Online Program Policies

 Institutional Policies

Drug Free Awareness

The Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-226) requires institutions receiving federal financial assistance to implement and enforce drug prevention programs and policies.

As a matter of policy, Waldorf College prohibits the manufacture and unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on its property and at any school activity. Any violation of this policy will result in appropriate disciplinary actions, up to and including expulsion (in the case of students) and termination (in the case of employees), even for a first offense. Where it is apparent that a violation of the law has occurred, the appropriate law enforcement authorities will be notified.

In certain cases, students or employees may be referred to counseling sources and/or substance abuse help centers. If such a referral is made, continued enrollment or employment will be subject to successful completion of any prescribed counseling or treatment program.

Campus Crime Policy

Waldorf College is committed to preventing workplace violence and to maintaining a safe working environment. All employees, including supervisors and temporary employees, should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times. Conduct that threatens, intimidates, or coerces another employee, a student, or a member of the public at any time, including off-duty periods, will not be tolerated. This prohibition includes all acts of harassment, including harassment that is based on an individual’s sex, race, age, or any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

All threats of (or actual) violence, both direct and indirect, should be reported as soon as possible to the employee’s immediate supervisor or any other member of management. This includes threats by employees, as well as threats by students, vendors, solicitors, or other members of the public. All suspicious individuals or activities should be reported as soon as possible to a supervisor. Waldorf College will promptly and thoroughly investigate all reports of threats of (or actual) violence and of suspicious individuals or activities. Anyone determined to be responsible for threats of (or actual) violence or other conduct that is in violation of these guidelines will be subject to prompt disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment/reporting to local law enforcement authorities.

The college must publish and distribute by October 1st of each year the annual campus security report. The report is distributed to students and staff and made available to prospective students and employees. The statistics contained in the report must include the following:

  • Criminal homicide, including murder and non-negligent manslaughter and negligent manslaughter
  • Sex offenses including forcible sex offenses and non-forcible sex offenses
  • Robbery
  • Aggravated assault
  • Burglary
  • Motor vehicle theft
  • Arson
  • By category of prejudice, crimes listed above and any other crime involving bodily injury reported to local law enforcement or to the campus that demonstrates evidence of prejudice based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability
  • Arrests for violations of liquor and drug law violations
  • Persons not arrested but referred for campus disciplinary action for liquor, drug, and weapons law violations.

Please contact the Office of Human Resources at hr@waldorf.edu for a copy of the full campus crime policy.

Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) affords a student certain rights with respect to their educational records. Waldorf College acknowledges this law as College policy.

Under the provisions of this law, students are entitled to the following privileges:

  • Inspection and review of the student’s educational records.
  • Request of amendments to the student’s records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights.
  • Consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
  • File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Waldorf College to comply with FERPA requirements in the instance that a complaint cannot be resolved within the College.

Requests by students to inspect, review, or amend must be submitted in writing and identify the following:

  • Record the student wishes to inspect
  • Purpose of the disclosure
  • Records that may be disclosed
  • The party or class of parties to whom the disclosure may be made
  • Signature and date

Recently, the FERPA regulations have been amended to allow requests to be made electronically. In addition to the aforementioned information, the consent form must:

Identify and authenticate a particular person as the source of the electronic consent; and Indicate that person’s approval of the information contained in the electronic consent.

For requests to amend, students must clearly identify the portion of the educational record the student is requesting be changed, and specify why the record should be changed. If the requested change is not approved, the student will be notified of the College’s decision, and the student’s right to a hearing. Students are informed of those instances where FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent in the Catalog information (electronically and in print).

However, FERPA allows schools to disclose student records, without consent, to the following parties:

  • School officials with legitimate educational interest
  • Other schools to which a student is transferring
  • Specified officials for audit of evaluation purposes
  • Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student
  • Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school
  • Accrediting organizations
  • Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies
  • State and local authorities

Release of student “directory” information is also permitted by FERPA. Waldorf College identifies “directory” information as name, address, telephone number, email address, date and place of birth, honors and awards, dates of attendance, major field of study, enrollment status, previous institutions attended, photograph or other comparable information.

Personally identifiable information (or non releasable information) includes all information not defined as directory information and may not be released without expressed written consent of the student. Students may control the release of directory information by notifying the Registrar’s Office at Waldorf College in writing. Upon receipt of this request, a Privacy Hold will be placed on the student’s record.

To Whose Record Does the Act Apply?

FERPA applies to the education records of persons who are, or have been, in attendance at Waldorf College, including students in continuing education programs sponsored by the college. FERPA does not apply to records of applicants who are denied admittance or, if accepted, do not attend Waldorf College.

To What Records Does the Act Apply?

