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Lower-Level Courses-100’s
These are courses with no prerequisites which are generally taken during the freshman year. These courses introduce students to the field at large, including common terms and specialized languages in the field, central strategies and methods of investigation in the field, and/or basic facts and concepts within the field.
Lower-Level Courses-200’s
These courses are generally taken during the freshman or sophomore years and have no prerequisites, but expect that the student has some college experience. These courses introduce students to content within the field or sub-fields, including post-introductory-level language, methods, and concepts (building on 100-level); the application of concepts and methods within a major area of the field (surveys); beginning research skills; and/or critical thinking about the field and how it works.
Intermediate-Level Courses-300’s
These courses are generally taken during the sophomore or junior years and are usually the first within a professional/pre-professional sequence. These courses explore particular problems, topics, or techniques within the field and emphasize the application of basic skills to explore these topics and problems. “Student-as-Practitioner” strategies are used within the classroom, including research and the exploration of research methods. Also included are the following: an examination of problems and debates within the professional field; engagement in those debates and in that study; initial participation within the field of scholars/professionals; and/or instruction based on modeling, case studies, and mentoring.
Upper-Level Courses-400’s
These courses are normally expected to be taken during the junior and senior years, providing the undergraduate “capstone” experience within the major. These courses intensely explore specialized content (e.g., reading-intensive courses) and require students to create or synthesize knowledge using previously learned skills. These courses also provide authentic “Student-as-Practitioner” experiences; specialized, independent thinking within the field; vocational training (internships); and/or independent research.
Academic Advising
The core of academic life at Lakeland is the relationship between its faculty and its students. While rules and policies are necessary, they are never an effective substitute for the personal interaction between an inquisitive learner and a willing teacher. Lakeland University strongly encourages positive and productive relationships between students and faculty, both in and out of the classroom.
For their first year at Lakeland, freshmen are advised by their Core I instructors. These faculty members help first-year students adjust to college life and master basic rules and procedures. As students gain confidence and a sense of direction, they will be advised by a faculty advisor who teaches courses in their academic major. Such matching makes it easier for students to get to know their classroom instructors and encourages an educational relationship that continues beyond the walls of the classroom.
While students are expected to be responsible for their own academic decisions and curricular requirements, they will find that the one sure source throughout their Lakeland academic careers of friendly concern, supportive encouragement, and accurate academic advice is their faculty advisor.
The college experience presents many opportunities for personal and academic growth. While students’ academic advisors help with their academic paths, students will also have a team dedicated to helping them to navigate the overall college experience. This team will help students with the multiple issues they face as they transition to Lakeland University, as they develop their collegiate path and focus, and as they transition out of college to start a career or to obtain further education.
To keep students on track to graduation and to assist students to lead a life of personal, professional success and fulfillment, Lakeland University has developed the Student Success and Engagement Team. Every student studying in Lakeland’s traditional undergraduate program is assigned a Success and Engagement Coach. Success Coaches help students connect to existing university resources (academic, health, financial aid, student organizations, etc.), reinforce habits and aptitudes that lead to successful collegiate level academic performance, identify internships and other appropriate pre-professional experiences, and encourage students to become actively engaged in all facets of the college experience.
Students are encouraged to contact their Success and Engagement Coach when they are seeking advice, assistance, or have any issue of concern.
Class Attendance
Students are expected to be present and punctual in their attendance at all class sessions. Individual course instructors are responsible for clearly notifying students of their unique and specific class attendance policies.
Final Exam Policy
All courses must meet during final exam week at their scheduled periods. Instructors may use the final exam period for giving final exams, to discuss final papers, or conduct other instructional activities. Students are required to attend during final exam week and participate in their instructors’ scheduled activities.
Adding or Dropping Courses
Students may drop and add courses through the end of the first week of classes in the summer, fall, and spring terms or until classes begin on the second day of May Term. Adding and/or dropping classes may either be done online through my.lakeland.edu or in person in the Office of the Registrar. All adds and drops require the approval of the student’s faculty advisor. Such approval occurs through online authorization or with the signature of the advisor on an Add/Drop Form.
Students assume all responsibility for adding and/or dropping courses, including the accurate completion of online registration or the submission of an add/drop form to the Office of the Registrar prior to stated deadlines.
Withdrawing from a Course
A student who wishes to withdraw from any course may do so until the end of the published withdrawal dates. Official withdrawal from a course requires that the student secure approval from both the course instructor and the academic advisor. Course withdrawal forms, for the purpose of recording that approval, may be obtained in the Office of the Registrar. Students assume all responsibility for withdrawal from courses including the full completion and submission of course withdrawal forms. Class absence without official withdrawal will result in a failing grade in the course.
Administrative Drops for Non-Attendance
1. Lakeland College reserves the right to administratively withdraw a student from class(es) for failure to attend classes or commence enrollment* during the first part of the term without an approved excuse. Excused absences may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.
2. Withdrawals from full-term courses (Fall / Spring) :
- If a student fails to initiate the drop/withdrawal process and has never attended the class or commenced enrollment* by the 10th day of term for full length semesters or terms, the University will initiate an administrative withdrawal for non-attendance.
