Academic Policies
Class AttendanceCompletion of Assignments, Extensions and Incompletes
Email Submission of Assignments
Multiple Submissions of the Same Work
Syllabi, Course Requirements, and Grading
Term Tests and Examinations
Rescheduling Term Tests and Examinations
Credits and Grades
Vetting Grades
Academic Probation
Forfeiture of Credit Already Earned
Academic Misconduct
Academic Suspension
Appeals
Completing a Second Baccalaureate Degree
Completing a Second Major
Residency Requirements
Revision or Discontinuance of an Academic Program
Class Attendance
In order for students to derive the greatest possible benefit from their educational experiences, they must attend classes regularly. It is in the classroom that instructors communicate the subject matter of their courses, demonstrate ways of interpreting information, and provide guidance for students to work through important issues. Moreover, at CMU we regard the educational process as a community endeavour, not only as an individual undertaking. Contributions by students are important to the progress of any course.
Students who miss class due to illness or other extenuating circumstances should talk to their instructors as soon as possible about the missed material.
Students unable to attend private music lessons for valid reasons, such as sickness, must make arrangements with the teacher concerned in order to reschedule such lessons at a time suitable to both student and teacher. A full year consists of twenty-four lessons. To receive credit a student must attend a minimum of twenty lessons.
Students missing an excessive number of classes without valid reason may be barred from further class attendance and from taking the examination in the courses concerned. The following paragraphs provide details on how this policy is to be implemented at CMU.
1. When an instructor becomes aware that a student is missing an excessive number of classes, the instructor will write the student a note which (a) reminds the student of the policy, (b) informs the student that he or she has been missing too many classes, (c) indicates that further unexcused absences will result in debarment from class, and (d) invites that student to a consultation regarding the situation with the instructor within 48 hours. The Assistant VP Academic will receive a copy of this note.
2. The consultation between the instructor and the student should result in a clear understanding of what is expected in the future. A record of this understanding will be prepared and sent to the student with a copy going to the Assistant VP Academic. The instructor will maintain a record of that student?s attendance from the date of the first note. If the student transgresses the understanding reached in the consultation, the instructor will send the student a note informing the student that she or he is recommending that the student be debarred from the course. The instructor will also send a copy of this note to the Assistant VP Academic, who will make a final decision.
3. Consequences of debarment include the following:
a. The student is debarred from class.
b. The student is debarred from the examination.
c. If this process is completed prior to the VW date, the student has the option of voluntarily withdrawing from the course. If this date has passed, the student will receive an "F" in the course.
d. Even if the student does not withdraw, for the purpose of calculating CMU requirements (determining full-time status, determining whether the student is meeting CMU?s registration requirements, etc.) it will be considered as if the student is not enrolled in the course.
Completion of Assignments, Extensions, and Incompletes
Students must complete all academic course requirements at the times specified by the syllabus for the course, unless they receive an extension by special permission of the instructor. Students should normally request extensions at least one class prior to the due date of the assignment. If, because of an emergency, that is not possible, the instructor will deal with the request as he or she sees fit. The instructor has the right to grant or to deny the requested extension if the proposed new due date falls within the semester.
If a student is unable to complete the requirements of a course by the end of the semester, the student must submit a written appeal for an "incomplete" to the Assistant VP Academic. The student should seek the instructor?s support for the appeal and submit the appeal before the last day of classes. If the student?s appeal is granted, the instructor will enter a grade of I (for incomplete) accompanied by a temporary grade (which is based on completed work and assigns a value of zero for uncompleted work). If the student completes the remaining work within the extension period, the grade will be recalculated and the incomplete status will be removed. If the student does not complete the work within the extension period, the incomplete status will be removed and the grade will remain as originally entered.
The maximum extensions are as follows: August 1, for courses ending in April; December 1, for courses ending in August; and April 1 for courses ending in December.
Email Submission of Assignments
Normally, students will submit all written assignments in paper form. If an instructor chooses to permit submissions by e-mail, the instructor should provide information within the course syllabus that specifies a confirmation process. For instance, the instructor could specify that after a student sends a submission, if the student does not receive an e-mail from the instructor within twenty-four hours, confirming receipt of the submission, then the student must take initiative to resubmit, either electronically or in paper form, until the instructor?s receipt of the submission is confirmed.