The act applies to all education records maintained by Waldorf College, and all parties acting for Waldorf College, which are directly related to a student. Records containing a student’s name, identification number, or other personally identifiable information, in whatever medium, are covered by FERPA unless identified in one of the act’s excluded categories.

Enforcement and Penalties

The Registrar is responsible for college compliance with this policy. Responsibility for administering the act by the federal government has been assigned to the Family Policy Compliance Office within the United States Department of Education. This office reviews and investigates complaints and attempts to bring compliance through voluntary means.

Contact Us

Please contact us if you have any additional questions or concerns about our privacy policy.

Waldorf College
106 S. 6th Street
Forest City, IA 50436
registrar@waldorf.edu

Policy Disclaimer

At Waldorf College, we are committed to ensuring that our students are kept informed of the latest principles, theories, and applications pertaining to their studies. However, Waldorf College reserves the right to make changes as deemed appropriate in our course offerings, curricula, academic policies, and other rules and regulations affecting students without prior notification.

Technical and Student Email Requirements

The hybrid online curriculum at Waldorf College is delivered mostly online allowing students access to their course material anytime from anywhere. As a result, it is required of all students to have computer and internet access, along with a valid email address. The course syllabus, study guide, and examinations are all provided within the online course.


Admissions Policies

At Waldorf College, we have an open admissions policy. Applications and enrollment are accepted throughout the calendar year.

Nondiscrimination Policy

Waldorf College provides equal educational opportunity and does not discriminate with respect to race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, physical handicap, age, marital status, sex or status such as a disabled veteran.

Enrollment Systems

Course Enrollment

When students first enroll, the Admissions Department assists them with the process of enrolling in their first course.

All students will first complete the Student Success course (2 credits) and Wellness course (1 credit). This Student Success course is designed to offer valuable information concerning time management, listening and reading skills, writing techniques, memorization, research skills, technology usage and test-taking strategies.

Each time students enroll in a course, they will be notified by email that the registration has been processed. The email contains online account information and instructions for accessing their online course. Within each online course, students will find the information necessary to begin their course work.

Admissions Status Policy

Students may enroll at Waldorf College under one of the following:

  • Temporary—Application submitted but has not been approved and evaluated for transfer credit.
  • Conditional—Application approved and transfer credit evaluated based on copies of transcripts.
  • Accepted—Application approved, transfer credit evaluated, and all required official transcripts on file.

Students who wish to begin enrolling in courses immediately after submitting their application may do so under Temporary Admissions Status and while Temporary, may complete up to 13 credit hours. Once all official transcripts are received and evaluated, an Application Evaluation Report will be issued and, pending a favorable review, the student’s status will be changed to Accepted. Conditional Status is not available to students under Temporary Status.

When enrolling in courses while on Temporary status, the student is responsible to select courses that he/she will not transfer to Waldorf College and that will fulfill the requirements of his/her selected program of study. Information on Waldorf College program course requirements can be found on the Waldorf College website. For assistance on course selection, students may contact the Assistant Registrar at assistant.registrar@waldorf.edu.

Before enrolling under Temporary status, the student should make certain he/she meets the Waldorf College admissions requirements of a high school diploma or GED. Waldorf College only accepts transfer academic credit from institutions accredited by agencies that are recognized by the United States Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or, for non-U.S. institutions, an accepted foreign equivalent that is listed in the International Handbook of Universities.

A Waldorf College transcript cannot be issued while a student is on Temporary status. A Waldorf College transcript may be issued for students on Conditional Status but will not list transfer credit. A Waldorf College transcript may be issued for students on Accepted Status listing all institutional credit.

Transfer Credit

Waldorf College allows maximum transfer credit for your prior academic credits, training, and relevant professional licenses and certifications. Up to 75 percent of undergraduate courses can be transferred into your degree program.

Academic Credit

Grades earned must be a “C” or higher for prior undergraduate academic credit to be eligible for transfer.

Professional Licenses, Certificates, and Training Programs

Waldorf College uses guidelines established by the American Council on Education (ACE) to determine if certain training programs, certificates, professional licenses, and/or military training warrant awarding academic credit.

Transfer Credit by Examination

Waldorf College accepts credit by examination from the following:

  • The College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education (DANTES)

Academic Advising Services

Trained Waldorf College academic advisors are available to assist students with selecting the courses needed to successfully complete their desired program of study.

Accommodation for Disabilities

It is the policy of Waldorf College to provide reasonable accommodation for persons defined as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and all other local and state requirements dealing with students who have recognized disabilities.

A request for reasonable accommodation will be granted provided that the following criteria are met:

  • The request for reasonable accommodation is based on individual needs.
  • The request does not require a financial burden on Waldorf College that is beyond what is viewed as customary and reasonable.
  • The request does not compromise the basic requirements of the course.

