Academic Policies and Resources

In any organization or institution, for orderliness and efficiency and maintenance of certain standards, rules and regulations are established in the best interest of those who participate. Certain procedures have been set forth at Heidelberg University by the Board of Trustees, faculty and the students and by the three teams working together.

The general rules and regulations of the University pertaining to discipline and conduct are available to students in the Student Handbook located on the Inside Heidelberg website.

In any situation not specifically covered by a regulation, the University reserves the right to take action that will most effectively protect the welfare of its students and the interests of the University.

Commitments from Heidelberg

Four-Year Graduation Guarantee

Heidelberg is committed to helping all students graduate in four years by offering easy-to-follow steps to stay on track. If a student meets all the conditions and outlined responsibilities of the Four-Year Graduation Guarantee, but is unable to graduate in four years, Heidelberg allows them to take the courses needed to graduate tuition-free and room and board while the required courses are completed.

Tuition Guarantee

Our Tuition Guarantee locks in tuition costs over four years of study. The tuition you pay your first year will be the same price you pay each year through your fourth year. This doesn’t mean your costs will be the exact same every year - room, board, fees and scholarships can vary year to year - but you won’t have to worry about tuition increases that are often a driving factor of financial strain on families.

PlusOneAdvantage® MBA Scholarship

Heidelberg’s PlusOneAdvantage® MBA Scholarship offers all students (regardless of undergraduate major) the opportunity to add value to their undergraduate education by adding a Master of Business Administration degree. Business skills help majors stand out and become more marketable in their own career path. Any student who completes a bachelor’s degree (in any major) at Heidelberg within four years, including the five prerequisite courses for MBA admission, with at least a 3.0 GPA will be eligible to stay and earn a Master of Business Administration tuition-free in one year (three semesters, entry in fall). Students who qualify may begin the PlusOneAdvantage® MBA Scholarship Program within two years after completing their undergraduate degree at Heidelberg. Students who do not complete the program in 1 year can continue in the program at the qualified alumni rate of 50% tuition. The tuition-free scholarship is available to all Heidelberg undergraduates who started at Heidelberg as a 1st year student. Students who transfer to Heidelberg after attending a community college or another university may enroll in the MBA program at the alumni rate of 50% tuition. Heidelberg graduates who enroll in the MBA program longer than 2 years after their undergraduate graduation date can receive a 50% discount.

PlusOneAdvantage® MBA Scholarship Prerequisite Pathway

Eligible students seeking the PlusOneAdvantage® MBA Scholarship can complete the prerequisites through a Pathway of five courses at Heidelberg: ACC 190 (or ACC 201 and ACC 202), FIN 200, MGT 200, and MKT 200 (all offered through the School of Business), and MTH 119. These five courses comprise the Business Minor, which can only be completed by students who do not major in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, Human Resource Management, or Supply Chain Management. Students who successfully complete any of these majors will automatically satisfy the prerequisites.

In order to register for the School of Business prerequisite courses, students who have not completed one of the 8 majors listed above must declare the Business Minor no later than the beginning of their junior year at Heidelberg. Students should work closely with their academic advisor to declare the Business Minor Pathway and determine the best plan for completing the five prerequisite courses for admission into the MBA program.

Academic Support and Policies

Academic Advising

Intentional advising helps students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to take full responsibility for completing a program consistent with their educational and professional aspirations. At Heidelberg, it is our mission to provide quality academic advising that educates the whole person and motivates students to make their own informed decisions. For their first year, students are assigned to an advisor by the Owen Center for Teaching and Learning. Advisors work with incoming students prior to orientation to create fall semester schedules. Advisors work with students throughout their first year, after which students are assigned a faculty advisor in their major department or program. The chair of each department or program designates faculty advisors for each student.

Pre-Law Advising

Heidelberg University has a unique pre-law program which offers an excellent opportunity for preparing students for law school. A pre-law advisor is available to assist students interested in a legal career since the pre-law advisor has law school experience and has practiced law. The pre-law advisor will work with individual students to select a course of study that will best suit their interests as well as their career choice. The pre-law program provides a supportive environment for those students interested in going to law school and includes assistance with the law school application process. Although there is no preferred course of study for a person wanting to go to law school, The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools suggests that students thinking of law school acquire skills that enable one to think critically, reason logically, and speak and write effectively. These skills can be attained in a number of different courses and majors. A student will have ample opportunity to gain these skills with Heidelberg University’s emphasis on a broad liberal arts education.

Pre-Medical Advising

A student intending to pursue a career in a medical field will benefit from specific coursework. A specific set of courses has been defined by faculty to prepare students for entrance exams (MCAT, VCAT, DAT, etc.), to provide commonly mandated professional health program prerequisites, and to provide a strong academic foundation for training that will come following graduation. Students may apply to the program, and if accepted can have this program added to any major. (See Pre-Medical Concentration in the Academic Programs of Study).

Pre-Professional Advising

Students who plan to enter accredited professional schools such as medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, law, veterinary medicine, environmental management and the ministry can obtain at Heidelberg the thorough undergraduate training necessary for success in those professional schools. The ideal preparation for professional training is the complete four-year curriculum in a liberal arts program. Most professional schools give preference to the thoroughly trained individual who has a degree. However, some students may accelerate their work and the following plan might prove helpful. Those few individuals who are able to complete a minimum of 90 semester hours which include general education or honors curriculum as well as major requirements during their first 3 years at Heidelberg, may arrange to take their senior year at a professional school if that professional school is approved by recognized academic accrediting agencies. If they can obtain admission to such a school without having completed their undergraduate work (only electives remaining), they will be granted the baccalaureate degree from Heidelberg University under the following conditions:

• They must spend at least two years, including the junior year, as students of Heidelberg University.
• They must have completed all general education or Honors Program and major requirements at Heidelberg University. This will constitute a minimum of 90 semester hours of academic work.
• They must have an overall GPA of 3.00 at the end of their junior year.
• They must notify the Registrar of their intention by the end of the sophomore year. This is essential because approval of the accreditation of the professional school in question must be determined.
• They must satisfactorily complete the first year’s work in the professional school. A transcript of the work must be sent to the Registrar of Heidelberg University.

Academic Support

The Owen Center for Teaching and Learning fosters the academic excellence of all Heidelberg students. The Owen Center programs include academic advising, the Writing Center, the Quant Center, Supplemental Instruction for specific courses, subject specific tutoring, and Academic Success Coaching.

Academic Appraisals

To provide feedback to undergraduate students regarding individual course performance, faculty issue appraisals at four, eight, and twelve weeks each semester. Student appraisal results can be viewed by students and advisors in OASIS. Appraisals should be taken seriously and students should discuss concerns with their course instructors and academic advisors.

Academic Catalog

At any time during a student’s tenure, she or he may opt to fulfill the requirements of any university catalog that came after, not before, the catalog under which he or she originally matriculated. Academic policies that are not directly tied to the degree, major, minor, and concentration requirements are constantly in review. Students need to make themselves aware of these policies in addition to their degree requirements. Academic policies are published annually on the registrar’s website as the current academic year’s catalog. Amendments to degree, major, minor, and concentration requirements are posted to students electronically as well as posted as an addendum to the specific year’s catalog on the registrar’s website.

Academic Honesty

The University values honesty and integrity as fundamentals to learning and personal success. All members of the University should respect the integrity of another’s work and recognize the importance of acknowledging and safeguarding intellectual property. The full policy to comply with Academic Honesty is located on the Inside Heidelberg website in the Student Handbook section for students; or, the Faculty Manual for faculty.

Accessibility

Student Accessibility Services provides students with disabilities and/or accessibility needs, the services and support needed to achieve equal access while pursuing higher education. Student Accessibility Services also serves the wider campus community as a resource in understanding disability, accessibility, and inclusivity. A student with disabilities and other accessibility needs who requires housing, dining, and/or academic accommodations to overcome barriers to their educational experience are encouraged to contact the Coordinator of Student Accessibility Services. The Coordinator will review the student’s rights and responsibilities, and guide them through the confidential, interactive process of arranging appropriate accommodations. Student Accessibility Services is located within the Owen Center for Teaching and Learning.

Consortial Partnerships

Consortial partnerships offer an opportunity to Heidelberg students to enroll into a select set of courses through a partnership school to have the course transcribed as a Heidelberg course, to maintain eligibility for financial aid, and for enrollment status. See the Heidelberg University website for an up-to-date list of Consortial Partnerships.

