Graduate Academic Community

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES

Admission Criteria for a Master’s Degree Program
Admission to the Graduate and Continuing Studies program is open to qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam-era veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or status with regard to marriage or public assistance.

Admission criteria include:
1. Applicants must possess an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Exceptions to this rule may be granted by the Graduate Studies Committee, in consultation with the Admissions Committee of individual programs.
2. Applicants shall demonstrate that they possess sufficient academic and/or professional background and experience.
3. Applicants shall present evidence that they possess the potential for success in a master’s level academic program.
4. Applicants shall demonstrate their proficiency in written and oral communication in English necessary for success in graduate study.
5. Each program may have additional admissions requirements or may set higher qualifications. Refer to specific program requirements for details.

Admission Deadlines
Applications for admission to a graduate program are available online, or by writing or calling the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies or the program office. A complete list of the required application materials for a program is included with the program description that follows in this catalog. Completed applications should be submitted to the address on the application. Students should consult the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies or the graduate program’s Web site or application materials for deadlines


Admission Procedures for a Master’s Degree Program
Admission to a graduate program requires submission of the following materials.

Additional admission requirements will be addressed in individual program areas.

1. A letter of application indicating intent and required materials submitted for application
2. A completed Application for Admission to Graduate and Continuing Studies form
3. An essay of at least 500 words, typed and double-spaced, that represents your highest level of academic writing. Provide a description of your professional experiences and background that have contributed to your readiness for graduate education. Specify those experiences that prepared you for your desired master’s degree. State your professional goals and indicate your potential to achieve this degree.
4. Sealed or certified copies of official transcripts for all postsecondary academic work should be sent directly to Academic Affairs, Attn: Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
5. Three letters of recommendation from different individuals. Each program may identify specific requirements for these references.
6. Test scores, if required by the specific program (e.g. GRE, GMAT). The test requirements and acceptable scores vary by program. Please see individual program for minimum requirements.
7. A nonrefundable $35 application fee payable to Concordia College. All application materials should be sent to Concordia College, Academic Affairs, Attn: Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies, 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56562.

All admissions materials must be received and processed by the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies before files are forwarded for review to the individual master’s program and provost. Incomplete files will not be reviewed. It is the applicant’s responsibility to follow up on the status of materials submitted to the college.


Additional Admissions Procedures for Transfer Students
While a program may elect to set additional requirements for evaluating the credentials of applicants who propose to obtain credit for graduate work completed at other institutions or in other programs, the following standards shall apply for transfer of credits into a graduate program at Concordia College.

1. Comparability of academic credit. In order to be acceptable for transfer credit, the academic credit earned at other institutions or programs shall be from programs that are at least equivalent to that into which the applicant proposes to transfer. For example if the Concordia program carries specialized accreditation or meets specific professional standards in order to facilitate licensure or similar recognition, transfer credits need to have been earned in programs with equivalent standards.

2. Recency. In order to be eligible for transfer credit, the courses for which the academic credit was earned must have been taken within seven years of application and carry a grade of B or better.

3. Level. In order to be eligible for transfer credit, the academic credit must have been earned at a minimum of the master’s level.

4. Content. In order to be eligible for transfer credit, the academic credit must be consistent with the curriculum established for the Concordia graduate program into which the transfer is proposed.

5. Limitations and residency. Transfer of credit is limited to no more than one-third of the total number of graduate hours required in the program for graduation purposes. Individual programs may limit the number of transfer credits allowed. Students should refer to their individual program handbook for information on the transfer of credits.

Additional Admission Procedures for International Students
In addition to meeting the previously stated admission requirements, to qualify for admission in an advanced degree program, all international students must demonstrate proficiency in English and must provide evidence of adequate financial support for themselves and any dependents for the duration of their graduate program.

Language Proficiency – English proficiency shall be demonstrated prior to admission by achieving a score on the IELTS or TOEFL that meets the specific graduate program requirements. The test date must be within five years of the date of application. Information on these tests can be obtained at www.ielts.org and www.toefl.org. Students’ official results must be received directly from the testing service before they may enroll. Concordia’s TOEFL code is 6113; no code is required for IELTS.

