working days of the filing of the written intent to appeal the Level I decision, the student must deliver to the academic dean or VPAA all supportive information relevant to the appeal, including any request for hearing.
    
3. Within three working days of receipt of the student’s relevant supportive information, the Academic Disciplinary Board will notify the University representative. For cases involving academic departments, the Dean of the college or school in which the violation arose; for cases involving units other that academic departments, the Vice President for Academic Affairs shall notify the University representative for participation at this appeal and shall notify the Academic Disciplinary Board of the choice within three working days.
   
   Within three working days of notice of the University representative to the Academic Disciplinary Board, that University representative must deliver all relevant information in support of the Level I decision to the Academic Disciplinary Board, including any request for hearing.
    
4. The Academic Disciplinary Board may require a hearing and the decision to hear any case is in the discretion of the Academic Disciplinary Board.
    
5. At least five working days before the scheduled hearing, if any, the Chair of the Academic Disciplinary Board or his/her designee, will provide the student and the University representative written notice of:

a. The alleged violation(s) to be heard;
b. The time, date and place of the hearing;
c. A statement of the charge(s) and documents in support of and in opposition to the charge(s). In cases where there are multiple charges, the Academic Disciplinary Board may consolidate all charges into one hearing.

This notice can be delivered in person, via email, or via the United States Postal Service (with a delivery receipt) using the student’s last known local or permanent address on file with the University.

6. The student may bring a faculty member of the University community with her/him as an advisor to any hearing and, if so, the student must notify the Academic Disciplinary Board of the name of the advisor within one working day of the hearing.  The student, however, is expected to present her/his own case in his/her own words.

7. The Academic Disciplinary Board will be responsible for creating a record of the hearing, if a hearing should occur.

8. The decision of the Academic Disciplinary Board may be presented orally at the conclusion of the hearing, in writing via email, or via the United States Postal Service (with a delivery receipt) using the student’s last known local or permanent address on file with the University, and to the University representative (using the same methods) within five working days of any hearing and if there is no hearing, within ten working days of timely receipt of all relevant supportive information from the student and University representative.

9. Materials related to disposition of the charge(s) of the Academic Honesty Policy, including a summary record of any appeal process and decision(s), will be maintained in the office of the academic dean of the college or school in which the student is enrolled.

10. If the student is cleared of any wrongdoing the incident is not reported to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

11. If the student is found to be in violation of the Academic Honesty Policy the findings of the Academic Disciplinary Board will be reported to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Grounds for Appeal:

Below are listed the only bases upon which a student or University representative may appeal the decision of the Academic Disciplinary Board:

1. A procedural error occurred;
    
2. The decision of the Academic Disciplinary Board was arbitrary;
    
3. New and significant evidence was not available or could not have been obtained prior to the Academic  Disciplinary Board’s ruling.
    

Appeal of the Decisions of the Academic Disciplinary Board:

A student or the University representative may appeal the decision of the Academic Disciplinary Board by filing an “Intent to Appeal” with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs within one working day of the decision of the Academic Disciplinary Board and the Vice President for Academic Affairs will notify the other within three working days of the filing of the Intent to Appeal. On notice of the filing of the Intent to Appeal from the Vice President, the Academic Disciplinary Board will forward all information related to the case to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Absent extraordinary circumstances, neither the student nor University representative may present additional supportive information for consideration by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Any request to present additional information must be made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs within three working days of filing of the Intent to Appeal and the request must include a substantive description of the additional supportive information. The Vice President may request additional information or a meeting with any individual regarding the charge(s).

In general, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will present his/her decision to the student and University representative within five working days of receipt of information or meeting with the student or University representative. The decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs may be presented orally or in writing addressed to the student at the student’s last known local or permanent address on file with the University and the University representative. The decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs is final. Pending the decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the student’s status as a student will remain unaltered except in cases where there are reasons relating to the emotional or physical welfare of the student or other members of the University community or for reasons involving the safety of property or the good of the University.

Centralized Reporting for Academic Honesty Policy Violations

Level II

Level I cases involving students found to be in violation of the academic honesty policy will be reported to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Upon the second reported violation for any one student, a formal review of those violations will occur. It is also possible for a first offense to be reviewed. This review will be conducted by members of the Dean’s council which has representation from each college or school.

Upon review of the reported violation(s), the Dean’s council may impose any of the following sanctions:

1. Issue a letter of warning to the student.
2. Deem the student to be out of good standing in terms of the Academic Honesty Policy. To be out of good standing is a probationary status and may render the student ineligible for special privileges including divisional awards or scholarships, letters of recommendation, academic honors, etc.
3. Suspension.
4. Dismissal.

A student under Level II review will be notified by Rockhurst University email account and by mail addressed to the student’s last known local or permanent address on file with the University in order to schedule a meeting between a representative from the Dean’s Council and the student to discuss the reviewed violations and any sanction that might be imposed. The sanction(s) imposed will then be communicated to the student within three working days of the meeting addressed to the student’s last known local or permanent address on file.

This information will be maintained in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Access to this information for the purposes of the determination of awards, honors, letters of recommendation, etc. can be obtained using the FERPA release form available online or in the Registrar’s Office.

After three semesters, if a student placed on academic integrity violation probation has no further reported violations, the student will no longer be on probation. However, the previous violations will not be expunged. If the student is later found in violation of the academic honesty policy, all offenses will be considered for the determination of a sanction.

Time
For purposes of counting time, the day of the act will not be counted and the final day of the time period will be counted. Working day means any day the administration of the University is open and conducting business and is not as provided in the University’s Academic Calendar.

Policy for the Review of the Final Grade

Preface

It is the student’s responsibility to meet the requirements established for each course taken at Rockhurst University. It is the course instructor’s responsibility to establish course requirements for grades as part of the course syllabus and to evaluate students fairly according to the standards established.

Philosophy of Grade Review Policy

Rockhurst is “a learning community” which “believes in the intrinsic value of the intellectual life and in the disinterested pursuit of truth.” At the beginning of any grade review procedure all of those involved should proceed with this principle in mind: the primary goal of all proceedings will be to clarify requirements, to affirm the application of consistent standards. An atmosphere of rational discourse must always prevail.