The Registrar’s Office serves the special needs of students with permanent disabilities. It is the student’s responsibility to identify the disability to a faculty and/or staff member and provide the appropriate documentation from a qualified medical or licensed professional in requesting specific accommodations for services. New students should submit this documentation at least ten days prior to taking their first class at Waldorf College.


Academic Policies

Courses

Course Load Policy

The program advisor must approve all course loads over seven credit hours. Students requesting course loads over seven hours must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The maximum course load allowed is nine semester hours (3 courses). A student may not take courses in overlapping terms. Course grade reports will be issued at the end of the term.

Note: A full-time load in an 8-week term is 6 hours.

Course Structure

Students initiate access to their course by using the login procedure. Following course access into the Waldorf College learning platform, Blackboard, the student will be presented with a personalized welcome page and a list of enrolled courses.

After the student enters the online course, the first screen they see is the announcement section. The announcement section contains important information concerning the course. On the left of the screen the student will see a button for each section of the course.

The student should review the entire syllabus for each course so that they are aware of all course requirements. Waldorf College courses are designed and developed in a consistent manor so that students are not hindered by learning new terminology and layout with every course in which they enroll.

Course Professors

Students will be provided with their professor’s contact information by email at the beginning of the course. The student may also find their professor’s name and email address in the online course by clicking the staff/faculty information button. The student should direct all course related questions to the course professor. The preferred contact method for all Waldorf College distance learning faculty is email. This provides a written record and more convenient method of communication. However, professors are also available via telephone to assist students.

Student Course Evaluation

Students are asked to complete a Student Course Evaluation following the completion of each course of study. This survey is emailed to the student upon completion of their course. Student Course Evaluations are viewed and results are tabulated. This enables the college to measure the effectiveness of the course and to pinpoint problem areas. The evaluation rates the textbook, course content, examinations and assignments, and the course professor. Students may remain anonymous if they desire. If students wish to be contacted by the Assistant Dean for Online Learning concerning their comments, they should provide a contact phone number on the survey.

Testing and Evaluation

Waldorf College courses are generally divided into eight units, each normally containing objective and subjective assignments and one or more class discussion. Depending on the course, a paper, project, discussion board assignment, or proctored final exam may be required. Students will receive feedback from their professor for each subjective assignment graded. An email notification will also be provided for each assignment that is graded to notify the student that faculty feedback is available for review.

The following scale is used to determine the final course grade:

A Excellent 90-100
4.00 Quality Points per credit hour
B Good 80-89
3.00 Quality Points per credit hour
C Average 70-79
2.00 Quality Points per credit hour
D Passing 60-69
1.00 Quality Points per credit hour
F Failing 59-0
0.00 Quality Points per credit hour
W Withdrawal
0.00 Quality Points per credit hour

The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credit hours completed.

Grading Procedures

Academic Integrity

Cheating and other forms of deception are causes for dismissal. Examples of cheating include the following:

  • Utilizing another student’s answers during an exam
  • Using unauthorized materials during an exam
  • Having someone take your exam for you
  • Using unauthorized test materials
  • Disseminating exams to others
  • Plagiarism
  • Falsifying information

Other causes for dismissal from Waldorf College include:

  • Failure to pay tuition or fees due
  • Failure to abide by college rules and regulations

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas and representing them as your own without giving due credit to your source of information. Students may fail an assignment, course or be dismissed for plagiarism. This includes copying word-for-word from a book, magazine, newspaper, website, or any other sources without giving credit to that source. If you incorporate another author’s writings into your paper, you must include this text in quotation marks, if directly quoted, and cite your source(s). Provide citations when using the ideas of other authors, even if those ideas are paraphrased or summarized in your own words.

Intentional plagiarism is deliberate cheating and includes, but is not limited to:

  • Downloading a free research paper or purchasing a paper online.
  • Buying a paper from a commercial paper mill.
  • Faking a citation.
  • Submitting a paper written by someone else.
  • Copying an entire article or a paper from any source.
  • Resubmitting a paper that you have submitted for another course.

Unintentional plagiarism can occur when a writer commits the following acts:

  • Copying and pasting to recreate a paper from several courses without citing them.
  • Copying or paraphrasing sentences or paragraphs from sources without using proper citations.

Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, remains a very serious academic offense.

Plagiarism Detection

The first step a professor takes when a paper is received is to check the paper using a plagiarism prevention service such as TurnItIn. This site uses a comprehensive database system to compare a student’s paper to all papers previously submitted. The TurnItIn database also stores information of papers and text found on the Internet. TurnItIn provides the professor with a report that reveals what text has been copied from other sources and aids the professor in determining if the paper is an original work and whether sources have been cited properly. By using this tool, Waldorf College protects the integrity of its programs and students who work diligently to earn their degree. After the professor determines that the paper is not plagiarized, the professor grades the paper according to the grading rubric.

