Policies and Procedures

Academic Appeals - Course Related

When a student believes that an instructor has violated his or her rights in the classroom - for example, discrimination in evaluating individual achievement, illegal discrimination or harassment - the student should follow the procedures listed in Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, section 5.G (http://deanofstudents.nku.edu/policies/student-rights.html).

Grade Appeals

Any student who believes his/her final course grade is inaccurate, or based on factors that were not included in the grading policy, may appeal the grade. To be considered, the grade appeal must meet one or more of the following conditions:

1. The method for determining the final course grade conflicts with the grading policy per the course syllabus or other announced grading policies.
2. There is an alleged mathematical error in calculating the final course grade.
3. There is evidence that the final course grade is based on something other than performance in the course.

Grades on individual assignments cannot be appealed.

If a student wishes to appeal a course grade, the procedure below should be followed:

1. The student must initiate the appeal of the grade no later than fifteen (15) working days after the last date for faculty to submit grades. To facilitate the discussion, the student shall provide the faculty member with a written statement (email or letter) that outlines the grade appeal. If the student is unable to reach the faculty member, he/she should seek assistance in making contact through the chair of the department for which the course was taught.  After considering the student’s appeal, the instructor must respond in writing to the student within five (5) working days from the receipt, stating whether or not the appeal is granted and stating the instructor’s rationale for the decision. 
2. If the student and the faculty member are unable to resolve the matter at Step 1, and the student wishes to continue to pursue the appeal, the student must submit a letter of appeal within five (5) working days of the instructor’s decision to the chair of the department for which the course was taught. The department chair will review the issue in consultation with the student and faculty member. The department chair may uphold the decision of the faculty member or recommend a different solution. The chair shall submit a written response to the student and the instructor within 5 working days following the receipt of the student’s letter of appeal.  The instructor shall respond in writing within five (5) working days whether he/she agrees with the chair’s recommendation.  If a grade change is agreed, the record change shall be initiated by the instructor within 2 working days.
3. If no mutually satisfactory decision was reached at Step 2, the student may appeal to the dean of the college (or designee) that houses the course.  The written appeal must be submitted within five (5) working days of receipt of the instructor’s response.  The dean (or designee) shall review the recommendation and respective documentation, and provide, in writing, to all parties a recommendation for the solution of the problem within five (5) working days following receipt of the written appeal.  The instructor shall respond in writing within five (5) working days to all parties whether he/she agrees with the dean or designee’s recommendation.  If a grade change is agreed, the record change shall be initiated by the instructor within 2 working days.
4. If the student is dissatisfied with the results of the appeal in Step 3, the student may submit a written appeal requesting a hearing with the Grade Appeals Panel to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, within five (5) working days of the instructor’s response to the dean’s recommendation.  The Vice Provost will convene a Grade Appeals Panel as soon as practical.

Grade Appeals Panel

1. Membership: The Grade Appeals Panel shall be comprised of a dean not involved in the appeals process, two faculty members from a department other than the one involved in the appeal (selected by the Vice Provost), and two undergraduate students (selected by the Dean of Students).  The Vice Provost (or designee) convenes the panel and serves as a non-voting member.
2. Determination of Merit: The Grade Appeals Panel shall receive copies of the written appeal and all prior documentation.  Thereafter, neither new evidence nor changes shall be introduced before the Grade Appeals Panel.  The Grade Appeals Panel shall review the file to determine if the student’s case meets any of the grounds for appeal. If the panel determines that the appeal does not meet any of the grounds, the appeal will not be considered. The ruling of the Grade Appeals Panel is final and must be communicated to all parties within 2 working days of the decision.
3. Hearing Meeting: If the Grade Appeals Panel determines that the case meets any of the grounds for appeal, the Panel will proceed to a full hearing of the appeal. All previously involved parties (instructor, student, chair and dean (or designee) have the right to attend the meeting and offer evidence or rebuttal.  Both student and instructor may request to be accompanied by advisors during the hearing.  Advisors may only consult and interact privately with the student and instructor during the hearing and will not be allowed to address the Grade Appeals Panel. The Vice Provost or her/his designee will notify the parties of the exact date, time and location of the hearing at least five (5) working days before the hearing.  During the hearing, both student and instructor shall be granted time to present their case.
4. Deliberation and Decision: The Grade Appeals Panel shall deliberate confidentially and arrive at a decision by majority vote.  If the Grade Appeals Panel finds that an academic evaluation based upon anything other than a good-faith judgment of a student’s work has been proved, it will approve a grade change to the academic record. The Grade Appeals Panel shall provide a written report of its ruling to the student, the instructor, the department chair, and the dean of the college within five (5) working days of the hearing. The decision of the Grade Appeals Panel is final and binding.  If a grade change is approved, the Vice Provost will forward the information to the Office of the University Registrar.

This policy supersedes the Grade Appeal Policy found on page 41 of the 2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog.

If the instructor is not on contract or in residence on the campus or no longer employed by the University, the student may appeal in writing directly to the department chair of the department for which the course is taught.

If the procedure would normally occur during the summer and the student is not enrolled in any summer session, or the faculty member is not on campus, the procedure may be deferred until the fall semester at the student’s or faculty member’s written request, with copy to the department chair.

Academic Renewal

Academic renewal allows students who meet specific criteria to remove certain courses from their GPA calculation and credits earned. The courses and grades remain on the student’s transcript, but they do not contribute to the GPA or total credits earned.

Academic Renewal Policies

1. A returning undergraduate student who has not attended NKU for a minimum of two full consecutive academic semesters may petition for academic renewal of NKU coursework on a one-time-only basis. For the purpose of academic renewal, all summer sessions in one year will be counted as one semester.
2. When a student successfully completes 12 semester hours of courses numbered 100 and above at NKU, he or she should make an appointment with their academic advisor to discuss academic renewal and complete the Undergraduate Academic Renewal Petition on the website (http://inside.nku.edu/registrar/forms-records/forms.html).
3. To be considered for academic renewal, the student must have a GPA of at least 2.00 based on all courses completed since being readmitted and up through the semester in which the student earned the twelfth credit.
4. In completing an application for academic renewal, a student must specify the semesters that he or she wishes to be removed from the GPA calculation and credits earned.
5. For every semester selected for academic renewal, ALL courses transcripted for that semester will be subject to academic renewal.
6. For the semesters that are part of academic renewal, the courses and grades earned during those semesters will remain on the transcript, but the grades will not be included in the calculation of the student’s overall GPA and the credits will not apply to the minimum of 120 semester hours required for the bachelor’s degree or to the minimum of 60 semester hours required for the associate degree. The credits also will not apply to the bachelor’s degree requirement of 45 credits at the 300 level and above.
7. Courses that are part of academic renewal and satisfy the requirements for general education may be applied, but without awarding of credit, toward those requirements, provided that the student passed the course(s) at an acceptable level. Such application for major/minor requirements is subject to written approval by the chair of the department housing the relevant major or minor. This approval is found on the academic renewal petition (http://inside.nku.edu/registrar/forms-records/forms.html).
8. The student’s transcript will indicate the semesters that were subjected to academic renewal.
9. An updated transcript will be available via my Records on myNKU.
10. It is the student’s responsibility to contact any agency providing financial assistance to determine the effects of academic renewal on past or future financial benefits.
11. Students may apply for academic renewal only once.
12. Students who first enrolled at NKU between fall semester of 2004 through summer semester 2009 may have policies that affect their records outside of this catalog. These students are encouraged to contact the Office of the University Registrar for clarification.

Academic Requirements and Regulations Updates

The colleges of the university reserve the right to change requirements. Program changes will become effective at the beginning of the next fall semester following their approval and are applicable only to new students and to readmitted students as stipulated elsewhere in this catalog under Catalog of Record. Changes in program requirements with any other effective date require the approval of the Provost.Students should refer any inquiries to the appropriate dean or the university registrar. Visit the university website (http://www.nku.edu) for more information.

Academic Standing

1. Student Classification: Students are classified based on the number of successfully completed semester credit hours earned in courses numbered 100 and above.

   Freshman	0-29 credit hours
   Sophomore	30-59 credit hours
   Junior	60-89 credit hours
   Senior	90 or more credit hours

2. Good Standing: A student is in good standing when he or she has a cumulative GPA that meets or exceeds 2.000 for all courses attempted at the 100 level and above.

Academic Warning

The first time a student’s cumulative GPA drops below 2.00, the student is placed on academic warning and will receive a letter indicating the student’s status and the consequences of being on academic warning. When a student is placed on academic warning, the following occur:

a) A registration hold is placed on the student’s record, which prevents the student from registering for classes prior to meeting with an advisor.

b) The student will be required to meet with an advisor to remove the registration hold and to develop a plan for improving the student’s academic performance.

c) The student will be advised to take advantage of the university’s many services that support student success

Academic Probation

1) If a student on academic warning fails to increase cumulative GPA to at least 2.00, then the student will be placed on probation.

 2) When a student is placed on academic probation, the following occur:

a) A registration hold is placed on the student’s record, which prevents the student from registering for classes prior to meeting with an advisor.

b) The student will be required to meet with an advisor to remove the registration hold and to develop a plan for improving the student’s academic performance.

c) The student will be allowed to take no more than 13 semester credit hours during fall and spring semester, no more than 6 semester credit hours in the summer, and no more than 1 class in any one summer or winter session.

d) The student is expected to work closely with an advisor to identify and take advantage of the university’s many services that support student success.

