Academic Information

Academic Policies

Academic Honesty

Just as the faculty, staff and administration at Whitworth strive to be forthright, direct and honest, and to value integrity in all their dealings, the university expects all students to function in like manner. Students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty and to refrain from any dishonest or unethical action. In all academic exercises, examinations, papers and reports, students are expected to submit their own work. The use of the words or ideas of others is always to be indicated through an acceptable form of citation. This policy will be specified in the syllabus for each course.

Definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism occurs whenever a person attempts to pass off as his or her own work, either verbally or in writing, the words and ideas of others. Plagiarism most often occurs in projects that require independent preparation (outside of class); although it can occur in essay examinations, this is not generally the case. Plagiarism can be either inadvertent (a failure to understand the responsibility for acknowledgment or the means by which acknowledgment should be made) or willful (with a conscious intent to deceive).

Definition of cheating and dry-labbing: Cheating is any academic activity in which the student submits for grade or credit work that is not his or her own and/or work that has not been done within the structure and context established by the assignment. Students may plagiarize in a variety of ways: copying another student’s homework, copying answers from another student’s test, bringing unauthorized notes or materials to an exam, copying another student’s lab notes, or making up fictitious lab results (also known as “dry-labbing”). All cheating is regarded as willful deception.

Consequences of violations of the policy on academic honesty:

• The faculty member will confront the student(s) in cases of suspected violations of the policy on academic honesty and will keep a written record of the incident.
• The faculty member will assess the gravity of the violation and determine the consequences, which may range from a failing grade on a specific assignment to a failing grade in the course.
• The student has a right to appeal any faculty member's decision to the Whitworth Academic Affairs Office.
• The faculty member will submit a written report of policy violations, with their consequences, to the Academic Affairs Office.
• The student will receive a warning after the first violation.
• If a student violates the academic honesty policy a second time, depending on the nature of the violations, he or she may be suspended for the remainder of the current term or for a longer period.

Academic Grievances

Grade challenges must be initiated by the student in writing within 30 days after a grade is posted. Challenges on grades go to the professor first, then to the department chair, and then to the appropriate area dean, or designee, who will issue a final decision.

Academic grievances other than grade challenges should start with conversation between the student and his/her professor or within the department involved. In cases where resolution is not so easily achieved, the procedures are as follows:

• The student must first seek resolution of the conflict in consultation with the professor.
• If a satisfactory resolution is not possible in the first phase, the student may appeal for adjudication by submitting a written appeal to the associate provost for instruction. This appeal will be the final step in the grievance process with the associate provost decision being final.

Academic Probation and Suspension

A student is placed on academic probation at the end of any semester or term in which his or her cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0. Since probation removes a person from good academic standing, students on probation will be limited in their opportunities to participate in off-campus study programs and extracurricular activities (varsity sports, student government, student publications, radio broadcasting, and cheer squad, for example). A student remains on probation until his or her cumulative GPA reaches the minimum 2.0 standard.

A student receives an academic warning when, during any fall or spring semester, his or her semester GPA falls below 2.0 while the cumulative grade-point average is 2.0 or above. The case of any student who receives an academic warning for two or more consecutive semesters will be reviewed by the Whitworth Educational Review Board, and the student may be placed on probation. Extracurricular activities are not limited by an academic warning.

Students may be suspended at the end of any semester or term in which their semester GPA falls below 1.0, or if, after being placed on probation, they fail to earn at least a 2.0 GPA for the succeeding semester or term.

Students enrolled in Whitworth Continuing Studies courses may be placed on academic probation at the end of any 12-week period of an accelerated-format term during which they are registered for six or more credits (whether or not completed) and their GPA falls below 2.0. A student who is on probation may not register for more than three courses or nine semester credits in the subsequent accelerated-format term. Students remain on probation until their cumulative GPA reaches the minimum 2.0 standard. A student may be suspended at the end of a 17-week period during which he or she is registered for up to nine credits (whether or not nine credits are completed) if the GPA for that period is below 2.0.

