Academic Policies, Regulations and Procedures

Academic Appeal

Any request for waiver or exception to the general policies and regulations stated in the catalog should be submitted as a written petition to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. A written response is sent to the petitioning student. Petitions should clearly and specifically state the grounds for the request. Exceptions to specific academic program course requirements may be considered by the appropriate Academic Dean.

Academic Bankruptcy

A student may remove up to two (2) complete semesters of work from his/her cumulative grade point average and degree considerations by petitioning for approval to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. To qualify, a student must have completed either fifteen (15) consecutive Peru State semester hours of credit with a minimum 3.0 term grade point average or thirty (30) consecutive hours with a minimum 2.5 term grade point average at Peru State following the semester(s) the student wishes to remove.

To declare a semester bankrupt, all courses taken during that semester are voided (both credit hours and grades). The bankrupt semester is removed from consideration for cumulative grade point average purposes, and the bankrupt credit is not used for degree requirements. The semester listing of courses and grades, however, remains on the academic transcript.

Academic Credit

(See How to Determine Credit)

Academic Honors (Semester)

Dean’s List

At the end of each semester, the Vice President for Academic Affairs publishes the Academic Dean’s List. Students on the Dean’s List must have a grade point average of 3.5-3.99 for the semester, have completed at least twelve (12) graded hours (credit/no credit not included) during the past semester, have no incomplete grades for the semester, and must be seeking a first degree to be considered for the Dean’s List.

President’s List

At the end of each semester, the Vice President for Academic Affairs publishes the President’s List. Students on the President’s List must have a grade point average of 4.0 for the semester, have completed at least 12 hours (credit/no credit not included) during the past semester, have no incomplete grades for the semester, and must be seeking a first degree to be considered for the President’s List.

Academic Integrity

The College expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner that supports an honest assessment of student learning outcomes and the assignment of grades that appropriately reflect student performance. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and comply with instructions regarding the completion of assignments, exams, and other academic activities. At a minimum, students should assume that at each assessment opportunity they are expected to do their own original academic work and/or clearly acknowledge in an appropriate fashion the intellectual work of others, when such contributions are allowed. Students helping others to circumvent honest assessments of learning outcomes, or who fail to report instances of academic dishonesty, are also subject to the sanctions defined in this policy.

Instances of academic dishonesty may be discovered in a variety of ways. Faculty members who assign written work ordinarily check citations for accuracy, run database and online checks, and/or may simply recognize familiar passages that are not cited. They may observe students in the act of cheating or may become aware of instances of cheating from the statements of others. All persons who observe or otherwise know about instances of cheating are expected to report such instances to the proper instructor or Academic Dean.

In order to promote academic integrity, the College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared. Submission of an application and continued enrollment signifies your permission for this use of your written work.

Should an occurrence of academic misconduct occur, the faculty member may assign a failing grade for the assignment or a failing grade for the course. Each incident of academic misconduct should be reported to the Academic Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The VPAA may suspend for two semesters students found to be responsible for multiple instances of academic dishonesty. The reason for the suspension will be noted on the student’s transcript.

A faculty member needs to present only basic evidence of academic dishonesty. There is no requirement for proof of intent. Students are responsible for understanding these tenets of academic honesty and integrity. Students may appeal penalties for academic dishonesty using the process established for grade appeals.

Academic Load

(See “Full-Time Student Status.”)

Academic Probation and Suspension

Students with a cumulative grade point average of 1.00-1.99 at the close of a semester are placed on academic probation. Students who have a cumulative grade point average below 1.00 at the end of a semester are suspended.

Probationary students must agree to the provisions of an Academic Probation Contract which may include but are not limited to enrollment restrictions, study skills instruction, and advisor meetings. To avoid suspension, probationary students must earn a minimum 2.0 average for each successive semester of attendance (continued probation) until the required cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher has been achieved. New students entering Peru State on a conditional or provisional admission status are placed on academic probation and are held to the standards noted above.

