Academic Policies & Regulations

Policy on Academic Code of Conduct

Moravian University expects its students to perform their academic work honestly and fairly. Additionally, a Moravian student should neither hinder nor unfairly assist other students in efforts to complete their own work. This policy of academic conduct is the foundation on which learning at Moravian University is built.
The institution’s expectations and the consequences of failure to meet those expectations are outlined in the policy below. If a student is uncertain about their responsibility as a scholar or about the integrity and appropriateness of a particular action, the instructor should be consulted prior to the submission of any coursework or assignments in question.

TThe sections that follow outline key policies and regulations related to academic conduct. Please note that appeals of any academic policy or issue are reviewed/heard by the Academic Standards Committee. Decisions of the Academic Standards Committee can be appealed to the provost, in writing. The president of the University does not hear appeals except where (1) new evidence is uncovered after the review by the provost; or (2) where the student making the appeal has concerns about procedural issues during the appeals process. Appeals of academic policies and issues must be made by the student on their own behalf; appeals may not be submitted by a parent, legal guardian, or attorney on behalf of a student. Appeals to the president must be submitted in writing.

Recording in Class

Students are not permitted to record a class by any means without prior written authorization of the faculty member or, in the case of a disability accommodation, written authorization from the Office of Disability and Accommodations. Unauthorized recording may be deemed a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, and/or a violation of Pennsylvania law.

Academic Code of Conduct

Students are expected to perform their academic work honestly and fairly. In addition, students should neither hinder nor unfairly assist the efforts of other students to complete their work successfully. Institutional expectations and the consequences of failure to meet those expectations are outlined below.

In the policy below, “the Committee” refers to the Academic Standards Committee for students and faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Health, and School of Professional Studies and Innovation; “the Committee” refers to the “Admissions and Standing Committee” for students and faculty in Moravian Theological Seminary and Lancaster Theological Seminary.

In an academic community, students are encouraged to help one another learn. Because no two students learn in exactly the same way or absorb the same things from a lecture, students are encouraged to study together. The boundaries on what is or is not acceptable work may not always be clear; thus, if at any point in academic work at Moravian, students are uncertain about their responsibility as scholars or about the integrity of a particular action, the instructor should be consulted. Students can violate the academic code of conduct without intending to do so; it is therefore important that they familiarize themselves with both institutional definitions and expectations (defined below) as well as departmental, program, and instructor expectations. The Committee does not consider intent when reviewing suspected violations of policy.

Respect for Academic Honesty

Failure to respect academic honesty includes but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism
• Cheating
• Helping or hindering others
• Falsification
• Violations of copyright law

This list is not to be considered all-inclusive but rather covers the most common areas of concern. In general, students should be guided by the principles as described here.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the use, deliberate or not, of any outside source without proper acknowledgment. While the work of others often constitutes a necessary resource for academic research, such work must be properly used and credited to the original author. This principle applies to professional scholars as well as to students.
An “outside source” is any work (published or unpublished) composed, written, or created by any person other than the student who submitted the work. This definition is adapted from Napolitano v. Princeton, which established the accepted legal standard.

All work that students submit or present as part of course assignments or requirements must be their own original work unless otherwise expressly permitted by the instructor. This includes any work presented, in written, oral, or electronic form or in any other technical or artistic medium. When students use the specific thoughts, ideas, writings, or expressions of others, they must accompany each instance of use with some form of attribution to the source. Direct quotes from any source (including the Internet) must be placed in quotation marks (or otherwise marked appropriately) and accompanied by proper citation, following the preferred bibliographic conventions of the department or instructor. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make clear to all students in the class the preferred or required citation style for student work. A student’s lack of understanding of bibliographic convention and citation procedures is not considered a valid excuse for having committed plagiarism.

When writing creative or research papers in a foreign language, students may not use electronic translation services, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), without explicit permission from the course instructor. Utilizing such tools without express permission of the instructor constitutes plagiarism. The use of electronic dictionaries for single-word inquiries or short idiomatic expressions is permissible at the discretion of professors in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

Students may not present oral or written reports written by others as their own work. This includes incorporating formal lecture notes written or dictated by someone other than the student.

Students may not use writing or research obtained from a term-paper service or purchased from any person or entity, unless they fully disclose such activity to the instructor and are given express permission. They may not use writings or research obtained from any other student previously or currently enrolled at Moravian or elsewhere or from the files of any student organization unless expressly permitted to do so by the instructor.

Students may not submit or present work prepared in whole or in part to fulfill course requirements for more than one course, unless expressly permitted to do so by all instructors involved. This includes work submitted for courses at other institutions as well as in previous semesters at Moravian.
Students must keep all notes, drafts, and materials used in preparing assignments until a final course grade is given. For work in electronic form, they may be asked to keep all intermediate drafts and notes electronically or in hard copy until final grades are given. All such materials must be available for inspection by the instructor at any time.

Cheating

Students may not submit homework, computer solutions, lab reports, or any other coursework prepared by, copied from, or dictated by others (either inside or outside of the institution). If the student is employing the services of a tutor (whether from the campus community or elsewhere), the tutor may not prepare the student’s work for class.

Students may not provide or receive unauthorized help in taking examinations, tests, or quizzes, or in preparing any other requirements for a course. Such restrictions are illustrated by but not limited to the following:

• Using unauthorized material in an examination, test, or quiz.
• Using notes in any form, regardless of who prepared them, unless authorized by the instructor.
• Using calculators or any other electronic devices unless authorized by the instructor. The instructor has the right to insist that electronic devices must be turned off, put away, or collected until the conclusion of the assessment.
• Using e-mail or text-messaging during any exam without the permission of the instructor.
• Stealing, using, or transmitting in writing, electronically, or verbally, actual examinations, tests, quizzes, quiz banks, or portions thereof prior to, during, or following an exam.
• Reading or observing another student’s work without that student’s consent and the instructor’s consent, whether that work be on paper, in electronic form, or in any other medium.
• Sharing of electronic documents or notes during the exam, including during take-home exams, without prior permission of the instructor.
• Soliciting or using a proxy test-taker or acting in that capacity.
• Posting to a public or private website any course materials without the instructor’s permission.

Helping or Hindering Others

Students may not tamper with, damage, or otherwise hinder the work of others to complete their own assignments.
Students may not collaborate during an in-class examination, test, or quiz, or work with others on out-of-class assignments, exams, or projects unless expressly allowed or directed to do so by the instructor. If students have any reservation about their participation in any out-of-class assignments, they should consult with the instructor.

Falsification

Students may not falsify an excuse for an absence from an examination, test, quiz, or other course requirement. Students may not falsify an excuse for an absence from class, even when there is to be no graded assessment on that day. Students who do so may be subject to consequences through the Student Code of Conduct.

Students may not falsify laboratory results, research data, or results. They may not invent bibliographical entries for research papers or handouts. They may not falsify information about the date of submission for any coursework.

Violation of Copyright Law

In the preparation of course, program, or degree work, students are directed to comply with the copyright law of the United States (Title XVII, U.S. Code, available in Reeves Library). Violations of copyright law and of regulations regarding the use of copyrighted material for educational purposes are violations of this policy.

Students may not copy print or non-print media or download copyrighted files (including music) from the Internet beyond accepted norms. Reeves Library staff should be consulted concerning U.S. copyright policies on ‘fair use’ for educational purposes. Information is available at https://moravian.libguides.com/libraryservices/facultyResources.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

Presently, Moravian University has no institutional policy regarding the use of generative AI, ChatGPT, and other such resources by students in completion of their coursework. Thus, faculty should be as explicit as possible about their AI/ChatGPT policy in their syllabi, in assignment prompts, on Canvas, and should take time to discuss this in class with students. Instructors are strongly encouraged to remind students that all work submitted or presented as part of course assignments or requirements must be their own original work unless otherwise expressly permitted by the instructor; this acknowledgement extends to the use of AI, and students are expected to cite use of ChatGPT-generated text and/or other AI tools as they would webpages, scholarly texts, and other sources that inform their work. In short, instructors and students should come to an understanding about how AI tools can support learning while also following general principles of academic integrity. Students are expected to follow the instructor’s preferences and expectations regarding the use of AI in their class.

Filing of Violations of the Academic Code of Conduct

Any student currently enrolled at the institution may be charged with a suspected violation of the academic code of conduct, even where the violation is not tied to a specific course. Suspected violations of the academic code of conduct are normally submitted by a faculty member and are generally tied to a specific course. However, the initial suspicion of a violation may be identified by anyone on campus; such suspicions should be brought to the course instructor or associate provost. When charges are tied to a specific course, the initial consequence is decided by the instructor, in accordance with the consequences listed below. When the student is charged without tied to a specific course, the Academic Standards Committee can determine the consequence or may refer the case to Student Development for potential adjudication in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Students, faculty, or staff who bring forth charges may not do so anonymously if they wish for the charge to be processed and potentially adjudicated, though they may make their initial conversation with a faculty member private and confidential.