A pattern of successive class withdrawal (over more than one semester) may be grounds for suspension. If there are mitigating reasons for unsatisfactory progress that results in suspension, students may appeal in writing to the Educational Review Board through the Whitworth Academic Affairs Office. Reinstatement after any semester or term on suspension is dependent upon written application to the Educational Review Board through the academic affairs office. Students who are receiving financial aid should refer to satisfactory academic progress policies and appeal processes.

Academic Petitions

The Whitworth University registrar has the delegated authority to see that students adhere to the academic policies and requirements. The petition process provides students and faculty with the possibility of a response outside the normal bounds of policy when extenuating circumstances are judged to warrant such a response. Extenuating circumstances include illness, injury, death in the family, problems with immigration, and matters where established policies are unclear or in conflict. Unresolved holds by the deadline do not constitute an extenuating circumstance and are not grounds for petition.

Petition Process:

1. Petitions should be generated by an individual current or potential student on the standard Academic Petitions form, and signed by the student's advisor and department/program chair. The petiton must not only voice the request, but must also substantiate the validity of the request.
2. Submit the petition to the Registrar's office, which will rule on the petition and indicate whether the petition is accepted or denied, and provide written reasons for denial.
3. If the petition is denied, and extenuating cirsumstances exist, the student may ask the registrar to have the petition decision reviewed by the Academic Petitions committee.

    All decisions of the Academic Petitions and Appeals Committee are final and binding. 

Changes in Academic Program

FERPA

Directory Information

Name-change policy: A current or former student of Whitworth University may change any component of his or her name with proper documentation and a completed name-change request form. Types of changes may include first, middle, and last-name replacements; converting an initial to the actual name; replacing a nickname; returning to a birth name, or any other documented name-change variation. Acceptable documentation will include a copy of a legal document, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, divorce decree or court order. In addition, one supporting piece of identification reflecting the change must be presented. Forms of identification may include a driver’s license, Social Security card, or other identifying documentation deemed acceptable by the registrar. After the proper identification and a completed request form are received by the registrar’s office (300 W. Hawthorne Road, Spokane, WA 99251), the change will be reflected on the student’s hard-copy academic record, transcript and computer record. Address change: Please notify the registrar’s office of any address changes by supplying your name, your student I.D. number or Social Security number, your old address, your new address and your phone number to the registrar’s office at the address above.

Equal Opportunity Policy

Grading

Grade Reports

Midterm Grades

Final Grades

Grades and Quality Points

Calculation of the Grade Point Average

Current and cumulative grade point averages are calculated on the basis of grades earned at Whitworth only. Credits for courses accepted in transfer from other institutions count toward the total required for graduation, but the grades for those courses do not affect the Whitworth GPA. The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the quality points total by the total number of graded credits attempted during any given grading period. Quality points for a course are determined by multiplying the numerical equivalent of the letter grade by the credit attempted. Pass/No Credit and Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory grades are not used in computing the GPA.

Honors

Semester Honors

At the end of each fall and spring semester, all students who have registered in at least 12 semester credits for which A-F grades are given and who earn at least a 3.75 grade point average, are given Provost’s Honor Roll recognition. This includes a letter from the dean, along with membership in the Laureate Society.

Latin Honors

Note: Calculated and awarded when degrees are posted.

George Whitworth Honors

GEORGE WHITWORTH HONORS PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY AND VALUES

The Whitworth Honors Program is rooted in the following principles that shape the program and reflect Whitworth’s core values:

• Academic Excellence: Requirements for credit granted in honors program learning experiences will exceed the academic expectations of most Whitworth courses.
• Active and Collaborative Learning: Learning experiences are characterized by joint intellectual effort among students, or between students and faculty in pursuit of deeper knowledge and understanding. Learning experiences in the honors curriculum are designed to require active participation and a high degree of self-direction from students.
• Christian Mission: The honors program includes experiences with a faith-learning integration component.
• Community: Registration for honors program offerings is elective and open to all Whitworth students. When space is limited, priority will be given to honors students, assuming timely registration.
• Educational breadth: Honors graduates must complete academic enrichment experiences across the curriculum (not just in proximity to their major).
• Preparation for Vocation: Honors experiences are designed to provide a high level of preparation for post-baccalaureate educational and/or career opportunities.
• The primary aim of the program is to provide academic benefits by deepening student engagement, defined as learning that adds “depth, complexity, and novelty.”

