Rules and Regulations
Lincoln University operates in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, as well as policies approved by the University’s governing authorities. The Rules and Regulations published on this site provide university-wide direction on academic, administrative, and community standards that support the institution's mission and daily operations.
These policies are designed to clarify expectations, ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and promote a safe, fair, and respectful campus environment.
Scope of This Index
University policies included in this index are officially approved and apply across the entire institution. They may establish guiding principles, set required standards, limit or direct actions, or address institutional risk and compliance.
Departmental, college, or unit-specific procedures and guidelines are not included in this index. While important, those materials do not carry university-wide authority and must align with, and not conflict with, university policies. Failure to comply with applicable policies or related procedures may result in disciplinary action.
Interpretation and Assistance
Members of the Lincoln University community who have questions about the interpretation or application of a policy should consult their supervisor, department leadership, or the appropriate administrative office. Additional guidance may be provided by university offices responsible for policy oversight and compliance.
For questions related to policy development, review, or clarification, please contact the appropriate university administrative office.
To request a PDF copy of these policies, please email President@LincolnU.edu.
Chapter I – University Governance: Structure and Function
- 1.00 Authorization: Public Education and State Function
- 1.01 Establishment and State Support of Educational Institutions of Higher Learning in Missouri
- 1.02 Authority
- 1.03 Board to Prescribe Own Government
- 1.04 Guiding Principle
- 1.05 Qualifications
- 1.06 Non-Voting Student Representative Appointed to the Board
- 1.07 Confidentiality
- 1.08 Records Open to Public and Exceptions
- 1.08.1 Records Access Policy
- 1.09 Attendance of Press at Board Meetings
- 1.10 Communications with the Board
- 1.11 Presentations before the Board
- 1.12 Effective Date of New Policies
- 1.13 Students’ Right to Present Petitions
- 1.14 Authority to Confer Degrees
- 1.15 Relatives of Curators Not to Be Employed
- 1.16 Employment of Faculty and Employees
- 1.17 Personnel Action Policy
- 1.18 Salary Administration Policy
- 1.19 Hiring Procedures Exemption
- 1.20 Policy on Gifts and Donations
- 1.21 Expenditures from Gifts or Trust Funds
- 1.22 Student Loan Practices Code of Conduct
- 1.22.1 Prohibition of Certain Remuneration to University Employees
- 1.22.2 Limitations on University Employees Participating on Lender Advisory Boards
- 1.22.3 Prohibition of Certain Remuneration to the University
- 1.22.4 Preferred Lender Lists
- 1.22.5 Prohibition of Lending Institution's Staffing of University Financial Aid Offices
- 1.22.6 Proper Execution of Master Promissory Notes
- 1.22.7 School as Lender
- 1.22.8 Prohibition of Opportunity Loans
- 1.23 Social Security Number Policy
- 1.24 Code of Conduct, Ethics, and Civility in the Workplace
- 1.25 Tobacco Policy
- 1.40 Authority of the University President
- 1.41 Duties and Responsibilities of the President
- 1.42 Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
