Academic Policies

Student Responsibility

The administration and faculty of MidAmerica Nazarene University attempt to outline clearly and advise consistently concerning requirements for graduation and the student’s progress in meeting these requirements. Part of the student’s personal development, however, is the recognition and acceptance of responsibility in meeting all graduation requirements. The student is expected to take the initiative and to follow through in the completion of all requirements and details of his/her academic program.

Classification of Students

Each student’s academic classification is determined at the end of the fall and spring semesters. The following classifications are used for undergraduate full-time and part-time students:

• Freshmen  - Students meeting admission requirements with less than 24 semester hours.
• Sophomore - Students who have earned at least 24 semester hours.
• Junior - Students who have earned at least 56 semester hours.
• Senior - Students who have earned at least 88 semester hours.

Academic Load

Credits earned at MidAmerica Nazarene University are granted by the semester hour. An undergraduate student is considered full-time when enrolled for twelve or more hours in an undergraduate program. Twelve semester hours is considered a full-time load for undergraduate students in order to qualify for federal financial aid, veterans’ benefits and participation in athletics. Undergraduate students taking less than 12 semester hours are considered part-time students. Graduate students are considered full-time if enrolled in 6 credit hours or more in a given term. Less than 6 credit hours is considered part-time for graduate students.

Undergraduate students above the freshman classification with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above may enroll for more than 18 semester hours with the consent of their advisor and approval of the Registrar. A maximum twelve-hour load is recommended for undergraduate students working more than twenty-five hours per week.

Degree Requirements and Graduation

Residency

A minimum of 15 semester hours taken at MidAmerica is required of all associate’s degree candidates. A minimum residency of 30 semester hours taken at MidAmerica is required of all bachelor’s degree candidates. Students must earn at least fifteen of the final thirty hours at MidAmerica or at least fifteen hours in the discipline of the major at MidAmerica, except where other institutional agreements exist.

Applicable Catalog

Grading System

The academic work of the student is graded in accordance with the system listed below.

A grade of “F” indicates failure and necessitates a satisfactory repetition of the course before credit can be allowed. “P” or “NC” is used when a student is permitted to take a course on a pass/ no-credit basis. “NC” necessitates repetition of the course. “P” and “NC” are used for Freshman Seminar and some internships. A grade of “W” is recorded when a student has withdrawn. Consult your academic advisor for deadlines to withdraw from a course within the deadlines published in the academic calendar and established by the Registrar’s office.

A grade of “INC” indicates incomplete work. It is not given except to indicate that some part of the work, for good reason, has not been done, while the rest has been completed satisfactorily. The grade of “INC” can only be given upon approval by the Registrar’s Office on the appropriate form with a justification of the “INC” provided, an explanation must be submitted with a justification of the “INC,” an explanation of the work to be completed, a deadline to complete the work not to exceed six weeks, the alternate grade to be recorded if the work is not completed within the time allotted, and the signatures of the student, instructor and the department chairman/director. The grade of “INC” must be removed within the time specified by the instructor which cannot exceed six weeks from the last day of the final examination period. If no other grade has been assigned by the professor, the “INC” will be changed automatically to the alternate grade at the time specified by the instructor.

A grade of “IP” indicates in progress work for internships, practicums, recitals, or a research course. It is not given except to indicate that some part of the work, for good reason, has not been completed, while the rest has been completed satisfactorily. The “IP” grade can only be given upon approval by the Registrar’s Office on the appropriate form with a justification, an explanation of the work to be completed, and a deadline to complete the work within six months. An alternate grade must also be submitted.

The grade point average of a student is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned in any semester by the total number of semester hours attempted in the academic load, excluding neutral credits.

Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA.

Professional Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the major unless a higher GPA is required by their academic department. Education programs, for example, require a cumulative GPA of 2.75 for education majors.

Pass-no Credit Option

Undergraduate students with junior or senior standing have the option of taking up to six hours per year on a pass or no-credit basis in courses outside general education and their major area. In this arrangement the student has the option of selecting courses for the purpose of personal enrichment or enjoyment without regard to a formal grade. The option to take a course on this basis must be exercised during the registration period in the Office of the Registrar.

Repeat Option

If a student makes a grade of “C-” or less, he/she may repeat the course for credit. If a student wishes to repeat a course in which a grade of “C” or better was earned, he/she may petition the school/college Dean of their major, the Registrar, and the department chair/program coordinator of the course. Only the repeated course and repeated grade will be figured in the cumulative hour totals and grade point average.

A limited number of courses can be taken more than once for credit and are clearly designated throughout the Catalog. An Intent to Repeat form or Repeat Petition should be filed with the Office of the Registrar at the time of course enrollment. Grades of “W” and “INC” are not considered as replacement grades.

Grade Changes and Grade Appeals

Grade changes made for extra credit after the course is completed are inappropriate for the college level. However, there are circumstances within which it may be appropriate to change the grade awarded for a course. Those circumstances are very limited and specific. Instructors may change course grades when consultation with the student convinces the instructor that the submitted grade was not an accurate reflection of the student’s mastery of the subject; or when, after consultation with the student, the appropriate department chair or school dean recommends reconsideration.

Students may appeal a course grade only after attempting to resolve the disputed grade, first by consultation with the faculty member involved and, if necessary, by consultation with the appropriate department chair and school dean.

