Catalog
Additional Catalog Information
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA AND PROCEDURESConcordia's Admissions Office
The purpose of the Admissions Office is to "tell the Concordia story" to the most qualified students who are a good match for our community of learners. Concordia is a selective school, so others in your classes will be among the top students from their high schools. We consider various factors when making decisions about admission, such as academic preparation; personal character, qualities and interests; leadership potential; extracurricular activity participation; evidence of social and ethical concerns and volunteer service. Standardized test scores, GPA, and class ranks are important factors we consider but are not the exclusive factors being reviewed.
The Admissions Office can be contacted and application materials obtained at:
Admissions Office
Concordia College
901 8th St. S.
Moorhead, MN 56562
Phone: (218) 299-3004 or (800) 699-9897
Email: admissions@cord.edu
Website: www.ConcordiaCollege.edu
Admissions representatives and staff are available to assist you and answer any questions you or your family may have.
Students wishing to apply as first-year students should submit an application. When the application is submitted the college will request:
• an official transcript from high school
• two references (we prefer one academic reference and one character reference)
• your ACT or SAT score
Concordia's ACT score code is 2104 and our SAT score code is 6113. Please use these codes when you take the tests so the results will come directly to Concordia.
Admissions Process
Concordia operates on a rolling admissions basis, which means that as soon as we have received all of your material, our Admissions Committee will review your application. You will generally receive an admissions decision within 10 days from the time your application is completed. Accepted students can finalize their admission by returning a $200 deposit with the appropriate form.
Financial aid is only awarded to those who have been accepted, and housing is only assigned to those who have been accepted and who have finalized their admission by returning the deposit and housing form.
Financial aid opportunities at Concordia are numerous, and no student should rule out attending Concordia based solely on cost until they have investigated the aid that is available to assist them.
Most new students join Concordia for fall semester beginning in late August, although a smaller number of students join for spring semester beginning in early January. We recommend August as the best time to start. Acceptances are offered contingent upon successful completion of your current course of study, so accepted students should be sure their schools send official transcripts to Concordia after you have completed your current studies.
Visit Concordia
There is no better way to find out what Concordia is like than to visit the campus. We are eager to have you visit at any time. Some students prefer to be part of a group and join one of the many "Visit Days" held throughout the year. Other students prefer to visit individually at a time of their choosing. Either can be equally rewarding, and visits are highly recommended because we know their value in helping you make an informed decision.
We suggest arranging your visit in advance online at www.ConcordiaCollege.edu or by phoning (218) 299-3004 or (800) 699-9897. If we have advance notice, we can arrange for you to stay in a residence hall, visit classes, meet professors and students, and attend college functions. Admissions representatives can meet with you to answer your questions and advise you about selecting a school and Concordia in particular.
Academic Preparation
Concordia, like most selective private colleges, does not require a specific pattern of high school courses for admission. However, our experience shows that students who are best prepared for Concordia have a high school record that includes
• four years of English
• three years each in the sciences, mathematics, and social sciences
• two years in another language
Computer experience and exposure to fine arts round out a good high school schedule. The Admissions Committee is also pleased to note students who have participated in honors courses or who have done advanced placement work.
We recognize there may be curricular limitations at smaller high schools, and students who are otherwise well prepared with strong academic backgrounds are still considered for admission. Similarly, students from outside the United States, where curricula vary widely, are considered for admission and should strive to follow an academic, university preparation curriculum at their schools.
Transfer Student Admission Procedures
For admission to advanced standing as a transfer student, you must request each postsecondary institution you have attended to send an official transcript directly to Concordia; in addition, if you are in your first year of college, you must submit the same material traditional first-year students submit. Transfer students who are in their second year or beyond of full-time study are not required to submit ACT or SAT scores. Acceptance depends upon your previous academic record as well as upon the other factors considered when admitting first-year students.
Students considering transferring to Concordia may request an initial evaluation of the transfer of semester credits prior to applying or in conjunction with applying by submitting an official postsecondary transcript(s) and specifically requesting this service. This evaluation is only preliminary, but it should be complete enough to be helpful in planning for your transfer.
Inquiry courses, Physical Education 111 and 112, and Religion 100 cannot be met by transfer credits by first-year students.
The Office of the Registrar evaluates official postsecondary transcripts and appropriate transfer credit is awarded after students finalize their admission. Students presenting credits in music theory are also required to write an examination to determine placement in this area.
For admission as a special student, you must furnish satisfactory evidence of prerequisite training to pursue your course of study.
International Student Admission Procedures
To be considered for admission, international students should send:
• an application
• official transcripts from high school and any previous university-level study. English translation of the official transcripts should be included. Please send both the official transcripts and the translation.
• two academic references
• official certificates with O Level and A Level results if applicable
• official certificates from any nationally administered tests in your country (during or at the completion of high school) if applicable
• evidence of English proficiency
– We prefer the IELTS exam and require a score of 6.0 or higher. Information can be obtained at www.ielts.org. Students' official results must be received directly from the testing center before they may enroll.
– We also accept the TOEFL exam with TWE. The TOEFL result must be 73 or higher on the Internet test, 200 or higher on the computer test, or 533 or higher on the paper test. TWE result should be 4.0 or higher. Information on these tests can be obtained at www.toefl.org. Students' official results must be received directly from the ETS before they may enroll — Concordia's TOEFL code is 6113.
– Other means of demonstrating English proficiency may be considered; however, this is rare and Concordia requires that all new students demonstrate to our satisfaction the ability to communicate effectively in an American college classroom before admittance.
• International student financial aid and certification form (not required for students from Scandinavia). International students must demonstrate and certify adequate financial support before Concordia can issue an I-20 form.
• SAT results and a personal essay are generally not required, but we appreciate receiving them and they can increase your chances for admission. We may require the SAT if it is difficult for the Admissions Committee to evaluate academic ability from the documents supplied.
Services that Concordia provides to international students include an on-campus, international student advisor and an international orientation for the fall semester. An international student organization includes international students and interested American students. Year-round housing in residence halls is available.
Our safe and friendly campus warmly welcomes international students. Concordia is centrally located in the heartland of the United States. Moorhead-Fargo is a medium-sized, growing community with more than 200,000 people, including 26,000 college students.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
Each of the following programs has particular requirements for admission. With the exceptions of the Master of Education and the parish nursing program, the admission requirements listed here must be met in addition to the basic criteria for admission to Concordia College.
Education
For admission to student teaching, students must:
1. Possess a GPA of 2.75 before enrolling in any course with an EDUC prefix.
2. Complete Education 210 – Foundations of K-12 Education with a grade of B- or higher or transfer an equivalent course.
3. Complete a clinical experience, receiving a favorable teacher evaluation, as part of Education 210 or provide evidence of completing a clinical experience under the supervision of another higher education institution.
4. Take MTLE I. Students who do not pass a portion of MTLE I should set up a meeting with the director of the Academic Enhancement and Writing Center.
5. Complete and submit an application admission to the teacher education program. The essay component must meet the criteria listed in the writing guidelines of the department of education.
6. Receive favorable recommendation from the Education 210 instructor.
If students transfer credit for Education 210, they may be recommended by any faculty in the department of education. The criteria on which students will be recommended are the following:
a. Oral and written communication skills
b. Knowledge of teaching as a discipline
c. Interest in and attitude toward the teaching profession
d. Responsibility, to include attendance, punctuality, due dates met, etc.
Students submit application materials to the department of education chair, who will act on the application and notify students in writing of the admission decision. Students who are not admitted may not register for additional education courses without permission of the department of education chair. Students who are not admitted to the teacher education program will be advised to seek academic assistance.
Music
First-year and transfer students are admitted to any of the music major or minor programs upon demonstrating sufficient ability and skill through a personal audition during the first year of residence at the college. All music majors or minors are required to take an examination testing their aural ability and knowledge of elementary theory. Transfer students are required to take a placement examination to determine levels of aural ability and knowledge of music theory.
Nursing – Professional Nursing Program
The prenursing program is open to all high school graduates and college students who wish to pursue a nursing major. To enter the prenursing program, students must be admitted to Concordia; however, applicants should note that admission to the college does not grant admission to the professional nursing major.
