Academic Policies

This section of the catalog contains information related to all degree program requirements.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend and actively participate in all classes and assignments. Participation requirements are outlined in the Student Handbook and may vary depending on the specific program of study. The professor may establish policies and consequences for each course and publish those policies in the course syllabus.

F-1 visa international students are required to attend classes. If an F-1 visa student fails to attend classes for a significant period of time, the student may be considered non-compliant with F-1 visa regulations and the Office of Global Initiatives may terminate the student’s Form I-20.

Course Exemption

Students may gain exemption from taking courses in an academic area by demonstrating proficiency through satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination taken at LETU. While exemption from taking the course may be earned in this manner, students will not receive college credit. The department chair will determine if this type of exemption will be allowed. Students may replace such exempted hours with electives approved by their advisor.

Declare or Change Major

General Information for Students

The candidate for any degree should carefully study all course and other requirements for that degree and for graduation. Each student is responsible for all requirements as stated and careful attention to the program will result in completion of the requirements for graduation in the minimum time.

The minimum requirement for an LETU  undergraduate degree is 120 semester hours including at least 30 semester hours of 3000 or 4000 level courses; however, some degrees require more than these minimums.

Approximately the first 64 hours required for the bachelor’s degree are devoted to general or introductory study in diverse fields. This diversification is intended to give breadth of view and to assist students in selecting a field of specialization.

Majors

The degree audit, a computer-generated report outlining the student’s academic progress toward completion of a specified degree program, is available via MyLETU. The student can access a current degree audit by the first semester, and the student is expected to monitor the degree audit each semester until graduation. University requirements for the major, such as minimum hours, residence, advanced work, and GPA, are listed under the “Degree Requirements” for each academic unit.

Concentrations

A concentration is a specialized course of study for undergraduate degrees. Some undergraduate majors include a built-in concentration, for others a concentration must be selected. The number of hours in the concentration varies by program. Concentrations are linked to specific majors. See specific degree requirements for additional information.

Students who complete all requirements for two or more concentrations and who also meet the minimum number of required resident hours will be granted those concentrations. Students should contact the Registrar’s Office for assistance with understanding the presentation and order of these concentrations on transcripts and diplomas.

Specializations

A specialization is a specialized course of study for graduate degrees. Some graduate degrees include a built-in specialization, for others a specialization must be selected. The number of hours in the specialization varies by program. Specializations are linked to specific degrees. See specific degree requirements for additional information.

Students who complete all requirements for two or more specializations and who also meet the minimum number of required resident hours will be granted those specializations. Students should contact the Registrar’s Office for assistance with understanding the presentation and order of these specializations on transcripts and diplomas.

Minors

A student may elect a minor consisting of a minimum of 18 semester hours in a designated area of study, which may be from a different school than the major field (at least 6 hours completed at LeTourneau University). Specific requirements for the minor, as designated by the academic units, are listed with “Degree Requirements” and in the department sections of this catalog. Unless otherwise specified, grades of “D” or better are accepted in the minor.

Change of Majors

Students may change majors by completing a Request to Add, Change, or Drop a Major obtained from the Office of the Registrar. The change of major must be approved by the department chair of the new major. The student will come under the most recent catalog year for the program requirements for the new major.

F-1 visa international students must report any changes or additions of majors or minors to the Office of Global Initiatives so that their immigration information may be updated.

When an undergraduate student changes majors, certain D, F, and WF grades may be removed from the cumulative GPA if the following guidelines are met:

• The courses must have been taken at LETU prior to or during the semester in which the student changes majors.
• Grades can only be removed from courses that fall into a General Elective category for the new major.
• The grades that have been removed from the computation of the cumulative GPA will not count toward hours attempted, hours completed, or total grade points, but the course name and original grade will remain on the transcript.
• This policy may only be used once at LETU.
• Graduation honors will be determined by considering the full cumulative GPA of all course work attempted at the University, including any courses with grades that have been deleted from the cumulative GPA when changing majors.

Majors, Minors, and Degrees

Dual Degrees

Undergraduate students may choose to pursue two degrees (BA, BS, BBA/BBM) simultaneously, completing all requirements for both majors.

• The first degree must be the degree of the declared major containing the greatest number of required credit hours.
• Requires a minimum of 30 additional credit hours beyond the requirements of the first major.
• Requires a minimum of 12 additional credit hours must be upper-level and in a different field from the major of the first degree.
• Separate applications for graduation for each degree are required, accompanied by appropriate fees.

Second Majors

Students earn one degree in a primary program supplemented by a second major in a different field.