3) A student will be removed from academic probation status upon achieving a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00. If a student previously on academic probation returns to good standing, and then cumulative GPA decreases below a 2.00 again, the student will return to probation. Students cannot return to Warning.

4) A student with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.00 will remain on academic probation if the student earns a GPA of at least 2.00 in the current semester.

5) A student on academic probation who fails to achieve a 2.00 cumulative GPA or a 2.00 in the current semester will be suspended.

Academic Suspension

First Suspension

1. A student suspended from NKU or another institution for the first time for academic reasons is required to remain out of school for at least one academic semester (counting only spring and fall).
2. After serving the period of suspension, a student may be reinstated or admitted to the university.
   1. To be reinstated or admitted, the student must meet with the dean (or dean’s designee) for the student’s college or if the student is “undeclared,” the director of Norse Advising, to discuss academic standing and future direction.
   2. This meeting must occur by August 1 for fall semester, December 1 for spring semester, and May 1 for summer sessions.
3. If the suspended student has remained out of school for more than two years, the student must complete and submit an application for readmission to the university once reinstatement has been approved.
4. Step #2 also applies to students transferring to NKU who are ineligible to return to their previous institution(s) because of academic deficiencies or if they have a cumulative GPA of less than 2.00

Second Suspension

1. A student suspended a second time is required to remain out of school for at least two full semesters (counting only spring and fall).
2. The student will not be reinstated to NKU except in unusual circumstances and then only if the following conditions are met:
   1. The student meets with the appropriate college dean (or dean’s designee) or the director of Norse Advising if the student lacks a declared major and obtains a positive recommendation for reinstatement.
   2. The student submits an appeal letter to the ad hoc group described in (c) below.
   3. An ad hoc group, consisting of the dean (or dean’s designee) from each of the undergraduate colleges plus the director of Norse Advising, approves the student’s request for readmission.
   4. Steps (a) through (c) are completed by August 1 for fall semester, December 1 for spring semester, and May 1 for summer sessions.
3. If reinstatement is approved, the student must then complete and submit an application for readmission to the university.

Beyond Second Suspension

1. A student suspended for a third time or more is required to remain out of school for at least two (2) semesters (counting only spring and fall).
2. A student suspended for a third time or more will see on their NKU transcript a marking of “Final Suspension” as students in this standing will not be reinstated to NKU except in unusual circumstances, and only then if the same conditions are met that are stated in the Second Suspension policy (#2) above.

Appeal

Students may appeal an academic suspension to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs if they believe that circumstances beyond their control prevented them from being academically successful.

For their appeal to be considered, students must provide a written appeal with appropriate supporting documentation. Students may not appeal an academic dismissal.

If the appeal is approved, the student can be reinstated with conditions put forth by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs and the dean of the student’s college.

ADA Policy

The Office for Student Accessibility ( https://osa.nku.edu ) provides academic accommodations and auxiliary aids to individuals with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The office staff are committed to providing reasonable accommodations and a supportive environment for qualified students with disabilities to ensure equal access to the university’s programs and curriculum.

Adding a Course

1. The online registration guide and online academic calendar list the dates when a student may add a course after completing registration.
2. A course should be added via myNKU or in person at the Office of the University Registrar, Lucas Administrative Center 301. Registration for the added course is not official unless processed via one of these methods.
3. When adding courses, a student should see the course load policy for allowable limits.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy

In order to ensure the university’s commitment to a quality educational and work environment, every faculty member, employee, and student has a right to work and learn in an environment free from the effects of abuse of alcohol and other drugs. It is the policy of the university to discourage the misuse and abuse of alcoholic beverages and other drugs.

NKU prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of drugs and alcohol on its property or as a part of its activities. A clear statement of unacceptable conduct and consequences related to student substance abuse is found in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (http://scra.nku.edu/policies/student-rights.html).

Students may be accountable to both civil authorities and to the University for acts that constitute violations of both the law and the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (the Code). Those charged with violations of the Code are subject to University student conduct proceedings independent of any pending criminal proceedings and may not challenge University proceedings on grounds that criminal charges for the same incident have been dismissed, reduced, or not yet adjudicated.

The following misconduct is subject to disciplinary action:

• unauthorized distribution, possession, or use of any controlled substance, illegal drug, or paraphernalia on University Premises or at University-sponsored activities. Controlled substances are defined by the Kentucky Revised Statutes, chapter 218A.the use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages on University Premises, except as modified by University policy appearing in a public place on University Premises or at University sponsored activities manifestly under the influence of a controlled or other intoxicating substance to the degree that there is danger to self, others, or property, or there is reasonable apprehension of such danger to persons in the vicinity.

The legal drinking age in Kentucky is 21. Individuals are personally responsible for knowing the laws that apply to substance abuse in Kentucky. In particular, individuals should be aware of the legal consequences for violation of the legal age, use of false identification, driving under the influence, and the sale or distribution of illegal drugs.

Recognizing that alcohol and drug abuse are serious problems in our society, NKU offers a variety of educational and assistance programs to the student population. For more information, students should contact the Office of Health, Counseling, and Student Wellness (http://hcsw.nku.edu), University Center 440, or by calling 859-572-5650.

Auditing a Course

1. A student may enroll to audit a course when the student does not desire to earn academic credit for the course.
2. The same registration procedures are followed and the same tuition and fees are charged as for credit courses.
3. An audit form must be completed and filed in the Office of the University Registrar, Lucas Administrative Center 301, by the last day to register or enter a class.
4. A grade of T is awarded for all audited courses, and no academic credit is awarded.
5. Audited courses cannot apply to any degree or certificate programs.
6. Students auditing a course are expected to follow the university’s attendance policy. Other course requirements will vary depending upon the nature of the course and the individual instructor or program.
7. Any change from audit to credit or credit to audit must be completed by the last day to register for a class.
8. Refunds for withdrawals from audited courses are calculated according to NKU policy.

Catalog of Record

1. A student’s catalog of record is the source for all policies and program requirements associated with the student’s degree requirements (for a list of degree requirements, see section on Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree or Requirements for an Associate Degree).
   1. The most recent catalog in existence determines all other university policies and procedures.
   2. A student’s catalog of record does not impact course prerequisites or co-requisites. What is in effect when the student enrolls in the course determines the required prerequisites and co-requisites.
2. The catalog in effect when a student enters the university (enrolls in classes) as a degree-seeking student is the student’s catalog of record.
   1. If a student is not enrolled for two or more academic years, the student will be required to follow all institutional and program requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the university. EXCEPTION: Adult learners re-entering the university with more than 80 hours earned under the Project Graduate program.
   2. A student who is enrolled in a pathway partnership program or program with a signed memorandum of understanding will follow the catalog at the time they began the pathway.
3. A student may elect to change his/her catalog of record to a catalog issued at a later date. The student must then satisfy ALL requirements for the desired degree under the catalog selected.
4. To follow a later catalog, the student must make his or her intentions known by writing to the Office of the University Registrar (Lucas Administrative Center 301).
5. EXCEPTION: Transfer policies relative to GPA and course equivalencies will not change even if the student elects to follow a later catalog.
6. Except in unusual circumstances, the requirements of one catalog may be followed for no more than eight consecutive academic years from the time the student first enrolled. After eight consecutive academic years, the student’s catalog of record will be the catalog following the one that just expired unless the student designates in writing to the Office of the University Registrar (Lucas Administrative Center 301) a more recent catalog.

Class Attendance

Classroom participation is essential to the educational process. When requirements of attendance are delineated in the syllabus, the instructor may lower a student’s final grade because of absences. Students are responsible for material disseminated in class and online and are not released from this responsibility because they cease to attend. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the calendar deadline for officially withdrawing from a course. If a student does not officially withdraw prior to this deadline and fails to successfully complete the required coursework, a failing grade will be recorded.

Non-Attendance Reporting

NKU students are expected to attend the first scheduled class session of each course for which they are enrolled. If a student does not attend the first day of class, the instructor may drop the student for non-attendance. Students who know they will be absent must contact their instructor(s) prior to the first class meeting to explain their absence and request to remain enrolled in the course.

Student Absence Due to Military Service

Northern Kentucky University recognizes and appreciates the important contributions made by Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, ROTC military students in service to their country of allegiance. The university understands that students may be called into active military service for periods longer than 14 days or be required to be absent from class for shorter durations to fulfill military obligations.

The University has adopted an Active Duty Military Absence option to be considered for absences longer than 14 days. The University also has developed a Short-Term Military Absence policy for absences that exceed the attendance policy for the course(s) or last up to two weeks during the fall and spring semesters. The Short-Term Military Absence policy will apply to an equivalent time period in reduced semesters (e.g., 7-week terms and summer sessions).

Examples of Active Duty Military Absence include but are not limited to:  individual or unit calls to active duty for deployment, natural disaster response, or receipt of military permanent change of station orders. Short-Term Military Absences may include funeral honor guard details, periodic training/drill obligations, ROTC field training exercises or service related medical appointments.

Students must provide instructors with maximum advance notice of absences and provide copies of their official military documentation (paper, electronic orders, or a unit’s memorandum). It is the responsibility of the student to request the opportunity to complete missed work, and to complete coursework according to the terms mutually agreed upon between the instructor and the student. Registration for those courses in which instructors accommodate the absence will remain intact and tuition and mandatory fees will be assessed in full for those courses. 