The professional nursing major begins the spring semester of the sophomore year. For admission into the major, an application must be submitted to the nursing department by April 15 of the student's first year to be considered for acceptance to begin the major the following year. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required in all post-high school work through the semester of application to be considered for admission. Application forms may be obtained at the nursing department. Students will be notified of their admission status in May. Students who are currently enrolled at Concordia should consult with a nursing faculty member or their nursing advisor prior to the application deadline.
Because state regulations require a specific student-faculty ratio in the clinical practicum, enrollment in the professional nursing program is limited and based on available resources and clinical placement availability. Therefore, admission is competitive and based on all of the following:
• GPA
• completion of the prerequisite courses with a passing letter grade
• eligibility for sophomore standing
• submission of the completed application materials
• personal references
• an impromptu essay or interview
• a one-page résumé
• Consideration will be given to students who have attended Concordia College. Refer to the nursing section in the catalog for additional admission and program information.
Social Work
Students interested in majoring in social work must make written application for acceptance into the major after completing SWK 283 – Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare with a grade of at least a B- (2.7). An overall GPA of 2.5 is required for admission to the program. All students planning to major in social work should request from the registrar to be assigned an advisor from the social work program. Because courses follow a sequence, transfer students or students deciding on the major during or after the fall semester of their sophomore year should meet with the social work program director as soon as possible to develop their educational plan.
TRANSITION INTO THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
First-Year Experience
Concordia College is committed to the holistic development of our students by engaging students in curricular and cocurricular pursuits. The first year of college is foundational to each student's academic and personal success and to your persistence in pursuing the goal of obtaining an undergraduate education.
Summer Orientation
Summer orientation is a program devoted to first-year students and their parents to inform them about the academic and student life of the college. During the summer orientation sessions held in June, students register for fall semester courses with personal assistance from faculty members. In addition, students and parents participate in a variety of group information sessions that help answer questions and prepare them for attending Concordia.
Fall Orientation
Prior to the opening of the academic year each fall, four days are dedicated to Fall Orientation activities for new students. These activities are planned with the needs of incoming students in mind and focus on preparing students for making a positive academic and social transition to Concordia. During Fall Orientation, students learn more about Concordia, receive helpful advice for academic success, make meaningful connections with faculty and students, and learn about Concordia's academic and cocurricular opportunities. Highlights of the program are the Summer Book Read, the Faculty Mentor and Orientation Leader support program, and Hands for Change.
The week is planned and coordinated by a student Orientation Committee comprised of eight students who work closely with approximately 84 upperclass students called Orientation Leaders. The Orientation Leaders, along with Faculty Mentors, work with small groups of incoming students called "clubs" during Orientation. Orientation clubs move through Fall Orientation into two of their fall semester courses as a group. This facilitates the development of a learning community within those courses. For more information, visit http://www.cord.edu/Studentlife/orientation1.php.
Mid-Year Orientation
A one-day Orientation is provided for students entering Concordia in January. The focus of the day is to provide new and transferring students the essential tools they need to successfully start the semester. Students receive their student IDs, meal plans, information about technology at Concordia, a campus tour, and learn about specific resources at Concordia. Creating social connections with other new students is an important goal of Mid-Year Orientation.
Involvement
There are many involvement opportunities for Concordia's first-year students. Becoming involved in cocurricular activities facilitates students' personal and intellectual development, interaction with other students, and creation of community and leadership development. One opportunity for involvement is LeadNow™, the campuswide leadership development program. Students participate in sessions, experiential learning opportunities and meetings with a leader mentor to earn leadership certifications. In addition, there are more than 100 campus organizations reflecting interests in many different areas including academics, athletics, programming, special interest, service and media/literature. With all of these different opportunities, students are able to participate in an organization that contributes to and complements their educational goals and objectives. As students begin to explore their opportunities, they are encouraged to attend the Cobber Expo — an event held each September when campus organizations are showcased and students can ask questions that will enable them to make informed involvement choices.
Academic Advising
A central component of a Concordia education is the partnership between you, the student, and your faculty advisor. In this partnership, your advisor will:
• help you understand and articulate the nature of a liberal arts education as a commitment to lifelong learning, aid you in determining career goals based on your aptitudes and interests, and help you outline a course of study that will enable you to achieve those goals and find your vocation
• provide you with the necessary information and guide you to the appropriate institutional resources as academic and developmental issues arise
• assist you in obtaining the maximum benefit from your total educational experiences by identifying emerging interests and relating those interests to opportunities in and outside the classroom
• assist you in understanding the policies and regulations that give structure to your educational experience
Advisement is a process that will encourage you to begin refining your educational, career and life goals. The faculty-student partnership is a continuous process of clarification and evaluation that will help you tailor the many educational opportunities at Concordia to your personal interests, abilities and needs.
Each first-year student is assigned a faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisors outside of scheduled advising times to fully benefit from this partnership.
While your advisor is there to assist you, you are responsible for knowing the regulations and policies as listed in the catalog, and for meeting the requirements for your chosen degree.
TUITION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Tuition, room, meals and fees are listed for the entire year but are due in two installments. Cost increases during the academic year are not anticipated; however, the college reserves the right to make them should unforeseen circumstances make it necessary.
Basic Costs 2012-13
Tuition: $30,650
Housing (residence hall)*: $3,060
Meals (block of 205)**: $3,940
Student activity fee: $210
_________________________
Comprehensive fee: $37,860
*Other housing options are available.
**Other meal plan options are available.
All students residing in campus housing other than the apartment complexes are required to participate in a college meal plan. All first- and second-year students who have not reached the age of 21 and are not living at home are required to reside in college residence halls and participate in a college meal plan.
Besides covering tuition, room, meals and student activity events, the comprehensive fee entitles you to free admission to most campus concerts, athletic events, plays, lectures and other campus functions. The student activity fee pays for a year's subscription to The Concordian newspaper and student activities programming.
Financial Arrangements
Advance Payments: A nonrefundable $20 application fee must accompany the application for admission by new students, excluding students who are readmitted. After acceptance for admission, all new students pay a $200 advance on tuition and fees. Advance payments are applied to tuition charges.
Payment: Payment for first semester is due Aug. 15. Payment for second semester is due Jan. 15. When financial aid or other adjustments are expected, those adjustments may be deducted from the balance. Please do not delay payments while waiting for adjustments. Interest will be charged on unpaid balances not paid by the deadline. Students should not expect to register for the next semester if fees are not paid in full. For information on how to view and/or pay your bill online, please go to http://www.cord.edu/Offices/Finance/Business/Tuition/howtopay.php
Returned/NSF Check(s): After three (3) non-sufficient funds checks are received as payments on a student's account, further payments must be made with cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card. Credit card payments are accepted online only.
Vacations: Room charges cover all days of the academic year except the Christmas vacation period, which occurs between semesters. The charge for meal plans covers all meals served during the academic year except during the following periods: midsemester recesses and Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter vacations.
Insurance: A group health insurance plan is available for both married students and for single students who are not covered by their parents' health insurance policy or some other policy. Students as well as staff members may wish to provide their own insurance coverage on all personal property, because the college cannot be responsible for any losses.
Special Fees
Mandatory fees for selected programs for 2012-13:
Only participating students pay these fees:
2012 Summer school, per credit. . $800
2013 Summer school, per credit. . $840
Private lessons in music, per semester series
(includes practice room). . $410
Part-time study, per credit. . $1,205
(see academic classification)
Courses in excess of 17 credit load, per credit
(The excess-load charge does not apply to credits f rom private lessons in music.). . $540
Course audit:
For currently enrolled students. . no charge
For graduates of Concordia College. . .. no charge
For noncollege persons, per course. . $50
Student teaching. . $200
Education Methods Fee. . $50
Clinical Laboratory Science. . .. $9,900
(Clinical Laboratory Science: Students enrolled in the clinical laboratory science program who, in their final
year, attend an approved school of medical technology are charged $9,900 for tuition.)
Some programs/degrees may have additional fees. For information relative to these fees, please contact the Business Office located in Lorentzsen Hall, Room 240, or call (218) 299-3150.
Withdrawals and Refunds
Return of Title IV (Federal) Aid Policy:
If you withdraw from Concordia College during a semester or summer term, you must complete the proper withdrawal form in the Student Affairs Office, located in the Parke Student Leadership Center. The Financial Aid Office will then calculate how much federal aid you have "earned" based on your withdrawal date. As a result, your earned Federal Student Aid may not cover all unpaid institutional charges due to Concordia College.