1. Depth is referred to as the level of mastery and understanding of the material presented. Students in the honors program will study course content more extensively or in greater depth. This leads toward greater insight by the student's discovery of detail, patterns and trends. 
2. Complexity is the thought and processing involved in an activity. Dealing with complexity helps students to understand concepts at a higher level and to see the interrelationship of concepts.
3. Novelty refers to a unique personal experience for the student. He or she may study something that is not a part of the regular curriculum but that may be of interest to him or her. Self-directed study leads toward heightened individuality and expansion of personal belief systems.

A secondary aim of the program is to provide students a range of experiences to enhance their preparation for post-baccalaureate study and vocations.

GEORGE WHITWORTH HONORS PROGRAM

The George Whitworth Honors Program allows high-achieving, motivated students who are admitted with honors to be eligible for a menu of challenging academic-enrichment experiences over their four years at Whitworth. Program components benefit students differently, depending upon their particular interests and learning styles. The strength of the program is that the student directs himself/herself to a diverse set of learning experiences across multiple disciplines. These experiences may include honors general education or interdisciplinary courses, honors courses within a major, advanced seminars, honors creative projects, honors research, honors study abroad, and honors internships. Eligibility for priority enrollment in many honors courses is dependent upon the student's GPA. Eligibility to participate in certain types of honors experience (ex. research, internship, performance) is by faculty approval, based on applications that demonstrate preparation related to the honors area.

Eligibility to Graduate with George Whitworth Honors

To graduate as a George Whitworth Scholar, a student must complete at least 15 credits with a grade of "C" or higher within the honors program, with at least six of those credits in upper-division courses, seminars, research, etc. No more than nine honors credits can be earned within a single department. In addition, honors credits must be earned in at least four of the following categories:

A. Honors courses or seminars
B. Honors research
C. Honors internship
D. Honors study abroad
E. Honors creative project
F. Honors d-group in a Core/Worldview Studies course (at 4 credits per course)

Note: Honors courses cannot be taken for P/NC, but can be audited.  An honors course that is audited does not count toward the honors requirements.

To be a George Whitworth Scholar, a student must graduate with at least a 3.75 cumulative GPA and be in the top 20 percent of his or her major(s). Students who do not meet these requirements will still be enriched by these experiences, but will not graduate with George Whitworth honors. Honors graduates will become members of the George Whitworth Society upon graduation.

Student Information

Graduate Students

Graduate students are master's candidates. Admission to these programs is by application only.

Matriculated Students

Non-Matriculated Students

Veterans

Whitworth is approved for veteran training as an institution of higher education by the Higher Education Coordinating Board. The university’s academic programs of study are approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s State Approving Agency for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, U.S. Code. Whitworth is committed to upholding and complying with the intent of Veterans Administration regulations. Benefit recipients must meet satisfactory-progress standards in order to continue receiving benefits for study. VA benefit recipients are held to the same academic standards as are other Whitworth students. Records that permit monitoring of progress are kept in the registrar’s office. Termination of benefits will be initiated upon receipt of a withdrawal form. It is the responsibility of the benefit recipient to submit a withdrawal form to the registrar and to notify the veterans coordinator immediately upon ceasing to attend any course.

Class Standing

Student Right-To-Know

Student Registration

Registration

Deadlines for dropping and adding classes are published in the academic calendar each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to check his or her registration information and to discuss any needed corrections with a member of the staff in the registrar’s office. As a courtesy, students receive notification to verify their course registration during the drop/add period each fall and spring semester. Credit cannot be granted after a semester has ended for courses in which a student did not officially register. It is the university’s policy to deny requests for registration in any course after the close of the term in which registration was required.

Normal Full-Time Course Load

Normal Progress and Financial Aid

Class Schedules - Guest Access

Class Schedules are available through Pirate Port, Whitworth's web portal. Guest visitors (parents, prospective students, etc.) can access Pirate Port by visiting: www.whitworth.edu/administration/informationsystems/pirateport/guestaccess.htm.