Basis for Review

For adequate cause, a student has the right to request review of an assigned final course grade. The basis on which the student may request review include the following:

The student believes that:

1. The assigned final grade does not reflect the weighted values given to required work as indicated in the course syllabus; and/or
    
2. The final grade does not reflect the student’s level of fulfillment of course requirements as stated in the course syllabus (for example, class attendance, level of performance on tests, number and length of papers, penalty for late work, and other academic criteria); and/or
    
3. The final grade is inconsistent with standards set for the course; and/or
    
4. The assigned final grade is based on arbitrary or nonacademic criteria.

Procedure

The student requesting review must follow the procedure set out below. Failure to follow the procedure in the given order or to comply with the time limits identified in the procedure will result in denial of the review.

Informal Procedure for Review of the Assigned Final Grade*

1. Upon release of the final course grade, (for courses taken in the Spring and Summer semesters, no later than September 1, and for courses taken in the Fall semester, no later than February 1), the student requests a review of the assigned final grade from the assigning instructor or if the instructor is not available submits the request to the appropriate dean’s office. All written communication can be delivered in person, via email, or via the United States Postal Service (with a delivery receipt) using the student’s last known local or permanent address on file with the University. The student and the instructor may agree to meet to conduct part of the grade review. The student should make the appointment to meet with the instructor. The instructor will respond to the student in writing within 14 calendar days of receipt of the request for final grade review. All written communication can be delivered in person, via email, or via the United States Postal Service (with a delivery receipt) using the student’s last known local or permanent address on file with the University. [Students are responsible to keep an updated mailing address on file with the University.]
    
   *Note: The term “semester” is understood in a narrow sense, referring only to the first semester and the second semester of the regular academic year. The term “semester” does not refer to summer sessions or interterms. The intent is to provide a timeline allowing for possible faculty absence during the summer and during interterm.
    
2. If within 14 days of the instructor’s response the student is not satisfied with the result, the student may request in writing to the department chair (for Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences and College of Arts and Sciences) or the program chair (for the College of Business, Influence & Information Analysis) for a review of the final course grade. For the purpose of information, not re-grading, the student’s request should include supporting evidence, such as photocopies of graded papers, quizzes, tests, and other work performed in the course. The student should also note the steps taken so far to review the final grade. After (a) reviewing the case with the student and (b) reviewing the case with the assigning instructor, the department chair or discipline coordinator will respond to the student and the instructor of their opinion regarding the assigned final course grade and that the informal procedure is completed.Notification will occur in writing within 14 calendar days of receipt of the request for final grade review. All written communication can be delivered in person, via email, or via the United States Postal Service (with a delivery receipt) using the student’s last known local or permanent address on file with the University.

Formal Procedure for Review of the Assigned Final Grade

If not satisfied with the result of the informal procedure, the student may request a formal review of the assigned final course grade.

1. Within seven calendar days of the response of the department or the division chair, the student presents in writing to the dean (or designee) of the college or school in which the course is offered, the request for formal review of the assigned final course grade, including reasons justifying the review, any supporting evidence, and a list of the steps taken to date to resolve the issue.
    
2. Within 14 days of the student’s written request, the dean (or designee) will convene a panel consisting of a full-time faculty representative of the college or school and two full-time faculty members of the same department or academic discipline as the instructor, if department or discipline size permits. The dean (or designee) appoints a University representative to chair the panel. The dean (or designee) will inform the requesting student and the course instructor in writing the name of the panel appointees for approval or objection.
    
3. The student and the course instructor may each object to up to two panel appointees. Any objection to a panel appointee must be lodged in writing with the dean’s office within seven calendar days of notice of the panel appointees. All communication can be delivered in person, via email, or via the United States Postal Service (with a delivery receipt) using the student’s last known local or permanent address on file with the University. Failure to lodge objection to a panel member will be considered as acceptance of the appointee as panel member. No other objections will be permitted by either the student or the course instructor. After exhaustion of objections, the dean (or designee) will appoint any vacancy on the panel.

4. As soon as panel membership is set, the dean (or designee) turns over to the chair of the panel the student request and all supporting materials the student has provided. The instructor is invited to submit supporting materials related to the student’s performance and course grade for the panel.

5. The chair of the panel does not vote on the recommendation except in the event that the two other faculty members, each of whom has one vote, are unable to reach agreement.
    
6. The chair will schedule a date for the review and the panel should conclude its review within ten working days of its first meeting. The panel will examine the information provided and may hold a joint conference of the panel, the student, and the instructor. The chair of the panel has the responsibility to inform the panel members, the student, and the instructor of the date, time, and place of any joint conference.
    
7. The panel is empowered either (a) to recommend that the instructor change the grade, (b) to recommend that the instructor reevaluate the grade according to criteria specified by the panel, or (c) to dismiss the request for review of final grade. The panel is not empowered to change the grade. The grade, which the course instructor assigned, cannot be changed by anyone but that instructor. The instructor will advise the Registrar of a change in grade, if any. The panel will advise the student of a change in grade, if any.
    
8. The panel submits its recommendation to the student, to the course instructor, to the department, chair or discipline coordinator, and to the appropriate dean (or designee) in writing. All written communication can be delivered in person, via email, or via the United States Postal Service (with a delivery receipt) using the student’s last known local or permanent address. On request, each party will be apprised of the basis for the panel’s decision. The panel’s responsibility is thus concluded. No other review is available.
    
9. The grade appeal will be considered confidential and only those involved in the grade appeal including its investigation and resolution will be provided information concerning the review.
    
10. If the student chooses to make the panel’s recommendation a part of the student’s permanent file, the student should instruct the dean (or designee) to convey the panel’s recommendation to the Registrar and the panel’s recommendation will be transmitted by the Registrar’s Office to graduate schools, employers, and others to whom the student requests that a transcript be sent according to the policies of the University regarding release of transcriptions, and to the department or program chair of the student’s major and the director of financial aid at Rockhurst.

Enrollment Policies

Activation of Reserve or National Guard Units

Those students who are unable to complete academic work during the academic term in which they are called to active duty as part of a Reserve or National Guard unit call-up have three options:

1. The student may choose to totally withdraw from school and be given 100% refund of all academic tuition and fees as well as student activity fees which have been assessed. The permanent record (transcript) will not reflect the withdrawal with a “W”. Students choosing this option will be granted a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress waiver for the term. In addition, an adjustment will be made on unused portions of room and board.
    
