Fundamental to the academic work you do at North Park University is an expectation that you will make choices that reflect integrity and responsible behavior.

North Park will ask much of you and, occasionally, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to accomplish. There may be moments when you are short of time, feel the pressures of work or home life, have several assignments due the same day, or are preparing for a final presentation. The pressures are real and can be intense. We are here to help and suggest you visit our Academic Support Services website for resources to help you manage your workload and prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed. However, no matter what level of stress you may find yourself under, North Park expects you to approach your work with honesty and integrity.

Academic dishonesty runs counter to the goals and ideals of every educational institution, will not be tolerated at North Park University, and may result in dismissal from the university. Appropriate designated authorities within the university will judge cases of alleged academic dishonesty according to the principles, policies, and procedures outlined in the Student and Faculty Handbooks.

Categories and Definitions of Academic Dishonesty

Cheating on quizzes, tests, and examinations

Individual or group activity for the purpose of dishonestly obtaining and/ or distributing testable information prior to, during, or after an examination. Examples of dishonest activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Looking at an examination paper or answer sheet of another student.
• Obtaining, prior to the administration of a test, unauthorized information regarding the test.
• Possessing or distributing a test prior to its administration, without the express permission of the instructor.
• Using any unauthorized materials or equipment during an examination.
• Cooperating or aiding in any of the above.
• Having phones, calculators, or any other materials out during an exam without permission.
• Storing notes to “consult” during exams.
• Trying to bypass the lockdown browser.
• Consulting with others on take-home exams.
• Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Plagiarism

Any attempt to represent the words or ideas of another (whether published or unpublished) as one’s own. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Using the words of a published source in a written exercise without appropriate documentation.
• Presenting as one’s own original concepts, ideas, and/or arguments of another source.
• Presenting as one’s own another’s computer programs, scientific research, or artistic creations without properly acknowledging the source of such material.
• Multiple submissions of one’s own original work (self-plagiarism).
• Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence (AI).
• Finding and replacing words to bypass plagiarism detectors.
• MIrroring the structure or organization of someone else’s essay.

Alteration of academic records

Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Changing documentation in the Office of the Registrar (by computer or any other means).
• Changing entries in an instructor’s grade book.
• Changing an answer to an already-graded academic exercise in order to falsely negotiate for a higher grade.

Collusion

Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collaborating on an assignment that is meant to be an individual submission.
• Turning in individual work as a result of working together in labs, homework, discussion boards, or any other type of assessment without the explicit permission of the instructor to share results, interpretation, or wording.

Sabotage

Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Stealing, destroying, erasing, or altering another’s academic work (such as an artwork, a computer program, a lab experiment or report, or paper).
• Hiding, misshelving, mutilating, or otherwise abusing library materials to keep others from using them.

Substitution

Using a proxy, or acting as a proxy, in an academic exercise or graded item. Examples of substitution include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Taking an examination for another student.
• Doing homework assignments for another student.
• Signing in for another student on attendance lists, exams, etc.

Judicial Procedures for Cases of Academic Dishonesty

The instructor, on becoming aware of a possible instance of academic dishonesty, shall:

1. Discuss with the student the incident and come to a remedy if possible. Report the incident using the EARS platform.
2. If you decide to proceed, notify the student of the report and advise them of the 5-day window to appeal.
3. Report the incident using the Student Update for Academic Dishonesty in EARS. The appropriate academic program director or chair, academic dean, and university dean will be sent a copy of the report as an FYI.

The student can appeal the instructor’s decision within five days of the incident. If the student decides to appeal, they must send an email to the chair/director of the program.

On receipt of student’s appeal, the chair, director, or dean shall:

1. Discuss the appeal with the instructor and then meet with the student.
2. Evaluate the instructor’s evidence and hear the student’s response.
3. Determine if an infraction has occurred and if so, the appropriate penalty, taking into consideration the instructor’s recommendations as well as ensuring consistency across all units.
4. Inform the student, via their North Park email, of the decision and the student’s right to appeal to the university dean within five days.

If the student does not respond within five business days or does not show up for the scheduled appointment, a final decision and penalty will be made without the student’s input.

One or more of the following penalties may be imposed once academic dishonesty has been confirmed (previous infractions will be considered in the imposition of such penalties):

• A record of the infraction in the student’s permanent record file.
• A failing grade on the examination, paper, or project.
• A failing grade in the course.
• Exclusion from participation in the athletic, musical, and other extracurricular programs of the university.
• Suspension from the university for an appropriate period.
• Dismissal from the university.

