Policies

Academics: Policies & Information

The academic policies and information in this section of the College Catalog are of general interest to new students. Additional policies and information are stated in the Simpson College Student Handbook. All students are responsible for the material contained in both the Catalog and the Handbook.

Academic Advising
Academic advising at Simpson is integral to the total academic program. Each new student is assigned to a member of the faculty who acts as the academic advisor. For the purpose of proper guidance, this relationship typically exists until the student selects a major field of concentration. At that time the student chooses or is assigned to an advisor in that field.

The Academic Plan
In consultation with an academic advisor, students project an academic plan that reflects their personal and academic goals. Depending on how clearly objectives are defined at the time students enter the College, the academic plan is projected for as little as one or for as much as four years. To assure both breadth and depth in the academic plan, a student in the Bachelor of Arts program is required to limit enrollment to 42 semester hours in the major department and to 84 semester hours in the division of the major. The remaining courses are to be completed in other divisions of the College.

The academic plan requires the approval of the faculty advisor and is subject to review by the Dean for Academic Affairs.

Registration
The process of registration begins with a conference between the student and the academic advisor. The act of registration is complete when the student makes proper financial arrangements with the Business Office.

Advanced Placement Opportunities
Students at Simpson are encouraged to progress in the curriculum as rapidly as proficiency permits. In general, there are three ways to secure advanced placement:

A student who achieves a score of three (corresponding to a C) or better on any College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement Test (subject matter) is given advanced placement with credit for the course in which the test was taken.
A student may earn up to 24 semester hours of credit by examination in those courses or subject areas available through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).
Students may also request permission from the appropriate department chairperson to test out of those courses for which there is no CLEP test.
For any additional fees for exams, see Tuition and Charges.

Grading Procedures
At the end of each semester, grades are recorded in the Registrar's Office in accordance with the following definitions: A, outstanding; B, very good; C, adequate; D, poor; F, failure. Letter symbols used for other purposes on grade reports and the academic transcript are: I, incomplete (a temporary designation indicating the student was unable to complete the work for reasons beyond his/her control); W, withdrawn; H, honors; P, passing; NP, not passing; CR, credit, RG registered (a temporary designation when for some reason grades are not available when processed).

In computing the cumulative grade point average, grades are assigned the following quality points: A,4.0; A-,3.7; B+,3.3; B,3.0; B-2.7; C+,2.3; C,2.0; C-,1.7; D+,1.3; D,1.0; D-,.7; F,0. Course work in which an incomplete is received must be made up within 30 days following the close of the semester; otherwise zero (0) quality points are assigned. The cumulative grade point average is determined by dividing total graded semester hours attempted into total quality points earned. A grade of P is equivalent to a C- or better.

Grades of H and P are assigned credit but are not used in determining the cumulative average. The grade of NP receives no credit. The grade of CR receives credit but no quality points. A sophomore, junior, or senior may take one course H/P/NP each class year providing that course is neither a Cornerstone nor a major requirement. A grade of RG means that the student is registered in the course but no grade has been given.

If a student repeats a course, the last grade received is the grade earned. All courses and grades will be recorded; however, only the last grade will be used to determine the student's grade point average. Repeat courses must be taken at Simpson College.

Honors at Graduation
The distinction Summa Cum Laude is given to those students who earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 or better, Magna Cum Laude to those who earn an average of 3.75 through 3.89, and Cum Laude to those whose average is 3.6 through 3.74.

Transfer students: To be eligible for Epsilon Sigma, the Trustees Academic Award, or honors at graduation, a student must have attended Simpson for at least four semesters and have earned 64 semester hours of credit at the College excluding Honors/Pass/Non-Pass courses. The cumulative grade point average is computed only on the total hours earned in residence.

Distribution of Grade Reports
Grade reports are mailed to your home address unless you request that they be sent to a preferred address. Grades are available via Storm Front as soon as entered by the instructor or the Registrar’s office.

The Dean's List
The Dean's List for part-time students is announced each January. The Dean's List includes the names of all part-time students who, regularly enrolled in the College, complete at least 9 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.70 or better in one calendar year. In the event one of the courses is taken on the Honors/Pass/Non-Pass basis, an Honors grade must be achieved.

Academic Good Standing and Normal Progress

Academic Standing
Cumulative college, major, and minor G.P.A. minimums of 2.00 are required for graduation. No grade below C- will count towards fulfilling the requirements for the major or minor. No more than 12 semester hours of D+ or below may count towards graduation at Simpson College. To remain in good academic standing, a student must achieve the following cumulative grade point average at the end of the respective year:

Freshman (1-29 semester hours) 1.80
Sophomore (29.01-61.00) 1.90
Junior (61.01-95.00) 2.00
Senior (95.01-graduation) 2.00

Normal Progress
All degree seeking students are to declare a major on a Declaration of Major form submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the time he/she has completed 40 semester hours.

Although there are no semester hour guidelines for normal progress of the part time student, he/she is requested to apply to become a degree- seeking student and to declare a major by or before the time 40 semester hours are completed. The 40 semester hours include transfer credit. Transfer credit will be added to the student's Simpson transcript at the time he/she becomes degree-seeking.

Class Attendance
Students are expected to be present at regularly scheduled meetings of classes and laboratories. The privilege of being excused from class or making up work missed because of absence from the class is granted wholly at the discretion of the instructor.

A student who does not meet the expectations of the course (attendance, active participation, etc.) during the first six weeks of the course may be withdrawn by the teacher by mid-semester. See "Withdrawal" below.

