Accreditation, Professional Licensure Disclosure, and Definitions of Academic Terms

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

LeTourneau University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. LeTourneau Unversity also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of LeTourneau University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

ABET

LeTourneau’s Engineering program offers the BS Engineering (BSE) degree with a concentration, and is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria with no applicable program criteria.

LeTourneau’s Engineering Technology program offers the BS Engineering Technology (BSET) degree with various concentrations, and is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria with no applicable program criteria.

LeTourneau’s Mechanical Engineering program offers the BS Mechanical Engineering (BSME) degree, and is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical Engineering.

LeTourneau’s Electrical and Computer Engineering program offers the BS Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE) degree with various concentrations, and is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Engineering, and Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

LeTourneau’s Civil Engineering program offers the BS Civil Engineering (BSCE) degree with various concentrations, and is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil Engineering.

CACREP

The MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Programs accredited by CACREP are reviewed against professionally approved standards (https://www.carep.org).

CCNE

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at LeTourneau University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The School of Aviation & Aeronautical Science offers three programs that are approved by the FAA. The Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic curriculum is approved by the FAA under 14CFR Part 147. The Private, Instrument and Commercial Pilot curriculum is approved by the FAA under 14CFR Part 141. 

Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)

LeTourneau University’s educator preparation program underwent its first program review and approval from the State Board for Educator Certification in October 1993 and is accredited on an annual basis by the Texas Education Agency.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)

THECB does not require nonprofit, private institutions in Texas to have a state license to operate, as long as the institution is regionally accredited.

ACBSP

The following degree programs offered by the School of Business are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (http://acbsp.org):

Accounting, BBA
Finance, BBA
General Business, BBA
Human Resources, BBA
Management, BBA
Marketing, BBA
BBA (online) with concentrations in Accounting, Finance, General Business, Human Resource Management, and Management
Management, BBM (online)
MBA
MSL (Master of Strategic Leadership)

Professional Licensure Disclosure

LeTourneau University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements administered by NC-SARA. This allows us to provide distance learning programs to residents of states other than Texas and establishes comparable national standards between member states, districts and territories. NC-SARA participation, however, does not grant reciprocity for state professional licensing requirements.

LeTourneau University and NC SARA Complaint Processes

Student complaints may be submitted using the LETU Student Complaint Form or via email to complaints@letu.edu. A good faith effort will be made by the institution to reach a resolution that is beneficial to those involved in a formal complaint.

If a student has exhausted available institutional complaint processes, a complaint may be submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or NC-SARA.

The only state that does not participate in NC-SARA is California. If an online student from California has exhausted available institutional complaint processes, a complaint may be submitted to the California Department of Consumer Affairs. 

Additional information can be found here.

Definitions of Academic Terms

Academic Year

The academic year is divided into two regular semesters, fall and spring, and a summer semester. Fall, spring, and summer semesters have at least 15 weeks, and each semester contains several modules. The University has two types of courses, semester-long courses and module courses. Semester-long courses and module courses have the same rigor and content, however the module courses are compressed into a much shorter time frame than the semester-long courses. Most on campus programs occur primarily in fall and spring; most online campus programs occur year round. The University’s academic year begins in the fall and concludes at the end of the following summer semester.

Credit Hour, Carnegie Unit, and Student Engagement

LeTourneau University uses the semester hour as its standard credit hour. Consistent with the Carnegie Unit expectation and university best practices, a 3-semester-hour course should require a minimum of 112.5 actual hours of student engagement for a C-level student. Student engagement is defined as the actual time in the classroom plus time spent on activities related to the course, including but not limited to reading, conducting research, writing, and studying. This broad definition applies to all LETU courses, regardless of the length of the course, location of instruction, or instructional format.

At least an equivalent amount of work is required for academic activities such as laboratory work, internships, practica, research, thesis, and similar activities that lead to the award of credit hours. Both the amount of work spent in the academic activity and the expected time of student engagement outside the activity will be considered when assigning credit hours to laboratory work, internships, practica, student teaching, research, thesis, and similar activities.

Carnegie definition:

• 15 weeks of instruction x 50 minutes of instruction x 3 classes/week = 2,250 minutes of class time
• 2,250 minutes of class time x 3 = 6,750 minutes divided by 60 min = 112.5 hours of student engagement

Online Campus Programs

The University’s online campus programs include those programs offered primarily online, as well as on ground programs at educational centers throughout Texas. For online campus programs, each semester-fall, spring, and summer semesters-contains two 7-week modules for undergraduates, one 3-week module for graduate students, two 7-week modules for graduate students, and some undergraduate and graduate courses span the entire 15-week semester. Module courses are compressed into a much shorter time frame than semester-long courses. Most online programs occur year round.

On Campus Programs

The University’s on campus programs are offered primarily on ground at the main campus in Longview. For on campus students, courses typically span the length of the entire semester. Most on campus programs occur primarily in fall and spring.

Grades, Grade Point Averages (GPA), and Grade Points

Academic standing is determined by grades earned from class work and examinations. Grade point averages (GPA) are determined on a 4.00 basis per credit hour. Cumulative Grade Point Average is determined by dividing Grade Points by Attempted Hours.The letter grades W, I, and X do not count in the GPA, nor do grades transferred to LETU from other institutions. The WF grade is calculated on the same basis as an F. Five grades are given for passing* work, with significance as follows:

*For undergraduate programs, a grade of D is not considered passing for some courses within a given major. Check program requirements. For graduate programs, a grade of D is not considered passing and will not count toward meeting graduation requirements.

Incomplete Grades

When circumstances beyond the control of the student prevent the completion of all requirements for a given course, an instructor may choose to submit a grade of “I” (incomplete) if the student has completed a majority of the coursework. Students must satisfactorily complete the work before April 1st for fall courses and before November 1st for spring or summer courses. An earlier deadline may be set at the discretion of the instructor. Incomplete grades will be changed to “F” grades if a Change of Grade form is not submitted by the instructor to the Office of the Registrar prior to the April 1st or November 1st deadline.

Coursework Status

In addition to grades, courses will also have a status. The code indicates the student’s status in the course section. Course status codes are:

Semester Honors and Graduation Honors

Two levels of semester honors are recognized for full-time students: the Deans’ List and the President’s List. Full-time students who achieve a semester GPA of 3.50 to 3.99 are included in the Deans’ List. Those who achieve a semester GPA of 4.00 are included in the President’s List. Students receiving any incomplete grade (I) during the semester will not be eligible for semester honors. For information about graduation honors, see Graduation Requirements.

Cognate

A course related to a discipline (yet not within the major) which is required for completion of a degree program.

Undergraduate Student Classifications

Graduate Student Classifications