Procedures for and Consequences of Violating the Academic Code of Conduct

An instructor who suspects a student of violating the academic code of conduct will consult with the department chair or another full-time faculty member in the department, using a blind copy of the work in question, to confirm the suspected violation. If they find the agree that the student appears to have violated the academic code of conduct, the instructor will, in almost all cases, assign a preliminary grade of 0 to the work in question or a failing grade in the course in which the suspected violation occurred. In cases of plagiarism, the instructor can request to the Academic Standards Committee that the student be allowed to redo an assignment for a lesser grade (but not zero), as an educational consequence for the suspected violation. The Committee can decline to allow a recommended consequence without disclosing their reasons. This path does not prevent the student from submitting an appeal of the charge through the normal processes.

The instructor may recommend that the Academic Standards Committee consider suspension or expulsion, if the instructor and the chair feel that the circumstances of the suspected violation are particularly egregious or if professional standards in a program leading to licensure or other professional credentials have been violated. The Academic Standards Committee is not bound by this recommendation, but will take it under advisement and require a hearing with the student who has been charged.

The student must be informed by the course instructor in writing (which may be via email) of the suspected violation and initial consequence; a copy of this memo will normally be sent to the appropriate associate provost or to the Dean of the Seminaries (for students in Moravian Theological Seminary or Lancaster Theological Seminary). A message within the course management system is not sufficient. Instructors may not log a suspected violation with the Academic Standards Committee without first notifying the student in question. A record of the suspected violation will be kept in the Office of the Provost (or Seminary Dean’s Office, with a copy in the record of the Office of Vocation and Enrollment). In alignment with the Student Code of Conduct, these records are considered part of a student’s educational record as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and may be released in certain circumstances as allowed by that law. The University will comply with requests for release of these records in accordance with FERPA when a current or former student seeks admission to another institution of higher education or for employment for a period of seven years following a student’s last date of attendance for most cases and indefinitely in cases involving suspension or expulsion. Students may petition the Academic Standards Committee to have their records sealed, so that a prior violation is not reported to prospective employers or graduate/professional schools; however, the decision as to whether or not to seal such records lies with the Academic Standards Committee. Requests to have records sealed will not be accepted until at least one calendar year has passed since the incident has been reported (exceptions for graduating students can be made by the Academic Standards Committee or the provost); requests to seal records will not be granted where the resulting consequence was suspension or expulsion. Students may request to have a single violation sealed, but requests involving multiple violations will not be granted. Although a student’s records would be effectively sealed, the student needs to be aware that there are some situations where the student might apply for a job or for admission for additional education (e.g., grad school, law school) and that institution requires records be shared, even these sealed ones. In these cases, Moravian University will not share said records without the student’s permission, but the student or alum must realize that they may not be eligible for that position without allowing that institution access to these records. In other words, if they don’t give permission in those cases where the institution or employer requires access to these records, the student may need to rescind their application to that institution or could expect that their application for admission or employment might be denied.

The institution strongly recommends that any finding of academic dishonesty be disclosed to the student’s faculty advisor, to assist the student in understanding the implications of the finding and to assist the advisor in counseling the student. The associate provost or Seminary dean may notify the advisor without specific permission from the student, in compliance with FERPA.

Suspected violations of the academic code of conduct must be presented to the Committee by within 30 calendar days of the last day of the term in question. In the event where a suspected violation was discovered when a student was initially awarded a grade of incomplete, suspected violation must be submitted to the Academic Standards Committee within 30 days after all work for the course has been submitted. No charges may be brought after that date.

For students in accelerated or cohort-based programs, faculty members have three weeks from the end of a term to present charges of code of conduct violations. Students have 30 days from the time of notification by the Academic Standards Committee (that the violation was submitted) to file an appeal. Students in these situations may continue in their program until the appeal has been reviewed and a course of action determined by the Academic Standards Committee. Subsequently, should the student wish to appeal decisions of the Academic Standards Committee, the student may continue in the program until the appeal has been heard by the Provost and the student has been notified of the decision. Students who are subject to program dismissal, institutional suspension, or expulsion may remain in the program until they are notified that their appeals are complete. Students in this situation are not eligible for refunds of any tuition paid up to the date of their separation from the institution.

If a student is suspected of violating the academic code of conduct in the last term of study and faces possible course failure, suspension, or expulsion as a result, the Academic Standards Committee may instruct the registrar to withhold the student’s diploma and delay conferral of the degree until the case is adjudicated. The Academic Standards Committee will make every attempt to resolve the situation prior to graduation, or as soon as otherwise possible.

A faculty member who wishes to impose a consequence other than course failure or assignment failure/zero must confer with the appropriate associate provost or Seminary dean before notifying the student of the consequence.

Graduate students who are notified of a suspected violation of the academic code of conduct may face suspension or expulsion for a single offense. The decision to expel will be made by the Academic Standards Committee, but will be informed in part by a recommendation by the appropriate graduate program director.

Students wishing to appeal either the suspected violation of the academic code of conduct or the initial consequence are encouraged to first consult with the faculty member in order to understand the situation; please note that the instructor may not grant an appeal of the suspected violation, but may choose to withdraw the submitted violation. If the student then wishes to pursue an appeal, students must do so in writing to the Committee. Student appeals must be filed within 30 days of the instructor’s filing of the violation. The faculty member will be asked to explain in writing the charge and circumstances surrounding it. Letters from material witnesses may be submitted by either the faculty member or the student, but letters in support of the student’s character will not be accepted or considered by the Committee. Students may request to meet with the Committee in person, but are still required to submit an appeal in writing for the Committee’s records.

Students charged with a second suspected violation of the academic code of conduct will be referred automatically to the Committee after the faculty member assigns the initial consequence. As with student appeals of charges or consequences, the faculty member and the student in question will submit a written explanation of the situation. If the charge is found to be valid, the committee will determine whether the consequence was sufficient and reasonable. At this point, the student could be suspended or expelled.

If the Committee determines that suspension or expulsion is reasonable and advisable, the student will be informed of this action in writing. If an appeal is requested, a formal hearing will be held. No parents or friends may be present. Material witnesses will be asked to submit testimony in writing and may be asked to testify in person. No character witnesses or written statements from such parties are permitted. Students may consult with their academic advisor in preparing an appeal or defense before the Committee. The provost may elect to hear appeals of suspensions or expulsions. Once the process (including appeals) for suspension or expulsion is finalized, the student’s transcript is updated to show suspended or expelled, as appropriate.

In the event of a third charge, the case will be automatically referred to the Committee for a formal hearing, following the procedure described above. Should the committee determine that a student has violated this code of conduct for the third time, the result is typically immediate expulsion; for students at Moravian Theological Seminary, this action occurs without the necessity of a Seminary faculty vote. Students wishing to appeal must make their request in writing. Appeals of an expulsion or suspension must be received by the provost within five class days of receipt of the original hearing verdict. The provost shall evaluate the written appeal so as to determine whether grounds exist for expulsion or suspension. Once the process (including appeals) for suspension or expulsion is finalized, the student’s transcript is updated to show suspended or expelled, as appropriate.

Any member of the Committee who feels they have a conflict of interest in reviewing the case must be recused from discussion and voting. For a case to be reviewed, a simple quorum is required. If more than two faculty or administrative members of the committee recuse themselves from deliberations, the Provost or Seminary dean will appoint ad hoc replacements from the faculty to review the case.

Undergraduate students may not withdraw from a course in which they have been charged with a breach of this policy, except with the instructor’s written permission, and only if the charge has been filed prior to the last day to withdraw from any course. Dropping the class does not invalidate the charge of misconduct. If the charge is overturned by the Committee, the student may choose to withdraw with a W from the course without assessment of a late fee. In this event, no refunds of tuition and/or fees are granted.

Consequences of Charges after Conferral of the Degree

If a faculty member uncovers evidence of academic dishonesty committed by a student who has already received a degree, the student will be marked as ineligible for admission to any graduate programs offered by the institution, pending a review of the case. The charge is kept in the records of the Academic Standards Committee and may be reported to employers or other higher education programs, as per policy above. Students will be notified by the associate provost of the charge so that they have the right to appeal.

Student Rights With Regard To Violations Of The Academic Code Of Conduct

Students have the right:

• To have the suspected violation described in writing by the instructor prior to submission of the allegation to the Academic Standards Committee..
• To see the evidence of the charge collected by the faculty member.
• To discuss with the instructor the suspected violation, though official appeals of charges may only be reviewed and granted by the Academic Standards Committee.
• To know all of the names of the persons accusing them of suspected violations of the academic code of conduct.
• To review all material submitted to the Academic Standards Committee before it makes its determination. Response to the material may be made orally or in writing. If the instructor provides a written response to the student’s appeal, the student may view that response and provide one additional submission to the committee, if the student chooses to do so.
• Within one month of the filing of the suspected violation, to appeal in writing the suspected violation or consequence to the Committee.
• To receive assistance from the academic advisor in preparing an appeal to the Committee. In addition, members of the current student body, and current full-time faculty or staff may assist the student in preparing an appeal.
• To receive a decision from the Committee within a reasonable time.
• To have all records of the suspected violation removed from the student’s file in the event that the suspected violations are dropped or withdrawn.
• To have at the hearing a member of the faculty, administration, or student body to provide support to the student but not participate in the proceedings. Individuals other than those listed above (including but not limited to family members and attorneys) will not be admitted.
• To appear in person and present information on their own behalf, to call witnesses, and to ask questions of anyone present at a hearing. In determining the validity of and responsibility for the suspected violation, the Committee will permit witnesses of fact but not character.
• To refuse to answer or make a statement. Decisions will be based on the available evidence.
• To elect not to attend a hearing, without further consequence, in which case the hearing will be conducted in students’ absence with the evidence available, and decisions will be based on that evidence.
• To request that a previous record of a charge be sealed; for legal reasons, however, the institution may be obligated to report sealed charges.
• To receive written documentation of the outcome of a hearing and any resulting consequences.
• To request an appeal of the process of any hearing by the Committee. Appeals will be heard by the provost, who will determine whether proper procedures have been followed and return the case to the Committee if appropriate. Appeals to the provost must be submitted in writing within 2 weeks of receipt of the decision of the Academic Standards Committee.