• Allows students to study two subjects while earning a single baccalaureate degree.
• Students do not receive a second degree but have a second major reflected on their transcript.
• Specific requirements for second majors vary by department, and students should seek advising early in their undergraduate studies.

Second Degrees

Students already possessing a bachelor’s degree may qualify for a second, and different, bachelor’s degree at LETU by:

• Successfully completing all required work for the second degree
• Completing a minimum of 30 credit hours in residence work at LETU (60 hours if the first degree was obtained elsewhere) beyond the requirements for the first degree.
  • These hours must include all major requirements pertaining to the second degree that were not included in the first-degree program.
• The major for the second degree must differ from the first and requires a minimum of 12 additional credit hours of upper level.

Students seeking a minor on a second degree must choose a different field from the major or minor on the first degree and must include:

• A minimum of 9 additional credit hours taken in residence beyond the hours in that field taken on the first degree.
• A minimum of 6 hours of the additional 9 hours must be upper-level coursework.
• All the basic requirements for all minors also apply.

Graduate students may qualify for a second, and different, master’s degree at LETU by completing:

• A minimum of 15 credit hours in residence work at LETU after the first degree was awarded.
• These hours must include all major requirements pertaining to the second degree that were not included in the first degree program.
• All requirements for the second degree must be met.

Dual Minor

The University will permit students to pursue a dual minor. Students must satisfy all of the requirements for each minor.

Final Exams

Final examinations are an important part of the course work. Students are expected to take final examinations during the regularly scheduled time at the end of each semester. Seniors in bachelor’s degree programs may be exempt from final examinations in 15-week courses in the semester in which they participate in the graduation ceremony if they meet the following requirement. The student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a B in the course, except in courses required for FAA certification and those required by the faculty member or academic program. This policy may only be used one time. As a courtesy, the faculty member should be notified at least three weeks before the end of the course that exemption from the final exam is desired. Eligibility for this benefit will be verified by the Office of the Registrar. Students completing a field experience in their final semester may be exempt from final exams in the next to the last semester providing all other requirements are met.

Fresh Start Rule

The Fresh Start Rule applies to former LETU undergraduate students who return to the University after an absence of at least three years and whose prior academic records were below acceptable standards. A student with this circumstance may petition the Office of the Provost for implementation of the Fresh Start Rule. If the petition is accepted, the cumulative GPA for the previous LETU work will be suppressed, allowing the student to resume undergraduate studies with a fresh GPA. All grades, credits, and courses formerly taken will remain on the transcript. Graduation honors will be determined by considering the full cumulative GPA of all course work attempted at the University, including the GPA for the previous LETU work that was suppressed prior to the beginning of the Fresh Start Rule.

Grade Changes and Appeals

Students who believe that an assignment grade was given unfairly or in error may appeal the grade. Before submitting an appeal, students are encouraged to first attempt to resolve the issue by speaking directly with their instructor.

All grade appeals must be based on one or more of the following grounds:

• a miscalculation of the grade
• an error in the application of the grading criteria outlined in the course syllabus or assignment rubric
• evidence of bias or unfair treatment in grading

To appeal an assignment grade, the student must:

1. Submit a written appeal to the course instructor within one week of receiving the graded assignment. The instructor must notify the student of the decision in writing within one week of being contacted by the student.
2. If the decision of the instructor is not acceptable to the student, an appeal may be made in writing to the dean of the academic school within one week after notification by the instructor. The written appeal must specify both the complaint and the action requested. The dean must notify the student of the decision in writing within one week of being contacted by the student. The decision of the dean is final.

Once a final grade has been submitted to the Office of the Registrar, only the instructor can change the grade, except in the case of a grade appeal.

To appeal a final grade, the student must:

1. Submit a written appeal to the instructor no later than four weeks after the end of the course. The instructor must notify the student of the decision in writing within one week of being contacted by the student. If the instructor decides that a final grade change is warranted, the instructor must submit a change of grade form approved by the dean of the academic school to the Office of the Registrar.
2. If the decision of the instructor is not acceptable to the student, an appeal may be made in writing to the dean of the academic school within one week after notification by the instructor. The written appeal must specify both the complaint and the action requested. The dean must notify the student of the decision in writing within one week of being contacted by the student.
3. If the decision of the dean is not acceptable to the student, a written appeal may be made to the Office of the Provost within one week after notification by the dean. The written appeal must specify both the complaint and the action requested. The Office of the Provost will notify the student of the decision in writing within one week of being contacted by the student. The decision of the Office of the Provost is final .

All response timelines in this policy refer to business days, which exclude weekends and university holidays.