The Certifying Official and the Office of the University Registrar will collaborate to obtain a copy of the official military documentation. The Certifying Official and the Office of the University Registrar will work with the student and instructor to ensure complete understanding of the policy and the impact of the policy on the academic record, All parties will be notified and provide assistance in completing the form if necessary. If the student is serving in a country other than the United States, the Office of International Students and Scholars may be required to verify the student’s military necessity for withdrawal.

Once the student is aware of call to duty, the student must discuss their circumstances with the Certifying Official located in the Office of the University Registrar. The student will be advised of the policy and given a Student Absence Due to Military Service form. Any withdrawal from the university may impact current and future VA benefits.

If a withdrawal is under any consideration, the student will immediately notify and collaborate with the instructor. After discussion with the instructor, the only viable option may be to withdraw from some or all classes. Should a withdrawal be necessary or adjustments be made for a course, the student will follow the procedures identified in option A and B found in the Absence Due to Military Service Form.

The student should see the Certifying Official located in the Office of the University Registrar. The student will be advised of the policy and given a Student Absence Due to Military Service form. If a withdrawal is being considered, the student will immediately notify and collaborate with the instructor.

The Certifying Official will collect a copy of the official military documentation and a completed Absence form. Any questions regarding the decision will be answered and explained to the student.

Per the student’s form, the following may occur:
        a.     Withdraw from all classes with a 100% refund with the report date used as the effective withdrawal date. Student is then Deregistered using “Military/Civil Service” as reason for withdrawal.
        b.    Certifying Official will request the grade earned to date by the report date from each instructor, and that grade will be recorded by the official in the Office of the University Registrar. Student is then Deregistered using “Military/Civil Service” as reason for withdrawal.
        c.     Withdraw from selected courses as indicated on the Notification form with the report date used as the effective withdrawal date.

Required reporting, outside of notifying SAS, FA and the instructors, includes notifying the VA Education Division for students using a GI Bill or VA Education Benefit. This will be done by the Certifying Official within 30 days of the withdrawal date. SAS will process and return any federal Tuition Assistance refunds, and FA will process and return any state Tuition Assistance refunds in accordance to Title IV.

Late submissions can be accepted and processed. However, retroactive withdrawals cannot be processed more than 6 months from the “end of active duty” date.  The Office of the University Registrar and the Certifying Official will verify end dates to determine whether or not a late withdrawal will be allowed.

Any withdrawals not included on the Absence form, meaning submitted by the student using myNKU, will be processed in accordance with the dates published on the University’s Academic Calendar and may not be eligible for a refund. Appeals will be considered within 6 months of the “end of active duty” date. The student will need to provide a copy of the official military documentation before an appeal will be considered.

Course Load

It is normal that, for one 3-credit hour course, students should expect to spend five to six hours on course-related work outside of class time. This means that students carrying 15 credit hours may need to spend a minimum of 25 to 30 hours per week in outside class work. This must be considered in developing a class schedule.

The following course load policies apply for each semester/session:

1. The suggested undergraduate course load for fall and spring semesters is 15 credit hours.
2. The maximum course load in fall or spring semester is 18 credit hours (including audit, residence, correspondence, off-campus, and consortium courses). EXCEPTIONS:
   1. A student who has attained a GPA of 3.00 or higher for a total of at least 15 credit hours for the preceding semester may be permitted by his or her dean to carry up to 21 credit hours.
   2. If a student’s curriculum specifies that a student should take more than 18 credits in a given semester, the student should follow the curriculum.
3. A student may take only one intersession course and one winter term course each year.
4. A student may take up to 6 credit hours during each of the five-week summer sessions for a total of 12 credit hours. The maximum course load for all summer sessions is 15 credit hours.
5. A student on academic probation may not take more than 13 credit hours in a fall or spring semester, no more than six credit hours total in summer, and no more than one class in any one summer or winter session.
6. A student with particular problems concerning course load should see the dean (or designee) of the college that houses his or her major.

Course Numbers

Course numbers help students to know which courses are most appropriate for them. Here is the explanation of NKU’s course numbering system:

Course Substitution

Requirements for specific majors and minors have been carefully established by the faculty of the relevant department, and they have been approved by the University Curriculum Committee. Thus, students are strongly urged to complete the requirements as listed in the catalog that they are following. There are, however, limited circumstances that justify deviating from the required list of courses, and the student may be allowed to substitute a different course in place of a required course. In those instances, a course substitution form must be requested by the faculty advisor, approved by the department chair, and submitted to the Office of the University Registrar (Lucas Administrative Center 301).

Credit for Prior Learning

Northern Kentucky University will grant credit to enrolled students based upon established prior learning assessment equivalencies.  The University expects prior learning recommendations to meet the institution’s quality criteria, as outlined in assessment procedures herein outlined.

a) Prior Learning Assessments shall include:

1. Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
2. American Council on Education (ACE) Credit
3. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Exams
4. Credit for Prior Learning Examination (CPLE), previously known as Advanced Standing
5. DSST Credit by Exam Program
6. Industry Credentials or licensure or certification that relate to the student’s specialty area, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Examination (FINRA)
7. International Baccalaureate (IB)
8. Portfolio-Based Assessments, through the submission of a portfolio of work and formal instructional experiences, including life learning essays and documentation from the employer, which is evaluated by the appropriate department and has been assessed as equivalent to the learning outcomes for specific courses.
9. World Language Incentive Program

b) Credit for prior learning may apply toward any part of a student’s degree.  The number of credit hours that a student can apply toward graduation through prior learning assessment is governed by the graduation requirements of the major. Appeals can be made to the dean (or designee) of the college where the student’s major is housed regarding Prior Learning Assessment credit and residency requirements. Students cannot use Prior Learning Assessment credit to replace an unsatisfactory grade. However, students who attempt and pass a form of Prior Learning Assessment credit may still use this satisfactory credit to meet program, degree, and graduation requirements. Finally, NKU Prior Learning Assessment credit will only be granted for students who have enrolled at NKU.

c) University officials and departments will approve the award of credit appropriate to the overall context of the student’s degree, and determine the nature of the credit (e.g., introductory-level courses, general education equivalencies, major courses, elective courses), consistent with Northern Kentucky University curriculum policies.

d) Credit for prior learning not entered as transfer credit shall be entered on the student’s record by the Office of the University Registrar by the end of the term in which the assessment took place or the request for prior learning assessment credit was approved.

e) Student fees will only be collected for prior learning not entered as transfer credit.

f) To equate a form of prior learning to a NKU course, the initiating department must complete the Credit for Prior Learning Course Equivalency Request Form. The form must be signed by the department chair and the Dean of the initiating college. This form indicates that the prior learning assessment will assess all learning outcomes of the course. It will detail the process that was executed to ensure that the prior learning assessment effectively measures the learning outcomes for the course that it is being equated.  The requested prior learning assessment equivalencies will require approval through the regular University curriculum approval process.

Advanced Placement (AP)

High school students may receive credit by earning the required score on an approved AP examination. An appropriate number of semester hours will be awarded, and a grade of pass (P) will be assigned for successful completion of approved courses. Information concerning the AP program may be obtained from a high school counselor. Official AP scores should be sent to NKU’s Office of Admissions (Lucas Administrative Center 400). Additional information on regulations and approved NKU programs for AP credit may be obtained from the Office of Admissions. Examination scores range from 1 to 5. Subject areas in which a student may receive credit from NKU by earning acceptable scores are listed in the Appendix .

American Council on Education Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (ACE)

Credit may be awarded based on educational programs offered by many large corporations or nonacademic institutes. Only programs approved and recommended by the American Council on Education will be considered for credit. Students may request evaluation of credit by sending the ACE transcript “Registry of Credit Recommendations” and appropriate course outline(s) to Prior Learning Specialists in Adult Learner Programs and Services. More information can be obtained by calling 859-572-5898.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP, a national program of credit by examination administered by the College Board, was adopted at NKU to provide individuals with an opportunity to earn credit by examination. The Office of Testing Services at NKU is a recognized CLEP testing center and provides information about the tests as well as administers them. A grade of pass (P) will be assigned for the successful passage of a CLEP examination. Students are urged to consult their advisors before registering for CLEP exams. NKU requires submission of an official score report. Check the university’s testing website (https://inside.nku.edu/testing.html) for updates. Please see the Appendix  for specific course equivalences. (The university reserves the right to revise these listings in accord with recommendations from the American Council on Education).

Credit for Prior Learning Examination (CPLE)

Currently enrolled, matriculated students can receive credit for certain approved courses by passing an examination in a subject in which they have demonstrated exceptional ability. There is a fee for each examination attempted. These examinations are graded as pass/fail. However, some departments may have minimum passing scores. If a failing grade is earned, the course will not be posted to the student’s transcript. If a passing grade is earned, the student’s NKU transcript will indicate the class as a Credit for Prior Learning Examination (CPLE). Check the university’s testing website (https://inside.nku.edu/testing.html) for updates.

DSST Examinations

The DSST credit-by-examination program, recommended by the American Council on Education, is a form of prior-learning assessment that gives students the opportunity to receive college credit as a result of their test scores. The Office of Testing Services at NKU is a recognized DSST testing center and provides information about the tests as well as administers them. A grade of pass (P) will be assigned for the successful passage of a DSST examination. Students are urged to consult their advisors before registering for DSST exams. NKU requires submission of an official score report for evaluation by NKU standards. Check the university’s testing website (https://inside.nku.edu/testing.html) for updates. Please see the Appendix  for specific course equivalences. (The university reserves the right to revise these listings in accord with recommendations from the American Council on Education).

