Course Information/ Attendance

Course Delivery Formats

City University of Seattle offers programs of study organized into two main delivery formats to allow optimal access and flexibility for students. There are:

• In-class (Meets 51% or more of the time face-to face)
• Distance Courses (Meets less than 51% of the time face-to-face)

The delivery formats described in this procedure are in alignment with City University of Seattle’s Academic Model, are capable of providing quality learning experiences, and provide consistency in students’ educational experiences. Each academic program selects the most appropriate delivery format(s), based on student need, and programs may not be offered in all delivery formats. Students can elect to register for a variety of delivery formats offered by a program.

Over the length of a course, faculty and students in all delivery modes are expected to spend an average of 1 hour per credit actively participating together in a combination of in-class or online instructional activities, with students spending approximately 2 additional hours per credit hour each week on out-of-class learning activities.

Attendance/Contact Policy for Mixed Mode and Distance Learning Classes

Students taking courses in any format at the University are expected to be diligent in their studies and attend class regularly. Regular class attendance/academic engagement is important in achieving learning outcomes in the course and correlates in many cases with participation. As such it may be a valid consideration in determining the final grade. At the beginning of each course, the instructor will inform students of the relevance of class attendance/ contact to the final grade.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires documentation of course attendance/academic engagement for students receiving VA benefits. The U.S. Department of Education requires documentation of course attendance/last day of academic engagement for students who receive federal financial aid and are seeking a refund.

It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course in which the he or she has enrolled but does not intend to continue. If a student vanishes before 60 percent of the course has transpired, has not done the work, and fails to initiate the procedure for official course withdrawal, a grade of 0.0 or UW will be awarded. If the student’s attendance/academic engagement has been documented through 60 percent or more of the course, but the student has not been diligent about turning in the required assignments according to the course syllabus, the final grade will be awarded based on the work completed.

Course Delivery Modes

In-class Courses

These courses are offered entirely in-class with the students and instructor meeting on-site on a regular and established schedule. Students participate in group learning experience and inclass learning activities designed according to the needs of the program and students. Course information and activities that take place online within the learning management system include but are not limited to: faculty contact information, posting course documents such as syllabi and required resources, learning materials such as PowerPoint presentations or lecture notes, faculty announcements, assignment submission, and posted grades. Students may also be required to complete some graded learning activities and discussions online.

Mixed-mode Courses

These courses offer a mix of in-class and online instruction with the students and instructor meeting 51-99% of the time in class on a regular and established schedule. Students participate in group learning experiences and in-class/online learning activities designed according to the needs of the program and students. Course information and activities that take place online with the learning management system include but are not limited to: faculty contact information, course documents such as syllabi and required resources, learning materials such as PowerPoint presentations or lecture notes, faculty announcements, graded learning activities and discussions, assignment submission, and posted grades.

Online Courses

These courses are offered entirely via online technology. Faculty and students participate in group learning experiences that include required weekly activities and regular interaction between students and the instructor. All course information and activities take place asynchronously within the learning management system including, but not limited to: faculty contact information, course documents such as syllabi and required resources, learning materials such as PowerPoint presentations or lecture notes, faculty announcements, graded learning activities and discussions, assignment submission, and posted grades.

Online with Required Seminar

These course are offered primarily via online technology with the students and instructor meeting synchronously, in-class and/or online, for portions of the course on a regular and established schedule. Faculty and students participate in group learning experiences that include required weekly activities and regular interaction between students and the instructor. Course information and activities that take place online, within the learning management system include but are not limited to: faculty contact information, course documents such as syllabi and required resources, learning materials such as PowerPoint presentations or lecture notes, faculty announcements, graded learning activities and discussions, assignment submission, and posted grades.

Enhanced Distance Learning

These courses are offered in a combination of synchronous online sessions led by the Instructor of Record and in-class sessions led by a local facilitator. Faculty and students participate in group learning experiences that include required weekly activities and regular interaction between students, the facilitator, and the instructor. Course information and activities that take place online within the learning managements system include but are not limited to: faculty contact information, course documents such as syllabi and required resources, learning materials such as PowerPoint presentations or lecture notes, faculty announcements, graded learning activities and discussions, assignment submission, and posted grades.

Performance-Based Distance Learning

These courses are offered via distance learning. Students may meet synchronously, in-class and/or online, for portions of the course on a regular and established schedule. Content is organized into blocks, with each block designated with quarter credits. Students work at their own pace with the guidance and instructional support of a Faculty Facilitator. Students complete assessments that measure course outcomes. They may complete the assessments found in the block, or suggest alternatives that show they have achieved the course outcomes according to the corresponding rubric. Students’ assessments are evaluated according to the rubric by independent Faculty Outcomes Evaluators. Faculty Facilitators compile the results of the evaluations and submit the final grade.

In addition to the requirements for all delivery modes listed above, faculty are required to adhere to all instructional directions as specified by the Course Manager and their primary supervisor.

Graduate Students in Undergraduate Courses

While in a graduate degree, certificate or no intended degree programs, a student may also enroll in an undergraduate course, for example, because of a particular interest in the subject or if it would be appropriate as preparation for a required graduate course. No prior approval is required for such enrollment.