** Unless semester GPA is 2.0 or higher, in which case the status is continued probation.

Academic suspension following the first (1^st) suspension is for a period lasting one (1) semester. Suspended students may not take Peru State courses during the period of suspension. Students who are suspended may appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs if they wish to return to the College prior to serving the suspension period. If the appeal is approved, the student will be on probation status and will be held to the standards for probation students.

In case of a second (2nd) suspension, the period of suspension is two (2) semesters and the student must appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Faculty Senate requesting to be readmitted after serving the two (2) semester period of suspension or if the student wishes to return to the College prior to serving the suspension period. If a student has two (2) suspensions and the first (1st) suspension was appealed and approved, the second suspension is still a second suspension. This request may be denied, in which case the student must wait another two semesters before making a new request for readmission. If approved, the student must apply to the Office of Admissions for readmission. A third (3rd) academic suspension may not be appealed and the student may not continue at the College.

Veteran and Eligible Person Standards of Progress Policy

A veteran and/or eligible person must make satisfactory progress toward an approved educational objective leading to employment.  Veteran and/or eligible person Standard of Progress will be determined utilizing the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy as listed in the college catalog consisting of overall grade point average, pace, program length, maximum time for completion, attendance and/or conduct.

AP Credit

(See Standardized Examinations)

Armed Services

Veterans of the armed forces who are honorably discharged and current active duty personnel will generally be granted credit for their military experience in accordance with the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE). Air Force records should be obtained from the Community College of the Air Force. Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard, and/or Navy records should be obtained from the Joint Services Transcript (JST).

Assessment

All Peru State students participate in outcomes assessment activities that determine whether specific learning outcomes have been achieved.

Senior competencies (also known as capstone experiences) are core components of academic program assessment at Peru State. Through the senior competencies, program faculty assess whether senior students have mastered the content, methodology, and liberal arts base of their discipline. Each graduating senior must successfully complete the discipline’s senior competency.

At Peru State College, the mission and related instructional outcomes are taken seriously and our commitment to continuous improvement is genuine. Given this commitment, we have adopted the course evaluation process as one tool among many so you can play a direct role in helping the administration, faculty and staff, improve the educational experience. Providing feedback to a public organization is an excellent way to develop appropriate skills and the habit of effective citizenship. Consequently, participating in the course evaluation process is mandatory. We have redesigned the process to make it as streamlined and as directly valuable as possible.

Please be thoughtful and specific in your comments as we cannot use information that we do not understand. The process is conducted online, even for courses on campus. Course evaluations are completely anonymous. No one at the College can connect an individual’s responses to a name. A summary of the evaluations is provided to the instructor, the Academic Dean, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs after the term is over and final grades have been posted.

Peru State periodically conducts other student surveys to gain insights into student views and the quality of the student experience. Instruments such as the National Survey of Student Engagement and college-generated questionnaires give students varied opportunities to provide feedback, give voice to concerns, and influence decisions. In addition, alumni are surveyed about their experiences while enrolled at Peru State and asked to provide feedback on how well their college education prepared them for related careers. Peru State continually seeks to optimize student programs and learning experiences, and student feedback through surveys plays a critical role in the assessment for underlying growth and improvement.

Attendance and Scholastic Attitude

Students are expected to attend classes regularly, to arrive punctually, and to complete all assigned work. Attendance is a privilege and a responsibility represented not only by the student’s investment, but also by a significant investment by the State of Nebraska.

When it is necessary for a student to miss class, he/she has the responsibility to notify his/her instructor in advance whenever possible. Faculty members have the prerogative of allowing students to make up and complete work missed during the absence.

Instructors have the right to base a portion of a student’s grade on attendance. Instructors must present their grading practices and attendance policies to students in writing during the first week of the semester.

Whenever absences or other elements of scholastic attitude (regardless of cause) become detrimental to the student’s standing in class and/or the success of the class as a whole, the instructor may confer with the student. The instructor and the student may mutually agree that the registration in the course should be withdrawn, or the instructor may issue the student an “early warning”. Future conferences for the same, or related, reasons may result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the class. If the student requests, the appropriate Academic Dean of the School may be asked to participate in the decision. The grade will be a “W” if the course withdrawal is prior to the last date to withdraw with a “W.” An “F” will be recorded after this date.