Final Examination Proctor Policy

Final examinations are to be administered to students by an approved proctor on a date that is mutually convenient. The student is responsible for selecting a qualified proctor that must be approved by the college. A list of acceptable proctors is provided in the Examination Proctor Policy. Proctors must submit a signed Proctor Agreement to Waldorf College for approval before being allowed to proctor an exam. Students may have up to three approved proctors on file. Proctors are to verify the student’s identity, remain in proximity while the student takes the exam, assures that the four hour exam time limit is strictly adhered to, and assures that only the course text and a calculator are allowed during the exam. Proctor forms can be found online.

Proctors

Final examinations are to be administered to students by an approved proctor on a date that is mutually convenient. Proctors must be a responsible and reputable third party. Waldorf College reserves the right to verify proctor qualifications, require additional evidence of eligibility, or require a different proctor be selected. Students will find the proper proctor forms under the Waldorf College website on the student center section.

The following may serve as Proctors:

Supervisors (must be of higher position or rank than student) University/college testing center, private testing center, office of Waldorf College representative, military base testing office, School principal or vice principal Full-time librarian, teacher, or school counselor College professor, dean, or director Human resource manager, training director/officer, Minister, priest, or rabbi of an established church, temple, mosque, or synagogue

Unacceptable Proctors include:

Assistant
Tutor
Neighbor
Relative
Friend
Waldorf College student
Waldorf College graduate
Anyone with a conflict of interest

Individuals selected to serve as proctors must have no vested interest in the outcome of the exam. Falsifying proctor information or not following proctor testing procedures will result in failure of the examination and may be cause for termination from the college.

Proctor Approval

The approved proctor’s information will remain on file for the student and the student may use the proctor until one of the following occurs:

  • The student or proctor cancels the proctor agreement.
  • Waldorf College disapproves or cancels the proctor agreement.

Examination Procedures

Students must provide the desired proctor with the Final Examination Proctor Policy and Waldorf College Proctor Agreement. The proctor will complete and submit the agreement to Waldorf College. Students and proctors may assume the proctor is approved unless otherwise notified by Waldorf College.

Students should allow time for the proctor to return the agreement to Waldorf College and for processing before submitting the first/next Request to Take Proctored Final Examination.

Once an approved proctor(s) is listed on the student’s record, the student only needs to submit the Request to Take Proctored Final Examination Form in which the pre-approved proctor is listed. Waldorf College will process the request and send the final exam or online final exam instructions to the identified pre-approved proctor.

Proctor Responsibilities

  • Provide the student with a private area conducive to testing. A computer with Internet access must be available.
  • Check student photo ID to ensure the examinee is actually the person scheduled to test.
  • Ensure no copies of the exam are made.
  • Ensure that the student does not access notes, articles, or other information beyond the course textbook and a calculator (unless specified in exam instructions).
  • Time the exam and stop the examinee when time has been expended. A maximum of four hours is allowed for the exam.
  • Keep the exam secure and only allow the student to access the exam in the proctor’s presence. The password must be kept confidential.
  • Keep a copy of the student exam answers for 30 days in the event it is not properly received by Waldorf College.
  • If an exam cannot be administered with 21 days after receipt from Waldorf College, destroy the exam and notify Waldorf College.
  • If a fee is charged for exam proctoring, request payment from the student at the time of testing. Waldorf College will not pay proctor fees.

Course Retake

Students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students earning a “D” or below in a course have the option of retaking the course. If a course is retaken, the hours attempted are counted once and the lowest grade is deleted as credit cannot be given twice for the same course.

Grade Appeal Policy

Students who believe that a grading discrepancy has occurred should follow the procedures listed below.

  • Direct your grade challenge to your course professor via email.
  • Include in this written correspondence the course name and number, the exam (unit or final), and the full text of the question or questions at issue, the page number and text that you feel supports your answer.
  • Forward a copy of this email to the Student Services Department at students@waldorf.edu.
  • To allow the Waldorf College faculty to effectively process an exam challenge, Waldorf College requires that the exam challenge (grade challenge) be submitted within 14 days of the grade report date.
  • Allow five to seven business days for a reply.
  • Students unsatisfied with the faculty member response should direct their grade appeal request to the Assistant Dean for Online Learning.

Non-Academic Appeals and Grievances

From time to time students may have questions concerning administrative policies or operations. Generally there are logical explanations for situations and usually most questions can be resolved in an informal manner through discussion with the individual or office involved. In instances where a student raises a question about a policy or decision, the effected staff member will respond. If it is not possible to resolve a matter through discussion, a student may appeal for further consideration by voicing the concern in writing to the Assistant Dean for Online Learning.