If these consultations fail to resolve the problem, the traditional undergraduate student may file a formal petition with the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS Dean) and the professional and graduates student may file a formal petition with the Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies (CPGS Dean). The dean will appoint an Appeals Committee for each individual case. The Committee, which consists of two (2) faculty members and one (1) student, is empowered to summon evidence pertinent to the appeal and to question persons involved. The Appeals Committee guarantees the right of both the student and the faculty member to hear all evidence and receive copies of all written statements submitted as part of the appeal. In appeals of grades the burden of proof lies with the student filing the appeal to demonstrate that the grade is clearly unfair in the context of the course.

After examination of the evidence, the Appeals Committee will vote whether to sustain the grade or recommend to the instructor that a change of grade be made. In arriving at its decision, the Committee should not make judgments regarding the severity of an instructor’s rules. The Committee should, however, have the right to make judgments regarding the manner in which an instructor applies his/her rules, taking into consideration such issues as fairness, consistency, and the communication of standards. School of Nursing students should refer to their handbook for more details as relates to appeals.

Important Deadlines: Written appeals at the academic unit level must be initiated with the Department Chair or Associate Dean no later than 6 weeks after final course grades have been posted. Written appeals to the Dean (and University Appeals Committee) must be made within 7 working days after the final decision of the academic unit. The entire grievance process must be completed no later than 12 weeks after final course grades have been issued. Untimely grade grievances will not be considered.

Academic Standing

Academic Probation and Ineligibility

For continued enrollment at MidAmerica Nazarene University, the student is required to maintain satisfactory progress toward an educational objective. The university recognizes two measures of progress:

1. The grade point average for the last semester in which the student has been enrolled;
2. The cumulative grade point average for all of the college work that has been attempted by the student.

Any traditional student whose cumulative grade point average at the end of any semester falls below the following minimum standards (including transfer credits) will be placed on probation. The student on probation normally is restricted to 12 semester hours during the probationary period.

Professional undergraduate students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students with a cumulative GPA below the requirement could be placed on academic warning or probation. Each academic program specifies the minimum academic progress necessary for continued enrollment in the program. Students must refer to their specific academic program student handbook or bulletin for specifics.

Once a professional undergraduate and graduate student has been placed on academic warning, they must work with their Student Success or academic advisor to discuss and create a performance plan to raise their GPA to the minimum standard for satisfactory academic progress and graduation.

A student who fails to improve the cumulative average in the first semester of probation, or to bring the cumulative average up to minimum standards after two semesters of probation will be declared scholastically ineligible to continue enrollment at the University. Scholastic ineligibility is recorded on the student’s permanent record.

Academic Fresh Start GPA (AFSG) 

The Academic Fresh Start GPA enables a student returning to MNU for a baccalaureate degree to neutralize, in part, the grade impact of prior academic performance. Academic Fresh Start provides for the computation of an alternative GPA and for use of that GPA in most academic situations. A student may apply only once, and the process cannot be reversed. A student may choose to begin Academic Fresh Start after the first or second semester of their freshman year at MNU or after one semester at MNU after sophomore classification is reached. The opportunity for an Academic Fresh Start GPA applies only to the regular fall or spring semesters of the freshman year at MNU. Course credits earned during the semesters of the freshman year included in the AFSG computation are forfeited. All courses required for graduation (general education, pre-requisites, and programs or majors) must be repeated. The choice of starting point is designated by the student at the time of applying for AFSG and the student may apply for AFSG any time after a break in enrollment of at least one regular fall or spring semester from MNU.

AFSG deletes nothing from the student’s academic record. Grades earned before the Academic Fresh Start will remain on the transcript and be prefixed with an “X”. In addition, the transcript will clearly indicate the starting point of the Academic Fresh Start.

Eligibility for AFSG and application instructions:

1. The student has had a break in enrollment of at least one regular fall or spring semester prior to readmission to MNU.
2. At the time of application, the student has earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher at the end of the academic session in which the twelfth credit was earned for course work completed following re-admission.
3. The student has not previously been granted AFSG.
4. The student submits a written request to the Registrar (form available in the Registrar’s office). In the written request, the student designates the starting point for AFSG and provides an explanation for the request for AFSG.
5. Following verification that the student has met the eligibility requirements, the academic record will be adjusted to reflect AFSG.

Special Academic Honors

President’s List, Dean’s List, and Honor Roll

All students in traditional undergraduate programs earning a minimum 12 semester hours with a term GPA from 3.2 to 4.0 may qualify for one of these academic honors. Neutral credit hours are excluded from the calculation and reduce the course load used to calculate the honor. The President’s List is a 4.0 grade point average for the semester; Dean’s List ranges from 3.5 to 3.99; and the honor roll is 3.2 to 3.49. The lists are posted in Lunn Hall after the Fall semester and Spring semester. Incomplete and in-progress grades at the end of the semester may reduce the hours earned impacting the awarding of these honors.

University Honors Societies

Alpha Chi

Alpha Chi is a national scholarship recognition society with some three hundred (300) chapters nationally. Being selected for membership in Alpha Chi is the greatest academic honor MidAmerica Nazarene University can give to a student. Besides the honor of being a member and the privileges of indicating membership on a resume and other documents, being in Alpha Chi makes one who is employed by the federal government eligible for an automatic step increase in position and salary. To be eligible for membership in Alpha Chi, a student must rank in the top 10 percent of the junior or senior class. In case of transfer students, at least 24 hours must have been completed at MidAmerica Nazarene University.

