Section 3: Comprehensive Standards

3.4.5 The institution publishes academic policies that adhere to principles of good educational practice. These are disseminated to students, faculty, and other interested parties through publications that accurately represent the programs and services of the institution.

Judgment of Compliance:
Compliance

Narrative/Justification for Judgment of Compliance:
Christopher Newport University is in compliance with this comprehensive standard. The University Handbook states in Section XVII:A. 2. a. University Governance that the instructional faculty shall have the reasonable opportunity to participate in the formulation, development, review, and alteration of regulations and procedures affecting academics and the Instructional faculty of the University. These regulatory and procedural areas shall include:

  1. curriculum and transfer credit;
  2. grading system, examinations, and appeals;
  3. faculty development;
  4. standards for retention, promotion, tenure, and recognition of merit;
  5. faculty personnel matters such as fringe benefits, outside employment, leaves of absence, and other working conditions;
  6. long and short range institutional academic and fiscal planning.

The handbook further states that regarding all matters within its jurisdiction, the instructional faculty makes the results of its deliberations known in the form of written recommendations to the Provost. The instructional faculty may delegate certain of its responsibilities to other bodies in a fashion approved by the President. These bodies include the graduate faculty, the Faculty Senate, and certain committees of the University.

Academic Affairs Standing Committees of the University and their roles are identified in Section XVII: C.2 and include:

  1. Undergraduate Curriculum Committee: recommends changes in the undergraduate curriculum, recommends priorities for the development of the undergraduate curriculum, and makes recommendations concerning the adoption and termination of undergraduate degree programs;
  2. Undergraduate Degrees Committee: reports to the Instructional faculty which students have completed the requirements for earned degrees and recommends their names for certification by the Instructional faculty, reviews student's petitions concerning undergraduate degree requirements, and makes recommendations concerning undergraduate degree requirements;
  3. Undergraduate Academic Status Committee: recommends to the Faculty Senate standards for undergraduate student retention, dismissal, placement on probation, reinstatement, and other matters relating to undergraduate academic performance, considers all appeals, pertaining to the academic status of undergraduate students, and considers requests of undergraduate students who wish to carry overload courses;
  4. Undergraduate Admissions Committee: recommends standards for undergraduate admissions and reviews appeals to denial of undergraduate admission;
  5. Honors Council: administers the classes and scholarships of the Honors Program, recommends changes to the Honors Program, coordinates programming for Quest Housing, and assists students campus-wide in preparing and applying for external scholarship opportunities;
  6. Undergraduate and Graduate Research Council: promotes independent and faculty mentored undergraduate and graduate research and scholarship throughout the University, and organizes and promotes conferences and/or colloquia featuring undergraduate and graduate research and scholarship;
  7. Academic Technology Advisory Committee: responsible for reviewing and recommending academic policies regarding technology usage and support, monitors and reviews implementation of academic technology policies, initiatives, and support, and serves as a liaison between faculty, Information Technology Services, and students.

Appointed committees related to academic affairs are described in Section XVII.C :

  1. Faculty Council on Liberal Learning and Academic Life: reviews proposals for the Liberal Learning Core, assesses the Liberal Learning Core, develops the Liberal learning Signature, implements the Liberal Learning Core, and makes recommendations concerning courses to be integrated into the Liberal Learning core;
  2. Library Advisory Committee: advises the University Librarian on the library budget allotted for academic departments' use, provides a liaison between the Library and the faculty and the student body, and is kept informed by the University Librarian on matters of equipment, facilities, collection, services, and library policies affecting academic programs;
  3. Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects: reviews and approves research activities which involve human subjects and safeguards the rights and welfare of subjects at risk in activities supported under grants and contracts;
  4. University Assessment and Evaluation Committee: monitors the overall operation of the assessment and evaluation program of the University and makes recommendations concerning changes in the assessment and evaluation program of the University;
  5. International Studies Advisory Committee: advises and assists the Provost in strengthening, extending, and developing international programs at the University, monitors the conduct of existing international activities, reviews proposals for new international activities of the University and develops such proposals itself, and establishes subcommittees to address specific international activities such as study abroad and faculty exchange;
  6. Undergraduate Academic Program Review Committee: recommends criteria to be used in the program review process, conducts a continuing study and systematic review of all program offerings of the University, and makes recommendations to the Provost on program continuation/discontinuation, program related resource allocation, and curricular modification;
  7. Prestigious Scholarships Committee: selects and mentors students to compete for prestigious scholarships and fellowships and makes recommendations to the Provost concerning scholarships and fellowships.

