Academic Policies, Procedures, and Regulations

Expectations and Responsibilities

The college emphasizes the responsibility of each student to participate in the educational process. This involves the conscientious preparation of assignments and the recognition of the frequent interdependence of students when individual contribution to a group or class effort is required.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend classes and to complete assignments as required by the instructor. They should expect their academic progress to suffer if they miss classes.

Advising: Students are also expected to meet regularly with their faculty advisors and with their college advisors in the College Advising Center and to keep accurate records of their course work and academic progress toward their chosen degree.

Co-curricular Activities: The college supports student activities that provide broad opportunity for the exercise of interests and talents. These include participation in the Student Government Association, participation in professional organizations, cultural experiences, social activities, sports clubs, and informal meetings between students and faculty.

The college prohibits the following conduct:

All forms of academic dishonesty, including, but not limited to

• cheating,
• plagiarism,
• knowingly furnishing false information to the college,
• forgery,
• alteration or fraudulent use of College documents, instruments, or identification.

Academic Petitions

Columbia College Chicago has established clear and reasonable academic requirements, and students must meet these requirements to remain in good academic standing. Under extraordinary and exceptional circumstances, the student may present a written petition to the dean of the appropriate school requesting an exception to a departmental academic requirement. Exceptions are made only on rare occasions and are based on the specific circumstances of the case at hand. A designated representative of the dean will review the petition and determine whether an exception to an academic requirement is appropriate. That decision will be final. For more information on academic petitions, see an advisor in the College Advising Center.

Academic Standing

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Undergraduate Students

All Columbia College students, full-time and part-time, must meet the college’s guidelines for satisfactory academic progress (SAP).

All students are required to be in good standing and to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree requirements each semester in which they are enrolled.

Satisfactory academic progress is evaluated three times a year: after the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress may result in academic dismissal and/or the loss of financial aid eligibility.

Minimum Standards for Undergraduate Students

Columbia College Chicago’s requirements for minimum satisfactory academic progress are as follows:

1. Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA).

   Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, a “C” average, each semester they are enrolled. Students must achieve a minimum grade of C in all undergraduate courses counted for completion of their majors and their minors.
   
   Grades earned at another institution will not be included in the Columbia grade point average.
    

2. Minimum completion rate.
   Students must successfully complete two-thirds (67%) of their attempted semester hours each semester they are enrolled.
   
   Transfer credit accepted from an accredited post-secondary institution will be included in the determination of completion rate. Accepted transfer credit will be the only component of a previous academic record to be incorporated into the academic completion rate upon enrollment at Columbia.
    

3. Maximum time frame to degree completion (TSAP).
   Columbia students are allowed to attempt a maximum of 186 credits toward degree completion.
   
   Federal regulations require that the college track the academic progress of financial aid recipients from the first date of enrollment whether or not financial aid was received. Therefore, transfer credits, and all other credit sources, will be included in the computation of student degree completion hours.
   
   Students who have attempted 186 credit hours and have not achieved their degree will be immediately dismissed from the college and will not be allowed to enroll in future semesters. They also will be immediately suspended from receiving federal financial aid. There are no probationary terms for maximum time frame.
   
   Students whose attempted credits, including transfer credits, exceed a total of 186 will be immediately dismissed and suspended from receiving any further federal financial aid. There are no probationary terms for exceeding the maximum credits allowed for degree completion.
    

4. Minimum fourth semester cumulative GPA (FSAP).
   All students receiving federal financial aid must have a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average at the end of their fourth semester to remain eligible for financial aid. There are no probationary terms for FSAP compliance.
   
   Students who did not earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of their fourth term of enrollment at Columbia will be immediately suspended from receiving federal financial aid. There are no probationary semesters for FSAP. Financial aid will be reinstated after dismissal only when students regain their academic compliance by earning a 2.00 cumulative grade point average.

Notification of Academic Status

At the end of every semester (fall, spring, and summer), each undergraduate student’s cumulative grade point average and completion rate are evaluated. There are five types of academic progress warnings: Mild, Strong, Probation, Dismissal, and FSAP.

The College Advising Center notifies students in writing as to their academic status and their financial aid eligibility at the end of each semester immediately following the grading period if one of the academic progress warnings applies.