The steps that Concordia must complete to comply with the federal policy are:
1. Determine the withdrawal date.
2. Determine the amount of earned federal aid.
3. Return unearned federal funds to the appropriate program(s).
However, in order to ensure that you are eligible to receive financial aid, Concordia may first verify with your instructor(s) that you are attending or participating in academic activities related to your classes for the term.
The withdrawal date is the date you begin the withdrawal process. If you fail to withdraw officially, the withdrawal date will become the midpoint of the term, unless the college can document a later date. In certain circumstances if an earlier date of last academic activity is determined, this date may be used in the calculation of "earned" federal aid.
If you withdraw before completing 60 percent of the term, you "earn" federal funds in direct proportion to the length of time you were enrolled. The percentage of earned aid is determined by dividing the total number of calendar days enrolled by the total number of calendar days in the term. If you complete 60 percent of the term, you earn all federal financial aid for the term.
The responsibility to repay unearned aid is shared by Concordia College and the student. The college's share is the lesser of the unearned aid or unearned institutional charges. The college's share must be repaid to the federal aid programs in the following order, before the student's share is considered:
1. Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan
2. Subsidized Federal Direct Loan
3. Federal Perkins Loan
4. Direct PLUS Loan
5. Federal Pell Grant
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
7. Federal TEACH Grant
8. Other Title IV (Federal) Assistance
If you are required to repay a portion of your loan through the student's share calculation, you will not be expected to return those funds immediately, but rather when repayment begins according to the terms and conditions of the promissory note. If your share includes grant funds, federal rules allow the grant to be reduced by 50 percent, and Concordia College will repay these grant programs on your behalf. You will then be responsible for repaying the money back to Concordia College. If this causes undue hardship, a satisfactory payment arrangement can be made with Concordia's Business Office.
Institutional and State Refund Policy: The Return of Title IV policy, cited above, only considers federal aid. Concordia is also required to determine if any institutional or state financial aid must be returned if you completely withdraw. Concordia offers refunds of tuition and fees, as well as room and board through the eighth week of fall or spring semester.
If you withdraw during a period of time that allows for a refund of tuition and/or room and board, a portion or all of your institutional, state and/or outside funding may be reduced or cancelled, assuming the institutional refund was not used to fully repay the Return of Title IV Aid. If you receive a 100 percent tuition refund on all courses for a particular term, all institutional, state and outside funding must be returned to the appropriate aid program(s).
Refunds for Reduced Load: If you find it necessary to drop a course during the semester, the process must be complete by the deadlines on the academic calendar. If your student status changes from overload to full time or from full time to part time, tuition refunds through the eighth week of the semester will be granted effective on the date the drop-add form is returned to the Office of the Registrar. If you have a refund of tuition as a result of reducing your course load and you are receiving gift assistance from Concordia College, state or private sources, this assistance will be reduced up to the amount of the refund.
Refunds for Private Lessons: Refunds will be granted based on the week the lessons were dropped. No refunds will be granted after five weeks. If financial aid was given to cover music lessons, it will be removed should the lessons be dropped.
Appeals on Refunds: Any questions or problems related to refunds should be directed to the controller, whose office is located in the Business Office.
Terms of Statement: In order to receive any credit balance, complete settlement of your bill must be made.
FINANCIAL AID
No student should ever decide against attending Concordia College on the basis of cost without first conferring with the Financial Aid Office. More than $63 million per year in financial aid is made available by the college, gifts to the college, and the state and federal governments. Funds are distributed through scholarships, grants, loans and work opportunities to students who without such help would be unable to attend college. These programs are offered singly or in combination to form a financial aid package.
Eligibility for assistance is based on need and/or on academic promise. Need-based financial aid is applied toward those attendance costs that you and your family cannot provide, while merit-based financial aid recognizes academic potential. Aid is granted for a one-year period only, so application must be made each spring for the coming academic year.
A student is expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the standards and practices of Concordia. Failure to do so may result in ineligibility for financial aid. For specific information on Satisfactory Academic Progress as it relates to financial aid eligibility, please see http://www.cord.edu/Offices/Finaid/forms/assets/2011/2011_12_SAP.pdf
How to Apply for Financial Aid
To apply for all forms of need-based financial aid – scholarships, grants, loans, work study – you need only complete one form: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available from your high school counselor, from the Financial Aid Office at Concordia and at www.fafsa.gov.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available in January and should be completed and sent in as soon as possible after Jan. 1 for the following academic year. However, it is strongly suggested that both student and parental federal income tax returns be completed prior to application.
There is no deadline for incoming students for completion of the FAFSA. For returning students, priority will be given to those students who apply prior to April 15. Late applicants will be awarded aid on the basis of available funds.
Financial aid is awarded to first-year and transfer students on a rolling basis, which means that as soon as you are accepted for admission and file for financial aid, you will be notified concerning financial aid. Returning upper-class students can expect award notification prior to or during the month of June if application is made prior to April 15. Remember that need-based financial aid can only be given on an annual basis – reapplication must be made each year. Because the financial status of a family often changes, it is impossible to award aid for more than one year.
A financial aid award letter will be mailed to a student upon completion of a financial aid package.
Financial Aid Revisions
The financial aid package is awarded on the basis of financial and academic information contained in the application. Aid received from any source that was not originally considered in your aid package may affect the amount you receive. You are required to notify the Financial Aid Office of all such aid received from any source.
A financial aid package is based on information from the previous tax year; therefore, changes in the financial status of your family may also affect your financial aid. Concordia must retain the right to revise your aid package if other resources become available. Likewise, Concordia will increase your aid package if circumstances merit the increase and if funds are still available.
Scholarships and Grants
Scholarships are given to recognize outstanding achievements and/or provide assistance based on financial need. Grants provide financial assistance based on financial need. Grant and scholarship funds are outright gifts and need not be repaid. Institutional scholarships and grants are only available during fall and spring semesters and require full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 semester academic credits each semester).
The amount awarded is based upon need determined by the federal need-analysis formula. The college holds this information in confidence.
Concordia Grants: Concordia grants are awarded on the basis of financial need.
Concordia Scholarships: Concordia scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, financial need and/or merit.
Concordia Endowed and Restricted Scholarships: Concordia receives funds from a large number of foundations, corporations and private donors to be awarded as scholarships to students on the basis of financial need and/or selection criteria established by the individual donors.
Merit-Based Scholarships: The Concordia Admissions Office publishes a complete list of merit-based scholarships annually. Incoming freshmen who are offered a merit/performance scholarship may receive funding for a maximum of eight consecutive semesters or until graduation, whichever comes first, provided the student meets the necessary renewal criteria and satisfactory academic progress guidelines (view guidelines at http://www.cord.edu/Offices/Finaid/forms/assets/2011/2011_12_SAP.pdf).
Minnesota State Grant Program: All Minnesota residents will be evaluated for eligibility for a Minnesota Grant if they complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and have the results sent to Concordia. The grant is awarded based on financial need. You may only receive aid from the Minnesota Grant program for the equivalent of eight semesters of undergraduate study, and you must be registered for at least 15 credits each semester to receive the maximum Minnesota grant for which you are eligible. The FAFSA deadline for the State Grant is 30 days after the start of the semester.
Federal Pell Grant Program: The Federal Pell Grant is a program designed to provide undergraduate students with a "foundation" of financial aid to help defray the costs of a postsecondary education. Application is made through completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The amount awarded is determined on the basis of financial need and the direct educational expenses of the student. Once you apply for the Federal Pell Grant, you will receive a Student Aid Report. The maximum Pell Grant for 2012-13 is $5,550.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: This federal grant is intended to assist those students with exceptional financial need who, without the grant, would be unable to continue their undergraduate education. Grants under this program range from $100 to $4,000 per year.
TEACH Grant: Concordia College participates in the federal TEACH Grant program. TEACH Grants are awarded to students planning to teach in certain subject areas and in low-income schools. At Concordia, students must be enrolled in or have completed Education 210 in order to be eligible (usually taken in the sophomore year). For more information, visit http://www.cord.edu/Academics/Education/Studentinfo/teachgrant.php.
Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarships: These awards, providing for tuition, fees, textbooks, supplies and a monthly stipend, may be awarded to students who meet established criteria. See ROTC under the "Expanded Academic Opportunities".
Census Date: The value of Pell Grants are determined based on enrollment as of the census date (generally the 10th day of class each semester). Per federal regulations, no adjustments can be made after these dates.
