Academic Policies & Regulations

Academic Advising
All students are assigned an academic advisor to assist them with scheduling classes, resolving academic concerns, and exploring careers. Specialists in the CAP (Career, Academic and Personal Counseling) Center, located in Patroness Hall, are assigned to entering freshmen. If a major has been declared by the end of the freshman year, students are assigned to faculty advisers in their major fields.

Academic Integrity Policy
Academic integrity is a highly valued principle that undergirds all facets of academic life at Graceland University. We believe adherence to principles of honesty is a requisite for preparing students as competent responsible persons. Students admitted to the university are expected to uphold standards of academic integrity, i.e. the avoidance of cheating and plagiarism in any form. An instructor may assign a grade of “F” for the course in cases of cheating and/or plagiarism. The faculty member will report all cases of fraud, plagiarism and/or cheating to the respective dean or division chair, and the dean of faculty. Violation of the academic integrity policy may have additional consequences including sanctions or dismissal from a program or from Graceland University.

Cheating
The following list describes ways to avoid the most common forms of cheating.
  1. Do not give assistance to, or receive assistance from, another person, or use unauthorized notes, books, etc., when an examination or assignment is supposed to be your own work.

  2. Do not falsify research results or violate codes for the treatment of human or animal subjects.

  3. Do not violate the policies of proctors, preceptors or supervisors.

  4. Do not use an electronic copy of another person’s work as the starting point of your own work without the instructor’s permission.
  5. On collaborative works, include the names of all participants on any copies that are submitted for evaluation.

Fraud
The following list describes ways to avoid the most common forms of fraud

  1. Do not alter or falsify or misrepreresent an academic document.

  2. Do not help someone alter or falsify and academic document
  3. Do not communicate false information whether oral, written, electronic or nonverbal
  4. Do not forge signatures

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is representing someone else’s work as your own. The following list describes ways to avoid the most common forms of plagiarism.
  1. Set off all direct quotations within quotation marks or within the text in a block quote form. To fail to indicate direct quotations by one of these two methods is to commit plagiarism even if the failure is accidental and even if you give the source of the quotation. In a speech, you must also indicate the beginning, ending and source of all direct quotations to the audience.

  2. If you derive an idea from another source, cite the source unless the idea is common knowledge, that is, unless people familiar with the subject you are discussing are aware of the idea.

  3. Cite the source of paraphrased material and avoid excessive paraphrasing. Too much paraphrasing minimizes your contribution.

  4. Submit papers that consist substantially of your own work. Do not buy, borrow or use complete, or nearly complete, papers from any source, electronic or otherwise.

 

Class Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend classes regularly, be punctual, and complete all work whether present or not. Whenever possible, the opportunity for making up class work missed as a result of an excused absence is to be worked out between the instructor and the student upon the student’s initiative. Excused absences include the following: (1) the student has contacted the faculty member prior to the absence due to a university sponsored activity, (2) the student has contacted the faculty member prior to the absence and the faculty member concurs that the absence is unavoidable and legitimate, or (3) the Dean of Students (or faculty member) determines that the student has missed classes/assignments due to factors beyond the student’s control (i.e. illness, family misfortune, etc.), and the faculty member concurs. All other absences are considered unexcused, in which case the instructor is not obligated to provide an opportunity for making up class work for credit.

Final Examination Policy
The faculty approved the following policy on final examinations:

  • All classes will meet during final examination week for a meaningful, educational experience (i.e. examination, presentations, discussion, lecture, etc.).
  • All classes will meet during final examination week during the time designated in the Schedule of Classes (see MyInfo).
  • The time of the final examination will be published in each course syllabus.
  • Students with more than two final examinations on a single day may make rescheduling requests directly to any of the faculty involved, provided that two such exams remain as scheduled. The student must supply his/her course and exam schedule at the time of the request so the faculty member can verify the conflict and either identify a new exam time or identify another of the instructors willing to reschedule. If arrangements cannot be made on this informal basis, the student may contact the Dean of Faculty to solve the problem. THE RESCHEDULING MUST BE DETERMINED BEFORE THE LAST DAY OF REGULAR CLASSES FOR THE SEMESTER. Travel arrangements are not justification for requesting changes in the final examination schedule.

 

Withdrawal Process
Students not returning to Graceland for the next semester (including GRADUATES) must initiate the withdrawal process in the Student Life Office (MSC, room 27).

Graceland University - 
Lamoni Campus | 1 University Place | Lamoni, IA 50140 | 641.784.5000
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