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 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. 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 are expected to maintain a substantial difference in level of expectation.

This policy addresses the following scenarios:

• Undergraduate and graduate instruction in courses cross-listed at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Graduate students enrolling in an undergraduate course desiring graduate credit through a directed study.
• Undergraduate students enrolling in a graduate course to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements.
• Undergraduate students enrolling in a graduate course prior to completing undergraduate course requirements.

A.  Cross-listing Graduate and Undergraduate Courses

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% of course fee goes to undergraduate department course fee and 40% course fee to sending graduate program department. The tuition rate will need to be indicated.

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 rate. 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 rate. Permission to enroll in a graduate course is not to be construed as admission to that graduate program.

F.  Transcript Status of Graduate Credit

For cross-listed courses undergraduate and graduate students’ transcripts will reflect the appropriate level of course credit earned. Graduate students enrolled in an undergraduate course but receiving graduate credit through a directed study will have the graduate level course reflected on their transcript. Credits that undergraduates earn in graduate courses will appear on their transcript as graduate level credit. Graduate credits on a transcript that are not applied to an undergraduate degree are indistinguishable from the same credits obtained post-baccalaureate.

Independent Study/Directed Study

Undergraduate students beyond the first year may take independent or directed study under the direction of a faculty member. See the 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

Courses should include two or more of the following components:

a)  Review of current state of knowledge on the topic area.
b)  Annotated bibliography.
c)  Observational experience or service-learning component.
d)  Project or Paper.  APA style required for written work.
e)  Oral Presentation.

University faculty may supervise several independent studies per year as part of their regular assignment but are encouraged to limit the number undertaken per semester to avoid an overload. University faculty supervising independent studies do not receive additional remuneration except during summer school. In that case students pay summer school tuition and the faculty member is compensated according to summer school salary policy for independent or directed studies.   See the Independent Learning Contract form

Proficiency or Credit Examinations

For foreign language credit:

Testing for French or Spanish language credit at the Elementary and/or Intermediate level occurs through the CLEP process. Students whose language ability is beyond Intermediate II may earn up to three credits at the 300 level through a special examination prepared by the instructor of the respective language. For credit for other languages, please consult the chair of the Language and Literature Department.

Other undergraduate courses:

Upon recommendation of the instructor, a special examination may be arranged to earn credit or to demonstrate proficiency in a specific subject area. The form to expedite this process may be obtained from the university registrar’s office.

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.
• For seminary “Credit by Examination” refer to the seminary catalog.

Revised by Academic Cabinet, April 8, 2015