Undergraduate courses may not be counted toward fulfillment of graduate degree or certificate requirements with the following exception for required prerequisite courses.

Undergraduate-Level Prerequisite Course Exceptions with Selected Graduate Degrees

All lower-division undergraduate-level courses taken at City University of Seattle as prerequisites to some graduate degree programs are considered part of the graduate’s program and are included in the graduate cumulative GPA. If the courses have been transferred in, they are not counted in the graduate cumulative GPA.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will support the enrollment of a first-quarter graduate student in an undergraduate course if it is for the purpose of fulfilling a deficiency in preparation for a required graduate course.

Course Options for Program Credit via Waiver, Substitution and Direct Equivalency

Students may petition for coursework taken at other institutions, or for equivalent professional experience, to be applied to a CityU degree via course waiver, course substitution or direct equivalency. Students in bachelor’s degree programs may obtain up to 45 upper-division credits and up to 90 lower-division quarter credits via substitutions, waivers, direct equivalencies, or any combination of these three, per degree.). Graduate students may obtain up to 25 percent, but not to exceed a total of 12 quarter credits, of their total required degree program credits per degree.

Course Waiver

When appropriate, students may request that the requirement to take a required course in their academic program be waived (put aside). Course waivers are granted only when students can demonstrate that they have already completed formal coursework or obtained experience which, in the judgment of the program director or designee, is directly related to the course in question and is an adequate substitute. To request a course waiver, a student must submit a Petition for Course Waiver, Substitution, Direct Equivalency Form. Note: A course waiver does not grant credit; it simply eliminates the need to take a required course for the degree. To compensate for the program credits lost by the waiver of a course, a student must either enroll in another City University of Seattle course of equivalent level and credit or transfer it from another institution. General Education distributions in an undergraduate degree program may not be waived.

Course Substitution

Course substitution refers to the action of substituting, in place of a course required for the student’s academic program, a different City University of Seattle course specifically requested by the student, after program director or designee approval has been obtained. To request a course substitution when circumstances warrant, a student must submit a Petition for Course Waiver, Substitution, or Direct Equivalency Form.

Course Matrix

A course matrix occurs when a course has been discontinued, and another CityU course has been designated as a pre-approved replacement course for all students in a specific academic program. Matrixed courses are considered part of the student’s program plan and do count in course substitution, waiver, or direct equivalency calculations.

Direct Equivalency

Direct equivalency refers to a course completed successfully at another recognized institution and judged to be the same as a required CityU course in terms of content, level and credit value. All such courses must reflect grades of 2.0 (C) or better for undergraduate programs and 3.0 (B) or better for graduate and doctoral programs.

If the University Registrar cannot determine direct equivalency for a course upon submittal of an official transcript from the other institution, the student must petition the Program Director to receive this type of credit, using a Petition for Course Waiver, Substitution, or Direct Equivalency Form and include appropriate documentation to include course syllabus from the issuing institution. If a transferable course is approved as a direct equivalent for a City University of Seattle course, credit is granted and the student need not take the CityU course.

Students may petition to receive transfer credit for any course. Please refer to the sections on undergraduate and graduate transfer credit in the Admissions policy section for general information on transferring courses.

Course Repetition

A course that has been failed (whether a No Pass or a decimal grade) must be repeated if it is required for the student’s academic degree/certificate program. However, any required course in which the student passed the class, but the grade earned is below 2.0 (undergraduate) or 3.0 (graduate) may be repeated.

Students may take the same CityU course a maximum of three times (i.e. they may repeat the course twice). If a student is not able to earn the minimum passing grade by the third attempt (the second repeat), the only remaining way to fulfill the requirement is to complete the equivalent course at another institution and transfer it into the student’s City University of Seattle academic program. This method also requires that the student earn a grade of at least 2.0 (undergraduate) or 3.0 (graduate) when taking the course externally, to satisfy transfer credit requirements. Note: Capstones, internships, student teaching, dissertations/thesis classes may not be completed externally. See Exemptions to course Repeat Policy. When a student has taken a required course three times at City University of Seattle without passing, an enrollment hold is placed on the student’s account, barring further enrollment. The hold will remain in effect for up to one year, or until a transcript is received from another institution showing successful completion of the course. If no transcript is received within one year after the last term in which the failed course was attempted, the student’s academic status is changed to Dismissed, and that designation appears on the student’s academic record.

If at a later date the student completes the course with at least a 2.0 (undergraduate) or 3.0 (graduate) at an outside institution, and it is accepted for transfer to CityU, s/he may be readmitted.

The first, second and/or third grade for a repeated course will all appear on the student’s transcript; however, the decimal value of only the most recently earned grade will be included in the cumulative grade point average. If the student successfully completes the repeated course as a transfer to CityU, the grade from the final City University of Seattle attempt will be removed from the cumulative grade point average.

Students who are repeating a course must complete the registration procedure and pay the course tuition and fees again.

Auditing

Students may wish to repeat a course by auditing it. Audited courses are not graded and do not count as one of the three attempts.

Exemptions to Course Repeat Policy

Final practicum courses, such as student teaching, may be attempted at CityU only two times and may not be transferred from outside institutions.