Loans
Five types of loans for college costs at Concordia are available:
1. Federal Perkins Loan: This loan, which lends money at a 5 percent interest rate, is offered on the basis of financial need. Loan maximums are $5,500 annually with an aggregate of $27,500 for undergraduate study. The loans are interest-free while the student remains enrolled in college. Repayment begins nine months after enrollment ceases with a minimum repayment of $40 per month and may be extended up to 10 years for larger aggregate loan amounts. In addition to having a low interest rate, a Perkins Loan also has cancellation provisions for certain types of teaching, military, law enforcement, Peace Corps and volunteer service.
2. Federal Direct Loan Program: This program provides subsidized loans at a fixed interest rate of 6.8 percent for 2012-13. Students demonstrating need, according to federal guidelines, borrow through the U.S. Department of Education. Under this program, the federal government will pay the interest until you begin repayment, which starts six months after enrollment ceases. Students who do not demonstrate financial need may obtain an unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan at 6.8 percent interest and interest will accrue while enrolled in college. The maximum amount for this loan is $5,500 per year for first-year students, $6,500 for second-year students and $7,500 for each year thereafter, with an undergraduate maximum of $31,000.
3. Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students: The Federal Direct PLUS program was established to help parents borrow money to defray the cost of education for their dependent children. Regardless of income, parents who are creditworthy may borrow up to the cost of education minus any financial aid the student is receiving. The interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent. Applications and further information are available from the Financial Aid Office.
4. Private Loans: Many commercial lenders offer private student loans. Generally, these loans require a co-signer. Application forms are available online and borrowers are urged to carefully evaluate the interest rate and fees before processing a private loan.
Concordia College maintains a list of private loan lenders used by Concordia students in the past four years. Concordia College is providing this list as a service to students. Students are free to select a private loan program that is not on this list. If a student chooses to borrow from a private loan program, the choice of a lender or loan program is entirely the choice of the student. If a student chooses to use a loan program that is not on Concordia's historical list of lenders, we will process the loan in the same time frame as we would for the loan programs previously used by Concordia students.
Work
Student Part-Time Employment: A variety of valuable employment opportunities in part-time work exist both on and off campus for Concordia College students.
The cities of Moorhead and Fargo form a retail-wholesale trade center for a large area. Concordia College students have a good reputation with business firms in the two cities. A substantial number of students hold part-time jobs. The Concordia Career Center and the student-operated Job Shop coordinate requests for student workers and students seeking employment. Approximately 1,300 students — first year to seniors — are employed on campus each year.
Concordia Dining Services employs the largest number of students in part-time jobs, ranging from dishwashing to student manager positions. Hours for all part-time jobs are arranged around class blocks. Other on-campus jobs include departmental and administrative clerical help, library assistance, language laboratory monitoring, grounds services and residence hall assistance.
For students receiving financial aid, part-time employment may be considered as part of their financial aid package. A work award in the financial aid package provides the opportunity to work, not the guarantee of a job.
Federal and Minnesota Work-Study Program: Students with financial need who require a job to help pay for college expenses are potentially eligible for employment by the college under federal and state supported work-study programs.
To work under this program at Concordia College, a student must be enrolled at least half time (6 credits) and be in good standing, or be accepted for enrollment as at least a half-time student.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Policy: In accordance with federal and state regulations, all undergraduate students must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress toward the attainment of a degree. At Concordia College, satisfactory academic progress is monitored at the end of every academic period.
All financial aid applicants are subject to the standards outlined here even if financial aid was not received in the past. There are three distinct dimensions to the satisfactory academic progress standards: maintaining the minimum required grade point average, successfully completing a degree at the required pace, and completing within an established time frame.
At minimum, students must maintain the academic progress requirements outlined in the chart below and obtain a first Bachelor of Arts degree within 189 attempted credits or a Bachelor of Music degree within 213 attempted credits.
Minimum Academic Progress Standards for Financial Aid
| Academic Period | Cumulative GPA | Pace |
| First Academic Period | 1.7 | 50.00% |
| Second Academic Period | 1.8 | 62.50% |
| Third Academic Period | 1.9 | 68.75% |
| Fourth Academic Period and Beyond | 2.0 | 68.75% |
Admission to Concordia College or academic standing as defined by the Registrar's Office does not necessarily constitute maintaining satisfactory academic progress for purposes of financial aid.
Programs Covered by this Policy: All federal, state and institutional scholarship, grant, loan and work-study programs are covered by this policy. Institutional scholarships and awards are covered by this policy and are also subject to the criteria defined for the specific scholarship/award.
Monitoring Progress: A student's progress will be monitored at the end of fall and spring semesters and summer school. The overall cumulative grade point average (GPA), pace and maximum time frame assessment will be based on the student's entire academic record, including all transfer credits accepted.
Maximum Time Frame: Undergraduate students are eligible to receive financial aid for up to 150 percent of their program length. As a result, students acquiring a Bachelor of Arts degree must obtain their degree within 189 attempted credits and Bachelor of Music students within 213 attempted credits. Attempted credits include all "I," "F," "DR," "U," "W" and "NG" grades; along with satisfactory grades of "A,""B," "C" and "D" including pluses and minuses. Courses that are repeated are counted each time they are attempted yet only count as "earned" credits once (assuming the student earns a passing grade). All transfer credits accepted by the institution are counted as attempted and earned. Audit credits are not counted.
Pace: Pace is measured by dividing the cumulative number of earned credit hours by the cumulative number of credit hours the student has attempted at the completion of each academic period. This includes any course for which the student has remained enrolled past the Drop/Add period. A student's pace must be 50% or greater after the first academic period, 62.50% or greater after the second academic period and 68.75% or greater thereafter. Satisfactory grades are "A," "B," "C," "D," "P" and "S," including pluses and minuses. Unsatisfactory grades are "F," "DR," "U," "NG," "I," "IP" and "W." Both Concordia credits and transfer credits are used to calculate pace.
Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average: A student must obtain at least a cumulative GPA of 1.7 at the end of the first academic period, a 1.8 at the end of the second academic period, a 1.9 at the end of the third academic period and a 2.0 or greater thereafter. Concordia and transfer courses (i.e., overall cumulative GPA) are used to calculate the cumulative GPA. Grades of "IP," "NG," "NR," "S," "I," "W," "U" and "DR" do not affect the GPA calculation. Grade changes of an incomplete ("I") grade will affect the GPA calculation once the final grade is submitted.
Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress: A student who does not meet the above standards of satisfactory academic progress at the end of each academic period will automatically be placed on financial aid warning for the following academic term. A student on financial aid warning may continue to receive financial aid for one payment period even though s/he is not meeting the minimum satisfactory academic progress standards. At the end of the warning period a student's satisfactory progress will be evaluated again. If it is determined that the student is meeting the minimum progress standards, the student will be considered to be in good standing and may receive financial aid in the upcoming term. If the student fails to meet the minimum satisfactory academic standards after the warning period, aid will be suspended for the upcoming term.
A student will be placed on SUSPENDED status if the student:
• fails to make financial aid satisfactory academic progress while on WARNING status; or
• has a cumulative GPA below 2.0 after two years of college attendance (two years of college attendance is defined as any four semesters of attendance, including summer); or
• s/he is dismissed from college.
A student whose financial aid has been suspended is not eligible to receive financial aid until he or she meets one of the following conditions:
• Continues to attend Concordia College at his or her own expense and returns to full compliance with all parts of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy; or
• Demonstrates special circumstances to justify appeal consideration.
Students will be notified in writing via U.S. mail to their permanent home address if they have been placed on probation or suspension. If the break between terms is less than two weeks and the student is registered for the upcoming term, notification of suspension will also be sent to the student's Concordia College email address.
Right to Appeal: A student whose financial aid has been suspended can submit a written appeal to the Financial Aid Office. An appeal form is included with the suspension notification letter and is also available in the Financial Aid Office.
The appeal form and supporting documentation must be submitted to the associate director of Financial Aid in the Welcome Center by the deadline indicated in the suspension notification letter. The appeal should clearly detail the mitigating circumstances that hindered the student's academic performance and relevant documentation should accompany the appeal form. Acceptable reasons to appeal include but are not limited to: illness or injury of the student, illness or death of an immediate relative of the student, military service, divorce or separation of student/spouse, etc.