Financial Requirements – The international student financial aid and certification form is required from all international applicants other than permanent residents of the United States, parolees, refugees and United States trust territory applicants, or immigrants. International students must demonstrate and certify adequate financial support before Concordia can issue an I-20 form.

Medical Insurance – International students are required to carry and show evidence of health insurance valid in the United States while they are enrolled. Health insurance coverage is offered and available for those who do not already have coverage.

Action on Applications
All applicants who have provided the required application materials, including completed application forms, letter of application, essay, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores and application fee will be notified of action taken on their request for admittance to the Graduate and Continuing Studies program. Admission of all graduate students requires approval by the program director or department chair and the provost.

Admission Status
The following definitions will be applied in making admission decisions for a graduate program at Concordia College:
1. Accepted. The applicant has satisfied all the criteria for full acceptance into the graduate program and is expected to begin active graduate study with the beginning of the next available port of entry. Students should consult their individual program guidelines, as some programs may accept students to a program on a deferred status basis. An applicant who is accepted has completed the application process in full, including payment of any application processing fees.

2. Provisional acceptance. The applicant has satisfied most but not all the criteria for admission into the graduate program. The status of the applicant must be converted to full acceptance no later than the completion of three graduate courses. When the conditions are fulfilled, the student initiates the process for Change of Status. Forms are available online at the Graduate and Continuing Studies Web site: www.cord.edu/Academics/graduate1.php. If an applicant fails to satisfy the conditions set at the time of provisional acceptance within the first three graduate courses, the provisional acceptance reverts to denial of admission and the applicant will not be allowed to proceed with
further graduate study, subject to the graduate program appeal procedures.

3. Admission denied. Indicates that the applicant did not meet one or more of the criteria for admission to the program and that it is unlikely that provisional acceptance would remedy the situation. Applicants may also be denied admission because a program’s maximum enrollment has been reached. The applicant shall be advised of whether they may re-apply at a later time.

4. Applicants not seeking degrees. It is anticipated that certain programs will attract individuals who are pursuing post-baccalaureate level education for purposes other than earning a master’s degree. These individuals may be admitted at the discretion of the program provided that such admission does not displace qualified applicants who desire to pursue degrees. Such nondegree-seeking graduate students are expected to satisfy minimum admission standards including possession of a baccalaureate degree. This may vary in programs that offer a certificate track as an alternative to the complete master’s program. Non-degree-seeking graduate students are subject to the same retention standards as degree-seeking graduate students, except for the aforementioned course limitation. Financial aid is not available for nondegree-seeking students.


Change in Classification
Students enrolled with non-degree status may subsequently desire to be considered for admission to pursue an advanced degree. Such a change in status may be accomplished for a subsequent term by submitting a complete application to the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies as a degree-seeking student and must be acceptable to a specific program. Appropriate course credits earned in the non-degree-seeking status may be used to fulfill graduate degree requirements if approved by the student’s program director or department chair and the provost.

No course taken in the non-degree status for which the grade is less than B will be permitted on a plan of study for a graduate degree.

Retention
While each program may elect to set additional retention requirements for continuation of study in their graduate programs, the following minimum standards evidencing acceptable progress shall apply to all graduate programs at Concordia College.

1. GPA. To continue as a student in a graduate program, the cumulative GPA must be at least 3.0 for all graduate courses taken in the program. If the student transfers graduate course credit from another institution or program, the GPA for purposes of this guideline will be calculated for courses taken at Concordia only. Further, no courses in which a grade lower than a C (2.0), including C-, was awarded may be counted for graduate credit at Concordia. Students receiving two grades of C (2.0) or lower in their graduate program (including prerequisites carrying undergraduate course designations) earned after they have been admitted or admitted conditionally will have their progress in the program reviewed by the program director. The program director has the authority to remove the student from the program. See specific program
guidelines for additional GPA requirements.

2. Work evaluations. In programs requiring clinical, studio or experience-based components, the attendant evaluations must be favorable and recommend continuation of the student in the program.