Cooperative Degree Programs

Heidelberg University has cooperative degree programs with the Ursuline University Breen School of Nursing for an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (see Health Sciences Chair), and the Lake Erie School of Osteopathic Medicine (see Pre-Health Advisors).

The Ursuline program is designed for students to complete their major and general education requirements in 3 years at Heidelberg and then complete the 15-month accelerated nursing program at Ursuline. While the health sciences major provides a somewhat seamless pathway, students may choose to complete any Heidelberg major while completing the nursing prerequisites required by Ursuline. Students who meet the admission criteria at Ursuline may apply to start the program after their junior year at Heidelberg or may choose to apply after graduating from Heidelberg.

LECOM has developed special Early Acceptance Programs with select community colleges, undergraduate colleges and universities that grant qualified students a provisional early acceptance to LECOM’s School of Pharmacy, School of Dental Medicine or College of Osteopathic Medicine. In some cases, these programs will permit the student to start the professional program prior to receiving a bachelor degree from the undergraduate institution. Students are eligible for this program if they have completed at least 30 credit hours, and maintained a GPA of 3.4 or higher and have become an approved affiliated student at least 2 years prior to starting at LECOM or roughly 60 credits.

Heidelberg English Language Institute (HELI)

The Heidelberg English Language Institute provides non English speakers a program to reach a level of proficiency to complete academic programs. Based on the results of submitted evaluations, a student is placed into one of three programs best suited to their language-skill level. (1) Test scores that indicate a need for further training in English are placed in an all-HELI English program. (2) Test scores that indicate a high level of English proficiency in some skill areas are placed in a transition program. In this program, one or more academic classes may be taken with permission of the director while continuing to improve their English skills in HELI classes. (3) Test scores that indicate an acceptable level of language fluency in all skill areas are eligible for a full-time academic program.

HELI classes appear on the regular academic schedule. HELI course descriptions appear under the heading ELI - English Language Institute in the Course Descriptions section of this Catalog. Either a passing oral evaluation or successful completion of ELI 132 and the HELI oral evaluation are prerequisites for COM 100. Upon successful completion of ELI 142, Level IV: Academic Skills: Advanced Level Writing, a student in the HELI program may register for WRI 100, College Writing I. Only credits earned in 100-level courses are applicable toward a bachelor’s degree at Heidelberg University.

Library and Instructional Services

Beeghly Library supports the education, research, and information needs of the University community. In addition to its physical holdings of print and media formats, the library provides extensive access to electronic books, journals, and research databases. Membership in the OPAL and OhioLINK library consortia allows access to the combined collections of 122 Ohio university and college libraries. Services include in-person and virtual reference assistance, access to on-site and off-site information, and library research classes. The library web site provides access to the Library Catalog, research databases, and information on services. Circulation policies for items owned by Beeghly Library and for items borrowed from other OhioLINK and OPAL Libraries are also available on the library website.

The University Archives is housed in the lower level of Beeghly Library. Their services include collecting and maintaining documents and materials on the history of the university, assisting individuals researching Heidelberg, creating displays about Heidelberg, and hosting groups interested in the history of the institution and the archival collections.

National Center for Water Quality Research

Individuals desiring career-oriented experiences in the natural science fields may participate in the ongoing research programs of water quality studies involving northern Ohio streams, rivers, and wetlands. The Heidelberg National Center for Water Quality Research (NCWQR), which was founded within the Department of Biology in 1969, provides opportunities for students through summer internships, part-time work during the summer and semester, and coursework in the natural sciences, especially the Watershed Science Specialization. Since its founding, the laboratory has been supported by grants from governmental and private agencies. The NCWQR’s water analysis laboratory at Heidelberg is one of the best-equipped facilities of its type in the nation.

Post Baccalaureate Studies

Beginning in June 1987 a Master of Arts in Education degree program was instituted. This program was designed to improve teachers’ classroom competencies and leadership capabilities.

In Fall 2021, the Master of Arts in Education degree program transitioned from a degreegranting program to a graduate endorsement program.

In January 1989 a Master of Arts in Counseling degree program was instituted. This program is designed to develop in students the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to professionally provide counseling services to clients in school and non-school settings.

In August 1995, a Master of Business Administration degree program was begun. The purpose of this program is to develop in students the knowledge and skills needed for general management, including the capacities of understanding, judgment and communication leading to action.

In June 2009, Heidelberg opened a Master of Music Education degree program. This program was designed as a practical approach for in-service music educators. In Fall 2021, the Master of Music Education program transitioned from a degree-granting program to one providing professional development opportunities through the School of Music and Theatre.

In August 2021, a Master of Athletic Training program was instituted. This program is designed to prepare the Athletic Training student for the certification process and examination administered by the Board of Certification, as well as a career as a Certified Athletic Trainer in a variety of professional settings.

Residency

Curriculum requirements stated as in residence requires the course to be completed through Heidelberg or in an approved program of study when studying off-campus.

Active-Duty Servicemembers

Active-duty servicemembers and their adult family members (spouse and college-age children) must complete at least 25% of the degree requirements for all degrees in residence. In addition, there are no “final year” or “final semester” residency requirements for active-duty servicemembers and their family members. Academic residency can be completed at any time while active-duty servicemembers are enrolled. Reservist and National Guardsmen on activeduty are covered in the same manner.

ROTC Program

Heidelberg University has an agreement with Bowling Green State University for students who wish to take Air Force and Army ROTC courses for the purpose of earning appointments as commissioned officers. A maximum of 20 semester hours may be applied toward the Heidelberg University bachelor’s degree. Students are required to complete and sign a learning contract, available in Heidelberg’s Registrar’s Office, prior to enrollment with Bowling Green State University in ROTC courses.

Air Force ROTC

The Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFROTC) program, offered by the Department of Aerospace Studies, provides college-level education to prepare interested men and women for commissioning as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force. The program emphasizes leadership, managerial skills and the development of each student’s sense of personal integrity, honor and individual responsibility. Additionally, there is no military commitment in taking the course. A commitment decision is not required unless offered a scholarship, or after a student’s sophomore year in the program. Scholarships may provide up to full college tuition, required fees, textbook allowance and pay the recipient $350-500 per academic month (tax-free). See www.bgsu.edu/departments/airforce or call (419) 372-2176 for more information.

Army ROTC

Army ROTC offers the chance to enrich college experiences and achieve full potential while attending college and after graduation. Each year about half the program’s graduates begin civilian careers in the chosen field. The other half choose to serve full time on active duty and make the Army a career. ROTC graduates routinely secure leadership positions because they are self disciplined, capable of leading others and managing resources. All graduates, whether they choose the National Guard Reserve or Active Duty, complete about four months of specialty training in one of the Army’s 16 major branches. Army ROTC offers a wide range of financial assistance.

Further information on these programs is available from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Course numbers and descriptions can be found on the BGSU website www.bgsu.edu under AERO for Air Force courses and MSL for Army courses.

Transcript of Credit

The Office of the Registrar is the official office to release a student’s academic record which is a chronological listing of all coursework and degrees attempted and earned. The University offers secure electronic transcript delivery and paper copy. In partnership with Parchment, Heidelberg University is able to provide official transcripts delivered through Parchment to network and out of network recipients. Directions are available at the registrar’s website to assist in the transcript request process. Rates are subject to change based on current US Postal Service charges; all fees are posted on the transcript ordering website. Electronic transcripts are generally sent every twenty-four hours when ordered online. In office requests are processed weekly, generally five to seven business days. Immediate transcript processing is available for $30.00, plus the transcript fee. Transcripts will not be released when there is an active hold on your account.

Transient Student

Degree-seeking students who wish to receive credit earned at another accredited institution (refer to Transfer Policy) must have written approval from their University academic advisor; the Transient Student Permission Form should be used for this purpose. To determine course transferability, the subject Department Chair/Program Director will review the course when the course is not a part of an Articulation Agreement. Once the Transient Student Permission Form is completed and submitted, the Office of the Registrar may approve the contract. Any course work taken off campus is held to the Transfer Policy guidelines. See also the course repeat policy when a course is eligible to be taken as a course repeat.

Students are not permitted to take a course(s) off campus within the senior year of coursework. This rule may be petitioned; see the Office of the Registrar for details.