Probation, Suspension, Dismissal
If a student's cumulative grade point average falls below the minimum expectations for good academic standing, that student will be placed on academic probation by the Dean of Academic Affairs. Normally, the student will be expected to re-attain good academic standing at the end of one semester, but in cases where definite progress is being made toward that goal, probationary status may be extended.

The College may suspend, at any time, a student whose academic standing is not satisfactory. Usually, such suspension follows a probationary period if it appears possible that probation can help the student achieve good academic standing. Academic suspension lasts at least one regular semester and the student must formally apply to the Office of the Registrar for readmission to the College.

The College may academically dismiss a student previously suspended and readmitted whose work again falls below the minimum expectations for good academic standing. A student who is dismissed may not apply for readmission.

Withdrawal
Withdrawal from a course by presenting a signed "drop" slip to the Registrar's Office during the first 10 days of any semester results in no indication on the student's transcript that the class was even started. After 10 days a "W" symbol for withdrawal is shown on the transcript for all withdrawals. The last day to withdraw from a class is the 14th day after the mid-term point in the semester. The exact date is indicated in each semester's course schedule book. Failure to withdraw in a timely manner results in an "F" showing on the transcript if the student does not fulfill the course requirements in a satisfactory manner.

Students who wish to withdraw entirely from the College before completion of a semester should file a withdrawal form in the Office of the Dean of Students. Withdrawal forms are available at the Office of the Dean of Students. Withdrawal protects the academic record in that the designation of "W" is recorded for any course in progress at the time of a student's departure from the College. Students who leave the College without completing the withdrawal record risk receiving "F's" for courses in progress and jeopardize receiving partial refunds of tuition and board costs.

In addition to student-initiated withdrawals, an instructor may withdraw a student from a course if the student has not attended regularly nor participated in class activities by the end of the first six weeks of the course ( or first week of May Term). The course syllabus must contain the instructor's expectations for the course and disclosure that the student could be contacted via certified mail about an impending instructor-initiated withdrawal. The certified letter will be sent to the student's permanent address with a copy sent to the campus address. Should the student wish to continue to be enrolled in the course when the instructor has taken this action, the student must request in writing to the instructor to be allowed to continue enrollment in the class. If the student does not respond to the certified letter within 10 days (7 days for May Term) of its postmark, the student may be withdrawn by the instructor. The date of withdrawal will be the 10th day (7th for May Term) from the date the certified letter was mailed. A "W" will show on the student's transcript.

Readmission
Students who withdraw from the College or who are suspended may apply for readmission to the College through the Office of the Registrar. Students who have been suspended must wait one full semester, excluding summer, before applying for readmission (see sections regarding Continuous Attendance and Requirements for Graduation and Limitation of Applicability of College Catalog).

Requests for Transcripts and Grade Reports
Copies of transcripts and grade reports will be mailed to whatever address is indicated by the person making the request. Requests must be made in writing to the Office of the Registrar and must include the signature of the person whose transcript or grade report is being requested.

Residence Requirements
A candidate for a degree is required to be in residence at Simpson College during the final 32 semester hours of the senior year. Exceptions to this rule may be made in the case of students who spend the first three years in residence, who have satisfactory academic records, and who arrange in advance with the Dean of Academic Affairs to spend the fourth year in a professional program, such as law or medicine, in an accredited institution.

Continuous Attendance and Requirements for Graduation
In the event a part-time student does not remain in continuous attendance at Simpson, the requirements for graduation at the time of initial registration shall remain in force, provided that the non-attendance period does not exceed two full calendar years. In the event that the non-attendance period exceeds this period, the student will be required to complete the catalog requirements in force at the time of readmission.

The requirements for the major are to be those in effect at the time of the declaration of the major program. The time of the declaration of the major is determined by the date of its receipt in the Office of the Registrar. The student is to declare a major on a Declaration of Major form submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the time he/she has completed 40 semester hours.

Transfer Issues
Once enrolled as a degree-seeking candidate at Simpson College, students are expected to complete all remaining required major courses at Simpson or in Simpson-sponsored programs. All students must take at least 15 credit hours of required course work (excluding internship) in the major at Simpson to obtain a degree from Simpson College. Exceptions to this rule may be made in the case of students who spend the first three years in residence, who have satisfactory academic records, and who arrange in advance with the Dean of Academic Affairs to spend the fourth year in a professional program in an accredited institution.

Academic Honesty and Dishonesty

Policy Statement
Honesty is expected of all members of the Simpson community. Honesty in all academic work is required of all students. Dishonesty in academic work robs all of us of our integrity in learning and demeans the natural talents we have for creative living.

Each faculty member is urged to take a strong and positive stand for honesty and independent work at the first meeting of each class and, as appropriate, intermittently thereafter. Further, the college policy should be stated in appropriate printed course materials and circulated to the students of each class. Emphasis should be placed upon the development of honesty and integrity at Simpson.

Dishonesty, generally identified as cheating and plagiarism, is not acceptable behavior at Simpson. This policy statement which emphasizes honesty also specifies faculty policy on academic dishonesty.

Penalties for Dishonesty
The penalty for any form of substantiated academic dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism or collaboration in the same shall be the failure of the course. (Substantiated dishonesty is that in which the instructor has firm evidence.) The student's advisor and major professors shall be advised of the academic dishonesty. If there are extenuating circumstances, the student may petition for a "W."