Comprehensive examination courses in the Doctoral Program are eligible for repeat only once.

Once a degree or certificate has been granted, the grades earned for the courses within that program are locked into the degree/certificate and may not be repeated.

Exceptions to this policy may be made by the dean.

U.S. Veterans

Students receiving U.S. veterans’ benefits should note that the repetition of a course must be reported by the University to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and receipt of benefits may be affected.

Course Challenge

Degree or certificate earning students may attempt a course challenge in lieu of taking a course if the student believes that prior learning or experience has provided sufficient background in the course subject matter to anticipate a successful challenge. An appropriate challenge activity will be prepared to test for knowledge or skills equivalent to the end-of-term requirements expected of those who have completed the course.

Students wanting to challenge a course should (1) contact their student advisor, who will (2) submit a petition for a challenge examination to the Registrar. The petition will then be sent (3) to the program director for approval, construction and administration of the challenge. Upon successful completion of the challenge examination, the program director will notify the Registrar to post the grade and file the documentation. A fee will be assessed based on the annual schedule of tuition and fees. If the challenge is not passed, and the course is required for the student’s program, the student must enroll in the course and pay all regular course fees. Repetition of a failed course challenge is not permitted.

Course challenges are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis. If the challenge receives a passing grade, equivalent to a 2.0 or above (undergraduate) or a 3.0 or above (graduate/doctoral), the course is recorded on the transcript as CityU transfer credit (i.e., it provides credit but does not affect the GPA).

Course challenges may not be taken to substitute for courses previously attempted at City University of Seattle or previously accepted as transferred from other institutions.

• Students enrolled in an undergraduate degree may attempt a maximum of six (6) different course challenges up to 30 undergraduate quarter credits.
• Students enrolled in an undergraduate certificate may attempt a maximum of two (2) different course challenges up to 10 undergraduate quarter credits.
• Students enrolled in a graduate degree may attempt a maximum of four (4) different course challenges up to 12 graduate quarter credits.
• Students enrolled in a graduate certificate may attempt a maximum of one (1) course challenge up to 3 graduate quarter credits.
• Students enrolled in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Leadership degree may attempt a maximum of four (4) different course challenges, up to 12 doctoral quarter credits (not including transfer) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, EdD. In Leadership degree students will only be allowed to challenge courses if they have demonstrated expertise in the course content.
• Students enrolled in the Doctor of Business Administration degree may attempt a maximum of four (4) different course challenges for DBA courses, up to 12 doctoral quarter credits, once they have successfully completed 18 quarter credits of doctoral coursework (not including transfer) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Note: Challenge exams may not be used in lieu of capstone, comprehensive exams, residencies, student teaching, internships or dissertation/thesis classes.

Exceptions to this policy may be made by the dean.

Cancelled Degree Programs

Degree/certificate programs may be discontinued, cancelled (closed) for a variety of reasons. Active students enrolled in closed programs will be given the opportunity to complete the original program requirements for a specific period of time after the date of the program closure. During this period of time the program is in teach-out mode.

All eligible students will be notified in writing of the teach-out status of the program, and will receive an updated copy of their original program plan and course teach-out schedule. Students may remain in the teach-out program as long as they continue in active enrollment - that is, as long as they do not stop out for more than two consecutive terms.

Students enrolled in a cancelled program, who stop out for more than two consecutive terms, will be required to apply to a new program of study. The University will make every effort to transfer as many earned credits as possible to the new program of study.

An exception is made for returning students who have no more than two (2) courses remaining to earn the original degree. These students are allowed to complete their original program, however the University reserves the right to substitute courses to help the student finish.

Enrollment in Discontinued Programs

Cancelled Degree or Certificate Programs

Degree/certificate programs may be cancelled (closed) for a variety of reasons. Active students enrolled in closed programs will be given the opportunity to complete the original program requirements for a specific period of time after the date of program closure. During this period of time the program is in teach-out mode.

All eligible students will be notified in writing of the teach-out status of the program, and will; receive an updated copy of their original program plan and course teach-out schedule. Students may remain in the teach-out program as long as they continue in active enrollment - that is, as long as they do not stop out for more than two consecutive terms.

Students enrolled in a cancelled program, who stop out for more than two consecutive terms, a-will be will be required to apply to a new program of study. The University will make every effort to transfer as many earned credits as possible to the new program of study.

An exception is made for returning students who have no more than two (2) courses remaining to earn the original a degree. These students are allowed to complete their original program, however the University reserves the right to substitute courses to help the student finish.

Discontinued Program Plans

When a program plan version is discontinued due to a program update, students will be notified of a teach-out matrix. A matrix is a chart indicating active CityU courses that will be substituted for courses appearing in the discontinued program plan. Students may remain in the teach-out plan of study as long as they continue in active enrollment - that is, as long as they do not stop out for more than two consecutive terms.

Students enrolled in a cancelled plan, who stop out for more than two consecutive terms, a-will be will be required to transfer to a newest plan of study. The University will make every effort to apply as many earned credits as possible to the new plan.

Exceptions to this policy may be made by the Provost.