A student whose aid is suspended due to maximum time frame must include a degree audit with the appeal form that clearly identifies remaining coursework to complete his/her degree. His/her advisor or the registrar or assistant registrar must sign off on the degree audit, or forward an email to the associate director of Financial Aid that details the coursework left to complete and the student's anticipated graduation date. Acceptable reasons to appeal maximum time frame include but are not limited to: change of major, transfer credits that did not apply toward your degree/program, and music ensemble credits for students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree.
If an appeal is granted, or approved, the student will be placed on financial aid probation and his/her aid eligibility will be reinstated for one term. Concordia may develop individual academic plans for students whose appeal has been approved if it is evident that the student cannot attain, or is unlikely to attain, the satisfactory academic progress standards after completing one term of coursework, or if outside assistance is required (i.e., working with an academic counselor, personal counselor or other resources) to improve the situation. The purpose of an academic plan is to ensure that the student is able to meet the institution's satisfactory academic progress standards by a specific point in time. Assuming the student meets all conditions of the academic plan for the term, the student can continue to receive aid in subsequent terms until s/he is again meeting the satisfactory academic progress standards listed above. If the student fails to meet the conditions of the academic plan, future aid is suspended until the student is in full compliance with all satisfactory academic progress standards or provides justification for another appeal consideration.
Action taken on a financial aid appeal is final and is transmitted to the student in writing. Appeals should be submitted by the deadline detailed in the suspension notification letter. Depending on the timeliness of the appeal, it is possible for a student to have an appeal denied and also not be entitled to a refund of charges if the student chooses to withdraw from classes. A student who enrolls and attends class whose appeal is subsequently denied will be eligible for a refund of charges based solely on the schedule of refunds in the Business Office.
Refunds in Financial Aid Resulting from Withdrawal from School
The Business Office determines the refund amount for tuition, fees, room, and meal plan in the event that a student withdraws from school during the semester. Please refer to the information under Withdrawals and Refunds in the Financial Information pages of the catalog or please see www.cord.edu/offices/finaid/assets/ccwithdrawalpolicy.pdf.
Cautionary Note
Because the status of federal and state student assistance programs is ever changing, we run the risk that published information may become outdated. Should this occur, we will publish all applicable changes using the numerous media available on this campus.
Glossary of Terms
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid — financial statement that is used in applying for need-based financial aid
Grant: a monetary gift awarded on the basis of financial need
Job Shop: a student-operated office whose main purpose is to help students secure on- or off-campus employment
Lender: your local bank, savings and loan, credit union, or other financial institution participating in a private loan program
Need: the difference between the cost of attendance and the family's estimated financial contribution (EFC) as calculated by the FAFSA
Package: the financial aid, determined by the Financial Aid Office, that you receive
Rolling Basis: an arrangement in which once you are accepted and apply for financial aid, you are notified immediately of the financial aid decision
Scholarship: a monetary gift usually awarded according to donor's specifications, such as financial need, achievement or field of study
Student Aid Report (SAR): the report the student receives from the USDE indicating financial information on file regarding the student; it is used in the corrections process
Verification: a requirement of the federal government to verify accuracy of the financial data in the aid application
Work Study: on- or off-campus part-time employment that students can participate in while in school. Earnings are paid by the employer and through federal and state funds as applicable
OFFICE OF THE PROVOST AND ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
The Office of the Provost of Concordia College upholds the centrality of the college's academic programs for its life and mission as an institution of higher learning of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and supports the vibrancy of the entire student learning environment. The goals of the Office of the Provost are to:
• recruit the faculty, administer professional policies relating to them, and provide for the growth and development of the faculty
• provide leadership in the development, maintenance and renewal of the academic and student life
• facilitate the work of faculty and students through effective academic support services
• provide overall direction and supervision to cocurricular activities
• coordinate and supervise the academic extension and public service activities offered by the college
The Office of the Provost and Dean of the College and the Office of Academic Affairs are located in Lorentzsen Hall. The Office of Academic Affairs oversees the implementation of policies and supervises the college's academic departments and programs.
Concordia's academic departments and programs are organized into divisions:
Office of Arts and Sciences
Fine Arts
Art
Music
Theatre Art
Humanities
Chinese
Classical Studies
English
French
German
History
Italian
Norwegian and Scandinavian Studies
Philosophy
Political Science
Religion
Spanish and Hispanic Studies
Women's Studies
Library
Professional Programs and Communication Studies
Communication Studies
Education
Graduate Programs
Nursing
Nutrition and Dietetics
Social Work
Sciences and Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Clinical Laboratory Science
Earth Science
Environmental Studies
Health Professions
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
Sociology
Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and National Fellowships
Cultural Events and Music Organizations
Office of Core and Academic Development
Core Curriculum
Credo
Faculty Development and Scholarship
Office of Global Learning
Global Education
Office of Global Studies
Office of Intercultural Affairs
Athletics, Physical Education and Health
Athletics
Exercise Science
Health
Physical Education
Offutt School of Business
Accounting
Business
Computer Science
Economics
Healthcare Management
International Business
Management
Marketing
Information Technology
Assessment
Computer Services
Institutional Research
Registrar
Student Affairs
Academic Enhancement and Writing Center
Campus Information
Career Center
Counseling Center and Disability Services
Health Center
Orientation and First-Year Involvement
Post Office
Public Safety
Residence Life
Student Leadership and Service
Student Programming
ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT
Concordia College is committed to providing students with top quality learning experiences. Assessment is the process that measures students' learning. We want to determine the extent that each student who graduates from Concordia has achieved the Goals for Liberal Learning and is prepared to carry out the mission of the college.
You will be invited to participate in various assessment activities that are designed to measure your learning and development. For example, you may be invited to complete standardized exams, respond to surveys, develop a portfolio of your work, or attend focus group discussions. Many assessment activities measure students' progress from first year to fourth year. This enables us to demonstrate how much your knowledge and skills have developed during your four years at Concordia College. In many cases, we will share with you the results of assessment activities in which you participate. Awareness of your own capabilities is important for success both in college and after graduation.
Assessment activities are intended to provide useful information to faculty, staff and administrators. The college is committed to using results of assessment activities to improve programs and services. We want to ensure that we provide you (and future Cobbers) with a top quality education.
OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
The Office of the Registrar, located in Lorentzsen Hall, is responsible for registration and grading procedures, assigning advisors and monitors students' academic progress at Concordia. Questions relating to advisors, graduation requirements, registration, grades and transfer credits can be answered there. The office evaluates the transcripts of transfer students and determines the number of semester credits that will transfer and their applicability toward graduation requirements.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA): The College is in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) as amended. Under FERPA, students have the right to 1) inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the day that the Official Record Keeper receives a request for access; 2) request the amendment of the education record that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading; 3) consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent; 4) file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Concordia College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The College publishes and distributes to all students a Notification of FERPA Rights that describes College policies in each of the four areas mentioned above. Contract the Registrar's Office for more information.
Official Transcripts: Copies of official transcripts may be requested through the National Student Clearinghouse for a small fee. Credit card payments are available through the Clearinghouse. Transcripts will not be issued until all bills are paid in full in the Business Office. The Office of the Registrar provides official copies of transcripts at no cost for counter and mail requests. Additional fees are charged for rush service requests.
Glossary of Terms
The following definitions will help you interpret college regulations and understand academic requirements:
Credit hour: A credit hour is a unit of measure that gives value to the level of instruction, academic rigor and time requirement for a course taken at an educational institution. At its most basic, a credit hour is a proxy measure of a unit of student learning. The definition of a credit hour will establish a basis for measuring eligibility for federal funding. Alternative methods of measuring student learning may be utilized as long as they result in institutional equivalencies that reasonably approximate the definition of a credit hour for federal purposes.
Concordia complies with the 2011 federal definition of the credit hour as stated in 75 FR 66832 Regulation 600.2, Program Integrity Issues:
Federal Credit Hour Definition: A credit hour is 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 of 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 activities as established by an institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading toward to the award of credit hours. (Higher Learning Commission, 2011)
The above federal definition includes several important components that Concordia has further defined below:
1. An hour of instruction:
a. One credit hour of instruction is 50-60 minutes of scheduled academic engagement.
18 UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
b. The number of weekly hours of instruction is defined by the number of credit hours for the course.
c. For each hour of faculty-directed instruction, there should be a minimum of two hours of additional student academic work each week.
2. A week of instruction:
A week of instruction must contain at least one day of scheduled academic engagement.
