2004-05 Greenville College Catalog

Additional Academic Information

Academic Advising | Individually Tailored Education Plan | Academic Terms | Student Load | Registration | Independent Study | Cooperative Education | Auditing | Making Changes in Schedules | Academic Honors Awards | Honors Society | Honors Program | Honors Awarded at Graduation | Satisfactory Academic Progress, Probation, and Dismissal | Academic Testing

Academic Advising

Academic advising is a critically important component of the student's education. For that reason, all students at Greenville College are assigned an advisor. Students should make it a priority to meet regularly with this person. Advisors can help students make the adjustment to college life, select a major and courses, and establish goals. They also provide guidance about requirements for attaining professional positions or admittance into graduate school.

The advisor for all first time freshmen is their professor for their “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. 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 toward 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 toward their college degree.

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. (top)

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 fifteen credits each fall and spring semester. The fall semester typically begins the first week of September and ends immediately before the Christmas vacation. Spring semester typically begins the last week of January and ends the third week of May. Fall and spring semesters consist of 15 weeks of instruction and examination.

In between these two semesters, students return in January for Interterm. Interterm is an intense three-week period 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 general education, major, or minor requirements. Students also have the opportunity during this period for brief off campus study experiences.

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 coursework to be offered during this abbreviated term. Students are also free to propose independent studies in conjunction with faculty members or to pursue internships or practica. Independent studies, internships, and practica can follow a schedule that is somewhat different from the regular May Term. Scheduling details for all May Term courses as well as independent studies, etc., are available in the early spring from the Records Office. (top)

Student Load
Academic credit is measured in semester hours. A minimum of 12 credits during the fall and spring semester constitutes 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 a GPA of at least 3.00 and special permission of the Dean of Instruction. Faculty advisors consult with every student at least once each semester to ensure that they are making satisfactory academic progress and to help plan their course of study. (top)

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. Students can register only after meeting with an advisor and obtaining his or her guidance and signature.

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 of academic work per credit must be completed under the supervision of a professor. Independent study offers students the opportunity to explore areas that may develop into a departmental honors project. (top)

Cooperative Education
Cooperative education programs (co-ops) are designed to integrate academic learning with work experience. A co-op is an experiential learning opportunity appropriate for students who want to explore their career interests. Full time students who have earned 28 or more credit hours and have a minimum GPA of 2.0 are eligible to enroll. Students may choose to work part- or full-time during the academic year or summer.

The Career Services Office coordinates all co-ops. The director of career services can help advise students on effective co-ops and help them find suitable placements. The Career Services Office also coordinates the Illinois Board of Higher Education Cooperative Education Program Grant which helps to fund co-ops for Illinois resident students working in Illinois. The director can be reached at ext. 6616 (618-664-6616).

Auditing
Any student may audit a course. Students auditing a course should attend class, but do not have to complete assignments. They receive no college credit. Audited courses appear on the transcript with either a grade of T (successful audit) or N (unsuccessful audit). These transcript codes 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.

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 the instructor's permission. During the second five days of the term, students are permitted to add a course only with the instructor's permission. 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 OR 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 unusual 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.

Frequently Asked Questions about Drops and Withdrawals

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. This policy is designed to help remind students of their academic commitments.

The recommendation must be made in writing to the registrar when the instructor seriously questions the student's intent to pursue the course, or when disorderly conduct on the part of the student negatively affects the student, others, or the instructional environment. The Dean of Instruction has the responsibility to approve or to deny instructor-initiated requests for drops or withdrawals. If the Dean of Instruction approves such a request, the student will be notified of such action in writing.

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. Instructor-initiated withdrawals after the sixth week of a semester (or sixth day of Interterm and May Term ) require a special petition on the part of the instructor. 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.

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 from 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 acts after the end of the drop period but before the end of the withdrawal period all courses will be recorded on the transcript with a grade of W.

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 unable to initiate 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 through an obituary or other evidence..
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 the 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.”

Select music ensembles, lab bands, newspaper or yearbook production, or courses related to theatrical participation are exempt from this policy and may be added after the first ten days of classes with the instructor's signature.

Students on probation must develop learning contracts in consultation with an advisor. The learning contract details steps they will take to raise their academic record. Students who default on this contract may be dismissed. The contract may include any of the following: restrictions on academic and non-academic activities; requirements for attendance at study sessions; required meetings with a faculty advisor; required tutoring or study sessions with an upper-division student; the retaking of certain classes; and requirements that academic performance meet a certain level during the upcoming semester.