In some circumstances, an instructor may choose to give permission to a particular student to make a submission by e-mail. Again, the instructor should specify the confirmation process. It is the student?s responsibility to gain confirmation of receipt for any particular submission.
Multiple Submissions of the Same Work
Students may on occasion wish to prepare one piece of work (e.g., an essay) to fulfill requirements for two different courses. This can be an important way for students to bring different areas of study into dialogue or to study a topic relevant to two courses in greater depth. Students who have completed at least 30 credit hours of university-level courses may request such an arrangement. Such requests must conform to the following guidelines:
• the student will submit the request in a written proposal to the Academic Student Issues Committee by way of the Assistant VP Academic.
• the student must receive consent from the instructors in both courses.
• the title page of the submission must indicate for which courses it is being submitted and what value it has been assigned in each of the two courses.
• normally, the assigned value of the submission is no more than 30% in either course.
• the submission must reflect the amount of work approximately equivalent to what would be required to prepare the two assignments it replaces.
• when students make multiple submissions of the same work not governed by this policy, it will constitute academic misconduct.
Syllabi, Course Requirements, and Grading
The specific requirements of a course (including due dates) and the value each item will have in the final grade shall be published by way of a syllabus during the first two weeks of the course. Any changes made after this time must be negotiated with the class and made in consultation with the registrar?s office. If such changes are made, the instructor must immediately inform the students. All grading in the course shall then be done consistently with the agreed upon course requirements.
The instructor shall assign a letter grade (A+, A, B+, B, C+, C, D, or F) to every submitted assignment that contributes toward the final grade for a course before returning it to the student (unless the syllabus stipulates that the assignment is to be marked as pass/fail or credit/no credit). It shall be possible to discern from the mark how it impacts upon the final grade.
Letter grades and grade points correspond as follows:
A+ = 4.5, A = 4, B+ = 3.5, B = 3, C+ = 2.5, C = 2, D = 1, and F = 0.
All term work submitted on time shall be evaluated and the results made available to the student within a reasonably short period of time. At least 20% of the coursework assigned for a course must be graded and returned at least one week prior to the deadline for voluntary withdrawal (if submitted by the student by the relevant due dates).
Instructors are encouraged to make use of a wide variety of means of grade assessment--tests, examinations, research projects, reports, minor papers, book reviews, journals, field assignments, etc. Instructors may give students options as to how they will meet the course requirements.
Term Tests and Examinations
Between the last day of classes and the beginning of the examination period there is a reading period that is reserved for studying. No tests or examinations may be scheduled during this time.
Term tests may not be scheduled during the last five class-days of a semester. A 50-minute term test may not count for more than 33.5% of the final grade. Term tests given during the last three weeks of classes may not collectively exceed 33.5% of the final grade. Normally, final examinations may not count for more than 50% of the final grade.
Other forms of examinations should be considered before take-home examinations are given. Take-home examinations have a 72-hour time limit.
The weight of each question shall be clearly indicated on all tests and examinations. Also, the header of each test or examination shall include the course number and title and the name of the instructor.
Rescheduling Term Tests or Examinations
Normally students will write term tests according to the schedule provided by the course syllabus. A student who is unable to attend a test due to illness should inform the instructor of the class before the period in which the test is to occur, if possible. The instructor and the student will determine how to make up for the missed test. If a student has difficulty attending a test due to some other extenuating circumstance, the student must seek permission from the instructor for some alternative scheduling or arrangement.
At the time of registration the student must choose courses in such a way that there will be no direct conflicts in the examination schedule for the courses chosen. Occasionally a scheduling conflict may arise between examinations for courses taken at CMU and those taken at either University of Manitoba or University of Winnipeg. In such circumstances, the student should contact the registrar at least two weeks before the end of classes to request the rescheduling of an examination.
In a few other situations a student?s request for rescheduling an examination will be granted-e.g., serious illness (documented by a doctor?s note), accident, or a death in the family. Also, a student may request rescheduling if the examination timetable is such that within one day or within two consecutive days a student is scheduled to write (a) three examinations in three successive examination slots, or (b) four examinations within five successive examination slots. The student should contact the registrar at least two weeks before the end of classes to request rescheduling of an examination.
If a student wishes to request the rescheduling of an examination on other grounds, the student must make an appeal in writing to the Academic Student Issues Committee at least two weeks before the beginning of the examination period. Students should be aware that appeals for reasons of personal convenience or to enable vacation travel do not normally succeed. If the appeal is granted, the student must pay a special examination fee of $100 per examination before writing the rescheduled examination(s).