Academic Scholarship

Awards and Fellowships

The Office for Undergraduate Awards and Fellowships serves as the location for faculty sponsors of undergraduate students and recent graduates seeking institutional sponsorship for competitive awards and fellowships such as Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, Luce Scholars, and Carnegie Junior Fellows.

The office is located in the historic Bryenton Honors Center and is under the supervision of the Director of Integrated Studies General Education and the Honors Program. The Honors Committee serves as an advisory panel to assist with program design and operation of the Office for Undergraduate Awards and Fellowships.

Honorary Groups

Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) is an interdisciplinary national honor society for firstgeneration college students. Tri-Alpha promotes academic excellence and provides opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and campus/community service for all first-generation college students. Induction into Tri-Alpha requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and a GPA of 3.2, and students must come from a family where neither parent nor any legal guardian earned a bachelor’s degree.

Alpha Lambda Delta is a first-year and sophomore honorary based on scholastic achievement of a 3.5 GPA. The purpose of the organization is to promote scholarship and provide intellectual stimuli to the campus, especially the underclassmen.

Alpha Phi Omega is a co-educational, intercollegiate, national service fraternity. With a mission of preparing campus and community leaders through service, and with an active network of over 500,000 members, Alpha Phi Omega is an inclusive organization. APhiO members have the opportunity to develop leadership skills as they organize and volunteer on campus for service events like The National Red Cross Blood Drive and Art Shed drive.

Alpha Psi Omega, a national honor society, gives special recognition to college and university students who excel in the theatre arts. Members are selected from the upper three classes for their outstanding stage performance and backstage work.

Beta Beta Beta. The Eta Beta chapter of Beta Beta Beta is an honor society for biology students with superior academic records. The purpose of this society is to stimulate sound scholarship, promote the dissemination of scientific truth and encourage investigation in the life sciences. Beta Beta Beta is affiliated with the American Institute of Biological Sciences.

Delta Mu Delta is the International Honor Society for business, founded in 1913 to recognize and encourage academic excellence of students to create a Delta Mu Delta community that fosters the well-being of its individual members and the business community through a life-time membership. Membership is open to undergraduate students with a minimum of 3.25 GPA who have completed 24 hours in the School of Business program and graduate students with a minimum of 3.6 GPA who have completed 24 hours in the School of Business.

Delta Phi Alpha. The Heidelberg Epsilon Psi chapter of this German honor society was recognized in 1965. Membership invitations may go to students who have a minimum of two years of college German, are registered in a German 300 or 400-level course, hold a 3.3 GPA in German, a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA, and are recommended by the Department of German faculty.

The Honor Society is Heidelberg’s only all-University scholastic honor society. Each spring faculty and staff members of the Society elect new members who are seniors and candidates for a bachelor’s degree. New members must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, rank in the top 15 percent of the graduating class and be projected to complete at least 60 credit hours at Heidelberg by the end of the semester. The required GPA for membership into the Honor Society will be considered using only Heidelberg grades. Candidates must also have completed a specific distribution of coursework. Acceptable distributions include the general education requirements for the B.A., B.S., B.Mus., and B.S.N. degrees as well as the distribution requirements of the Honors Program. Transfer students who fulfill the same requirements described above are also eligible for membership.

Omicron Delta Kappa, national scholarship and leadership organization. Students must have a 3.0 grade point average and have shown leadership skills on campus.

Pi Delta Pi is Heidelberg’s chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, founded in 1942 to promote excellence in scholarship and performance among criminology and criminal justice students.

Pi Kappa Delta, Heidelberg’s Ohio Beta chapter of the national forensic honor society, is open to students who distinguish themselves in public speech.

Pi Sigma Alpha is Heidelberg’s chapter of the National Political Science Honor Society. The chapter was founded in 2012. To qualify, students must have completed at least half the credits required for the baccalaureate degree; completed at least 10 semester hours of work in political science, including at least 1 course at the 300-level or higher; have maintained at least a 3.0 average in political science courses; and have maintained an overall GPA ranking her or him in the top one-third of her or his Heidelberg class.

Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in psychology, founded in 1929 for the purposes of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Membership requirements are psychology majors or minors with 9 hours or more in psychology, completed at least 3 semesters of college, 3.0 GPA in psychology courses, a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and rank in the upper 35 percent of their class.

Sigma Delta Pi, national Spanish honorary, recognizes and encourages high academic achievement in Spanish.

Sigma Iota Rho is Heidelberg’s chapter of The Honor Society for International Studies. The chapter was founded in 2012 and recognizes high academic achievement in international studies. Juniors and seniors are eligible to join. Inductees must have completed a minimum of 5 international studies courses, achieved a minimum 3.3 average in their international studies courses, and earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Sigma Tau Delta, national English honor society, recognizes and encourages high achievement in English. The Alpha Mu Chapter was established at Heidelberg in 1972. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors of any major or minor are eligible to join. Candidates must have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours in English literature and/or writing by Spring semester of the application year. Applicants should have an overall GPA of at least 3.3, with a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or above in their literature and writing courses.

Tau Mu Sigma, honorary musical organization, selects members on the basis of musical ability and general scholastic standing. Its program encourages masterly musical achievement and good fellowship.

Honors Program

Specific descriptions of curricular components of the Honors Program appear in the Honors Program Handbook, which is revised yearly. In addition, the Honors Program Handbook includes forms such as service-learning and senior-project contracts as well as policy statements for the program.

Admission to the Honors Program:

First-year students with an ACT score of 27 or higher or SAT score of 1280 or higher; and a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher or class rank in the top 10%, are invited to apply for acceptance into the Honors Program. Students not submitting test scores may request that the Honors Committee review their eligibility for the program; in this case, the committee may request that students submit a writing sample in place of test scores. Students who did not meet the criteria initially may apply to the Honors Program when a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher is earned after completing 15 semester hours but before completing 56 semester hours. Eligible students must contact the director of the program for further information. Refer to HONORS PROGRAM in the Courses of Study section of this Catalog for course offerings and degree requirements.

Course Registration and Policies

Individual students are responsible for registering into classes each semester and managing their degree completion requirements. Registration dates are available on the Academic Calendar website. A student with an account hold is not permitted to register until the hold has been rectified. Registration is determined by class standing - see Class Standing, which is based on hours passed. Each class level is given a day to register but will be given access to make adjustments at the conclusion of the freshmen registration. Students may register into the first week of classes (see Course Add/Drop).

Course Levels

Course descriptions are located within the Course Descriptions section of this catalog. The following explanation of Course Levels is descriptive in nature and for informational purposes only, as Departments are free to manage their course offerings.

1. Courses numbered 000-099 are developmental, orientation, or support courses and are not appropriate for college credit, normally do not count towards graduation, and have no prerequisites.
2. Courses numbered 100-199 are introductory courses which normally have no prerequisites or corequisites, are appropriate for students with freshman academic standing, and which students with a higher academic standing may take for general education or elective credit.
3. Courses numbered 200-299 are intermediate courses, may have 100-level prerequisites or corequisites, are appropriate for students with sophomore academic standing and/ or advanced first-year students, and which students with a higher academic standing may take for general education or elective credit.
4. Courses numbered 300-399 are advanced courses which commonly have prerequisites or corequisites, are appropriate for students with junior academic standing, are normally taken by majors, but may be available for general education and elective credit to non-majors.
5. Courses numbered 400-499 are advanced courses, commonly have prerequisites or corequisites or class standing requirements, are appropriate for students with junior or senior academic standing, are normally taken by majors, but may be available for general education and elective credit for non-majors.
6. Courses numbered 500-599 are advanced courses, commonly have 300 or 400-level prerequisites or graduate student standing, are appropriate for first-year graduate students, and are normally inappropriate for undergraduate students.
7. Courses numbered 600-699 are advanced courses, may have prerequisites at the 400 or 500-level or corequisites at the 500 or 600-level, are appropriate for second year or advanced first-year graduate students, and are inappropriate for undergraduate students.

Course Offerings

The times and days for class sessions and the rooms in which they are held is listed in the Schedule of Classes, located on the University website at oasis.heidelberg.edu. For planning purposes, an effort is made to indicate the semester in which a course will be offered. For uniformity, the notations are based upon the academic year dates. For example, “Fall, evenodd years” means Fall of 2024-25, Fall of 2026-27, etc.; “Spring, odd-even years” means Spring of 2023-24, Spring of 2025-26, etc. The University reserves the right to withdraw courses from the schedule if there is insufficient student enrollment in that course. Demand for certain courses or staff conditions may also necessitate a change in the usual sequence.