Faculty Rights With Regard To Allegations Of Violations Of The Academic Code Of Conduct

The faculty member filing the violation has the right:

• To have the chair, program director, dean, or other faculty member present in meetings with the student.
• To confer with the appropriate associate provost or Seminary dean on an appropriate consequence for the alleged violation.
• To negotiate with the associate provost or Seminary dean an alternative consequence if the instructor feels there are mitigating circumstances.
• To submit to the Committee any materials relevant to the decision.
• To review in a timely fashion the student’s written appeal and respond in writing to the Committee before the case is reviewed, as well as to review any subsequent response provided by the student to the instructor’s response cited above. (At this point, there is no further “back-and-forth” with review of materials between the instructor and student.)
• To be apprised of the Committee’s decision in writing in a timely manner.

Academic Advising

Every student at Moravian University has a faculty advisor. Each first-year student is assigned an advisor to assist in the planning of academic work and in the selection of a major, generally toward the end of the first year.

When a student has selected a major, a faculty member in the appropriate department becomes the student’s advisor and continues in that capacity unless the student elects to change the major to another area of study. At the time of registration for courses, the student consults with the advisor about the selection and sequence of courses as well as about career plans and further study.

Advisors are provided to assist students in planning their academic programs. They are not authorized to change Moravian’s established policies. Each student is responsible for ensuring that his or her academic program complies with the requirements for the major, the program of general education, and any other degree requirements of the University. Any advice at variance with established policy must be confirmed by the Office of the Provost in writing.

Academic Advising Webpage

Course Registration

Students register, online, via AMOS (student portal) during predetermined registration dates/times.

It is an undergraduate students’ responsibility to consult their faculty advisor and secure “registration clearance” (granted by the advisor, through AMOS). Undergraduate students normally take four (4) course units in the Fall and Spring terms. In addition, they may schedule , music ensembles, music performance (private lessons), and certain other courses up to a maximum load of 9 units per academic year, with no more than 5 units in a given fall or spring term (emphasis added to demonstrate the change).

A currently enrolled student who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Moravian is not permitted to take courses at another institution in a Fall or Spring semester except through consortial relationships or other partnerships. Appeals for an exception to this policy must be discussed with the student’s advisor before being sent to the Dean who can approve the request. Degree-seeking students must get the permission of their academic advisor for consortial enrollment or other study away from Moravian. In the case of non-consortial transfer courses, students must also receive prior approval of the course equivalency from the academic department in which it is housed in order for credit to be awarded. For further guidance, refer to policies on consortial enrollments and transfer of courses..

Course Overload

With an advisor’s approval, a student with at least sophomore standing (6.75 local earned units) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of request, may schedule a course overload in the Fall or Spring term on AMOS. The requested course for overload must be open at the time of request. Students are not permitted to enroll in more than 5 units in any single term.

Students who meet the standing and grade requirements for overload will not be charged additional tuition for their first overload unit in any given academic year. Any enrollment beyond 9 units in an academic year for Fall and Spring term will be subject to additional tuition charges and fees.

Credit earned for English Tutorship, Amrhein Investment Club, LeaderShape, ROTC and Emerging Leaders are excluded from this restriction.

Undergraduate Enrollment In Graduate Courses

Qualified undergraduate students may enroll in graduate courses while pursuing their undergraduate degree. Within the scope of the 30 units (120 credits) typically required for an undergraduate degree (33 units, or 132 credits for the B.Mus. degree), students may count up to 16 credit hours of graduate study towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. The total number of graduate credits must meet or exceed the requirements for the graduate degree in order for the graduate degree to be awarded; no undergraduate courses may count towards a graduate degree. Graduate courses taken as part of the baccalaureate degree must be free electives, and may not be counted towards a major, minor, or general education requirements.

In order to enroll in graduate courses, the student must 1) be accepted for early admission into the appropriate graduate program; or 2) must be given permission in writing from the appropriate program director to enroll in specific graduate courses. Full-time, cohort-based graduate programs are not open to undergraduate students.

Minimally, a “qualified student” is one who has an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3 and has junior class standing or higher. Transfer students must complete at least one term of study at Moravian prior to enrolling in any graduate courses. Individual programs may set more stringent or additional requirements for their definition of a “qualified student,” based on their normal admissions requirements for their graduate degree program. Such definitions are expected to be identified in writing by the appropriate program director.

Course Add/Drop Or Withdrawal

The Add/Drop period and official withdrawal deadlines are specified on the Academic Calendar for each term and Tuition Refund Policies apply. No course may be added after the add/drop period. Dropped courses do not appear on the official transcript. All course withdrawals will appear on the student’s official transcript and carry a designation/final grade of W or WF.

It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Financial Aid Office to verify the effect that any change in course load will have on financial-aid eligibility.

Note that students in a cohort program may not drop a single course, but may only withdraw from all classes in a given term, in consultation with the program director/advisor.

Physical Location Policy

Due to federal and individual state regulations, Moravian University is limited in providing online courses and programs to students in certain states and countries. Acceptance into an online program or enrollment in an online course is based on where the student is physically located while taking the course(s). Activities such as completing clinical and internship requirements in a location outside of Pennsylvania are also governed by these regulations. Therefore, should an enrolled student CHANGE PHYSICAL LOCATION, he/she must notify the Registrar’s Office and Program Director at least 3 months in advance. Dependent on the new location, Moravian may or may not be able to allow the student to continue taking online courses or approve clinical or internship placements.

Course Modalities

Moravian University offers courses in a variety of modalities, which express the degree to which the course is offered in-person (face-to-face) vs. online, as well as whether the course follows a normal 15-week semester calendar or is accelerated in some way. The following are some of the terms and definitions used:

• In-Person an in-person course is delivered in face-to-face meetings on campus.
• In-person with Classroom Connect - an in-person course with classroom connect is delivered simultaneously in face-to-face meetings on campus and through Zoom. The majority of seats are available in the in-person section and 3-4 seats in the classroom connect.
• Online Synchronous (may contain some asynchronous components)- an online synchronous course is delivered through an internet platform, such as Moravian’s LMS, Canvas, with live video conferencing, real-time sessions on specific days and times.
• Online Asynchronous - an online asynchronous course is delivered through an internet platform, such as Moravian’s LMS, Canvas, with no live video conferencing, real-time sessions.
• Hybrid - a hybrid course is delivered using both online and in-person components.
• Accelerated - a course which is offered in fewer weeks than a normal 15-week semester.

Changes in modality of any course can occur, based on content, andragogy/pedagogy, health and safety, or other needs as determined by the instructor, department or institution. Changes in modality can occur with less than 24 hours’ notice. Such changes may be temporary (e.g.: for a few days or weeks) or may carry for the remainder of the term.

Attendance Statement

Attendance means more than simple physical presence in the classroom, but encompasses academic engagement as appropriate for the course: online discussions, conferencing technology, field experiences, etc. Students should refer to the course syllabus for an explanation of how they are expected to demonstrate appropriate academic engagement.

All students are expected to regularly demonstrate academic engagement within each of their classes.

Verification of Class Enrollments

At the beginning of each term, students must demonstrate academic engagement during the add/drop period or have the class dropped from their schedule. Exceptions to this policy must be approved through the Provost’s Office. Students who are requesting an exception should contact the Provost’s Office.

Attendance and Impact on Grades

It is the responsibility of the instructor to set forth, in writing, at the beginning of a course any special conditions regarding absences in the course. In many classes (e.g., seminars, laboratories, studios, clinicals), participation in class constitutes a substantial part of the work of the course. Faculty should clarify how students are expected to demonstrate their academic engagement (whether physically in a class, virtually through conferencing, etc).

NOTE: In the Summer of 2020, faculty engaged in discussion about providing flexibility for students to continue their coursework even when they cannot attend the class. In classes that require the physical presence of students, faculty should work with students who are unable to be physically present to determine whether and how students can academically engage with the course even while they are not able to physically attend a class session.

Students with “Academic Flexibility” as an ADA accommodation will work with the instructor to determine whether and how any relevant attendance requirements may need to be adjusted. The instructor and the student may consult with the Accessibility Services Center, as needed.

Throughout the semester, if absences occur, it is the student’s responsibility to make up the work missed. Permission to make up laboratory assignments, studios, quizzes, exams, and other such assessments are granted at the discretion of the instructor. As a matter of courtesy, whenever students find it necessary to be absent from class, they should inform the instructor as soon as possible and remain in consistent communication with the instructor to ensure all missed work is appropriately addressed and/or completed.