Industry Credentials

We award credit for the passage of certain professional licensure examinations in fields like Nursing, Respiratory Care, Business, and Radiology. The list below shows the current Industry Credentials accepted at NKU. Please click the links to show the certifications accepted by NKU, the minimum score, the semester credit hours earned with that score, and the equivalent NKU courses. These equivalencies can also be found in the catalog appendices.

• American Board of Opticianry - National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO-NCLE)
• American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
• Child Development Associate (CDA)
• Cisco
• Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
• Electrician’s Certification (ELEC)
• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
• Harvard Business School CORe (CORe)
• Kentucky License Recognition Sales Associate (RESA)
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
• National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
• Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB)
• Oracle
• Police Academy

International Baccalaureate (IB)

High school students completing this rigorous program may receive credit by earning the required score in a specific subject. An appropriate number of semester credit hours will be awarded the grade of pass (P) for successful completion of approved courses. To earn credit, the student must request that an official transcript issued by the New York office of the International Baccalaureate be sent to the Office of the University Registrar. Please see the Appendix  for specific course equivalences.

Credit for Prior Learning Portfolio (CPLP)

Students may receive credit for certain approved courses via portfolio development for learning that has occurred through their military, career, and non-academic experiences. A portfolio is a set of written documents (and in some cases, oral supplements) that demonstrate experiential learning equivalent to the learning objectives of a specific course. Prior to development of a portfolio, the student must schedule a meeting with an advisor to determine program eligibility. For each portfolio attempted, the student will work with a faculty evaluator who will determine whether the portfolio and the student’s experience meet the learning objectives of a specific course. Credit is granted upon recommendation of the faculty evaluator with approval from the appropriate department chair and dean. For more information about Credit for Prior Learning Portfolio call Adult Learner Programs and Services at 859-572-5898.

World Language Incentive Program

WLIP is intended for students who are enrolling in their first language course at NKU and who have prior experience in that language. French, German, and Spanish students must take the placement test which is available free-of-charge online (https://inside.nku.edu/artsci/departments/worldlanglit/placement.html) or in the language lab (Landrum Academic Center 103).

Students who place into a course above the 101 level should go to Landrum Academic Center 134 for the electronic permit for their indicated course, or they may consult the department coordinator or the department chair at worldlanglit@nku.edu. Students who are enrolling in their first language course at NKU who have prior experience in a language other than French, German, or Spanish should consult the Department of World Languages and Literatures (Landrum Academic Center 134) about enrollment in the appropriate course and WLIP credit.

Students who enroll at NKU in world language courses at the 102 level or higher and who complete one course in the same language with a grade of C- or better are eligible to receive credit for the 101 course in the same language. Students who enroll at NKU in a world language course at the 201 level or higher and complete two courses at the equivalent level or higher in the same language with a grade of B- or higher are eligible to receive up to 12 hours of retroactive 100- or 200-level credit in the same language. Transfer students may be eligible for retroactive credit after completing one course at NKU with a grade of B- or higher. Transfer students should contact the Department of World Languages and Literatures at 859-572-7650 to discuss the retroactive credit option.

Upon completion of the appropriate course(s), the student must submit an application for retroactive credit to the chair of the world languages and literatures department. Application forms are available in the department office, Landrum Academic Center 134.

Additional information regarding world language placement is available online (https://inside.nku.edu/artsci/departments/worldlanglit/placement.html). Students who receive credit through AP or CLEP exams are still eligible for the World Language Incentive Program. The total language credits from all sources cannot exceed 12 hours. Requests for credit from students who complete courses in the 101-202 sequence out of order require the approval of the department chair, the assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the vice provost.

Declaring and Changing a Major

1. Most students are allowed to declare a major at the time they apply to NKU or at the time they register as freshmen. This declaration is not considered binding, and the student may elect later to change his or her major.
2. Freshman students uncertain about their major may choose an “undeclared” major.
3. Students seeking a bachelor’s degree should declare an academic major by the time they reach 30 earned credit hours, but not later than 40 hours. Transfer students entering with more than 40 hours credit will be required to declare an academic major by the end of their first semester of enrollment.
4. Students seeking an associate degree should declare a major by the time they complete 20 earned credit hours. Transfer students entering with more than 20 hours credit will be required to declare an academic major by the end of their first semester of enrollment.
5. Students must submit a declaration/change of major request through the online form in the myNKU portal any time they elect to change their program. It is a student’s responsibility to submit this online form, and once submitted, it will be routed electronically to the appropriate department(s) and the Office of the Unversity Registrar for approval. Failure to submit this form may affect the student’s graduation plans.

Diplomas

The diploma, which documents that one has earned a degree, is issued and dated only after all graduation requirements are met. NKU awards electronic and paper degrees in May, August, and December. Diplomas are emailed to the student NKU email address and U.S. mailed to the recipient’s U.S. diploma address submitted at the time of application. Delivery of the paper diploma generally takes at least six to eight weeks following commencement.

Dropping a Course

Dropping a Course - Student Initiated

1. Once the full semester has begun, students may withdraw from a course only during the session or semester in which the course is taken.
2. There are three time periods that relate to withdrawing from a course. The online registration guide and online academic calendar list the relevant semester dates and their equivalencies for courses of differing lengths.
   1. Weeks 1 through 3 or equivalent: during the first three weeks or equivalent of the semester, official course withdrawals are not reflected on the student’s transcript. That is, the transcript will not indicate that the student was ever registered for the course.
   2. Weeks 4 through 10 or equivalent: a student who withdraws from a course after the third week of the semester (or equivalent) and prior to the end of the 10th week of the semester (or equivalent) will receive a grade of W for the course.
   3. Weeks 11 through 14 or equivalent: course withdrawals after the 10th week or equivalent are not usually allowed. In circumstances beyond the student’s control, a W may be granted with approval of the instructor, the chair of the department offering the course, and the dean of the college offering the course. In cases not approved, the student will receive the grade of F (failure).
      1. Students withdrawing completely after the 10th week need only the approval of the dean of the student’s major.
      2. The instructor may not issue a W as the final grade for students who did not withdraw prior to the 10th week or equivalent if they are not covered by exceptions listed above.

3. All subsessions offered throughout the academic year are prorated accordingly.

Removal from a Course - University Initiated

1. Students are expected to attend the first day of each course for which they are enrolled. A student who, without previous arrangement with the instructor or department, fails to attend the first class meeting of a given term may be dropped from the course. An instructor may drop a student for nonattendance only during the regular drop/add period of the term as defined by the academic calendar. Nonattendance does not release students from the responsibility to officially drop any course for which they have enrolled and choose not to complete.
2. A student may also be dropped from a course as a result of his or her disruptive classroom behavior. See the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (http://deanofstudents.nku.edu/policies/student-rights.html) for more information

Final Exams

All classes will meet during the officially scheduled time for the final exam as published on the Office of the University Registrar’s website. During the scheduled exam time, the faculty member will either administer a final exam or, if an exam is not warranted, provide some other meaningful course-related experience.

A take-home final exam does not eliminate the need to use the final exam time to either administer an in-class exam or provide another meaningful course-related experience.

No student can be required to take more than two final exams on the same day. If more are scheduled, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the faculty no later than the 14th week of the semester (or its equivalent) to work out a plan to move one of the exams to a different date. If none of the faculty agrees to a different exam date, the faculty member giving the third exam of the day is required to arrange a different date for the student to take the exam.

Four-Year Graduation Plans

Each academic major described in the college/department sections of the catalog is linked to a four-year graduation plan that shows one way that a student entering NKU fully qualified to undertake college-level study - that is, no deficiencies requiring developmental coursework - can complete all degree requirements in four years. These plans do not take the place of the academic advisor, and students must still work with their advisors to ensure timely graduation. They do, however, provide helpful guidance. In order to access a four-year plan, the student must use the online version of the catalog.

Full-time Status

To be classified as a full-time undergraduate student at NKU, the minimum course load is 12 credit hours in a fall or spring semester and nine semester hours in summer.

Grading Policies

Calculating a Grade-Point Average (GPA)

1. Consider ONLY courses numbered 100 and above. Developmental courses do not contribute to the GPA.
2. For each course, multiply the credits awarded by the letter grade. Each letter grade, A through F, has a numerical equivalent that is listed in the grading scale table given earlier. For example, if a course numbered 100 and above is worth three credits and the student earns a grade of B+, then multiply three times 3.333 to get 9.999. This yields the points for that course.
3. Add together all of the points.
4. Add together all of the credits for courses that were assigned a letter grade and that were at the 100 level and above.
5. Divide the sum of the total points by the sum of the credits.
6. Note: Grades of I, N, NR, P, T, and W do not affect the GPA; a grade of F does affect it.
7. Here is an example of how to calculate a GPA:

   Course No.	Credits	Grade	Grade Value	Points
   ENG 101	3	B+	3.333	9.999
   CMST 101	3	A-	3.667	11.001
   MAHD 095	0	A-	course below 100	0
   HIS 103	3	B	3.000	9.000
   AST 110	4	F	0	0
   	13			30

   GPA = 30/13 = 2.308

Grade Change

1. If a grade change is required due to an error, it must be accomplished by midterm of the next full semester after the issuance of the incorrect grade.
   1. If the time limitation has been exceeded, the instructor must attach a written explanation of the causes for the delay and deliver the change to the chair, who will forward any approved changes to the appropriate dean’s office.
2. For I (incomplete) grades being changed to letter grades, the instructor and department chair must approve the change; for letter grade changes to another letter grade, the instructor, the department chair, and the appropriate dean must approve.
3. Changes become official when received and recorded by the Office of the University Registrar.
4. For information on “grade appeals” - where there is a difference of opinion between the student and the instructor - see the catalog section dealing with academic appeals.

