Catalog

General Academic Policies and Procedures

Course Designations

A course is designated by the discipline, the title, the number under which credit is given, and the number of semester units of credit it offers.

Department Codes

AC Accounting ID Interdisciplinary Studies
AR Art KN Kinesiology
BA Business Administration LA Latin American Studies
BY Biology LS Liberal Studies
CD Career Development MA Mathematics
CH Chemistry MG Management
CL Culture and Language MK Marketing
CM Communication MT Musical Theatre
CP Clinical Psychology MU Music
CS Computer Science NS Nutritional Science
CU Cultural Diversity PA Public Administration
DA Dance PE Physical Education
EC Economics PH Physics/Earth Science
ED Education PL Philosophy
EI English for International Students PS Political Science
EN English PY Psychology
FN Finance RS Religious Studies
FR French SL Sports and Leisure Management
GB General Business SM Science/Mathematics
GR Gerontology SO Sociology
HR Human Resources SP Spanish
HS Human Services SY Systems Management
HY History TA Theatre Arts
IB International Business TM Technology Management

Course Numbering System

Numbers for courses receiving academic credit are assigned according to the following classification:

001-099 Undergraduate lower-division courses
100-199 Undergraduate upper-division courses
200-299 Graduate courses leading to a master's degree or credential
300-399 Graduate methods courses or practice leading to a master's degree or credential
400-499 Post baccalaureate professional growth courses for academic credit not leading to a master's degree or credential
500-599 Upper-division undergraduate courses given graduate credit when taken by a graduate student with the prior approval of a graduate program director

Academic Units

Each semester unit (credit) represents 15 hours of instruction, or the equivalent, in laboratory, field work, or independent study.

Quantification of a Unit of Credit

A unit of credit at NDNU represents a total of 45 study hours, e.g., 15 hours of in-class contact and 30 hours of out-of-class preparation. A "study hour" (Carnegie hour) is defined as 50 minutes (allowing 10 minutes break/travel time per 60-minute hour).

Three-unit Accelerated courses at Notre Dame de Namur University have a maximum of 28 contact hours or in-class seat hours and so have greater out-of-class preparation expected. Accelerated courses follow a strict absence policy of no more than four in-class hours missed time per seven week term. Arriving late or leaving early is also counted toward the four hours. If a student misses more than four hours (the equivalent of one class session), the student will be withdrawn from the class by the Chair of the Department. There are no exceptions and the student will need to work with the Chair to submit necessary paperwork immediately to the Business and Registrar's Office.

Continuing Education Units (CEU)

One Continuing Education credit is awarded for each 10 hours of instruction and is graded on a Pass/Not Pass basis. These credits are a nationally recognized means of recording nonacademic credit study. CEUs earned may not be applied to, nor substituted for, degree requirements.

R. N. Continuing Education Credit

Notre Dame de Namur University offers continuing education courses for registered nurses under provider number 13634. Each semester unit of regular academic courses counts for 15 hours of nursing continuing education credit. Each semester unit of NDNU continuing education courses count for 10 hours of nursing continuing education credit. A list of courses eligible for credit is available from the Registrar's Office.

Noncredit Study

Noncredit study is not transcripted by the Registrar's Office.

Undergraduate Class Standing

Undergraduate class standing is determined as follows:
       Freshman: 0-29 units completed.
       Sophomore: 30-59 units completed.
       Junior: 60-89 units completed.
       Senior: 90 or more units completed.

Privacy Rights of Students

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the following information may be released without student consent:

  1. Student's Name
  2. Address (campus, local, and/or permanent)
  3. Telephone numbers
  4. Date and place of birth
  5. Major field of study and classification
  6. Dates of attendance, degrees, and honors received
  7. Most recent previous educational institution attended
  8. Weight and height of members of intercollegiate athletic teams

No additional information may be released without written consent of the student. Third parties, including parents and legal guardians, do not have access to a student's transcripts, grades, class schedules, or other records without a Third Party Authorization consent from the student. A student may prohibit the release of all information by submitting a written request to the Registrar's Office. Exceptions to release of information without consent:

  1. University officials who have a legitimate educational interest in a student's records;
  2. Officials of other universities who have a legitimate educational interest in a student's records; universities in which a student seeks to enroll;
  3. Certain government officials acting in their legitimate functions;
  4. Those persons and agencies seeking records in connection with a student's application for or receipt of financial aid;
  5. Authorities acting in compliance with a judicial order or pursuant to any lawfully issued subpoena;
  6. Accrediting agencies;
  7. Certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the Comptroller General, and state and local educational authorities, in connection with certain state or federally supported education programs;
  8. In an emergency, appropriate persons if knowledge of such information is necessary protect the health or safety of the student or other persons.