Planned Absences

If a student expects to be absent for any of the If a student expects to be absent for any of the following reasons, they must inform the faculty member as soon as possible in writing, ideally in advance of the class meeting itself. If a student reports that they will be absent for one of these reasons, the faculty members are then expected to work with the student to provide alternate arrangements for these students to demonstrate academic engagement:

• Travel considered part of the instructional program of the University (e.g. field trips, research experiences)
• Travel as part of a team or group that is representing the University (e.g. public performances, conference presentations, NCAA competitions)
• Jury duty or other official civil services (such as National Guard duties or voting)
• Religious observances
• Family emergencies (such as caring for a family member who is ill)
• Attendance at funeral services for immediate family members

Absence Due to Health Concerns

Students may not be able to attend class due to health concerns. In such a case, the student must notify the faculty member as soon as possible, ideally in advance of the class meeting. In turn, the faculty member should work with students to provide alternate methods for the student to demonstrate their academic engagement. Faculty should note that documentation may not be available (e.g. if the student has a migraine, they may not be able to provide documentation to support a claim). Typically, the Health Center cannot provide “excuse notes” for illness of students not in their direct care.

The Health Center, Moravian athletic trainers or team physicians, the Accessibility Services Center, or the Provost’s Office may provide notification through Navigate of student absences due to health concerns. If a student will be absent for an extended period (typically more than three days), they should work with the relevant office to ensure communication with instructors and develop a plan to address issued assignments/assessments.

In the event of certain outbreaks (e.g.: mumps, COVID-19, influenza), students are expected to follow the guidance from the Health Center about leaving their residence or physically attending class. Students who receive instructions from the Health Center that they cannot physically attend class should inform their instructors as soon as possible. Faculty are expected to make every effort to provide alternate methods for these students to demonstrate their academic engagement with the course.

If a student will be absent for an extended period for a documented health reason, they can share that documentation with the relevant office listed above, who can then confirm to instructors that such documentation has been received.

Administrative Withdrawal

Prior to the announced last day for students to withdraw with a “W,” instructors may request an administrative withdrawal for a student who has failed to engage academically with their course for a period of three consecutive weeks or more. The request must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar will then consult with the Dean of the relevant school regarding the appropriateness of the request. If a student’s status changes from full-time to part-time as a result of the administrative “W,” the Student Accounts Office and Financial Aid will make appropriate adjustments to the student’s account for said term. International students who would change to part-time status due to this policy will be referred to the Center for Global Education before action is taken.

Individual Class Cancellations

Faculty are expected to post any class cancellations using the Class Cancellation Portal on AMOS. Students should note any such changes to class meetings.

Changes in Class Format
Faculty are expected to notify students through the course’s Canvas shell whenever there is a change in format (for example, moving to an online class, even for a single class meeting).

Inclement Weather

The University may be closed to certain on-campus activities, including in-person classes as a result of inclement weather.

Under such conditions, faculty are encouraged to use appropriate online alternatives, rather than canceling a class, whenever possible. Faculty must communicate to students at least 60 minutes prior to the start of class whether the class will be held in person, online, or both.

All persons should use their best judgment when making decisions about their own safety, whether driving or walking to and from work or class.

To communicate closures, Moravian University sends text and email notifications via e2Campus, sends a University email message, and posts on the University webpage. Public announcements are also made via WFMZ (website and television).

End Of Term Policies

The following end-of-term policies apply to all courses (except where designated). Students are advised to be aware of these policies in preparing to finish any remaining work or preparing for final exams.

1. In determining the final grade, please note that no single element (including the final examination) may be counted as more than one-third of the final grade.
2. No final exams may be scheduled during the last five days of classes (but other exams and quizzes may be administered). This restriction applies only to final exams offered in a full fall or spring term, and does not apply to accelerated courses, winter, or summer terms.
3. No tests, quizzes, papers or projects worth more than 20% of the final grade for the course may be scheduled for the last 5 days of classes.
4. If any test is given during the last week of classes, it must not overrun the allotted time period of the class.
5. The regulation regarding length of exam does apply to take-home final examinations, which are due at the scheduled time during the final examination period. Take-home finals may be given to students at any time, however they are due back to the instructor at the date and time the “in class” final was scheduled (as per the exam schedule on AMOS).
6. All tests and quizzes are to be returned no later than two weeks after they are given and, in any event, no later than the next-to-the-last class meeting, with the exception of final exams or final projects due during the last week of class or final exams.
7. All papers are to be returned no later than three weeks after the due date or in any case no later than the scheduled final exam for the class, or by the last day of classes in courses with no scheduled final exam.
8. Students who have more than 2 final exams scheduled on a single calendar day have the right to move one to another day. Students in this situation are asked to work through their Dean and with a faculty member to determine a mutually agreed upon date to move the exam, which must be scheduled during the normal exam period for that term.

Final Examinations And Reading Days

If a student is unable to take a final examination, the instructor’s permission must be secured in order for a makeup exam to be arranged. The University does not recognize airline schedules or other travel plans as a legitimate reason for rescheduling final examinations. Students must check the final exam schedule before making travel plans. The schedule is posted on AMOS prior to the start of each term. Appeals of the decision of the instructor should be directed to the appropriate dean. A student scheduled for three final exams on a single calendar day is entitled to have one exam rescheduled. Requests for any changes in the exam schedule must be submitted in writing to the appropriate academic dean (arts, humanities, and social sciences; or natural sciences and health sciences) by midterm.

The University generally provides 1 or 2 reading days prior to or during final exams each fall or spring term. The purpose of these days is for students to prepare for final exams and presentations without the distraction of other activities and work. Nonetheless, the institution does allow student-organized activities during the reading days, with the permission of the dean of students and provost. Requests to schedule such activities must be made in writing to both vice presidents, with a clear description of the intended audience, schedule of events, and facilities needs. No mandatory events are permitted during reading days. All events offered must be voluntary.

Consortial Institutions

Moravian has consortial agreements with several colleges across the country. Students can register for classes in these consortial schools through the links below and/or find applicable instructions for registration.

The following policies apply for courses registered through any of our consortial partners:

• An undergraduate student in good academic standing with at least 6 earned units (24 credit hours), may enroll for up to two consortial courses per term, to a total of eight (8) course units over the span of their work toward their degree.
• Courses through our consortial partners will not incur additional tuition charges to the student beyond normal Moravian tuition charges when applicable.
• A student cannot register for a course through a consortial institution if an equivalent course is available to the student during that same term.
• Consortial courses cannot include private music instruction, nursing courses, independent study experiences, internships, Honors courses, or student teaching fieldwork.
• Any course from a consortial school carrying 3 or 4 credits (or semester hours) will count as a full unit course on the student’s Moravian transcript.
• Any consortial course a student registers for contributes to the student’s total course load for the term, including determination of full-time status or overload.
• All grades earned in courses taken from a consortial school will be recorded on the Moravian transcript and computed in the cumulative GPA.
• Many consortial institutions operate on different academic calendars. The student is responsible for add/drop dates, beginning and end of term dates, last dates to withdraw, and final exam dates of the consortial institution hosting the registered course.
• Students registered for courses at consortial schools are subject to the academic standards of the consortial school hosting the course.

LVAIC Consortium

Moravian, with Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, and Muhlenberg College, is a member of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC). One of the benefits of this association is the opportunity for full-time students to take courses at one or more of the member colleges at no additional tuition charge within approved course load.

Students who register for courses at other LVAIC institutions assume responsibility for the costs and means of transportation for any in-person courses and are subject to limits on class size, course prerequisites, and the regulations in place at the Host institution. View the LVAIC Cross-Registration Policy.

FALL/SPRING/WINTER/SUMMER
Cross-registration requests must be completed online through the LVAIC website at: www.lvaic.org

COLA Consortium for Online Liberal Arts

Moravian is an active participant in Consortium for Online Liberal Arts (COLA). Undergraduate students from participating institutions will be invited to enroll in various course offerings, for credit, but subject to limits on class size, course prerequisites, and the regulations in place at Host institution. Qualified students will be accepted on a first-come basis. There will be no additional tuition or fees for students who enroll in these courses within approved course load.

• COLA Courses
• COLA Course Registration Form
• COLA Course Withdrawal Form

For additional information please contact registrar@moravian.edu.

Acadeum Consortium

Moravian undergraduate students can access a list of pre-approved courses through the Acadeum College Consortium.

Students must visit the Consortium website, sign up for an account using their Moravian student email, verify their institutional email address, and complete their Profile before making a request to enroll.

**Students need to list “Academic Advising” under Advisor Name and advising@moravian.edu for the Advisor Email.**

Academic Advising staff will verify approval with the appropriate academic advisor and confirm approval with the Registrar’s Office. Final approval will be subject to the Host institution.

If you cannot see a pre-approved course on the Acadeum website that fits your course need, please email advising@moravian.edu. Include your name, student ID number, and the Moravian course or requirement you are seeking to fulfill. Please note that this option is generally only available for Winter and Summer terms.

Auditing

A student who is interested in becoming A student who is interested in becoming familiar with the content of a course without the constraints of credit work may register for a course as an auditor. Registration for a course audit or a change from audit to credit status must be carried out no later than the end of the first five calendar days in a fall or spring term or the first two class days in an intensive winter or summer session. Instructor permission must be sent, in writing, to the Office of the Registrar.

