ARC Glossary of Terms

• Academic Probation
  
  • A student whose cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 at the end of the first semester of study will be sent a notification letter which informs him/her of having been placed an academic probation. Course enrollment will be limited to no more then 13 credit hours during the probationary semester.
    
    Special academic advisement and counseling sessions will be made available to the student on probation, and he/she will be encouraged to repeat those courses in which failures may have occurred. Also, the student will be apprised of the impact which failing to make satisfactory progress can have on financial aid eligibility and his/her status as a student in good standing.
    
    A student placed on academic probation after one semester of study must either raise his cumulative GPA to at least a 2.0 by the end of the probationary semester or earn at least a 2.5 GPA in that same semester.
• Academic Dismissal(3 years)
  
  • Any student who incurs a second suspension will be dismissed from the university and must wait a minimum of three years from the date of dismissal before applying for readmission.
• Academic Warning
  
  • A first-time freshman or transfer student whose mid-term grades appear to be below a 2.0 GPA will be sent a letter of warning to indicate that he/she will be placed on academic probation at the end of the semester if an overall GOA of 2.0 or higher is not achieved. The student will be encouraged to meet with his/her advisor and to attend tutorial sessions and/or survival skills workshops for the remainder of the semester.
• Add/Dropping a Course
  
  • A student may drop a class prior to, or on the last day to drop courses for the semester. (See the University Academic Calendar or the Schedule of Courses for drop dates for 8-week courses.)
    
    
    1. Obtain a Lincoln University Schedule Change form from the Records Office.
    
    
    2. Have the formed signed by your advisor.
    
    
    3. Sign the form yourself.
    
    
    4. Return the form to the Records Office.
    
    
    5. Keep the yellow copy for your records.
    
    *Please note failure to withdraw properly will result in an automatic F grade in the courses affected. Also, students may not completely drop all classes on WebAdvisor. You must complete a Lincoln University Withdrawal form--even if only for one course.
• Auditing a Course
  
  • A student may register to audit any course upon approval of the instructor. An auditor (hearer) will not be held responsible for assignments or examinations; however, he/she is expected to attend class on a regular basis. The student's transcript will carry a grade of "H." No credit is received for auditing a course.
    
    A student may not change from "hearer" to "credit" after the last day to enroll in courses for credit. However, he/she may change from "credit" after the last day to enroll in courses for credit. However, he/she may change from "credit" to "hearer" before the last day for dropping courses.
• Cumulative GPA
  
  • The Cumulative GPA is the calculation of all grades received while an undergraduate or a graduate student at the university.
• Financial Aid Probation
  
  • A term in which a student who has been identified as not meeting one or more standards in this policy continues to receive financial aid. At the end of the term of financial aid probation, a student is expected to improve his or her academic progress in order to receive financial aid.
• Financial Aid Termination
  
  • The point at which a student is no longer eligible to receive financial aid as defined in the policy; normally, this is following an unsuccessful term of probation.
• General Education Courses
  
  • All state institutions in Missouri have been asked to design a 42-hour block of general education courses that meets the goals of general education as described previously. Because each institution is designing courses to meet identical goals, the general education block transfers from one school to another and satisfies the requirements of each institution following the state guidelines. Lincoln University requires 47-hours of general education course work. For more information regarding General Education requirements or for a breakdown of General Education requirements please visit the website.
    
    Students are advised to consult specific program regulations and/or their advisor for a list of additional degree requirements in that major field.
• Grade Point Average(GPA)
  
  • A grade point average is the average number of grade points earned per semester hour attempted. GPA is calculated by determining the total number of grade points earned and dividing by the total number of semester hours attempted. In a cumulative GPA calculation.
    
    If a course is repeated, then (1) only the highest grade earned is included in the total grade points earned, and (2) the semester hours are counted only once in the total semester hours attempted. In some instances, a course may be repeated more than once (i.e., MUS 299B). Students are advised to consult specific program regulations.
    
    Credit-by-exam (content area and/or CLEP) and cooperative education credit are not calculated into the GPA. Transfer credit is not included in the GPA calculation, except for purposes of granting convocation and graduation honors. Courses in which a "PR," "I," and/or "X" are received are not considered in computing the GPA.
• Grade Re-Evaluation
  
  • A student who has reasons which can be substantiated to request a grade change must meet with the instructor (or the appropriate department head if the instructor is no longer on campus) and request a re-evaluation of his/her performance in the class. The instructor, upon receipt of the student's request, will review his/her records. If it is determined that a change of grade is justified, the instructor will fill out a grade change form and submit it to the department head for action. It is then forwarded to the dean. It must have the approval of the Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to being sent to the Records Office.
    