Credits and Grades
Hours of Credit
There is a correlation between class hours and hours of credit. Normally, a three credit-hour course meets three hours per week for one semester, and a six credit-hour course meets three hours per week for two semesters.
Grades
To receive credit for a course, students must obtain one of the following passing grades - A+, A, B+, B, C+, C, D or P. An F is a failing grade.
At the end of each semester, grades for all courses are vetted through the Deans? Council. If anomalies appear in grade point averages for particular courses, the vetting process may result in adjustments to grades, either upwards or downwards. Grades become final after this process is completed.
CMU will make final grades available through the office of the registrar. Upon graduation, a student is presented with one official transcript. Additional official transcripts may be requested by students for a fee.
The Grade Point System
Grade points are assigned to each letter grade as follows:
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
| A+ 4.5 | Exceptional |
| A 4.0 | Excellent |
| B+ 3.5 | Very Good |
| B 3.0 | Good |
| C+ 2.5 | Satisfactory |
| C 2.0 | Adequate |
| D 1.0 | Marginal |
| F 0 | Failure |
| P | Pass |
Grade Point Average
Grade point averages are calculated as follows: For each course a student has completed, its value in credit hours is multiplied by the grade points the student has earned for that course to determine the number of weighted grade points the student receives for that course. The sum of the weighted grade points received in all courses completed is then divided by the total number of hours of credit taken. The result is the student?s cumulative grade point average.
Vetting Grades
CMU is committed to building a culture of fair and consistent grading. This is important for the integrity of the university, for its reputation among other universities, for the integrity of students? transcripts, and for the recognition of these transcripts at other universities.
During the course of a semester, instructors will provide grades to students for each assignment submitted. Those grades are provisional. At the end of each semester, before final grades are released to students, the Deans Committee will vet all class grade reports. For various reasons, grades vary from one class to another (e.g., large introductory courses will vary from small upper-level courses). However, if significant anomalies appear in grades for a particular course, the Deans Committee may call for an adjustment of grades in that course. The process includes consultation with the instructor. Factors such as the following are considered:
• the class GPA in comparison to the average GPA of all classes for the semester
• the class GPA in comparison to previous years for the same course
• the class GPA in comparison to the GPA in other classes within the same subject area
• the average grades of individual students in the class in comparison to the individual students? GPAs for other courses
Normally grades for fall semester will be released to students, by way of the Student Portal, by January 15th. Grades for winter semester will be released to students by May 15th.
Academic Probation
Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0. Students who fail to achieve a grade point average of 2.0 over eighteen credit hours during an academic year may be readmitted upon special appeal under the terms of academic probation. At the end of the probationary year the student?s performance will be reassessed. Probationary status will be removed if the student has achieved a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on all courses taken during the probationary period. A minimum of eighteen credit hours is required for reassessment.
The purpose of CMU?s academic probation procedure is to provide support and structure for students with academic difficulties.. Academic probation entails the following:
1. An in-person consultation between the student and the registrar before the student registers. This consultation will include the selection of a faculty advisor and a decision regarding the appropriate course load for the student.
2. A probationary student must fulfill three requirements:
a. The student must attend all classes. Instructors will maintain a record of attendance for the student and share it with the student?s faculty advisor. The student must provide an explanation for every class missed.
b. The student must prepare a master schedule of tests, examinations, and assignment due dates for submission to the faculty advisor by the end of the third week of classes.
c. At the beginning of the year, the student and the faculty advisor will develop a personalized strategy for the student. This strategy will be based on a careful assessment of what caused the academic difficulty of that particular student. A key element of the strategy will be regular meetings between the student and the faculty advisor, the focus and nature of which will be determined by the strategy. This strategy will become a covenant between the student and the faculty advisor and will be reported to the registrar.
3. If a probationary student misses two classes in any course without adequate explanation, submits an assignment late, or violates the covenant in any other way (e.g., missing meetings with the faculty advisor), the faculty advisor will report that student to the registrar. A second such breach of the covenant will provide grounds for automatic deregistration from CMU.
4. The faculty advisor will review the student?s probationary status at the end of the first semester on probation. Students who do not achieve a sessional GPA of 2.00 or more, calculated over a minimum of 18 credit hours, while on academic probation normally are not readmitted to CMU for the following year.