However, up to the last day in the term for withdrawal with a W, a student who is registered for credit in a course may change to audit status, provided the course instructor assures the Office of the Provost in writing that the student’s grade at the time of the change is C or better. The student, moreover, must attend two-thirds of all classes after the change to audit status, as reported by the instructor, to receive a grade of AUD on the transcript. Failure to do so will result in a W notation.

Auditors are not expected to submit written work or to take examinations, nor should they expect the instructor to evaluate such work. Students must attend a minimum of two-thirds of the class meetings of the course in order for an audit to be recorded on a transcript. Students may not register to audit Independent Study, Internship, studio art, applied music and music ensembles, Writing 101, nursing clinical courses, or other courses that by their nature are inappropriate for auditors, as determined by the University. Auditing is available on a space-available basis only; that is, if the course is closed, auditors will not be accepted.

A student may not audit a class for the purposes of preparing for a challenge exam.

Grades and Quality Points

Academic achievement is designated by letter grades, distinguished by plus and minus, to which numerical quality points are assigned. Students are expected to attain certain quality-point averages to meet various academic standards. For graduation, as an example, the cumulative GPA must be no less than 2.00 in all courses for undergraduates and 3.00 for graduate students. The requirements and quality points assigned for each grade are as follows:

A: 4.00 points and A-: 3.67 points. These grades indicate achievement of the highest caliber. They involve expectations of independent work, original thinking, and the ability to acquire and use knowledge effectively.

A (Honors): 8.0 points. This grade, given for the two course units in senior Honors, merits the degree citation with Honors in the field of study.

B+: 3.33 points, B: 3.00 points, and B-: 2.67 points. These grades indicate higher than average achievement. Evidence of independent work and original thinking is expected.

C+: 2.33 points, C: 2.00 points, and C-: 1.67 points. These grades are given when the student has devoted a reasonable amount of time, effort, and attention to the work of the course and has satisfied the following criteria: familiarity with the content of the course, familiarity with the methods of study of the course, and active participation in the work of the class.

D+: 1.33 points, D: 1.00 point, and D-: 0.67 point. These grades indicate unsatisfactory work, below the standard expected by the University, in which one or more important aspects falls below the average expected of students for graduation. The work is, however, sufficient to be credited for graduation if balanced by superior work in other courses.

F: No points. This indicates failure.

P: No points. Indicates Pass in courses taken on a Pass/No Credit basis. Does not affect the GPA.

NC: No points. Indicates failure in courses taken on a Pass/No Credit basis. Does not affect the GPA.

W, WF: No points. These designations indicate withdrawal from a course before completion. W is assigned for all withdrawals prior to the official withdrawal deadline, normally before the last four weeks of the term; WF is assigned if withdrawal takes place after the official withdrawal deadline, except that in cases of illness or other extenuating circumstances the Office of the Provost may authorize a grade of W. A WF is computed in the quality-point average as an F. W does not affect the GPA.

AUD: No points. The designation Audit is used for students granted permission to attend classes for the benefit they can derive from lectures and discussions but who are not taking the course for credit. An audit designation indicates attendance at a minimum of two-thirds of the class meetings of the course.

INC: No points. An incomplete is assigned when, in the judgment of the instructor, circumstances beyond the student’s control prevented completion of the work of the course within the term or session. Typically, a student is expected to have completed at least 50% of the coursework and have a passing grade in order to be provided an option for an INC.

Instructors should not make this judgment alone, but should consult with appropriate school Dean to ensure fair and equitable treatment of students, as well as alignment with any relevant institutional policies or federal laws. (Permission of the Office of the Provost, however, is required to postpone a final examination.)

When assigning INC, the faculty and the student must agree on a plan for the completion of any relevant course materials, including expected dates by which the work is to be completed as well as what the grade will be if said work is not completed. Under such circumstances, a student is given 42 calendar days from the last day of examinations to complete the course. (Instructors must provide the student, in writing, with a list of missing assignments and a timetable for completion.) At the expiration of the 42 calendar day period, the INC will be replaced by a final grade assigned by the instructor or, if the work has not been completed, by an grade of F. Due to accelerated nature of Winter Term, May term and summer courses, incomplete grades are not permitted for classes taken during these sessions, except where ADA regulations would apply. A grade of incomplete is never to be given when the instructor needs more time to grade, to allow a few extra days for students to finish an assignment, or because a student has stopped attending class.

Note: A grade earned in a final examination, paper, or presentation is not weighted more than one-third in computing the final grade for a course. This restriction does not apply to Honors, independent studies, internships, or recitals.

Pass/No Credit

In order to counteract excessive preoccupation with grades and to encourage students to take advanced courses outside their major areas of study, courses may be taken on a Pass/No Credit basis subject to the following limitations and regulations:

• The option is open only to students who are degree candidates and who have earned a minimum of 14 course units.
• Pass/No Credit is allowed for no more than one course unit per academic term.
• A maximum of four course units may be taken on a Pass/No Credit basis.
• The option is limited to elective courses outside requirements for the major or minor and outside LinC requirements.
• Students declare their intention to take the Pass/No Credit option for a course at the time of registration, but in no case may they indicate this option later than the end of the first five calendar days of the fall and/or spring terms. Instructor permission must be sent, in writing, to the Office of the Registrar.
• A grade of P is assigned if the course is passed. A grade of NC (No Credit) is assigned if the course is failed. In neither case will the grade be computed in the term or cumulative GPA or the average in the major field.
• A student who elects to take the course on a Pass/No Credit basis is permitted to change to a graded basis at any time during the term up to the official withdrawal deadline, normally before the last four weeks of a term, by submitting an email to the course instructor and Office of the Registrar. Under no circumstances, however, is a student permitted to change from a graded basis to Pass/No Credit after the first five calendar days of the term.
• After due consultation with the instructor of the course, a student who has maintained an average of B or better in a course taken on the Pass/No Credit basis has the option of not taking the course’s final examination.

Note: Certain physical education courses, student teaching, music ensemble participation, music lessons (for non-majors and non-minors), and specified other courses are graded Pass/No Credit for all students. These do not count toward the maximum of four course units of P/NC work specified above, nor do the other restrictions outlined above apply to these courses.

Grade Change

Under normal circumstances, a change of grade after the end of the incomplete period (6 weeks after the end of a fall or spring term) may be submitted by the course instructor only to correct an error in the original grade, or as a result of a successful grade appeal by a student to the Dean or Academic Standards Committee.

Student-initiated requests for changes in a final course grade must be submitted to the appropriate Dean not more than one calendar year after the original grade was submitted. Such a time period allows for individuals to appeal grades if they have been away from campus for study abroad, leave of absence, or other separations from the institution. It is not appropriate to change a grade based upon options, such as supplemental assignments, that are not equally available to all students.

Grade Appeal Procedure

Students are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance and integrity. In order to provide a process by which a student may have a disputed grade reviewed, the following procedures have been established. It should be understood however, that students are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance and integrity. Students who wish to appeal a final grade in a course may do so within one year after completion of that course. For example, a student wishing to appeal a grade from a course in Spring 2012 may do so during summer 2012, Fall 2012, or Spring 2013, but after Spring 2013, there will be no opportunity to appeal that grade. Appeals of grades in the student’s final semester of study must be made to the Academic Standards Committee prior to final certification of graduates by the registrar in that term.

Grade appeals start with the course instructor. If the instructor does not believe a change of grade is warranted, the student goes to the department chair/program director. If the department chair does not believe the change of grade is warranted, the student takes his/her appeal to the appropriate school Dean. (If the department chair is the course instructor, then the student will skip the appeal to the chair and take the appeal to the Dean.) Only after all other avenues have been explored will the Academic Standards Committee review grade appeals.

Repeating A Course

Students may repeat courses they have previously taken at Moravian. Credit will be earned only once unless the course is designated as repeatable for credit. Certain courses may be designated as not repeatable by the offering department or program.

Grades will be replaced only for an equivalent course, not for a course that meets the same degree requirement(s). All earned grades will remain on the transcript, but the latest grade in a particular course will be the only one factored into the Grade Point Average (GPA). Transcripts will designate repeated courses. Consortial courses are included in this policy. In a major or minor GPA, only the higher grade counts towards the GPA.

Class Standing

Class membership of students is determined by the number of course units earned/completed:

Freshman: 0- 6.74 earned course units.
Sophomore: 6.75-14.74 earned course units.
Junior: 14.75-22.74 earned course units.
Senior: 22.75 or more earned course units.

Students who receive financial aid are subject to additional course-completion requirements. See Financial Aid.

Academic Standing

Dean’s Honor List:Undergraduate students who carry three or more course units in a Fall or Spring term and attain a GPA for the term of 3.50 or higher are placed on the Dean’s Honor List.

Midterm Reports: As a courtesy, a midterm warning may be given if the instructor feels the student’s work has been unsatisfactory or carries the expectation of course failure. This warning has no ultimate bearing on the final grade in the course, but the student is urged to consult the instructor and his or her academic advisor. The possible midterm grades are::

• Satisfactory (S): Typically indicates a current grade of C or better.
• Unsatisfactory (UM): Typically indicates a current grade of D
• Failing (FM): Typically indicates a current grade of F
• No Show (NM): Typically indicates that a student has not attended class or engaged in academic work in at least 3 weeks.