2. The student, in collaboration with and approval of the instructor, may choose the use of the “I” grade (Incomplete) under appropriate circumstances. The amount of time allowed for the incomplete work will not include the active duty time spent. However, once the student has returned from active duty, the incomplete work must be completed within a reasonable period of time, which will be determined by the Office of the Provost. At that time the student may elect to withdraw from the class.
    
3. The student may elect to complete the work in collaboration with and approval of the instructor on a shortened time frame prior to the active duty reporting date. This arrangement should be chosen only if the student is activated in the final quarter of the term.

In order to select one of the above options, the student must present or fax a copy of the military orders selecting them for active duty to the Registrar’s Office. For further information, contact the Registrar’s Office.

Audit

Those students taking courses for interest or the development of their own skills and not with the intention of seeking credit or a degree may enroll in courses for audit. Auditing students are not required to do course work or to take examinations but are expected to attend class regularly. Course fees for credit and audit are the same. Students may not change from audit to credit status after registration. Students may change from credit to audit status. The procedures and deadlines for withdrawal from individual classes also pertain to changes to audit status in any class. Students wishing only to audit classes should follow the same application procedures as unclassified students. Participation is on a space available basis and shall only be allowed with permission of the program chair (from the department offering the course) and the appropriate Dean. Generally, students entering Rockhurst as auditors only are not eligible for institutional financial aid.

Changing Enrollment

Prior to the beginning of the semester, if a student who has registered decides not to attend they must contact the Registrar’s Office immediately in writing to withdraw. Written notification may include e-mail notification, but notificaton must be made only through the Rockhurst student e-mail account. After classes have begun for the semester, the student will be responsible for all charges incurred until the student notifies in writing the Office of the Registrar or Office of Financial Aid. Refunds of charges will be given according to the Tuition Refund Schedule using the official notification date. The Tuition Refund Schedule and the final date for withdrawal can be found on the Registrar’s Office webpage. In the case of total withdrawal from class, for the purposes of Title IV Aid, the date used will be the last date of attendance or the mid-term date. (See withdrawal and refund in the Financial Aid Section of this catalog).  Failure to officially withdraw from class within the Class Withdrawal period will result in a failing grade.

Drop/Add Period

Students may add and drop courses any time between initial registration and the last day of the Drop/Add period. The Drop/Add period extends seven calendar days into the fall or spring semester, beginning with the first day of the term. In the case of a late add to a course, the student is responsible for all assignments made prior to adding the course. Returning students may use their Registration Pin to add or drop classes through their online portal on Rockweb. No additional signatures are required during the Drop/Add period and the dropped class disappears from the student’s record. Incoming new students may obtain a Change of Registration Request form from the appropriate dean’s office or submiy the online Change of Registration form from www.rockhurst.edu/academics/registrar  by the end of the Drop/Add deadline in order to add or drop a class. No additional signatures are required during the Drop/Add period. Only the student’s signature is required during this time. The dates for the Drop/Add period are published in the Registrar’s Office webpage. No credit will be allowed for a course in which the student is not appropriately registered.

Withdrawing From a Course After the Drop/Add Period

To withdraw from a course after the Drop/Add period expires, students must complete the Change of Registration form found at www.rockhurst.edu/academics/registrar . The instructor needs to provide the student’s last date of attendance. Whether or not the instructor and advisor recommend withdrawal, the student’s right to withdraw remains until the published last date to withdraw deadline. See Academic Calendar. It is the responsibility of the student to complete the course withdrawal process. Once the student has completed the withdrawal process they can confirm the change has been made on Rockweb through the Rockhurst Campus Portal. Withdrawal from courses that require a co-requisite (lecture and lab) will require withdrawal from both co-requisite courses.

The student is responsible for all financial obligations to the University up to the time of their notification in writing to the Financial Aid Office or the Registrar’s Office of their intent to withdraw (official notification date). In no case will the student receive a refund of financial assistance.

Students need to be aware that withdrawal from coursework may affect their ability to meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. In order to maintain eligibility for financial assistance all students, both part-time or full-time, undergraduate or graduate, are required to earn at least 67% of the hours they attempt. Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress is outlined in the Financial Aid Programs and Policies  section of this catalog. Among other things, withdrawal from class could also affect athletic eligibility, graduation status, insurance eligibility and immigration status. Institutional financial assistance is available for a maximum of eight semesters, athletic scholarship for a maximum of 10 semesters. Failure to attend or officially withdraw from a class within the Withdrawal period will result in a failing grade. The final date for withdrawal is published in the Academic Calendar.

Withdrawal Grade

Classes dropped during the official Drop/Add period will not appear on the student’s permanent record. Withdrawals from courses after the Drop/Add period expires are recorded on the transcript with a grade notation of “W” (withdrawal) or “WF” (Withdrawal Failing). The student’s failure to process course withdrawals correctly by the Withdrawal deadline will result in a failing grade.

Complete Withdrawal from the University

A student who formally withdraws from the University on or before the last date to withdraw in a given semester (75% point of the term) will be withdrawn from all courses, except those courses that have previously been completed or have a grade of “I” (Incomplete) in that same semester. The notification to formally withdraw from the University includes the date the student provided written notification to the Registrar or the Financial Aid Office of his or her intent to withdraw.

If the student ceased attendance, but did not begin the withdrawal process or notify the institution concerning their intent to withdraw, the student may be notified via certified letter regarding their continued absence and the need for withdrawal. Failure to respond within 10 days will result in an administrative withdrawal, with the last date to withdraw set as 10 days after sending the certified letter, or the official withdrawal deadline date of the term, whichever comes first. (See withdrawal and refund in the Financial Aid Section of this catalog). The student who fails to withdraw from the institution is still responsible for financial obligations to the University based on the University’s tuition and housing refund policies. Students may initiate the formal withdrawal process in the Office of the Registrar up until the last day for withdrawals (75% point of the semester). A student who totally withdraws from the university in any given semester may remain active for the upcoming semester and may register for classes for that next semester. Students who do not return for the subsequent semester after withdrawing will be inactivated and must complete readmission through the Admissions office to return to the university in a future semester. 

If a student has already registered for the next semester, but decides before the semester begins not to attend, the student must contact the Office of the Registrar immediately, in writing, to withdraw from the future term classes. Written notification may be made only through the Rockhurst student e-mail account. After classes have begun for the semester, the student will be responsible for all charges incurred until the student notifies in writing the Office of the Registrar or Office of Financial Aid. Refunds of charges will be given according to the Tuition Refund Schedule.