If a student wishes to appeal the charge of substantiated academic dishonesty, he or she shall request a hearing before an appeal committee.

The appeal committee shall consist of a chairperson appointed by the Dean, the past year's EPCC chairperson, a professor nominated by the instructor concerned, and a professor nominated by the student. The chairperson of the appeal committee shall be appointed at the beginning of each academic year and serve for all cases that are appealed during that year. The instructor shall present the case to the committee. The committee's decision shall be final.

If a student is strongly suspected of academic dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism, or collaborating in academic dishonesty, and the instructor does not have firm evidence, the instructor will give the student a warning and may set up a meeting with the department chairperson and the student to discuss the issue. The student may be required to retake the examination or paper or whatever the instrument may be for another grade. Successive instances of suspected cheating will be referred by the department chairperson to the Academic Dean's Office with appropriate recommendations for additional action.

Credit for Non-Resident Study
Approval of credit for non-resident study must be filed with the Registrar prior to undertaking such study. Applications for approval may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. These include foreign study and Washington semester programs.

Correspondence and Extension Work. No more than six hours of credit toward a Simpson degree may be taken through correspondence or in extension courses. Such courses must have the prior approval of the Dean of Academic Affairs and must be taken through institutions having accredited correspondence and extension divisions.
Pre-professional Study. In a few instances, and with special permission, students who contemplate further study in graduate or professional schools are permitted to use part or all of the first year(s) of professional study toward the satisfaction of the Simpson degree requirements. In addition, the programs of the College offer strong preparation for such professions as medicine and related fields, dentistry, law, and the ministry. Specialized counseling is made available for those intending further graduate or professional study.

Simpson maintains a formal transfer program in engineering with Washington University (St. Louis). A student who selects appropriate courses while at Simpson can transfer after three years and receive both the B.A. from Simpson and the B.S. degree from the university upon completion of two years of appropriate work in engineering. Some of the advantages are: a broader, more liberal education is achieved; a greater variety of social contact is possible because of attendance at two schools in different areas; delayed selection of engineering and/or of the specific field in engineering is possible; secondary school deficiencies (either selection of courses or low grades) can be corrected before applying to the engineering college; the broad preparation will provide a better base for coping with the changing nature of engineering demands in the world of the future.
Study at Other Institutions. Simpson has articulation agreements both with Des Moines area institutions and with certain community colleges throughout Iowa. The College also has an affiliation in medical technology with The Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines. Students may also choose another accredited school of medical technology.

The successful completion of three years at Simpson and twelve months of study at an approved school of medical technology earns students a Bachelor of Arts degree at Simpson and renders them eligible for the board of registry examination. Students in medical technology and other approved fourth-year professional programs are eligible to participate in Simpson's spring commencement, subject to the following conditions: a) completion of program prior to beginning of Simpson's summer sessions; b) data from the appropriate office of the program forwarded to Office of the Registrar at Simpson.
Career Observation, Employment Experience and Internships. Simpson's experiential learning programs integrate classroom work with learning on the job. Three different experiences (courses numbered 119, 219, and 319) are available and may be taken individually or in sequence. No more than twelve hours credit in 119, 219, and 319 combined may be counted toward graduation. Grading for 119, 219, and 319 will be P/NP/H. See department chairpersons and Director of Counseling and Career Services for further information. The Departments of Biology and Environmental Studies; Communication Studies; Management, Accounting, and Economics; Physical Education; Political Science; and Theatre Arts regularly offer the following courses:

Co-op Ed 119: Career Observation: Career observation is an opportunity for students to investigate career directions while earning three hours of credit. First, the student participates in career exploration workshops. Second, the student observes and "job shadows" in a specific workplace during the May Term. Third, the student researches both library and professional journals for information about the areas of interest and writes a paper and presents an oral report on this subject. The student must be in good academic standing and must be a freshman or sophomore.

Co-op Ed 219: Employment Experience: Employment Experience is an opportunity for students to gain an introduction to basic skills within a given occupation for a maximum of three credit hours. The student is given an opportunity to learn from a professional in a specific workplace and to build upon and expand abilities through assigned tasks. Completion of the tasks should contribute to the overall operation of the organization. The occupation and location must be ones in which the student has not previously been employed prior to enrollment. The student must be in good academic standing and have earned at least 29 hours. Students must work 40 hours for each semester hour of credit.

Co-op Ed 319: Internship: An Internship is an opportunity for a student to participate in professional training, assume initial decision making responsibilities, or engage in project based research and development with an off-campus organization in the private or public sector. To qualify as an internship the position must provide the student with professional training or managerial responsibilities appropriate to an entry level opportunity available normally only to a candidate with a college degree. The position will ordinarily require some specific academic training or skills related to a major, minor, or program at the college, and may or may not provide compensation. The internship may consist of from one to twelve credit hours. The student must be in good academic standing and be a junior or senior.
Life Experience Portfolio Assessment. The Life Experience Portfolio Assessment Program is designed for adults who have limited college education, and who seek to complete an undergraduate degree. Adults of at least 25 years of age who have at least five years of full-time work responsibility or its equivalent are eligible to apply. Candidates may receive up to 24 semester hours of credit through this program. The total number of transfer credit hours, credit hours earned at Simpson, and life experience credit is not to exceed 64 semester hours at the time the portfolio is submitted, for purposes of graduation. The candidate must be degree-seeking. The portfolio is assessed by a faculty committee which makes a recommendation of award based on the experience's being educationally pertinent to the pursuit of the student's course of study. Inquiry should be directed to either office of the Division of Adult Learning.
Senior Citizens. Senior citizens age 65 or over, contingent upon space availability, may audit up to two courses per semester tuition free (all seniors will be expected to pay activity and any special fees for the courses). Persons interested in registering for courses for credit may do so at a cost of one-half of the regular course tuition.

