2003-04 Greenville College Catalog

Additional Academic Information

All incoming first-time freshmen students will have as their advisor the instructor for their chosen “Cornerstone Seminar,” COR 101: Foundations in the Liberal Arts Tradition. This advisor/instructor is specially trained to help the student adapt to GC life. At the end of their first semester, students who have officially declared a major will be assigned a new advisor within that major area. Students can declare a major by filling out the appropriate form in the Records Office. If students are undecided about a major, they will retain their COR 101 instructor as their advisor.

Transfer students will be assigned advisors in their chosen major. When transfer students come to GC undecided about their majors, they will be assigned an advisor who specializes in helping students think through appropriate majors.

Advisors play a key role in the registration process. They help students select appropriate courses within a major and within the General Education curriculum. They also advise students when students desire to add, drop or withdraw from one or more courses, take independent studies, or change majors. Students cannot register or make schedule changes without the signature of their advisor.

Though advisors play a key role in helping students make good academic choices, the student is ultimately responsible for his or her own progress towards a degree. Students must take steps to ensure that they have prepared for each advising session. They must be aware of the graduation requirements for their chosen major and degree, and must monitor their progress towards that degree.

To prepare for advising sessions, students should read this Catalog carefully. They should pay attention to the General Education requirements and the requirements in their chosen major. They should read course descriptions and, using the Catalog and the “Schedule of Courses” published by the Records Office, prepare a tentative class schedule. This advising “homework” will help students get the most out of advising sessions, and ensure that they make appropriate progress towards their college degree.

This Catalog is a very important tool for students. It should serve as the first source when students have questions about courses, majors, or graduation requirements. Students may also find helpful information about majors in departmental guides or handbooks. For example, students choosing majors in education should consult the Teacher Education Guide. Those in music-related majors will find important information in the Music Department Policies and Procedures Handbook. If the departmental guides or handbooks and the Catalog disagree, students and advisors should seek clarification about the official requirements from the Registrar.

The Individually Tailored Education Plan
The Individually Tailored Education Plan (ITEP) offers students an opportunity to design a uniquely personalized college program. It is particularly useful to students who want to take advantage of the interdisciplinary strengths of Greenville's liberal arts curriculum. Requirements include the following:

1. 126 credits. At least 48 credits must be at the upper division level.
2. A concentrated major (32 credits of which must be in one department) of 48 credits, allocated among two or more departments.
3. All course selections must be made with the consultation and approval of the faculty advisor, and be approved by the Office of Academic Affairs. The plan must be submitted and approved no later than the beginning of the first semester of the senior year.
4. The program of courses is expected to reflect emphases of breadth and depth of study, and is to be developed in relation to the student's needs and interests as measured against the goals of the College.

Academic Terms
The College has four academic terms each year: Fall semester, Interterm, Spring semester, and May Term. Under this calendar of study, students normally take 15 credits each semester. The Fall semester typically begins the first week of September and ends immediately before the Christmas vacation. Spring semester typically begins the first week of February and ends the third week of May.

In between these two 15 week semesters, students return in January for Interterm. Interterm is an intense period for special academic study when a student focuses on only one three-credit course. The purpose of the Interterm is to create a short-term block of time that provides the College with an opportunity for introducing more flexibility into the curriculum. Interterm courses may be applied to elective General Education, major, or minor requirements. Students also have the opportunity during this period for brief off-campus study experiences. An Interterm course list is published each year identifying the courses to be offered.

May Term typically begins the last week in May and lasts for three weeks. The May Term functions as an integral part of the academic program of Greenville College. In general, the courses offered correspond closely with those offered during the regular semester. As occasion demands, however, additional courses are provided. Likewise, in order to allow students as wide a selection as possible in certain fields, some courses are given on an alternate year basis. A May Term course listing is published each year identifying the course work to be offered during this abbreviated term.

Student Load
Academic credit is measured in semester hours. A semester consists of 15 weeks of instruction and examination.

A minimum of 12 credits during the fall and spring semester contitutes full time enrollment for that term. For purposes of financial aid, a student taking 12 credits is considered full-time. Students wishing to enroll for more than 18 credits must have above a 3.00 GPA and special permission of the Dean of Instruction. Faculty advisors consult every student at least once each semester to ensure that they are making satisfactory academic progress and to help plan their course of study.