Section XVII: A.5.d. describes the Graduate Programs Council and the following graduate committees, the responsibilities of which parallel those of the undergraduate committees: Graduate Admissions, Assistantships, and Degrees Committee, Graduate Assessment and Program Review Committee, Graduate Faculty Credentials Committee, Graduate Curriculum and Planning Committee, and the Graduate Programs Governance and Administration Committee.

Section XVII: C.5 describes a single Administrative Committee, the Budget Advisory Committee, which consists of the President, Provost, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dean of the School of Business, Chief of Staff, Executive Vice President, Director of Planning and Budget, and five members of the instructional faculty appointed by the President. One member of the instructional faculty is appointed to chair the committee. The committee advises the President on matters pertaining to the operating budget of the University.

Academic policies and procedures are listed in the university catalogs, available in print and on the University website. Academic Policies and Procedures listed in the Undergraduate Catalog include:

1. Academic continuance at the University
          a. definition of academic progress
          b. definition of academic performance
2. Full-time and Part-time Status
3. Permission to Take Underload
4. Overload Schedule
5. Classification of Degree-seeking Full- and Part-time Students
6. Academic Warning
7. Academic Probation
8. Academic Suspension
9. Academic Dismissal

General Academic Policies include:

  1. Immunization Requirement for New Students
  2. Registration
  3. Schedule Adjustment (Add/Drop)
  4. Withdrawal from a Course
  5. Medical/Administrative Withdrawal
  6. Auditing a Course
  7. Independent Study Procedures
  8. Class Attendance
  9. Final Examinations
  10. Absence from Final Examinations
  11. Grade Point Average
  12. Grading System
  13. Incomplete Grade
  14. Grades for Repeated Courses
  15. Senior Pass/Fail Option
  16. Final Grade Reports
  17. Dean's Academic Honor List
  18. Permission to Take Courses Elsewhere
  19. Challenging a Course
  20. Academic Forgiveness
  21. Declaration of Major
  22. Double Major
  23. Declaration of Minor
  24. Second Bachelor's Degree
  25. Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses
  26. Commencement Exercises
  27. Graduate with Honors

The Undergraduate Catalog also lists General Requirements for Graduation, prints the Honor System, states the General Education Vision and Goals, lists Student Academic Responsibilities, and details the Degree Requirements.

The following Academic Policies appear in the Graduate Catalog:

1. Immunization Requirement
2. Registration
          a. Schedule Adjustment (Add/Drop)
          b. Withdrawal from a Course
          c. Medical/Administrative Withdrawal
          d. Withdrawal from the University
          e. Auditing a Course
          f. Independent Study
          g. Class Attendance
          h. Final Examinations
          i. Absence from Examinations
3. Academic Standards
          a. Course Numbering
          b. Grade Point Average
          c. Grading System
          d. Incomplete Grade
          e. Grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
          f. Grades for Repeated Courses
          g. Grade Reports
          h. Permission to Take Classes Elsewhere
          i. Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses
          j. Graduate Students Taking Undergraduate Courses
4. Academic Performance Policies
          a. Minimum Standards for Academic Continuance
          b. Academic Probation
          c. Academic Suspension
          d. Academic Dismissal
          e. Appeal Process for Suspension or Dismissal
          f. Academic Reinstatement Policy
5. Degree Requirements
          a. Credits
          b. Transfer of Credit
          c. Transfer Credit Earned While a Degree-seeking Student
          d. Time Limit
          e. Plan of Study
          f. Full-time Status
          g. Candidacy for the Master's Degree
          h. Comprehensive Examination
          i. Thesis
          j. Intent to Graduate Form
          k. Commencement Exercises
6. Graduation Requirements

In addition to the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs, policies pertaining to grade appeals and violations of the University Honor System are included in the University Handbook and the Student Handbook and on the website.

As the clearinghouse for news and information, the Office of University Relations works with faculty, staff, alumni and students to share “the CNU story” with local, regional and national audiences. Clients who want to produce a non-athletic publication that exceeds 100 copies for an external audience must present the material for review by University Relations. Each publication follows a similar series of steps from conception to completion, as outlined in the Project Request Policy. The only variable is the level of authorization needed for the project before it goes to press or is distributed. Every project requires the signature of the client, Director of University Relations and the Vice President for Advancement. Major publications also receive the review and signature of the President.

Support Documentation:
Undergraduate Catalog 06-07
Graduate Catalog 06-07
University Handbook 06-07,Section XVII
University Handbook 06-07, Section XVII C.2
University Handbook 06-07, Section XVII C
University Handbook 06-07, Section XVII A.5.d.
University Handbook 06-07, Section XVII C.5
Student Handbook 05-06
Project Request Policy

Additional Live Web Resources:
None