Should a student not be satisfied with the action taken by the Assistant Dean for Online Learning, the student may appeal the decision to the Waldorf College President. This policy is designed in accordance with the SPRE (State Postsecondary Review Entity) Guidelines and is intended to ensure that the student is given fair and equitable consideration in any matter that may arise.

Academic Progress, Probation, and Suspension

Students are required to have minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00. Academic standards of performance have been established to ensure satisfactory progress toward a degree. These performance standards form a basis for the following academic classifications.

  • Good Standing (active)
  • Academic probation
  • Academic suspension

Guidelines and procedures for placing students in the above classifications include:

Good Standing (Active)

To be a student in good standing, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 must be maintained.

Institutional Academic Probation

Upon the completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours, a student will automatically be placed on academic probation at anytime that his/her cumulative GPA drops below the required minimum. A student will remain on academic probation for 12 credit hours or four courses. While on academic probation, a student will have to demonstrate satisfactory progress, and take a maximum of two courses at one time. A student will not be permitted to enroll in a fifth course after being placed on academic probation until completion of the fourth course and once the academic status is determined.

Satisfactory progress requires that a student either raise the cumulative GPA to an acceptable level, or that the student makes progress towards earning the acceptable GPA during the probationary period, as detailed below.

If after completing any of the four courses required of the probationary period, the student raises the cumulative GPA to 2.00 or higher, the student will come off probation and be placed in Good Standing.

If the GPA for the probationary period is 2.5 or higher, but the student does not raise the cumulative GPA to the minimum 2.00 or higher, a new probation period will begin.

Institutional Academic Suspension

Should the probationary student fail to demonstrate satisfactory progress, he/she will be academically suspended for a period of no less than 10 weeks. A student may request a reinstatement after the ten weeks suspension period has expired. If a second suspension occurs, the student must remain suspended from the college for at least six months before being re-instated. The request for reinstatement in this case cannot be made until the six-month suspension period has expired. If a third suspension occurs, the student must wait a minimum of one calendar year before requesting readmission.

Requests for readmission must be made to the Assistant Dean for Online Learning no later than one month prior to the date the student desires to enroll on. Readmission following academic suspension will be determined by the Readmission Committee (composed of the Assistant Dean for Online Learning, and department chair) and is not automatic.

Students who enroll in other colleges or universities while on academic suspension from Waldorf College will not be readmitted to Waldorf College until the cumulative grade point average from these other colleges and universities is 2.00 or higher.

Attendance Policy

Waldorf College will verify your attendance in each registered course at the end of the first week. The discussion board posting or Unit I Assessment must be submitted to verify attendance and all Unit I assignments are due by the end of week one to receive credit. Students who choose not to attend the first week will be institutionally dropped from the course.

Course Load Policy

The program advisor must approve all course loads over seven semester hours. Students requesting course loads over seven hours must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The maximum course load allowed is nine semester hours (3 courses). A student may not take courses in overlapping terms. Course grade reports will be issued at the end of the term.

Note: A full-time load in an 8-week term is 6 hours for undergraduate and 3 hours for graduate.

Leave of Absence Policy Federal regulations require Waldorf College to establish a Leave of Absence (LOA) policy for financial aid recipients who find it necessary to not enroll in a term due to unforeseen circumstances. Students not using FSA need not request a LOA. This LOA policy is designed to allow the student flexibility to take temporary breaks by not enrolling in a term without being considered “withdrawn” for financial aid purposes. Therefore, students must complete the current term they are enrolled and apply for a LOA to start the day after the term ends. Students who are unable to complete their current course should consider a course extension, special needs extension, or course withdrawal.

The Waldorf College Office of Financial Aid is responsible for ensuring that all students who receive federal, state, and institutional financial aid are progressing in a timely manner towards completion of their program of study. The procedure for administering the LOA policy for each type of financial program is as follows.

  1. All federal financial assistance programs including Federal Pell Grant, direct loans (Stafford and Plus) and Federal Family Education Loans (Stafford and PLUS) are eligible for consideration.
  2. A LOA will be considered for approval if Waldorf College determines that there is an acceptable reason for the request. Some examples of acceptable reasons a student might request a LOA include;
    • Death in the family
    • Illness of a family member or self
    • Job relocation or travel related to job
    • Changes in work schedules
    • Military deployment, TDY/TAD, or PCS
    • Jury duty
  3. All LOA requests must be submitted in writing and include a date and a signature.
  4. Waldorf College will consider multiple LOA requests as long as the combination of absences does not exceed 180 days in any 12-month period.