- 1.43 Chief Operating Officer
- 1.44 Vice President for Administration and Finance
- 1.45 Chief Student Affairs Officer
- 1.46 Vice President for University Advancement
- 1.47 Vice President of Land Grant Engagement
- 1.48 Executive Director & Chief HR Officer
- 1.49 Internal Auditor
- 1.50 Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation
- 1.51 Counsel to the President
- 1.52 Executive Assistant to the President
- 1.53 University Marshal
- 1.54 Development and Oversight of University Policies
- 1.55 Communicating University Policy Changes
- 1.56 Honorary Degrees
- 1.57 Naming of Campus Facilities, Rooms, and Programs
- 1.58 Use of the University Seal
Chapter III – Academic Affairs
- 3.00 The Area of Academic Affairs
- 3.01 Administration of Academic Affairs
- 3.02 Colleges: Leadership
- 3.03 Academic Departments: Leadership
- 3.04 Units and Areas under Academic Affairs
- 3.05 The Office of Graduate and Extended Studies
- 3.05.1 Duties and Responsibilities of the Dean of Graduate and Extended Studies
- 3.05.2 The Graduate Faculty
- 3.05.3 The Graduate Council
- 3.05.4 Duties and Responsibilities of the Graduate Council
- 3.05.5 Office for Veteran Affairs
- 3.06 Office of University Assessment
- 3.07 Honors Program
- 3.08 The University Library (Inman E. Page Library)
- 3.08.1 The University Librarian
- 3.08.2 The Ethnic Studies Center and Archives
- 3.09 Center for Teaching and Learning
- 3.10 Center for Mentoring and Tutoring
- 3.11 The Academic Success Center
- 3.12 Center for Online Learning
- 3.13 Career Services
- 3.20 The Academic Faculty
- 3.20.1 Appointment Policy
- 3.20.2 Initial Appointment: Minimum Qualifications for the Various Academic Ranks
- 3.20.3 Appointment to Adjunct Faculty
- 3.20.4 Appointment of Lecturer
- 3.20.5 Conditions of Appointment: Cooperative Extension, Cooperative Research, and Extramurally Funded Projects Personnel
- 3.20.6 Special Appointments
- 3.20.7 Notification of Non-Reappointment of Faculty
- 3.20.8 Performance Evaluation
- 3.21 Promotion and Tenure: Principles and Changes to Promotion and Tenure Policies
- 3.22 Promotion and Tenure: Annual Performance Evaluations
- 3.22.1 Promotion and Tenure Criteria: Percentage of Work Effort
- 3.22.2 Promotion and Tenure Criteria and the Evaluation Process
- 3.23 Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Promotion
- 3.23.1 Eligibility for Promotion to the Rank of Assistant Professor
- 3.23.2 Eligibility for Promotion to the Rank of Associate Professor
- 3.23.3 Eligibility for Promotion to the Rank of Professor
- 3.24 Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Tenure
- 3.25 Terminal Degrees of Faculty by Area
- 3.26 Probationary Service for Tenure
- 3.26.1 Credit Toward Probationary Period
- 3.26.2 Three-Year Pre-Tenure Review
- 3.26.3 Stopping the Tenure Clock
- 3.26.4 Non-Reappointment
- 3.27 Procedures for Promotion and Tenure Evaluation
- 3.27.1 Components of Promotion and Tenure Applications
- 3.27.2 Promotion and Tenure: Appeal
- 3.28 Tenure Status and Administrative Appointments
- 3.29 Termination of Employment for Cause
- 3.30 Policy on Reassignment of Administrators to Faculty Appointments
- 3.31 Workload Policy for Undergraduate Faculty
- 3.31.1 Overload Policies
- 3.31.2 Minimum Class Enrollment
- 3.32 The Summer Session
- 3.32.1 Selection of Faculty for the Summer Session
- 3.32.2 Summer Workload Policy and Pay
