Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Academic Information for GPS

Attendance

Classroom Attendance

Due to the accelerated nature of GPS programs, a class absence may jeopardize student learning and success. Class attendance, therefore, is mandatory, and GPS instructors will comply with the attendance policies.

Absences

Each student is responsible for communicating directly with the course instructor regarding all absences and make-up work.

  1. If a student misses one (1) class session in a course that is less than 8-weeks or two (2) class sessions in a course that is at least 8 weeks, the absence(s) will result in the student choosing one of the following options:
    • Option A: The student will receive a 5% drop in the final course grade AND complete all make-up work, as determined by the instructor.
    • Option B: The student will complete all make-up work as determined by the instructor, AND submit a paper on an approved Additional Assignment Topic (for an absence) for the missed session. The instructor will approve the topic and judge the quality of the paper, which must be typed in APA format and include a title page and a reference page.
      • Note: Option B is not available in all GPS programs, or in online courses.
  2. If a student misses two (2) or more classes in a course that is less than 8 weeks or three (3) in a class that is at least 8 weeks, s/he will automatically receive a grade of "X" and have to repeat the course. The tuition for the repeated course will be the same as the other students in the new group.
  3. A student may appeal an "X" grade to be changed to a "W", if the student can provide:
    • written verification from an accepted medical source (as determined by the AVPGPP) that a personal medical situation (e.g., hospitalization) was the cause for ALL absences;
    • written verification from an official military source that required military duty was the cause of ALL absences; or
    • written verification from the student’s employer that a work conflict was the cause of ALL absences.
    • In the event that the appeal is upheld, and the student's grade is changed from an "X" to a "W", the student will still be required to repeat the entire course.

Tardiness

Due to the accelerated nature of GPS programs, class tardiness may jeopardize student learning and success. Attending class in its entirety, therefore, is mandatory. Tardiness includes late arrivals and early departures. Tardiness is viewed as disruptive to the instructor and other class members. GPS instructors will comply with the following scale used for missed portions of a class session:

  • 1-30 minutes = 1% drop in final course grade
  • 31-60 minutes = 2% drop in final course grade
  • 61-90 minutes = 3% drop in final course grade
  • 91-120 minutes = 4% drop in final course grade
  • 120+ minutes = 5% drop in final course grade and treat as class absence

Tardiness may also result in loss of credit for missed in-class activities.

Class Cancellation Policy

Any decision to cancel class due to inclement weather will be made by the AVPGPP. Students, faculty, and staff will be notified via email if a cancellation occurs. Due to the geography of the state of Ohio, some locations may be closed while others are not. If you are in doubt about the status of class cancellation, call the Class Cancellation Hotline: 1-877-431-9610 x1650.

Many events (such as a snow emergency, flooding, tornado, or other crisis) may make it necessary for GPS to cancel a face-to-face class session. When this happens, the class session will be moved online using our Moodle learning management system. The assignments for the online class alternative will be switched on by MVNU faculty or staff, and may be found under that week’s assignments. The following additional policies will be in effect:

  • Any homework assignments that were due that night are still due that night. Students will need to upload those assignments in the normal manner. Questions about submission of assignments should be directed to the instructor.
  • There will be 2 online assignments that will replicate face-to-face class learning experiences. The first will be due 3 days following the night of the normal class meeting; the second will be due 5 nights following the night of the normal class meeting. The following chart contains specific due dates:

Scheduled Night

First Assignment Due

Second Assignment Due

Monday

Thursday

Saturday

Tuesday

Friday

Sunday

Wednesday

Saturday

Monday

Thursday

Sunday

Tuesday

Friday

Monday

Wednesday

Saturday

Tuesday

Thursday
  • To be counted present, students must complete the online assignments; students who do not, will be marked absent and assessed a penalty equal to 5 percent of the final course grade.
  • The quality of work on the online assignments is important. By completing the assignments, a student will be counted present for the week; however, instructors may reduce a student’s final course grade by up to 5 percent for less-than-excellent work.