3. A semester of instruction:
A semester of instruction contains approximately fifteen weeks of instruction or equivalent academic engagement.
4. Equivalent academic engagement
a. Equivalent academic engagement may be substituted for scheduled classroom instruction when appropriate and as long as the learning outcomes and/or requirement for number of hours and weeks of instruction are met.
b. Equivalent academic engagement may include laboratory work, internships, cooperative education, practica, studio work, independent study, music lessons, music ensembles, and other academic work that leads to the awarding of credit hours and meets the federal and institutional requirements.
Grades: Grades are indicated by letters, using the traditional method of describing the quality of work in a course. See the chart below for how letter grades are interpreted in terms of quality and grade points. Policy for assigning grades is at the discretion of the individual instructor. A student who wishes to appeal a grade may petition the department chair, who, in consultation with the faculty member and two other faculty members agreeable to the petitioner, will determine whether the grade should be changed. Petitions should be submitted no later than midsemester following the semester in which the grade was assigned. Students seeking an appeal of the department/program decision may bring a petition to the dean of the college or their designee.
Grade Points: Grade points are the numerical measure of the quality of work. Each grade received is assigned the value indicated on the chart below. The grade points earned in a single course are determined by multiplying the numerical equivalent of the letter grade by the number of semester credits for the course. Grades that do not affect the grade point average are indicated by an *.
|
Grades |
Interpretation |
Grade points |
Grade Point Average (GPA): The grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned in all courses by the total number of semester credits attempted. A GPA of 2.0 is the same as a C average, 3.0 is a B average, etc.
Incomplete Grade: A grade of I is a temporary indicator that your work is satisfactory as far as completed and that credit may be earned upon completion of all course requirements. The grade of I is issued only when you have missed examinations or failed to complete course assignments because of serious and prolonged illness or other unavoidable emergencies. It is your responsibility to consult the teacher and initiate the grade of I and the makeup work. If justified, an I grade is awarded by the instructor. The instructor will indicate course requirements to be completed, date by which requirements will be completed and received by the instructor (no later than the eighth week of the following semester), and the course grade which will be recorded should the student fail to meet all conditions of the agreement.
If three or more incompletes have accumulated, permission to enroll in any new courses the following semester will be withheld until you have met with a member of the Student Academic Performance and Procedures Committee to discuss and establish a plan for removing the incompletes and until substantial progress has been made in finishing the incompletes. The final dates for removal of incompletes and conditions are given in the college calendar; they are the dates after which the registrar cannot accept revisions of I grades given the preceding semester.
Major: In order to graduate from Concordia, students must complete a specified amount of work in an approved major area of study and must maintain at least a C average (2.0 GPA) in these courses. A minimum of 50 percent of the major requirements must be Concordia coursework. Concordia coursework includes all delivery methods including on-campus, online, and study away courses for which a student registers and pays tuition at Concordia. The major should be selected by the end of the sophomore year. Each major must contain at least 24 distinct semester credits regardless of the size of the major. A student cannot double major or major and minor in two areas with the same programmatic prefix.
Minor: A minor is not required for graduation. A minor, like a major, is in a concentrated field but requires fewer semester credits. Minors are available in most areas where a major is given and in some areas for which a major is not offered. Requirements for minors are also listed in the department entries. At least a C average must be maintained and a minimum of 40 percent of the minor requirements must be Concordia coursework. Concordia coursework includes all delivery methods including on-campus, online, and study away courses for which a student registers and pays tuition at Concordia. Each minor must contain at least 12 distinct semester credits.
Part of Term: Terms may be divided into Parts of Term. Part of Term II and Part of Term III in the fall and spring semesters are each held over an eight-week period.
Senior College Credit: This is credit given for a course numbered 300 or above.
Academic Records and Registration Information
Registration: Once your deposit has been received and you have been accepted for admission to Concordia College, you will receive registration instructions. You will be assigned a faculty advisor who will assist you in planning your course of study and answer your questions or direct you to the proper source of help on campus.
First-Year Registration: Your first contact with a faculty member will be during summer Orientation, a program designed for first-year students. The Office of the Registrar annually schedules these sessions to enable new students to meet with faculty members and plan their schedules for courses in the fall. If you come to the Concordia campus for summer Orientation, you may also tour the buildings, classrooms and residence halls, and talk with professors and students attending summer school. Music interviews will be held for interested students. Summer Orientation is optional, but strongly recommended. Summer Orientation assures you of registration in consultation with a faculty member and gives you a chance to become acquainted with the campus before arriving in the fall.
Transfer Student Registration: The registrar and advisors work individually with transfer students during the registration process. Early application is strongly urged; information on registration is mailed soon after acceptance. A transfer student is not permitted to register until he or she has furnished the college with an official transcript of credits certifying good standing at each of the accredited collegiate institutions previously attended. Transfer credit must be earned with a grade of C- or better, and must be from a regionally accredited school to be transferable. Misrepresentation, omission of information or failure to provide information may cause delay or be grounds for dismissal.
Advance Registration: Twice a year, currently enrolled students may register in advance for the next semester. Near the end of the first semester, registration is held for the second semester; near the end of the second semester, registration is held for summer sessions and the first semester of the following academic year.
Late Registration: Last day to add a class for a regular semester course is the 10th day. Registrations cannot be accepted after the 10th academic day. Other term deadlines are proportional to the length of the term.
Maximum Registration: Normally, the maximum registration per semester is 17 semester credits. Applications for exceptions to this rule may be made to the registrar and are considered on the basis of grade point average and anticipated date of graduation. A "normal load" is considered to be 16 semester credits. Academic work taken off campus is considered part of a student's load.
Changes in Registration: It is the students' responsibility to be sure that their course registration is complete and accurate. All students are encouraged to consult with their advisor and their instructors when making changes to their registrations.
Students will complete initial registration and subsequent schedule changes online via Self-Service Banner. Full semester courses can be added through the 10th day of class and courses may be dropped through the eighth week of the semester. Shorter term classes have deadlines proportional to the length of term. See academic calendar for exact deadline dates.
If a student wishes to enroll in a class that is at its capacity, or has a prerequisite or other restriction that prevents registration, the student must contact the instructor of the course. If the instructor grants permission for the student to be added to the class, the instructor will execute an "electronic override" and the student will then be able to register for the course through Banner. Registrations with overrides of any kind are a two step process.
In the rare circumstance when a first-time freshman needs to change the registration of their Inquiry Seminar and its linked course, the student must consult with their advisor and will need to complete the drop-add form available in the Office of the Registrar. Changes approved by the Registrar will be processed in the Registrar's Office.
Full-semester courses dropped after the 10th academic day will be noted on the student academic transcript as "DR" (dropped course). Shorter terms have deadlines proportional to the length of the term.
Students dropping ALL courses during a current term (withdrawing from college) must contact the Student Affairs Office and will have a "W" noted on the transcript for each dropped course.
Students with serious and prolonged illness or other serious emergencies wishing to drop a course after the deadline may appeal in writing to the Committee on Student Academic Performance and Procedures for consideration. The committee's decision of approval or denial will be communicated to the student via their Concordia email address. Supporting documentation from medical personnel, instructors and/or advisors is beneficial. Late drops are rarely approved for reasons other than those stated above.
A student who drops a course without documented permission or stops attending a course receives a failing grade in that course.
Withdrawal From College: The final date for withdrawal from college is the last day of classes during the 12th week of the semester. If it is necessary to withdraw from college during the semester, the student must file an application for withdrawal for consideration by the Office of Student Success and Retention, located in Fjelstad Hall Room B02. If endorsed, the withdrawal becomes effective on the date it is approved and is reflected on the academic record. Failure to file an application for withdrawal or filing an application late will result in additional charges being assessed as indicated elsewhere in the catalog. Students who stop attending classes and who do not withdraw in the prescribed manner cannot be granted honorable dismissal, will be charged as if they had been attending class and earn failing grades in their courses. Withdrawal from college may impact a student's financial aid. Please refer to the information under Withdrawals and Refunds in the Financial Information pages of the catalog.
The college reserves the right to involuntarily withdraw students who discontinue class attendance.
The college also reserves the right to involuntarily withdraw students on academic probation who are not attending classes and who obviously are not going to meet their probation status requirements.