Students who are in compliance with their GPA and their completion rate are considered in Good Standing and do not receive written notice.

Mild

The first semester a student (full- or part-time) is not in compliance regarding his or her grade point average and/or completion rate, he/she will receive a Mild letter and status. The student must meet with his/her college advisor in the College Advising Center for counseling and academic clearance before registering for subsequent semesters.

Strong

The second consecutive semester a student is out of compliance regarding his or her grade point average and/or completion rate, he/she will receive a Strong letter and status. The student must meet with his/her college advisor in the College Advising Center for counseling and academic clearance before registering for subsequent semesters.

Probation

The third consecutive semester a student is out of compliance regarding his or her grade point average and/or completion rate, he/she will receive a Probation letter and status. The student must meet with his/her college advisor in the College Advising Center for counseling and academic clearance before registering for subsequent semesters. Students currently on probation, registered in their fourth, or dismissal, semester, will not be allowed to register for their fifth semester until all grades are in and the student has reached a 2.0 or higher C GPA. Upon reaching a 2.0 or higher C GPA, the student will be allowed to register for the next semester, after receiving clearance from his or her college advisor.

Students approved to register will be given clearance to register.

Academic Dismissal

At the end of the fourth consecutive semester of non-compliance, for grade point average and/or completion rate, a student will be dismissed from the college. Students are notified in writing of their dismissal status. Dismissed students will immediately lose all forms of financial aid at Columbia. A dismissed student must sit out from the college for at least two consecutive semesters. Dismissed students must attend another college or university and demonstrate academic progress at that institution in order to resume a course of study at Columbia.

Readmission After Dismissal

To apply for readmission to the college after academic dismissal, the student must submit a written appeal to the College Advising Center for consideration. When a student is readmitted, he/she is closely monitored until he/she regains good standing. Financial aid will only be reinstated when students regain good standing.

Appeal Process for Dismissal/Maximum Time Frame/FSAP

Recognizing that there may be extenuating and mitigating circumstances affecting student performance, the college allows students to appeal their academic progress status by submitting a written appeal with appropriate documentation to the College Advising Center for consideration. The College Advising Center in cooperation with the Exception Committee will notify a student of their decision within 10 business days. Students also have the right to appeal the decision.

Treatment of W, I, NG, P, F, and Grades Reported

1. Course withdrawals (W), courses dropped after the add/drop period, are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.
2. Incomplete (I) grades are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations. Grades of I automatically convert to F’s if the agreed upon work in not completed by the end of the semester after the semester in which the I grade was assigned.
3. Unreported grades (NG) are not included in the grade point average but are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations. Grades of NG automatically convert to F’s if the agreed upon work is not completed by the end of the semester after the semester in which the NG grade as assigned.
4. Pass (P) grades are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.
5. Failure grades (F) are included in the computation of the grade point average, and they are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.
6. Grades of A, B, C, and D (including pluses and minuses) are included in the grade point calculation and are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.

Consortium/Study Abroad Course Work

All course work completed at institutions other than Columbia under either a Consortium or Study Abroad agreement is included in the evaluation of a student’s academic progress. Students who have been dismissed from Columbia due to SAP compliance may not apply for Consortium or Study Abroad agreements.

Repeating Courses

Repeated Course Grades

Students are permitted to repeat courses to improve their grade, provided the course is not designated repeatable. The course must be the equivalent number and title as the initial failed course.

The grade achieved in the repeated course (whether higher, lower, or the same) is included in the computation of the grade point average and is considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.

The original course title and original grade remain on the student’s academic record. The original grade is not calculated in the grade point average but is included in completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.

The student’s academic record will always reflect the academic transaction and Satisfactory Academic Progress compliance status that is true for each semester of enrollment.

Failure to Meet a Minimum Grade

If a student fails to earn the minimum grade required in a course in order to progress to the next course in a sequence or level of a discipline, he or she may repeat the class in an attempt to earn the higher grade necessary to go on. Students will pay tuition and fees for retaken courses. State and federal aid-granting agencies may authorize financial aid payments to fund those retakes.