3. Final evaluation. At the conclusion of the capstone course or culminating experience, the program faculty shall prepare a final evaluation of each candidate for graduation. That evaluation shall be performed in accordance with the standards set by each program. Each candidate for graduation shall receive written notice of this formal evaluation, which shall clearly indicate whether or not the candidate may advance to graduation.

4. Graduate program grades. Grades given in graduate courses are listed on Page 162. Only those credits that were completed with a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, or S may be applied toward a master’s degree.

5. Appeals. The college maintains procedures available for applicants and students who disagree with decisions concerning admission to and/or retention in graduate programs of the college. These procedures are specified in the section below.

Appeal Procedures Related to Admission and Retention in a Graduate Program
Students have a right to appeal decisions that negatively affect their progress in their graduate program. Graduate students may appeal decisions pertaining to transferability of courses from other institutions or programs, grades awarded, and recommendations against continuation of study in the program.

A. Admission Decisions: In cases in which applicants disagree with admission decisions or believe that their applications warrant special consideration in light of program and/or college admission guidelines, the following appeal procedures shall apply.

1. Written appeal. The applicant shall file a written appeal with the Graduate Program Committee within 30 calendar days of the date of the letter notifying the applicant of the admission decision.

2. Content of the appeal. The appeal letter shall include a complete explanation of the basis of the appeal.

3. Investigation. The Graduate Program Committee shall conduct an investigation it determines is needed in order to resolve the appeal within 30 calendar days of receipt of the written appeal. The committee shall consider the record of the decision and appeal in its entirety, applying college and program graduate admission standards as its criteria. The decision of the committee may be appealed to the provost as a final step in the appeals process if desired by the applicant. The decision of the provost is final and not subject to further appeal.

B. Retention: In the event that graduate students disagree with a decision made concerning their progress in the program once they have been admitted to the program, these appeal procedures shall apply.

1. First level of appeal. In order to be considered a valid appeal, the graduate student shall address the appeal first to the faculty member in case of a course grade or to the program director or department chair for other issues. In order to be considered, the appeal shall be made within 30 calendar days of notification and in a form acceptable to the sponsoring department. In the event that the graduate program director or department chair is the faculty person responsible for the decision to which the student
objects, the program will arrange for an appropriate person to hear the appeal at the first level. The program must advise the student in writing of the decision within seven calendar days of receiving the appeal.

2. Second level of appeal. If the student does not agree with the decision made at the first level of appeal, the matter may be submitted to the provost or designee for consideration. In order to be considered a valid appeal at the second level, the appeal must be in writing, filed with the provost or designee within seven calendar days of the first level appeal decision, and include a complete description on which the appeal is based. The graduate student filing the appeal must notify the sponsoring program
that the appeal is being pursued to the second level by providing a copy of the written appeal at the same time as it is filed with the provost. The sponsoring program may file a response to the appeal at this time.

3. Investigation. The provost or designee shall examine the entire record of the appeal including the response by the sponsoring program and conduct such investigation as it determines is warranted. The provost or designee shall apply the college and program performance and retention standards in reaching its decision concerning the appeal. The provost or designee shall notify the student and the program in writing of its decision within seven calendar days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the provost is final and not subject to further appeal.

Background Checks
State laws require that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and residents at a health care facility have a background study conducted by the state. Any individual who is disqualified from having contact with individuals in these groups as a result of the background study will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement. Failure to participate in clinical placement required by the academic program could result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in this program.

Records Information
The official student file will be maintained in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies in Academic Affairs.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The cost of tuition and fees vary per program. Please contact the individual program for more information. Housing is considered primarily for undergraduate students; however, arrangements can be made on a case-by-case basis by contacting the director of Residence Life.

Tuition, room, board and fees are listed for the entire year but are due at the beginning of each semester. Price increases during the academic year are not anticipated; however, the college reserves the right to make them should unforeseen circumstances make it necessary. Besides covering tuition, room, board and student activity events, the comprehensive fee entitles you to free admission to most campus concerts, athletic contests, plays, lectures, and other campus events. The student activity fee pays for a year’s subscription to The Concordian newspaper and student activities programming.