Registration
Registration days are held in the spring for the following academic year, including Interterm. First-time freshmen and new transfer students have opportunity during the summer to register for their courses, and advisors are available to assist them during special Drive In Days.

The student's choice of courses, once made and filed, should be permanent for the semester.

Independent Study
Any student in good academic standing may, with the approval of the instructor, the department head, and the Dean of Instruction, enroll for a full or partial course in a given subject matter. A minimum of 40 hours per credit must be devoted to a special project under the supervision of the instructor. Independent study offers students the opportunity to explore areas that may develop into a departmental honors project.

Cooperative Education
Co-op programs are designed to integrate academic learning with paid, planned, and supervised work experience. Any student in any major, or those undeclared, may enroll in a co-op. A co-op is considered to be an experiential learning opportunity and is appropriate for students who want to explore their career interests. Many employers recruit from their co-op programs when hiring full-time candidates. Full-time students who have completed a minimum of 28 credit hours and a minimum GPA of 2.0 are eligible to earn academic credit for co-op work experiences. Students may choose to work part-time (parallel co-op) or full-time (alternating co-op) during the academic year or summer session. A minimum of two credits are required per placement and a maximum of 12 credits for co-op can be earned. Some academic departments require students to complete a co-op/internship related to their academic major. Co-op experiences coordinated through the Office of Career Services can be used to fulfill academic internship requirements. Career Services also coordinates the Illinois Board of Higher Education Cooperative Education Program Grant which helps to fund co-op experiences for Illinois resident students who are placed with Illinois employers.

Students must enroll in either the Career Services co-op course (GS 298) or the internship/practicum course for their respective academic program. Students enrolled in GS 298 recieve either pass or fail grades. Students complete a minimum of 40 hours of work for each enrolled credit. Students enrolled in course number 405 within the individual academic departments usually earn grades. An internship/practicum is generally considered to be pre-professional experiential learning and is appropriate for students who have completed minimum departmental prerequisites. Internships/practica are normally a defined part of an academic major and therefore must be approved by the appropriate department. Departmental requirements vary and students are expected to fulfill the necessary requirements, e.g., research papers, summary paper, and additional work hours per credit.

Auditing
Any student may audit a course. Students auditing a course should attend class, but do not have to complete assignments. The receive no college credit. Audited courses appear on the transcript with either a grade of T (successful audit) or N (unsuccessful audit). Grades for audited courses do not affect the student's GPA.

Students may not audit courses in which individual instruction from a faculty member is fundamental to the class. Courses that may not be audited include, but are not limited to: Independent Studies, Applied Music Lessons, Art Studio, Practica or Internships, Student Teaching, Cooperative Education, Honors Research and Thesis, and Departmental Reading Courses.

Students earning College Scholar honors may audit one course free of charge every semester while maintaining this status. Other full-time students wishing to audit a course will be charged $20 for every credit over 17 hours. Part-time students will be charged $30 per audited credit.

Courses that are audited do not count toward full-time status for financial aid or sports eligibility.

Making Changes in Schedules
Those students who must change their schedules after a term has begun are permitted to do so, but only during prescribed periods. Before requesting schedule changes, students must consult with and receive the signature of their academic advisor and relevant course instructors. Faculty members may facilitate the schedule change process, but the student must personally complete and turn in the required forms with the necessary signatures to the Records Office.

ADDING COURSES: During fall and spring semesters, students are permitted to add a course during the first five days of the term without instructor’s permission. During the second five days of the term, students are permitted to add a course only with the permission from the instructor. After the tenth day of the term, students will not be allowed to add a course unless a student-generated petition is approved .

Only under exceptional circumstances such as prolonged illness or death in the family would a petition to add a course late be received favorably. Any student seeking exceptional consideration must complete the petition form and receive approval from the course instructor, the student’s advisor, and the Dean of Instruction. Petition forms are available in the Records Office.

Students may add a course during Interterm or May Term only in the first two days of class. Adding a course during the first day can occur without instructor's permission. Adding a course the second day requires the instructor's permission. Again, course additions after this period are considered exceptional and require approval of a student-generated petition, as described in the previous paragraph.