Major Specific Honor Societies

Delta Kappa Gamma (Education Honors Club) -Delta Kappa Gamma is an honor society for educators. It has Christian roots and was founded in the 1920s when women were not as recognized as men. The listed purposes on the website stipulate advancement of women educators which is still a goal, but the society now allows for male participation, and males and females may apply for scholarships and monetary resources for the classroom.

Delta Mu Delta (Business Honors Club) - The MNU branch of the National Collegiate Business Honor Society. It exists to recognize outstanding academic achievements of Business students.

Pi Lambda Theta (Education Honors Club) - An international honor and professional association in education. The mission is to provide leadership for the education profession, to promote academic excellence at all educational levels, to provide leadership development for its members, to foster an environment for professional growth, and to recognize outstanding educators.

Psi Chi (Psychology Honors Club) - The MNU branch of the National Honor Society of Psychology. The organization exists to further the science of psychology.

Sigma Theta Tau - From its inception, Sigma has recognized the value of scholarship and excellence in nursing practice. In 1936, Sigma became the first US organization to fund nursing research. Today, Sigma supports these values through its numerous professional development products and services that focus on the core areas of education, leadership, career development, evidence-based nursing, research, and scholarship. These products and services advanced the learning and professional development of members and all nurses who strive to improve the health of the world’s people.

The National Society of Leadership and Success - The National Society of Leadership and Success achieves profound results in helping students discover and attain their goals, offering life-changing lectures from the nation’s leading presenters and a community where students help one another.

Graduation Honors

Summa Cum Laude is granted at degree completion to undergraduate seniors with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.90, Magna Cum Laude to those with a 3.70 to 3.89, and Cum Laude to students who have earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 to 3.69 through the penultimate semester of their college career. To be eligible for this honor, the student must apply for graduation by the published deadline. Students may earn a maximum of 42 neutral credits to be eligible for graduation honors.

MidAmerica Nazarene University’s Iota chapter is a member of the Nazarene National Honor Society, Phi Delta Lambda, eligible students rank in the top 15% of the graduating class.

The American Heritage Award is the highest non-academic award given to a traditional graduating senior. The award, made by faculty election, is based upon campus citizenship, spiritual vitality, and all-around contribution to the University. To be considered for this honor, students must complete a minimum of 85 semester hours at MidAmerica Nazarene University by the final semester of their year of graduation.

Honor cords, medallions, and other designations must be preapproved for wear during commencement. No other alterations may be made to regalia during commencement.

Advanced Standing Credit

The University grants a maximum of 34 hours in all Advanced Standing programs. Credit granted by other institutions for any advanced placement will not be considered for transfer. Scores or documentation of credit should be submitted for evaluation and applicable fees. Advanced Standing credit is only granted to degree seeking students and includes CLEP and other placement exam results, International Baccalaureate degrees, advanced placement scores, prior learning assessment, and military credit. CLEP tests and the ACT-Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) may be taken for credit toward a degree at MidAmerica. Credits earned through CLEP, ACT-PEP, Advanced Placement (AP), the American Council on Education (ACE) or credits granted for military experience do not satisfy residency requirements. High school students wishing to take courses at the University while completing their high school work must meet the early admission requirements as noted in the Admissions section of this Catalog. Regardless of how many semester hours of college credit a high school student earns, Freshman Seminar will still be required upon being accepted as a student at MNU for first-time undergraduate freshman.

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The CLEP may be used to establish credit and advanced standing. The University advises first-time undergraduate students ranking 24 and above in ACT sub-score areas to consider taking the CLEP tests. Credit will be granted based on American Council on Education recommended standards. Credit validated by use of the CLEP does not apply toward a major or minor unless so specified by that department. Waiver of some required courses will allow more electives for the student who has done superior work in high school. The CLEP tests can be used to substitute for some equivalent courses at MidAmerica. There is a fee of $50 per semester hour for placing CLEP credits MidAmerica Nazarene University 20 on the college transcript. CLEP credit must be validated by official scores and transcripted by MidAmerica. CLEP credit is not transferable from other colleges. Scores should be submitted for evaluation and applicable fees.

The CLEP tests that can be accepted for consideration for specific MNU course equivalent or general electives are listed HERE . A full listing of CLEP tests is maintained in the Center for Academic and Professional Success.To schedule a CLEP exam at MNU, contact 913-971-3387 or testing@mnu.edu. Students should consult with the academic advisor to determine the desirability and acceptability of CLEP credit in meeting specific degree requirements. Language tests receive up to 16 hours credit according to score attained.

CLEP tests and the ACT-Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) may be taken for credit toward a degree at MidAmerica. Credits earned through CLEP, ACT-PEP, Advanced Placement (AP), the American Council on Education (ACE) or credits granted for military experience do not satisfy residency requirements.

Advanced Placement

High School students who have participated in the Advanced Placement Program, sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board will receive college credit if they earn a score of 3, 4 or 5. MidAmerica’s CEEB Code Number is 6437. The AP exams that are approved for college credit (either specific MNU courses or for elective credit) at MNU are listed HERE .

International Baccalaureate Degree

International Baccalaureate Degree (IB) Higher level courses will be honored by MNU for Advanced Placement Credit for scores of 5, 6, or 7. Each Department in cooperation with the Registrar’s Office will decide how much credit is to be given and which MNU courses are equivalent.

No credit may be given for non-diploma standard level courses unless acted upon by the Department and the area within the Department that is responsible.

