Student Responsibilities /Appeals

Academic Probation and Dismissal

To remain at the University, students must demonstrate progress in learning. A student who falls below the following minimum grade point average is placed on probation:

Registration and Progression

In order to register for Sophomore II level nursing courses at Lewis University, pre-licensure nursing students, including transfer students, must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above. Students who earn a grade of “D” or “W” in any required nursing course at any level must repeat that course prior to moving to another level of nursing coursework. Students who earn a grade of “F” in any required nursing course at any level will be dismissed from the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Students who earn two “D” grades or receive two “W” grades in required nursing courses (two “D” or “W” grades in one course, or one “D” or “W” grade in each of two courses) will be dismissed from the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Students must receive a grade of “C” in required science courses to progress to the next semester in the program. Sciences must be taken at Lewis once a student is accepted into the nursing major.Students who receive only one failing grade in a science (C-, D, F, or W) will be allowed to repeat that course once. Science theory and science labs are counted as separate classes. Upon a second failed science, or if the student fails or withdraws from both theory and lab during the semester, the student will be notified that he/she has been academically dismissed from the nursing major. A student may repeat a required general education support course in which he/she earns a “C-”, “D”, “F”, or “W” only once and if the student does not earn a minimum of a “C” on the second attempt he/she will be academically dismissed from the nursing major. Dismissal from the College of Nursing and Health Professions does not necessarily result in dismissal from the University.

Probation

Students who fail to maintain the required GPA are placed on academic probation, which is noted on the permanent academic record. Students on academic probation are not allowed to take more than 12 to 14 credit hours. They are also mandated to take Academic Study Skills (READ 15300), a three hour course that emphasizes the development of better learning through improved study skills. SPCE students who are on academic probation are not allowed to take more than six credit hours and/or one class at a time. The Academic Advisor will develop an academic improvement plan that will be discussed with the student.

Academic probation is a period of one regular semester (fall, spring, and/or summer terms) during which a student must satisfactorily complete all courses registered for and raise his or her GPA to the required minimum, as a condition for remaining in the University. An Incomplete (I) grade is evidence of failure to meet the conditions of probation. Due to the timing of the five- and eight-week accelerated sessions, academic probation may be addressed at times other than January, May, and August.

Academic probation may bring with it restrictions on a student’s participation in campus activities, as indicated in the Student Handbook .

Dismissal

Students who do not achieve the required grade point average during their semester of academic probation are subject to dismissal from the University. The professional staff in the Academic Services department will review the academic standing of each student subject to dismissal and will send written notification of academic dismissal.

Policy and Procedure for Appealing Academic Dismissal from the University

1. If a student wishes to appeal a decision to dismiss, a written letter of appeal must be sent to the Dismissal and Appeals Committee by the dismissed student according to the instructions outlined in the letter of dismissal. Written appeals must include specific reasons and details justifying re-admission consideration. Appeals will be accepted only if they are in writing.
2. The Dismissal and Appeals Committee, which includes faculty representatives from each of the Colleges/School and professional staff from the Academic Services department and SPCE advising staff, will review the material and render a recommendation to the Provost.
3. The Provost will review the material and recommendation, render a final decision and communicate the decision to the student in writing via certified mail.

Re-Admission After Academic Dismissal

Students dismissed from the University for academic reasons may apply for re-admission in one of the following ways. More specific information is available through the Director of Academic Support Services.

1. An academically dismissed student may apply for re-admission if he or she has been absent from Lewis University for two semesters (which may include one summer); has completed the equivalent of two semesters of full-time academic work at another college or university (with a minimum of 12 credit hours each term); and has earned a grade point average of at least 2.00 each semester. The Dismissal and Appeals Committee will review the courses taken and determine whether a student has demonstrated the ability to do satisfactory work if readmitted to Lewis. If a student is allowed to return to the University, the student’s GPA will not be altered, and coursework transferred into the university will have no effect on the Lewis GPA. In addition, the student must meet with professional staff in the Academic Services department or SPCE advising staff to develop an Academic Recovery Plan.
2. An academically dismissed student who does not attend any school for three calendar years may then apply through the Admission Office. Re-application must also be made through the Academic Skills Coordinator. If allowed to return to the University, a student may request the Forgiveness Policy. The Forgiveness Policy allows students academically dismissed who have been absent from Lewis for three calendar years and have not attended any other college or university during that time to apply for re-admission. Such students are re-admitted, and all previous grades of “D” or “F,” the courses in which they were earned, and the credit earned in “D” courses, will not be used in determining progress toward graduation. (Nursing students adhere to the CONHP readmission policy.)