Appeal

If a student fails to notify the Registrar or Financial Aid Offices of their intent to totally withdraw from the university by the Withdrawal deadline date due to circumstances beyond the student’s control, a total withdrawal appeal may be made to the Withdrawal Appeals Committee. The student will be expected to provide documentation of specific extenuating circumstances to the Committee. At this time the recommendation of the dean will also be considered. The decision, however, to accept or reject the appeal for total withdrawal will be at the discretion of the Committee. Appeals should be sent to the attention of the Financial Aid Director who serves as the chair of the Committee.

The Withdrawal Appeals Committee also reviews student appeals and requests for exceptions to general university policies governing attendance, withdrawal, and refund issues. Requests to the Committee should be made only for extenuating circumstances, as recommended by another university office.

• All appeals are to be submitted in writing with documentation regarding the special circumstances on which the appeal is based.
• All appeals must be made within one calendar year of the original action in order to be considered by the Committee.
• All appeals are to be directed to the attention of the Financial Aid Director who serves as the chair of the Committee.

Exchange Programs (KCASE)

The Kansas City Area Student Exchange Program (KCASE) is a standing exchange agreement between Rockhurst University and other specified regional institutions. Current participating institutions are: Avila University, Kansas City Art Institute, and the Kansas City Metropolitan Community Colleges. Rockhurst also has an independent agreement with William Jewell College. Full-time undergraduate students (enrolled in at least 12 semester hours) at one participating institution may take one additional course per semester at another participating institution without paying additional tuition. Please note that the host institution may prevent KCASE enrollments in certain course types (online courses may not be permitted, etc.) Students pay full-time tuition to their home institution, and tuition at the host institution will be waived.

The student will owe the host institution only such fees that may be associated with the course itself (such as laboratory fees, technology fees, specialized course fees, etc.). Students participating in the KCASE program are reponsible for all additional fees charged by the host institution.

For Rockhurst University students, courses taken at another institution through the KCASE program must be applicable to their degree program. Taking courses through the KCASE program does not violate the final 30-hour residency rule. Rockhurst students must first obtain advisor approval in order to take courses at another KCASE institution. Grade requirements for courses taken through the KCASE program are the same as for transfer courses; the student must earn at least a “C-“. Students should have an official transcript sent to the Rockhurst University Registrar’s Office, where acceptable credit will be posted on the student’s permanent record as transfer credit. Only full-time undergraduate students may take courses under an exchange program. If an exchange course puts the student over the 18-hour full-time limit, there is no charge for the additional hours. To register for a course at another participating institution, students complete the KCASE Program Approval form, and the Pre-Approval of Transfer Credit form, both of which are available from the Registrar’s Office. This program is not available during the summer sessions.

Pass/No Pass Option

The Pass/No Pass registration/grading option is available to undergraduate students who are in good academic standing (a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0) and who have achieved junior status. Eligible students may exercise the option for strictly elective courses only; i.e., courses taken to fulfill core, major, or minor requirements cannot be taken for Pass/ No Pass grading. After achieving junior status, students can complete one elective course per semester for Pass/No Pass credit, and one course during the summer for Pass/No Pass credit, not to exceed a total of 12 hours. Neither a Pass nor a No Pass affects the student’s GPA, but a Pass does add credit to the total hours completed.

A student must merit “C” work or better in order to receive a Pass in a Pass/No Pass course. Thus, a grade of “C-” would result in a No Pass and the student would not receive credit for the course. The letter grade assigned by the faculty member will be converted to a Pass (P) or a No Pass (NP) in the Registrar’s Office.

The Pass/No Pass registration/grading option can be requested in the appropriate Dean’s office during the period of time between the first day of classes and the last day for delayed entrance into classes. These dates are published in the Academic Calendar on the Rockhurst University web site. Students will be allowed only one course for Pass/No Pass status during a summer session, even though the University may offer courses in several different short terms. After the last date for delayed entrance into classes, the Pass/No Pass option cannot be granted. Students may change from Pass/No Pass registration status to a traditional status during the first 21 calendar days of the semester (or the first nine calendar days of an accelerated term). After this period, a request for a change from Pass/No Pass status to traditional grading status cannot be granted.

Registration Procedures

Complete information about registration procedures can be found online at the Rockhurst University website.

Registration and Graduation Holds

Students with unfulfilled financial, academic, or other obligations to the University will not be allowed to register for classes until arrangements have been made to fulfill those obligations.

Students with academic obligations to the University will not graduate until those obligations have been fulfilled. Academic obligations include such things as transcripts the student has not provided to the University. For institutional accreditation reasons, the University is required to have on file official transcripts from all institutions of higher education a degree-seeking student has attended, whether or not the credit is applied to their Rockhurst degree program.

Students with unfulfilled financial obligations to the University will not receive their final diploma or official transcript verifying their degree until all financial obligations are fulfilled.

Administrative Policies

Records of Academic Permissions and Exceptions to Policy

Permissions, academic board decisions, and other records of exception to policy are filed with the Registrar’s Office, which maintains these along with other student records.

Access

It is the policy of Rockhurst University to provide reasonable accommodations for students defined as disabled in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable law. Students in need of accommodations must identify themselves to the Access Office and provide appropriate documentation of their disability. The Office then is able to facilitate reasonable accommodation for equal access to academic and other  University-administered programs. The Access Office is located in Massman Hall, Room 7, (816) 501-4689.

Assessment

Rockhurst University is committed to comprehensive, ongoing assessment of the institution and student learning; involving faculty, staff, and students at the course, program, and core level. All constituents are expected to participate in this process so that the institution can document its strengths and identify opportunities for improvement. Student involvement in assessment is integral to the University’s success in this endeavor, whether directly through assessment of student work in courses and programs, or indirectly through participation in course and university surveys.

Change of Address

All students should notify the Registrar’s Office immediately of any change in their address or those of their parents or guardians. In addition, international students are required by Immigration authorities to notify the International Student Officer of any change of address within 10 calendar days of that change. If the correct address is not on file, students may not receive information regarding their enrollment, financial aid, student account, graduation, and other important matters. The University assumes no responsibility for materials sent through the mail not received. Currently-enrolled students may change their address on Rockweb in a secure environment directly through the Rockhurst Campus Portal.