Credit Granting Policy for Non-Traditional Credit
The following guidelines apply to CLEP credit, military credit, vocational-technical credit, and life experience credit.

A maximum of 32 credit hours may be granted to a student in the combined areas of coursework taken through the armed services, CLEP credit, life experience credit, vocational-technical credit, and credit through non-accredited associations.
Students will be able to earn credit in the non-traditional areas only within the first 64 hours of graduation credit, which is equivalent to the first two years of work toward a degree.
Credits granted for coursework taken in and through CLEP general exams, the armed services, life experience credit, or vocational-technical coursework may not be used to fulfill required courses in the major or cornerstone studies. CLEP subject exams may apply to cornerstone or requirements subject to department approval.
The student must demonstrate that the credit applied for meets the curriculum and standards of Simpson College by supplying appropriate supporting documentation.

Sources for non-traditional credit include:

CLEP. A maximum of 24 credit hours may be earned by taking examinations. A maximum of three credit hours can be earned through CLEP tests in each of the following general subject areas: Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Science-History, for scaled scores corresponding to the "B" grade in the ACE (American Council on Education) guidelines, for CLEP general exams, credit will be given for scores at the 65th percentile or better. NOTE: A student may earn up to twelve (12) credit hours in a foreign language by taking the CLEP examination. If the student scores at least the minimum passing score of 101-102 level, six (6) hours of credit will be given to the student for Foreign Language 101-102. If the student scores at or above the minimum passing score for 201-202 level, the student will be given six (6) additional hours of credit for Foreign Language 201-202, but only after having successfully completed a course in the same language numbered higher than 202. Students who are enrolled in a Simpson College language course and who wish to take the CLEP must do so before completing the first semester of their language course.
International Baccalaureate. Simpson recognizes the IB program and grants credit on a course by course basis for examination scores of 4 or better on the Higher Level courses only. A maximum of 24 credit hours may be earned through the IB.
Armed Services Credit. A maximum of 16 credit hours may be awarded for coursework equivalent to Simpson College courses taken while in and through the armed services that meet ACE (American Council on Education) guidelines for course transfer. The Dantes tests (Military CLEP) will be accepted under the guidelines; pertaining to Simpson CLEP standards. To be eligible for credit, each course transferred must be approved by the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Vocational-Technical Credit. A maximum of 16 credit hours may be awarded for vocational-technical credit earned from an accredited community or junior college. The vocational-technical credit will be designated on the transcript as undesignated approved vocational-technical credit.
Professional Organization. A maximum of 16 credit hours may be awarded for coursework equivalent to Simpson courses taken through unaccredited organizations such as LOMA (Life Office Management Association), ABA (American Banking Association), CPCU (Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters), and Bible Schools. Each course must be approved by both the chairperson of the department in which the credit is being granted and the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Life Experience. A maximum of 24 credit hours may be awarded for life experience credit, and credits are limited to that number that would bring the student's total credits to 64 hours, for purposes of graduation. The total number of life experience credits available to a student will be determined at the date of submission of the final portfolio.

Summer Session
A variety of courses are conducted on campus and in West Des Moines throughout the summer. Courses range from two to ten weeks in duration and are offered days, evenings, and Saturdays. Students may enroll in those courses approved either by their academic advisors or by the Director, Division of Adult Learning. Through these offerings students are provided an opportunity to accelerate progress toward degree objectives, make up deficiencies, or distribute their course work over a longer period of time. Many elementary and secondary teachers take summer courses for certification purposes or to increase competence in their specialties.

The College Catalog: Limitation of Applicability
A student in continuous attendance must complete the graduation requirements listed in the Simpson College catalog which is current at the time of initial registration. If a student does not remain in continuous attendance, the graduation requirements at the time of initial registration pertain, provided that the non-attendance period does not exceed one full calendar year for full-time students or two full calendar years for part-time students. If the non-attendance period exceeds one or two full calendar years respectively, the student will be required to complete the catalog requirements in force at the time of readmission.

The requirements for the major are those in effect at the time of the declaration of the major program. The time of the declaration of the major is determined by the date of its receipt in the Office of the Registrar. The student is to declare a major on a Declaration of Major form submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the time he/she has completed 40.0 semester hours.

Dunn Library
Dunn Library, at the center of campus, offers a collection of more than 120,000 books; over 600 periodical subscriptions; and access to almost 15,000 online journals; and a variety of CDs, videos, DVDs, and other research materials. The library staff provides reference assistance and coordinates campus media services. Dunn also houses a computer lab, curriculum workroom, and the college archives. The library’s web site provides access to the online catalog, including items at the Indianola Public Library, as well as many full-text databases, e-books, and links to other resources.

Hawley Academic Resource Center
The Hawley Academic Resource Center, located on the third floor of Dunn Library, is designed to provide students with individualized help to meet the requirements for competencies and courses. The Center provides guidance at any point in the writing process (including the revising and editing of portfolios), gives assistance for any math or foreign language course, and assigns tutors for most classes. Students can learn academic strategies for test taking, note taking, reading college textbooks, and time and stress management. All tutoring services available at Hawley are free to Simpson students. In addition, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test is available upon request, and graduate school test registration and study materials are also available.