Forfeiture of Credit Previously Earned
Students who have not registered at any university or degree-granting college for at least five years may choose to forfeit all their previous credits and begin a new degree program. A request to forfeit credit must be submitted in writing to the registrar?s office.
Academic Misconduct
Mutual trust is essential to building an academic community. The foundation for mutual trust is integrity. It is the responsibility of all members of the community at CMU to foster and guard academic integrity.
When students plagiarize or cheat, they violate trust. They seize an unfair advantage over other students and they attempt to deceive their instructors. Thus they commit an offence against their peers and against the entire CMU community.
Plagiarism is presenting the work of others (a short phrase, a sentence, a paragraph, an idea, a chart, an entire essay, or a composition, whether from a printed or electronic source) as if it were one?s own, that is, without explicitly and clearly indicating its source (i.e., by using quotation marks or by presenting a block quotation, and by providing a bibliographical reference). Cheating is dishonest or attempted dishonest conduct during examinations or tests or in the preparation of any other submission for a course, whether this conduct is to benefit oneself or another student (i.e., copying from someone else, making one?s work available to someone else to copy, taking unauthorized materials into the examination room, submitting the same work for more than one course without arranging for permission, etc.).
Sometimes students, due to a lack of understanding or due to negligence, submit assignments in which they have used sources inappropriately or have failed to adequately acknowledge them. During a student?s first year at CMU, instructors may choose to respond by a warning and to require the student to resubmit the assignment with the necessary corrections. More advanced students can reasonably be expected to have learned the appropriate conventions in academic writing within CMU?s academic writing labs (required of all first-year students).
When an instructor has reason to suspect that a student has plagiarized or cheated, the instructor will present the evidence to the Assistant VP Academic. The instructor and the Assistant VP Academic will meet with the student to present the evidence and to provide an opportunity for the student to offer an explanation, make a defence, or to make amends. After this meeting, the instructor and the Assistant VP Academic will discern what further process is required. They may discern:
• that there is insufficient evidence of misconduct;
• that the evidence of misconduct is conclusive, but that either the nature of the misconduct or the student?s response has been such that the matter may be resolved without further formal process;
• that the evidence of misconduct is substantial and that the student?s response or the nature of the misconduct warrant further formal process.
If there is insufficient evidence of misconduct, the case will be dismissed without formal record in the student's file.
If it is discerned that the evidence of misconduct is conclusive but that either the nature of the misconduct or the student?s response has been such that the matter may be resolved without further formal process, the Assistant VP Academic and the instructor will establish an appropriate consequence, according to the terms of reference provided below, and in consultation with the Academic Student Issues Committee. The Assistant VP Academic will provide documentation regarding the case to the student?s file.
If it is discerned that the evidence of misconduct is substantial and that the student?s response or the nature of the misconduct warrants further formal process, the instructor and the Assistant VP Academic will present the case to the Academic Student Issues Committee. The student will have an opportunity to offer an explanation, make a defence, or to make amends. The student may choose an advocate or listener to accompany her/him during the meeting with the committee. If the Academic Student Issues Committee determines that the evidence of misconduct is compelling, the committee will establish an appropriate consequence, according to the terms of reference provided below. The Assistant VP Academic will provide documentation regarding the case to the student?s file. If the committee determines that the evidence is inconclusive, the case will be dismissed without formal record in the student's file.
In determining the consequences for a particular case of academic misconduct, the following will be taken into consideration:
• the nature and the extent of the plagiarism or cheating;
• whether the student has committed a previous offence;
• the year in which the student is enrolled.
The possible consequences for academic misconduct include:
• a requirement to rewrite the submission;
• a reduced grade or a failing grade for the submission;
• a failing grade for the course;
• academic suspension from the university for the period of one full academic year. The terms of the suspension will appear on the student?s academic transcript.
A student convicted of academic misconduct will be placed on probation for a period of one year or until the student completes 18 credit hours. Significant plagiarism in an assignment that has a substantial value in the course or cheating on a term test of substantial value will automatically result in a failing grade for the course. The student will not have the option of withdrawing from the course to avoid an "F" on the transcript. Cheating on a final examination will result in a failing grade for the course. Plagiarism or cheating in a course taken within the last 30 credit hours of a student?s program will result in a failing grade for the course and in postponement of graduation to provide time for the student to re-establish integrity through the completion of additional course work.