Online Class Attendance

The foundation of the online experience is active engagement with fellow students and the facilitating instructor. Ideally, students are actively engaged for 6 of the 7 days of an instructional week. (While participation on Sunday is never required, access to the course content is allowed.) In addition, attendance and attendance record-keeping is required by the federal government. (Various federal programs - including financial aid - are based upon this.)

For a student to be counted as in attendance for a specific instructional week, s/he must make substantial contributions in the class on at least 3 separate days. If a student posts less than this, then s/he is counted as absent for the week.

A failing grade will be automatically awarded when a student is absent:

  • once during a 1-3 week-long course
  • more than once during a 4-6 week-long course
  • more than twice for a 7-8 week-long course

For most GPS programs the official instructional week for the university is from 12:00 a.m. EST Monday through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. While students may use Sunday as a day for submitting discussion posts or assignments, in order to meet the attendance requirements, faculty are not required to participate in the online course on Sunday. (Note: While it is acceptable to work ahead on most assignments, posting in discussion forums in advance of a specific instructional week will not count for attendance.)

Example: If it is Week 2 of a course, a student may post in the discussion forums on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Because the student has posted on 3 separate days, s/he will be counted as in attendance for Week 2. However, if s/he works ahead and makes postings on Week 3 assignments during Week 2, the Week 3 postings do NOT count for Week 2 OR for Week 3 attendance. In sum, a student must post on 3 separate days in the current instructional week to be counted in attendance for that instructional week.

For programs in the Jetter School of Business (BBA, GBD), the instructional week is from 12:00 a.m. EST Monday through 11:59 p.m. on Saturday. For attendance purposes, postings from 12:00 a.m. EST Sunday through 11:59 p.m. on Saturday will count. (Note: While it is acceptable to work ahead on most assignments, posting in discussion forums in advance of a specific instructional week will not count for attendance.)

Example: During Week 2 of a course, a student posts in the discussion forums on Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday. Because the student has posted on 3 separate days, s/he will be counted as in attendance for Week 2. However, if s/he works ahead and makes postings on Week 3 assignments during Week 2, the Week 3 postings do NOT count for Week 2 OR for Week 3 attendance. In sum, a student must post on 3 separate days in the current instructional week to be counted in attendance for that instructional week.

Grades

The only grades that instructors may issue are as follows: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, F. As described above, the grade of "X" will be issued as a result of the student’s failure to meet the specified attendance requirements. To receive a grade of "I," the student must ask the instructor to petition the appropriate School Dean prior to the last date of the course. Due to VA regulations, a grade of "I" will not be issued to students receiving Veterans’ Administration benefits. Additional information regarding the MVNU grading system, GPA computation, and explanation of the Incomplete ("I") grade may be found in the Catalog.

Because many students are reimbursed on a course-by-course basis, a grade report will be issued by GPS upon request within 2 weeks of the completion of each course.

Academic Standing

Students who are admitted on standard admission status (or who are admitted without being placed on probation) but whose GPA falls below a certain level while in the program will be placed on academic probation. General GPA requirements are as follows:

Years of Attendance

Minimum Total Credit Hours Earned

Minimum cumulative GPA Required

1

18

2.00

2

38

2.00

3

58

2.25

4

80

2.25

5

102

2.50

6

124

2.50

Note that each program maintains specific requirements to be considered in good academic standing. Please see the appropriate program section of the Catalog for additional program-specific information.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Note: This section pertains to the satisfactory academic progress standards that apply specifically to a student’s academic standing within the university. The standards for satisfactory academic progress that students must meet to be eligible to receive Title IV financial assistance may be found in the catalog under Financial Aid. Those standards are for financial aid purposes only and do not replace or override the following academic policies of Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