    If the instructor determines that a students request for a grade change is not justified, the student may appeal. To do so, he/she must obtain a Student Academic Complaint Policy and Procedure form from the Office for Academic Affairs. The student must complete the form and deliver it to the instructor within 90 days following the posting of the grade. It is suggested that the form be delivered in person or by certified mail. The form specifies the action to be taken and the time line for doing so. The form also lists the following caution: Students are urged to recognize that the filing of formal academic complaints is a serious undertaking and that students themselves are subject to all legal codes pertaining to behavior which involves slander, libel or malicious intent.
• Incomplete Grade
  
  • If a student receives a grade of "I" or "X," the course must be completed and the instructor must submit the final grade to the Office of the Registrar (1) within the first four weeks of the student's next fall or spring semester of enrollment, or (2) within one calendar year from the end of the semester or summer session in which the "I" or "X" was received if the student does not re-enroll. Once an "I" or "X" grade has been submitted, it cannot be changed until the following semester.
    
    Failure to meet the four-week or one-year deadline will automatically cause the incomplete to change to an "F." Any extension of the time limit must be approved by the dean of the college in which the course was taken. An incomplete grade that has been converted to an "F" may be reconverted to an "I" only with the dean's approval.
    
    The student is responsible for contacting his/her instructor regarding completion of coursework. Deadlines for submission of "I" and "X" grades are listed in the Academic Calendar.
• Repeated Courses
  
  • A student may repeat for a higher grade any course in which a "D" or "F" was earned, and must repeat a course in which a "PR" was earned. Only the highest grade earned will count in the GPA. A course in which a "B" or "C" is earned may not be retaken in order to achieve a higher grade. If a course is repeated, all grades obtained in that course remain in the student's transcript.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
  
  • Completion of courses at a rate which meets the standard defined in this policy.
    
    To remain eligible for financial aid assistance a student must:
    
    
    • complete courses at an overall rate which will ensure graduation within the maximum time frame;
    
    
    • earn credit for a reasonable number of credit hours toward a degree or certification each term;
    
    
    • complete pre-college-level and incomplete courses in a timely manner;
    
    
    • graduate prior to the maximum time frame specific to his/her degree program;
    
    
    • maintain academic standing consistent with Lincoln University academic policy.
    
    For more information related to Satisfactory Academic Progress please visit the Financial Aid website.
• Semester Hours
  
  • The Semester hour is defined as one 50-minute lecture or recitation period per week for a minimum of 16 weeks. In most cases, two to three hours of laboratory work are equivalent to one 50-minute lecture period.
• Semester GPA
  
  • The semester GPA is the weighted average of your grades for a given semester.
• Suspension
  
  • TA student placed on academic probation after one semester of study must either raise his cumulative GPA to at least a 2.0 by the end of the probationary semester or earn at least a 2.5 GPA in that same semester.
    
    Should this standard not be met, the student will be sent a notification letter indicating that he/she has been suspended from the University because of poor academic standing.
    
    Any student who immediately appeals an action of first suspension may request that consideration be given to permit his/her return under one of the following conditions:
    
    
    1. Definitive documentation is presented to show that some unique situation occurred which may have made academic failure in the most recent semester likely;
    
    
    2. Definitive documentation is presented to show that significant and continuous academic progress has been made in each semester of academic vulnerability.
    
    
• Warned Status
  
  • A student whose midterm grades result in a cumulative GPA of below 2.0 will be placed on warned status and will be sent a letter by the office of Enrollment Management and Student Success stipulating that the student must attend a mandatory mid-semester conference conducted by that office. The purpose of the conference is to advise the student of the academic support available as well as of the consequences of failure to raise the GPA to at least a 2.0 by the end of the semester.
• Withdrawal
  
  • A student may withdraw from the University at any time before the last week of classes. The last day to withdraw is indicated in the Academic Calendar. A withdrawal is not official until filed with the Records Office. Failure to withdraw properly will result in an automatic "F" grade in the courses affected (see Academic Calendar for dates).