Advanced Placement Credit may be earned for up to and including 34 semester hours of course work. IB credit will be counted within these 34 semester hours, not in addition to them.

Prior-learning Assessment

MidAmerica Nazarene University recognizes that college-level learning occurs in environments in and beyond the classroom. The University follows the guidelines established by the American Council on Education (ACE) and may award a maximum of 34 hours for Advanced Standing credit of which validated prior learning is a part. Credit is validated through review by faculty in the subject area, applying national standards established by ACE. Prior-learning credit may include credit for business, professional, labor, government, and voluntary organizations’ courses if recommended by ACE, and evaluation of portfolio credentials. Prior-Learning Assessment credits are neutral credits and will not count towards graduation honors. For further information about prior-learning assessment or to determine your eligibility for it, contact the Office of the Registrar.

Military Credit Policy

Credit for military training and experience is based on the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations. In order to award credit for basic training, the DD-214 should be presented to the appropriate office. If the DD-214 is unavailable, other documentation of completion of basic training can be presented and the Registrar, in consultation with the Admissions Office of each program, will determine if the documentation is sufficient to award credit. All other military credit will be granted based on a Joint Services transcript or an AARTS, SMART, College of the Air Force, or Coast Guard Institute transcript. No advanced placement fee will be charged for credit awarded from basic training. A minimum of four (4) hours will be accepted depending on the official military transcript. The student must request an official transcript to be sent directly to MidAmerica Nazarene University. Credit awarded for basic training meets the physical education requirement in MNU’s general education program. Information about ACE recommended credit for military training can also be found at http://www.acenet.edu/Pages/default.aspx. Students may request their joint services transcript at https://jst.doded.mil/.Academic Courses

Alternate Academic Courses

Directed Study

A directed study course is a regular course from the catalog designed by the instructor for the needs of a student who requests taking a regularly scheduled class when not offered and the student needs the course for graduation.

Requirements to qualify for a Directed Study course:

1. Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
2. Student is limited to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours in directed studies during a four-year Baccalaureate program. This limit does not include internship and travel credit.
3. Student must have successfully completed at least thirty (30) semester hours.
4. Student must be enrolled in a degree program at MidAmerica Nazarene University.

Registration in a directed study course requires a completed and approved application, a syllabus, and must be submitted during the regular registration period to the Office of the Registrar.

Independent Study

Undergraduate students may pursue projects in areas not covered by the University’s curriculum. Projects, whether conducted on or off campus, must be of an educational nature and of sufficient content to warrant credit. The Independent Study class should include a thorough description of the project or coursework to be undertaken, an indication of papers, assignments, test dates, conferences, and projected completion date. The proposal is developed by the student and supervising faculty member. It must be approved by the department chair from the instructor’s department, and dean. Credit for independent studies is indicated on the transcript by INDP 4999 with a unique title to indicate the nature of the class and use standard grading. Requirements to qualify for independent study:

1. Student must be classified as a junior or senior at the time of application.
2. Student must have a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA.
3. Student must be enrolled in a degree program at MidAmerica Nazarene University

Registration in an Independent Study course requires a completed and approved application, a syllabus, and must be submitted during the regular registration period to the Office of the Registrar.

Supplemental Education for Traditional Students

The University offers supplemental courses in writing, and algebra skills designed to be taken concurrently with related general education courses. Supplemental courses in reading, writing and math are required if ACT sub scores are below 19 (SAT verbal below 470 and Math below 460). In the absence of test scores, high school GPA and individual course performance may be used to determine placement in supplemental courses. The goal of the Supplemental Education Program is to assist and equip students for further academic endeavors. High school graduates with ACT sub-scores below 19 (SAT verbal below 470 and Math below 460) or students who do not submit ACT/SAT scores will be enrolled in the required supplemental course labs with the corresponding General Education courses. Students who wish to test out of supplemental education courses may take an Accuplacer test by contacting testing@mnu.edu. Traditional international English as a Second Language (ESL) students who fail to achieve an adequate passing score on Placement Exams will be required to enroll in appropriate supplemental lab courses.

Assignment of Credit Hours

At MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU), the assignment of credit hours conforms to commonly accepted practices in higher education. The credit hour is a unit of measure for academic achievement in higher education. The credit hour is foundational to academic credentialing. For example, to earn a bachelor’s degree from MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU), a student must complete at least 120 to 126 credit hours, as required by the specific program and detailed in the Catalog. At MNU, academic credit is always associated with courses of study, with a group of associated courses making up a coherent curriculum of study. MNU credit may be awarded for courses that are transferred in, for competencies demonstrated through examination, or for knowledge and skills acquired through life and work experience, but such credit is always accounted for as prior completion of work in a particular discipline.

The credit hour is also a unit of measure for the awarding of federal financial aid. At MNU, a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is established as equivalent to, or reasonably approximates, one of the following:

1. one-hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; OR
2. at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other instructional activities as established by MNU faculty, including laboratory work, internships, practicums, studio work, directed studies, and other academic work leading toward the award of credit hours; OR
3. at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for out-of-class instructional activities such as those listed in the Instructional Activities Inventory approved by MNU faculty; OR
4. when feasible, passing scores on standardized testing instruments that will document equivalent student learning across similar programs or courses with differing credit hour allocations.