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Policies Academics: Policies & Information The academic policies and information in this section of the College Catalog are of general interest to new students. Additional policies and information are stated in the Simpson College Student Handbook. All students are responsible for the material contained in both the Catalog and the Handbook. Academic Advising Academic advising at Simpson is integral to the total academic program. Each new student is assigned to a member of the faculty who acts as the academic advisor. For the purpose of proper guidance, this relationship typically exists until the student selects a major field of concentration. At that time the student chooses or is assigned to an advisor in that field. The Academic Plan In consultation with an academic advisor, students project an academic plan that reflects their personal and academic goals. Depending on how clearly objectives are defined at the time students enter the College, the academic plan is projected for as little as one or for as much as four years. To assure both breadth and depth in the academic plan, a student in the Bachelor of Arts program is required to limit enrollment to 42 semester hours in the major department and to 84 semester hours in the division of the major. The remaining courses are to be completed in other divisions of the College. The academic plan requires the approval of the faculty advisor and is subject to review by the Dean for Academic Affairs. Registration The process of registration begins with a conference between the student and the academic advisor. The act of registration is complete when the student makes proper financial arrangements with the Business Office. Advanced Placement Opportunities Students at Simpson are encouraged to progress in the curriculum as rapidly as proficiency permits. In general, there are three ways to secure advanced placement: A student who achieves a score of three (corresponding to a C) or better on any College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement Test (subject matter) is given advanced placement with credit for the course in which the test was taken. A student may earn up to 24 semester hours of credit by examination in those courses or subject areas available through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Students may also request permission from the appropriate department chairperson to test out of those courses for which there is no CLEP test. For any additional fees for exams, see Tuition and Charges. Grading Procedures At the end of each semester, grades are recorded in the Registrar's Office in accordance with the following definitions: A, outstanding; B, very good; C, adequate; D, poor; F, failure. Letter symbols used for other purposes on grade reports and the academic transcript are: I, incomplete (a temporary designation indicating the student was unable to complete the work for reasons beyond his/her control); W, withdrawn; H, honors; P, passing; NP, not passing; CR, credit, RG registered (a temporary designation when for some reason grades are not available when processed). In computing the cumulative grade point average, grades are assigned the following quality points: A,4.0; A-,3.7; B+,3.3; B,3.0; B-2.7; C+,2.3; C,2.0; C-,1.7; D+,1.3; D,1.0; D-,.7; F,0. Course work in which an incomplete is received must be made up within 30 days following the close of the semester; otherwise zero (0) quality points are assigned. The cumulative grade point average is determined by dividing total graded semester hours attempted into total quality points earned. A grade of P is equivalent to a C- or better. Grades of H and P are assigned credit but are not used in determining the cumulative average. The grade of NP receives no credit. The grade of CR receives credit but no quality points. A sophomore, junior, or senior may take one course H/P/NP each class year providing that course is neither a Cornerstone nor a major requirement. A grade of RG means that the student is registered in the course but no grade has been given. If a student repeats a course, the last grade received is the grade earned. All courses and grades will be recorded; however, only the last grade will be used to determine the student's grade point average. Repeat courses must be taken at Simpson College. Honors at Graduation The distinction Summa Cum Laude is given to those students who earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 or better, Magna Cum Laude to those who earn an average of 3.75 through 3.89, and Cum Laude to those whose average is 3.6 through 3.74. Transfer students: To be eligible for Epsilon Sigma, the Trustees Academic Award, or honors at graduation, a student must have attended Simpson for at least four semesters and have earned 64 semester hours of credit at the College excluding Honors/Pass/Non-Pass courses. The cumulative grade point average is computed only on the total hours earned in residence. Distribution of Grade Reports Grade reports are mailed to your home address unless you request that they be sent to a preferred address. Grades are available via Storm Front as soon as entered by the instructor or the Registrar’s office. The Dean's List The Dean's List for part-time students is announced each January. The Dean's List includes the names of all part-time students who, regularly enrolled in the College, complete at least 9 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.70 or better in one calendar year. In the event one of the courses is taken on the Honors/Pass/Non-Pass basis, an Honors grade must be achieved. Academic Good Standing and Normal Progress Academic Standing Cumulative college, major, and minor G.P.A. minimums of 2.00 are required for graduation. No grade below C- will count towards fulfilling the requirements for the major or minor. No more than 12 semester hours of D+ or below may count towards graduation at Simpson College. To remain in good academic standing, a student must achieve the following cumulative grade point average at the end of the respective year: Freshman (1-29 semester hours) 1.80 Sophomore (29.01-61.00) 1.90 Junior (61.01-95.00) 2.00 Senior (95.01-graduation) 2.00 Normal Progress All degree seeking students are to declare a major on a Declaration of Major form submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the time he/she has completed 40 semester hours. Although there are no semester hour guidelines for normal progress of the part time student, he/she is requested to apply to become a degree- seeking student and to declare a major by or before the time 40 semester hours are completed. The 40 semester hours include transfer credit. Transfer credit will be added to the student's Simpson transcript at the time he/she becomes degree-seeking. Class Attendance Students are expected to be present at regularly scheduled meetings of classes and laboratories. The privilege of being excused from class or making up work missed because of absence from the class is granted wholly at the discretion of the instructor. A student who does not meet the expectations of the course (attendance, active participation, etc.) during the first six weeks of the course may be withdrawn by the teacher by mid-semester. See "Withdrawal" below. Probation, Suspension, Dismissal If a student's cumulative grade point average falls below the minimum expectations for good academic standing, that student will be placed on academic probation by the Dean of Academic Affairs. Normally, the