Class Standing

A student’s class standing is determined by the number of credit hours passed. Class standing is a completion of semester hours: Sophomore status, at least 24 semester hours; Junior status, at least 56 semester hours; and, Senior status, at least 88 semester hours.

Course Add/Drop

A student has the ability to add and drop courses via OASIS when within the policy dates. Official dates are listed on the University website. Students must obtain a Registration Pin to complete course registrations. Students identified as needing assistance with registration may also be given a Registration Pin or an Advising Hold.

A student with an account hold preventing OASIS course changes must complete a Registration Card within the Office of the Registrar. To add or drop a class within policy dates, the student must gain permission from the area placing the hold on the account. If granted, the student will complete the transaction within the Office of the Registrar.

Course Add

A student is permitted to add a course via OASIS up to five business days after the first day of the term. For compressed terms, see the Academic Calendar on the Inside Heidelberg website. A student may appeal for a late add, no later than the last day of regularly scheduled classes, with approval from their academic advisor, the course instructor and department chair, using the Late Add Agreement available on the Inside Heidelberg website. Approval by the School Dean may be required in extenuating circumstances.

Course Drop

A student dropping a course immediately following the last day to add and preceding the last day to drop will earn the letter grade of “W” on the official academic transcript.

A student is permitted to drop a class via OASIS until 60% of the course has been completed from the first day of the start of classes for any semester or term; dates are posted on the Academic Calendar page on the Inside Heidelberg website.

A student who wishes to drop a course after the last day to drop until the end of the term will earn a “WF” withdraw fail grade and should drop the course within the Office of the Registrar. A student has the right to appeal the “WF” grade when circumstances are beyond their control. A student petitioning will follow the Grade Appeal Policy. A student petitioning for medical reasons should follow the Student Handbook policy and will inquire to the Dean of Student Affairs.

Course Drop/Withdrawing from the University

A complete withdrawal from courses is not permitted via OASIS. A student who wishes to withdraw from the University is held to the Course Add/Drop policy deadlines and should complete the following. 1. Complete the online withdrawal form found on OASIS. 2. Complete an exit interview with the Dean of Student Affairs. 3. Obtain the withdrawal financial form from the Dean of Student Affairs, have the form signed by the Office of Financial Aid and the Business Office and return the form to the Dean of Student Affairs. Once Steps 1 - 3 are finalized, the Dean of Student Affairs will notify the Office of the Registrar to complete the course(s) withdrawal.

Administrative Withdraw, Course or the University

A student who has not enrolled by the last day to add a class will be administratively withdrawn from the university as an involuntary withdraw. The Dean of Student Affairs and Provost may administratively withdraw a student for behavior or when a student shows indifference to studies. A student who stops attending a class should not expect to be administratively withdrawn from a course as it is ultimately a student’s responsibility to withdraw from any or all courses.

Course Attendance, Explained Absence

Attendance at class sessions is expected of students. The instructor is responsible for informing the class in writing at the beginning of each course about the class attendance policy and the steps to be used to implement this policy. Indifference to class attendance may result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the class.

Individual faculty members determine the attendance policy for each class, which should be clearly stated in the course syllabus. However, there are some circumstances that warrant special consideration to determine whether accommodation is possible. These cases are referred to as explained absences. The complete policy is located within the Student Handbook located on the Inside Heidelberg website.

Course Honors

In certain courses (as determined by the instructors themselves) capable students will have an opportunity to elect an additional project beyond the presented syllabus. When the project is successfully completed, and achieves an A or B level in the regular assignments, the student will receive Course Honors. Course Honors are designated on the transcript. The additional work, which is designed to encourage independent effort, will broaden and enrich the course. The project will be substantial enough to demand at least an additional 30 hours of a student’s time in a 3-hour course.

Course Load

A typical course load ranges between 15-18 credit hours per semester. For a student to graduate in four years, an average of 15 credit hours per semester is needed. A degree in Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Science in Nursing may require a higher credit hour load in some semesters. Full-time status begins at 12 credit hours per semester. Students are permitted to register for a maximum of 19 credit hours without special permission. Hours beyond the registration limit require permission from the academic advisor and the Department Chair/ Dean; the online form is available on the Office of the Registrar, Inside website. To receive credit, a student must register for all courses to be pursued during a semester. Refer to the Tuition and Fees section for credit hour charges.

Course Override

When students wish to enroll in a course but are unable to register for that course due to one or more of the reasons below, students may contact the instructor of record to request that an appropriate course override be submitted on OASIS.

1. The course is full.
2. The course requires instructor, Honors, or department approval.
3. The course has prerequisites or corequisites.
4. The course is linked to another course (e.g., a laboratory).
5. The course is open to majors only.
6. The course is open only to students in a specific class or level.

If there is no identified instructor of record, the student may contact the department chair or director. Students are required to register for the course after an override is granted.

If a student wishes to enroll in two courses that are offered at the same time or at overlapping times, the student must obtain approval. The student must complete and submit an approved Time Conflict Course Contract. The form must be completed by instructors in both courses, and submitted to the designated administrator and the Registrar’s Office for processing. The Time Conflict Course Contract is available in the Registrar’s Office or on the Registrar’s website.

Faculty members are under no obligation to provide overrides for any of the reasons listed above.

Departmental Credit by Exam

University students have the opportunity to request a Credit by Examination from University Departments with an Exam option available. Available examinations and available dates can be found by contacting individual departments. Credit by Examination is ideal for students who might have life experience or experienced a similar course but did not earn University credit. Fee structures are published within the current year’s University Catalog. Students who take a Language Exam and are placed into a 300 or higher language are eligible to apply for the Credit by Exam at the available 201, 202 course level. For this instance only, the Exam fee will be waived.

Exemption Exams

The University offers an opportunity for exemption from one or two freshmen level courses. Public Speaking and Engagement (COM 100) and College Writing II ( WRI 101) exemptions are offered twice a year. Students are permitted to take each exam once, and those who pass will not gain University credit; rather, they will have fulfilled the general-education requirement for the course in question. (Note: Communication and Integrated Media majors are not permitted to participate in the COM 100 exemption exam.) Inquire with the Communication and Media, and English Departments for testing dates.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and other college-level testing center programs are listed on the University website for complete policy guidelines. Baccalaureate (IB) and other college-level testing center programs are listed on the University website for complete policy guidelines.

Examinations/Absence from Examinations

Each course includes an evaluation of the student’s work. This evaluation may include a final examination or it may take the form of a seminar paper, a recital or a special project. If a student is absent from an evaluation session without an excuse, he or she may receive an F in the course. If the student is absent under extremely extenuating circumstances without excuse from a previously announced examination or test during the semester, the instructor may grant a makeup examination.

Independent Arrangement

Academic departments may offer a course via independent arrangement. To consider approval for an independent arrangement, the course must be required within the student’s degree program; the student must have no more than 60 semester hours remaining in their degree program; and, the student is unable to take the course through no fault of the student, e.g. the course is not scheduled at a time the student can take it, and there are no course substitutions available to the student. Students with time conflicts between courses will complete a Time Conflict contract.

An independent arrangement must be agreeable to the faculty member offering the course, the student, Department Chair, and Provost when applicable. Students will obtain an Independent Study/Independent Arrangement contract from the Office of the Registrar, Inside Heidelberg website.

Independent Study

Academic departments may offer a student the option to learn via independent study. An independent study covers a topic of interest to the student and may involve research, and/ or extensive work outside of a classroom. Such an option is identified as Independent Study, Independent Research, or Individual Study. This option is not available for a current course that is not already identified as Independent Study/Topics. Students with time conflicts between courses will complete a Time Conflict contract.

An independent study must be agreeable to the faculty member, the student, Department Chair, and Provost when applicable. Students will obtain an Independent Study/Independent Arrangement contract from the Office of the Registrar, Inside Heidelberg website.

Instructional Credit Hour

The United States Department of Education requires that each institution develop a written credit hour policy that conforms to the definition of a credit hour under 34 CFR 600.2. The Department of Education defines a credit hour as:

An amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:

1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter 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 academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practicum, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

The Ohio Department of Higher Education defines credit pursuant to Chapter 1713 of the Ohio Revised Code and Chapter 3333-1.08 of the Ohio Administrative Code.