- 3.32.3 Summer Instruction for Classes with Below Minimum or Small Enrollments
- 3.33 Grant Reassigned Time and Salary Adjustment
- 3.34 Compensation for Retired Faculty
- 3.35 Faculty Absence and Leave
- 3.35.1 Personal Leave
- 3.35.2 Sick Leave
- 3.35.3 Vacation for Academic Faculty on Academic Year Contracts
- 3.35.4 Annual Leave for Academic Faculty on Twelve-Month Appointments
- 3.35.5 Professional Development
- 3.35.6 University Business
- 3.35.7 Leaves of Absence
- 3.35.8 Sabbatical Leave
- 3.36 Reporting of Grades
- 3.37 Review of the Undergraduate Curricula
- 3.38 Use of Copyrighted Materials for Educational and Research Purposes
- 3.39 Teaching Dual Credit Courses
- 3.40 Faculty Grievance Policy
- 3.41 Policy on Misconduct in Science
- 3.42 Financial Exigency
- 3.43 Commencement: Attendance
- 3.44 Compensation for Administrator and Staff Teaching
- 3.60 Academic Policies and Regulations
- 3.61 Classification of Students
- 3.62 System of Course Numbering
- 3.63 The Semester Credit Hour
- 3.64 Student Load
- 3.65 System of Grading
- 3.65.1 Grade Re-evaluation
- 3.65.2 Auditing Courses (“Hearer”)
- 3.66 Grade Point Average
- 3.67 Repeated Courses
- 3.68 Class Attendance Policy
- 3.68.1 University-Approved Absences
- 3.69 Academic Status Policies
- 3.70 Alternative Course Credit
- 3.71 Upper Division Transfer Credit
- 3.72 Date of Bulletin for Satisfying Undergraduate Degree Requirements
- 3.73 Degrees Offered
- 3.74 Requirements for the Various Degree Programs
- 3.75 Policy on Modifying Programs for Students with Disabilities
- 3.76 Residence Requirements
- 3.77 Academic Honors
- 3.78 Second Bachelor’s Degree
- 3.79 Graduate Enrollment Prior to Admission into a Graduate Program
- 3.80 Admission as a Graduate Student
- 3.81 Undergraduate Admission into the Graduate Program
- 3.82 Dismissal from the Graduate Program
- 3.83 Graduate Academic Appeal Process
- 3.84 Filing for a Degree
- 3.85 Commencement
- 3.86 Posthumous Degrees
- 3.86.1 Requirements for Nomination
- 3.86.2 Nomination and Approval Process
Chapter IV – Chief Operating Officer
- 4.01.1 Office of Information Technology Services
- 4.01.1.1 Responsibility
- 4.01.1.2 Security
- 4.01.1.3 Software Purchases and Use Policy
- 4.01.1.4 World Wide Web Policies
- 4.01.1.5 Electronic Mail (E-Mail) Policies
- 4.01.1.6 Violations and Enforcement Procedures
- 4.01.1.7 Technology Purchases
- 4.01.1.8 Telecommunications Policies
- 4.01.1.9 Employee Laptop Policies
- 4.01.1.10 Access to Information Technology
Units of Campus Culture (4.01.3.1)
- 4.01.3.1 Units of Campus Culture
- 4.01.3.1.1 Chief of Police
- 4.01.3.1.2 Director of Lincoln University Law Enforcement Training Academy
- 4.01.3.1.3 Authority to Administer and Enforce Vehicle, Traffic, and Parking Regulations
- 4.01.3.1.4 Safety and Security Committee Membership and Responsibilities
- 4.01.3.1.5 Vehicle, Traffic, and Parking Regulations
- 4.01.3.1.6 Registration and the Operation of Motor Vehicles and Bicycles
- 4.01.3.1.7 Parking Regulations
- 4.01.3.1.8 Official University Vehicle Parking
- 4.01.3.1.9 Parking for Retirees and Senior Citizens
- 4.01.3.1.10 Visitor Parking
- 4.01.3.1.11 Loading Zones
- 4.01.3.1.12 Report of Accident
- 4.01.3.1.13 Traffic Regulations and Violations
- 4.01.3.1.14 Payment of Fines and Appeals
- 4.01.3.1.15 Administration and Enforcement of Vehicle Regulations
- 4.01.3.1.16 Immobilization, Removal, or Impoundment of Unattended Vehicles
- 4.01.3.1.17 Amendments to Vehicle, Traffic, and Parking Regulations
