Policies

Summer Session

Loras College offers summer courses. Classes are scheduled throughout the morning, afternoon and evening hours and last 4-10 weeks, depending on the course.

Policy on Admission of Undergraduates to Graduate Courses

Highly qualified, undergraduate degree-seeking students may be approved to register for graduate level coursework (numbered 500-699) if they:

1. Have senior standing (90+ earned credits) and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.500.
2. Meet all admissions requirements for the graduate program offering the course with the exception of the earned bachelor’s degree.
3. Limit their load to a maximum of fifteen (15) credits for the semester, including undergraduate and graduate credits.
4. Complete the Application for Undergraduate Enrollment in a Graduate Course form and secure the approval of the Director of Graduate and Continuing Education Programs, the program director, and the course instructor prior to enrollment in any graduate level course.

Note: Completion of the Application for Undergraduate Enrollment in a Graduate Course form is not a guarantee of enrollment, regardless of an undergraduate student’s qualifications. Priority enrollment for graduate courses is granted to admitted graduate students and the number of undergraduate students permitted in any course section will be limited.

Undergraduate students approved to take graduate courses under this policy are limited to 1 course (including the associated lab, if applicable) of graduate coursework in any semester and not more than 9 total credits of graduate coursework. Credits earned under this policy may not be used to fulfill any undergraduate requirements and will not be applied to a student’s undergraduate GPA.

Up to nine (9) graduate credits earned under this policy may be applied at a later point to the student’s graduate degree if:

1. The student’s earned grade meets the minimum grade requirements set forth by the program to which they wish to apply the course.
2. The student is admitted to the graduate program.
3. The student secures the approval of the graduate program director.

Exclusions

This policy does not apply to students accepted into an approved accelerated degree program (e.g. 3+2, 4+1) or courses in the School Counseling or Counseling programs.

Assessment Requirements

Loras College is committed to offering high quality programs for its students and systematically collecting data that are used for informed discussions about program effectiveness and improvement. The purpose of assessment is to evaluate institutional effectiveness by measuring student progress toward educational goals. Throughout the undergraduate curriculum selected samples of students are required to complete surveys, take standardized tests, and submit specific assignments to be assessed using common rubrics. All academic majors have a graduation requirement which includes a capstone experience.

Degree Requirements - Bachelor’s Degree

To earn a baccalaureate degree a student must:

• Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits. Thirty of the last forty credits must be completed at Loras College
• Complete all of the Loras College General Education requirements
• Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000
• Complete all requirements for at least one major, including the stated minimum major grade point average

Graduation

Policy on Participation in Graduation Ceremonies

Students who will have completed all requirements in May, during the following summer session or during the following fall term are eligible to participate in the May commencement ceremony. Students completing requirements through summer or fall coursework will need to present proof of registration in order to be eligible to participate in May commencement. Students completing requirements during the summer or fall term will be noted in the commencement program.

Graduation Honors

Baccalaureate degrees with honors are conferred based upon the Loras College cumulative grade point average, computed at the time of graduation (GPAs are not rounded up). Students who have completed a minimum of 60 credits in residence at Loras College and demonstrated high academic achievement may receive one of the following honors designations:

• Summa cum laude: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.900
• Magna cum laude: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.700
• Cum laude: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.500

Graduation honors are noted in the commencement program for students who have attained the appropriate GPA at the time of application to graduate and based upon the cumulative GPA earned prior to the semester of graduation. All honors are considered unofficial until the certification of the student’s final semester grades and final cumulative GPA. Official graduation honors are noted on the final transcript and diploma.

Students not wishing to have graduation honors released to the media are required to inform the Office of the Registrar in writing within one month of the beginning of the student’s final semester.