Credit hour: A minimum of 750 minutes (semester credit hour) of formalized instruction that typically requires students to work at out-of class assignments an average of twice the amount of time as the amount of formalized instruction. Credit hours may be calculated differently for other types of instruction (e.g., laboratory experience, directed practice experience, practicum experience, cooperative work experience, field experience, observation experience, seminar, and studio experience) as long as the credit hour calculations align with commonly accepted practices in higher education and with the regulations of regional accreditors and the federal financial aid program.

1- Ennis, R.H. (1991). Critical thinking: A streamlined conception. Teaching Philosophy, 14(1), 5-25.

Equivalence of course offerings

Student learning outcomes for a course, and the approximate amount of student effort/time for a typical student required to meet those objectives, shall be reasonably equivalent regardless of the instructor or the modality of instruction used. The Faculty is responsible for the communication of course learning outcomes, clearly communicating the goals of unsupervised learning effort/time (homework), and assessing the achievement of individual student mastery of the course learning outcomes. Every course offering is expected to have approximately equivalent student learning outcome goals and to require approximately the same amount of student effort, regardless of the particular instructor of record or the modality of instruction. For example, online courses which have traditional lecture course equivalents are expected to require and to demonstrate equivalent student effort/time and achievement of student learning outcomes. The responsibility for the oversight of equivalence lies both with the instructor of record of each instance of the course specifically and the curricular oversight bodies of the Faculty in general.

Assignment of credit hours for various course modalities

Traditional lecture course. Each credit hour consists of 750 minutes of supervised/scheduled instruction or assessment activity and a minimum of 1,500 minutes of out-of-class “homework” or other unscheduled learning activity. For example, consider the typical three (3) credit hour traditional lecture course which includes at least 2,250 minutes of scheduled classroom time and 4,500 minutes of homework over the term of instruction.

Hybrid courses. This modality uses the same requirements as fully online courses with the exception that each credit hour may include on-campus scheduled direct/in-person facultydirected instruction or assessment.

Short courses. Short courses are expected to achieve the same student outcomes and thus require the same overall effort/time as long-form course equivalents.

Studio course. In studio courses representing art forms each credit hour is equivalent to 1400 minutes of direct faculty instruction and a minimum of 850 minutes for studio class preparation.

Guided Practice. Guided practice sessions describe practical application of course material and skills learned in lecture under the supervision of the course instructor. Guided practice is a component of out-of-class assignments. Guided practice sessions throughout the duration of the course, generally includes no less than 750 minutes but no more than 1,500 of supervised practical application of material learned in the classroom.

Lab courses. For the typical laboratory course, at least two-thirds of the course effort/time are scheduled directed laboratory time. Any remaining effort-time is spent on unscheduled learning activity supporting the laboratory. In this modality, each credit hour of a typical laboratory with homework consists of 1,500 minutes of scheduled laboratory activity supported by 750 minutes of homework. Each credit hour of a typical laboratory without homework consists of all 2,250 minutes of effort/time as scheduled laboratory activity.

Musical Ensembles. Musical ensembles are classes or rehearsals in which all students are following a similar set of objectives or instructions. Content in musical ensembles is derived from the repertoire studied, as well as from in-class discussion and instruction. A minimum of 180 minutes of rehearsal time per week constitutes one credit hour.

Applied Music (individual lessons). 1 credit hour for applied music consists of a minimum of 30 minutes face-to-face instruction time per week, plus a minimum of 240 minutes student practice time per week.

Other courses. Student teaching, clinical experience, cooperative education, internship, field placement, experiential learning activity, independent study, thesis, non-contact courses, or other academic work which fit no other classification may receive credit if the work is performed under the supervision of and with approval from a member of the Faculty, with a formal written agreement noting the nature of the academic work, approved also by the appropriate program director, chair, or similar overseeing authority at a program-wide level. In this modality, each credit hour consists of no less than 2,250 minutes spent on approved work during the term of instruction. Specific curriculum/programs may require more hours in order to award one credit hour. Credit for these experiences may be determined in accordance with recommendations of a program’s specific accreditor or applicable regulations.

Review and Compliance

Academic units are responsible for monitoring compliance with the instructional credit hour policy. Department chairs will periodically review syllabi for courses offered in their academic unit to ensure compliance. An assessment of compliance will be part of the regular program review conducted by the University.

New courses must demonstrate compliance with the policy when submitting proposals to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee or the Graduate Studies Committee. The Committee will review proposed courses to ensure that they meet the requirements of the policy.

Remedial Coursework

No credit toward a degree will be given for work below the first year college level which is indicated with a preceding “0” in the course number.

Grade Requirements

Dean’s List

After the completion of each semester, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of the University publishes a list of those full-time students who attained an average of at least 3.500 during the semester and have no grade below a “C-” (1.667 quality points). To be eligible for the Dean’s List, students must complete at least 5 semester hours that contribute to the GPA. A student receiving an incomplete (I) is not eligible for the Dean’s List until the grade is resolved.

Grading System

The quality of work done by a student is indicated by the symbols, A (-), B (+/-), C (+/-), D (+/-), F, FN, FAHV, NG, P, U and S. An A indicates the highest standard of work; B indicates good work; C indicates competent work; D is minimal passing work; F or U indicates outright failure, and FN indicates outright failure due to non attendance or stopped attendance without an official withdrawal. Grades P or S indicate a letter grade of “C” or better. Grade of FAHV may be awarded when an Academic Honesty Violation is deemed a Level Two Violation. At the close of each semester, a report of grades is available on-line to each student. If a student wishes to appeal a grade, a description of the procedure is available in the Student Handbook located on the Inside Heidelberg website and in the section Grade Change/Appeal.

Grades earned for course(s) from which a student withdraws are as follows:

1. A grade of “W” is recorded for each course dropped on or before the last day to drop courses. A grade of “W” is not calculated into the GPA.
2. A grade of “WF” is recorded for each course dropped after the last day to drop courses. A grade of “WF” is calculated into the GPA the same as an F.

Repeat Course Grade

For a student who has earned a grade of C-, D, F, WF, or FN in a course and repeats the course, the cumulative point average will reflect the higher grade, although both grades will remain on the transcript (see also Academic Honesty Violation in the Student Handbook located on the Inside Heidelberg website for a grade of FAHV). The course must be repeated for the same number of semester hours at Heidelberg University. A course repeated more than once will be treated as a separate course with no replacement of a previous grade. Repeated courses where credit was earned will not accumulate additional hours towards graduation unless the course is designed to be a repeatable course. Students may retake HEI 101 even when the course subject is not the same. The course must be retaken in the subsequent semester the student is enrolled.

Students who gain permission to repeat a course as a transient student must meet the transfer course policy. A repeated course is the only time a transfer grade will be calculated into the student’s grade point average for the semester taken and reflected in the cumulative grade point average.

Incomplete Grade

If a student, through no personal fault, is unable to complete the course by the published end date, the student may request an incomplete grade (I). The instructor will outline all remaining work on the Incomplete Course Grade Agreement, which requires the signatures of the instructor and student. The Provost must approve all Incomplete Course Grade Agreements. A student receiving an Incomplete Grade must complete the work by the date stated on the Incomplete Course Grade Agreement, which can be no later than one year from the date of recording. Students do not register for the course again in order to complete the work. A student cannot graduate until standard letter grades have been assigned for all incomplete grades. (See Incomplete Grade Clause for Graduating Students under Graduation/Commencement.)

Quality Points

Grade values are as follows: grade of A= 4.000; A-= 3.667; B+= 3.333; B= 3.000; B-= 2.667; C+= 2.333; C= 2.000; C-= 1.667; D+= 1.333; D= 1.000; D-=0.667; F, FN, FAHV, WF= 0.000. Grades of AU, I, P, NG, U, S and W do not calculate into the grade point average.

Point Average

The cumulative grade point average is derived by dividing the total number of graded hours for which a student has officially registered into the total number of quality points earned. The average is never rounded although truncated to the tenths or hundredths. The semester grade point average is calculated in the same way.