MNU awards academic credit in accord with the federal definition of the credit hour as outlined in the institution’s credit hour policy. For term courses that follow the traditional academic calendar, the amount of direct faculty instruction conforms to paragraph (1) above. Courses that include practicums and internships include less direct faculty instruction but more out-of-class student work with the total student investment of labor conforming to paragraph (2) above. Non-term courses that have shorter- than-traditional durations on the calendar may include the same amount of in-class faculty instruction and out-of-class instructional activities shortened into fewer days or may have fewer hours of in-class faculty instruction with greater investment in out-of-class instructional activities or may have asynchronous contact between faculty and students as in online courses, as noted in paragraph (3) above.

The actual award of credit shall be by registration on an official transcript by the MNU registrar based solely upon student performance in classes documented in the course catalog of MNU. Integrity in the awarding of academic credit is assured through the process by which courses are added to the university catalog. The academic department that is sponsoring the new course provides a description of the intended learning outcomes for the course and corresponding assessment system. When syllabi are submitted those courses offered outside the typical term length provide a credit hour compliance document that serves to justify for the amount of credit requested for the course. Through the institution’s shared governance process, governing committees either certify the amount of credit to be awarded for the course or require adjustment to either the intended learning outcomes or the amount of credit to be awarded until the credit assignment is appropriate to the intended learning outcomes and the anticipated instructional activities.

Course Numbering

Course numbers are designed for student, faculty, and administrative use in degree programs. The first digit indicates the degree-level at which the course is normally taken. The second and third digits are used by the academic department. The fourth digit usually indicates the relative course value: a “1” designates a one-hour value, a “2” indicates a two-hour value, and a “3” means a three-hour value and so on.

Courses beginning with a “0” are considered developmental and do not meet any degree requirements but may be required for continuing further with college-level study.

Courses beginning with a “1” or “2” are considered lower division: LOWER- DIVISION

1000–primarily open to freshmen 2000– primarily open to sophomore

Courses beginning with a “3” or “4” are considered upper division: UPPER- DIVISION

3000–primarily open to juniors 4000– open to seniors

Courses beginning with a number of “5” or above are graduate level.

Recommended Sequence of Courses

Many departments offer a suggested course sequence for each of their majors. These are only suggested sequences. Due to the dynamic nature of course scheduling, MNU cannot guarantee that all courses will be offered in the exact printed order. In the event of a scheduling difficulty, plan to work directly with your academic advisor and department chair or associate dean to resolve the matter.

Transfer Credit

Undergraduate Transfer Students

MNU welcomes transfer students. In order to receive a degree from MNU, transfer students must earn at least 30 semester credit hours in residence. Transfer credit earned at institutions with institutional accreditation will transfer and may be applied to general education requirements and those of specific majors and minors, subject to the approval of the responsible department. Credits earned for vocational or technical courses generally do not transfer for equivalent courses. A student may request that the content of their coursework from this type of school be reviewed and, if the credit is determined to be college-level, credit may be awarded, or a specific program course requirement may be waived or transferred for elective credit. The determination of the award will be decided by the content area expert in consultation with the Registrar.

MNU may accept previous work, place a credit value on it, and enter it on the transcript. However, this previous work, because of its nature and not its inherent quality, may be determined to have no applicability to a specific degree to be pursued by the student. Course credit will transfer for elective, general education, and major or minor requirements as approved.

If a transfer student has an associate degree (AA or AS) or a baccalaureate degree (BA or BS), their general education requirements for MNU may already be met, except for 6 hours of required Spiritual Development coursework that a student may complete here at MNU.

MNU has articulation transfer agreements with several area schools. Active-Duty military personnel, a drilling member of the National Guard and Reserves, or an honorably discharged veteran may earn college credit for service. If you participated in the Kansas Teaching Pathways program MNU will accept 6 credit hours as identified in the Kansas State Department of Education articulation agreement.

Students should be aware that degree requirements vary from institution to institution. If considering a transfer to MNU, the student should examine the academic program requirements early in the college experience to begin making transfer plans in advance. Students with transcripts from outside the United States must have their transcript(s) evaluated by an approved evaluation service (see International Student section for details).

Prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student enrolls, official transcripts for ALL institutions previously attended must be submitted to the appropriate MNU Office of Admissions. Violation of this requirement will place the student in jeopardy of dismissal.

Evaluations are not made until all official transcripts have been received. All contents of the student’s admission file become the legal property of the University and are not returnable or transferable.

If a matriculated student sits out at least one regular (fall or spring) semester, that student must be readmitted to the University under the Readmission Process. If academic work was completed at another institution, the student will be considered a transfer student and the policy for transfer students will apply to their academic work.

Students, once they have started attending MNU, can request that a degree requirement be scheduled for completion at another institution (within residency requirements). An MNU student who desires to have academic work transferred from another institution will be considered a transient student and must have the work approved in advance by the area coordinator and department chair, the student’s advisor, and the Registrar at MNU. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that official transcripts from the other institutions are forwarded to the Registrar at MNU within six weeks after completion of the course.

Course Transfer Guidelines

1. Complete the Course Transfer Request Form (Registrar’s Office or www.mnu.edu/ registrar) and obtain appropriate approvals prior to registering in the course.
2. A copy of the course description from the college catalog must accompany the Course Transfer Request form. An inclusion of a syllabus is also suggested. If a syllabus is not available before approval is received, the syllabus from the course must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office as soon as available to the student. MNU retains the right to reverse the transfer decision based on contents of the syllabus if the syllabus is not submitted when the approval is given.
3. Transfer credit will be awarded if the course is passed and prior permission has been given.