  1. Students not meeting the standards will be placed on academic probation. Students are placed on academic probation when their cumulative GPA falls below satisfactory academic progress criteria as determined by their program. (Please note: if no program-specific criteria for satisfactory academic progress are provided, it is because the standards are identical to those listed in the above table.) Students placed on academic probation must achieve required cumulative and program-specific GPA standards by the end of the probationary term.
  2. Students that fail to attain required GPA standards at the end of the probationary term, or who earn less than a 1.0 GPA in any term (regardless of academic standing), are subject to academic dismissal. First-time dismissals are for 6 months; second dismissals are for 1 year. Students who are academically dismissed will receive written notification. If a student has started another course, s/he will be administratively dropped from that course, withdrawn from the program and the University and will not be charged for that course. After the dismissal period is served, students may apply for reinstatement to the GPS Enrollment Specialist.
  3. Any student wishing to appeal an academic dismissal must, within 7 days of the date of the dismissal letter, send a letter of appeal with a plan for improving his/her GPA to the AVPGPP. The student may remain in class while the AVPGPP processes the appeal.

Student Disenrollment

Students may be disenrolled for several reasons, including (but not limited to) these:

  • low GPA
  • outstanding financial balance
  • unapproved leave of absence
  • deportment
  • non-compliance with the Catalog or the student’s program guide/handbook
  • failure to provide official transcript(s) from college(s) previously attended
  • false or incomplete information on the application for admission
  • failure to successfully complete 2 consecutive courses

Students who re-enroll may be placed on academic probation.

Adding a Course

A student desiring to add a course must submit that request to the GPS Registration Specialist, in writing, a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the first class. A GPA of 2.5 is required to take more than one course at a time. There is a $100 fee to add a course. A student with a past due balance will not be permitted to add any courses until the balance is paid in full.

Dropping a Course

When a student chooses to drop a course, s/he must contact the GPS Registration Specialist (voicemail or email) to initiate the process. Written verification from the student is required. Dropping a course may affect the student’s financial and/or academic status. Failure to drop properly may cause the student to be charged according to Federal Refund policy.

Dropping Before the First Day of Class

  • If a student officially drops a course before the first day of class, regardless of the reason, the student will receive a grade of "W" and not be charged for the course until it is rescheduled. (Note: There is a $100 add fee to reschedule a course.)
  • The student will be charged for any textbooks s/he has received.

Dropping After the First Day of Class

  • The student will receive a grade of "X". If a course is dropped due to illness, work responsibility, family emergency or military duty, which caused the student to miss 2 or more nights of the course, his/her grade will be changed to a "W". To initiate such a change, the student must provide written documentation of the reason within 30 days of the last absence.
  • The student’s account will be credited if the student provides written documentation of one of the above approved reasons. The student will be charged to re-take the course. (Note: There is a $100 add fee to reschedule a course.) The student must provide written documentation of the reason within 30 days of the last absence. If the course is rescheduled, the student will have to pay for new textbooks if the edition or curriculum has changed.

Ramifications of Dropping One or More Courses

  • Because financial aid is based on credit hours and the student’s academic year, a student’s financial aid may be affected by a course drop. Any student wishing to drop a course should contact a financial aid advisor prior to doing so. The impact on a student’s account is dependent on when the course drop is initiated and the reason for the drop.
  • A student’s GPA may be affected by a course drop. A grade of "W" does not impact the GPA, but a grade of "X" is calculated as an F in the GPA. An "X" grade remains permanently on a transcript, but the GPA is recalculated after the "X" is replaced by a letter grade. The impact on a student’s GPA is dependent on when the course drop is initiated and the reason for the drop.
  • If a student who has a GPS computer drops 2 consecutive courses, the computer must be returned to the GPS site personnel at the time the second course is dropped

Re-Enrollment

Any student who applies for re-enrollment into any GPS program must have a zero balance prior to being re-enrolled.

Graduation

Students must submit an Intent to Graduate form at least 8 weeks before commencement. The form must be submitted through the student portal. All transfer credits, CLEP scores, and DANTES scores must be submitted by this deadline as well.