Good Standing: To be considered in good academic standing, a student must meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement for graduation (2.00 for undergraduate programs; 2.75 for graduate programs at Moravian Theological Seminary; and 3.00 for all other graduate programs). In addition, they must successfully complete with passing grades at least 70% of courses attempted. Courses with posted grades of F, NC, W, or WF are considered attempted, but not successfully completed.

Students who receive financial aid may be subject to additional course completion requirements and academic standards for continuation of aid.

Academic Probation: When grades at the end of a term indicate that a student is not meeting requirements for good standing, the student is placed on academic probation. The record of a student on probation is evaluated at the end of each term until the student meets the conditions for Good Standing.

Undergraduate students’ academic records are reviewed at the end of a term by the Academic Standing Review Board, which may take any of the following actions:

• Continue on probation for an additional term.
• Continue on probation for an additional term.
• Remove from probation.
• Require withdrawal from the University for one or more terms with the opportunity to request reinstatement at a future date.
• Discontinue for failure to meet academic standards. Students who are discontinued will be provided an opportunity to appeal to the Academic Standing Review Board.

Graduate students are permitted one period of probation, which occurs when the student’s overall GPA drops below the GPA required for graduation in that program. A graduate student on probation who fails to return to good standing after the specified period of study is subject to dismissal from the program. The student may appeal for an extension of probation, which is reviewed by the appropriate graduate program director and dean.

Discontinuance: Whether or not they have been on probation the previous term, undergraduate students are subject to discontinuance under the following circumstances:

• If at the end of Fall or Spring term, they fail to attain the following cumulative GPAs. Note that “scheduled units” includes any transferred course credit:
  • 0.80 after 3 scheduled units
  • 1.50 after 6 scheduled units
  • 1.80 after 12 scheduled units
  • 2.00 after 16 scheduled units
• If at the end of Spring term, they have failed to successfully complete with passing grades at least 70% of all units on their Moravian transcript.

Students may appeal their discontinuance to the Academic Standing Review Board. If they are successful in their appeal, they may need to consult with Financial Aid regarding additional appeals to continue financial support.

Academic Dismissal (Graduate Programs): If If a student is removed from a graduate program due to academic performance, conduct issues, or other performance issues (particularly those related to professional standards of the program), the student may appeal that decision in writing to the program director (or, where it exists, a student progression committee within the program). If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the program director/committee, they may appeal to the appropriate college/seminary dean. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of that dean, their final appeal is to the Provost. The student has the right to meet with anyone in the appeals process in person; however, a written statement is required for each part of the appeals process.

The president only hears appeals at his/her/their discretion, and typically only where a process issue has come to light after all other lines of appeal have been pursued.

Reinstatement: Though full- or part-time students are not required to maintain continuous enrollment to remain eligible as degree candidates, their academic standing at the time of exit (leave of absence, withdrawal, discontinuance, etc.) will be preserved. Students requesting reinstatement who are not in good standing will need to have their records reviewed and develop an academic plan before reinstatement is granted.

Transfer Of Courses

Moravian University welcomes applications for admission from students currently attending other colleges and universities. A student may be admitted to Moravian as a transfer student at the beginning of either the fall or the spring term. A candidate for transfer admission must complete the University application. Candidates seeking admission for the fall term are encouraged to submit the application and supporting documents in accordance with transfer admission deadlines.

Current Moravian students must complete the Pre-Approval to Study at Other Institutions form. Enrollment at another institution in a Fall or Spring semester except through consortial relationships or other partnerships is not permitted.

Credit is granted for courses completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better. The courses must be the equivalent of courses taught at Moravian or be judged by the University to be consistent with Moravian’s curriculum. In some cases, a portfolio review or proficiency test may be required (for example, in art or music) to determine the transferability of a particular course.

A maximum of 80 total credit hours (20 total course units) may be transferred for credit:

• 80 credit hours (20 course units) maximum from both 2-year or 4-year institutions combined.
• Transfer credit is awarded for grades of “C” or better – “Pass/No Credit” does not transfer.
• Students entering their senior year and/or have earned 20+ course units must attend a 4-year institution in order to transfer credits back to Moravian University.
• Grades from non-LVAIC institutions are not recorded on the student record; only course units earned (grades of “C” or better) will transfer.
• Credit hours from other institutions transfer to Moravian University as course units:
• 4 credit hours = 1 unit
• 3 credit hours = 0.75 units
• Maximum of 16 credit hours (4 course units) may be taken in one summer or winter session
• General education core to core waiver (all requirements waived except for the U) granted for Associate of Arts or Associate of Science earned degrees.

The final decision on transfer of credits rests with the Office of Registrar.

In order for transfer courses to count in fulfillment of most major requirements or in fulfillment of any Learning in Common course, the transfer course carry at least 3 credit hours (0.75 units). All degree candidates must complete with a passing grade at least one multidisciplinary (M) and one upper-division (U) course at Moravian University. A 3- or 4-credit hour course may be used to satisfy a LinC requirement with prior approval.

Credits for courses completed at foreign institutions accredited by the respective Ministry of Education or with an official transcript evaluated by World Education Service (WES) with a grade of C (2.0) or higher may be transferred into Moravian University, provided that these courses are in subjects generally recognized as appropriate for liberal arts colleges and are either comparable to courses offered at Moravian University or are applicable to a degree program at Moravian University. Such credits must be evaluated and approved for transfer credit by the appropriate department or program chair and the Registrar. In some cases, a course description or syllabus, in English, may be required before a decision on transfer credits is finalized. If the course is approved for transfer, students will receive credit, but the grade will not be calculated in the student’s grade point average.
Courses taken while a Moravian University student is on a college-approved study abroad program are eligible for transfer to Moravian University if the courses are taken for a letter grade (no pass/no credit or pass/fail) and the grade earned is equivalent to a C or better. Students must have their study abroad courses approved in advance of enrolling in the courses.

Transfer students seeking AP, CLEP, or DSST/DANTES credit for examinations taken prior to matriculating at Moravian University must provide an original score report from the College Board. Credit for these examinations will not be granted based on a transcript from another institution.

Approved transfer courses, including those taken at an approved study-abroad program, are posted to the student’s Moravian University transcript as credits earned only, without a grade. Students must complete at least half of any major or minor with courses taken for a letter grade at Moravian University or an LVAIC school.

Policies regarding the transfer of graduate courses are established by program and are occasionally governed by external licensing and accreditation requirements. Please consult with the program director regarding transfer of graduate courses into a Moravian University graduate degree program.

Study Away/Study Abroad courses

Students who elect to participate in a domestic or international study abroad experience taken for credit may transfer credits back to Moravian University as part of their academic record, where the course was pre-approved by the department chair and/or dean and the course earned a grade of C or better. No credit will be awarded for courses taken on a pass/fail or pass/no credit basis. Final approval for transfer rests with the institutional registrar.

Students who enroll for study abroad at a school using the ECTS system (European Credit and Transfer Accumulation System) should be advised that ECTS credits count for half of a standard US credit. So, for example, a student who earns 6 ECTS credits will receive 3 US credits or 0.75 Moravian University units for successful completion of those credits.

Credit by Examination

Moravian University recognizes the concept of “course equivalency,” which permits the University to certify the educational value of private study and other out-of-class experiences and, following appropriate evaluation by the University, enables the student to receive academic credit toward a degree. Some ways by which students may receive advanced placement and credit by examination are detailed in the following tables. A maximum of 8 course units for credit by examination, in any combination, may be applied to a Moravian University degree.

Advanced Placement Examination

Moravian University awards credit to students who have passed at an acceptable level certain Advanced Placement Examinations taken prior to admission. Minimum scores are given on the next page:

† The Department of Economics and Business will waive the requirement for Economics 152 upon the student’s completion of both tests with a minimum score of 4.* Acceptance conditional upon departmental approval. Departments reserve the right to verify test results and to make supplemental assignments.

International Baccalaureate

Moravian University awards credit to students who have passed any higher-level International Baccalaureate exams with a score of 5 or better (6 is the minimum required score for English language). Departments reserve the right to verify test results and to make supplemental assignments.

College Level Examination Program

Moravian University awards credit to students who have passed at an acceptable level various tests of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Excelsior College Examinations (formerly New York Regents College Examinations), ACT-PEP Examinations, and DSST (formerly DANTES-Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support) program. These may be taken prior to admission or after a student has enrolled at the University. Students with nontransferable coursework from other colleges may qualify for credit through CLEP and DSST examinations. Minimum scores in the various CLEP and DSST tests are given below. In some cases (indicated by ‡) a supplemental essay is required; students must attempt essays administered by Moravian University. Inquiries about credit for CLEP and DSST examinations listed below should be addressed to the associate dean for academic affairs.

Minimum Scores for CLEP Subject Examinations

1 unit/4 credits per test

Minimum Scores for CLEP General Examinations

1 unit/4 credits per test

Note: CLEP general examinations may not be used to fulfill requirements within Learning in Common or in a student’s major or minor.

* Departments reserve the right to verify test results and make supplemental assignments.

‡ essay required; students must attempt essays administered by Moravian University.