• Students may retake a course to improve the grade no more than twice (total of three attempts). Students must speak with a faculty advisor before taking a course for the third time.
• The retaken course must carry the same number and course content as the original course.
• The retaken course must not be designated as R (repeatable for additional credit).

Class Standing

Class standing for undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Fine Arts is classified by the number of credit hours earned:

Grading System

Grades reflect the instructor’s evaluation of a student’s achievement, improvement, effort, and motivation within the framework of this system. Columbia’s grading system is as follows:

The P (Pass) grade does not affect the grade point average (GPA). The pass/fail option must be declared before the end of the fourth week of class (or, in the summer semester, by the end of the first week of class) by completing a form obtained in the Records Office. The instructor’s approval is required. Once this form is submitted the decision cannot be reversed.

The I grade (Incomplete) is issued when a student makes definite arrangements with the instructor to complete course work outside class by the end of the eighth week of the next consecutive semester. An agreement specifying work to be completed and a due date must be signed by both instructor and student and approved by the department chair. Grades of I automatically convert to F grades if course work is not satisfactorily completed by no later then the end of the eighth week of the following semester, but as early as the instructor wishes to stipulate. For this purpose, the summer semester is considered a regular semester. If medical excuses are part of the student’s documentation for requesting an I grade, these must be submitted during the semester in which the incomplete is requested. A student may not complete the work for a course in which an I grade was received by enrolling in the same class in the next semester.

Repeatable courses

Some courses in the undergraduate curriculum are designated “repeatable” for the purpose of allowing students to improve their proficiency in a specific area. Generally, students may repeat repeatable courses only once unless otherwise specified by the department in which the course is offered. Students may register in several consecutive semesters for skill-building courses and workshops such as dance technique, music lessons, and chorus. Grades received for repeatable courses will appear separately on the transcript. Tuition and fees are paid for each repeatable course. Some financial aid limits may apply. Before registering for a course designated repeatable, students should consult an advisor.

Registration

Registration for continuing degree-seeking students typically begins in the middle of each semester for the subsequent semester. Registration is conducted online through the college’s Online Administrative Student Information System (OASIS). To participate in registration, students may be required to meet with their faculty advisors for an advising clearance. Students should contact the department of their major for further information. Students must have no outstanding financial, academic, or immunization obligations to the college. (See also Orientation and Registration for New Students .)

Dropping/Adding/Withdrawing from Classes

The college’s official schedule revision period ends on the Monday of the second week of classes in a fall and spring semester. Students may make changes to their class schedules (i.e., add or drop classes) at any time prior to the end of the official revision period. No classes may be added after the first week of classes, but students may drop classes through the second week of the semester and may withdraw through the eighth week during the fall and spring semesters. (Refer to the Summer Semester Schedule for guidelines on dropping or withdrawing from summer classes.) If a student drops a course before the end of the second week, the course will not appear on the student’s academic record. Withdrawals between the third and eighth week will appear on the record as W (Withdrawal), which may affect compliance with Satisfactory Academic Progress (see above). Students are advised to consult with a college advisor in the College Advising Center before deciding to withdraw from a class. Failure to attend a class does not equal withdrawal.

Late Withdrawals

A student may petition for administrative withdrawal from classes after the deadline at the end of the eighth week (week four of summer semester) by submitting a written petition supported by appropriate documentation. This withdrawal petition is evaluated and either approved or denied in the College Advising Center.

A student may petition for a total administrative withdrawal from all classes after the end of the semester by submitting a petition supported by appropriate documentation. A withdrawal after the end of the semester will not be permitted if the petition is submitted later than two consecutive semesters (including the summer semester) following the semester in question. Petitions for this type of withdrawal are evaluated and approved or denied in the College Advising Center.

Students may appeal a denial of petition to the assistant dean of student development, whose decision will be final.

Withdrawal from the College

Students are strongly advised to see their college advisor in the College Advising Center before deciding to withdraw from the college. This is a decision that involves a loss of time, effort, tuition, and credit, and should be considered carefully in consultation with a college advisor.

In the event that a student decides to withdraw from the College, he or she must return all school property and make necessary financial arrangements with Student Financial Services prior to his or her departure. The deadline for withdrawals is stated in the calendar for each semester.