Financial Arrangements
Advance payments: A nonrefundable $35 application fee must accompany the application for admission by new students, excluding students who are readmitted.
Prepayment: Tuition and fees are due the beginning of each semester. 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 that are outstanding 30 days or more. Students should not expect to be registered for the next semester if fees are not paid in full.

Insurance: A group health insurance plan is available for both married students and for single students who are not covered by 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.
Student bank: The Business Office provides a free student bank service to students in which funds may be deposited for safekeeping and withdrawal simply by presenting an ID card and signing a receipt. This is a non-interest bearing account.

Withdrawals and Refunds
Refunds upon withdrawal: Should students, for whatever reason, withdraw from Concordia during a semester or summer term, a refund of tuition and room and board, if applicable, is calculated. The amount of refund is determined by how much of the term has elapsed. If the student is a recipient of student financial assistance, that assistance will be reduced as a result of withdrawal. Federal legislation determines the amount of refund for recipients of federal Title IV student assistance. It is the purpose of this section to inform students of the financial implications of withdrawal.

If a student is the recipient of federal Title IV student assistance, if a student withdraws from school on or before the 60-percent point in the term, then a percentage of Title IV federal financial aid shall be returned by the school and possibly by the student. The amount of Title IV aid to be returned is equal to the total Title IV aid disbursed for the term multiplied by the percentage of the term not attended. Any refund amount must then be applied first to the federal aid programs in the following prescribed order:
1. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
2. Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
3. Graduate PLUS loans
4. Private loans

Any remaining refund will then be returned to other institutional, state or private student assistance that has been received. Any refund in excess of student aid will be returned to the student only after account balances in the Business Office have been paid.

Specific examples of refund calculations are available upon request from the Financial Aid Office.

In the event the financial aid exceeds the direct costs in the Business Office and the student receives a cash credit balance, withdrawal will result in repayment of a portion of that credit balance. The portion to be repaid is determined by multiplying the cash payment by remaining weeks in the semester divided by total weeks in the semester.

Refunds for Reduced Load: If a student finds it necessary to drop a course during the semester, obtain a drop-add form from the Office of the Registrar. The completed form must be submitted by the deadlines on the academic calendar. If the student status changes, tuition refunds through the seventh week of the semester will be granted effective on the date the drop-add form is returned to the Office of the Registrar. Dropping below full-time status may have an impact on the financial aid received.

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
Loans are the primary source of financial aid to graduate students.

How to Apply for Financial Aid
To apply for all forms of need-based financial aid you complete two forms – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Concordia College

Supplemental Financial Aid Applications.
The FAFSA can be completed any time after Jan. 1 for the following academic year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete your federal tax returns before completing the FAFSA. Returning students are encouraged to complete it prior to April 15. The FAFSA can be completed online at the following site: www.fafsa.ed.gov

The Concordia College Supplemental Financial Aid Application is available from the Financial Aid Office or on the Financial Aid Office Web site. Financial aid is awarded on a rolling basis as soon as the tuition is set for the following year. An Award Letter is sent to students once financial aid has been awarded. It is necessary to complete the FAFSA every year.

The financial aid package is awarded on the basis of financial information contained in the FAFSA. Aid received from any source that was not originally considered in the aid package may affect the amount received. Students are required to notify the Financial Aid Office of all such aid received from any source. Because the financial aid package is based on information from the previous tax year, changes in the financial status of the student’s family may also affect financial aid.

Loans
Four types of loans for graduate college costs at Concordia are available:
1. Federal Stafford Loan program: This program provides loans at a fixed interest rate of 6.8 percent. Students demonstrating need, according to federal guidelines, may borrow through any lending institution that is willing to extend the loan. 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 Stafford Loan and will be required to make interest payments while enrolled in college. The maximum amount for this loan is $8,500 for subsidized and $10,000 for unsubsidized Stafford Loans with a maximum total debt of $138,500.

2. Student Educational Loan Fund: SELF is a state program controlled by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. All students attending a Minnesota school are potentially eligible provided they have a credit-worthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen. Graduate students can borrow up to $9,000 per year with a maximum total debt of $40,000. The interest charged is normally at a rate lower than most commercial loans. The interest is payable on a quarterly basis while in school. Principal and interest payments begin after leaving school.