student will be expected to re-attain good academic standing at the end of one semester, but in cases where definite progress is being made toward that goal, probationary status may be extended. The College may suspend, at any time, a student whose academic standing is not satisfactory. Usually, such suspension follows a probationary period if it appears possible that probation can help the student achieve good academic standing. Academic suspension lasts at least one regular semester and the student must formally apply to the Office of the Registrar for readmission to the College. The College may academically dismiss a student previously suspended and readmitted whose work again falls below the minimum expectations for good academic standing. A student who is dismissed may not apply for readmission. Withdrawal Withdrawal from a course by presenting a signed "drop" slip to the Registrar's Office during the first 10 days of any semester results in no indication on the student's transcript that the class was even started. After 10 days a "W" symbol for withdrawal is shown on the transcript for all withdrawals. The last day to withdraw from a class is the 14th day after the mid-term point in the semester. The exact date is indicated in each semester's course schedule book. Failure to withdraw in a timely manner results in an "F" showing on the transcript if the student does not fulfill the course requirements in a satisfactory manner. Students who wish to withdraw entirely from the College before completion of a semester should file a withdrawal form in the Office of the Dean of Students. Withdrawal forms are available at the Office of the Dean of Students. Withdrawal protects the academic record in that the designation of "W" is recorded for any course in progress at the time of a student's departure from the College. Students who leave the College without completing the withdrawal record risk receiving "F's" for courses in progress and jeopardize receiving partial refunds of tuition and board costs. In addition to student-initiated withdrawals, an instructor may withdraw a student from a course if the student has not attended regularly nor participated in class activities by the end of the first six weeks of the course ( or first week of May Term). The course syllabus must contain the instructor's expectations for the course and disclosure that the student could be contacted via certified mail about an impending instructor-initiated withdrawal. The certified letter will be sent to the student's permanent address with a copy sent to the campus address. Should the student wish to continue to be enrolled in the course when the instructor has taken this action, the student must request in writing to the instructor to be allowed to continue enrollment in the class. If the student does not respond to the certified letter within 10 days (7 days for May Term) of its postmark, the student may be withdrawn by the instructor. The date of withdrawal will be the 10th day (7th for May Term) from the date the certified letter was mailed. A "W" will show on the student's transcript. Readmission Students who withdraw from the College or who are suspended may apply for readmission to the College through the Office of the Registrar. Students who have been suspended must wait one full semester, excluding summer, before applying for readmission (see sections regarding Continuous Attendance and Requirements for Graduation and Limitation of Applicability of College Catalog). Requests for Transcripts and Grade Reports Copies of transcripts and grade reports will be mailed to whatever address is indicated by the person making the request. Requests must be made in writing to the Office of the Registrar and must include the signature of the person whose transcript or grade report is being requested. Residence Requirements A candidate for a degree is required to be in residence at Simpson College during the final 32 semester hours of the senior year. Exceptions to this rule may be made in the case of students who spend the first three years in residence, who have satisfactory academic records, and who arrange in advance with the Dean of Academic Affairs to spend the fourth year in a professional program, such as law or medicine, in an accredited institution. Continuous Attendance and Requirements for Graduation In the event a part-time student does not remain in continuous attendance at Simpson, the requirements for graduation at the time of initial registration shall remain in force, provided that the non-attendance period does not exceed two full calendar years. In the event that the non-attendance period exceeds this period, the student will be required to complete the catalog requirements in force at the time of readmission. The requirements for the major are to be those in effect at the time of the declaration of the major program. The time of the declaration of the major is determined by the date of its receipt in the Office of the Registrar. The student is to declare a major on a Declaration of Major form submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the time he/she has completed 40 semester hours. Transfer Issues Once enrolled as a degree-seeking candidate at Simpson College, students are expected to complete all remaining required major courses at Simpson or in Simpson-sponsored programs. All students must take at least 15 credit hours of required course work (excluding internship) in the major at Simpson to obtain a degree from Simpson College. Exceptions to this rule may be made in the case of students who spend the first three years in residence, who have satisfactory academic records, and who arrange in advance with the Dean of Academic Affairs to spend the fourth year in a professional program in an accredited institution. Academic Honesty and Dishonesty Policy Statement Honesty is expected of all members of the Simpson community. Honesty in all academic work is required of all students. Dishonesty in academic work robs all of us of our integrity in learning and demeans the natural talents we have for creative living. Each faculty member is urged to take a strong and positive stand for honesty and independent work at the first meeting of each class and, as appropriate, intermittently thereafter. Further, the college policy should be stated in appropriate printed course materials and circulated to the students of each class. Emphasis should be placed upon the development of honesty and integrity at Simpson. Dishonesty, generally identified as cheating and plagiarism, is not acceptable behavior at Simpson. This policy statement which emphasizes honesty also specifies faculty policy on academic dishonesty. Penalties for Dishonesty The penalty for any form of substantiated academic dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism or collaboration in the same shall be the failure of the course. (Substantiated dishonesty is that in which the instructor has firm evidence.) The student's advisor and major professors shall be advised of the academic dishonesty. If there are extenuating circumstances, the student may petition for a "W." If a student wishes to appeal the charge of substantiated academic dishonesty, he or she shall request a hearing before an appeal committee. The appeal committee shall consist of a chairperson appointed by the Dean, the past year's EPCC chairperson, a professor nominated by the instructor concerned, and a professor nominated by the student. The chairperson of the appeal committee shall be appointed at the