Graduate Transfer Credit

Students from accredited graduate programs are welcome to apply as transfer students. A maximum of twelve graduate credit hours may be accepted toward a graduate degree. Please note: Some graduate programs at MNU will accept fewer than twelve graduate courses–consult program handbooks for specific details. The course(s) for which transfer credit hours are requested must be judged comparable in terms of content and quality to the applicable MNU graduate course (see transfer guidelines above). Requests for transfer credit are reviewed following the appropriate program process.

Evaluation Guidelines

The following guidelines are used in evaluating academic work from other institutions for transfer credit:

1. Transfer courses are accepted from two- and four-year institutions of higher education accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Credit from institutions not accredited by a recognized organization may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
2. To be accepted for credit, each course must be judged comparable in terms of content and quality to a course in the curriculum at MNU or it must be judged to be consistent with the liberal arts and science curriculum and of a quality comparable to that expected of courses at MNU. Equivalency is determined when a course contains 80% of the same course outcomes.
3. All course work taken at other institutions for which MNU receives a transcript will be evaluated for transfer credit, and if acceptable, will be posted to the student’s record. Transfer credit will be awarded at the same level for which it was earned. MidAmerica Nazarene University only accepts courses equivalent or comparable to those offered at MNU. Students may, in some cases, be permitted to pass a competency exam to demonstrate that a lower-division course that they are transferring to MNU was comparable in rigor to an upper-division course offered at MNU. Passing the competency exam entitles the student to enroll in another upper-division course to earn sufficient upper-division credits.
4. MNU does not award equivalency credit for courses deemed to have a significantly vocational slant; or personal orientation or learning skills courses which it deems to be developmental or remedial are not accepted. There are times when a vocational course associated with a given program may be relevant to general education goals or a given course of study and thus eligible for transfer as an elective. Only the Registrar’s Office (RO), program coordinator and department chair can make this determination in consultation with one another. No more than 15 hours of vocational education may be transferred to MNU.
5. Grades are transferred along with courses and count in MNU’s cumulative GPA.
6. Courses taken at institutions operating under a system other than semester or quarter credits will be accepted according to the conversion formula provided by those institutions. Quarter credits are converted by dividing the credit hours by 1.5. Semester credits taken elsewhere transfer to MNU as semester credits, equivalent to MNU semester hours.
7. If the student does not agree with an evaluation decision, the student is responsible to submit a request for review of the decision. An explanation of the requested change, a rationale for the request, a course description from the transfer college and a copy of the syllabus MUST accompany the request for review. A student who desires a review must have the work evaluated by the appropriate area coordinator and department chair, the student’s advisor, and the Registrar at MNU.
8. If the student wants a transfer course to apply towards a specific course requirement in general education or the major, the student must submit a request to the MNU Registrar. The request should include a copy of the course description from the transfer college catalog and a syllabus. The request will be reviewed by the appropriate area coordinator and department chair, the student’s advisor, and the Registrar at MNU.

MNU maintains several articulation agreements with area colleges and universities. These agreements allow student to automatically transfer courses from participating institutions once an official transcript is received in the Registrar’s Office. Transfer students should consult these agreements prior to completing paperwork. The Registrar’s Office commits to reviewing official transcripts within two weeks of receipt. This timeline may be altered should an academic area need time to review coursework for equivalency.

Registration

Auditing Classes

Upon payment of the fee, students may enroll at registration to audit a class on a space available basis. Laboratory, clinical, private lessons, music ensembles, and activity courses may not be audited. The person who audits a course is not permitted to take examinations, or to obtain credit for the course except by taking the course later by proper enrollment and meeting all the requirements for credit. Students auditing classes must attend 2/3 of the class sessions before the course is entered on the transcript as an audit.

Changes in Registration

Care should be exercised in the choice of courses so that changes will not be necessary after registration has been completed. Any changes made after registration has been completed must be processed officially in the Office of the Registrar. Students enrolled in cohort programs may be required to complete with their advisor annually a DCP (Degree Completion Program) form outlining how their coursework will be personalized given their previous learning experiences in order to complete a program/degree. For any change made after the stated deadline, except in cases made necessary by faculty action, a fee is charged. Accuracy of the DCP is essential as it informs financial aid decisions.

Late Registration

All students are expected to be present and to complete registration within the time allotted. A fee is charged students who enroll after the regular registration period. No registrations for regular class work are accepted after the stated deadline.

Withdrawal from College

OFFICIAL: Traditional students who find it necessary to withdraw from college before the close of the semester should secure withdrawal forms from the Academic Success Center. These forms should be properly and satisfactorily completed, signed, and filed in that office. Professional and graduate students should contact their academic advisor for withdrawal guidance.

ADMINISTRATIVE: If a student leaves the institution without notification, the institution may administratively withdraw the student from school. An unofficial withdrawal occurs when a student has failed to attend any classes for a consecutive two-week period (this includes online course engagement). Professors will notify the Registrar if a student is in these circumstances. The Registrar will determine if the student has withdrawn from school and will determine a date of withdrawal related to those circumstances. For courses shorter in length, see the academic calendar.

No withdrawals, for any reason, will be granted during the final two weeks of classes (not to include finals week) for a semester. A student who leaves the institution during the final two weeks of classes will risk receiving failing grades in all classes for the term. For courses shorter in length, see the academic calendar for withdrawal deadlines.