 Grading Scale

Other grading options include the following:

Honors Lists

1. All undergraduate students attempting at least 12 semester credit hours at the 100 level and above (this excludes developmental coursework) who achieve a semester GPA of 4.000 at the completion of a semester’s work will be appointed to the President’s Honors List.
2. All undergraduate students attempting at least eight semester hours at the 100 level and above (this excludes developmental coursework) achieving a semester GPA of at least 3.600 at the completion of a semester’s work will be appointed to the Dean’s List.
3. All undergraduate students attempting at least three semester hours but fewer than eight semester hours at the 100 level and above (this excludes developmental coursework) achieving a semester GPA of at least 3.600 at the completion of a semester’s work will be appointed to the Scholar’s List.

Pass/Fail Grading Option: Student-Initiated Option

1. The student-initiated option to take a course pass/fail encourages students to experiment in academic disciplines by enrolling in courses they may not take normally if subjected to the same grading pressures incurred as in their major area of study. For this reason, pass/fail can contribute substantially to a student’s breadth of experience at NKU.
2. Taking courses pass/fail under the student-initiated option is subject to the following restrictions:
   1. The student must complete the appropriate form online (https://nku.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5p6RJuqqAJNBUGN).
   2. The form can be completed at the time of registration but not later than the last day to register for a class for that semester/term as listed in the appropriate online academic calendar.
   3. The choice to receive a traditional letter grade or a pass/fail grade cannot be changed after the last day to register for a course except by withdrawal or by repeating the course.
   4. A student may not repeat a course on a pass/fail basis in order to replace a previously earned letter grade of A through F.
   5. The student must be a bachelor’s student who has attained junior standing (having earned 60 credit hours or more).
   6. Courses taken pass/fail must be elective in nature and cannot be used to fulfill specific general education, major, minor, or focus requirements.
   7. Pass/fail courses may be applied toward 300 level and above course requirements.
   8. No more than 12 credit hours toward graduation may be completed through the student-initiated pass/fail.
   9. Only the grade of C- or above will be considered passing when courses are taken under the pass/fail option; the grades of D and F will be recorded as failing grades.
   10. The grade of P will not be computed in the GPA but the credit hours associated with the course will be counted as credit hours earned and will count toward graduation under the restrictions previously mentioned.
   11. The grade of F will be computed in the student’s GPA as hours attempted.
3. Under the student-initiated pass/fail policy, the instructor will not know whether an individual is taking the course for a traditional letter grade or pass/fail. When the semester ends, the instructor will submit traditional letter grades for all students. For those students taking the course as pass/fail, grades will be converted by the Office of the University Registrar.
4. Should a student change major, minor, or focus after having taken a course under the student-initiated pass/fail option, any discussion regarding acceptance of the course for major, minor, or requirements will be made on an individual basis by the appropriate department chair. If needed, and with the student’s permission, the instructor’s record of the original letter focus grade may be consulted in such a case.

Graduate Courses

In general, no undergraduate student may enroll in a course at the 600 level or above. At the beginning of the semester, the Office of Graduate Programs will notify any student enrolled in a graduate-only course, and the student will be required to drop the course. If the student fails to drop the course, he or she will be administratively removed from the course by the Office of Graduate Programs.

EXCEPTION: An undergraduate student who has no more than six credits remaining to complete a bachelor’s degree may be dually enrolled as an undergraduate and graduate student, provided the student has the approval of his or her undergraduate academic advisor and the relevant graduate program director. Students seeking dual enrollment must submit a graduate application and meet all admission requirements for the graduate program with the exception of the undergraduate degree. Once accepted, a dually-enrolled student may take a maximum of 12 credits, six at the graduate level and six at the undergraduate level, in a single semester. Graduate credit for these courses will not be granted unless all work for the undergraduate degree is completed in the semester in which the student is enrolled for graduate credit. Credits earned in a graduate course cannot apply toward both a bachelor’s and a graduate degree. Students taking undergraduate and graduate courses concurrently will be assessed tuition at the graduate level for all courses.

Graduation Requirements

Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree

In order to receive a bachelor’s degree, a student must:

1. Complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours.
2. Complete from NKU* at least 25 percent of the credits required for the degree.
3. Complete the last 30 semester credit hours from NKU*. Limited exceptions are possible when approved by the dean (or designee) of the college where the student’s major is housed.
4. Complete developmental coursework, if required.
5. Complete the general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree.
6. Complete at least 45 semester credit hours in courses numbered 300 and above. Note: Freshman- and sophomore-level courses completed at other institutions may have course titles or content similar to certain 300- and 400-level courses at NKU. In consultation with the department chair where the equivalent NKU course is housed, it will be determined whether such courses will contribute to meeting NKU’s requirement for 45 credits in courses numbered 300 and above.
7. Complete the requirements for the major.
8. Complete one of the following:
   1. A minor in a discipline outside the major discipline
      – OR –
   2. A minor in an interdisciplinary program offered by NKU
      – OR –
   3. A focus consisting of at least 12 credit hours of courses in the same designator that are numbered 300 or higher. An interdisciplinary focus may also be available from interdisciplinary programs within some departments. See the department/school’s catalog description for details of availability. A focus that contains courses with differing designators may also be permissible if all courses are related to a single discipline/topic. In such a case, approval is required from the department/school that will house the focus. When a focus consists of courses with differing designators, students should seek approval in advance. Minimum grade restrictions may apply, see the department’s entry in the catalog for more detail.
      – OR –
   4. A second major offered by NKU
      – OR –
   5. A minor included within the major where the student is exempted from the minor/focus/second major requirement. Please see appropriate individual program requirements to determine if the program exempts the student from the minor/focus/second major requirement.
9. The requirements for a student’s major(s), minor(s), and focus area(s) must all be based on the same catalog. See the Catalog of Record section for more information.
10. Satisfy the computer-use competency requirement as determined by the student’s major department.
11. Participate in university-wide mandatory senior assessment and any senior assessment requirements associated with the major and minor.
12. Remove all incomplete grades by earning a grade of A through F in place of each one.
13. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.00 (excluding developmental coursework) and a GPA of 2.00 in each of the following: the major, minor, and focus (unless the major or minor department has a higher GPA requirement).
14. Satisfy all financial and administrative obligations to the university.
15. Apply to graduate.

*Note: For the purposes of the policies related to graduation and graduating with honors, approved courses taken through the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection are treated as though they were taken from NKU.

Applying to Graduate - Bachelor’s Degree

To apply to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, a student must:

1. Have a program certification form on file.
   1. One signed form is required for each major, minor, and focus the student is completing.
   2. The form is available online, and the department chairs (or designees) of a student’s major and minor fields of study must each sign the program certification form. The chair of the student’s major fields of study should sign the program certification form for the area of focus.
   3. The program certification forms must be submitted concurrently with the application for degree candidacy, described below.
2. File an Application for Undergraduate Degree Candidacy in the Office of the University Registrar. The application is available online through myNKU and should be submitted by the following dates.

   For fall graduation	May 31
   For spring graduation	Nov 30
   For summer graduation	April 30

3. Pay the application to graduate fee.
   1. For fall semester graduation, apply for undergraduate degree candidacy:

      By May 31	$ 50
      Between June 1 and August 31	$ 80
      Between September 1 and September 30	$100

      *Graduation applications submitted after September 30 will not be processed for fall semester graduation unless special approval is obtained. Those graduating with a bachelor’s degree must receive permission from the associate dean of their college. Even with that approval, there is no guarantee that the application can be processed in time for fall graduation. The fee is $100.
   2. For spring semester graduation, apply for undergraduate candidacy:

      By November 30	$ 50
      Between December 1 and January 15	$ 80
      Between January 16 and February 15	$100

      *Graduation applications submitted after February 15 will not be processed for spring semester graduation unless special approval is obtained. Those graduating with a bachelor’s degree must receive permission from the associate dean of their college. Even with that approval, there is no guarantee that the application can be processed in time for spring graduation. The fee is $100.
   3. For summer semester graduation, apply for undergraduate candidacy:

      By April 30	$ 50
      Between May 1 and May 31	$ 80
      Between June 1 and June 30	$100

      *Graduation applications submitted after June 30 will not be processed for summer semester graduation unless special approval is obtained. Those graduating with a bachelor’s degree must receive permission from the associate dean of their college. Even with that approval, there is no guarantee that the application can be processed in time for summer graduation. The fee is $100.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

A student who wishes to receive two bachelor’s degrees may meet the requirements for them concurrently or consecutively.