If students engage in behavior that suggests a danger to self or others, or if students' behavior demonstrates that they are emotionally or psychologically incapable of functioning properly in the college setting, the college reserves the right to withdraw students involuntarily from school after consulting an appropriate family member or guardian and psychiatrist or psychologist.
Military Withdrawal: The college will make every effort to accommodate the needs of a student called to active military duty during an academic term. Students who receive orders to report for active U.S. military duty are instructed to contact the Office of Student Affairs. Students in this situation must present their Military Orders to initiate accommodations regarding coursework in progress. An approved plan regarding coursework must be established prior to a student's departure. Generally, there are three approaches that may be taken:
1. If orders are received late in the term, a student may be able to complete coursework prior to leaving.
2. In some situations, it will be feasible for a student to receive an Incomplete in a course or courses. If it is not feasible to receive an Incomplete, a student will be allowed to drop a course or courses with a full refund of tuition and fees associated with the dropped course(s). If a student receives an Incomplete but is unable to complete the work due to a change in circumstances, the student may appeal to the Committee on Student Academic Performance and Procedures for a retroactive course drop under the same terms outlined above.
3. In many situations, it will be necessary for a student to withdraw from the college to fulfill military obligations. In this circumstance, a student will be withdrawn from all courses with a 100 percent refund of tuitions and fees and unused portion of room and meals.
Academic Leave of Absence: Students in good standing may apply for an academic leave of absence, allowing them to take leave from college without having to apply for readmission. The registrar and dean of student development will review applications. Leaves may be granted for a period of up to one year. Leaves can be granted for reasons of work or health problems. During an academic leave, students will not have access to institutional resources.
Readmission: If you stop attending Concordia for one or more academic terms and want to return, you must contact the Office of Admissions. Before your application for readmission will be considered, you will be asked to address any pending issues related to your academic, disciplinary or financial status with the college at the time you stopped attending. In some instances, a "clearance meeting" with a college office may be required to resolve a pending issue. Once these issues are resolved, the Office of Admissions will process your application for readmission and inform you of the resulting decision.
Auditing Courses: Anyone wishing to audit (attend a course without seeking credit) must be admitted, register for the course and pay the appropriate fees (see the financial information pages; Concordia employees and Concordia graduates are not assessed audit fees). The following courses may not be audited: art laboratories, science courses with a lab, clinical experiences, speech, music lessons, physical education activities, pre-May seminars, off-campus programs, nursing courses or summer school courses. Courses with space available may be audited by obtaining consent of the instructor on the audit registration form (available in the Office of the Registrar). May Seminars with space available may be audited but the total seminar fee is assessed.
The audit grade of AU on an academic transcript indicates the class was attended. If the instructor reports lack of attendance for an audited course to the Office of the Registrar, the registration for the course will be voided as of that date. A maximum of 20 semester credits total may be taken on an audit basis, with a maximum of 8 semester credits per semester.
Any change from audit to credit must be done by the last day to add a full-semester course (10th day of classes). Any change from credit to audit must be done by the last day to drop a full-semester course (eighth week of classes). Refunds for changes from credit to audit will be prorated on the same basis as refunds for withdrawals from courses taken for credit. A course completed with the grade of AU may not be changed to credit. A student may enroll to take the course for credit at a later date. An audited course does not apply to graduation requirements nor the course load needed for financial aid awards.
Pass-Fail Registration Option: The purpose of the pass-fail option is to encourage students to try courses in fields other than their major or minor. For more information, see your advisor or the Office of the Registrar. Students may take a maximum of 8 semester credits or their equivalent (including transfer credits) on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory (S-U) basis; no more than 4 semester credits per department can be graded on an S-U basis, and a course taken for a grade of S-U cannot satisfy any of the liberal arts Core requirements.
The minimum letter grade for passing with a grade of S is a C-. The grade of U is awarded for D and F level work. Courses offered only on an S-U basis may be taken in addition to the two-course maximum. Nursing courses required for the major cannot be taken on a pass-fail basis.
Repeating Courses: Students must notify the Office of the Registrar when repeating a course. Courses may be repeated if the student has earned a grade of C- or below, or a U, and if space permits. All courses attempted remain on the student's transcript; only the last grade is computed into the GPA and credit is only earned once. The Student Academic Performance and Procedures Committee must approve exceptions to these rules. Federal regulations prohibit Concordia College from awarding federal financial aid to a student for repeating a course, unless the student failed the course.
Course Examinations: In many classes, formal examinations at midsemester and at the end of each semester are given on the dates indicated on the college calendar. In addition, individual instructors give examinations in their courses at various times during the semester. The results of these exams, and other major assignments, give students the chance to gauge their progress in their courses. If you have any questions about your work in any of your courses, you should talk with your instructor. If you have concerns about your overall progress, you can make use of a variety of resources, including the Office of the Registrar, the Academic Enhancement and Writing Center, the Office of Student Affairs and others.
Advanced Credit
See the Office of the Registrar for details and fees for the following options.
Advanced Placement (AP): Students may obtain advanced placement and credit in selected courses at Concordia by earning an appropriate score on the Advanced Placement Program Test of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). Contact Admissions for information on the selected tests, required scores and equivalencies. Credit must be recorded during the student's first year at Concordia. A small fee is charged per course.
Placement of Transfer and Part-Time Students: The academic level at which transfer students are placed at Concordia will depend on the work they have successfully completed and is accepted for transfer. If a baccalaureate degree has been previously earned, Concordia will not award another degree.
CLEP and Departmental Examinations: You may receive credit in some courses by successfully completing special examinations that test your knowledge of the subject matter.
Two types of credit-by-examination opportunities are available. CLEP subject examinations measure achievement in specific college courses. Other subject examinations have been developed by a number of departments at Concordia for departmental use. No more than 20 semester credits can be applied to the 126 semester credits required for graduation. See the Office of the Registrar for details and fees for these options.
Veterans Affairs Eligibility: Concordia College is approved by the Minnesota State Approving Agency for Veteran's Educational Benefits.
To obtain benefits, the veteran must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. Application forms may be obtained from the Veterans Administration Regional Office. This should be done as soon as possible after acceptance so that the Certificate of Eligibility may be obtained before the veteran comes to the campus.
In evaluating and granting credit to veterans who have pursued specialized training programs in the armed forces, the college utilizes the Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services, prepared by the American Council of Education.
Academic Classification
Freshman: 0-23.99 earned semester credits
Sophomore: 24-55.99 earned semester credits
Junior: 56-87.99 earned semester credits
Senior: 88 and more earned semester credits
Student Enrollment Status:
Full time: Students enrolled in 12 or more hours
Half time: Students enrolled in 6-11.9 hours
Less than half time: Students enrolled in less than 6 hours
Academic Progress, Probation and Suspension
Normal Progress: Normal progress toward a degree is defined as earning 16 semester credits and achieving a 2.0 GPA, on the average, per semester, and satisfactorily meeting the other fixed requirements of the college. A student earning 16 semester credits for eight semesters will acquire slightly more than the 126 semester credits required for graduation in a four-year period.
Academic Probation and Dismissal: A student not meeting the standards for acceptable academic progress as defined by the chart below, is placed on academic probation or dismissal. Academic Probation requires the student to work with an academic counselor to develop an academic improvement plan. A student's cocurricular involvement and/or employment may be restricted during the period of probation.
Minimum academic progress
| Semester hours completed | 0-17 | 17.01-34 | 34.01-51 | 51.01-and beyond |
| Concordia Cumulative GPA | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
| Completion rate | 50% | 62.5% | 68.75% | 68.75% |
Semester hours listed above includes all courses completed (including Concordia courses, transfer and other credits).
Concordia Cumulative GPA is the GPA calculated from just the courses attempted at Concordia (does not include transfer grades).
Completion rate is percentage of Concordia attempted hours successfully completed.
If a student on probation does not meet the standards for acceptable academic progress but attains a 2.0 term grade point average and completes the required percentage of courses for the term, the student may be given permission to remain on probation for an additional semester.
Failure to meet the minimum academic progress standards will result in academic and financial aid suspension. In addition, students may be suspended from Concordia at any time if their academic performance in any given semester falls below a 1.0 GPA. A student may appeal suspension status if they have mitigating circumstances beyond their control such as illness or injury, death of a relative, or other circumstances that result in undue hardship. The Student Academic Performance and Procedures Committee will review appeals and their decision is final. Contact the Office of Student Affairs for further information.