Audit

Registration to audit a course implies no credit. The student pays the regular tuition and fee charges but is not required to write tests, examinations, and/or papers. No grade is given in audited courses nor can credit be given at a later date. Enrollment is on a space available basis and must be approved by the instructor and the appropriate Academic Dean.

Called to Active Duty Policy

Peru State College recognizes and appreciates the important contributions made by students in service to our country. In support of these students, the College has developed procedures to provide each student with maximum flexibility in the event the student is called to active duty.

If a Peru State College military/veteran student is called to active duty while currently enrolled, the student must present a copy of the official orders to the Student Records Office. Students have three (3) options depending on the length of the activation: take a temporary leave of absence, withdraw completely or take incompletes in their courses.

1. If the student is being temporarily activated for duty, including annual and/or monthly training, or mobilized:
   1. The student may take a leave of absence from their course(s).
   2. Student needs to inform professor of absence dates ahead of the absence.
   3. Student will not be penalized for missed classroom time, but is responsible to complete any coursework that was assigned during dates of absence.
2. If the student is being mobilized or deployed for an extended period of time or is being reassigned or transferred permanently, the student may withdraw from classes immediately.
   1. Peru State College will not hold the student accountable for tuition-related expenses for the term, session, or semester.
   2. A “W” grade will be represented on the student’s official transcript to show the reason for the withdrawal and withdrawal date.
3. If the student is being mobilized or deployed for an extended period of time or is being reassigned or transferred permanently, the student may request a grade of “Incomplete” for their course(s).
   1. If the student has completed a substantial portion of the course and required coursework, the instructor may approve the student request for an “incomplete” in the course.
   2. I to F Policy: Students called to active military duty will be exempt from the subsequent semester automated changes of I to F grades for the term of deployment and the year prior to deployment. Students may complete work upon their return from duty or may choose to maintain the “I” grade. Therefore, “I” grades for students called to active military duty will remain listed as “I” until a change of grade is submitted by the faculty member, or indefinitely, if so desired by the student. Tuition and mandatory fees would be assessed in full.
   3. If arrangements are made with only some of the instructors for grades or incompletes, the registration for those courses would remain intact and tuition and mandatory fees would be assessed for those courses. Any courses for which arrangements cannot be made for grades or incompletes could be dropped and the tuition and mandatory fees for those courses would be refunded.

Students will be eligible for readmission to the College after completion of their active duty.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is refunded in accordance with existing college and federal policies for each of the above situations. In addition to the above-mentioned College procedures, there are implications related to any financial aid you may have through the various federal programs. The rules on these are not necessarily within the control of this institution. Consultation with the One Stop office is advised as soon as it is convenient.

Residence Halls

If a student is called to active military duty while staying in the residence halls, per our policy, they can cancel their housing and meal plan with no cancellation fee. We would refund the pro-rated amount left for the remainder of the semester for housing/meal plan.

Certificates

A certificate is a cluster of courses that develop specific knowledge and/or skills and supports an occupational outcome or industry certification. This credential does not in itself lead to a degree. An undergraduate certificate shall range from nine (9) to fifteen (15) credits of predominantly upper division courses. At least half of the credits must be completed at Peru State College.

Course Evaluations

At Peru State College, the mission and related instructional goals are taken seriously and our commitment to continuous improvement is genuine. Given this commitment, we have adopted the course evaluation process as one tool among many so you can play a direct role in helping the administration, faculty, and staff improve the educational experience. One of the College’s goals is to prepare you to assume greater social and civic leadership roles. Providing feedback to a public organization is an excellent way to develop appropriate skills and the habit of effective citizenship. Consequently, participating in the course evaluation process is mandatory. We have redesigned the process to make it as streamlined and as directly valuable as possible. Please be thoughtful and specific in your comments as we cannot use information that we do not understand. The process is conducted online, even for courses on campus. Course evaluations are completely anonymous. No one at the College can connect an individual’s responses to a name. A summary of the evaluations is provided to the instructor, the Academic Dean, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs after the term is over and final grades have been posted.