Audit

A student wanting to attend a class but not wishing to receive a grade of credit for the course may register as an auditor. A student must declare the auditor status in a course by the “Last Day to Add Classes.” This date is announced in the Academic Calendar. The degree of class participation acceptable or required shall be determined between the student and instructor and listed on the audit form, available on the Inside Heidelberg Registrar website. The completed audit form will remain on file in the Office of the Registrar. The class audited shall be noted on the transcript, and the instructor will award the grade of “AU” when the performance requirements outlined on the audit form are fulfilled, or the grade of “U” when the student fails to meet the requirements. A “Credit by Examination” is not permitted after taking a class for audit credit. An audited course may not be used toward degree requirements.

Pass-Fail Courses

Students with a grade point average of 2.00, or better, are permitted with the approval of their advisor, to register for a maximum of four courses on a Pass-Fail basis, while enrolled at the University.

Courses taken as Pass-Fail will not count towards the major(s), minor(s), Honors Seminars or Honors Support Courses. A Pass-Fail arrangement is irrevocable; that is, the Pass-Fail may not be changed during the semester or at a later date to a letter grade. The Pass-Fail credit hours can be used to fulfill elective hours needed to meet the 120 credit hour graduation requirement.

Withdrawals will be handled according to the rules governing all courses (WF after the specified date). “Pass” should designate that the student did work comparable to C (2.00) or better. “Fail” equates to a C-, D (+/-) or F. A student wishing to register for a Pass-Fail course must obtain a Pass-Fail Agreement form from the Registrar’s Office and submit it by the last day to add classes.

Grade Change/Appeal

Heidelberg University course grades are calculated and assigned by the instructor who teaches the course. Once a student’s final course grade has been officially recorded by the Registrar, the grade may be changed if, and only if, (1) a new grade has been determined under the Heidelberg University Student Grade Appeal Policy, or (2) a grade of Incomplete is replaced with a letter grade as specified in the current Heidelberg University undergraduate and graduate catalogs, or (3) the Provost of the University has assigned a lower grade in an academic honesty violation as specified in the “Heidelberg University Guidelines and Community Standards,” or (4) an error in computing or in recording the grade has been identified by the instructor and has been verified by the instructor, the Department Chair and the Provost of the University as specified in the Faculty Manual or (5) the Faculty has acted under the powers specified in the Faculty Manual.

Students who wish to appeal a course grade must begin the process within the first regular semester following assignment of the final course grade. The complete Student Grade Appeal Policy is located in the Student Handbook located on the Inside Heidelberg website.

Major and Minor Grade Requirements

Students following the 2015-16 catalog or a later catalog must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.000 in all required major, track or concentration, and minor courses. In addition, students must earn no lower than a “C-” (1.667) in any such course. Required allied courses listed within a major are not held to the minimum “C-” (1.667), unless specified by the department. 

Requirements for the Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Science in Nursing are posted within each degree section of this catalog.

Major and Minor Grade Waiver

Degree programs or departments that will accept a single “D” (1.000) or “D+” (1.333) grade for a major or minor requirement require students to request a course grade waiver; submitted as an email request to the program director or department chair. A student may be granted only one grade waiver in each major and/or minor. A waived grade remains included in a student’s major GPA calculation. Students will contact the Departmental Chair or Director for departmental procedures and policies to submit a grade waiver petition. Once a decision has been rendered, the Department Chair or Director will notify the Registrar’s Office in writing.

Progression Requirements

Satisfactory Academic Standing

To remain in satisfactory academic standing, full-time students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 while completing a total number of credit hours that produces an average of at least 24 semester hours for each year of full-time enrollment. Students must complete the following:

24 hours within one year
48 hours within two years
72 hours within three years
96 hours within four years

The full-time semester equivalent for a student who has been enrolled on a part-time basis will be determined by total hours attempted. Grade point average is determined based on credit hours of all coursework for which a student remains enrolled beyond the course drop deadline (see Course Add/Drop Policy) and for which a grade has been recorded. Any student with a semester grade point average or a cumulative grade point average that drops below 2.00 is subject to Academic Probation and Suspension procedures. The purpose of these procedures is as early as possible to identify, warn, and provide assistance to students who do not maintain their academic standing.

While satisfactory academic standing is not evaluating credit hours passed each semester, students must understand that to graduate in a typical four-year time frame, an average of 15 semester hours is needed to reach 120 credit hours.

Academic Probation and Suspension

Any students unable to maintain a semester and/or a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 are in danger of not maintaining their satisfactory academic standing, and will be subject to one of four status levels in the Academic Probation and Suspension Process: Warning, Probation, Suspension, or Dismissal. Students will be notified as soon as a change in academic status occurs.

Academic Warning

Academic Warning is the least severe level in the Academic Probation and Suspension process.

Students who are placed on Academic Warning are considered to be in satisfactory academic standing. Academic Warning is issued to students who meet any one or more of the following criteria:

• after completion of one semester on campus, have a semester GPA between 1.00 (inclusive) and below 2.00
• have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above but have earned a semester GPA below 2.00
• fail to achieve a passing grade in 50% of the courses officially attempted

Academic Warning serves as an opportunity to address any academic difficulties with the goal of preventing a student from being placed on Academic Probation. Students on Academic Warning must meet with their academic advisor within 10 business days of the start of the semester of academic warning. This meeting should focus on optimal use of campus resources and may include creating a Plan for Academic Improvement.

At the end of the semester in which a student is placed on Academic Warning, the student will either:

1. Be removed from Warning status by raising their cumulative GPA to 2.00 or above
2. Continue on Academic Warning for up to two additional semesters by earning a semester GPA of 2.20 or above, but failing to raise the cumulative GPA above 2.00
3. Continue on Academic Warning by earning less than a 2.00 semester GPA but maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above
4. Be placed on Academic Probation by earning less than a 2.20 semester GPA and maintaining a cumulative GPA below 2.00

If, after the third semester, the cumulative GPA is below 2.00, the student will be placed on Academic Probation.

Academic Probation

Academic Probation is an indication of serious academic difficulty that may ultimately lead to suspension or dismissal from the University. Probation appears on a student’s official academic record. Students on Academic Probation are no longer in Satisfactory Academic Standing and are at high risk of not completing a degree. Students on Academic Probation must meet with their academic advisor within 10 business days of the start of the semester of Academic Probation to complete a Plan for Academic Improvement. Students on Academic Probation are required to evaluate their co-curricular and/or extracurricular participation and their campus employment in consultation with their academic advisor and in accordance with their Academic Improvement Plan. Plans must be submitted to the academic advisor and the Executive Director of the Owen Center (or designee) for performance monitoring before the end of the early course appraisal period. Academic Probation is issued to students who:

• have a cumulative GPA below 2.00 and a semester GPA below 2.00 after completing two or more semesters on campus
• have a cumulative GPA that remains below 2.00 after completing three semesters on Academic Warning

Plan for Academic Improvement

Students on Academic Probation must complete a Plan for Academic Improvement with their academic advisor. The Academic Improvement Plan should demonstrate what steps the student will take to return to satisfactory academic standing, or a cumulative GPA above 2.00. Plans must be submitted to the academic advisor and the Executive Director of the Owen Center (or designee) for performance monitoring (owen-center@heidelberg.edu) before the end of the early course appraisal period.

At the end of the semester in which a student is on Academic Probation, the student will either:

1. Be removed from Academic Probation by earning a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above
2. Continue on Academic Probation by earning a semester GPA of at least 2.00 but maintaining a cumulative GPA less than 2.00
3. Be subject to Academic Suspension by failing to earn a semester GPA of 2.00 or above Academic Suspension

Academic Suspension is an indicator of severe academic difficulty and appears on a student’s academic record. Academic Suspension allows a student time to reassess academic and career goals, and/or resolve other causes for continued academic failure. Students on Academic Suspension may not take courses or participate in any extracurricular or co-curricular activities at Heidelberg University. Academic Suspension is issued to students who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• earn a first semester GPA below 1.00
• earn a semester GPA below 2.00 while on Academic Probation
• show indifference to their studies while on Academic Probation, as evidenced by, but not limited to, such behavior as failure to prepare for class, irregular class attendance, failure to complete assignments, etc.

Students wishing to resume their academic program at Heidelberg University following an Academic Suspension must follow the Academic Reinstatement procedures described below.

Students may apply for reinstatement to Heidelberg University one full semester after a first Academic Suspension. After a second Academic Suspension, students must wait one year before applying for reinstatement. Any student earning a third suspension will be subject to Academic Dismissal.