Good Academic Standing

To be in good academic standing all students must make satisfactory progress toward earning a degree. At the end of every fall and spring semester, cumulative and semester GPAs are evaluated. The GPA is calculated only on hours taken through LeTourneau University.

Please be advised that the policy for good academic standing is different from the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Even though a student’s academic status may allow them to continue enrollment at the University, it does not guarantee continuation of financial aid eligibility. Refer to the Office of Student Financial Services FAQ at https://www.letu.edu/offices/administration-finance/financial-aid/finaid-faq.html.

Undergraduate Students

Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 will be placed on academic notice. Once a student is placed on academic notice, they must raise their cumulative GPA to 2.00 to return to good standing or earn a semester GPA of at least 2.00 to remain on notice for up to two semesters.

A student will be placed on academic suspension if:

• their cumulative GPA remains below 2.00 after two consecutive semesters of notice; or
• they earn a GPA of 1.00 or lower for two consecutive semesters.

Once a student is suspended, they must sit out at least two terms (fall/spring, spring/summer, summer/fall), after which they may appeal for possible readmission. The Admissions and Standards Committee will consider the student’s case in consultation with the dean of the school of the student’s intended major. If readmitted to the University, the student will enter on academic notice. If academic notice is not removed within one semester, the Admissions and Standards Committee will consider extended notice, provided satisfactory progress is being made. Satisfactory progress means the GPA is improving at a rate that will result in a minimum required cumulative GPA of 2.00 by graduation.

Any student who is suspended a second time or who demonstrates a deficiency that makes it unreasonable to anticipate eventual completion of degree requirements will be subject to academic dismissal. Since dismissal is intended to be permanent, only the lapse of a year or more and a drastic change in circumstances can justify application for readmission, which may be granted in rare instances.

Graduate Students

Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on academic notice. Once a student is placed on academic notice, they must raise their cumulative GPA to 3.00 to return to good standing or earn a semester GPA of at least 3.00 to remain on notice for up to two semesters.

A student will be placed on academic suspension if:

• their cumulative GPA remains below 3.00 after two consecutive semesters of notice; or
• they earn GPA of 2.00 or lower for two consecutive semesters.

Once a student is suspended, they must sit out at least two terms (fall/spring, spring/summer, summer/fall), after which they may appeal for possible readmission. The Admissions and Standards Committee will consider the student’s case in consultation with the dean of the school of the student’s intended major. If readmitted to the University, the student will enter on academic notice. If academic notice is not removed within one semester, the Admissions and Standards Committee will consider extended notice, provided satisfactory progress is being made. Satisfactory progress means the GPA is improving at a rate that will result in a minimum required cumulative GPA of 3.00 by graduation.

Any student who is suspended a second time or who demonstrates a deficiency that makes it unreasonable to anticipate eventual completion of degree requirements will be subject to academic dismissal. Since dismissal is intended to be permanent, only the lapse of a year or more and a drastic change in circumstances can justify application for readmission, which may be granted in rare instances.

Academic Suspension and Dismissal and F-1 Status

F-1 visa international students who are suspended or dismissed cannot enroll at LETU and may have their Form I-20 terminated by the Office of Global Initiatives. An F-1 visa international student facing suspension or dismissal should meet with the Office of Global Initiatives immediately to discuss consequences regarding the student’s visa status and options.

Academic Integrity Policy

A foundation of mutual trust is essential to the learning community. Students and faculty break that trust when they violate ethical standards that the community of scholars expects each member to uphold.

Academic dishonesty is a serious breach of trust within the LeTourneau University community because it violates the regard for truth that is essential to genuine learning and Christian consistency. From a broader perspective, it hurts both offending students and their peers who complete their work with integrity. Therefore, the LeTourneau University community will not tolerate academic dishonesty and encourages a student who experiences particular difficulties in a course to discuss the problem with the instructor rather than succumb to the pressure to commit academic dishonesty.

Academic dishonesty is not qualitatively different from other types of dishonesty. It consists of misrepresentation in an attempt to deceive. In an academic setting, this dishonesty may take various forms including, but not limited to, the following:
 

Cheating

• Using computational software/hardware, generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, or the like, without prior permission from the instructor of the current course.*
• Submitting AI-generated material as entirely original work without appropriate attribution.
• Obtaining, distributing, or using a test, unauthorized information regarding a test, or other unauthorized assignment material without prior permission from the instructor for the current course.
• Using unauthorized files, tests, problems, lab reports, or other assignment material from previous classes other than allowed by the instructor for the current course.
• Copying or using unauthorized technological or print aids in tests, examinations, or laboratory reports.
• Looking at an examination paper or answer sheet of another student.
• Cooperating or aiding in any of the above.