Change of Advisor

A student who wants to change advisors may obtain a Change of Advisor form from the appropriate Academic Dean’s office.

Change of Major

A student who wants to change his/her major or undeclared status must complete the Change of Major form available in his/her myPSC account.

Students who elect to change their majors may have to follow the requirements in the College catalog current at the time of change, rather than the one in effect at the time they were admitted to the College to pursue a degree program. A change in major may also require additional courses and delay the student’s graduation date.

Classification of Students

Students are classified according to the number of semester credit hours earned:

Post-graduate students have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and are earning additional undergraduate credit. Non-degree students are qualified persons who enroll primarily to satisfy an occupational need or personal interest.

CLEP

(See Standardized Examinations.)

Credit Limit

The maximum load without special permission per 16-week semester is 18 hours; the Academic Dean of the School in which the student is majoring may approve loads greater than 18 credit hours. Generally, students should have had a minimum 3.5 grade point average the previous semester.

Credit/No Credit Grading Option

Students are permitted to enroll for any course on a Credit/No Credit basis per the stipulations listed below. If a student passes the course with at least a C, the student receives credit and a grade of CR.

If the work is D+ or below, the student receives no credit and a grade of NC. Hours attempted (either CR or NC) are not calculated in the GPA.

A student’s instructor will not be informed that the student is enrolled on a Credit/No Credit basis. Following submission of grades, the student’s grade will be converted to CR/NC by Student Records.

The following policies govern the selection of the CR/NC grading options:

1. Any student may choose the CR/NC grading option by notifying the Student Records in writing before the end of the drop/add period for the course.
2. The maximum number of CR/NC hours that my count towards graduation is 8.
3. A student may not take more than 4 credits of CR/NC courses in an academic semester.
4. Courses required for the student’s major, minor, or endorsement cannot be taken on a CR/NC basis.
5. A maximum of two General Studies courses may be taken on CR/NC basis.
6. Honors courses cannot be taken on a CR/NC basis.
7. After a course is designated as CR/NC, it may not be changed back to a graded course.
8. Graduate courses cannot be taken on CR/NC basis.
9. CR grades are not counted in the minimum regular graded hours (12) for the Dean’s List. NC grades eliminate students from the Dean’s List.
10. COLL 101 cannot be taken on a CR/NC basis.

Dantes

(See Standardized Examinations)

Dead Week

For sixteen (16) week courses, Dead Week is the week prior to finals week, and no exams are to be given during that week. Exceptions to this policy may be granted only by the appropriate Academic Dean.

Directed Study

A Directed Study may be taken when a student has been unable to meet a course requirement in the normal manner and can demonstrate a need to take the course via Directed Study to graduate. The student must meet with the instructor at least once each week and will be required to complete the same requirements as in the original course.

The following additional regulations apply to Directed Study:

1. Only two (2) courses of Directed Study (a maximum of eight [8] semester hours) may apply toward meeting graduation requirements. Exceptions may be approved by the Academic Dean of the School in which the student is majoring.
2. No more than one (1) Directed Study may be taken each semester.
3. If a student does not meet the eligibility requirements but can demonstrate a need to take a Directed Study, the appropriate Academic Dean will make the final decision on approval to register.
4. A Directed Study Form must be completed and submitted to the appropriate Academic Dean and the Student Records Office when registering for the class.

Final Exams

Final exams are scheduled the last week of the semester. Coaches of varsity athletic teams do not schedule regular games or events during this week. However, they may enter their teams in NAIA approved play-offs in which the College has declared an intention to participate if qualified. Students who participate in play-off events during finals week are still subject to the attendance policies of their instructors. Faculty may not schedule final exams for individuals or courses at times other than those established in the Finals Week schedule without the express consent of the appropriate Academic Dean.