beginning of each academic year and serve for all cases that are appealed during that year. The instructor shall present the case to the committee. The committee's decision shall be final. If a student is strongly suspected of academic dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism, or collaborating in academic dishonesty, and the instructor does not have firm evidence, the instructor will give the student a warning and may set up a meeting with the department chairperson and the student to discuss the issue. The student may be required to retake the examination or paper or whatever the instrument may be for another grade. Successive instances of suspected cheating will be referred by the department chairperson to the Academic Dean's Office with appropriate recommendations for additional action. Credit for Non-Resident Study Approval of credit for non-resident study must be filed with the Registrar prior to undertaking such study. Applications for approval may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. These include foreign study and Washington semester programs. Correspondence and Extension Work. No more than six hours of credit toward a Simpson degree may be taken through correspondence or in extension courses. Such courses must have the prior approval of the Dean of Academic Affairs and must be taken through institutions having accredited correspondence and extension divisions. Pre-professional Study. In a few instances, and with special permission, students who contemplate further study in graduate or professional schools are permitted to use part or all of the first year(s) of professional study toward the satisfaction of the Simpson degree requirements. In addition, the programs of the College offer strong preparation for such professions as medicine and related fields, dentistry, law, and the ministry. Specialized counseling is made available for those intending further graduate or professional study. Simpson maintains a formal transfer program in engineering with Washington University (St. Louis). A student who selects appropriate courses while at Simpson can transfer after three years and receive both the B.A. from Simpson and the B.S. degree from the university upon completion of two years of appropriate work in engineering. Some of the advantages are: a broader, more liberal education is achieved; a greater variety of social contact is possible because of attendance at two schools in different areas; delayed selection of engineering and/or of the specific field in engineering is possible; secondary school deficiencies (either selection of courses or low grades) can be corrected before applying to the engineering college; the broad preparation will provide a better base for coping with the changing nature of engineering demands in the world of the future. Study at Other Institutions. Simpson has articulation agreements both with Des Moines area institutions and with certain community colleges throughout Iowa. The College also has an affiliation in medical technology with The Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines. Students may also choose another accredited school of medical technology. The successful completion of three years at Simpson and twelve months of study at an approved school of medical technology earns students a Bachelor of Arts degree at Simpson and renders them eligible for the board of registry examination. Students in medical technology and other approved fourth-year professional programs are eligible to participate in Simpson's spring commencement, subject to the following conditions: a) completion of program prior to beginning of Simpson's summer sessions; b) data from the appropriate office of the program forwarded to Office of the Registrar at Simpson. Career Observation, Employment Experience and Internships. Simpson's experiential learning programs integrate classroom work with learning on the job. Three different experiences (courses numbered 119, 219, and 319) are available and may be taken individually or in sequence. No more than twelve hours credit in 119, 219, and 319 combined may be counted toward graduation. Grading for 119, 219, and 319 will be P/NP/H. See department chairpersons and Director of Counseling and Career Services for further information. The Departments of Biology and Environmental Studies; Communication Studies; Management, Accounting, and Economics; Physical Education; Political Science; and Theatre Arts regularly offer the following courses: Co-op Ed 119: Career Observation: Career observation is an opportunity for students to investigate career directions while earning three hours of credit. First, the student participates in career exploration workshops. Second, the student observes and "job shadows" in a specific workplace during the May Term. Third, the student researches both library and professional journals for information about the areas of interest and writes a paper and presents an oral report on this subject. The student must be in good academic standing and must be a freshman or sophomore. Co-op Ed 219: Employment Experience: Employment Experience is an opportunity for students to gain an introduction to basic skills within a given occupation for a maximum of three credit hours. The student is given an opportunity to learn from a professional in a specific workplace and to build upon and expand abilities through assigned tasks. Completion of the tasks should contribute to the overall operation of the organization. The occupation and location must be ones in which the student has not previously been employed prior to enrollment. The student must be in good academic standing and have earned at least 29 hours. Students must work 40 hours for each semester hour of credit. Co-op Ed 319: Internship: An Internship is an opportunity for a student to participate in professional training, assume initial decision making responsibilities, or engage in project based research and development with an off-campus organization in the private or public sector. To qualify as an internship the position must provide the student with professional training or managerial responsibilities appropriate to an entry level opportunity available normally only to a candidate with a college degree. The position will ordinarily require some specific academic training or skills related to a major, minor, or program at the college, and may or may not provide compensation. The internship may consist of from one to twelve credit hours. The student must be in good academic standing and be a junior or senior. Life Experience Portfolio Assessment. The Life Experience Portfolio Assessment Program is designed for adults who have limited college education, and who seek to complete an undergraduate degree. Adults of at least 25 years of age who have at least five years of full-time work responsibility or its equivalent are eligible to apply. Candidates may receive up to 24 semester hours of credit through this program. The total number of transfer credit hours, credit hours earned at Simpson, and life experience credit is not to exceed 64 semester hours at the time the portfolio is submitted, for purposes of graduation. The candidate must be degree-seeking. The portfolio is assessed by a faculty committee which makes a recommendation of award based on the experience's being educationally pertinent to the pursuit of the student's course of study. Inquiry should be directed to either office of the Division of Adult Learning. Senior Citizens. Senior citizens age 65 or