Disciplinary Dismissal

Participation in the academic setting requires students to be responsible community members. Students must conduct themselves in accordance with the standards of personal behavior which are defined in the Student Handbook as a necessary condition for continuing at Lewis University. Violations of those standards of conduct may result in a restriction or loss of the academic benefits of the University according to the severity of the misconduct.

Students dismissed from the University for misconduct lose all fees and payments, as well as the right to attend classes or make use of University facilities. Such students are re-admitted to the University only upon approval of the Office of Student Services. Students dismissed from the University prior to the end of a semester receive no academic credit for that semester.

Grade Appeal Process

1. If a student wishes to appeal a final grade for a course, the student must, prior to the third week of the subsequent fall or spring semester, contact the instructor of the course to express concern.* The instructor of the course will review with the student how the grade was determined.
2. If the student is not satisfied with the explanation, he or she may submit a letter of appeal with a rationale for a change of grade to the program director/department chair of the program where the course is offered or to the dean’s office if the instructor is the department chair. The program director/department chair or dean’s designee will communicate with the instructor to review the student’s letter of appeal and to ascertain how the grade was determined.

   The program director/department chair or dean’s designee will then meet with the student to inform the student of the program director/department chair or dean’s designee’s determination on the appeal.

3. If the student is still not satisfied with the result of the grade appeal and wants to appeal to the dean, the student must submit a letter of appeal to the dean of the college. The letter of appeal must contain a summary of the meetings with the instructor, the program director/department chair or dean’s designee, and it must include any evidence supporting the claim for a grade change.
4. The dean will review the material and render the final decision. The dean will communicate the decision in writing to the student and to the instructor of the course. The dean’s determination is final.
5. Appeals must move with reasonable speed through the review process. The full process from when the student first contacts the instructor should take no longer than four weeks. Anecdotal notes will be made and signed by all participants in all phases of review of the grade.

*Students in programs with a lockstep sequence and/or who must maintain a specified GPA may need to accelerate the grade appeal process. Please consult your college guidelines for specifics.

University Policies and Procedures for Appealing Other Academic Matters

All appeals regarding academic matters other than grade appeal and academic dismissal are handled according to the following guidelines:

1. If a student wishes to appeal an academic decision, a written letter of appeal must be sent to the appropriate academic dean.
2. The dean will review the situation and render a decision. The dean will communicate the decision in writing to the student.
3. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the academic dean, the student may petition the Provost. Documentation submitted with the written petition must include the original letter of appeal and the decision of the academic dean.
4. The Provost will establish an ad hoc committee composed of:
   • one faculty member appointed by the appropriate academic dean;
   • one representative from the Office of Student Services;
   • one faculty member chosen by the student.
5. The ad hoc committee will hear the appeal and make a recommendation to the Provost, who makes the final decision. The Provost will communicate the decision in writing to the student.

Academic Honesty

Scholastic integrity lies at the heart of Lewis University. Plagiarism, collusion, and other forms of cheating or scholastic dishonesty are incompatible with the principles of the University. Students engaging in such activities are subject to loss of credit and expulsion from the University. Cases involving academic dishonesty are initially considered and determined at the instructor level. If the student is not satisfied with the instructor's explanation, the student may appeal at the department/program level. Appeal of the department/program decision must be made to the Dean of the college/school. The Dean reviews the appeal and makes the final decision in all cases except those in which suspension or expulsion is recommended, and in these cases the Provost makes the final decision.