Full-time Student Status

Peru State students who are enrolled for twelve (12) credit hours or more during a semester are considered full-time students. However, the normal course load for a student who expects to complete a bachelor’s degree within eight (8) semesters (4 years) is 15-16 hours. Class withdrawals subsequent to the drop/add period are included in the credit hour load.

Veterans and other eligible persons attending Peru State under the benefits of U.S. Code, Title 38, as full-time students must be enrolled for at least 12 semester hours, or the equivalent.

Grade Appeal Policy

Students who disagree with the assignment of a final grade by an instructor may file an appeal under these procedures.

Grade Decision Review

This process is available only to review allegedly unfair final course grade decisions, not mere differences of opinion regarding the professional judgment of the instructor who made the grade decision, or to dispute grades on assignments, tests, or other work within a course. A grade decision may be considered unfair if the decision:

• Was based on factors other than performance in the course and/or compliance with course assignments and requirements;
• Involved more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in the same course section;
• Constitutes a substantial departure from the instructor’s standards as articulated in the course syllabus, catalog descriptions, and/or other written materials.

Procedures

A student who wishes to appeal a grade decision must proceed as follows:

1. Informal Meeting
   1. The student must attempt to resolve the matter directly with the instructor through a personal conference as soon as possible after the grade decision is known, but no later than the end of the first full week of the following regular academic term. If the student is unable to arrange a conference or is not satisfied with the instructor’s explanation of the grade, the student may request in writing that the appropriate Academic Dean of the school which offered the course convene a conference with the student and instructor. If the instructor is unavailable or unwilling to confer with the student, the student may request a formal review by the appropriate Academic Dean.
2.  Academic Dean Review
   1. If the student and the instructor cannot reach a mutually satisfactory resolution to the problem, the student may file a formal appeal. The appeal must be presented in writing, together with relevant documents, to the appropriate Academic Dean no later than the 20th day of college instruction in the following academic term. The student must describe the appeal, identify which of the three (3) reasons the appeal is based on (See Grade Decision Review), detail the reasons the student believes the decision unfair, and document the student’s attempts to resolve the appeal informally. For purposes of this section, fall semester and spring semester shall each constitute an academic term. The student shall send a copy of the appeal to the instructor. The instructor shall have ten (10) working days to respond after receipt of the appeal. If the instructor does not respond within that time frame, the Academic Dean will consider the appeal and documents formally submitted by the student.
   2. The Academic Dean shall review the appeal and all of the submitted documentation, interview persons relevant to the appeal when necessary, and render a written decision within ten (10) working days of receipt of the instructor’s response. A copy of the Academic Dean’s decision will be given to the instructor and the student. If the Academic Dean is also the instructor whose grade is the subject of the appeal, the Vice President for Academic Affairs shall select another Academic Dean to conduct the appeal process.
3. Faculty Senate Review
   1. The student or the instructor may appeal the Academic Dean’s decision. Such appeal must be filed in writing and submitted to the Vice President for Academic Affairs within five (5) working days of receipt of the Academic Dean’s decision, with copies to the instructor, the student, and the Academic Dean. The written appeal shall deal only with the part, or parts, of the Academic Dean’s decision that the appellant disputes. New evidence, information, or supporting documents cannot be included as part of the appeal except when, by clear and convincing evidence, it is established that such information was not available at the time of the original appeal. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will submit the appeal to the Faculty Senate for review. The Faculty Senate may interview the student, the instructor, the Academic Dean and other appropriate persons, but only to discuss the issues in dispute in the appeal. The Faculty Senate will submit a written decision to the student, the instructor, and the Academic Dean. The decision of the Faculty Senate is the final decision of the College.

Grading System

The following grades are currently used at Peru State College:

CR and NR do not affect grade point average; CR is applicable to graduation hours.

Graduation Honors

Graduation honors are conferred on bachelor’s degree candidates who have earned a minimum of 54 Peru State College semester credit hours. Grades and credits earned at other colleges and universities do not apply toward graduation honors from Peru State.