1. In order to receive two bachelor’s degrees on the same date, a student must:
   1. Complete requirements for both degrees.
   2. Complete both degrees based on the same catalog. See the Catalog of Record section for more information.
   3. Earn a minimum of 30 semester credits from NKU* in addition to the hours required for the first degree.
   4. The student must earn a minimum of 60 semester credits from NKU.
2. A student wishing to earn a second bachelor’s degree after receiving the first must:
   1. Complete major requirements for the second degree.
   2. Earn a minimum of 30 semester hours from NKU beyond the credits earned for the first degree. Of these at least 12 must be in the major field for the second degree.

*Note: For the purposes of the policies related to graduation and graduating with honors, courses taken through the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection are treated as though they were taken from NKU.

Graduating with Honors - Bachelor’s Degree

1. In order for a student to graduate with bachelor’s degree honors, the student must earn a minimum of 30 semester credits from NKU* and have an overall GPA and NKU GPA of at least 3.50, excluding developmental coursework. The level of honors will be based on the NKU GPA.
2. There are three levels of bachelor’s degree honors:

   Cum laude:	3.50 - 3.7499
   Magna cum laude:	3.75 - 3.8999
   Summa cum laude:	3.90 - 4.00

3. Honors recognition appears in the commencement program based upon the student’s NKU GPA (excluding developmental coursework) at the conclusion of the previous semester. Honors will appear on the transcript based upon the student’s NKU GPA (excluding developmental coursework) at the time of graduation.
4. In order to be considered for graduation with honors, a student who has a bachelor’s degree and is earning a second bachelor’s degree must complete a minimum of 30 semester credits from NKU* beyond those earned for the first bachelor’s degree.

*Note: For the purposes of the policies related to graduation and graduating with honors, courses taken through the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection are treated as though they were taken from NKU.

Two or More Majors - Bachelor’s Degree

1. A student may earn two or more majors by completing the requirements for all of the majors and earning a minimum 2.00 GPA in each. Note: Some programs require a GPA higher than a 2.0.
2. The degree conferred (for example, B.A., B.S., B.F.A.) will be based upon the student’s first major. All majors will be indicated on the student’s academic transcript. The “first major” is the one with the earliest submission date. A student who wants his or her “first major” to be the one with the more recent submission date should make this change at the Office of the University Registrar (Lucas Administrative Center 301).

Requirements for an Associate Degree

In order to receive an associate degree, a student must:

1. Complete a minimum of 60 semester credit hours, the last 20 of which must be taken from NKU*.
2. Complete developmental coursework, if required.
3. Complete the general education requirements for an associate degree.
4. Complete the requirements of the major for associate degree candidates.
5. Remove all incomplete grades by earning a grade of A through F in place of each one.
6. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.00 (excluding developmental coursework) and a GPA of 2.00 in the major (unless the department has a higher requirement for the GPA in the major).
7. Satisfy all financial and administrative obligations to the university.
8. Apply to graduate.

*Note: For the purposes of the policies related to graduation and graduating with honors, courses taken through the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection are treated as though they were taken from NKU.

Applying to Graduate - Associate Degree

To apply to graduate with an associate degree, a student must:

1. Have a program certification form on file.
   1. The form is available online and must be signed by the department chair (or designee) of the student’s major field of study.
   2. The program certification form must be submitted concurrently with the application for degree candidacy, described below.
2. File an application for undergraduate degree candidacy in the Office of the University Registrar (Lucas Administrative Center 301). The application is available online through myNKU and should be submitted by the following dates.

   For fall graduation	April 22
   For spring graduation	October 22
   For summer graduation	April 22

3. Pay the application to graduate fee.
   1. For fall semester graduation, apply for undergraduate degree candidacy:

      By April 22	$ 50
      Between April 23 and Aug. 8	$ 80
      Between August 9 and Oct. 31	$100
      After October 31*	$100

      *Graduation applications submitted after October 31 will not be processed for fall semester graduation unless special approval is obtained. Those graduating with an associate degree must receive permission from the associate dean of their college. Even with that approval, there is no guarantee that the application can be processed in time for fall graduation.
   2. For spring semester graduation, apply for undergraduate degree candidacy:

      By October 22	$ 50
      Between October 23 and January 8	$ 80
      Between January 9 and March 30	$100
      After March 30*	$100

      *Graduation applications submitted after March 30 will not be processed for spring semester graduation unless special approval is obtained. Those graduating with an associate degree must receive permission from the associate dean of their college. Even with that approval, there is no guarantee that the application can be processed in time for spring graduation.
   3. For summer semester graduation, apply for undergraduate degree candidacy:

      By April 22	$ 50
      Between April 23 and May 31	$ 80
      Between June 1 and July 1	$100
      After July 1*	$100

      *Graduation applications submitted after July 1 will not be processed for summer semester graduation unless special approval is obtained. Those graduating with an associate degree must receive permission from the associate dean of their college. Even with that approval, there is no guarantee that the application can be processed in time for summer graduation.

Second Associate Degree

A student who has not earned a bachelor’s degree and wishes to receive two associate degrees may meet the requirements for them concurrently or consecutively. In order to receive two associate degrees, a student must:

1. Complete requirements for both degrees.
2. Earn a minimum of 20 semester credits from NKU* beyond requirements for the first degree.
3. Earn a minimum of 40 semester credits from NKU* in order to earn two NKU associate degrees.

*Note: For the purposes of the policies related to graduation and graduating with honors, courses taken through the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection are treated as though they were taken from NKU.

Graduating with Honors - Associate Degree

1. In order for a student to graduate with associate degree honors, he or she must earn a minimum of 30 semester credits from NKU* and have an overall GPA and NKU GPA of at least 3.50, excluding developmental coursework. The level of honors will be based on the NKU GPA.
2. There are two levels of associate degree honors:

   With distinction:	3.50 - 3.799
   With high distinction:	3.80 - 4.00

3. Honors recognition appears in the commencement program based upon the student’s NKU GPA (excluding developmental coursework) at the conclusion of the previous semester. Honors will appear on the transcript based upon the student’s NKU GPA (excluding developmental coursework) at the time of graduation.
4. In order to be considered for graduation with honors, a student who has a bachelor’s degree and is subsequently earning an associate degree must complete a minimum of 30 semester credits from NKU* beyond the credits that were required for the bachelor’s degree.

*Note: For the purposes of the policies related to graduation and graduating with honors, courses taken through the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection are treated as though they were taken from NKU.

Associate Degree after a Bachelor’s Degree

A student who has already earned a bachelor’s degree and wishes to receive an associate degree must:

1. Complete the requirements for the associate degree.
2. Earn a minimum of 20 semester credits from NKU* beyond the credits that were required for the bachelor’s degree. Of these 20 credits, at least 12 must be in the discipline of the associate degree.

*Note: For the purposes of the policies related to graduation and graduating with honors, courses taken through the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection are treated as though they were taken from NKU.

Mandatory Senior Survey

1. Completion of the senior survey is a bachelor’s degree graduation requirement.
2. A student is eligible to take the survey after an application for graduation has been processed.
3. An email notification with information about the online survey is sent to an eligible student during the semester in which graduation is expected.

Graduation Ceremonies

Each year, NKU holds two graduation ceremonies: one in May and one in December, each occurring on the weekend following final exams. Note: Participating in these ceremonies does not mean that one has graduated.

The graduation ceremony is held on campus in the BB&T Arena and is currently followed by a reception for graduates, their guests, and the faculty, staff, and administrators participating in the graduation ceremony. At this time, there is no limit to the number of guests that a graduate can invite, and guests are not required to have a ticket.

In order to participate in the December commencement ceremony, an undergraduate student must have either:

1. Completed all classes required for the degree.
   – OR –
2. Be enrolled that fall in all classes needed to complete the degree.

In order to participate in the May commencement ceremony, an undergraduate student must have either:

1. Completed all classes required for the degree.
   – OR –
2. Be enrolled that spring in all classes needed to complete the degree.

Exceptions to this policy can be approved only by the vice provost upon recommendation of the dean of the college that houses the student’s major.

Honor Code

The student honor code is a commitment by students of NKU, through their matriculation or continued enrollment at the university, to adhere to the highest degree of ethical integrity in academic conduct. It is a commitment individually and collectively that the students of NKU will not lie, cheat, or plagiarize to gain an academic advantage over fellow students or avoid academic requirements.

The honor code specifies that an NKU student shall not:

1. Engage in any conduct involving academic deceit, dishonesty, or misrepresentation.
2. Give, receive, or use unauthorized or prohibited information, resources, or assistance on an examination, assignment, or graduation requirement.
3. Commit plagiarism (for example, representing another’s work, in whole or in part, as one’s own) on any examination, assignment, or graduation requirement (including those involving use of the web, Internet, or other electronic resources).
4. Write, take, research, develop, prepare, or create an examination, assignment, or graduation requirement for another student, in whole or in part.
5. Submit an examination, assignment, or graduation requirement written, taken, researched, developed, prepared, or created by another person, in whole or in part.
6. Submit an examination, assignment, or graduation requirement that the student has or will submit for credit in another course without express approval from the professors in each of the courses.
7. Prevent or interfere with the use by other students of any library, laboratory, studio, field, or other course-related resource.
8. Damage or impair any library, laboratory, studio, field, or other course-related resources or another student’s completed assignments.