Student Code of Conduct/Policies

Columbia is proud of its creative and diverse community of faculty, students, and staff who create and participate in educational opportunities in the arts, media, and communications. The college provides a caring environment: one in which freedom of expression is valued and civility is observed. Students are encouraged to value this community and to accept responsibility for their individual behavior, as well as for the common good. Columbia’s Code of Conduct is primarily a positive guide to the creation of a community that encourages the personal and intellectual development of each person, and, secondly, a list of behaviors that would interfere with the important work of the college community. In addition, it is understood that students assume responsibility for the behavior of their guests on campus. Students are expected to share information regarding college policies with their guests and to ensure that their guests’ behavior conforms to the college’s expectations. For the complete Code of Conduct, including sections on disciplinary procedures, students should contact the Dean of Students’ Office.

Columbia College Chicago’s Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy

Columbia College Chicago is committed to maintaining an environment that respects the dignity of all individuals. Accordingly, Columbia will not tolerate harassment or discrimination based on race, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, or religion are illegal. Students can file complaints of harassment and/or discrimination, or obtain a copy of Columbia’s Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy, from the Office of the Dean of Students, 623 South Wabash, Room 301.

Graduation Audit and Posting of Degrees

Students must complete an online application for graduation from the Graduate Application link on the Students tab in Oasis. The application should be submitted one academic year before the expected graduation date. (For example, if a student intends to graduate after the spring 2011 semester, he or she should submit his or her graduation application in the spring 2010 semester.) Once the application is received, the Office of Degree Evaluation will evaluate the student’s academic record and complete an initial graduation audit. When all degree requirements are satisfied, a final audit will be completed and the degree will be posted. Once the degree is posted, the transcript of a student’s academic record at Columbia College Chicago will not be changed. Attendance at the commencement ceremony does not constitute degree completion or graduation. The diploma and official transcript cannot be issued until all financial obligations to Columbia College Chicago are settled.

Copyright Policy

For the most part, works of any kind created by students in the College in fulfillment of class assignments or advanced study projects belong to their student creators. There are, however, certain class projects in which the College retains the ownership. Irrespective of ownership, the College or its departments may use, without prior approval, student work for educational and promotional uses.

Additional Information on College Policies

Each student is expected to be thoroughly familiar with the academic and general requirements and polices of the college, as stated in the Catalog, Student Handbook, Course Schedule, and other official college materials and publications. Faculty and staff are available to provide assistance and guidance to students concerning college requirements and policies; however, the responsibility for understanding and meeting college requirements rests with the student. Further information on college policies may be found in the student handbook. The student handbook is distributed to all students during orientation in the fall and spring semesters.

Advanced Credit and Transfer Credit Policies

Transfer Credit

Columbia College Chicago accepts transfer credit from other regionally accredited colleges and universities and will consider transfer credit from select institutions with discipline-specific accreditation, located in Illinois or out of state. Transfer courses must be completed with a C grade or better and must be similar or equivalent in content to those offered by Columbia. The acceptance of transfer credit is at the sole discretion of the college. To be accepted, official college transcripts, military records, or advanced placement test scores must be received by the Undergraduate Admissions Office before the end of the student’s first semester of attendance at Columbia College Chicago. Grades and grade point averages do not transfer. All transfer students will receive an official transcript evaluation from the Office of Degree Evaluation as part of the admissions process.

• No minimum number of transfer credits is required to transfer to Columbia College Chicago.
• The maximum number of credit hours accepted from four-year colleges and universities is 88 credit hours.
• The maximum number of credit hours accepted from a two-year college is 62. The maximum number of credits accepted from a combination of two-year college and CLEP, AP, military, and/or life experience is 62 credit hours.
• If a student attended both a four-year and a two-year college, the maximum number of credit hours accepted in transfer is 88, with no more than 62 credit hours accepted from a two-year college.
• The final 12 credit hours needed for graduation must be taken at Columbia College Chicago.
• A maximum of four credit hours in physical education is accepted.
• A maximum of nine credit hours in foreign language is accepted.
• Topics, independent study, internships, ES L, adult education, continuing education, workshops, seminars, and developmental courses (those courses usually numbered below 100) are not transferable.

CLEP/AP Credit

Students desiring advanced standing (transfer credit) based on CLEP results must have official score, reports sent to the Office of Degree Evaluation.