Student Holds

Different circumstances can cause a hold to be placed on a student’s account. Each hold prevents the student from participating in some university privilege, such as the opportunity to register, add/drop classes, receive official transcripts, or participate in campus activities. The list below shows the types of holds and the offices to contact regarding these holds.

Type of Hold

Waitlisting For Closed Classes

Students may waitlist themselves via WhitNet for most closed classes. As space becomes available in such classes, waitlisted students will be sent an e-mail notifying them that they have 24 hours to register for the course on WhitNet. If the student does not register within 24 hours, s/he will be dropped from the waitlist.

Changes in Registration

Class Attendance

Class attendance is expected and may be included in the calculation of the grade for the class. Students who register for courses they do not attend are responsible for dropping the courses officially through the registrar’s office. The consequence of not officially dropping a course is a “WW” (withdrew without permission) grade, which calculates as an “F” in the GPA. Students should contact the professor of a class if they plan to be absent any day during the first week of the semester/term. No person other than a faculty member attending informally with the approval of the professor may attend a Whitworth course in which that person has not been officially registered. A professor may allow a student to attend his or her class only if the student’s name appears on the official class roster.

Add/Drop Policy

Students are required to be registered for all of their courses before the end of the add/drop period. While it is recommended that registration for independent studies, field studies and internships be completed before the end of the tenth day of the semester, it is understood that those registrations can occur later.

A student who must change his or her schedule after the fifth day of the semester must do so by completing an Add/Drop form and returning it to the registrar's office with signatures from the course instructor and the student's advisor. After the tenth day of the semester, a grade of "W" will be given for any full-semester course that is dropped. A grade of "WF" will be given for full-semester courses dropped after the ninth week of the semester. Contact the registrar's office for applicable dates for half-semester courses. The last day to drop a course is the final day of regular instruction before final exams.

Repeat/Delete Policy

A course taken at Whitworth may be repeated at Whitworth. Courses cannot be taken under the repeat/delete policy except at Whitworth. Check the section on financial aid to determine if/how your level of aid will be affected if you repeat courses in which you received a passing grade.

1. Grades for all courses taken at Whitworth will appear on the permanent record.
2. When computing the grade point average and total hours earned, the student repeating a course will be credited with the highest grade earned for all attempts and with course credits for only one attempt.
3. If the credit level for a course has changed (for instance, from 4 to 3 hours), the residual credit not covered by the repeat will be reflected on the transcript at the grade originally awarded; this grade will be computed as part of the grade point average unless extended credit is earned and awarded.

Withdrawals

Accelerated classes and graduate-level classes are sometimes offered in a nontraditional term. Check with your department to determine the withdrawal policy for your program.

Traditional semester programs have the following withdrawal policy:

• A withdrawal from a course during the first two weeks of the term will not appear on the transcript.
• A withdrawal after the first two weeks through the ninth week of the term will be noted with a "W" (withdrawal) grade on the transcript.
• A withdrawal after the ninth week and before final exams will be noted with a "WF" (withdraw failing) grade on the transcript.
• If a student stops attending a course or never attends but does not officially withdraw from the course by completing a drop form and submitting it to the registrar's office, a grade of "WW" (withdrew without permission) will be noted on the transcript. Financial obligations for the course will remain binding.

Hardship Withdrawal

In rare circumstances, the withdrawing student may be granted a hardship withdrawal, which is given when a debilitating medical or psychological circumstance makes it necessary for the student to withdraw from all of his or her courses that have not already been completed. To be considered, the student should apply to the dean of students or his/her designee within a week of the anticipated withdrawal, providing written documentation of the circumstance. Under hardship-withdrawal status, the student will receive a “W” in all classes that have not been completed for the term, and financial officers will determine charges based on the number of weeks the student used university resources and services. Contact the dean of students for additional information on this policy.

Hiatus Policy

Students who have completed at least one semester at Whitworth are eligible to take a leave of absence for up to one academic year and to return without reapplying for admission. This leave, known as a hiatus, allows the student to keep his or her WhitNet and Whitworth e-mail accounts active while s/he is away.