How to Determine Credit

Peru State credit is expressed as semester credit hours. One (1) credit hour is awarded to a student who satisfactorily completes:

1. a course that meets one (1) hour per week for a semester, or
2. a laboratory that meets for two (2) to three (3) hours per week for a semester, or
3. any combination of these depending upon the type of instruction and material covered in the course.

Credit for internships, student teaching, and other instructional formats is determined using other appropriate standards.

Incomplete Coursework

To designate a student’s work in a course as incomplete at the end of a term, instructor’s will use the incomplete grade (I). Students may receive this grade, however,  only when serious illness, hardship, death in the immediate family, or military service during the semester in which they are registered prevents them from completing course requirements. In addition, to receive an incomplete a student must have  completed a majority of the course’s major requirements. This policy does not apply to students who will be graduating in the term in which the incomplete grade is given. 

Unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise, students must initiate requests for an incomplete.  If agreeable, the faculty will then complete the Incomplete Grade Completion Contract, which requires the student and faculty signature.  The faculty member will record an incomplete (I) on the end-of-the-semester grade roster.

The Incomplete Grade Completion Contract cites the reason(s) for the incomplete and details the specific obligations the student must meet to change the incomplete to a letter grade.  If students agree to complete required work prior to the normal deadline for making up an incomplete (the end of the subsequent semester) this date must appear in the contract.  The Dean, the instructor, and the student receive signed copies of the Incomplete Grade Completion Contract. 

Even if the student does not attend Peru State College; all incomplete work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester, or earlier, by agreement.  Unless the Dean approves an extension, if the student does not fulfill contract obligations in the alotted time, the incomplete grade automatically becomes an “F”.

Independent Study

An Independent Study is a carefully organized learning activity with specific objectives and methods of evaluation developed in consultation with a faculty member. Courses are numbered 499. To be eligible to take an Independent Study, a student must have completed sixty (60) semester hours (junior standing) and be capable of doing independent research, work, and study.

The following additional regulations apply to Independent Study courses:

1. No more than six (6) semester hours of Independent Study may be counted toward graduation requirements. Exceptions may be approved by the Academic Dean of the School in which the student is majoring.
2. No more than one (1) Independent Study (a maximum of three [3] hours) may be taken in a given semester.
3. The student must communicate with the instructor at least once each week.
4. An Independent Study Form must be completed and submitted to the appropriate Academic Dean and the Student Records Office when registering for the course.
5. A copy of the Independent Study final project should be submitted to the appropriate Academic Dean as well as the instructor for departmental archives.

Internships

The Cooperative Education Internship Program provides students with the opportunity to explore the field of work or gain valuable work experience while earning academic credit in all majors. The maximum number of internship hours allowed toward graduation is twelve (12). All employment must occur in positions which are relevant to a student’s major or career interest. The program is available to all students including off-campus and non-traditional students. A flexible registration schedule allows students to enroll through the eighth week of each semester.

Students who have completed forty-five (45) credit hours and are in good academic standing are eligible to enroll for major or career-related Cooperative Education Internship experiences. Students may take from one (1) to twelve (12) hours and will receive an academic letter grade.

Transfer students must complete fifteen (15) hours of coursework at Peru State before they are eligible for a Cooperative Education Internship experience. Please visit your Academic Dean for more information and assistance in arranging an internship experience.

Minors

The College encourages students to earn one (1) or more minor areas of study. Minors can give students greater career flexibility, while allowing them to explore in-depth another topic of interest beyond the major. To many employers and graduate program admissions committees, minors demonstrate a greater breadth of understanding and capacity for initiative, which are highly valued. Courses taken toward a minor may also count toward General Studies requirements or major requirements, but not toward both. A grade of “C-” or better is required to fulfill the requirements of a minor. Students may earn a minor in a number of subjects by completing 18-21 hours of specified coursework. At least nine (9) of the hours must be earned at Peru State. In the event that a student transfers in enough minor course credit hours that fewer than nine (9) credits are remaining, then the appropriate Academic Dean will endeavor to allow course substitutions so that the student may complete nine (9) credit hours to count towards the minor.

myPSC Student Access

PSC students can access information through their myPSC student portal.