Columbia follows the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendation for the award of CLEP credit. To see the list of subjects and accepted scores please review the information at “What Your CLEP Score Means” at http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/scores.html.

Scores of 3, 4, or 5 on Advanced Placement tests may also be accepted as transfer credit, and official records must be sent to the Office of Degree Evaluation for consideration. Credit for CLEP and Advanced Placement tests is applicable only to students with freshman or sophomore standing and is considered inappropriate for more advanced students. For more information about AP credit, please see http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html. Refer to the Transfer Credit section, on this page, for maximum acceptable hours.

Life Experience Credit

Under special circumstances, a student may be granted up to 16 credit hours in their major for life and work experience. Applications are available in the Records Office for evaluation of non-college learning experiences.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Credit is accepted for test scores of 4 or higher.

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

Credit is accepted for A and AS Level exams with grades of A to E in subjects similar to those offered at Columbia College Chicago. For more information about CIE’s, see www.cie.org.uk.

Military Credit

Veterans may be eligible for active duty and service school credit on the basis of information from official copies of military records. Contact the veterans’ affairs coordinator in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Transfer Articulation

The Office of Degree Evaluation evaluates transcripts of previous college work for students who transfer to Columbia. The office also maintains the articulation of courses with select community colleges.

Students planning to transfer to Columbia should consult with their community college transfer center or advisor and Columbia’s Office of Degree Evaluation early in their academic career to obtain specific information on transferring Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum (LASCC) and major course credits. Articulation agreements are frequently updated.

Course equivalency charts and transfer guides can be found at http://www.colum.edu/Students/Academics/Degree_Evaluation/index.php for the following institutions:

College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois
Community College of Rhode Island, Warwick, Rhode Island
Daley College, Chicago, Illinois
College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois
Gateway Technical College, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Harold Washington College, Chicago, Illinois
Hebrew Theological College, Skokie, Illinois
Illinois Central College, Peoria, Illinois
Institute of Audio Research, NY, NY
Jikei Group of Schools, Japan
Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois
Kennedy-King College, Chicago, Illinois
Kishwaukee College, Malta, Illinois
Lincoln College, Lincoln, Illinois
Malcolm X College, Chicago, Illinois
McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, Illinois
Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Illinois
Morton College, Cicero, Illinois
Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, Illinois
Parkland College, Champaign, Illinois
Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, Illinois
Rock Valley College, Rockford, Illinois
Sauk Valley College, Dixon, Illinois
Second City, Chicago, Illinois
South Suburban College, South Holland, Illinois
Truman College, Chicago, Illinois
Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, Illinois
William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, Illinois
Wright College, Chicago, Illinois

Transfer Articulation of Majors

Departmental transfer articulations are available in major areas such as:

Art and Design
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
ASL-English Interpretation
Audio Arts and Acoustics
Fashion/Retail Management
Graphic Design
Interior Architecture
Interactive Television
Journalism
Marketing Communication
Music
Photography
Radio
Television
Theater

Other Policies

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Annual Notice to Students

Columbia College Chicago complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, by publishing an annual notice to students of their rights under the Act in Columbia College Chicago’s Catalog and Student Handbook.