• Students who are majoring in biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, or environmental studies may not take the Natural Sciences CLEP exam.
• Students who have completed any 100-level course in biology may not take the Biology CLEP exam.
• Students who have completed any 100-level course in chemistry may not take the Chemistry CLEP exam.
• Students who are working towards a math major or minor may not take the College Mathematics CLEP exam.
• Students who have completed their F3 (foreign language) requirement may not take a CLEP in the same language in order to earn additional credit. Students who take a foreign language CLEP exam prior to completing their F3 requirement may be placed into level 105 of the same language at Moravian with a score of 50; students who earn a score of 62 or higher may be placed into level 110 of the same language. Students who subsequently earn a grade of C (not C-) or better will be awarded one unit of credit for the CLEP (without a grade) and complete their F3 requirement.

Minimum Scores for DSST Examinations

(4 credit hours awarded unless otherwise noted)

* 2 credits.

† To receive credit at Moravian for Principles of Public Speaking, the student is required to submit on VHS-format videotape or DVD a 3-5 minute persuasive speech in addition to completing the examination at an acceptable level.

§ This test is not available to students who have completed Education 160 or its equivalent.

Proficiency Examinations

Moravian University awards credit to students who have passed at an acceptable level proficiency examinations administered by the University for certain of its courses. An “acceptable level” is normally defined as a C (or equivalent) or better. A simple passing grade (D-, for example) is not considered “acceptable” to receive credit on a proficiency examination. Individual departments reserve the right to define “acceptable” differently for the purpose of preparing a student to continue into other courses in their curriculum. Information about a proficiency examination for a specific course, an indication of the scope of the course, suggested readings, and preparation for the examination may be obtained from the appropriate department chair.

If a student decides to take one or more proficiency examinations, he or she should obtain a Proficiency Exam (Challenge Exam) Form in the Office of the Registrar and pay a fee of $85 for each examination to the Student Accounts Office.

A student who passes a proficiency examination will be given credit for the course but no grade will be recorded. A student who fails a course may not take a proficiency examination for that course in the term immediately following the failure.

A student may not take a proficiency or challenge exam for a course the student previously has audited.

Graduation with Honors

Latin Honors

Cum laude citations (sometimes called “Latin honors”) are awarded to graduates whose cumulative GPA meets the following standards:

• cum laude 3.50
• magna cum laude 3.65
• summa cum laude 3.80

A student must have earned a minimum of 16 letter-graded course units at Moravian University to be eligible for cum laude citations. A candidate for a second baccalaureate degree must have earned a minimum of 16 graded course units at Moravian University in the second degree program to be eligible for cum laude citation.

Questions concerning eligibility for cum laude citation may be addressed to the Office of the Provost.

Honors Program

Students who complete the senior year Honors program with a grade of A are graduated with Departmental Honors.

Commencement Participation Policy

Students who have not fulfilled all the requirements for a degree from Moravian University are not allowed to participate in Commencement exercises. Exceptions to this policy will be considered for students who fulfill all the following conditions:

1. They are not on academic probation. For undergraduate students, have an overall cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 , as well as a GPA of at least 2.00 in their major. For graduate students an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.
2. reasonably expected to complete all missing degree requirements by the end of the summer term (by August 31) immediately following Commencement; and
3. have no outstanding incompletes on their transcript.

Students who meet these requirements and wish to be “walkers”-i.e., to participate in the Commencement ceremony-must complete the Commencement Participation Petition form in the Office of the Registrar.

Students with an approved petition form must register and pay for the required summer-session courses prior to the Commencement Participation Petition form deadline. The Moravian University Tuition Refund Policy applies. Any full-time day-session student who deliberately “under-registers” (takes fewer than 4 course units) in the term prior to Commencement may not apply to be a “walker.” “Walkers” do not receive public or printed recognition of honors (cum laude, etc.) in the Commencement program.

Leave of Absence

Students who find it necessary to leave the University but who plan to return within one year may request a leave of absence. The decision to take a leave of absence is a serious one. Moravian University policy requires students to discuss leave-of-absence plans and decisions with their Program Director (for graduate students or RN-BSN students) or Provost’s Office.

Though a leave of absence for up to two academic terms will protect students against changes in academic requirements and will facilitate their return, there is no guarantee that financial aid will be continued. Students on a leave also should be aware that courses taken during the leave at other colleges or universities may affect their academic standing at the University. Undergraduate students planning to take college courses while on a leave should consult with the Provost’s Office, and graduate students making such plans should consult with their Student Experience Mentor or Program Chair/Director.

In order to return to the University, students must contact the Provost’s Office and apply for readmission. The readmission process will initiate the student’s course registration and arrangements for housing. Students who fail to return after the approved leave period will be withdrawn from the University.

To request a leave of absence, students must follow the procedures outlined in the Withdrawal from University process, and indicate that they would like to request a leave of absence. Note that policies for the refund of tuition and fees, as well as reimbursement of financial aid are the same as for students that are withdrawing from the University.

Leave of Absence due to Military Service

Students can be ordered to federal active duty under the laws in Title 10 U.S.C., in which “Active Duty” means full-time duty in active military service. Title 10 allows the President of the United States to federalize a state’s militia (National Guard) by ordering them to active duty for missions of national defense, national civil unrest or natural disaster. In addition, members of the National Guard can also be activated by the Governor of Pennsylvania under the provisions of Title 32 U.S.C. for state active duty (SAD) orders to assist in state natural disasters, threats to the state’s security, or civil unrest. Whenever a Moravian student serving in the military is called or ordered to active duty, the University will grant the member or the member’s spouse a military leave of absence from their education without penalty. For the purpose of this procedure, the student refers to both military personnel and the spouse of military personnel being called to active service who are enrolled at Moravian University.

Students who enlist for service in the military after the add/drop period will be subject to the University’s non-military refund policy.

A. Definitions

1. Military Absence: A period in which a student will be absent from class due to military orders with the expectation of completing all missed assignments by the end of the semester.
2. Military Incomplete: University procedure to allow students, who are members of the U.S. Armed Forces with military orders, to fulfill their military obligation and submit completed assignments within a defined period of time. Students taking an incomplete will receive a temporary grade of “M”.
3. Military Withdrawal: a University approved withdrawal from all in-progress University classes initiated by a student being called or ordered to active service greater than 6 months, whether voluntary or involuntary.
4. Military Affiliated Student: any student who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, or Reserve) and the spouse is a member of the Armed Forces called or ordered to active military service.
5. Calls or Orders to Active Service: Students can be ordered to federal active duty under the laws in Title 10 of the U.S. Code. “Active Duty” means full-time duty in active military service. Title 10 allows the President to federalize a state’s militia (National Guard) by ordering them to active duty for missions of National Defense, national civil unrest or natural disaster. In addition, members of the National Guard can also be activated under the provisions of Title 32 of the U.S. Code for state active duty (SAD) orders to assist in state natural disasters, threats to the state’s security, or civil unrest.
6. Length of orders: Military orders will be categorized into short-term and long-term. With two subcategories for short-term orders 1) for a period of one day to three weeks, or 2) orders greater than three weeks but less than six months. Long-term orders are defined as orders that exceed the semester end date or longer.

B. Military Leave of Absence Process

Student Responsibilities

All students called or ordered to active duty in a branch of the U. S. Armed Forces causing an interruption in the student’s semester must provide the University with advanced notice of such service and the intention to take a leave of absence.

All students with military orders will:

• schedule an appointment with the Office of Veteran & Military Services, and
• provide a copy of official military orders or memorandum from the ordering unit, signed by the commanding officer or authorized unit representative and include the effective date of military service and the anticipated return date.

Military Absence

Short-Term Orders (one day to three weeks)

• All absences will be excused, and students will be allowed to make up missed work without a penalty to their grade. In addition to meeting with Veteran & Military Services, students need to contact professors (as soon as possible) to make arrangements to make up missed classes and complete assignments.

Military Incomplete

Short-Term Orders (Greater than 30 days not to exceed six months beyond the end of the semester)

A student with short-term military orders that do not extend beyond the semester end date will have two options to choose from at the time of the exit interview. The student may:

• Request a temporary military leave and receive a temporary grade of “M” (which functions similarly to an incomplete); when the student returns and completes the work, the grade will be replaced as determined by the professor. The additional time granted to complete coursework will never be less than the length of time of the leave and can be extended as appropriate or needed, up to six months total. NOTE: Extensions for completion of the coursework can only be granted to students who are maintaining appropriate and regular communication with the Executive Director of Veterans and Military Affairs at Moravian University and must provide a copy of their orders to the E.D.
• If the student is unable to complete the course within six months from the semester end date, they must work with the professor(s) and appropriate College Dean to either extend the time to complete assignments.
• OR
• The student may elect a Military Withdrawal from their course(s), indicated with an “MW” on their transcript. An “MW” grade is equivalent to a “Withdrawal” (W). Students who feel they will be unable to complete their assignments within the allotted time are strongly encouraged to request a Military Withdrawal.

Students granted a Military Absence or Military Incomplete and awarded academic credit for work completed in the semester in which a student takes military service leave will not receive a refund.