A student who violates one of the above provisions will be identified to the Department Chair, Program Director, Academic Dean, and Director of Student Conduct, Rights & Advocacy. The student may also be subject to one or more of the following consequences:

     a.  For the first violation, any one or a combination of the following:

          i.    Faculty imposed sanction(s) as outlined in the course syllabus;
          ii.   An oral admonition or reprimand;
          iii.  A written admonition or reprimand;
          iv.  A reduction in the grade or a grade of “F” in the course, examination, or assignment;                                
          v.   Expulsion from the course.

     b.  For multiple violations of the above provisions, where suspension or expulsion from the University
          may be warranted, the case will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct ,Rights & Advocacy for adjudication and sanctioning.

Instructor and Course Evaluations

NKU takes instructor and course evaluations very seriously. They are an important means of gathering information about instructors and courses, information that will be used to enhance student-learning opportunities. As such, NKU asks its students to participate responsibly in the instructor and course evaluation process and to include thoughtfully written comments.

Evaluation periods begin two weeks prior to final exams for a full-semester course and one week prior to final exams for any course shorter than the full semester. Students are notified by email when the online evaluation process is available and are sent several reminders until evaluations are completed. Students who complete an evaluation or select “opt out” for all of their courses on the online instrument will be granted two-week advanced access to their course grades. (Please note that, as of the Spring 2018 semester, failing to complete or opt out of the evaluation for any course will block advanced access for all courses.)

Students who do not complete all of their course evaluations or do not select “opt out” on each online evaluation instrument will not be able to see any of their final grades, obtain unofficial and official transcripts, or run a degree audit until the university’s standard date for grade availability.

Student evaluations are strictly confidential, and results are not available to instructors until after final grades for the course are posted. The university has established extensive precautions to prevent individual student comments from being identified.

For more information and to view the instructor and course evaluation schedule, visit the student evaluation home page (https://inside.nku.edu/eval.html).

Misrepresentation of NKU Credentials

Any person reporting their accomplishments or relationship with NKU is expected to do so in a completely truthful manner. Misrepresentation of accomplishments may relate to, but is not limited to, grades, coursework, co-curricular activities, honors, certificates, and degrees. Anyone misrepresenting his or her work or accomplishments at NKU may be barred from future enrollment and graduation from NKU. In addition, such behavior may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Prerequisites and Co-Requisites

A prerequisite is a requirement that must be satisfied before taking a specific course. If a student is enrolled in a prerequisite course at the time of registration for the next semester, the student may conditionally register for the course that requires the prerequisite. However, if the prerequisite course is not completed successfully, the student may be withdrawn from the course by the department. A co-requisite is a course that must be taken concurrently with another course. Both prerequisites and co-requisites are listed in the course descriptions in the catalog.

1. The university’s computerized registration system will not allow students to register for courses for which they lack the stated prerequisites and will not allow them to register for a course without registering for its co-requisite.
2. Students who believe they have met the intent of the prerequisite or have a justifiable reason for skipping the co-requisite should see the department chair of the department that offers the course. Students should provide the department chair with documentation justifying their request. If convinced that the student can succeed in the course, the department chair can issue a permit for the student to take a course without the prerequisites or co-requisites.
3. Because they are not required to present transcripts at the time of admission, non-degree students must consult the department chair for each course he or she wishes to take that has a prerequisite. Unless the student can document that he or she meets the course prerequisites, the student may not be allowed to enroll in the course. If convinced that the student can succeed in the course, the department chair can issue a permit for the student to take the course.

Privacy Rights: FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords students certain rights with respect to their education records, including:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access.
   1. Students should submit to the university registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect.
   2. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
   3. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
   1. Students may ask the university to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
   2. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the university will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
   1. Disclosure without the student’s consent is permissible to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Regents; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
   2. FERPA allows the institution to routinely release information defined as “directory information.” The following student information is included in the definition: the student’s name, address, email address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletics teams, dates of attendance, enrollment status (including full time, part time, not enrolled, withdrawn, and date of withdrawal), degree and awards received, and the most recent previous education agency or institution attended by the student. When a student wants any part of the directory information to remain confidential, an official request form must be completed in the Office of the Unversity Registrar (Lucas Administrative Center 301) within the first five days of class of each school term.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by NKU to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

5. Students who have questions about FERPA, would like to grant access to their educational records to a third party, or wish to see their records should contact NKU’s Office of the University Registrar at 859-572-5556, email the university registrar at registrar@nku.edu, or check the website (http://inside.nku.edu/registrar/forms-records/ferpa.html).

Registration Holds

Registration holds prevent students from registering for courses. They are most often established because the student is required to meet with his or her advisor prior to registering or because the student owes money to the university. Registration holds must be resolved before a student can register online via myNKU. The student can still search for courses and place them in the registration cart, but the student must contact the office or department that placed the hold and resolve the issue before being able to register. For advising holds, the student should contact his or her academic advisor to make arrangements for clearing the advising hold. If a student has a fee-related hold, the fee must be paid before the hold will be released. Generally, holds can be released Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information about holds, students should visit the web (http://inside.nku.edu/registrar/registration/registration-holds.html).

Retaking a Course

The provisions of this policy apply when a student is retaking a course for grade replacement, with the intention of improving the grade on the student’s academic record transcript.

Some degree programs may have their own specific requirements. A course retaken using this policy is noted as such on the student’s academic record; remains in the student’s attempted hour calculations; and is removed from the earned hour, quality point, and GPA calculations. 

1. A student may retake a maximum of six different courses during the undergraduate academic career. 
2. A student may not attempt the same course more than three times (original attempt plus two retakes). 
3. When a course is retaken, the better of the grades will be counted toward GPA calculation.
4. A student may not retake a course to replace a letter grade of A through F with a Pass/Fail (P/F) grade.
5. Once a degree/certificate is awarded for a specific program, then all courses compiled within that awarded credential are not eligible for this retake policy. 
6. Courses that were earned as transfer credit are not eligible for this retake policy.
7. Grades for discontinued or repeatable courses could be replaced if (a) a new course covering the same content has been created to replace the discontinued course or (b) the student has received special permission from the chair/program director of the department/school or the dean of the college offering the alternative course.

The updating of these retaken courses on the students’ records is handled by the Office of the Registrar, during the end-of-semester final grades processing.

For exceptions to provisions of this policy, the student must petition in writing the dean of the college in which the course is offered. The student must have the permission before enrolling in a retaken course that requires a policy exception.

CAUTION: If a student receiving financial aid wishes to retake a course more than once, the student should consult the Office of Student Financial Assistance to determine how this will affect his or her financial aid.

Sexual Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct

As members of the campus community, all university students, faculty and staff as well as guests and visitors have the right to be free from sexual misconduct. The university does not tolerate gender-based misconduct and does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs. The university is committed to treating those involved in an allegation of sexual misconduct with dignity and respect. Investigative and hearing proceedings are conducted in a timely, thorough, and impartial manner. This policy has been developed to reaffirm these principles and to provide recourse for those individuals whose rights have been violated. This policy is intended to define expectations and to establish a mechanism for determining when those expectations have been violated. More information on the university’s sexual misconduct policy can be found in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (https://inside.nku.edu/scra.html)

NKU prohibits all forms of discriminatory harassment that are unlawful under applicable local, state, and federal law, including sexual harassment. It is the policy of the university to provide every employee and student with an environment conducive to productivity and learning, free from intimidating, hostile, or offensive behavior. The university condemns all forms of sexual harassment on the part of any employee, student, or vendor toward any other employee, student, or vendor. Sexual harassment is the making of unwelcome and offensive sexual advances or of sexually offensive remarks or acts, especially by one in a superior or supervisory position or when compliance is made a condition of continued employment or advancement. Unwelcome behavior is behavior that is not welcome, not solicited, and not wanted by the offended person.

Title IX prohibits gender discrimination at all institutions receiving federal funding, including Northern Kentucky University. These requirements apply to all forms of sexual misconduct including, but not limited to sexual harassment and sexual violence, and are important for preventing and effectively responding to sex discrimination.

If you are a student who believes you have been subjected to (1) sexual harassment by University faculty or staff; or (2) any other form of gender discrimination under Title IX, you may report such misconduct or file a formal complaint with the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Title IX. Complaints must be submitted in writing. If you are a student who believes you have been or are the victim of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, sexual violence or other sexual misconduct, by another University student, you may report such conduct or file a complaint under Title IX with the Title IX Coordinator. Complaints of student sexual misconduct are addressed by the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Federal and state laws prohibit the taking of retaliatory measures against any individual who files a complaint in good faith. Contact information for the Title IX Coordinator, as well as additional information about Title IX legislation, may be found online (https://inside.nku.edu/titleix.html).

A report may also be filed by calling university police at 859-572-5500 or by completing an incident report form on the Office of Title IX website (https://inside.nku.edu/scra.html)

Violence Against Women

The Norse Violence Prevention Center provides support and advocacy for students who have experienced sexual and other types of violence. The center is located on the third floor of the Votruba Student Union and may be reached by phone at 859-572-5685.

Student Code of Conduct

The NKU Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (the Code) is designed to ensure that Northern Kentucky University (the University) students shall enjoy intellectual freedom, fair and legal treatment, the freedom of speech both on and off campus, freedom of press, the right of peaceable assembly, the right to petition for redress of grievances, the right to a fair hearing of charges made against one, and the right to responsible participation in the university community. Rights imply responsibilities; therefore members of the University community must show both initiative and restraint. The Code is designed neither to be exhaustive nor to encompass all possible relationships between students and the institution. This document is endorsed and approved by the Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents. The Code is not rigid nor unchangeable. As the relationship between students and the University continues to grow, it may be necessary to modify the Code.