Application Procedure

  1. All requests for LOA must be in writing. Acceptable formats include the Leave of Absence Request Form in the Waldorf College Student Center or personal letters (handwritten or typed). Please note that email requests are not acceptable.
  2. All requests must contain the following information to be considered complete.
    • Printed student name Social Security Number or Waldorf College Student Identification Number
    • Term end date/last day of attendance
    • Start of leave date (the start date of the next term in the track)
    • First day/date of classes on anticipated return from leave (Must be a term start date)
    • Academic program
    • Detailed explanation as to the reason for the request and any appropriate documentation available to support the request
    • Date (month, day, year) the request was submitted
    • Original student signature
  3. All requests should be submitted during the last three weeks of a term or between terms. Late requests will only be considered in the case of unforeseen circumstances that prohibit the student from meeting the stated deadline. Additional documentation from a third party to attest to the unforeseen circumstance may be required.
  4. Students granted a LOA that are subsequently unable to return to classes on the anticipated return date, may request a second LOA
  5. Students may return early from an approved LOA upon request with no penalty.
  6. All requests for a LOA should be submitted to the Waldorf College Office of Financial Aid for processing. A written response to the request will be provided to the student within two weeks from the date the request is received.

Additional Information

  1. Students on an approved LOA will not receive any financial aid disbursements during the leave.
  2. Students on an approved LOA will not have to reapply for admission at Waldorf College if they resume taking classes at the end of their LOA. In addition, their academic program requirements will remain as specified in the Waldorf College catalogue at the time the students were placed on a LOA.
  3. Students who do not submit a formal and written LOA request, students who take leaves of absences that exceed 180 days in a 12-month period, and students that fail to return from an approved LOA will be considered to have withdrawn from Waldorf College. A federal refund calculation will be performed in these situations and financial aid awards may be reduced or cancelled.
  4. Students on an approved LOA at Waldorf College will be considered enrolled and eligible for in-school deferments on federal loans during the leave. However, students on leave are not deferred from making regularly scheduled payments to their Waldorf College financial account for normal costs not covered by financial aid. Students who have outstanding federal student loans may be required to repay the loans while on a LOA if they have previously used up their loan grace period and should contact the loan holder to determine if they can apply for a deferment or forbearance on the loans.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP)

Full-time students in the online program must earn a 2.0 grade point average, achieve a passing rate of at least 67 percent of all hours attempted, and complete their degree program within 150 percent of the term hour requirements for the degree.

Hours attempted include completed courses, repeated courses, withdrawals, and incompletes. Transfer credit, if applicable, is calculated in the completion ratio and quantitative progress. Students are evaluated at the end of every term for SAP once they have attempted two terms, which is equivalent to 16 weeks of instruction.

Full-time students who have not met the conditions for satisfactory progress will be place on warning for the following term.

If a student has less than a 1.00 GPA and less than 10 credits after attempting two terms, the student will be dismissed from the college.

All students on academic warning must take part in the Academic Support Program. If the student does not attain the minimum grade point average or the minimum cumulative credits by the end of the warning term, the student will be dismissed from the college.

The full-time student may appeal the dismissal to the Academic Progress Committee. The appeal must include the reason(s) why the student failed to meet satisfactory academic progress and what will change to allow the student to meet the standards at the next evaluation. The committee will make one of the following decisions regarding the student's appeal:

  • The appeal will be denied; the student will be dismissed academically and no longer be eligible for financial aid.
  • The appeal will be granted and the student placed on Academic Probation for one term; the student should be able to meet satisfactory academic progress by the end of the probationary term. If the student does not meet satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probationary term, the student will be dismissed.
  • The appeal will be granted and the student will be placed on an Academic Plan because satisfactory academic progress can't be met within one term. The Academic Plan, monitored on an individual basis, will ensure that the student will be able to meet satisfactory academic progress by a specific point in time, will have set conditions, and can be evaluated at whatever periods as determined by the plan or at a minimum at the end of every term. The student will be dismissed when he/she fails to meet the conditions of the Academic Plan.

Students on academic probation or academic plan may be required to retake courses in which "F" or "D" grades were received, take a reduced credit-load, and/or become involved in special programs. They are also required to submit periodic academic progress reports.

A part-time student (carrying less than 6 term credits) shall be placed on academic warning if, at the end of any term, he or she has a cumulative grade point average less than 2.00 after attempting a total of 6 hours or more as a part-time student. During the next term, if the student does not receive a 2.00 gpa and/or complete at least 67% of their coursework, the student is dismissed from the college.

If a part-time student is dismissed by the college, the student may appeal the dismissal and follow the same appeals process found above in the full-time satisfactory academic progress appeals process.

If it apparent that a student is not profiting from attendance, the Vice-President for Academic Affairs may dismiss a student without any warning period.

Course Extension

If circumstances prevent a student from completing all required coursework before the end of the course, the student will have the option to request a 45 day extension. Extensions must be approved by the course professor and are not automatically granted. A Course Extension cannot be requested until week six, seven, or eight. Students needing more than 45 days may wish to view the Special Needs Extension Policy.

