Program Development and Evaluation
Academic programs at EMU pursue “academic excellence and creative process.” Continual enhancement of existing programs is expected and a vision for new programs consistent with the university mission is encouraged. Undergraduate department chairs, graduate program directors, and the seminary dean are expected to follow the guidelines of the Institutional Effectiveness Plan for annual reporting outlined in these guidelines. Some program changes must be reported for regulatory bodies. Please note the Academic Program Change Policy in the Faculty Policies and Procedures, which requires the provost to be made aware of any proposed changes.
Degree Requirements
Undergraduate Studies
EMU’s undergraduate programs are expected to align with broadly accepted standards for post-secondary baccalaureate education with regard to rigor. The university does not offer undergraduate credit for courses or content that are intended to be developmental or remedial.
Graduate Level Studies
EMU’s graduate programs are designed to build upon the foundation of baccalaureate education. As such, they must represent greater depth and breadth of learning than undergraduate work on the same subject. Graduate-level (post-baccalaureate) programs must be structured to include knowledge of the literature of the discipline and to ensure engagement in research and/or appropriate professional practice and training.
Program Development
The university’s program and curriculum approval processes are designed to ensure that undergraduate-level and graduate-level programs meet appropriate standards for rigor, content and scope. Undergraduate programs are reviewed by the Undergraduate Council Executive, which is constituted of faculty members teaching at the undergraduate level across the university. Graduate-level programs are reviewed and approved by the Graduate Council, which is constituted of faculty members teaching at the graduate level across the university. Review by the respective governance body ensures that EMU curricula represent adequate depth and breadth.
New academic program development should follow the policies and procedures outlined in the New Program Proposal Process in addition to meeting curriculum standards policies outlined here and in the university policy on Class Meetings, Attendance and Final Examinations (Credit Hour Policy), which stipulates expectations with regard to credit (semester) hours. Proposals for curricular changes must be processed and approved as per the Academic Program Change Policy and its associated forms.
Degree Requirements
EMU associates degrees must require a minimum of 60 semester hours; bachelor’s degrees must require a minimum of 120 semester hours. Undergraduate majors at Eastern Mennonite University range from a minimum of 24 semester hours to a maximum of 64. The professional programs, often because of specific disciplinary requirements, tend to be on the higher end. Undergraduate minors generally consist of a minimum of 18 semester hours in the area of study. For specific degree requirements refer to the undergraduate catalog. EMU post-baccalaureate degrees must require at least 30 semester hours. For graduate degree requirements refer to the graduate or seminary catalogs.
Policy on Combined Instruction of Graduate and Undergraduate Students
Eastern Mennonite University permits combined instruction of graduate and undergraduate students in selected courses. Where combined instruction occurs, faculty are expected to give appropriate attention to both groups of students. For graduate work faculty members are expected to maintain a substantial difference in level of expectation.
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A. Cross-listing Graduate and Undergraduate Courses
In cases when an undergraduate course is listed at the graduate level and students are enrolled for graduate credit those students enrolled for graduate credit must engage in learning activities and general academic expectations commensurate with the generally accepted standards for graduate work. At EMU, these general standards are defined (in the institution's Credit Hour Policy as, 2.5-3 hours of study per hour in class for a total of 52.5-60 hours per semester hour of credit. Faculty members are expected to demonstrate, through separate course syllabi (one for undergraduates and another for graduate students), that graduate level expectations are substantially different. The graduate syllabus must articulate how the additional learning activities and/or requirements represent the increased rigor, content and scope to meet graduate-level standards
For courses cross-listed at both the undergraduate and graduate level, the faculty member must submit the request, with rationale, to the Executive Committee of the undergraduate council, graduate council or seminary academic committee for review and approval. Faculty are expected to demonstrate, through separate course syllabi (one for undergraduates and another for graduate students), that graduate level expectations are substantially different. All cross-listed courses must be approved through the regular curriculum approval process.
B. Directed Study for Graduate Credit
When a graduate student, in consultation with the advisor, enrolls in a regular undergraduate course but for graduate credit, the student should negotiate a directed study with the respective graduate program director. On the directed study form the faculty member must specify additional expectations for graduate study that are substantially different from expectations of the undergraduate students. The student charge is at the tuition rate of the program in which he or she is enrolled and the tuition income is applied to that graduate program.
C. Course Fee Payment
When a graduate student, in consultation with the advisor, enrolls in an undergraduate course; 60% , 100% of course fee goes to the undergraduate department course fee and 40% course fee to sending graduate program department. The tuition rate will need to be indicated.account.
D. Graduate Credit for Undergraduate Degree Requirements
In selected cases a junior or senior undergraduate student may be permitted to enroll in a graduate course to satisfy an undergraduate degree requirement. In order to qualify, a student must be at least a junior with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA and a positive recommendation from their academic advisor. Approval must be obtained from the faculty member teaching the course and from the graduate program director or seminary associate dean. The undergraduate student must meet the same course requirements as the graduate students. The student charge is at the undergraduate rate but the income is applied to the graduate program at the latter’s tuition rate. If a summer course, the student charge will be at the graduate program course rateand subject to the 60%/40% split. Permission to enroll in a graduate course is not to be construed as admission to that graduate program. Once a graduate course is counted towards undergraduate degree requirements, the course cannot be applied toward a graduate degree should the student subsequently be admitted to the graduate program. In cases where the graduate course may be a core requirement for the graduate program, the director of the graduate program may choose to consider the core requirement “satisfied” and only require the student to take an additional elective to meet total graduate program requirements.
E. Graduate Credit for Undergraduate Students
In selected cases a student may be permitted to enroll in a graduate or seminary course for graduate credit prior to completing undergraduate degree requirements. In order to qualify a student must be a senior with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a positive recommendation from their academic advisor. Approval must be obtained from the faculty member teaching the course and from the graduate program director or seminary associate dean. The student charge, if full-time without the graduate or seminary course and within 18 semester hours, is at the undergraduate rate. If the student is part-time without the graduate or seminary course, or if the course creates an overload (over 18 semester hours), the charge is at the graduate or seminary rate. In both cases tuition is applied to the graduate program at the latter’s tuition rateundergraduate rates, including overload rates, and subject to the 60%/40% tuition allocation. Permission to enroll in a graduate course is not to be construed as admission to that graduate program.
F. Transcript Status of Graduate Credit
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Undergraduate students beyond the first year may take independent or directed study under the direction of a faculty member. See the catalog catalog for details. The student and supervising faculty member, using the following guidelines, mutually arrange independent studies. Faculty and student should mutually develop the learning contract. Use departmental grading scale and Writing Across the Curriculum Guidelines. Give course a number and an appropriate title (e.g., BIO 491/492). When planning the course, use the following formula: 1 Semester Hour = 45 hours of work
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Payments due faculty for administering proficiency and credit examinations are paid on June 30. For credit examinations, the professor who prepares and administers the test receives one half of the fee paid by the student up to a maximum of six semester hours. For proficiency examinations, the professor receives 75% of the student charge.
The above policy generally applies to undergraduate courses
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Revised by Academic Cabinet, April 8, 2015
Updated by Provost's Council, January 23, 2020