- 4.01.3.1.18 Campus Security
- 4.01.3.1.19 Authority of Public Safety Officers
- 4.01.3.1.20 Building Security
- 4.01.3.1.21 Sexual Assault and Victims’ Rights
Chapter VI – Student Affairs
- 6.00 The Area of Student Affairs
- 6.01 Organization and Administration of Student Affairs: Units and Programs
- 6.02 Units and Areas
- 6.03 Campus Life
- 6.03.1 Student Engagement
- 6.04 Residential Life and Housing
- 6.05 Student Health and Counseling Services
- 6.05.1 Counseling Services
- 6.05.2 Access and Ability Services
- 6.06 Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
- 6.20 Policies and Regulations
- 6.21 Notice of Services for Students with Disabilities
- 6.22 Student Privacy Act
- 6.23 Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act
- 6.24 On-Campus Housing Policy
- 6.24.1 Termination of the Housing Contract and Removal from the Residence Hall
- 6.25 Student Travel Regulations
- 6.26 Title IX Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Based on Gender Policy
- 6.27 Children on Campus Policy
- 6.28 Student Service and Support Animals Policy
- 6.29 Drug Prevention Program and Policy Statement
- 6.30 Mandatory Student Health Insurance
- 6.31 Campus Protests and Demonstrations
- 6.32 Participation in Commencement
- 6.33 Anti-Hazing Provisions
- 6.33.1 Definition of Hazing
- 6.33.2 Prohibited Activities
- 6.33.3 Reporting, Investigation, and Punishment for Hazing
Chapter VII – University Advancement
Chapter VIII – Vice President of Land Grant Engagement
Chapter IX – Creation of Intellectual Property
- 9.00 Intellectual Property Policy Statement
- 9.01 Purpose of the Policy
- 9.02 Entities Affected by the Policy
- 9.03 Administration of the Intellectual Property Policy
- 9.05 University Copyright Policy
- 9.05.1 Introduction
- 9.05.2 Policy
- 9.05.3 Administration of the Copyright Policy
- 9.05.4 Examples
Chapter X – University Employment
- 10.00 Employee Handbook Policy
- 10.01 University Hiring Policy
- 10.01.1 Recruitment Process
- 10.01.2 Applicant Screening Process
- 10.01.3 Interview Process
- 10.01.4 Recommending Hire
- 10.01.5 Faculty Positions
- 10.01.6 Staff Positions
- 10.01.7 Adjunct Faculty Positions
- 10.01.8 Appointment of Lecturer
- 10.02 Hiring Procedures Exemption Policy
- 10.03 Background Checks
- 10.04 Appointment and Assignment of Personnel
- 10.05 Job Description Policy
- 10.06 Student Employment Policy
- 10.07 Job Classification
- 10.08 Casual Temporary Employment
- 10.09 Staff Organizational Restructuring
- 10.10 Staff Internal Transfers
- 10.20 Employee Compensation
- 10.20.1 Faculty Compensation
- 10.20.2 Adjunct Faculty Compensation
- 10.20.3 Compensation for Retired Faculty
- 10.20.4 Staff Compensation
- 10.21 Overtime Provisions and the Fair Labor Standards Act
- 10.22 Payroll Administration
- 10.23 Administrative Stipends
- 10.24 Moving Allowances
- 10.30 Annual Review of Benefits
- 10.31 Employee Holiday Schedule
- 10.31.1 Religious Holiday Accommodation
- 10.32 Academic Holidays
- 10.33 Annual Leave Policy
- 10.33.1 Requesting and Reporting Annual Leave
- 10.34 Personal Leave
- 10.34.1 Requesting and Reporting Personal Leave
- 10.35 Sick Leave
- 10.35.1 Requesting and Reporting Sick Leave
- 10.36 Family and Medical Leave
- 10.37 Medical Leaves Not Under FMLA
- 10.38 Faculty Sabbatical Leave
- 10.39 Military Leave
- 10.40 Jury Duty and Court Witness Leave
- 10.41 Domestic and Sexual Violence Victim Leave