DROPPING COURSES AND WITHDRAWING FROM COURSES: Students who wish to be released from a course after a term has begun have two options, depending on the timing of their request. Dropping is permitted during the first ten class days in a fall or spring semester. Withdrawing is permitted from the eleventh day through the end of the tenth week of the fall or spring semester. After the tenth week of a semester students may not drop or withdraw, and must complete a course. If they do not complete the course, students will receive whatever grade the instructor deems appropriate.

During Interterm and May Term, dropping is permitted during the first two days of the term. Withdrawing is permitted from day three through ten.

Exceptions to this policy will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances such as prolonged illness or death in one’s immediate family. A student who wishes to be considered for an exceptional drop or withdrawal must complete a petition form available in the Records Office and receive approval from the Dean of Instruction.

Dropping and withdrawing are very different. The table below outlines important differences between the two.

Frequently Asked Questions about Drops and Withdrawals

TO DROP A COURSE: To drop a course, students must complete a Drop Slip (available in the Records Office) and obtain the signature of their advisor. This is permitted only in the first ten days of the fall or spring semesters or only the first two days of Interterm or May Term.

TO WITHDRAW FROM A COURSE: To withdraw from a course, students must complete a Withdrawal Slip (available in the Records Office) and obtain the signature of their advisor and course instructor. During the fall and spring semesters, this is permitted from the eleventh day through the end of the tenth week of classes. During Interterm and May Term, this is permitted from the third to the tenth day of the term.

INSTRUCTOR-INITIATED DROPS AND WITHDRAWALS: Students who have never attended, who cease to attend, or who do not submit required work in an enrolled course may be dropped or withdrawn upon recommendation of the instructor through the first six weeks of the semester. The recommendation must be made in writing to the Registrar when the instructor seriously questions the student's intent to pursue the course. This policy is designed to help remind students of their academic commitments.

If the instructor acts within the first ten days on which classes are held during a semester, or the first two days of Interterm and May Term, the request would be treated as a request to drop a course. Dropped courses are deleted from the student’s schedule, will not appear on the transcript, and the student’s course load for that semester will be reduced by the appropriate number of credits.

If the instructor acts between the eleventh day and the end of the sixth week of the fall or spring semester, the request would be treated as a withdrawal. If the instructor acts between the third and sixth day of Interterm or May Term, the request would be treated as a withdrawal.

If the student is withdrawn from the course, a grade of W will be listed on the transcript. For more details on drops and withdrawals, see the appropriate sections above.

Instructor-initiated withdrawals after the sixth week of a semester (or sixth day of Interterm and May Term) are not allowed.

The Registrar has the responsibility to approve or to deny instructor-initiated requests for drops or withdrawals. If the Registrar approves such a request, the student will be notified of such action in writing.

Students may appeal any instructor-initiated drop or withdrawal. Appeals for reinstatement into a class must be submitted in writing to the Registrar within one week after the notification to drop or withdraw was sent to the student.

DROPPING OR WITHDRAWING FROM ALL COURSES: Students wanting to drop or withdraw all the courses for which they are enrolled must, unless they qualify for an administrative withdrawal (see next section), personally drop or withdraw from their courses. The procedures for this are described in the earlier sections on “To Drop a Course” and “To Withdraw from a Course.”

If the student acts early enough to drop all courses, no courses for that term will be recorded on the student’s transcript. If the student is too late to drop, but is still permitted to withdraw, all courses will be included on the student’s transcript and will be given the grade of W. For more information on timing of drops and withdrawals, see the table entitled “Questions about Drops and Withdrawals.”

Students receiving financial aid who drop or withdraw from all courses will have obligations to the government and/or lenders even if they attended only a single day of the term. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information. See also the Catalog section entitled “Student Charges and Payment Information.”

Students withdrawing from all courses must complete an Exit Interview in the Student Development Office before they leave campus.

ADMINISTRATIVE DROPS AND WITHDRAWALS: Students are sometimes prohibited from initiating drops or withdrawals because of the following circumstances:

1. Extreme illness of the student or an immediate family member. The illness must be documented by a physician.
2. Death in the immediate family. The death must be documented by a physician or coroner.
3. Required call to active military duty. The call to active duty must be documented by a letter from a branch of the military.

In any of these cases, students or the agents acting on their behalf may request an administrative drop or withdrawal from some or all courses. This request must be submitted in writing and include appropriate documentation. This request should be submitted to the Registrar.