Academic Dismissal

Students who are issued Academic Dismissal may not enroll in any programs offered by Heidelberg University. Academic Dismissal is issued to students who meet either of the following criteria:

• have been issued Academic Suspension on two occasions and do not complete reinstatement criteria after completing the second suspension
• are suspended a third time

Students may only return to Heidelberg University under the conditions outlined by the University’s Fresh Start Policy. (See Academic Fresh Start policy.)

Academic Reinstatement

Students wishing to return to the University after a suspension must submit a Reinstatement from Suspension form (available from the Registrar’s Office) to the Undergraduate Academic Policy Committee no later than fifteen business days prior to the first class day of the reinstatement semester. Students must also submit any transcripts for academic work completed at institutions other than Heidelberg while on suspension. Students may receive reinstatement conditions such as testing, advising, counseling, additional coursework, or other activities deemed necessary by the Undergraduate Academic Policy Committee (or their designee).

In the event of reinstatement, a student is automatically placed on Academic Probation and must complete the Plan for Academic Improvement. The Plan should include all of the reinstatement conditions deemed necessary. Failure to fulfill the Plan after reinstatement may result in dismissal.

Students who withdraw from the University while on probation or are serving a suspension are encouraged to enroll in college courses during their time away and then reapply to Heidelberg. Students who elect to attend a different institution may be placed under Academic Warning upon return to Heidelberg if transcripts from the other institution(s) meet Heidelberg’s criteria to remove them from probation.

Appeal of Academic Suspension or Dismissal

Reinstatement without serving a suspension is rare. However, mitigating circumstances may appropriately call for an appeal. Students seeking to appeal an Academic Suspension or Dismissal must submit to the Undergraduate Academic Policy Committee an Appeal of Academic Suspension form (available on the Inside Heidelberg Registrar website) including any documentation in support of mitigating circumstances no later than ten business days prior to the first class day of the semester of Academic Suspension or Dismissal. While the appeal is under review, students may not enroll in classes or participate in extra- or co-curricular activities.

In the event of a successful appeal, a student will automatically be placed on Academic Probation and must complete the Plan for Academic Improvement. Failure to submit and fulfill a Plan for Academic Improvement after an appeal will result in dismissal.

Academic Fresh Start

The Fresh Start program provides a second opportunity to any former Heidelberg University student who has experienced past academic difficulties to have a fresh cumulative grade point average. The policy is designed for undergraduate students who have gained maturity outside higher education and have demonstrated that they are capable of being successful at Heidelberg University.

Eligibility considerations:

1. A student must have been absent from the college for a consecutive period of five years or more.
2. During the first semester back, the student shall be restricted to 16 credits or less.

Prior to petitioning for an Academic Fresh Start a student must complete one semester of academic work and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. If a student successfully meets all eligibility requirements, their record will be treated like that of a transfer student. This means that if the student has earned grades below a “C” at Heidelberg University before being granted a Fresh Start, these grades will not count toward their graduation requirements. Grades of “C” or better may be used towards graduation requirements. Upon approval of a Fresh Start, the student will receive a “0” GPA and may keep hours that have been accumulated to date. Graduation requirements shall be those listed in the catalog at the time of re-entry, NOT the student original matriculation.

Students will be approved for a Fresh Start only once during a student’s academic career and it is not automatic or guaranteed. There is no guarantee, expressed or implied, that the Fresh Start policy will be recognized by any other college or university.

Considerations:

• The student’s record will be inscribed with the notation “Academic Fresh Start Granted (date).”
• Previous academic record will appear on the transcript and can be calculated by graduate/professional schools or potential employers if they so choose.
• The granting of Academic Fresh Start does not supersede the dismissal policy. Any dismissal that occurred in the past shall remain recorded on the student’s permanent record.
• Re-entry into any program is not automatic. The granting of Academic Fresh Start may not supersede the admissions requirements of certain programs, which require a specific minimum grade point average based upon all coursework.

Procedures:

1. A student who is interested in pursuing an Academic Fresh Start must complete an online petition form and submit it to the Provost. This must include:
   1. A formal letter asking permission to participate and a statement of the projected benefits if allowed back into the University under provisions of the Academic Fresh Start Program.
   2. A summary of events supporting the academic record during the student’s previous attendance at Heidelberg University. Any supporting documents outlining the unusual circumstances (personal, emotional, medical, financial) should be included.
   3. Any recommendation letters from employers that support the student’s development and successes from the time the student departed from Heidelberg University.
   4. A letter from an academic advisor or other faculty member describing positive academic progress and the potential for academic success.
2. The deadline to submit a completed petition is after a minimum of 12 credit hours, but not more than 32 credit hours have been taken at Heidelberg University.

Eligibility for Intercollegiate Athletes

Students may participate in intercollegiate athletics provided they are enrolled in the University on a full-time basis and are in satisfactory academic standing (see Progression Requirements for Satisfactory Academic Standing policy) and must also complete a total number of credit hours that produces an average of at least 24 semester hours for each year of full-time enrollment. Therefore, students must complete:

24 hours within one year
48 hours within two years
72 hours within three years
96 hours within four years

Students must also meet the eligibility requirements for these activities as required by the Ohio Athletic Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division III.

Eligibility for Co-Curricular Activities

Students maintaining satisfactory academic standing (see Progression Requirements for Satisfactory Academic Standing policy) are eligible to hold any class or elective office on the campus or to represent the University in certain collegiate or off-campus activities. Part-time students may participate in some co-curricular activities.

Graduation/Commencement

Graduation is the completion of all degree requirements as recorded on the official transcript. Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates the completion of a degree. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not imply that a student officially graduated. The diploma is a commemoration of your achievement. Official certification of your degree is made only through the official transcript or through the certification service of the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC).

Conferral also known as degree completion is evaluated on a rolling basis and once completion is certified, the completion date will be recorded on the student record. Diplomas are distributed three times per year. There is one commencement ceremony at the conclusion of the full Spring Semester. Diploma distribution deadlines are August 20, December 20 and the last day of the semester prior to commencement exercises. All financial obligations to the University must have been met to participate and for receiving diplomas. For further information on the required documentation, please contact the Office of the Registrar or see the website at Inside Heidelberg/registrar.

Incomplete Grade Clause for Graduating Students

Students receiving an incomplete grade because of a course requirement that occurs after the term ends as documented within the course syllabus, shall be eligible for all honors and awards. The University recognizes that these outside events are a significant part of the student experience and that the student should be permitted to participate in award assemblies. In the event that the incomplete grade lowers the student’s academic record to no longer be eligible for these honors, the student will be required to return all medals and memorabilia to the University no later than two weeks following the Incomplete grade becoming a letter grade. Those students who do not return their medals and/or memorabilia by the deadline will incur a replacement fee.

This exemption clause does not permit the student to meet degree requirements. Students will be permitted to walk at commencement and will be eligible to meet degree requirements once the incomplete grade becomes a letter grade.

Departmental Course Honors

The departments which offer honors register their candidates in a year-course listed as 475-476 (3 hrs. each semester). A Departmental Program Committee formed by the department administers the project. To receive departmental honors at commencement a student must satisfy the following requirements:

Junior Year: The head of the department in which the student has chosen to work toward departmental honors presents the candidate’s written application to the other members of the department. Before the end of the junior year, the candidate defines his or her project for independent research, to be conducted during the senior year, and obtains the approval of the head of the department. If the student has an adequate command of a foreign language, he or she should be encouraged to use it as a tool in his or her research.

Senior Year: The student who has elected to attempt departmental honors will be asked to achieve two things in the senior year.

1. To work out an independent research project.
2. To write a comprehensive examination.

For the independent research project the student will receive six semester hours of credit, three each semester. He or she will prepare progress reports, submit a thesis not later than three weeks before the end of the last semester and take an oral examination over the area of independent research. Shortly before the end of the last semester, the candidate will write the comprehensive examination. It will test integration and comprehensive understanding of the entire field of the department (or of a more limited area originally agreed upon) regardless of courses taken.

Latin Honors

Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. Three distinctions of honors are conferred at graduation: highest honors, summa cum laude, to those who have attained a point average of at least 3.900; high honors, magna cum laude, to those who have attained a point average of at least 3.700; honors, cum laude, to those who have attained a point average of at least 3.500.