Classification of Undergraduates

Undergraduate degree-seeking students are classified as follows:

Name of Record

Legal Name

Students are asked to provide their legal name of record prior to enrollment. After enrollment, students may initiate a legal name change through the  “official name change request form” on the Registrar’s web page at rockhurst.edu/academics/registrar/resources/forms.

The completion of a legal name change requires official documentation or court order to be submitted to the Office of the Registrar before the legal name change can be completed.

Instances in which legal name will be used include, but are not limited to:

• Reporting to state or federal agencies
• Transcripts
• Diplomas (unless the student indicates a preferred name when completing the online Degree Application)
• Payroll documents
• Financial aid documents and processes
• Enrollment and degree verification processes
• Other records where the student’s legal name is required by law or University policy
• Official lists of students made available to the public
• Communications with the “Family of _______”

Preferred Name

Rockhurst University allows students to identify themselves within the university community with a preferred first name that differs from their legal first name.

As long as the use of the preferred first name is not for an inappropriate purpose (explained in greater detail below), it will appear instead of the person’s legal name in university-related systems and documents where it is technically feasible, except where the use of the legal name is required by university business or legal need.

Students may request the use of their preferred name on rosters and university correspondence by using the  “preferred name change request form” on the Registrar’s web page at rockhurst.edu/registrar/resources/forms.

The University, as determined by the Registrar, reserves the right to deny or remove any preferred name, with or without notice, in cases of misuse, including but not limited to misrepresentation, attempts to avoid legal obligation, or the use of derogatory names.

Instances in which the preferred name may be used include, but are not limited to:

• Class rosters
• Residence hall rosters
• University identification cards
• Diplomas (as requested in the online Degree Application, located within the student portal)
• Wherever it is not required for the legal name to be used

FERPA. Under the Family Rights and Privacy Act, a student’s name, including preferred name, may be disclosed to the public as “directory information” unless the student opts not to permit such disclosure. To revoke the disclosure of directory information, a student has the option of requesting privacy through the Office of the Registrar.

Note: Students who have completed a Preferred Name change, also wishing to change how their name will display in the Rockhurst email directory, or to their username, must complete an IT request through SchoolDude to allow Computer Services to make the appropriate change.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, is a federal law that regulates the maintenance and release of student records at educational institutions and related agencies. See Dept. of Ed FERPA Policy .The purpose of FERPA is to protect the privacy of student education records and affords students certain rights concerning their education records. At Rockhurst University a student’s FERPA rights begin on the first day of the first term the student is in attendance or registered.

The primary rights afforded to students include:

1. The right to inspect and review education records;

2. The right to request to have the education records amended;

3. The right to consent to or prohibit the disclosure of certain information retained by the University; and

4. The right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education if the student believes his or her FERPA rights have been violated.

Rockhurst University annually informs students of their FERPA rights through a variety of methods such as the University website, Student Handbook, and on campus at the Registrar’s Office. This policy statement sets forth the  University’s procedures for maintaining the privacy of education records, responding to request for amendments, and disclosing student records in compliance with FERPA.

Education Records

FERPA regulations governing Rockhurst University apply to the education records of current or former students. Records of an individual who applied for admission to Rockhurst University, but never attended, are not education records under FERPA.

Education records are any records maintained by the University which are directly related to the student. An education record may include, but is not limited to, any of the following: academic records, files, biographical data, course information, grade reports, results of certain examinations, student papers, test scores, advisory information, letters of evaluation, transcripts, admissions information, financial aid information, billing information, disciplinary records, housing records, promissory notes, and copies of correspondence. Education records may be maintained in any way, including handwritten notes, print, computer media, video or audio tape, film, microfilm and microfiche.

The following documents are not education records for purposes of FERPA and this policy:

1. Records that are kept in the sole possession of the maker, are used only as a personal memory aid, and are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the record;
2. Employment records exclusively related to a student’s capacity as an employee of the University and not available for use for any other purpose, except where a currently enrolled student is employed as a result of his or her status as a student (e.g., workstudy, graduate assistantship or fellowship with the University);
3. Records maintained by the Rockhurst University Safety and Security Department solely for law enforcement purposes;
4. Medical and mental health records made, maintained, or used by professionals in connection with the treatment of a student that are available only to persons providing treatment; and
5. Records that only contain information about an individual after he or she is no longer a student at that agency or institution.

Student Access

Every Rockhurst University student has the right to inspect and review his or her own education record(s), subject to the University’s procedures on the time, place, and supervision of the inspection. To request education records from Rockhurst University, a student must submit a written request to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Development or Registrar’s Office and identify the record(s) to be inspected.

Rockhurst University will respond to a student’s valid request to inspect his or her education records within 45 days of the date the University receives the request. If the records that the student requests to inspect and review may not be disclosed under FERPA, the University will provide the student with a written explanation.

If the records that the student requests to inspect and review are to be disclosed under FERPA, the University will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. At the time of inspection, the student must present identification and will generally be required to review the record in the presence of a University official. If the education records of a student contain information on more than one student, the student may inspect and review or be informed of only the specific information about that student.

A student’s right to inspect and review education records does not necessarily include a right to a copy of his or her education record. A student’s request for copies of education record(s) will be evaluated on a case by case basis and, if copies are permitted, the student may be charged for the actual cost of copying the record(s).

Confidential letters and statements (e.g., letters of recommendations) will be used only for the purpose for which they were specifically intended. In some instances, a student may waive his or her right of access to confidential letters and statements contained in his or her education records. A valid waiver must be in writing and signed by the student. The University does not require such waivers as a condition for admission or receipt of any service or benefit provided to  students.

If a student chooses to waive his or her right of access to confidential letters or statements, the University will not permit the student to inspect and review such letters and statements. Instead, the student will be notified, upon request, of the names of all persons making such letters or statements. A student’s waiver may be revoked in writing at any time and the revocation will apply only to subsequent letters or statements.

Third-party Access to Education Records

Rockhurst University restricts third-party access to education records and will disclose personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records only with the written consent of the student, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. “Personally identifiable information” is information that is linked or linkable to a specific student that would allow a reasonable person in the school or its community, who does not have personal knowledge of the relevant circumstances, to identify the student with reasonable certainty. Restrictions on third-party access do not include the release or return of personally identifiable information from an education record to the party who provided or created the record.

