Requirements & Policies
General
Semester Credit Hours
One credit hour is counted for each clock hour of class or lecture time – or each two or three clock hours of laboratory work – per week during the semester. A three credit hour lecture course, for example, meets three hours per week. This format does not apply to adult format courses. The academic year is divided into two semesters from August through December and January through May.
Course Delivery
In addition to the traditional semester format, Springfield College in Illinois delivers course content in other time-frames.
Summer Session: There are three or more sessions scheduled for summer.
Accelerated Adult Associate Program: Class meets one night a week for an eight-week session; six sessions throughout the year.
Course Loads
A student must maintain enrollment in a minimum of twelve semester hours to be considered a full-time student. Fifteen semester hours is considered an average load for a student. A student will not be permitted to enroll in more than eighteen (18) hours in the fall and spring semester and no more than twelve (12) hours in the summer semester without the written permission of the Dean of Academic Affairs. Students carrying fewer than twelve semester hours are considered part-time students.
Class Attendance
Attendance at all classes and laboratory sessions is required. However, each instructor may establish specific attendance policies which are normally stated in the course syllabi. The student is responsible for knowing the attendance policy for each course taken.
In the event of absence due to personal illness or emergency, students are advised to promptly inform their instructors and the Dean of Student Affairs. The Dean of Student Affairs will provide faculty with a list of students absent from classes when they represent the College at official functions. In all instances of class absence, students have the responsibility for timely completion of all course requirements.
Class Registration and Withdrawal
The College only gives credit for those courses in which a student is properly registered. Students are responsible for their own academic programs and for meeting the requirements of their areas of concentration. The College recommends that each student meet with his/her faculty advisor for counseling at least once each semester.
Once registered, students must not change their schedules, withdraw from courses or withdraw from the College without official written notification (Change of Study form). Students must meet with their advisor or the Associate Director of Advising to make these changes; no changes can be made by phone. Adult students must meet with the Director of Student Services, Graduate & Professional Studies office. Not attending class does not constitute a legitimate withdrawal.
Course changes must be submitted to the Advising Office or the Graduate & Professional Studies Program Office. Complete withdrawals must be finalized through the Financial Aid Office. Failure to do this will result in students receiving a failing grade in the course(s). Authorized withdrawals are permitted through Friday of the 10th week of the semester.
Students Called to Active Military Duty. The College will individually work with any enrolled student who is called to active military duty to address the academic and financial implications of withdrawal.
Repetition of Courses
With the specific prior approval of the advisor, a student may normally repeat a Benedictine University at Springfield course in which he or she previously enrolled. Repetition and attainment of a grade of “C” or better shall be required if the student received a grade of “D” or “F” and wishes to apply the course credits to his degree program; or the student may desire to repeat the course for a higher grade.
In an authorized repetition of a course, the student will not receive any additional credit hours if he or she already earned credit hours in the course. Preceding a grade, “R” indicates that the course has been repeated. The original grade earned remains on the record, but is not included in the cumulative grade point average.