• Add/drop courses
• Accept/decline financial aid
• Change contact information
• Check their academic requirements
• Check their “to do” list
• View their advisor(s)
• View their bill
• Withdraw from courses

How to log in to myPSC:

1. Go to https://www.peru.edu/
2. Under the “Students” tab, select the myPSC link
3. Enter your NUID and password

Petition

(See Academic Appeals)

Prerequisites

Students who do not meet the prerequisites of a course as stated in the current catalog and who have not received permission to enroll from the appropriate Academic Dean may be administratively dropped from the course. Students who are so identified after registering for a course will be notified within the drop/add period by the appropriate Academic Dean that they do not meet the prerequisites and should institute the procedures for dropping the course. Students who do not drop will be notified by the Academic Dean of the School that they are being withdrawn. The Academic Dean will notify the Student Records Office to have the student withdrawn.

Prior Learning/Life Experience Credit

Students may earn college credit for some experiences and accomplishments outside of the normal college setting. Credit may be granted through standardized examination programs (e.g., CLEP, DANTES, APP), the credit recommendations of the American Council of Education (ACE), and/or an evaluation of an individual portfolio or examination by the appropriate academic department of the College. Students should begin this process by contacting the Vice President for Academic Affairs for assistance regarding which path to acquiring Prior Learning Credit is most appropriate.

The College’s general policies for awarding credit for extra-institutional learning follow:

1. Prior Learning credits are considered transfer credits and are subject to the same policies as other transfer credits.
   1. A maximum of (90) semester credit hours from an accredited four-year college or university and extra- institutional sources may be applied toward the minimum 120 hours required for a Bachelor’s degree. Of these (90) semester hours, a maximum of (66) semester hours may be from a community/vocational/technical college, proficiency exams (CLEP, DANTES, APP, etc.) professional exams, prior learning credit, or other extra-institutional sources.
2. Only individuals who have not participated in similar scheduled coursework are eligible to receive life experience credit.
3. Credit by examination may be earned only once in a single subject. A similar subject test in another testing program will not earn additional credits.
4. Credit may be granted for specific courses, or for general prior learning experiences for which there is no course equivalent at the College. The amount of credit to be allowed through College examination or individual portfolio evaluation, the PSC course(s) for which substitution, if any, is made, and the particular graduation requirements which may be satisfied will be determined by the Academic Dean of the appropriate School. The maximum allowable amount of prior learning credit for specific course substitution and general prior learning combined is (66) semester hours.
5. For Bachelor of Science students, the maximum amount of credit granted for general life experiences (i.e., those that do not fit directly into a specific course offered by the College) is (21) hours.
6. For Bachelor of Applied Science students, the maximum amount of credit granted for general prior learning experiences deemed to be the equivalent of a technical associate degree is (66) hours.

Generally, a portfolio of evidence of extra-institutional learning is required for those interested in acquiring prior learning credits. To assist students interested in developing a portfolio for this purpose, the College requires participation in College 201 Prior Learning/Life Experience Portfolio Development. Portfolios will be evaluated on the level of learning evidenced by leadership and community service experiences, professional work experiences, creative contributions to society, and completion of professional training. Some common professional training programs have already been evaluated and prior learning credit determinations made (e.g., for the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training program). Contact the Vice President for Academic Affairs for current information.

Placement Policy (English and Math)

Composition Placement (in the Absence of Transfer Composition Course Work):

• Freshmen with ACT English scores below 17 or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing scores below 480 are required to enroll in ENG 100 (or place out of it through proficiency testing).
• Freshmen with ACT English scores of 17 or higher or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 480 or higher may select their own composition course placement.

Mathematics Placement (in the Absence of Transfer Mathematics Course Work):

• Freshmen with ACT Math scores below 17 or SAT Math scores below 420 are required to enroll in Math 100 (or place out of it through proficiency testing).
• Freshmen with ACT Math scores of 17 or higher or SAT Math scores of 420 or higher may select their own mathematics course placement.