Unless disclosure is to the actual student, the student’s consent for disclosure to a third-party must be written, signed and dated, and must specify the records to be disclosed, state the purpose of the disclosure, and identify the party or class of parties to whom the disclosure may be made. Student Authorization for Release of Information forms are available from the Registrar’s Office and online. Upon request, the University will provide the student with a copy of any education records disclosed.

With limited exceptions, the University will not disclose personally identifiable information from an education record unless that party to whom the information is to be disclosed agrees to not disclose the information to any other party without the student’s consent.

Disclosure Without Student Consent

Records may be disclosed without the student’s consent in the following circumstances:

1. Education records may be disclosed to a university official provided it’s determined that the official has a legitimate educational interest in the education record.
   
   For purposes of this exception, a University official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position. A university official also includes members of the Board of Trustees, students serving on an official university committee (i.e. disciplinary or grievance committee), contractors, consultants, volunteers, and other outside parties to whom Rockhurst University has outsourced institutional services or functions that it would otherwise use employees to perform.
   
   A legitimate educational interest exists if the university official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the university.
    
2. Education records may be disclosed to officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll or is enrolled.
    
3. Education records may be disclosed to authorized representatives of the Comptroller General of the U.S., the Attorney General of the U.S., the U.S. Department of Education, and State and Local educational authorities, but only in connection with the audit or evaluation of a Federal or State supported education program or in connection with the enforcement of, or compliance with, legal requirements relating to these programs.
    
4. Education records may be disclosed in connection with a student’s application for, or receipt of, financial aid, but only to the extent necessary for such purposes as determining eligibility, amount, conditions, and enforcement of terms or conditions of the financial aid.
    
5. Education records may be disclosed to State and local officials to whom such information is specifically allowed to be reported or disclosure pursuant to State law.
    
6. Education records may be disclosed to organizations conducting educational studies for the purpose of developing, validating, or administering predictive tests; administering student aid programs; and improving instruction, provided the University enters into a written agreement with the organization that specifies the purpose, scope, and duration of the study and the information to be disclosed; requires the organization to destroy or return all personally identifiable information when it is no longer needed for the purpose of the study; states the time period during which the organization must either destroy or return the information to the University; and provides that the study must be conducted so as not to permit personal identification of students by third-parties.
    
7. Education records may be disclosed to accrediting organizations for purposes necessary to carry out their accrediting functions.
    
8. Education records may be disclosed to a parent of a student if the student is a dependent of the parent for income tax purposes.
    
9. Education records may be disclosed in response to a judicial order or subpoena. When not prohibited by the court order or subpoena, the University will make reasonable efforts to notify the student before complying with the court order.
    
10. Education records may be disclosed to a court in response to a legal action between the University and a parent or student.
     
11. In a health or safety emergency, where there is an articulable and significant threat to a student or other individuals, education records may be disclosed to any person whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals, if the University records the threat that was the basis of the disclosure and the parties to whom the information was disclosed.
     
12. Final results of disciplinary proceedings conducted by the University may be disclosed to the victim of an alleged crime of violence or a nonforcibile sexual offense.
     
13. Education records may be disclosed in connection with certain University disciplinary proceedings.
     
14. The University may disclose to a parent of a student under the age of 21 the student’s violation of any Federal, State or Local law or any rule or policy of the University governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the University determines that the student has committed a disciplinary violation with respect to such use or possession.
     
15. Personally identifiable information that Rockhurst has classified as “Directory Information” (as detailed below) may be disclosed to the public unless a hold has been placed upon the release of the information by the student.
     
16. Education records may be disclosed if received under a State community notification program about a student who is required to register as a sex offender in the State

In all other instances, personally identifiable information in education records will not be disclosed without the prior consent of the student.

Directory Information

At the discretion of the University, information designated as “directory information” may be disclosed without prior consent of the student. Directory information means information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. It includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Student’s name
• Address
• Telephone listing
• Electronic mail address
• Photograph
• Date and place of birth
• Major field of study
• Dates of attendance
• Grade level
• Enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate; full-time or part-time)
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Degrees
• Honors and awards received
• Most recent educational agency or institution attended

FERPA permits the University to limit the disclosure of directory information to specific parties, for specific purposes, or both. In the exercise of that authority, the University may release all directory information to members of the University family, defined as administrators, faculty, employees, and trustees. Other releases will be limited to those situations in which the University, in its discretion, believes the release would recognize a student for academic or extracurricular achievement or otherwise advance the student’s career interests or when the University believes the release would serve to advance the interests and image of the University. Examples of such releases would be the disclosure of directory information to prospective employers, financial aid and scholarship agencies or registry, and licensure or certification services. Another example would be the release of directory information in connection with University sanctioned alumni affairs.

The University will provide public notice of disclosure of directory information to students in attendance. The University may disclose directory information about former students without providing such notice.

Directory information may appear in public documents and may otherwise be disclosed without student consent unless the student places a hold on the release of such information. To opt out of the disclosure of directory information, a student must provide written notice to the Registrar’s Office. A student may not use his or her right to opt out of directory information disclosures to prevent Rockhurst from disclosing the student’s name, electronic identifier, or institutional e-mail address in a class in which the student is enrolled.

Upon receipt of notice to opt out, the student’s directory information will not be released without the student’s consent. Rockhurst University will honor all requests to withhold directory information and cannot assume any responsibility to contact a student for subsequent permission to release such information. Regardless of the effect on the student, nondisclosure will be enforced until the student rescinds the decision to opt out of directory information disclosures.

Information Disclosed for Timely Warnings of Crimes

In addition to the exceptions above, Rockhurst University may provide timely warnings of crimes that represent a threat to the safety of students or employees. FERPA does not preclude the institution’s compliance with the timely warning provision of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act—a federal law intended to provide students and their families with accurate, complete, and timely information about safety on campuses so that they can make informed decisions. Information can, in case of an emergency, be released without consent when needed to protect the health and safety of others. In addition, Rockhurst University can utilize information from the records of a campus law enforcement unit to issue a timely warning.

Recording Disclosures of Education Records

Rockhurst University will use reasonable methods to authenticate the identity of any party to whom the University discloses personally identifiable information from education records. All personnel of Rockhurst handling requests for disclosure or access to information contained in an education record will maintain a record for each request for and each disclosure of the student’s record, except recordkeeping of a request or disclosure is not required if the request was from or the disclosure was to:

1. The student;
    
2. A Rockhurst University official with a legitimate educational interest;
    
3. A third-party with written consent from the student;
    
4. A party seeking only directory information; or
    
5. A party seeking or receiving the records as directed by a Federal grand jury or other law enforcement subpoena and the issuing court or other issuing agency has ordered that the existence or the contents of the subpoena or the information furnished in response to the subpoena not be disclosed.