A student, staff or faculty member who has knowledge of academic dishonesty should report this knowledge to the instructor of the course and submit an Academic Dishonesty Report in EARS.

Students may interrupt their education at North Park University for a period of no more than two consecutive terms by completing and submitting a Leave of Absence Form with the Office of the Registrar. On the form, you will need to indicate the term in which you plan to return to the University. An approved leave of absence must not exceed 180 days. The number of days in a leave of absence are counted beginning with the first day of the student’s initial leave of absence in a 12-month-period.

If a student does not resume attendance at the institution at or before the end of a leave of absence, the institution must treat the student as a withdrawal in accordance with CFR 668.22(d). A student who is absent for more than 180 days will be administratively withdrawn from the university for non-attendance.

If you are planning to begin your leave after the start of a semester, it is recommended that you review the refund policy.

The catalog requirements under which you initially entered the University will continue to apply to students who either maintain continuous enrollment or who file for a leave of absence. This means that you will need to complete the academic requirements for your program outlined in that catalog in order to graduate, even if you take a break in your studies.

If you are absent from the University for one year or more, you must apply for readmission. In this case, the catalog under which a you’re readmitted to the University will govern your graduation requirements.

The standard academic load for traditional undergraduate students is 16 semester hours per term, but students may take up to 20 semester hours per term. By academic policy, a student seeking to register for more than 20 hours must have at least a 2.5 grade point average and submit an Overload Application to the Office of the Registrar.

Standard North Park undergraduate tuition covers up to 17 hours per semester per student. You will be charged an additional fee per credit hour if you are registered for more than 17 credit hours in any semester. Please see the Tuition and Fees page for more information about the charges.

North Park University reserves the right to restrict a student’s academic load if employment or other conditions create a risk to the student’s health or scholarship.

Students are expected to be prompt and attend all scheduled classes. Attendance requirements are set by individual instructors. Illness is generally the only acceptable excuse for an absence. In the case of absences approved by the instructor, arrangements for make-up work must be in advance. In case of a longer illness, the student should notify the Division of Student Engagement and the Office of the Registrar.

Disruptive classroom behavior that interferes with other students’ learning opportunities and/or the instructor’s teaching ability will be addressed appropriately. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Persistently speaking without being recognize
• Studying or doing homework for another class during class time
• Posting virtual content not relevant to the class
• Non-approved use of electronic devices
• Failure to comply with the course instructor’s directives

This disruptive conduct may result in instructor intervention and/ or disciplinary action. The instructor will apprise the student of the inappropriateness of the disruptive conduct and ask that it cease. If disruptive conduct persists, the instructor may refer the student to the department chair, remove the student from class for one class meeting or ask Campus Safety to remove the student.

Continued disruptions may be referred to the Student Conduct Process.

If you wish to take a course that is part of the North Park University curriculum but is not being offered during the current term, you will need to request to take a course out of sequence. For example, Spanish 2010 is offered in the fall but not in the spring; students needing to take this course in the spring would apply to take this course out of sequence.

To take a Course out of Sequence, you will need to complete the course out of sequence form and return it to the Office of the Registrar with the signatures of the instructor, your advisor, and division chairperson/school dean in order for the request to be approved. Please be advised that if you submit the form after the first week of the semester, you will be charged a $15 add fee.

Enrollment verification offers proof of enrollment as well as your student status at North Park University. To request a letter of verification, please email us or stop by the Office of the Registrar to provide the exact name and address to whom the letter will be sent. There is no cost for this service.

A final examination schedule is published prior to the Quad and Semester terms. Finals will not be rescheduled to accommodate travel arrangements. A final paper, presentation, or performance may be used in place of a final examination at the discretion of the instructor.

An independent study is a course that is not part of the North Park University curriculum. To register for an independent study, you will need to complete the Independent Study request form and obtain the signatures of the instructor, your advisor, and the division chairperson/school dean before returning the form to the Office of the Registrar. If this form is received after the first week of the semester, you will be charged a $15 add fee.

Change of major forms

Students are invited to discuss their potential majors, as well as larger academic and life goals, with their assigned faculty advisors.

Traditional Undergraduate: North Park University encourages all undergraduates to declare a major by the end of their first year as a student. You are eligible to declare your major at any point during your academic career by using the above Change of Major Form.

If you would like to register for more than 20 semester hours of credit in any semester, you must complete an Overload Application and turn it into the Office of the Registrar along with the Add/Drop form for the additional course(s) in which you want to enroll. You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in order for the petition to be considered.