- Tuition and financial aid refund calculations will be based on the day prior to the start of the term/semester.
3. Withdrawals from short-term courses (7, 10, or 12-week courses):
- If a student fails to initiate the drop/withdrawal process and has never attended the class or commenced enrollment* during the first five days of a 7-, 10-, or 12-week course, the University will initiate an administrative withdrawal for non-attendance.
- Tuition and financial aid refund calculations will be based on the day prior to the start of the term/semester.
4. Withdrawals from 3-week May Term courses:
- If a student fails to initiate the drop/withdrawal process and has never attended the class or commenced enrollment* during the first two days of a 3-week course, the University will initiate an administrative withdrawal for non-attendance.
- Tuition and financial aid refund calculations will be based on the day prior to the start of the term/semester.
*Commencing enrollment = participation in the class in person or via Lakeland’s courseware system, Blackboard. Simply logging into a class via Blackboard does not qualify as commencing enrollment. An assignment must be submitted or the student must participate in a discussion board activity in order to “commence enrollment.”
Medical Withdrawal
Please refer to the section on Medical Withdrawal and Family Leave for details.
Repeating a Course
Students may repeat a course up to two times, but will receive credit for the course only once. The highest grade received will be computed into the cumulative grade-point-average (GPA). All attempts of repeated courses, including the grades received, will remain on the transcript even though only the highest grade is included in the cumulative GPA.
A student who fails a Core II course or a Core III course may take a different Core II course or Core III course to fulfill his/her graduation requirements. A passing grade in the subsequent course will replace the failing grade of the previous Core II or Core III attempt.
Independent Study Courses
Approval for courses taught on an independent study basis is contingent upon the consent of an appropriate, sponsoring instructor; the dean related to the subject area of the course; and the Provost. Instructors are not obligated to sponsor independent studies. Regularly scheduled courses will be approved as independent studies only when they have been unavailable to students due to scheduling conflicts. Students in the Honors Program will be approved for independent studies in HON 400 - Directed Reading (1 semester hour) and the HON 480 - Senior Honors Project (WI) , per program requirements. To register for HON 400 and HON 480 , students should obtain the signature of a supervising instructor, the Honors Program Coordinator, and the Provost. Outside of these exceptions, students may take up to two courses on an independent study basis in any one subject area.
If a supervising faculty member believes a student would benefit from an independent study, the faculty member will work with the Registrar’s Office and the dean of the appropriate school to determine whether the student is eligible for the independent study, whether the student needs the independent study to complete program requirements, and whether the student must complete the independent study in the proposed term. When the proposal is for the independent completion of a regularly scheduled course, the student must provide a rationale for why he or she was unable to complete the course during the regularly scheduled time. Failure to achieve a satisfactory course grade during a previous attempt may not be considered a valid reason for requesting an independent study.
If the Dean affirms the appropriateness of the independent study, he/she will request approval from the Provost and, if granted, the student must submit a written course proposal to the course instructor that outlines the planned focus of the independent study. After the proposal is approved, the student who wishes to obtain course credit for an independent study must submit a completed independent study form to the Office of the Registrar when registering for the course. Signatures of the supervising instructor, the dean related to the subject area of the course, and the Provost (in that order) are required on the form.
Independent study forms are available in the Office of the Registrar. The independent study form must be turned in to the Office of the Registrar no later than the last day to add/drop a course each term.
Auditing a Course
A student may audit any Lakeland course. Requirements for auditing a course are determined by the instructor. The minimum requirement for an audit is regular class attendance. Upon completion of the work assigned by the instructor, an audit student will receive a letter grade of “AU” on his or her permanent academic record. No credit is earned for an audited course. Failure to meet the instructor’s conditions will be recorded as UAU; withdrawal from the course as WAU. Course enrollment may be converted to audit status at any time on or before the date announced as the last day to withdraw as indicated on the academic calendar for the relevant term.
Additional tuition will be charged if the audited course is taken on a part-time basis (part of a course load of fewer than 12 semester hours) or as an overload (part of a course load of more than 18 semester hours). Audit tuition is approximately 2/3 of the regular per-course tuition charge. There is no audit tuition reduction for a student who has enrolled under the PACE tuition plan, in a graduate program course, or under other special tuition rates. Internships, independent study, aviation, applied music, CPA/CMA coursesare ineligible for an audit tuition reduction.
Course Tutoring—Hayssen Academic Resource Center
Lakeland University provides a comprehensive academic resource center for students, faculty, and staff. Among the services provided by the Hayssen Academic Resource Center (HARC) are individual and group tutoring, supplemental instruction, and skill-building workshops on a variety of topics including time management, study skills, note taking, research techniques, and learning styles.
Students experiencing academic difficulty or having concerns about their ability to succeed in a particular course are encouraged to contact the Director of the Hayssen Academic Resource Center as soon as possible.
The Hayssen Academic Resource Center is located on the third floor of Old Main Hall. A schedule of tutoring services is developed each term, and tutors may be available in the HARC, in the Esch Library, in the Chase Science Center, or in other posted locations around campus.
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