The record of disclosure should be kept on the Report of Request For Disclosure of Education Records Form, which indicates the name of the party making the request and what records, if any, were received; the legitimate interest in the records; any additional party to whom the records may be redisclosed; and the legitimate interest the additional party had in requesting or obtaining the information. This form should be kept with the record(s) that are disclosed. The form may be inspected by the student and the University official who has custody of the education record disclosed. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.

Amendments to Education Records

Any Rockhurst University student who believes that information contained in his or her education record is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy may request that the record be changed. To request a change to an education record, a student should submit a written request to the University official responsible for maintaining the record. The request should identify the education record to be amended and the specific inaccuracy or misleading statement contained in the record. The request will be sent to the responsible person at the origin of the record in question.

Within a reasonable period of time of the University’s receipt of the request, the University will decide whether to change the record in accordance with the request. If the University decides to refuse to change the record, the student will be notified of the refusal and will be advised of the right to a hearing regarding the request.

A student has thirty (30) days following the University’s decision to request a hearing to further challenge the content of an education record. The request for a hearing must be submitted in writing to the Registrar’s Office. Within a reasonable time of receipt of the request, the student will be notified in writing, reasonably in advance, of the date, place, and time of the hearing.

The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the following:

1. A University official who does not have a direct interest in the outcome will conduct the hearing;
    
2. The student will have a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the issues raised;
    
3. The student may be assisted or represented by individuals of his or her choice, including an attorney, at his or her own expense.

Within a reasonable period of time after the conclusion of the hearing, the University will notify the student in writing of its decision. The decision will be based solely upon evidence presented at the hearing and will include a summary of the evidence and the reasons for the decision. If the University decides that the information in the student’s records is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other right of the student, the University will amend the record accordingly and inform the student of the amendment in writing.

If the University decides that the information in not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy rights of the student, the University will inform the student of the right to include in his or her record a statement commenting on the information and/or explaining any reasons for disagreeing with the University’s decision. Any such statement will become a part of the information contained in the education record and will be disclosed whenever the contested portion of the record is disclosed.

Complaints of Alleged Violation of FERPA Rights

Students have the right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Rockhurst University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-4605

For More Information

If you have questions about FERPA, you may visit The U.S. Department of Education’s website at http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html or contact the Rockhurst University Vice President for Academic Affairs or the Registrar’s Office.

Student Right-to-Know Act Information

In compliance with the requirements of the 1990 Federal Student Right-to-Know Act, Rockhurst University makes available upon request to all current and prospective students the graduation/persistence rate of its undergraduate students.

Persistence Rate for each year’s Cohort

A “cohort” is the group of students entering Rockhurst as full-time students for the first time during the same semester. The following statistics describe all students in the cohort.

Rockhurst University’s Diversity Statement

Rockhurst University is committed to fostering a diverse community and to promoting greater awareness and sensitivity to issues of diversity. This effort is an important part of educating “men and women for and with others.” The University is committed to the goal of freedom from discrimination and harassment in all its endeavors.

Rockhurst’s Jesuit mission and values call for all members of the Rockhurst community to embrace a set of values that guide our behavior toward one another. These values affirm a commitment to providing personal care for every member of our community, and a sensitivity toward the dignity and sacredness of every person. They call on members of our community to demonstrate a realistic knowledge of the world, and to find God in all things and all people, particularly in the poor and oppressed.

Based on this mission and values, all members of the Rockhurst community are expected to demonstrate the highest standards in their interaction with people of all backgrounds. This requires a community that actively displays sensitivity to differences of race, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, culture, sexual orientation, religion, and disabilities among students, faculty, administrators, and staff.

All members of the Rockhurst University community are expected to embrace these values and to foster an environment that contributes to the growth and development of each member of our community.

University Communication with Students

Clear and timely communication allows students to receive information related to policies, programs, events, and other practical matters (i.e. billing, grades, etc.) affiliated with their education at Rockhurst. The University has established several key routes for communication with students including:

• Rockhurst E-mail Account: All Rockhurst students receive a University e-mail account. All e-mail communication from the University is directed exclusively to the Rockhurst electronic mailbox system. Students are expected to access their e-mail account on a regular basis (daily is recommended) in order to stay abreast of important and time-sensitive information. University departments, faculty, and staff will routinely use e-mail to communicate important campus, academic, and extra-curricular/co-curricular information. It is the responsibility of each student to clean their e-mail boxes to allow capacity for incoming messages (i.e. empty deleted items, keep a limited number of sent items, etc.). For further information on your Rockhurst e-mail account, please see Computer Services (Conway Hall 413; x4357; www.rockhurst.edu).
• Addresses and Phone Numbers: Students are required to maintain accurate local, billing, permanent, and emergency contact information so that attempts to communicate by the U.S. Postal System as well as phone will not be impeded. To make changes to your addresses or phone numbers of record, login to Rockweb, go to the Registrar’s Office website, or contact the Registrar’s Office (Massman Hall 110).
• Campus Mailboxes: Students who live in Rockhurst’s residence halls and Townhouse Village are assigned a campus mailbox located in Massman Hall where U.S. Postal Service mail and other University communications are delivered. For assignment inquiries please connect with Residence Life (Massman Hall 3) and for mailbox malfunctions please speak with the Mailroom staff (Massman Hall, Lower Level).

Students’ failure to set-up, maintain, or update any of the above communication devices will not excuse them from being responsible for information and deadlines enclosed within the attempted communications by the University. Rockhurst strongly encourages students to communicate with relevant University offices regarding information needs, questions, and concerns, and welcomes new and innovative ideas for enhancing communication with the student body as a whole.

General Policies

Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom and Dismissal of a Student Policy

Attendance to class is restricted to enrolled students only, either for credit or for audit. Non-enrolled individuals are not permitted into a class without the express permission or invitation of the instructor and department chair.

An instructor may require any person present in the classroom during instruction, or at any other academically-assigned activity for that class supervised by the instructor, to leave the classroom or other academically-assigned activity for that class or activity period if the person’s behavior or other activity, in the judgment of the instructor, is disruptive or obstructive of the academic process.  Appeal under this policy is to the Dean of the college or school in which the course is offered.