You will be charged an additional fee for each registered credit over 17 semester hours. See Tuition and Fees to review these charges in detail.

Unless otherwise noted, all North Park University classes are offered for a grade, which translates to a specific number in your GPA calculation. If you wish to take a course Pass/Fail instead, you will need to complete the Pass/Fail application and include your name, ID number, department, course number, section, title, and semester/quad. You must obtain the signature of your advisor and the instructor of the course. The application is due by the end of the fourth week of the class and should be returned to the Office of the Registrar.

Guidelines for pass-fail:

• Courses taken Pass/Fail will not fulfill General Education requirements.
• You must have completed 30 semester hours of coursework.
• You must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above.
• You may take only one Pass/Fail course per semester.
• You may take up to 16 semester hours of Pass/Fail during your undergraduate career.
• You cannot take courses on a Pass/Fail basis in your major field or supporting courses for the major.
• You may take only one course per discipline on a Pass/Fail basis.
• To receive a grade of “P,” you need to earn a minimum grade of C. A grade of D or F will otherwise be recorded.

The process outlined below applies to any grievance or appeal involving decisions on academic work, including but not limited to grades. Refer to the academic catalog for appeals involving academic policies.

Step 1

The grievance shall first be presented to the responsible faculty member for resolution. The grievance should be presented promptly and in no event later than five days after it arises. The grievance may be presented orally. The faculty member should investigate the relevant facts, as needed, and respond promptly. If the student is not comfortable discussing the grievance with the responsible faculty member, the student may start the process with Step 2.

Step 2

If the student is not satisfied with the faculty member’s response, the student may appeal to the department chairperson within five days after the semester grade is posted. The appeal may be presented orally or in writing. After consultation with the responsible faculty member, the department chairperson will communicate their determination or proposed resolution. A decision on the appeal will be made within 5 days.

Step 3

If the student is dissatisfied with the response, the student may appeal in writing to the appropriate dean within five days of the decision. The appeal shall identify the issue, describe the prior steps taken to resolve the grievance, state the responses received at earlier steps, and set forth all the facts supporting the grievance, including any related documentation. The applicable dean will conduct any investigation deemed necessary, consult with the responsible faculty member, may request both the student grievant and the faculty member to jointly meet with the dean, and will promptly render a decision. In the event of a meeting, the student may request the assistance and presence of another member of the North Park community. A decision on the appeal will be made within 5 days.

Step 4

If the student remains dissatisfied with the decision, the student may appeal to the Office of the Provost. The appeal must be taken no later than five days after the decision at Step three and shall be in writing. The appeal must summarize the decision at Step three and explain why that decision is being challenged. Copies of the Step three appeal, any written response, and any other related documentation shall be provided. The Office of the Provost shall make a decision based upon the record presented, and any additional investigation deemed appropriate. The decision of the Office of the Provost shall be final and binding. A decision on the appeal will be made within 5 days.

The Student Academic Standing Committee (SASC) exists to hear petitions related to academic policies, procedures, and regulations. The Committee meets on a monthly basis during the academic year. Petitions must be received by Office of the Registrar a week before the meeting in order to be reviewed.

To petition the academic standing committee, you will need to complete the SASC Petition. You will need to use a different form for each petition/concern. Signatures from your advisor and department are optional but it is encouraged for you to obtain their approval. It is requested that you submit a typed letter concerning your petition and attach it to the SASC Petition.

Return this form to the Office of the Registrar. If you have questions concerning the petition process or when the committee meets, please feel free to contact Office of the Registrar directly.

To transfer credit to North Park University for classes taken at another institution, you will need to complete the Application to Transfer Credit. You will need to secure signatures of your advisor, the chair of the department/division accepting the credits, and the records evaluator. Please be sure to include a copy of the course description of the requested transfer class. Once you have completed the course at the other institution, you will need to have an official transcript sent to the Office of the Registrar.

Sixty-hour rule

You may not transfer credits from a two-year (junior/community) college after you have earned 60 semester hours of credit.

Residence rule

You must take the last 30 semester hour of your coursework at North Park to be eligible to graduate from the University. At least 10 of these last 30 hours must in your major field.

Major courses

If you believe you have taken a course at another school that will meet requirements for your major, you will need to complete a Transfer of Major Courses Form. This form must be signed by your major department.

Learn more about being a transfer student at North Park University.

To withdraw from the institution, students need to complete University Withdrawal form.

Once completed, the University will work to close your record here at North Park and communicate with you if we need anything else. Completing this will also drop you from any courses you are registered for in compliance with our drop deadlines and refund policy (found here).