- 10.41.1 Victims Economic Safety and Security Act Leave
- 10.41.2 Employee Eligibility
- 10.41.3 Leave Entitlement
- 10.41.4 Qualifying Reasons for Leave
- 10.41.5 Procedure for Requesting Leave
- 10.41.6 Employee Status After Leave
- 10.41.7 Reasonable Safety Accommodations
- 10.42 Special Leaves
- 10.42.1 Administratively Initiated Leaves
- 10.43 Emergency Closure and Transition to Remote Operations
- 10.43.1 Types of Closures
- 10.43.1.1 Announcement
- 10.43.1.2 Authority
- 10.43.1.3 Requirement to Work During a Closure
- 10.43.2 Pay Procedures for On-Site Closure and Transition to Remote Operations
- 10.43.2.1 Benefit-Eligible Non-Exempt Employees
- 10.43.2.2 Benefit-Eligible Exempt Employees
- 10.43.2.3 Variable Hour and Student Employees
- 10.43.3 Pay Procedures for a Limited On-Site Closure
- 10.43.3.1 Benefit-Eligible Exempt and Non-Exempt Administrative, Service, and Support Staff, and Benefit-Eligible Non-Exempt Academic Employees
- 10.43.3.2 Variable Hour and Student Employees
- 10.44 Time Off Work to Vote
- 10.45 Employee Benefits
- 10.45.1 Health Insurance
- 10.45.2 Retirement Plans
- 10.45.3 Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
- 10.45.4 Employee Assistance Program
- 10.45.5 Undergraduate Educational Assistance Tuition Waiver
- 10.45.6 Graduate Educational Assistance Tuition Waiver
- 10.45.7 Unemployment Insurance
- 10.45.8 Workers’ Compensation
- 10.45.9 Employee Sponsored Non-Contributory Benefits
- 10.45.10 Vision and Dental
- 10.45.11 Missouri State Employees’ Cafeteria Plan
- 10.45.12 Tax Deferred Plans
- 10.45.13 Other Ancillary Benefits
- 10.60 Work Schedule
- 10.61 Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement
- 10.62 Immigration and Employment
- 10.63 Drug-Free Workplace
- 10.63.1 Testing Requirement for the Commercial Driver’s License
- 10.64 Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy
- 10.65 Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Policy
- 10.66 Nepotism Policy
- 10.67 Staff Performance Evaluation Policy
- 10.68 Discipline Policy
- 10.69 Job Abandonment
- 10.70 Disability Accommodation, Leave, and Termination
- 10.71 Political Activity Policy
- 10.72 Remote Work
- 10.72.1 Objectives
- 10.72.2 Evaluating a Remote Work Arrangement
- 10.72.3 Electronic Devices and Data Security
- 10.72.4 Workers’ Compensation
- 10.72.5 Ending a Remote Work Arrangement
- 10.72.6 Exclusions or Special Circumstances
- 10.72.7 Consequences
- 10.73 Consensual Sexual or Romantic Relationships
- 10.74 Pregnant Worker Accommodations
- 10.75 Employee Service and Support Animals Policy
Chapter XI – Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure
- 11.00 Purpose
- 11.01 Definitions
- 11.01.1 Curators
- 11.01.2 Business with Which He/She Is Associated
- 11.01.3 Decision-Making Public Servant
- 11.01.4 Dependent Child, or Dependent Child in His/Her Custody
- 11.01.5 Employee
- 11.01.6 Officer
- 11.01.7 Substantial Interest
- 11.01.8 Substantial Personal or Private Interest in Any Measure or Action
- 11.01.9 University
- 11.02 General Procedures
- 11.02.1 Outside Interests
- 11.02.2 Use of Confidential Information
- 11.02.3 Disclosure of Confidential Information
- 11.02.4 Financial or Political Gain
- 11.02.5 Selling, Renting, or Leasing of Property
- 11.02.6 Outside Compensation
- 11.02.7 Faculty Consultation Activity
- 11.02.8 Procedure When Contracting
- 11.02.9 Prohibited Services After Termination of Office or Employment
- 11.02.10 Receipt of Gifts