3. PLUS loan (Graduate Student)

4. Private loans: Many commercial lenders offer private loan programs. Generally, these loans require a co-signer and have higher interest rates.

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 Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies. 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.

In order to comply with the federal policy, Concordia must complete the following steps:
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 must 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 Stafford Loan
2. Subsidized Stafford Loan
4. PLUS loan (Graduate Student)
5. Private loans

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. 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 canceled, 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, process must be complete by the deadlines on the academic calendar. If your student status changes from full time to part time, tuition refunds through the eighth week of the semester will be granted effective on the date the dropadd 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 federal or state sources, this assistance will be reduced up to the amount of the refund.

Appeals on Refunds: Any questions or problems related to refunds should be directed to the controller, whose office is located in the Business Office.

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
Concordia College Supplemental Financial Aid Application: a supplemental application required by the college and is available in the Financial Aid Office or on the Financial Aid Web site at www.cord.edu/Admissions/costs1.php

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid – financial statement that is used in applying for need-based financial aid

Lender: your local bank, savings and loan, credit union, or other financial institution participating in the Federal Stafford Loan and Graduate PLUS loan programs

Need: the difference between the cost of education and the family’s calculated ability to meet that cost

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

SAR: Student Aid Report – the report the student receives from the need-analysis processor indicating financial information on file regarding the student; to be used for the corrections process Verification: a requirement of the federal government to verify accuracy of the financial data in the aid application


OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
Registration Information
After students have been accepted to a graduate program at Concordia College, they will receive registration instructions from the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies. Graduate students will register for classes during the spring semester for summer and fall courses and register in the fall semester for the following spring’s courses. Students will be contacted by their academic adviser, who will assist them in completing the registration process.

Drop-Add Policies: Graduate students must follow college-designated policies for dropping and adding courses. Individual programs may allow students to register for some designated courses on a pass-fail basis. Students should consult the handbook for their particular program to determine if this option is available to them. Students may add a class with the professor’s permission and may drop a class with the professor’s permission. Tuition will generally be charged to the students for courses that are dropped. Students with prolonged illness or other emergencies may appeal in writing to the graduate committee for consideration. A student who drops a course without documented permission receives a failing grade in that course.

Retaking Courses: Students enrolled in graduate programs at Concordia College are allowed to retake one graduate course. This one retake is granted if they have earned a grade of C or below. However, in the case of extenuating circumstances, a student may file an appeal to retake one additional course. The Graduate Studies Committee will receive the appeal and rule on it.

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 Graduate and Continuing Studies. 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 and will be charged as if they had been attending class. The college reserves the right to withdraw students who discontinue class
attendance.

The college also reserves the right to withdraw students on academic probation who are not attending classes and who obviously are not going to meet their probation status requirements. See program information for specific academic conduct policies. If students engage in behavior that suggests a danger to self or others, or if students’ behavior demonstrates 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 students 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 Graduate and Continuing Studies. 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 students’ departure. Generally, there are three approaches that may be taken:
1. If orders are received late in the term, students may be able to complete coursework prior to leaving.
2. In some situations, it will be feasible for students to receive an Incomplete in a course or courses. If it is not feasible to receive an Incomplete, the students will be allowed to drop a course or courses with a full refund of tuition and fees associated with the dropped course(s). If students receive an Incomplete but are unable to complete the work due to a change in circumstances, the students may appeal to the Graduate Program Committee for a retroactive course drop under the same terms outlined above.
3. In many situations, it will be necessary for students to withdraw from the college to fulfill military obligations. In this circumstance, students will be withdrawn from all courses with a 100-percent refund of tuitions and fees and unused portion of room and board. 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 Veteran’s Administration Regional Office. This should be done as soon as possible after acceptance so that the Certificate of Eligibility may be obtained before veterans come to campus. In granting credit to veterans who have pursued specialized training programs in the armed forces, the college follows the Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services, prepared by the American Council of Education.