ENG 100 - Elements of Composition  and MATH 100 - Elementary Algebra  are designed to assist students in reaching their educational objectives. These courses focus on the areas that most often affect student success: reading, composition, and mathematics. ENG 100  and MATH 100  are three (3) credit hours each and earn student institutional credit; however, neither course fulfills a General Studies requirement.

Students who are required to take ENG 100  and/or MATH 100  must earn a grade of C or better to advance to related composition and/or mathematics General Studies courses. Students failing to pass either of these courses will meet with appropriate CATS personnel to discuss further academic options. Students who are enrolled in ENG 100  or MATH 100  will be limited to a fifteen (15) credit hour academic load.

Proficiency Examination Program (PEP)

(See Standardized Examination)

Repeat Courses

Students are encouraged to repeat courses in which they have performed poorly. The initial course title and grade are not removed from the student’s permanent record. The higher grade is used to determine the new grade point average. There may also be occasions when students repeat a course for review on an audit basis without a change of grade. Tuition and fees are paid for repeated courses, but additional credit hours are not earned. Financial Aid may be affected by repeating courses, so students should review their situation with the One Stop.

Seamless Transfer

Transfer students who have earned an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree from an accredited institution will have met all Peru State general studies requirements, if earlier coursework includes 30 or more credit hours of general studies courses. Completion of specific lower division courses may be required in individual degree programs.

Selecting a Major

Students who apply for admission to the College will indicate on the Application for Admission the major area of study they intend to pursue. Individuals who are unsure of a major should indicate “Undeclared” on the application form.

Standardized Examination

Students may earn credit through several standardized examination programs. Credits earned from the CLEP subject exam only (College Level Examination Program), DANTES (Defense Activity Nontraditional Education Support), PEP (Proficiency Examination Program), and APP (Advanced Placement Program) can satisfy certain Peru State degree requirements. A maximum of 30 hours of standardized examinations is acceptable.

Student Email

Students are required to access their college-issued email regularly. Faculty and staff members of the College will only utilize this email address when emailing student information.

USERNAME: Student’s first name, period, student’s last name, and the first five (5) digits of their NUID number (ex: John.Doe12345)
PASSWORD: Student’s entire, eight (8) digit NUID (ex 12345678 or 00123456)

Suspension

(See Academic Probation and Suspension)

Transfer of Credit

After the student has been fully admitted, the College completes an official evaluation to identify the applicability of previous work to the student’s expressed major and degree program.

A maximum of 90 semester credit hours from an accredited four-year college or university and extra-institutional sources may be applied toward the minimum 120 semester hours required for a Bachelor’s degree. Of these 90 semester hours, a maximum of 66 semester credit hours may be from a community/ vocational/ technical college or other extra-institutional sources. To be considered for possible transfer, courses must have been completed with a grade of “C-” or higher. Credit for a course in which the student earned a grade of “C-” will be accepted. Developmental or transitional courses (non-college level) will not be accepted.

An Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree completed at an accredited postsecondary institution that includes a minimum of 30 semester hours of general studies coursework or its equivalent will fulfill all requirements of a general studies program established at a Nebraska State College. Note that while the general studies requirements will be fully met with completion of the Associates degree, only those courses carrying grades as established above will be applied to the credit hour requirements of the baccalaureate degree.

All students must complete a minimum of 50% of the hours required for the major/endorsement requirements (excluding General Studies) at Peru State.

Students who seek admission and are accepted while on probation from their last college are placed on probation and are subject to all Peru State policies of probation.

Students who have been suspended from another college will not be considered for admission until the period of suspension at their previous institution has expired and the facts of the dismissal are provided. Students who discontinue their attendance at Peru State and then attend another college or university before seeking readmission are classified as transfer students.

Transfer students who have completed technical Associate’s Degrees or equivalent will be eligible for the Bachelor of Applied Science degree completion program. See the School of Professional Studies section of this catalog for more detail.

Transcripts

Transcripts are not issued to students who have financial obligations to the College or holds on their academic records. Transcript requests are made through the College website at https://www.peru.edu/transcripts/index.html.

Waiver

(See Academic Appeal.)