Drops will be permitted in the first ten days in which classes are taught in a semester, or first two days of Interterm or May Term. Withdrawals may be permitted after that period. Note that students receiving financial aid will have obligations to the government and/or lenders even if they attended only a single day of the term. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information. See also the Catalog section entitled “Student Charges and Payment Information.”

Academic Probation
Satisfactory academic progress is critical to the college experience. Therefore, an academic probation system exists to inform students when they are at academic risk. “Low grade” reports are sent to students six weeks into each semester. This letter informs students that continuation of present academic behavior could result in placement on academic probation at the end of the semester.

A student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher to graduate. Students falling below that average are failing to make satisfactory progress toward graduation, and are placed on academic probation at the beginning of the next semester.

Exceptions to the 2.00 standard:

1. Because students may need time to get accustomed to college-level work, individuals completing their first semester of full-time enrollment remain off probation if their cumulative GPA is 1.5 or higher.
2. Students completing their second semester of full-time enrollment remain off probation if their cumulative GPA is 1.75 or higher.
3. Part-time students, who have never had a semester of full-time enrollment and who further have not yet attempted their 13th credit of work, remain off probation with a cumulative GPA of 1.5 or higher. Any part-time students, who have attempted 13 but have not yet attempted 25 credits, remain off probation with a cumulative GPA of 1.75 or higher.
4. In order to remain off academic probation, freshman transfer students must have a 1.75 GPA at the end of their first semester at Greenville College. All other transfer students must have a 2.00 GPA at the end of their first semester at Greenville College.

A student is removed from academic probation when the cumulative GPA meets the above criteria.

Any student on academic probation or eligible for academic probation will be reviewed and is subject to academic dismissal. Students on probation must develop a Learning Contract detailing their responsibilities and restrictions. The Contract could include but would not be limited to: restricting academic and non-academic activities, required attendance at study sessions, meeting with a faculty advisor, regular sessions with an upper division student, retaking certain classes, and academic performance during the upcoming semester at an established level.

Normally, a student facing a third semester of academic probation will be dismissed. At least one semester must elapse before a dismissed student may apply for readmission to the College.

Academic Honors Awards
Traditional Greenville College students are eligible to receive honors as outlined below.

The Dean's List is published at the end of each semester. Names of full-time students having the following grade point average for the semester appear on the roll: freshmen and sophomores, 3.25; juniors and seniors, 3.50.

The Office of Academic Affairs designates College Scholars each semester from those students whose names appear on the Dean’s List. In order to qualify for the distinction of College Scholar, the student must have been on the Dean’s List at least three consecutive semesters. Transfer students may qualify for College Scholar recognition after two consecutive semesters on the Dean’s List at Greenville College if they were on the honor roll at their previous school. Students who are designated as College Scholars have the privilege of auditing a course without charge each semester they continue their academic achievement.

Departmental Honors, announced at commencement, represent at least two semesters of research and writing. A student thesis is approved by a three-member faculty committee after an oral examination. Copies of all student theses are bound and housed in the College library. Students interested in completing an honors thesis must satisfactorily meet the following requirements:

a. Candidates must have maintained a “quality index” of 3.00 for the four years of college work and must not have fallen below an average of 3.00 in the department in which honors are being sought. Upon recommendation of a department head, seniors who do not meet this requirement may be permitted to engage in a study with the understanding that honors will not be recorded unless their cumulative quality point average is 3.00 by the time they graduate, or unless they achieve a 3.35 quality point average in their senior year.

b. Candidates must secure the approval of the head of the department chosen for honor work and must notify the Office of Academic Affairs of the intention to enroll in departmental honors prior to October 1 of the senior year. This program may be initiated only within the candidate's major field of study.

c. Students may begin honors research in the second semester of the junior year by taking HON 389 Junior Departmental Honors Research for one or two credits. Seniors take HON 489 Senior Honors Research and HON 490 Departmental Honors Thesis. Expectations of these courses are described in the “Instructions for Preparation of Departmental Honors Theses” available from the Departmental Honors Coordinator or the Greenville College website.

d. Senior candidates must submit, by April 1, a computer-printed thesis on the topic assigned for study and investigation and, before May 1, must appear before the committee in charge for an oral examination on the thesis and over the work of the department in general. Final binding copies are due by May 1 for Thesis Projects to be included in the Commencement program and for consideration for Special Honors (later submissions will be listed on the transcript only).