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. Applications will be reviewed by the directors of the master’s program and the dean of Graduate Studies, or his or her designee. Leaves may be granted for a period of up to one year. Leaves can be granted for reasons of work, health problems or other study.

Readmission: If you stop attending Concordia for one or more academic terms and want to return, you must contact the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies. 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 Graduate and Continuing Studies will process your application for readmission and inform you of the resulting decision. Further information and assistance is available from the Office of the Registrar.

Glossary of Terms
The following definitions will help you interpret college regulations and understand academic requirements:

Course Credit: One full course at Concordia is equated as 4 semester credits, or 6 quarter credits. A half course at Concordia is equated as 2 semester credits, or 3 quarter credits. A full course is designed to occupy about one-half of a student’s schedule per semester. A half course fills correspondingly less time.

Block: A block is equal to half a semester. Some departments divide their semester into two blocks and offer courses over eight weeks rather than 16 weeks.

Grades: Grades are indicated by letters; they are 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.

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.

GRADES AND GRADE POINTS
Grades Interpretation Grade Points
A excellent 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B good 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C satisfactory 2.0
C- 1.7
D+ 1.3
D 1.0
D- minimum passing 0.7
AU audit 0
IP in progress 0
NG no grade 0
F failure 0
S passing grade (S-U course) 0
U failing grade (S-U course) 0
I incomplete 0
W withdrawn 0
DR dropped course 0

Grade Point Average (GPA) is determined by dividing total number of grade points by the number of course credits attempted. A GPA of 2.0 is the same as a C average, 3.0 as a B average, etc.

Incomplete Credits (I) are granted when students are unable to complete course requirements for reasons beyond their control and when arrangements have been made with the instructor before the end of the semester. It is the responsibility of students to develop a contract to meet the instructor’s requirements for making up an Incomplete. If an Incomplete has been given, and if the Incomplete has not been made up by the published date, the “I” grade will be changed to an “F.”

Course Registration for Final Thesis or Project
Graduate students completing the thesis/project will register for 699 (up to 4 semester credits) the first semester that they begin working on their thesis/project. If the thesis/project is not completed in that semester, however, students must register for 698 (1 semester credit) in subsequent semesters. Students should consult their individual program guidelines, as requirements for continuing registration may vary from program to program. Students will receive a grade of IP in 699 until the thesis/project is completed. No more than 4 semester credits will be granted for work on the thesis/project in the Plan of Study.

POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
Academic Advisers
The chair of the department, or a member of the faculty designated by the chair, will advise students to develop and complete their Plan of Study. Only those courses approved by the student’s adviser may be used toward the graduate degree. The academic adviser may or may not serve on the student’s examining committee.

Course Registration
Current graduate students may register the first day of pre-registration for any term. Telephone registration is available. Class schedules and descriptions of the registration procedures for any semester may be secured from the Office of the Registrar one week prior to pre-registration for that semester. Registration must be completed and all tuition and fees must be paid to the Business Office before published deadlines.

Course Load
Two courses (8 semester credits) are required for full-time status for students receiving financial aid. Part-time study is defined as 6 semester credits; less than half time is fewer than 4 semester credits.

Graduate Courses
Courses at the 600 and 700 levels are offered for graduate credit only. Courses offered at the 600 level are open to graduate students or to undergraduate seniors who meet specific requirements. Courses at the 500 level may be counted toward a graduate degree; these courses are also offered as upper-division courses for undergraduates. Graduate students are expected to perform on a qualitatively higher level than the undergraduates in 500-level courses; normally, additional requirements are made in these courses for graduate students.

Time Limitation
All requirements for the degree must be completed within seven years after taking the first graduate course included in the Plan of Study. In exceptional cases when students need to petition for an extension in order to complete the degree, they should contact the provost to initiate an appeal process.

Degree and Graduation Requirements
Students graduate according to requirements published in the 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. Completion or graduation rates for the general student body are available from the Office of the Registrar.

Graduate students are expected to read and adhere to the values and responsibilities of the academic integrity code. Graduate students are expected to comply with the general academic policies of Concordia.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students