These honors are recorded on the diplomas of the students earning them and are published in the commencement program. Honors are based only upon credit earned in courses taken at Heidelberg University. Students may receive these honors provided they have spent the last two years and completed 60 hours of coursework at Heidelberg University.

Posthumous Degree

A request for the awarding of a posthumous degree may be initiated by the deceased student’s family, or by a representative of the university, to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. The following procedure will apply:

The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost will review the student’s record to determine:

• if the student was enrolled at the time of death or was an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, federal military reserve forces, or National Guard;
• if at least 80% of the program requirements had been met by the student; and if the deceased student’s cause of death was not due to any unlawful activity by the student.

Finding all conditions to be met, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost will notify the University Registrar to add the degree to the student’s academic record. The University Registrar will record the degree and order the diploma. Separately, an entry will be made to the student’s academic record indicating that the record has been sealed at the student’s death.

Procedure for the distribution of the diploma posthumously or in absentia:

The diploma will be presented to the family in the following manner:

• at the graduation ceremony, or
• in a private ceremony at an agreed upon time and location.

In an emergency where a student at the last minute cannot participate in commencement, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost will contact a family member to inquire their wishes to accept the diploma on the student’s behalf. The following will occur:

If the family accepts the invitation to participate in commencement, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost or designee will finalize arrival details with the family and the Events Coordinator; or

If the family declines the invitation to participate in commencement, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost or designee will finalize the location and date for diploma delivery.

International and Alternative Experiences

Information regarding study abroad experiences is available in the Owens Center for Teaching and Learning. Short term, summer term, work or international internship opportunity information is also available. The Heidelberg University Travel Policy requires approval from the Dean of Student Affairs for any travel to an area with potential risks listed on the Department of State Travel Warnings.

The American Junior Year, Semester or Summer Study at University of Heidelberg, Germany

Since 1958, Heidelberg University students have had a unique study abroad option available to them through Heidelberg University’s German office. Led by the Resident Director, the AJY team provides academic and student life support to help students succeed abroad. For a semester or a full year, students enroll at the University of Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest and top-ranked university, and transfer credit back home. Full immersion in the German language and culture is the program’s primary goal. However, students also find a growing list of courses offered in English (especially in STEM) and may take one class per semester in English in order to work towards majors or minors other than German. Students from all areas of the United States are accepted for participation in the American Junior Year Program although Heidelberg University students have advantages in applying for admission.

To be eligible for admission into the program, a student must have obtained at least junior status prior to entering the university (or have sophomore standing and strong SAT or ACT scores). No minimum GPA is required, however, all applications are reviewed holistically. In addition, the student must have completed at least four semesters of college or universitylevel German study or the equivalent and secured the recommendation of the head of the Department of German, assuring that he or she has a sufficient grasp of the language to follow a full-time course at a German university. Students need not major in German to participate, but two semesters in Heidelberg are required for German Studies majors.

Although a full year of study is strongly recommended for all participants, students can study during the fall or spring semesters. The fall term runs from late August through late December; however, due to the differing academic calendar at the University of Heidelberg, the spring term does not begin until March and runs through July. The conditions for admission for the semester options or the full year of study are identical.

Studying at the University of Heidelberg-Germany’s oldest university-students will find themselves developing a more independent and self-reliant attitude toward learning. A rich educational and cultural experience awaits any student who chooses the American Junior Year Program. The cost of the program is kept as low as possible to facilitate the participation of Heidelberg University students. Financial aid is also made available to Heidelberg University students. A Summer Program is available for students with at least a 2.75 GPA. The Summer Program, offering nine credit hours in six weeks, does not have a German language prerequisite. More detailed information about this unique study abroad option is available through the Languages Department Study Abroad Coordinator and our website.

Cemanahuac Educational Community in Cuernavaca, Mexico

Students of all levels of Spanish may choose a short-term or semester-long experience studying Spanish at the Cemanahuac Educational Community in the colonial city of Cuernavaca, Mexico. While studying in Mexico, students live with a host family and also enjoy the opportunity to participate in field study excursions to sites of archaeological and historical interest. Frequent destinations include the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon at Teotihuacán, the Museum of Anthropology, the Templo Mayor in the center of the Valley of Mexico and performances of the Folkloric Ballet.

Heidelberg Honors at Glasgow

The Heidelberg University Honors program, a part of the 25-member Principia Consortium headed by Berry College, offers a unique study abroad opportunity in conjunction with the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Only students who are members of the Heidelberg Honors Program; junior; and, in good standing are eligible. The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451 and is an internationally recognized institution with prestigious programs in the sciences and humanities. A specially designed interdisciplinary honors course on the Scottish Enlightenment will count as one of the required thematic honors seminars. For further information, contact the Director of Integrated Studies General Education and the Honors Program or the Study Abroad Coordinator.

Spanish Studies Abroad

Heidelberg University, through a special cooperation agreement with The Spanish Studies Abroad, sponsors a study abroad program in Seville, Spain; Alicante, Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Córdoba, Argentina; Havana, Cuba; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Through Spanish Studies Abroad, students have access to a variety of courses in Spanish language, literature, culture, history, art history, political science, business and regional folk dance throughout the year. Emphasis is placed on total cultural immersion. Therefore, the courses include references to the active cultural life of Spain and Argentina and study visits to museums and monuments complementary to the regular courses. The Spanish Studies offers a program of study visits and travels both in the vicinity and in other provinces. It is also expected that students speak Spanish at all times with faculty, staff and fellow students.

Students may spend a semester, a full year or a summer depending on their needs and time. They may apply to the Intensive Intermediate Semester Program in Spanish Language and Culture or the Upper Division Spanish Studies Program. Admission to these programs will be determined according to previous college-level Spanish training. Heidelberg University students may apply for financial aid to attend this program. They should contact the Financial Aid Office early in the semester prior to the semester they expect to participate in this program.

Detailed information concerning the program is available upon request from the Languages Department, Study Abroad Coordinator and our website.

Oxford Study Abroad Programme

An agreement between Heidelberg University and the Oxford Study Abroad Programme allows qualified students to study for one or two semesters at Oxford University in Oxford, England, one of the world’s most prestigious universities. The agreement facilitates admission to the University for students in good standing in the Honors Program who have completed two years of college. Students not enrolled in the Honors Program are also eligible and can be recommended for the study-abroad program at Oxford. For further information, see the Director of Integrated Studies General Education and the Honors Program or the Study Abroad Coordinator.

Additional Study Abroad Programs

Heidelberg University has agreements with Denmark; Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Ulsan in Ulsan, South Korea; and organizations such as CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study), ISA (International Studies Abroad), and Semester at Sea offer programs worldwide.

Semester in Washington, DC

Heidelberg University’s History, Political Science, Philosophy, and Religion Department offers two distinctive opportunities for students interested in interning and studying in Washington, DC. Both programs are open to all students, regardless of major, who have completed at least one semester of full-time course work. Interested students must meet with the Semester in Washington Coordinator, Dr. Marc O’Reilly, prior to applying for either opportunity.

Leadership and the American Presidency (LTAP)

Leadership and the American Presidency is a non-partisan academic and internship opportunity offered through the Reagan Institute and co-sponsored by the Fund for American Studies. Students may apply for admission for either the Summer or Fall semester. A Spring semester LTAP program is not offered at this time.

The program focuses on leadership development and civic engagement, combining rigorous coursework with personalized internship experiences, attendance at special events, networking opportunities, and short trips to area landmarks and institutions. Safe housing options are offered with the program, and generous scholarships are available.

The Washington Semester (American University)

Qualified students may apply for a semester’s appointment (ordinarily in the junior year) to Heidelberg University’s Washington Semester Program. The Washington Semester, administered by American University in Washington, enables students to obtain valuable work and study experiences within governmental or private agencies or institutions in the nation’s capital. Each Washington Semester student enrolls in special seminars and engages in individual research and career-oriented work experiences.

Students can choose from among the following topic seminars: American Politics and Policy; Foreign Policy; Global Economics and Business; International Law and Organizations; Journalism and News Media; Justice and Law; Religion, Politics, Peace and Security; and Sustainable Development. Many of these programs involve overseas study. Providing students with safe housing and the social and cultural facilities of a major university, with over 500 students from all over the world, the Washington Semester is a true international community and experience.