Honors Societies
Membership in Alpha Kappa Sigma honor society of the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Free Methodist Church is granted, by vote of the faculty, to those students completing the senior year who excel in scholarship, character traits, and extracurricular activities. The purpose of the organization is to promote the development of character and leadership, to stimulate a spirit of service, and to create an enthusiasm for excellence in scholarship. Election to membership represents one of the highest honor awards given by any Free Methodist college or secondary school.

Department Honors Societies
Beta Beta Beta, a national honor society for students of biological sciences, promotes scholarship, the understanding of scientific truth, and research. Membership is composed of any Biology major with a B average in their biology classes and a 2.5 GPA overall.

Chi Beta Sigma, the GC business club, is open to any business major or minor with a 2.5 GPA. The club offers students a chance to grow professionally through monthly activities including guest speakers, visits to different companies, and other activities. Members can take part in business ventures which raise funds for the club.

Kappa Delta Pi is an international education honors society for students who have completed 50 semester credit hours; have completed or have programmed 12 semester hours of Professional Education courses; and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all courses taken. The purpose of the society is to promote excellence in and recognize outstanding contributions to education by hosting monthly activities such as guest lecturers.

Lambda Pi Eta is an international communication honors society for students who have completed 60 semester credit hours; have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all courses taken; have a 3.25 GPA in communication courses; and have completed an equivalent of 12 semester hour in communication studies.

Phi Alpha Theta is an international honor society for students who have a minimum of 12 hours of history, with a grade point average of 3.1 or above in those courses. Phi Alpha Theta promotes the study of history by bringing together students, teachers, and writers of history together both socially and intellectually. Over 180 history students have been inducted into Phi Alpha Theta during the past forty years.

Final Honors
By vote of the faculty, “cum laude” may be awarded at commencement to those students who have attained high distinction (3.50) in general scholarship during the last two years of their college course. “Magna cum laude” and “summa cum laude” may be awarded to those students who have maintained a superior scholarship record for the entire four years of college. A quality point average of 3.85 is required for “magna cum laude” while a 3.95 average is necessary for “summa cum laude.” To qualify for “summa cum laude” a student must also successfully complete the Departmental Honors Program. To be eligible for final honors a student must have carried 12 hours each semester in residence for the last two years of college coursework. Transfer students who have a minimum of 60 hours of Greenville College work are eligible to be considered for all final academic honors. Both transfer college and Greenville College work will be considered in computing the GPA for honors eligibility. Students who have met the scholarship standard but not the other requirements may be granted “honorable mention.”

The “President's Citation” is awarded each year to the graduating senior who has demonstrated the highest academic achievement in the context of a Christian liberal arts program.

Honors Program
In addition to qualifying for academic honors, qualified students may apply for admission to the Greenville College Honors Program. The Honors Program, often referred to as a “value added” enrichment of the College’s already strong curriculum, encourages learning, character development, and service in an environment which is academically invigorating and supportive. The Program components include “honors” sections of several General Education courses , special honors seminars and courses (see HON in the Course Listing for descriptions), a senior Department Honors Thesis, and participation in a variety of cultural, social, and service experiences available only to members.

All students admitted to the Honors Program automatically become members of the Honors Society, the “extra-curricular” student organization within the Program which elects student officers who assist with the planning and implementation of the aforementioned activities and other community building opportunities.

The Honors Program is affiliated with the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Honors Council Illinois Region and cooperates with other institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities by encouraging student participation in a wide range of semester off-campus academic programs. Locally, the Honors Program is administered by a director who is assisted by an Honors Council composed of faculty and students.

For information about admission qualifications and procedures, contact the Honors Program Office which is located in Ruby Dare Library, Room 215, or telephone (618) 664-6610.

Academic Testing
The College uses some out-of-class testing for assessment purposes. In an effort to verify educational outcomes, the College administers various surveys and tests to students. These measures are used to determine the level of educational development for individual students and to help the institution improve its instructional programs. Although the exams do not earn credit or waivers, students should take them seriously because results are used in academic advisement, program development, and assessment studies.

Last updated: June 20, 2003