Extending a course is most often preferable to withdrawing. The following are important facts concerning course extensions.

There is a time limit to complete course extensions.

A plan to complete the coursework, including assignment due dates, during the extension period must be presented and adhered to. If more than one unit remains due, each unit due date should be spaced a minimum of one week apart.

When a student is given an extension, an “I” grade will be posted for the course. Although, the “I” grade will be replaced with a letter grade when the course extension ends, as long as the “I” grade remains it is counted as a grade of “F” when calculating Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Therefore, the “I” grade may affect future registrations, GPAs, and/or FSA eligibility.

The following are required for extension approval.

  • The extension may only be requested during the last three weeks of the course and must be submitted before the last day of the course.
  • The student cannot have a course on extension from a previous term.
  • The student must be successfully completing course requirements at the time of the request (earning a passing grade for assignments due).
  • The student must submit valid justification as to why the course could not be completed on schedule due to reasons beyond normal circumstances. Supporting documentation may be requested by the College.

An Extension Fee of $50 will be charged if the extension is approved.

Students who do not complete the course on which the extension was granted within the extension period requested will receive a course grade calculated on the weighted scores of all completed course assignments. All assignments left undone will be assigned a grade of zero. If the calculated grade is an “F”, the course must be taken over again in its entirety and the student will be required to pay full tuition for the course.

To request an extension, the student must complete and submit the Term Course Extension Request Form in the myWaldorf student portal. This form includes the reason for the extension, the student plan for completion and the date of completion for each remaining assignment. Students will be held to the revised assignment due dates in the same manner as the original course weekly deadlines.

The extension request is not automatic and must be approved. If the extension request is denied and the course end date has occurred, the course grade based on the coursework completed by the student will be posted. A zero grade will be given for all assignments not completed.

Special Needs Extension

A special needs extension is available for those students who encounter unusual circumstances that prevent them from completing a course within a standard 45 day course extension. A special needs extension is 60-days in length and has no fee requirements. The following are required for special needs extension approval:

  • The student must be able to complete the course within a maximum of 60 days from the course end date.
  • The student’s circumstance must involve an unusual or critical circumstance such as military deployment, TDY/TAD, PCS, major surgery, natural disaster, family emergency, death in the immediate family, job relocation.
  • The student must submit official documentation that substantiates the circumstance and dates that the student will be affected.
  • Requests that are received without support documentation will not be considered.
  • The special needs extension form should be completed and submitted prior to the course end date or the end of a standard extension. It should also be submitted prior to or at the outset of the unusual or critical circumstance.
  • The student will not be allowed to enroll in a new course until the extended courses have been completed or the special needs extension has ended.

To request a special needs extension, the student must complete and submit the Term Special Needs Extension Form in the myWaldorf student portal. The reason for the extension, the student’s plan for completion, due dates for each assignment, and the anticipated date of completion of all course work are requested on this form. Students will be held to the revised assignment due dates in the same manner as the original course weekly deadlines. Please note that approval is not automatic. The special needs extension committee must approve each request.

The maximum allowable time for a term special needs extension is 60 days from the original end date of the course. If the unusual circumstance does not allow the completion of the course within 60 days, the student should contact students@waldorf.edu and discuss withdrawing from the course. However, the request to withdraw must be submitted prior to the original end date of the course.

When a student is approved for a special needs extension, an “I” grade will be posted for the course. Although, the “I” grade will be replaced with a letter grade when the extension ends. As long as the “I” grade remains, it is counted as a grade of “F” when calculating Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Therefore, the “I” grade may affect future registrations, GPAs, and/or FSA eligibility.

Students who do not complete the course within the extension period requested will receive a course grade calculated on the weighted scores of all completed course assignments. All assignments left undone will be assigned a grade of zero. If the calculated grade is an “F” the course must be taken over again in its entirety and the student will be required to pay full tuition of the course.

To request a special needs extension, please visit www.waldorf.edu and complete the form. The form and supporting documentation may be faxed to 251-224-0569 or mailed to Waldorf College, Attn: Waldorf College Special Needs Extension Committee, 106 S 6th Street, Forest City, Iowa, 50436. Please remember, request forms that are received without supporting documentation will not be considered.

Unofficial Withdrawal Policy

If no assignments are submitted in the last 21 days of the term and the student receives a failing grade, the student will be withdrawn from the course and a grade of “WF” will be assigned. Grades of “WF” count in the calculation of the student’s GPA the same as a grade of “F.” “WF” also is counted in attempted hours. A charge will be posted to the student’s account if the text was supplied through the Waldorf College Book Grant. An email will be sent to the student providing a link to the Course Drop/Textbook Return Form.