Withdrawal from a Course

Students may withdraw from a course with a “W” provided they withdraw by the deadlines put forth in the academic calendar. Withdrawal policies during the summer session are established by the Office of the Registrar. Typically, withdrawals are processed until 25% of the course remains at which point no withdrawals are allowed. Withdrawals processed in the first three-quarters of a course result in a “W” on the student’s transcript. See the academic calendar for exact dates. Students who find it necessary to withdraw from a course must secure withdrawal forms from the Office of the Registrar. These forms must be properly and satisfactorily completed and filed in the Office of the Registrar.

Summer Session

Summer session under the direction of the Chief Academic Officer, includes accelerated courses varying in length from one-week to eight-weeks. See the academic calendar for dates.

1. Financial charges and refund policy are available in the Cashier’s Office;
2. Regulations and arrangements supervised by the Vice President for Student Development apply during the summer;
3. The university reserves the right to cancel classes due to inadequate enrollment;
4. Students may enroll in a maximum of six hours during a four-week period except in specially approved programs.

Academic Integrity

MidAmerica Nazarene University expects its students, faculty, and staff to be honest and to have the highest personal integrity. This standard should govern relationships and behavior in the residence living areas, classrooms (online and face to face), chapel, and other campus entities. As a Christian community, faculty, staff, and students have a moral and ethical responsibility to uphold the principle of honesty, and to refrain from any activity or behavior that would suggest academic dishonesty and lack of personal integrity. Dishonesty is defined as a misrepresentation of facts to slant consequences in one’s favor, minimize one’s workload, or make untruthful claims to benefit oneself or others. Failures in academic integrity may occur in attendance fraud, cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication. The following sections list examples of dishonesty related to academic integrity. However, the list is not exhaustive.

Definitions and Examples

1. Attendance Fraud

Based upon the university’s view of integrity, a misrepresentation of one’s attendance at a required campus event (e.g., class, chapel, etc.) is a breach of academic integrity and is considered attendance fraud. Specifically, attendance fraud includes:

1. Writing another student’s name or I.D. number on an attendance sheet;
2. Asking or permitting another student to write one’s own name or I.D. number on an attendance sheet;
3. Writing one’s own name or I.D. number on an attendance sheet and leaving the activity before it is formally dismissed;
4. Making a false or misleading statement to an instructor as an excuse for missing class;
5. Altering or forging a document submitted to an instructor from a physician, nurse, or university official as an excuse for missing class; or
6. Providing false information on a time record about the amount of time worked.

2. Cheating

Students who cheat misrepresent their own legitimate effort on an assignment (including but not limited to projects, papers, tests, labs, recitals, reading requirements, practice hours, practica, etc.). Cheating is also the representation of someone else’s work as one’s own (including artificial intelligence). With advancement in technology, anything that misrepresents the authenticity of a student’s work and thinking is considered cheating. Assignments that require student authorship are included in this. Questions about using technology to generate writing should be directed to the professor of record.

Specifically, cheating includes the unauthorized:

1. Entry of a faculty or secretarial office in search of examination-related material;
2. Use of materials from a faculty or secretarial office to prepare for an examination;
3. Discussion of any part of an examination by a person who has not completed the exam with any person who has already completed the examination;
4. Presentation of a fraudulent excuse to seek permission to take an examination at a different time than the scheduled time;
5. Possession of a copy of an examination;
6. Assistance to or from another student or unauthorized software during an examination;
7. Looking at or attempting to look at another student’s paper or screen during an examination;
8. Use of unauthorized written or electronic materials during an examination;
9. Use of any unauthorized electronic device, pre-programmed or otherwise, during an exam; or
10. Unauthorized collaboration with another person to complete a project, test, or homework assignment.

The operating principle for a student is this: when in doubt, the student should assume that no questionable activity is permitted unless the faculty member explicitly approves it. It is the student’s responsibility to ask the faculty member which activities are authorized and permitted in each course. With advancement in technology, anything that misreprensents the authenticity of a student’s work and thinking is considered cheating. Assignments that require student authorship are included in this. Questions about using technology to generate writing should be directed to the professor of record.

3. Plagiarism

Academic integrity requires that one acknowledge ideas and expressions borrowed from others. Plagiarism is a special form of academic dishonesty in which writers or speakers fail to acknowledge the source of ideas, or portray someone else’s work as one’s own.

Plagiarism includes:

1. Copying another student’s work on an assignment (e.g., daily written work, a speech, term paper, workbook, etc.);
2. Unauthorized accessing and/or copying another person’s computer file(s);
3. Submitting written work or oral work purchased from commercial sources (e.g., “mail order” or online term papers) or submitting work based upon information purchased from such sources;
4. Submitting written or oral work as one’s own when prepared by another person or technology source (e.g., ChatGPT); or
5. Unacknowledged quotation from a published work or artificial intelligence.

In the academic community, there is variation in how often and to what degree the sources of ideas need to be cited. Faculty members can provide guidelines within academic disciplines. When the work depends upon the contributions of others, the basic principle to be following is to acknowledge one’s indebtedness to them.

Disciplinary Action for Academic Integrity Violation

The thrust of academic integrity policy of MidAmerica Nazarene University is twofold. The university endeavors to communicate clearly its positive expectations about the principle of academic integrity and to educate its members accordingly.