1. Upon written request, students may inspect and review their educational records by submitting their request to the director of records. Columbia will endeavor to provide the student an opportunity to inspect and review his or her educational records within a reasonable time after receiving the request, not exceeding 45 days from the receipt of the request. Students’ educational records are maintained under the supervision of the director of records and registration (the registrar) in the Records Office, Room 611, 600 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60605.
2. It is Columbia’s policy that no personally identifiable information from educational records will be released without prior written consent of the student, except for that information designated in this policy as directory information and such personally identifiable information that may be disclosed under the circumstances allowed under the Act and regulations passed pursuant to the Act. The following personnel are granted access to educational records without prior written consent of the student as a matter of routine and for legitimate educational purposes: the director of records, the General Counsel’s Office, the student services directors, and Student Financial Services, College advisors, the president of the College, the provost, the vice president of student affairs, the deans, and the chairpersons of the academic departments, and any of their agents. Student educational records are made available to the above designated persons in furtherance of the legitimate educational purposes of record maintenance, evaluation and advising, financial aid evaluation, review for disciplinary and academic action, and billing.
3. As required by the Act and regulations, Columbia College Chicago maintains a record of written requests for personally identifiable information whether or not such requests are granted. Each student has the right to inspect and review the record of written requests for disclosures of personally identifiable information that is maintained in his or her permanent record.
4. Columbia College Chicago designates the following information as directory information: the student’s name; information on whether or not a student is registered in the college during the term in which the information is requested; dates of attendance; information concerning the student’s graduation status, including whether or not he or she has graduated from the college, the date of any degree awarded, and the type of degree awarded; major field of study; awards received; and participation in officially recognized activities, sports, and organizations. Students have the right to withhold disclosure of the above information by notifying the director of records in writing. The proper form for refusal of disclosure is available in the Records Office.
5. A student has the right to request amendment of his or her educational records to ensure that the educational record information is not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s rights. The procedure to seek amendment of a student’s educational records is as follows:
   1. A written request must be submitted to the director of records stating the reason a student seeks to amend his or her educational record and attaching any supporting documentation to the request.
   2. Within a reasonable time after receiving the request, but in no event longer than 45 days, the director of records will issue a decision in response to the student’s request. If the decision is unfavorable, the student has the right to a hearing before a panel of the associate deans on the request to amend. The student has the right to be represented by counsel at the hearing. The decision of the Academic Standards Review Committee is final.
   3. In the event of an unfavorable decision by the Academic Standards Review Committee, the student has the right to include a written statement setting forth his or her reasons for disagreeing with the Committee on the matters presented in the request to amend the records.
   4. Each student has the right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Columbia to comply with the requirements of the Act and the regulations passed pursuant thereto.

Campus Security Act

In compliance with the Campus Security Act of 1992, Columbia College Chicago prepares and distributes an annual Campus Security Report. A copy of each annual report may be obtained from the Office of Safety and Security. The annual report contains the following information:

• Current campus polices regarding facilities and procedures for students and others to report criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on campus and the college’s responses to such reports;
• Current campus policies concerning security access to and security maintenance of campus facilities, including the Residence Center;
• Current campus policies concerning campus law enforcement, including a discussion of the enforcement authority of campus security personnel and policies that encourage accurate and prompt reporting of all campus crimes;
• A description of programs designed to inform students and employees of campus security procedures and practices and to encourage students and employees to be responsible for their own security and the security of others;
• A description of crime awareness and prevention programs;
• Statistics for the current and two preceding years concerning the occurrence on campus of the following offenses: murder, sex offenses, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft;
• Statistics for the current and two preceding years concerning the number of arrests on campus for the following crimes: liquor law violations, drug abuse violations, and weapons possessions;
• A statement of policy regarding the possession, use, and sale of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs and the enforcement of federal, state, and local laws relating to alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs;
• Current campus policy on the timely notification to the campus community of the occurrence on campus of crimes considered to be a threat to students and employees;
• Current campus policy on prevention of and responses to sex offenses occurring on campus; and
• Information indicating where law enforcement agency information can be found concerning registered sex offenders.

Information regarding the list of registered sex offenders may be obtained through the Web site of the Chicago Police Department.

Academic Integrity

Students at Columbia College Chicago enjoy significant freedom of artistic expression and are encouraged to stretch their scholarly and artistic boundaries. However, the College prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty. “Academic dishonesty” is understood as the appropriation and representation of another’s work as one’s own, whether such appropriation includes all or part of the other’s work or whether it comprises all or part of what is represented as one’s own work (plagiarism). Appropriate citation avoids this form of dishonesty. In addition, “academic dishonesty” includes cheating in any form, the falsification of academic documents, or the falsification of works or references for use in class or other academic circumstances. When such dishonesty is discovered, the consequences to the student can be severe.

Read the full policy here: Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures  

Academic Grievances

A student has the right to appeal academic decisions that affect his or her record at Columbia related to grade changes, attendance penalties, and incomplete grades.

Grade Changes

Only an instructor can change a grade. The request for a grade change must be submitted by the end of the semester following the term for which the original grade was awarded. Both the department chairperson and the dean of the appropriate school must approve the change.