over, contingent upon space availability, may audit up to two courses per semester tuition free (all seniors will be expected to pay activity and any special fees for the courses). Persons interested in registering for courses for credit may do so at a cost of one-half of the regular course tuition. Credit Granting Policy for Non-Traditional Credit The following guidelines apply to CLEP credit, military credit, vocational-technical credit, and life experience credit. A maximum of 32 credit hours may be granted to a student in the combined areas of coursework taken through the armed services, CLEP credit, life experience credit, vocational-technical credit, and credit through non-accredited associations. Students will be able to earn credit in the non-traditional areas only within the first 64 hours of graduation credit, which is equivalent to the first two years of work toward a degree. Credits granted for coursework taken in and through CLEP general exams, the armed services, life experience credit, or vocational-technical coursework may not be used to fulfill required courses in the major or cornerstone studies. CLEP subject exams may apply to cornerstone or requirements subject to department approval. The student must demonstrate that the credit applied for meets the curriculum and standards of Simpson College by supplying appropriate supporting documentation. Sources for non-traditional credit include: CLEP. A maximum of 24 credit hours may be earned by taking examinations. A maximum of three credit hours can be earned through CLEP tests in each of the following general subject areas: Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Science-History, for scaled scores corresponding to the "B" grade in the ACE (American Council on Education) guidelines, for CLEP general exams, credit will be given for scores at the 65th percentile or better. NOTE: A student may earn up to twelve (12) credit hours in a foreign language by taking the CLEP examination. If the student scores at least the minimum passing score of 101-102 level, six (6) hours of credit will be given to the student for Foreign Language 101-102. If the student scores at or above the minimum passing score for 201-202 level, the student will be given six (6) additional hours of credit for Foreign Language 201-202, but only after having successfully completed a course in the same language numbered higher than 202. Students who are enrolled in a Simpson College language course and who wish to take the CLEP must do so before completing the first semester of their language course. International Baccalaureate. Simpson recognizes the IB program and grants credit on a course by course basis for examination scores of 4 or better on the Higher Level courses only. A maximum of 24 credit hours may be earned through the IB. Armed Services Credit. A maximum of 16 credit hours may be awarded for coursework equivalent to Simpson College courses taken while in and through the armed services that meet ACE (American Council on Education) guidelines for course transfer. The Dantes tests (Military CLEP) will be accepted under the guidelines; pertaining to Simpson CLEP standards. To be eligible for credit, each course transferred must be approved by the Dean of Academic Affairs. Vocational-Technical Credit. A maximum of 16 credit hours may be awarded for vocational-technical credit earned from an accredited community or junior college. The vocational-technical credit will be designated on the transcript as undesignated approved vocational-technical credit. Professional Organization. A maximum of 16 credit hours may be awarded for coursework equivalent to Simpson courses taken through unaccredited organizations such as LOMA (Life Office Management Association), ABA (American Banking Association), CPCU (Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters), and Bible Schools. Each course must be approved by both the chairperson of the department in which the credit is being granted and the Dean of Academic Affairs. Life Experience. A maximum of 24 credit hours may be awarded for life experience credit, and credits are limited to that number that would bring the student's total credits to 64 hours, for purposes of graduation. The total number of life experience credits available to a student will be determined at the date of submission of the final portfolio. Summer Session A variety of courses are conducted on campus and in West Des Moines throughout the summer. Courses range from two to ten weeks in duration and are offered days, evenings, and Saturdays. Students may enroll in those courses approved either by their academic advisors or by the Director, Division of Adult Learning. Through these offerings students are provided an opportunity to accelerate progress toward degree objectives, make up deficiencies, or distribute their course work over a longer period of time. Many elementary and secondary teachers take summer courses for certification purposes or to increase competence in their specialties. The College Catalog: Limitation of Applicability A student in continuous attendance must complete the graduation requirements listed in the Simpson College catalog which is current at the time of initial registration. If a student does not remain in continuous attendance, the graduation requirements at the time of initial registration pertain, provided that the non-attendance period does not exceed one full calendar year for full-time students or two full calendar years for part-time students. If the non-attendance period exceeds one or two full calendar years respectively, the student will be required to complete the catalog requirements in force at the time of readmission. The requirements for the major are those in effect at the time of the declaration of the major program. The time of the declaration of the major is determined by the date of its receipt in the Office of the Registrar. The student is to declare a major on a Declaration of Major form submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the time he/she has completed 40.0 semester hours. Dunn Library Dunn Library, at the center of campus, offers a collection of more than 120,000 books; over 600 periodical subscriptions; and access to almost 15,000 online journals; and a variety of CDs, videos, DVDs, and other research materials. The library staff provides reference assistance and coordinates campus media services. Dunn also houses a computer lab, curriculum workroom, and the college archives. The library’s web site provides access to the online catalog, including items at the Indianola Public Library, as well as many full-text databases, e-books, and links to other resources. Hawley Academic Resource Center The Hawley Academic Resource Center, located on the third floor of Dunn Library, is designed to provide students with individualized help to meet the requirements for competencies and courses. The Center provides guidance at any point in the writing process (including the revising and editing of portfolios), gives assistance for any math or foreign language course, and assigns tutors for most classes. Students can learn academic strategies for test taking, note taking, reading college textbooks, and time and stress management. All tutoring services available at Hawley are free to Simpson students. In addition, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test is available upon request, and graduate school test registration and study materials are also available.
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