It is incumbent upon students to be aware of University regulations. Ignorance of these regulations does not excuse students from adherence to them. University Officials should endeavor to inform students of University rules, regulations, and policies, whenever the circumstance is applicable. The Code is available online (https://inside.nku.edu/scra/information/students/rights-responsibilities.html).

Tobacco-Free Policy

Northern Kentucky University is a tobacco-free campus.

Tobacco use at all university-owned, -operated, and -leased properties is covered by this policy. Tobacco products are therefore prohibited in all interior and exterior building space, outside ground areas, walkways and parking structures, indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, and vehicles.

Numerous products are prohibited by this campus policy. They include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah-smoked products, and oral tobacco such as spit/spitless, smokeless, chew, and snuff products. Products that contain tobacco flavoring or simulate tobacco use, such as electronic cigarettes, are also prohibited.

Violations of this policy will be addressed by the appropriate administrative departments. Concerns about tobacco use will be respectfully addressed. Support resources are available online (http://tobaccofree.nku.edu).

Transcript Availability

Transcripts of NKU coursework are available upon request. Students must request their official transcript through the National Student Clearinghouse. Students may view and print an unofficial transcript through myNKU.

The transcript fees, delivery options and additional information on this process can be found on the Office of the University Registrar website.

Transcripts from Other Institutions

When NKU receives transcripts from another institution, the transcripts are considered property of NKU. NKU does not reproduce or copy transcripts received from any sending institutions. Students should seek copies of transcripts from the institution that originally issued the transcript.

Transfer Credit

Transfer of Undergraduate Credit

The policies that follow apply to the transfer of undergraduate credit to an NKU undergraduate degree. Once NKU receives all of the relevant transfer documentation, NKU will complete a course-by-course evaluation of the student’s transfer coursework. The process normally takes at least three weeks.

1. NKU requires official transcripts from all previously attended institutions. The transcript must include coursework completed up to the application date.
2. Students enrolled in courses at a postsecondary institution (other than NKU) at the time of application will have one semester to provide a final, official transcript showing all grades and credits earned.
3. When applicable, students should request that the Kentucky General Education Transfer Policy certifications be included on official transcripts.
4. Students with CLEP credit should submit their official transcripts to the Office of the University Registrar (Lucas Administrative Center 301). Students with AP credit should submit their official transcripts to the undergraduate admissions office (Lucas Administrative Center 401).
5. Only coursework from a regionally accredited institution, or an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education will be considered for awarding of transfer credit.
6. Effective  spring 2021 forward, coursework completed at a regionally accredited institution or an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with a grade of D- or higher will be  considered for the awarding of transfer credit.  Only coursework from regionally accredited institutions, from fall 2009 to fall 2020, will be considered for the awarding of transfer credit with a grade of D- or higher.
7. Transfer work and grades:
   1. Students who transferred to NKU between fall 2004 and summer 2009 will have the grades associated with transfer work included in their GPA calculation based on NKU’s policies and procedures. Changing their catalog of record or being readmitted to the University will not change this policy: that is, grades associated with courses transferred to NKU will continue to be included in the calculation of their GPA.
   2. For students transferring to NKU after the summer of 2009, credits may be accepted in transfer, but no grades or GPA will be transferred to NKU. In other words, transfer students with no prior NKU coursework will begin NKU with a new GPA.
8. Courses evaluated as developmental in content will not be considered for credit hours. These courses may be used to satisfy a course prerequisite or to meet statewide Council for Postsecondary Education admission requirements.
9. Students may be encouraged to take a placement test in English, mathematics and/or reading if evidence of college readiness is not demonstrated, as prescribed by state regulation (13 KAR 2:020). Students will not receive transfer credit nor be exempt from taking co-requisite courses into which they are placed after initial admission to the university.
10. Students who earn transfer credit (or a combination of transfer credit and NKU credit) within one semester hour of that necessary for completion of a general education, major, or minor course requirement will be considered to have completed that requirement. This does not affect the number of transfer credits awarded.
11. A transfer student may not be awarded credit for all courses in a major. In general, it is recommended that at least half the work in a major be taken at NKU, but academic departments may set specific limits on the amount of transfer allowed for their majors. The chair of the student’s major will make the final determination of the requirements for the student’s major.
12. Transfer coursework for post-baccalaureate students is subject to departmental approval and is not evaluated in its entirety. Post-baccalaureate students are considered to have completed general education requirements.

Note: Students who completed coursework more than five years ago should plan on submitting course descriptions or a catalog from that year in order to expedite the evaluation process.

Transfer of Professional or Graduate Credit

The following applies to transfer of professional or graduate credit to an NKU undergraduate degree. A student who receives early admission to certain professional or graduate schools may, under certain conditions, transfer credits back to NKU from that school to meet NKU’s requirements for graduation with the bachelor’s degree.

1. Acceptable sources of transfer are usually medical schools, dental schools, law schools, schools of social work, and schools of veterinary medicine. Excluded are schools that grant a bachelor’s degree to students who transfer credits to them.
2. The source of the transfer credit must be accredited by a regional accrediting association.
3. The student must complete at least 90 semester hours of work at NKU, meet general education requirements of the university before he or she leaves, and satisfy requirements of her or his major.
   1. Courses taken at the graduate or professional school may be used to meet major requirements at the discretion of the student’s advisor and department chair with the approval of the appropriate dean and the university registrar.
4. Transfer of credit must occur by the end of a student’s initial year of post-bachelor’s study.
5. To transfer credit, students must have an appropriate transcript sent to NKU and must also complete an application for the bachelor’s degree from NKU.
6. A student who receives early admission to a graduate or professional school and who meets the above conditions is urged to discuss with his or her chair the possibility of transferring credit from the school to NKU.
7. Students are warned that in a few cases their early admission to graduate or professional school may permanently bar them from licensure in certain states. It is the responsibility of the student to ascertain requirements of the state in which he or she plans to practice.

Military Credit Evaluation

Location: Lucas Administrative Center 301
Telephone: 859-572-7609
Fax: 859-572-6094
Web Address: veterans.nku.edu

Veterans evaluates and certifies military transcripts for credit. Courses approved and recommended by the American Council of Education’s publication, Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces, will be considered for credit. All military transcripts including the Community College of the Air Force transcripts should be sent to: Northern Kentucky University, Office of Admissions, Lucas Administrative Center, 400 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099. Please allow two to four weeks for the entry and evaluation of a transcript. More information is available online (http://nku.edu/admissions/transfer/policies.html).

Withdrawing from the University

Withdrawal from the University - Student Initiated

1. A student may withdraw from the university - that is, withdraw from all classes for which he or she is registered - at any time prior to the 11th week of classes.
2. The Office of the University Registrar will determine the date of withdrawal, and process the withdrawal as long as it falls within approved withdrawal-date guidelines.
3. Grades
   1. Weeks 1 through 3 or equivalent: if a student withdraws prior to the end of the third week of the semester or its equivalent, the transcript will not reflect that the student was enrolled in the classes.
   2. Weeks 4 through 10 or equivalent: if the student withdraws after the third week (or its equivalent) and prior to the end of the 10th week (or its equivalent), the student will receive a grade of W in each course for which he or she was registered.
   3. The specific dates for sections (a) - (b) can be found in the online registration guide and the online academic calendar.
   4. EXCEPTION: In cases of academic dishonesty, the instructor will determine the student’s grade.
4. Other responsibilities
   1. A student withdrawing from the university should check with Student Account Services to determine the financial implications of the withdrawal and to settle any money owed to the university or to the student.
   2. A student who has financial aid and is withdrawing from the university should check with the Office of Student Financial Assistance as there may be important consequences for the student’s financial aid.
   3. If the student leaving the university lives in university housing, he or she should contact the housing office and complete a contract termination form (http://housing.nku.edu/content/dam/housing/docs/General/Contract_Termination_1011.pdf). A student withdrawing from the university is not eligible to live in university housing.

Withdrawal from the University - Military Purposes

1. When a student is called into active military status on an emergency basis and therefore cannot complete coursework for a given semester, the timing of the withdrawal affects whether the student receives a W or the earned grade in each course.
   1. First 12 weeks or equivalent: the student will receive a withdrawal (W) in each course with full refund if call-up is within the first 12 weeks of the semester.
   2. Weeks 13 and 14 or equivalent: the student may elect to receive the grade earned to-date in each course or receive a W in each course with a full refund if call-up is during the 13th or 14th week of the semester
   3. Weeks 15 and 16 or equivalent: the student will receive the grade earned to date in each course if call-up is in the 15th or 16th week of the semester.
2. The student should present his or her orders at the Office of the University Registrar (Lucas Administrative Center 301) or fax them to 859-572-6094. If the student does not yet have written orders, he or she will have 60 days in which to present the orders. A family member or friend may bring in a copy of the orders in the student’s absence. If this deadline is not met, the student’s grades will revert to F, and he or she will not be eligible to receive a refund. In the situation in which the student has a choice, he or she must take either the grades or drop all courses for a full refund.

Withdrawal from the University - Involuntary Withdrawal

Students who are dismissed from the university for administrative or disciplinary reasons will be withdrawn from all of their classes and will receive a W for each class in which they were enrolled. Standard NKU financial policies will apply. Students should check with Student Account Services.