After the suspension period has passed, a student is eligible to apply for re-admission. The re-admission decision will take into consideration the student's history and actions or circumstances that would justify re-admission; for example, successful completion of coursework at another institution.
If re-admitted, the student may be reinstated on a probationary and contractual basis and required to meet specific expectations.
Note: Students receiving Financial Aid should consult the Financial Aid Office for the Financial Aid Academic Progress Policy.
Dean's List
Students who excel in their courses are named to the Dean's List at the end of each semester. In order to receive this distinction, students must be attending full time, complete a minimum of 12 semester credits and earn a GPA of 3.7 or above for the semester. Grade changes for the semester must be received in the Office of the Registrar no later than the last day of the first week of classes in the following semester or summer session to impact consideration for the dean's list. Nominations to the dean's list are made from each semester's grades; they are not based on a cumulative GPA for the student's college career. Students named to the dean's list and their parents are notified by letter following each grading period.
Degree and Graduation Requirements
Concordia offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees, as well as a Master of Education in World Language Instruction. It is important that students understand the requirements of their desired degree. Advisors will assist in selecting programs of study. All students have access to Degree Works, an electronic degree audit system. This tool, as well as the academic catalog, provides students the information necessary to evaluate their progress toward degree completion. The Office of the Registrar manages the system. Any questions or concerns about the degree audit and the information it provides should be directed to the office. However, the final responsibility for meeting all requirements rests with the student.
Students graduate according to requirements published in the Concordia College Catalog at the time of their matriculation at Concordia, or any one subsequent catalog published during their enrollment. Students who are readmitted two years or more after their last enrollment must satisfy requirements published in the catalog in effect at the time of readmission, or any one subsequent catalog published during their enrollment. Graduation rates are available from the Office of the Registrar.
Bachelor of Arts Degree – Requirements
1. General
A. 126 semester credits (excluding music ensembles)
B. Cumulative GPA of 2.0 in Concordia courses and in all courses combined
C. Residence requirements met (see Residence Requirement below)
D. 40 semester credits with senior college credit (courses numbered 300 and above)
2. Major
A. Completion of all requirements for at least one major, as outlined in the department pages of the catalog
B. A minimum of 50 percent of the major requirements must be Concordia coursework
C. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in Concordia courses and all courses in the major presented for graduation. Individual departments may have more restrictive polices. Please consult the individual department page for details.
3. Liberal Arts Core Curriculum requirements
The requirements for the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum are listed on Page 24.
Bachelor of Music Degree – Requirements
1. General
A. Minimum 126 semester credits (excluding music ensembles)
B. Cumulative GPA of 2.0 in Concordia courses and in all courses combined
C. Residence requirements met (see Residence Requirement below)
D. 40 semester credits with senior college credit (courses numbered 300 and above)
2. Major
A. The Bachelor of Music degree is available in five different areas: instrumental music, piano, voice, music theory/composition, and music teaching. Each program has its own requirements, which are listed in the music department pages.
B. A minimum of 50 percent of the major requirements must be Concordia coursework
C. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in Concordia courses and all courses in the major presented for graduation
3. Liberal Arts Core Curriculum requirements
First-Year Experience courses and both Religion courses (as listed In the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum)
Master of Education – Requirements
The requirements for the Master of Education are listed in the graduate program pages of the catalog.
Graduation
Graduation Honors: The required grade point average (GPA) scale for graduation honors is 3.5 for cum laude, 3.7 for magna cum laude and 3.9 for summa cum laude. Honors listed in the Commencement program are based on grades up to but not including the current semester. The final honors status is determined after all grades are known.
All academic work, including transfer credits, is counted in determining graduation honors. Two GPAs are computed for all students — a Concordia GPA and a cumulative GPA that includes grades from transfer credits. (If a student has no transfer credits, the two GPAs are identical.) Graduation honors are based on the lower of the two GPAs.
Diplomas and Commencement Participation: Diplomas are printed and released only to students who have satisfied all graduation requirements and who have settled all financial obligations with the Business Office. Students who are within 12 semester credits of completing their graduation requirements and will complete them by the end of the summer may participate in the May Commencement ceremony. December graduates typically will participate in the May commencement ceremony after graduation. However, December graduates may elect to participate in the commencement ceremony preceding graduation if registered for all remaining degree requirements. A diploma is not awarded until all graduation requirements are met.
Residence Requirement: To fulfill this requirement, students must earn at least 28 semester credits on campus and must spend the last two semesters preceding graduation as a full-time student at Concordia.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The Academic Virtues
As a community of study, Concordia College seeks to nurture in all of our members the human qualities that enable us, individually and collectively, to engage in our academic enterprise. The academic enterprise, like any other "coherent and complex form of socially established cooperative human activity" (MacIntyre p. 175), requires that its practitioners possess certain qualities which make the academy possible, and without which it can exist as an academy in name only. These human qualities, or virtues, make possible not only our collective existence as a community of study, but also our individual participation in our chosen fields of study.
Students, faculty and administrators relate to one another in a way defined by the purposes and standards that make our community an academic community. A student may choose to pursue a particular major in order to become powerful, wealthy and famous. But power, wealth and fame are "external goods" that may be achieved by means other than pursuing a particular academic major. The purposes and standards that make our community an academic community of the church are not concerned primarily with "external goods," but rather with goods that are "internal" to the various academic disciplines and "eternal" before God. This also suggests that, to lack integrity, one misconstrues what we profess to be humanity's ultimate and most worthy goal, to live with God in a community of perfect justice.
To become a student within a particular discipline is to enter a form of activity with its own methodology and standards of excellence. While a discipline's methodology and standards of excellence are not immune from criticism and change, "we cannot be initiated into [such] a practice without accepting the authority of the best standards realized so far" (MacIntyre p. 177).
As you study a discipline, you learn to appreciate the feelings or ideas of others, and in so doing you learn to be empathetic.
As you study a discipline, you learn to distinguish between excellent and average examples of disciplinary practice, giving each person (including yourself) what is due them; in so doing you learn to be fair minded.
As you study a discipline, you learn that you must expose your ego and limited knowledge to criticism, and in so doing you learn to be courageous.
As you study a discipline, you learn that the quest for knowledge is never completed, and in so doing you learn perseverance and humility.
The Centrality of Integrity to Academe
Without a commitment to the virtues of fair mindedness, courage, perseverance, intellectual humility and empathy, the academic enterprise, individually and collectively, is doomed to failure. Yet none of these virtues is possible without the central virtue of integrity. When we say that the Concordia community expects all of our members to act with integrity — to act with honesty, uprightness and sincerity — we speak in a language of virtue as well as of duty. We say, unequivocally, that dishonesty is always wrong.
We say that dishonesty is wrong because it is unjust, robbing everyone of the knowledge of what each person is due.
We say that dishonesty is wrong because it is cowardly and intellectually false.
We say that dishonesty is wrong because cheaters prefer ease and expediency to hard work and perseverance.
We say that dishonesty is wrong because it robs the student of the goods internal to the practice of the student's chosen discipline.
We say that dishonesty is wrong because the dishonest seek only the goods external to the academic enterprise, namely, wealth, power and fame.
Because academic dishonesty in all its forms is so fundamentally contrary to the community of study, because it is so fundamentally destructive of the moral virtues required of those engaged in the academic enterprise, we must collectively and individually reaffirm the central importance of the virtue of academic integrity at Concordia College. This document represents just such a collective and individual reaffirmation of the core principles of the college. Faculty, students, administrators and staff members are charged with specific practices and responsibilities in following these principles. These obligations are described in full in the Student Handbook. Additionally, faculty members follow practices germane to the fair evaluation of student performance. These practices are described in the Joint Statement on Academic Responsibility, located in the Faculty Handbook.
Academic Integrity Violations
Refer to the student handbook for procedures regarding academic integrity violations, including plagiarism.
Bibliography
Alasdair MacIntyre. 1981. After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory. South Bend, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.
Richard Paul. 1990. Critical Thinking: What Every Person Needs to Survive in a Rapidly Changing World. Rohnert Park, CA: Center for Critical Thinking and Moral Critique.
Apply Now
Virtual Tour
Schedule A Visit
Scholarships
Maps & Directions
Live Broadcasts
Video Hub
Blogs
Photo Galleries
Social MediaSustainability at Concordia
Concordia is committed to advancing environmental sustainability in its operations and curriculum.
See what we are doing.