A student facing a third semester of academic probation will normally be dismissed. However, any student on or eligible for academic probation may be dismissed. Students who are dismissed may appeal the decision in writing to the vice president for academic affairs. Details on the appeal process will be included in all dismissal letters. Dismissed students whose appeals are denied or who do not appeal must wait at least one semester before applying for readmission to the College. (top)

Academic Honors Awards

Full time freshmen and sophomores who attain a semester GPA of least 3.25, and full time juniors and seniors who attain a semester GPA of 3.5 qualify for the Dean's List. The classification of students is based on the total number of hours earned at the end of each semester. The Office of Academic Affairs will inform qualifying students that they have been named to the Dean's List for a given semester.

College Scholars

College Scholars are students who have been named to the Dean's List for multiple semesters. Students who have been on the Dean's List three consecutive semesters qualify. 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.

Students who complete and defend a departmental honors thesis are eligible for departmental honors. This honor is announced at commencement and is also recognized in the spring Academic Awards Assembly. Copies of all student theses are bound and housed in the College library.

Departmental honors require at least two semesters of research and writing resulting in a completed thesis that is approved by a three-member faculty committee after an oral examination. Students seeking to receive this honor at commencement must also:

a. Maintain a GPA of 3.00 for all college work and work done in their major. 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 during their senior year.

b. Secure the approval of the head of the department chosen for honors work and 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. Take at least two semesters of honors thesis credit. 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. Under some circumstances when students will be away from campus for approved semester experiences, they may begin their Departmental Honors Project sequence a semester early. Expectations of these courses and further details are described in the “Instructions for Preparation of Departmental Honors Theses” available from the Departmental Honors Coordinator or the Greenville College website.

•  Meet all deadlines. By April 1, senior candidates must submit a computer-printed thesis on the topic assigned for study and investigation to their thesis committee. By May 1 they must appear before the committee for an oral examination. Final binding copies are due by May 1. Compliance with all deadlines allows thesis projects and honors to be listed in the Commencement program.

Students whose completed theses are approved by their committees later than those deadlines can have honors noted on the transcript only.(top)

Honors Societies

Membership in the 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.

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 2.0 GPA 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 credit hours; have completed or have programmed 12 hours of Professional Education courses; and have a minimum GPA of 3.25 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 the National Communications Honors Society for students who have completed 60 credit hours, have completed 12 hours of communication or media promotions courses, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all courses taken, and a 3.25 GPA in communication courses and media promotions major courses.

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.

Psi Chi is a national honors society for students majoring in psychology. Membership is open for students who have completed three semesters of college credit, have completed a minimum of nine hours of psychology courses, and have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall and in the major. (top)

The Honors Program

In addition to qualifying for academic honors, qualified students may apply for admission to The Greenville College Honors Program. The Honors Program adds value to the College's already strong curriculum, encourages learning and character development, and creates opportunities for service. Students in the honors program are given the opportunity to enroll in special honors sections of courses. These courses generally allow for greater student-faculty interaction. Possible courses include several general education courses and special honors seminars (see HON in the Course Listing for descriptions). Honors Program members also are allowed to participate in a variety of cultural, social, and service experiences.

All students admitted to the Honors Program automatically become members of The Honors Society, a 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, located in Ruby Dare Library, Room 215, or telephone (618) 664-6610. (top)

Honors Awarded at Graduation

By vote of the faculty, cum laude may be awarded at commencement to those students who have attained high distinction (3.50 GPA overall) 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 a departmental honors thesis. 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. (top)

Satisfactory Academic Progress, Probation, and Dismissal

Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to continue at Greenville College. 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.

Though a GPA of at least 2.00 is the typical standard for satisfactory progress, there are some exceptions. These exceptions are as follows:

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.

Students on probation must develop learning contracts in consultation with an advisor. The learning contract details steps they will take to raise their academic record. Students who default on this contract may be dismissed. The contract may include any of the following: restrictions on academic and non-academic activities; requirements for attendance at study sessions; required meetings with a faculty advisor; required tutoring or study sessions with an upper-division student; the retaking of certain classes; and requirements that academic performance meet a certain level during the upcoming semester.

A student facing a third semester of academic probation will normally be dismissed. However, any student on or eligible for academic probation may be dismissed. Students who are dismissed may appeal the decision in writing to the vice president for academic affairs. Details on the appeal process will be included in all dismissal letters. Dismissed students whose appeals are denied or who do not appeal must wait at least one semester before applying for readmission to the College.

Honors classes include: COM 101H Honors Speech Communication, COR 101H Foundations in the Liberal Arts Tradition, COR 102H Christian Thought and Life, ENG 101H Honors Research and Writing, ENG 243H Honors Masterpieces of World Literature, PSY 101H Honors General Psychology, SOC 101H Honors Principles of Sociology. Plans are in process to expand the number of Honors sections of other General Education courses.(top)

Academic Testing

Last updated: August 9, 2004