* Because critical thinking and Christian formation require personal engagement in the learning process,  the use of AI-powered tools to generate or revise coursework is strictly prohibited, unless explicitly permitted by the course instructor to achieve specific learning outcomes. This includes, but is not limited to, tools with grammar correction, translation services, and writing assistance. When in doubt about whether a tool is permissible, students should seek clarification from their instructor. Unauthorized use will be considered academic misconduct.

Plagiarizing

• Submitting someone else’s words, works, or ideas as if they were one’s own.
• Presenting the words, works, or ideas of someone else without accurately or completely citing the source.
• Self-plagiarizing or recycling (without prior permission from the instructor of the current course) one’s own work as original in one course when it was created in another course or for another assignment.

University Responses to Academic Dishonesty

Cases of academic dishonesty are typically first handled by the instructor teaching the course in which the violation occurs. If an instructor finds a student guilty of violating the Academic Integrity Policy, the possible sanctions he or she may impose include but are not limited to the following:

• A requirement to redo the paper or assignment.
• A significant score reduction, failing grade, or zero given on the specific exam, paper, or assignment.
• A grade reduction or failing grade given for the course.

The above are examples of typical sanctions, but the faculty member is free to determine an appropriate course penalty given the severity of the specific violation. This is left to the discretion of the instructor, but he or she may elect to consult a supervisor or dean, and/or the Associate Provost for Student Success.

Reporting the Violation to the Academic Integrity Council

Faculty members are expected to report cases of academic dishonesty to the Academic Integrity Council by raising an academic integrity flag in Starfish within 10 business days of discovery of the violation. This system will help identify students who may be violating the academic integrity policy in multiple courses, allowing for better student remediation and a more appropriate disciplinary response.

The Associate Provost for Student Success will register the violation in the student’s file for future reference should there be subsequent offenses or decisions for campus leadership positions. For repeat violations or at the request of the faculty member in complex cases, the Associate Provost for Student Success may convene the Academic Integrity Council to determine the appropriate disciplinary response in the particular course and/or with regard to the student’s future at the University. When the Academic Integrity Council is convened, it must be within 10 business days of receiving the report. The purpose of the Council is to allow for better student remediation and consider a wise disciplinary response to the particular situation.

The Academic Integrity Council will issue the student a formal letter of review to inform him or her of the University’s identification of the violation status and describe any imposed sanctions. For severe or repeat offenses, the Academic Integrity Council may apply sanctions including, but not limited to, probation, suspension, or expulsion from the University.

Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy may be considered when determining student eligibility for applicable internal positions, such as IMPACT and student worker positions. All records of academic integrity violations are maintained by the Office of the Provost. Additionally, academic integrity violations that lead to dismissal from the University are permanently noted on the student’s academic transcript.

Appeals Process

• The student will have an opportunity to appeal any sanctions imposed by either the accusing instructor or the Academic Integrity Council. For sanctions imposed by the instructor, the student is encouraged to first make an appeal to the instructor within 10 business days of receipt of the sanction.
• If the instructor rejects the student’s appeal, the student has 10 business days to appeal to the Academic Integrity Council. To initiate the appeals process, a student must submit a request for an appeal in writing to the Associate Provost for Student Success. This request must include the name of the student, the course in which the incident took place, and a brief explanation of the incident.
• Prior to hearing any appeal, the Academic Integrity Council will invite the accusing instructor and student to submit written statements. The Council may decide to request in-person statements from both parties.
• For any appeal of an initial Academic Integrity Council decision, the Provost will be the final decision maker and determine whether to dismiss, reduce, increase, or uphold the sanctions. Appeals to the Provost must include a detailed statement describing the grounds for appeal.
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Grounds for appeal:

• Procedural error that would significantly affect the outcome of the case
• New information that was not available at the time the sanction was imposed
• Sanction imposed is grossly disproportionate to the violation

Not Grounds for Appeal:

• Disagreement with findings
• Disagreement with sanctions

Further Information

Instructors should include a statement of adherence to the Academic Integrity Policy in their course syllabi and remind students of the University’s policies and procedures regarding cheating and plagiarism.

Composition of the Academic Integrity Council

The Academic Integrity Council is a standing committee of the University with membership chosen annually by the Committee on Committees. The Council shall consist of the Associate Provost for Student Success, the Dean of Students, two faculty members (one representing on campus undergraduate programs and one representing online graduate programs), and a student representative. Additional faculty may be invited to participate as subject matter experts should an academic integrity case require expertise not shared by the standing members.