A student who has been suspended for academic misconduct may apply to the Assistant VP Academic for reinstatement after a period of one year. If reinstatement is granted, the student will continue under the terms of CMU?s probationary policy for one year (at least 18 credit hours). The probationary term will serve as a period when the student?s instructors will give additional attention to assisting the student in practising academic integrity.
If a student feels s/he has been wrongfully convicted of academic misconduct, that student has the right to appeal within 15 days after receiving notice of the conviction. The appeal will be directed to the VP Academic.
Academic Suspension
Under certain circumstances a student may be suspended from CMU for a specified period of time. Suspension may mean debarment from living in residence or debarment both from living in residence and from attending classes. In cases of persistent and flagrant misconduct, a student may be suspended indefinitely. A student may appeal a suspension in writing to the registrar?s office.
If, after a period of at least one year, a student who has been suspended desires to return to CMU, that student must reapply for admission.
Students who apply to CMU while under suspension from another academic institution will be considered for admission only after careful assessment of the reasons for suspension from the former institution.
Appeals
Regarding Various Academic Matters
Students should direct their appeals pertaining to curricular matters (e.g., regarding exemption from a requirement, or a substitution for a required course) to the Curriculum Appeals Committee. Other appeals pertaining to academic matters (e.g., regarding scheduling of examinations, "Incomplete" for a course, etc.) should be directed to the Academic Student Issues Committee. Students should submit their appeals in writing to the registrar.
An appeal consists of a statement of the requested exemption or variance and an argument or an explanation in support of the request. For the appeal to succeed, the argument or explanation must convince the committee that will consider the appeal.
The committee?s decision regarding an appeal will be communicated in writing to the student.
Regarding Grades
Faculty members at CMU are committed to evaluating students? work fairly. A student who believes that a grade assigned on a particular submission is unjust may appeal to have the grade reviewed. The student should first request the instructor to reconsider the value of the submission in question. If satisfactory resolution has not been reached after this step, the dean for the subject field concerned, in consultation with the instructor, will appoint a second faculty member to evaluate the submission. The dean and the instructor, in consultation, will use the results of both evaluations to determine a grade for the submission. Appeal of grades on particular submissions will not normally be allowed after the end of the semester.
A student who has reason to believe that a final grade recorded on the statement of grades is unjust may, within six weeks of the publication of the statement of grades, appeal in writing to the registrar?s office to have the grade reviewed. The student must provide an explanation for the appeal. A processing fee will be charged to the student for each appeal submitted. (For the amount of the fee, consult the section on Financial Information in CMU?s Academic Calendar).
Completing a Second Baccalaureate Degree
Students who already hold a baccalaureate degree may earn a second baccalaureate degree from CMU by completing at least an additional thirty credit hours, selected so as to satisfy the requirements for the degree sought, including the residency requirements. Credits earned to satisfy the requirements of the first degree may be used, wherever pertinent, to satisfy requirements of the second degree.
Completing a Second Major
Students may include a second major within either the three- or the four-year Bachelor of Arts program by completing all the requirements of each major. Some courses qualify to meet requirements in several different majors. Students may count a maximum of six credit hours of such courses toward the requirements of each of two three-year majors, and twelve credit hours toward the requirements of each of two four-year majors.
Residency Requirements
To qualify for a degree from CMU, students must fulfill the requirements of the respective degree program, and they must earn the following credits at CMU:
1. Thirty of the last forty-two credit hours of the degree program;
2. Nine credit hours of the Biblical and Theological Studies and the Integrative Studies requirements, including the Senior Integrative Seminar;
3. As approved by the respective program area:
• twelve credit hours of the major, if seeking a Bachelor of Arts (Major, three- or four-year),
• nine credit hours of the concentration, if seeking a Bachelor of Church Ministries,
• nine credit hours of Biblical and Theological Studies in addition to the nine credit hours of the Biblical and Theological Studies required in note 2 above, if seeking a Bachelor of Theology,
• twelve credit hours of the music requirements if seeking a Bachelor of Music or a Bachelor of Music Therapy.
Revision or Discontinuance of an Academic Program
When CMU revises or discontinues an academic program, CMU will make provision for those students who have declared that program, to finish it within a period of six years after their initial registrations by fulfilling the program requirements in effect at the time of their initial registrations. Thereafter, students must fulfill the current requirements of an existing academic program.