Pass/No Credit Option

This option is designed to encourage students to explore areas of study outside their majors. Students may choose to take one P/NC course each academic year at Whitworth. Core/Worldview Studies courses, courses in the student’s major or area of concentration, and education courses are excluded from this option. Students may elect to take PE activity courses Pass/No Credit. A grade of Pass will be assigned in a P/NC course on the basis of a grade of “C” or higher. A grade of No Credit will be assigned in a P/NC course on the basis of a grade of “C-” or lower. Once a P/NC has been declared, it is irreversible. Check the academic calendar for the deadline to declare P/NC.

General Course Numbers

Lower-Division Courses

100-199: Primarily for freshmen. May not be taken for graduate credit.
200-299: Primarily for sophomores. May not be taken for graduate credit.

Upper-Division Courses

300-399: Primarily for juniors and seniors. Graduate students may count a limited number of credits.
400-499: Primarily for seniors. Graduate students may count a limited number of credits.
500-599: Graduate level. Undergraduates may enroll only with special permission.

Special Course Numbers

At undergraduate and graduate levels, course numbers ending in 80, 86, 90, 91, 95 or 96 indicate special courses. Subject matter in these courses varies. All departments may offer these types of courses, but because not all may be listed in this catalog, students are urged to ask individual department offices about the availability of courses of the type and level desired. Their designations are as follows:

80 Field Study
86 Readings
90 Internship
91 Independent Study
95 Teaching Assistantship
96 Special Topics

Transfer and Alternative Credit

Academic Credit and Evaluation

Academic credit is awarded on the basis of semester credits. One semester credit is equivalent to 14 contact hours and two hours of work outside of class for each contact hour. Evaluation of coursework is accomplished in a variety of ways, depending upon the nature of the course.

Acceptance of Transfer Credits

Whitworth will accept applicable undergraduate and graduate work transferred from regionally accredited institutions. For institutions without regional accreditation, transfer of credit will be considered if the credibility of the institution can be supported by the “three-letter rule,” which states that it is the responsibility of the student to provide letters from three regionally accredited institutions certifying that they will accept credit from the institution from which the student is seeking credit. A total of two-thirds credit will be awarded for course work completed at non-regionally accredited Bible schools that hold an ABHE accreditation.

A maximum of 64 semester credits may be transferred from a two-year college; a total of 94 semester credits may be transferred from any four-year college or combination of two and four-year colleges. Credits earned more than 15 years prior to matriculation at Whitworth will require department approval if they are to fulfill a requirement in the major. Courses in which the student received a grade lower than “C-,” vocational-technical courses, non-college-level courses, credit earned by exam at another institution and incomplete courses are not transferable. Official transcripts must be received by the registrar’s office from the transferring institution in order to have credit evaluated for final acceptance.

Washington 45

Transfer Policies for Students Holding Associate of Arts Degrees

A student transferring to Whitworth with an associate of arts (A.A.) degree from a community college in Washington (approved by the Intercollege Relations Commission for the State of Washington), Colorado, Oregon, Montana, the Community College of Southern Idaho, North Idaho College, or with an associate of science (A.S.) degree from a community college in Washington, will receive the following:

• Junior standing (60 semester credits)
• Transfer credit of a maximum of 96 quarter credits or 64 semester credits
• Waiver of all general requirements, with the following exceptions:
  • A choice of one of the following: Core 150, Western Civilization I: Christian Worldview Perspectives; Core 250, Western Civilization II: The Rationalist Worldview; or Core 350: Applied Ethics, Public Policy and Worldviews
  • Biblical Literature: Three semester credits in the Old Testament, New Testament, or one or more books of the Bible
  • World Language: Eight semester credits, 15 quarter credits, or a full year of college credit in foreign language (including American Sign Language)

In order for a transfer student to meet the general education requirements, s/he must earn an approved associate degree prior to initial enrollment at Whitworth. Students transferring from other institutions or states not mentioned above holding A.A. or A.S. degrees will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis.

Transfer students are encouraged to contact the registrar’s office to determine the applicability of their coursework to specific bachelor’s degrees. General information can be given over the telephone (toll-free at 800.533.4668). To obtain a complete transcript evaluation, send the request with an official copy of college transcripts to Registrar’s Office, Whitworth University, 300 W. Hawthorne Road, Spokane, WA 99251.