1. The university also endeavors to discipline violations of academic integrity in a fair and consistent manner. The penalty for an academic integrity violation may include any of the following depending on the severity and/or the pattern of violation:

1. A zero (0) or “F” on that particular assignment, examination, or project. No makeup work or extra credit project will be permitted. The zero or “F” may not count as the lowest grade to be dropped if a faculty member uses a lowest-grade-dropped policy. A zero (0) or “F” on that particular assignment, examination, or project may result in course failure.
2. Failure for that course, or
3. Dismissal from a program and/or the University.

2. More severe penalties may be levied when the integrity offense is an organized group action or when criminal actions result.

3. The university reserves the right to pursue legal action or prosecution of alleged offenses.

Academic Grievance 

Academic (Non-grade) Grievance*

If a student deems it appropriate to appeal an academic decision (for example - probation from an academic program, dismissal from an academic program, academic integrity decision, etc.), the student must communicate and seek to resolve the situation with the professor concerned. If the student does not accept the resolution proposed by the professor, an appeal may be made in writing to the Department Chair or Program Coordinator. Grievance forms are available in the individual departments and the Registrar’s Office. The written appeal must specify both the complaint and the action requested.

If the student does not accept the resolution proposed the student may advance their grievance to the School Associate Dean within seven (7) working days who will review the petition and discuss the matter with parties involved. The Associate Dean will then make a recommendation. If the student does not accept the recommendation, the student may advance his or her appeal within seven (7) working days to the Dean in charge of their degree area, who will convene a university appeals committee.

The Committee, appointed by the Dean, shall consist of two (2) faculty members not assigned to the academic school and one (1) student. The committee may at its discretion summon evidence pertinent to the appeal and question persons involved. The committee will provide a hearing for the student and/or faculty member to present their position and evidence. Neither student nor faculty is allowed to bring in attorneys or outside persons or counsel.

The burden of proof lies with the student filing the appeal to demonstrate that the academic decision made was clearly unfair. A written summary of the proceedings and of the rationale for the decision shall be provided to the grievant, the person alleged to be the offender, the department chair and/or Associate Dean, the Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Chief Academic Officer.

*School of Nursing students are referred to their respective program’s handbook for information regarding grade changes, appeals and associated deadlines.

Academic Exceptions Committee

Students who wish to petition for an exception from an academic regulation or policy of MidAmerica Nazarene University may file an Academic Exceptions petition with the Registrar. Supporting recommendations from faculty or other sources, as well as evidence of mitigating circumstances, may be submitted with the petition. The Registrar distributes the request, and supporting documentation if needed, to the Academic Exceptions Committee.

Additional Academic Policies

Pregnancy Disclosure Policy

A student who foresees any educational issues related to pregnancy is strongly encouraged to notify the program director/department chair as soon as possible. By doing so, the student and the program director/department chair can collaborate and develop an appropriate plan for the continuation of the student’s education. In light of the unique nature of each program, as well as particular challenges the student may face while pregnant or when recovering from childbirth (e.g., missed classes, make-up work, etc.), these options will vary. The choice to declare a pregnancy is voluntary, and a student is not required to disclose this information to the university. Medical issues arising from a pregnancy may qualify a student for accommodations. Please contact our Director of Accessibility and Testing for more information at access@mnu.edu.

Options after disclosure - Once a student has voluntarily decided to disclose a pregnancy to the university, the student will have several options, as described below.

1. Continue in the program

• If a student decides to continue in the program and desires to have any adjustments to her academic program due to the pregnancy, the student should contact the program director/department chair to discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be necessary to continue in the program. Such adjustments, if any, will be documented in the form in Addendum A   which will be signed by both the student and a university representative.

2. Request a leave of absence

• A leave of absence due to pregnancy may be for various amounts of time depending on a student’s particular circumstances. Such a leave may be extended if deemed medically necessary by the student’s doctor.
• Due to the structure of some programs, the timing and/or length of a student’s leave of absence may result in the student being required to re-take or finish course(s) in a future term.
• If taking a leave of absence due to a pregnancy, the Education Plan in Addendum B  will be discussed and signed by the student and a university representative.

3. Withdraw from the university

• The student may, in the student’s sole discretion, determine that student must withdraw from the university for an indefinite period of time or permanently due to pregnancy. Normal university withdrawal procedures, and readmission procedures (if applicable), apply.

Questions or concerns - A student who has questions about this policy or who is concerned about its implementation, should contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions, or if online, to attend to all course modules each week, except for serious illness or because of other unavoidable circumstances. Students are responsible to the instructor to see that course requirements are met. Instructors are required to include any requirements for attendance in the course syllabus; excessive absences under instructor policies may result in grade reduction. Students needing to miss classes should follow instructor policies regarding notifying instructors of absences and related arrangements.

Missed work or class due to extracurricular activities Extracurricular activities (such as conference poster sessions, music groups, athletics, field trips for other classes, Early College High School requirements, etc.) may impact student schedules for submitting work, performing work during class, class participation, and attendance. Students should generally be permitted to make alternate arrangements for work submission, class work, participation credit, and (for courses where instructor policies require attendance), attendance credit, provided students do the following:

• Review schedules for extracurricular activities early and on a regular basis;
• Communicate with each instructor regarding anticipated absences at least one week in advance of an activity (or, in rare case of events where the student could not have known of an extracurricular event disrupting the student’s schedule a week in advance, as soon as possible);
• Make arrangements with the instructor to complete and submit required work (i.e., exams, papers, presentations, video review, or any other course assignments).