General Academic Policies and Procedures
Course Designations
Each course will have a unique three-digit alphanumeric code followed by a four-digit numeric number, course title, and number of units of credits associated with it. The three-digit alphanumeric code refers to either the school or a program within a school/division (discipline).
School of Business and Management
| BUS | Business |
| CAR | Career Development |
| COM | Communications |
| HSP | Human Services |
School of Education and Leadership
| EDU | Education |
College of Arts and Sciences
| ART | Art |
| BIO | Biology |
| CHE | Chemistry |
| CIS | Computer Science |
| CUL | Culture and Language |
| CPY | Clinical Psychology |
| DAN | Dance |
| EIS | English for International Students |
| ENG | English |
| FRE | French |
| GER | Gerontology |
| GPY | Art Therapy Psychology |
| HST | History |
| IDS | Interdisciplinary Studies |
| KIN | Kinesiology |
| LAT | Latin |
| MTH | Math |
| MUS | Music |
| NSC | Natural Sciences |
| PED | Physical Education |
| PHL | Philosophy |
| PHY | Physics/Earth Science |
| PSC | Political Science |
| PSY | Psychology |
| REL | Religious Studies |
| SPA | Spanish |
| SOC | Sociology |
| THE | Theatre Arts |
The four-digit numeric code following designates what type of credit is associated with each course. Numeric codes for courses receiving credit (academic and nonacademic) are assigned according to the following classification:
| 1000-1999 | Undergraduate lower-division courses |
| 2000-2999 | Undergraduate upper-division courses |
| 3000-3999 | Upper-division undergraduate courses given graduate credit when taken by a graduate student with the prior approval of a graduate program director |
| 4000-5999 | Graduate courses leading to a master's degree or credential |
| 6000-6999 | Academic certificates courses for academic credit (Post-baccalaureate professional growth courses) |
| 7000-7999 | Non Degree |
| 9000-9999 | Continuing Education Unit (CEU) professional growth courses non-transferable to academic degree or credential programs |
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 assigned a failing grade for the course unless the student officially drops or withdraws from the course.
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
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 cannot 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 concentrations 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.