Alternative Course Credit

A maximum of 32 alternative semester credits (48 quarter credits) may be counted toward graduation. Alternative credit includes Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) degree courses, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit, and DANTES credit, based on completion of advanced work, portfolios, and credit for military service and schools. Alternative course credit is calculated as part of the transfer-credit limit of 94. Contact the registrar’s office for further information.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Whitworth is an active participant in the College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement program. A score of four or above on an AP test is accepted for credit in some disciplines at Whitworth. In many cases, this score will also satisfy a general graduation requirement and/or a requirement for an academic major. Refer to Whitworth’s website for details.

Notes:

Students cannot receive AP credit if they're taking the equivalent course at Whitworth

1. Maximum credit given is 32 semester credits
2. If a department name is listed, general department credit is give, if not, general elective credit (non departmental) credit is given. A course number indicates a specific course at Whitworth that has received credit.
3. If a score of 5 is earned in Biology, the student would receive credit for either BI 140 OR BI 141
4. In Chemistry, documentation of lab experience is required for the fourth credit. In Music, ear training is required.
5. Both the Computer Science A and AB exams are in the Java Language. While fairly straight forward at that accomplished level, the student must learn C++ for further classes.
6. Student must petition the Physics department for PS 151; default course equivalency is PS 121. Students can petition for lab credit.
7. Students can petition departments for lab credit.

Nursing students cannot count AP test toward any courses for a nursing major.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Whitworth recognizes the international baccalaureate diploma and subject examinations; the university awards credit on a course-by-course basis for only high-level courses passed with a score of five or higher. Refer to Whitworth’s website for details.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Whitworth grants academic credit for sufficiently high scores on CLEP general exams and selected CLEP subject examinations. These cutoff scores are listed in the College Entrance Examination Board publication College Placement and Credit by Examination, which is available at most high schools and colleges. Information regarding taking CLEP exams may be obtained on our website or by contacting the Whitworth Continuing Studies Office at 509.777.3222. Credit for general CLEP exams will be awarded only if the exam is taken within one year of matriculation. Credit for CLEP subject exams will be awarded only if the exam is taken before higher-level coursework in the same discipline is completed. Students must complete an application to take a CLEP exam and have it approved by the registrar’s office prior to taking the exam.

General Exams

(will only be accepted for credit during the first year of matriculation)

Subject Exams

DANTES Exam (DSST)

Whitworth awards academic credit for DANTES exams. Students must complete an application to take a DANTES exam and have it approved by the registrar’s office prior to taking the exam. The exam must be completed before students complete higher-level coursework in the same discipline. In order for any credit to be awarded, the minimum score must be obtained. Contact the registrar's office for questions regarding DANTES exams.

Transcripts and Diplomas

Transcript Requests

Transcript requests may be made in person, online on the registrar's office website (www.whitworth.edu/Administration/RegistrarsOffice/Forms) or by mailing or faxing us the Transcript Request Form located on the registrar’s office website (www.whitworth.edu/transcript). The availablity to request a transcript online can also be accessed through PiratePort. Transcript requests cannot be handled by phone. Transcripts may be purchased with a VISA or MasterCard (include card number and expiration date), a check made payable to Whitworth University, or cash. Official transcripts are $5 each for the first five in an order and $3 for each additional transcript. If ordering online there is an additional $3 per transcript fee. Transcript requests can be sent by priority or overnight mail for an additional fee. Please allow at least one week of processing time during the term and two weeks at the beginning or end of a term (September, December, February and May). Rush orders must be paid by cash or credit card to avoid a four-day check-clearance delay. The fax number for the registrar’s office is 509.777.3296. The mailing address is Registrar’s Office, Whitworth University, 300 W. Hawthorne Road, Spokane, WA 99251.

Diploma Reorder

Replacement diplomas are available through the registrar’s office for a $20 fee.  The replacement will be issued in the current format and with current signatures. 

If the student's name has been legally changed, a new diploma may be issued upon written request with legal proof of the name change, and payment of the fee.