Military Withdrawal

Long Term Leave (Orders that exceed beyond the semester end date or longer)

A student with long-term military orders will:

• schedule an Exit Interview with the Office of Veteran & Military Services and provide documentation of official military orders. Documentation can be official orders or a memorandum from the ordering unit, signed by the commanding officer or authorized unit representative, and include the military effective date and anticipated return date.
• receive an “MW” for Military Withdrawal without negatively impacting the student’s GPA.

University Responsibilities

Repayment and Refunds General Statement

Refunds are determined based on the source of the funds after all repayments have been completed. To comply with the Department of Defense (DOD) policy, any student using Tuition Assistance (TA), Moravian University will return any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through at least 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period. Any unearned TA funds - based upon when a student stops attending - will be returned directly to the military service from which the funds were provided, not to the service member.

Return of any unearned Federal financial aid (known as Title IV funds), including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans, is determined based on withdrawal date and percentage of semester completion.

The School Certifying Official (SCO) will notify the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of the student’s leave of absence. The reason for the leave of absence will be documented as “mitigating circumstances” for students providing documentation of active duty status. Failure to provide notice or documentation may result in the need for you to pay the VA for the cost of any housing or books and supplies already received. It may also result in Moravian repaying the VA for tuition, fees, and Yellow Ribbon benefits paid on your behalf.

University Roles

Veteran & Military Services

The Office of Veteran & Military Services serves as the primary point of contact for students and families needing assistance during the student’s military leave of absence, including referring and coordinating communications with other University offices as needed. Upon receiving notice of a student’s request to withdraw from a program or drop all enrolled courses, the Veteran & Military Services executive director will review the request and initiate the military leave of absence using the Exit Form in AMOS. A note will be created in Navigate to include: the reason for the withdrawal, the student’s date of military leave, anticipated return date, and referrals to the following offices: Registrar, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, Housing, and IT. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule an appointment with these offices. A copy of the orders will be retained by the Veteran & Military Services office and added to the student online record in the Moravian shared drive.

Financial Aid

Determines the need to repay unearned Title IV funds provided through financial aid service providers and the timelines and requirements to defer payments based on active duty service.

Student Accounts

No refund will be provided until the University receives a copy of the military orders necessitating the withdrawal.

Housing

Residential students who need to take a Military Leave of Absence should contact the Office of Housing regarding their space. Residents who may be gone for a long period of time should plan to vacate their space and return their room key(s). Room and board rates will be prorated for residents who are not returning to their room for the duration of the Military Leave of Absence. Board rates will be refunded on a weekly prorated basis. The Office of Housing will work with students to identify a housing assignment based on available spaces at the time of their return from their Military Leave of Absence but cannot hold their previous assignment as it may be offered to another student.

Registrar

All courses unable to be completed due to a military leave of absence will be identified on the student’s transcript with an “MW” grade. An “MW” grade is equivalent to a “Withdrawal” and replaces the standard “W.”

C. Readmission

This Military Leave of Absence will remain in place for a maximum of five years. Students are entitled to return without requalification for admission provided the student (1) returns after a cumulative absence of five years or less and (2) notifies the Office of Veteran & Military Services of their intent to return to the Moravian within one (1) year of completion of their military service obligation. The student’s educational status will be restored to the status they had attained before their orders to military duty without loss of academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded, or tuition and other fees paid before the commencement of the military duty.

Students wishing to resume their studies within five years must complete the Reinstatement Request Form.

Withdrawal from the University

The decision to withdraw from University is a serious one. There can be significant academic and financial implications. Before making the choice to exit the University, students are strongly urged to discuss the matter with

• Their academic advisor: to determine whether there are other alternatives for completing their academic goals
• Financial Aid: to understand the impact on financial aid in withdrawing or transferring, including possible requirements to return financial aid funds.

Students who for any reason find it necessary to withdraw from the University and do not plan on returning, must inform the Provost’s Office or the appropriate contact for their program (see below).

The effective date of withdrawal and associated adjustment of tuition, fees, and financial aid is determined as the date on which the student began the formal withdrawal process by notifying the Dean of Student Success of their intention.

Students who do not attend classes by the end of the drop/add period of a given term, or who attend but do not register for classes, are considered withdrawn from the University. Exceptions to this policy may be granted only by the Provost or Dean of the Faculty.

Resident students must vacate rooms within 24 hours of the effective withdrawal date, unless an extension is approved by Student Life.

Students are strongly encouraged to follow the withdrawal procedures in a timely manner. Delay may affect their refund.

To withdraw from the University, students must follow the following procedures

• The student reaches out to the appropriate contact person to declare their intention to leave the University:
• International students: the Center for Global Education
• Veterans or students connected with the military: the Director of Veteran and Military Services
• Graduate students: the Student Experience Mentor for the relevant graduate program
• Students in the post-baccalaureate nursing or RN-BSN program: the Nursing Department Student Experience Mentor
• All other undergraduate students: the Provost’s Office
• The student will need to schedule an exit interview with the Provost’s Office. Completion of the exit interview is considered the official notification of withdrawal.
• After the exit interview, the student will be referred to the appropriate offices to close out accounts. Those offices are typically
• Housing: to complete final room inspections and return keys
• Information Technology: to return all computer equipment, including accessories. The student may incur additional charges if equipment is damaged or missing.
• Student Accounts: to verify payment of any outstanding balances.

Note that upon their withdrawal, the student is responsible for returning any property owned by Moravian University.

Once the withdrawal process is initiated, a student who changes their mind about withdrawing from the University may do so by rescinding the withdrawal in writing to the Provost’s Office. If the separation is to take effect at a time when classes are in session, the rescission must occur within ten calendar days from when the process is initiated.

No refund of tuition and fees will be made for students who do not follow required procedures. Failure to follow the formal procedures may result in withdrawal by the University.

Tuition and Fees: Tuition and fees, including room and board, are refunded according to our Tuition Refund Policy (www.moravian.edu/catalog/charges-and-fees).

Financial Aid Reimbursement

Because financial aid is intended to help meet educational costs, withdrawal from the University also means that it will be adjusted based on the schedule above. Financial aid adjustments will be calculated and refunded to the source of the aid, such as federal, state, or institutional aid programs. Normally the amount returned to each source will be in proportion to the amount received unless federal, state, or other guidelines indicate differently. The University will observe the federally mandated process in determining the amount of money, if any, that must be returned.
The priority of return of financial aid funds will be as follows:

• Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan.
• Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan.
• Federal Perkins Loan.
• Federal PLUS Loan.
• Federal Pell Grant.
• Academic Competitiveness Grant.
• National SMART Grant.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).
• Other Title IV assistance (federal financial aid).
• Other federal or state financial aid as required.
• Institutional aid.
• Other funds as required.

Reimbursement to Student

A student may be eligible for a reimbursement A student may be eligible for a reimbursement of a portion of the amount paid after all Federal Title IV funds and other financial aid programs are reimbursed as required and all outstanding balances with the University have been cleared. Private or alternative loans borrowed by or for the student are included with the student refund amount, if any.

Withdrawal by the University

A student who does not follow the formal withdrawal procedures may be withdrawn by the University. This may occur if the student fails to complete the registration process, to show up for classes at the beginning of a term, or to return when scheduled from an approved leave of absence, or simply “drops out” in the middle of a term. A student who has been withdrawn by the University is no longer matriculated and must apply for readmission in order to return. A student who intends to return within a year is strongly advised to follow the formal procedures for a leave of absence.

In the case of a withdrawal by the University effective after the beginning of a term, there is no adjustment of tuition, fees or institutional financial aid for that term. However, federal financial aid must be adjusted according to regulations governing the return of Title IV funds. The student is responsible to repay to the University the amount of any federal aid that is returned. It is to a student’s advantage to follow the formal withdrawal procedures in a timely manner. Following are examples of the effective dates of withdrawal by the University for the purpose of the return of Title IV funds only:

• A student who engages in academically-related activities and does not follow the formal withdrawal procedures will be considered an “enrolled” student and will not be considered formally withdrawn until notification is made to the Office of the Provost. If notification is never made by the student to the Office of the Provost, the student’s withdrawal date is the midpoint of the semester, unless the University can determine the student’s last date of engagement in an academically-related activity after the midpoint.
• A student who receives grades of F in all courses due to failure to complete the semester will be considered withdrawn as of the midpoint of the semester, unless the University can document the student’s participation in an academically-related activity after the midpoint.

The University (not the student) must document both that an activity is academically-related and that the student participated in the activity. Examples of academically-related activities include taking examinations, quizzes, tutorials, or computer-assisted instruction; receiving academic advising; attending academic conferences; completing an academic assignment, paper, or project; or attending a class or study group where attendance is verified. Examples of activities that are not academically-related include living in institutional housing, participating in Moravian’s meal plan, participating in an athletic activity, participating in a music-related activity that is not required for class, and working on campus.

Administrative Withdrawal from Class

Prior to the announced last day for students to withdraw with a “W,” instructors may request an administrative withdrawal for a student who has been absent from class without notification for a period of three weeks or more. The request will be submitted to the registrar in writing. The registrar will then consult with one of the academic deans on the appropriateness of the request. If a student’s status changes from full-time to part-time as a result of the administrative “W,” the bursar and financial aid will make appropriate adjustments to the student’s account for said term. Students who are absent with notification may not be withdrawn by the instructor.