If an assignment has been submitted in the last 21 days of the term, the student will not be withdrawn and no action will be taken. The grade calculation will automatically occur as follows: Any non-submitted assignments will be given a grade of “0” and the final grade calculated.

When determining “Last Day of Attendance” for financial aid purposes, the course mid-point or last assignment date, whichever is later, will be used.

Inactive Status

Students who do not submit any coursework within a twelve-month period will be considered inactive and any tuition being held by the college will be forfeited. Students desiring to return to their studies must be reevaluated and will be subject to any changed academic requirements, tuition increases, and policy changes in force at the time of reenrollment.

Student Conduct and Due Process

Students will receive written notice in the event that the college determines that the student’s conduct warrants disciplinary action and/or expulsion. Students may contest the college’s findings and conclusions with a written challenge directed to the Assistant Dean for Online Learning. The Assistant Dean for Online Learning will review all written challenges within ten days of receipt. Soon thereafter you will be notified of the committee’s decision.

Within 15 days after receiving the decision of the Assistant Dean for Online Learning, students have the right to appeal the decision to the president of Waldorf College. Decisions rendered by the president are final.

Graduation

Graduation Requirements

A 2.00 GPA is required for students to be eligible for graduation. A minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed with Waldorf College to be eligible to graduate from a bachelor program. Unless waived by the Assistant Dean for Online Learning and the department chair of the student’s major, the last 30 credits of the program plan will be taken from Waldorf College. Students must receive a C or above in all courses in the major.

Graduation with Honors

In order for a student enrolled in an associate or bachelor degree program to graduate Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Cum Laude honors, they must earn the following grade point average.

Summa Cum Laude 3.9-4.00
Magna Cum Laude 3.7-3.89
Cum Laude 3.5-3.69

Honors are based upon coursework completed at Waldorf College. Honor graduates must have no grades lower than a “C”, and must not have repeated any course taken at Waldorf College.

Petition for Graduation

After you have completed all the courses for your program, you must submit a Petition for Graduation to begin the Graduation Audit Process. This form can be completed online and can be accessed at www.waldorf.edu. Once the graduation audit is complete, you will be notified of the application status and any requirements that have not been satisfied. A $75 graduation fee is to be paid at the time the Petition for Graduation is submitted to Waldorf College. This fee covers the audit of your student records and the processing of your diploma.

Diploma

Your diploma and an official transcript will be mailed directly to the address you provide on the Petition to Graduate Form. This normally takes approximately five to six weeks after submitting the Petition for Graduation and the graduation fee.

Graduation Ceremony

Each year Waldorf College hosts a commencement ceremony for those graduates who have completed their program. It is not required for the graduate to attend the ceremony. However, Waldorf College encourages all graduates to attend the commencement exercise and accompanying activities. There is a fee for the ceremony that includes the regalia (cap, gown and tassel). Since the ceremony fee varies from year to year, students will need to visit the Waldorf College website for pricing information. Travel arrangements and accommodations are the responsibility of the student.

Transcripts

A transcript bearing the college seal and signature of the registrar is the official copy of your permanent academic record. A transcript will be provided to you at the time of graduation. Additional transcripts may be obtained by written request to the college registrar’s office.

Transcript Request Service

Waldorf College offers a transcript request service. For $10 per transcript request, we will contact the prior colleges and/or universities you’ve attended to secure all the transcripts needed. Two forms must be completed and signed in order to process your request. The “Request for Official Transcript” form is sent to each individual college or college to process your transcript request; the payment form is kept at Waldorf College for processing. We are unable to process your request without both signed forms being submitted. You can access these forms by visiting www.waldorf.edu. When completed, please fax to 251-224-0573.

Requesting a Waldorf College Transcript

Once a student has completed the first three credit hour course and course tuition is paid, the student may request an official Waldorf College transcript. A $10 transcript fee applies. A Waldorf College transcript may be requested by using the Transcript Request Form. This form may be downloaded from the Waldorf College Student Portal. Please allow 7 to 10 business days for processing.

The transcript will be sent as a sealed Official Transcript to the institution or person indicted on the Transcript Request Form. An Unofficial Transcript may be faxed if indicted on the request form. Please note, the $10 transcript processing fee still applies whether the transcript is issued as Official or Unofficial.

Tuition Refund Policy

Tuition refunds for course withdrawals are based on the term enrollment tuition refund policy. All students who drop/withdraw from a course after the drop date will be charged a 20 percent registration fee. The remaining tuition will be refunded based on the term start date and the tuition percentage amounts listed below.

  • 1st Week = 100 %
  • 2nd Week = 60 %
  • 3rd Week = 40 %
  • 4th Week = 20 %
  • 5th Week = 0 %

Students are not permitted to withdraw from a course after the term end date