Under FERPA students have the right to:

  1. Inspect and review information contained in their education records;
  2. Challenge the contents of their education records;
  3. Request a hearing if the outcome of the challenge is unsatisfactory;
  4. Submit an explanatory statement for inclusion in the education record, if the outcome of the hearing is unsatisfactory;
  5. Secure a copy of the institutional policy regarding privacy rights;
  6. File complaints with the Department of Education concerning alleged failure to comply with FERPA.

Contact the Registrar's Office for further information.

Retention of Final Examinations

Final exams are retained by the instructor for a period of one semester after the date of the exam. Students who desire to review a final exam evaluation should contact the instructor within that period. Exams of part-time instructors, or those who are no longer at the University, are stored in the department or school deans' offices.

Veterans' Affairs

The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education approves Notre Dame de Namur University degree programs. Some certificate programs, excluding continuing education, are also approved for VA benefits. Veterans who expect to receive VA educational benefits must complete application forms with the VA Coordinator at the time of registration. Contact the veterans' coordinator in the Registrar's Office at (650) 508-3517 for current information.

Monthly benefits are based on the number of units taken each semester, the scheduled meeting dates of each course taken, and the number of veteran's dependents. Information on monthly benefits may be obtained by calling (800) 827-1000. Disabled veterans are advised to contact the Vocational Rehabilitation Office in Oakland, CA at (510) 637-1128. Children of veterans qualify for benefits only if the veteran has a 100 percent service-related disability.

All applicants and recipients of Veterans' Benefits must maintain a cumulative grade point average, in a degree program, of 2.0 (C) if an undergraduate or 3.0 (B) if a graduate student. Students in articulated programs must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) in all undergraduate courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) in all graduate courses during the period of articulation.

Students who fail to meet the minimum satisfactory GPA requirements will be placed on Academic Probation and notified. If a student remains on academic probation beyond two semesters, the University will report a termination of benefits to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

The University may not continue to certify the enrollment of a veteran or eligible person whose academic progress remains below graduation requirements. In the certificate program, if a VA student fails one course, the student is placed on Academic Probation. If a VA student fails the second course, he or she will not be certified for VA benefits. Continuous enrollment is subject to University policy. The University must report the assignment of non-punitive grades (e.g., Incompletes) to the Department of Veterans' Affairs within 30 days from the date the grades are assigned. The student is required to submit corroborative evidence to substantiate his or her claim of extraordinary circumstances. This is necessary to ensure compliance with statutory restrictions on benefit programs. If, at the end of one year from the date the Incomplete was assigned, the student's records still reflect a non-punitive grade for the course, the Department of Veterans' Affairs will inform the student that the benefit payments for the course must be retroactively terminated.

Transcripts

Students may obtain official transcripts of credit work at Notre Dame de Namur University from the Registrar's Office upon written request and with payment of a $10.00 fee for each transcript requested (first copy free of charge). Please allow a minimum of five business days for processing. Official transcripts can not be sent by fax. Transcripts of work taken at other institutions cannot be issued. The University reserves the right to withhold the records of any student not in good financial standing as defined by the University.

Diplomas

Diplomas are ordered only after all grades are posted and the University has verified the completion of all academic requirements and the clearing of all financial obligations. Please allow approximately three months after verification for receipt of diploma.

Diplomas show the degree earned and the date conferred. The date posted on the diploma coincides with the last month of the semester of the completion of all requirements:
        Fall - December
        Spring - May
        Summer - August.

Undergraduate diplomas also display the major(s) and honors at graduation. Diplomas for Business Administration majors additionally list the concentration(s). Multiple majors in more than one degree do not yield two degrees; the degree is determined by the primary major.

Graduate diplomas display a maximum of two program emphases and do not indicate academic honors.

Certificates

To receive a certificate earned at NDNU, students must complete an Application for NDNU Certificate form and return it to the Registrar's Office in St. Mary's Hall, Room 110. To receive the certificate in a timely manner, this form should be filed upon registering for the final class in a certificate program.