Procedures for Grade Grievance

The faculty member and chairperson of the department in which the disputed grade was awarded resolve grade grievances. Every attempt should be made to resolve the grade grievance through consultations between the student and the instructor or among the student, instructor, and the department chairperson (or subject-area coordinator when that person is charged with resolving grade grievances). In the event that these consultations fail to resolve the grievance, an appeal procedure is available to students. For the procedure to go forward, written documentation is required. All documents must be dated.

The grading and evaluation policies outlined in the course syllabus will form the basis for resolution of all grade grievances.

1. A grade grievance occurs when a student protests a grade awarded on the final grade roster. The grievance must be filed within three weeks of the student’s receipt of the grade.
2. Every grade grievance must be submitted in writing by the student to the instructor who awarded the grade. The student must copy the department chairperson when the original grievance is submitted to the instructor.
3. The instructor will respond in writing to the student and send a copy to the department chairperson.
4. If the response from the instructor is not satisfactory to the student, a written petition of appeal to the department chairperson (or, in some departments, to the subject-area coordinator, designated by the chair) must be submitted.
5. The chairperson or coordinator will respond to the student’s petition of appeal.
6. If the decision of the chairperson or coordinator is unsatisfactory to the student, he or she may appeal to the dean of the appropriate school, whose decision over every substantive, procedural, or related issue shall be final and cannot be appealed.

Academic Distinction

Dean’s List

Students are eligible for the Dean’s List if they are full-time degree-seeking students (12 or more credit hours per semester) and have an earned grade point average of 3.75 or higher for the term. The Dean’s List for each school of the College is announced for the fall and spring semesters, and the Dean’s List designation is reflected on the student’s transcript.

Graduation Cum Laude

Students whose final cumulative grade point average is between 3.5 and 3.79 will graduate cum laude (with praise). Students whose grade point average is between 3.8 and 3.89 will graduate magna cum laude (with high praise). Students whose grade point average is 3.9 or higher will graduate summa cum laude (with highest praise). Beginning with the 2013 graduating class, the grade point average for cum laude will be 3.75.

Valedictorian

Valedictorians are students selected to address the graduating class at one of the College’s commencement ceremonies. A unique valedictorian is selected for each ceremony. Students are selected for this honor based on sustained academic excellence and other outstanding accomplishments that contribute to life at Columbia College, the community, and/or the arts.

Academic Options and Opportunities

Summer Bridge Program

The Bridge Program provides assistance in strengthening basic skills, study habits, and an understanding of the expectations of college life to selected students whose application materials suggest that they are likely to be under-prepared to meet the College’s standards. For further information, please consult the section on Requirements for Admission  in this catalog.

Independent Projects

An independent project is advanced study of a topic of particular interest to the student. The project takes place outside the regular classroom environment and requires a faculty advisor who will evaluate the result of the project and submit the grade. Credit from an independent project cannot be applied toward a student’s LAS CC requirements.

Directed Studies

Directed Studies are learning activities involving student independence within the context of regular guidance and direction from a faculty advisor. Directed Studies are appropriate for students who wish to explore a subject beyond what is possible in regular courses or for students who wish to engage in a subject or activity not otherwise offered that semester by the College. Directed Studies involve close collaboration with a faculty advisor who will assist in development and design of the project, oversee its progress, evaluate the final results, and submit a grade.

Internship Program

The internship program integrates classroom theory with practical work experience by placing students in training positions related to their academic studies. The academic departments work with students and employers to ensure that students are offered a worthwhile learning experience closely related to the academic program. More detailed information about requirements and credit fulfillment can be secured from the academic departments or the College Advising Center.

International Programs/International Study

Academic Initiatives and International Programs

The mission of Academic Initiatives and International Programs (AIIP) is to facilitate the creation and development of international programs and special program opportunities for students and faculty at Columbia College Chicago. This office offers tools to empower Columbia faculty to be proactive in the task of integrating international programs and academic initiatives into the comprehensive learning experience Columbia provides. In the vital urban culture of the city of Chicago, Columbia’s academic initiatives will foster lifelong learning and provide opportunities beyond traditional academic programs. In an increasingly interdependent global society, international programs will provide our students with an appreciation for diverse cultures, enriching their shared human learning experience and knowledge.