Whenever a student is dismissed from a class by the instructor, the faculty member should report that dismissal and the circumstances surrounding the dismissal to the appropriate academic Dean as soon as possible following the class period (not to exceed 24 hours) in which the incident occurred.

It is presumed that the dismissal from class applies only to that class period or class related activity in which the disruptive behavior occurs.  If the situation warrants, permanent dismissal from the course may occur (see #5 below).  The faculty member and the student are encouraged to meet as soon as possible prior to the next scheduled class period to discuss the situation to ensure that the academic process continue without further disruption.

If the faculty member and the student are unable to work out an arrangement that would allow the academic process to continue, the faculty member will inform the appropriate academic Dean. The Dean (or someone designated by the Dean) will consult with both the student and the faculty member and issue a report, which may include one or more of the following actions:

1. Student may return to class without any additional conditions;
    
2. Student may return to class under specified conditions;
    
3. Faculty member may provide the student with the opportunity to make-up assignments, examinations, and to cover material missed as a result of the dismissal;
    
4. The Dean’s office may authorize an administrative withdrawal from the course;
    
5. In the case of a forced administrative withdrawal, a disciplinary action may be initiated by the appropriate Academic Dean.

The Dean’s report should be made within 24 hours after meeting with the faculty member and the student.  If it is determined that a meeting is not possible and/or advisable then the report should be made within 24 hours following that determination.

Disruptive or Dangerous Conduct Policy

The University strives to balance the concerns for the health and safety of individual students with those of the larger campus community. When a student’s conduct is disruptive or dangerous to University operations and/or a student’s continued presence on campus or participation in an educational program/activity of the University presents a direct threat to the health, safety and well-being of the student and/or the Rockhurst community and its members, the University may intervene.  When warranted, the following conduct may result in evaluations, team assessments, interim measures, emergency removals, and/or voluntary or involuntary withdrawals:

1. Causing physical harm to oneself and/or any member of the Rockhurst community, on or off University premises, at University-sponsored activities, or threatening such harm.
2. Engaging, or threatening to engage, in behavior that poses an immediate danger to the life, health, welfare, safety or property of oneself and/or any member of the Rockhurst community.
3. Engaging in behavior that disrupts or interferes with normal University operations or University-sponsored activities including, but not limited to, studying, teaching, University administration, security, fire, police or emergency services, or behavior that consumes an inordinate amount of Rockhurst employee time and/or resources.

When behavior indicates a significant health, safety or welfare concern, this concern should be reported by University employees or students to the Student Success Coach, Security, or the Dean of Students (and the Dean of the College if the concern occurs within the academic setting).  Means for communication will include an on-line report (under Disruptive and/or Dangerous Behavior) or contacting Security.  For all immediate and after-hours (i.e. after 4:30 p.m. weekdays, weekend days, and holidays) concerns, please call Security (816-401-4010).  Statements of concern regarding disruptive and/or dangerous behavior should be shared in a factual manner.  Rockhurst will employ a team approach to determine the nature of the risk and any measures that can be taken to manage the risk.  The University will make these determinations as the result of an individualized assessment. The University will first seek voluntary cooperation of an affected student, but, if necessary, will take involuntary action.

Individualized Assessment

The purpose of an assessment is to inform decisions about the student’s future participation in Rockhurst’s programs and to analyze the level of risk the student poses to the health, safety and well-being of oneself and/or the Rockhurst community. The University will make an individualized assessment, based on reasonable judgment that relies on current medical knowledge and the best available objective evidence to ascertain the following: the nature, duration, and severity of the risk; the probability that the potential injury will actually occur; and whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices or procedures or, where applicable, the provision of auxiliary aids and services, may mitigate the risk.

When a student is referred to the Student Success Coach (or designee) for behavior listed in items 1-3, above, the student is required to meet with the Student Success Coach who also may include Counseling Center or other relevant administrative staff in the meeting.  The Student Success Coach or other University administrative staff may recommend that the student obtain a psychological evaluation with a licensed mental health professional through an approved agency, institution or practitioner external to the institution pending other action. Recommendations and approvals regarding the evaluation venue will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The Student Success Coach will convene a Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) that will be composed of appropriate University officials. A student engaging in an evaluation will be required to sign a release of information authorizing the BIT to access evaluation results and to discuss these results with the health care professional conducting the evaluation as needed. The BIT will meet with the student and the student will have the opportunity to provide documents or other information related to the team’s assessment. If the student does not provide information or does not submit to a recommended evaluation, the BIT will proceed with the documents or information available. The BIT will consider what health, safety or welfare concerns the student’s behavior raises and whether the risks associated with those concerns can be managed by modifications, support measures, or accommodations. The BIT may require a Student Success Plan (an agreement between the University and student) that may include, but are not limited to, consultations and treatment with health care professionals, restrictions on participation in Rockhurst programs, etc.  The student will be required to sign a statement authorizing the University to monitor compliance the Student Success Plan and the conditions of the student’s continued participation in educational programs and activities of the University, including living in the residence halls and attending classes. If the BIT determines the student poses a risk to the life, health, welfare, safety or property of the student and/or any member of the University’s community and that the risk cannot be mitigated by modifications, support measures, or accommodations, the student may be required to take a medical leave or voluntary/involuntary withdrawal.

Appeal

The Chief Inclusion Officer (or designee), upon written request from the student, will review any final decisions made by the BIT. The request should be made within five (5) days of being notified of the BIT’s decision.  The Chief Inclusion Officer will complete the review within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the student’s request, if practical. The student waives this right to appeal if the student agrees with the conditions of the behavioral contract and/or agrees to voluntarily withdraw for a period of time. The decision of the Chief Inclusion Officer is final.

Return Requirements

Following a determination that an individual poses a risk to the health, safety and well-being of oneself and/or any member of the Rockhurst community necessitating a medical leave or voluntary or involuntary withdrawal, the University may require as a precondition to a student’s return that the student provide documentation that the student has taken steps to mitigate the previous behavioral concerns and is safe and healthy enough to return to a full or modified curricular and/or co-curricular engagement. The University may request records from the student and permission to speak to a treating professional. The records and information that will be requested and required are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on what information is necessary to determine whether the student is able to return and fulfill the fundamental requirements of curricular and co-curricular life.