Academic Information
Foundations Course
Foundations is a one-credit course required for all new international students to help them proactively adapt to college-level learning in the United States. Students will explore proven strategies for taking notes, thinking critically, managing time, taking tests, and writing in academic English. The class size is intentionally small, and includes proactive advising appointments with the instructor at strategic points throughout the semester for academic coaching purposes. The Foundations course positions students for success both in University and career or ministry.
This course is highly encouraged for MK and Third Culture students as well. Enrollment is by request with administrative approval and is based on available space.
Course Schedule
First Semester
Your first semester course schedule will be generated for you by the Office of the Registrar. The Registrar attempts to assign a “balance” of courses to ensure you do not have a schedule that is too demanding or too heavy in one particular subject matter.
“What if I want to make changes in my schedule?”
It is possible to drop, add, or change courses once the drop/add registration period is opened after the semester begins. It is best to consult with your adviser before making any changes. Email your adviser to make an appointment to meet with him or her after the semester begins. See “Dropping and Adding a Course” under “Academic Processes.”
Course Load and SEVIS Requirements
All international students studying in the U.S. on an F-1 visa must be enrolled in and successfully complete at least 12 credit hours. SEVIS also requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. If any of these requirements are not met, the student is considered "out of status" and his or her continued enrollment and presence in the U.S. could be at risk.
Communication and Information:
Email is important! Check your Cedarville email often! Cedarville University professors often send assignments via email. The Registrar also sends all registration information via your Cedarville email address. Important announcements and information are also communicated through email. It is imperative that you check your email several times throughout the day.
Syllabus
A syllabus is a guide to each course you take. It provides an outline of the topics that the course will cover, the guidelines for the course, the expectations of the professor, and the assignments and deadlines for the semester. Once the professor provides the syllabus, it is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with the expectations and to meet the deadlines. The professor may not give reminders, so be sure to check your syllabus often!
Plagiarism
In the United States, using someone else’s words in an assignment without giving them the credit by citing the source is considered cheating. It is a very serious offense and can result in penalties. Please review and be familiar with the Academic Integrity policies of Cedarville University.
Cedarville's Plagiarism Policy »
Attendance
It is important to attend all of your classes and chapels. Many professors have an attendance policy that allows for just three or four absences for the semester. Additional absences could result in penalties or failure of the course. Be sure to check the syllabus for each class to familiarize yourself with each professor’s policy on absences.
International students, it is very important that you attend classes or you could jeopardize your F-1 visa status. The U.S. government grants the F-1 visa for the purpose of pursuing a degree, and class attendance is a crucial part of that agreement. Your class attendance is tracked by the ISS office to ensure you are maintaining your status.
Academic Coaching
All international students are paired with an academic coach to help them achieve at their highest academic level. At Cedarville University we understand that international students’ ability to remain in the U.S. and at the University is dependent on their academic performance. Our desire is to support them academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually to ensure their success and add value to their educational investment. Academic coaching is available to all students.
Academic Enrichment Center
The Academic Enrichment Center, also known as The Cove, provides study groups, tutors, and peer coaches for students who want to ensure they are doing all they can to achieve an ‘A’ grade. They also approve accommodations for students who need additional support or who have a documented disability.
Although speaking English as a Second Language is not considered a “disability” and does not entitle you to extra time or special concessions, International Student Services will work with The Cove to provide interventions and support to ensure success of each international, missionary kids (MK), and third culture kids (TCK) student.
The Writing Center
The Writing Center has trained tutors available to help you with papers and assignments. Tutors are available by appointment. It is recommended you make an appointment early; do not wait until the day before the paper is due. That is much too late. All Writing Center tutors are trained in English as a Second Language strategies and international students are approved for longer appointments at the Center to promote their success. Make your writing center appointment by contacting the Writing Center.
ESL Support
Cedarville University can provide basic English as a Second Language support to students who need tutoring to improve their performance in higher levels of academic English. This support is customized to the student and is provided based on student need and availability of tutors each semester.
Academic Process
Dropping or Adding a Course
Changes in a student's course schedule must be made through the drop/add process. This may be completed online during the seven calendar days after classes begin. After this time, a Drop/Add Form is required to complete a schedule change (Drop/Add Forms are available from the Office of the Registrar in SSC-132). The student's adviser and the instructor of the course must sign the Drop/Add Form. The corresponding department chair or dean may sign in the absence of either of these faculty.
When a course is dropped, there may be a record on your transcript:- Before the end of the second calendar week: No record on transcript
- During third–ninth calendar week: “W” withdrawn
- 10th–11th calendar weeks: “WP” withdrawn passing or “WF” withdrawn failing
- Week 12 through end of semester: Dropping a course is not permitted
The department chair/dean signature is required to add a course after two weeks of classes.
Declaring or Changing a Major
Students who want to change or declare a major must log into CedarInfo and, under Academic (Student) Transactions, click on “Major Change Request.” Fill out the appropriate information and submit.
Meeting Your Advisor
Each student is assigned an adviser in their major department. If you have not yet declared a major, you will be assigned an adviser that will work with you to help you explore areas of interest. Once you are ready to declare a major, your adviser will connect you with the appropriate department where an adviser in that area will be assigned. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their adviser and make an appointment to meet. Be proactive!
Making an Academic Plan
It is beneficial to make a semester, first-year, and four-year plan to ensure you will complete your program on time. Many advisers will require you to go to Student Planning to begin exploring
course sequences and begin planning your first and second semesters of study.
Registration for courses will require your adviser’s review and approval, but course planning is the primary responsibility of the student. The
student planning site is very intuitive and will provide resources to guide the student in planning semesters. The site allows students to track their progress and also alerts them to any prerequisites necessary for certain courses.
College Registrar
The registrar’s office handles all of your academic transactions. Please consult the registrar's website for answers to questions regarding academic credit, transfer credit, schedule, major, and adviser changes. The office also handles CLEP tests.
CLEP: College Level Examination Program
CLEP allows students to earn college credit by passing examinations in subject areas in which they have already developed college-level knowledge and understanding. The examinations are composed of various multiple choice questions and are administered in timed segments totaling 90 minutes. Cedarville University offers CLEP tests to current Cedarville University students, as well as to individuals who have been accepted for admission to the University. Tests are offered at least twice per month throughout the academic year. Registration forms and information regarding available test dates may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. A study guide, produced by CLEP, is available for reference at the Cedarville University library, as well as at many local libraries. The current fee for each CLEP exam is $125, and is payable in two parts. $45 of this fee must be paid through the Cedarville University Cashiers Office at the time of registration. This administrative fee is nonrefundable. The remaining $80 must be paid directly to CLEP using its “My Account” system on the official Collegeboard CLEP website. An additional fee of $25 will be charged to transfer to a different exam date or time if completed by 5 p.m. on the day preceding the scheduled exam date.
Grading System
Grade Points and Grade Point Averages
Cedarville University uses the four-point system to determine academic averages. Grade points are awarded as follows:
Grade
A/A+
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
F
Grade Points
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.0
100 Point Scale Equivalent
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
65-66
Below 65
The grade point average is computed by dividing the total grade points earned by the total hours attempted. Grades are issued at the end of each semester. It is the responsibility of each student to discuss his other academic achievement with a course's instructor.
Note: Due to FERPA restrictions, student progress and performance cannot be shared with parents unless FERPA is waived.
Academic Calendar
Academic Catalog
Textbooks: Buying and Selling
The Cedarville University Campus Store stocks all of the textbooks for all classes. The pricing is competitive, and the Campus Store offers price comparisons online to ensure you get the best price possible.