Academic Policies (CAGS)

Click on any link for more information

•      Catalog as Guide and Agreement
•      Student Success: Academic Advising and Student Services
•      Transfer Credit Categories 
•      Grading System
•      Academic Information
•      Academic Standing
•      Registration 
•      Residency Requirements 
•      Dual Use of Courses
•      Double Majors 
•      Minors
•      Non-Degree Seeking Students
•      Graduation and Commencement 
•      Graduate Students
•      Cancellation of Courses
•      Emergency Cancellation

The catalog provides students with the best information available concerning the University and its programs at the time of publication. While every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, the University reserves the right to change the catalog without notice. This includes all content, statements of policy, academic offerings, standards of conduct, charges for tuition, fees, and room and board. Since the University continually modifies and improves the curriculum to meet the needs of students, the catalog serves as a guide and agreement between the student and Colorado Christian University. Students who are admitted to Colorado Christian University agree to abide by the University policies and codes of conduct.

A student who enrolls in the University will be allowed to graduate under the policies in the catalog published at the time of admission, as long as the student has maintained continuous enrollment. A student who has not been enrolled for 366 days must apply for readmission and complete a degree program under the regulations published in the catalog that is in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

Students who change their major will complete the degree program under the catalog in effect at the time they change their major. To change majors and catalog years, students must be currently enrolled.

Student Success: Academic Advising and Student Services

Academic Advising
All students are assigned a student service advisor (SSA) to provide guidance through the College of Adult and Graduate Studies (CAGS), whether beginning or completing their degree. Student service advisors assist students with navigating online resources, degree planning, schedule recommendations, and understanding University policies and procedures. While advisors are valuable resources, responsibility for selecting courses and maintaining normal progress toward graduation ultimately rests with each student.

Student Resources on Blackboard
The Student Success team provides online resources and encouragement along the path to your degree and achieving your goals. On the Student Resources tab of Blackboard you will find information supporting all aspects of this journey; your life, education, trials, and triumphs. CAGS Student Orientation, Everything About Blackboard, CAGS Writing Guide, Student Toolbox, Student Service Advisors, Prior Learning Credit, and Alpha Sigma Lambda are available to you through Blackboard at all times. We encourage you to take advantage of the vast learning resources available here.

Career Development
CCU’s Career Development site provides professional development tips and career advancement ideas to keep students and alumni aware of current trends in the employment arena. Visit the CCU Career Development website.

Students and alumni interested in gaining assistance or utilizing the Employment Management Services (EMS) for job searching, networking, interviewing, and more, are invited to visit the EMS webpage, www.newworkforce.net.

Student Orientation
It is highly recommended to all students enrolled in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies to complete the online CAGS Student Orientation, located on Blackboard’s Student Resources tab, prior to beginning their first class. The student orientation is always accessible and students are encouraged to refer back to the orientation as they proceed through their classes.

Traditional Transfer Credit

Traditional credit is earned through a post-secondary accredited institution, college, university, or school. For credits to be accepted for transfer for undergraduate students, a course must be assigned a grade of C- or better (C or better for nursing), must be transferred from a regionally or nationally accredited body such as the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges, and must be a relevant or equivalent course required for the student’s program of study. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that official transcripts have been received by Colorado Christian University as decisions about transfer credits are based on official transcripts only. All transcripts evaluated for credit must be official copies; photocopies are not accepted.

Potential transfer credit is reviewed to determine its equivalency to CCU coursework. Courses which are predominantly identical in content and intent may be defined as equivalent to CCU courses and applied to the student’s record. Courses that are not considered equivalent to CCU coursework may be transferred as elective credit and applied toward the student’s elective degree requirements. Students transferring credit must fulfill the CCU residency requirements as stated in this Academic Catalog.

CCU transfers credits but not grades or grade point averages (GPA). For the undergraduate biblical studies, business and technology majors, transfer courses must have letter grades of A through C-, Pass (P) or Satisfactory (S). The P or S must be equivalent to a C- or above. For nursing and education majors, transfer grades must be a C or better. Graduate level courses must have earned a grade of A or B.

Computer science credits transferred to meet the general education and major core requirements must have been completed within 5 years of acceptance for admission to CCU.  Students transferring credit must fulfill the CCU residency requirements as stated in this Academic Catalog.

A student may transfer in a maximum of seven credit hours of physical education (PE) towards a bachelor’s degree.

Transfer courses must be freshman level or above; 100 or above in the course numbering system. Remedial or developmental courses (below 100) are not transferable. Certain CCU degree programs, such as nursing and education, will have specific transfer equivalency requirements. Students may not receive duplicate credit through college coursework, CLEP/DSST exams, or prior learning credit earned at CCU or transferred from another institution.

CCU may partner with other institutions to articulate a seamless process for the transfer of credits, allowing students to complete their degree at CCU. These agreements may be between community colleges, four-year institutions, technical institutions, unaccredited schools, etc. Credit from unaccredited institutions is only transferable if a current articulation agreement is in place.

Nontraditional Transfer Credit

Nontraditional credit is earned outside of the formal institutional learning environment. Credit received is treated as transfer credit and does not count toward CCU residency requirements. Colorado Christian University and the College of Adult and Graduate Studies offers opportunities for students to reduce the time and cost of their degree by proving learning in a specific discipline.

Many Prior Learning Credit (PLC) assessments which are acceptable in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies are listed here. This list is not exhaustive; please see your Student Service Advisor for more information or to review/create a degree plan. Additional information regarding PLC is available on Blackboard’s Student Resources.

• Advanced Placement Examinations (AP): A high school graduate who has taken Advanced Placement Examinations conducted by the College Entrance Examination Board and passed with a score of 3, 4, or 5 may receive University credit.

• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DSST exams: CCU will grant credit for students whose test scores are at or above established levels. Information about specific CLEP and DSST testing equivalents and scores as well as testing policies and procedures may be obtained from Service Central, a student service advisor, or on Blackboard’s Student Resources.

• Military Experience and the American Council on Education (ACE): Active duty personnel and veterans may receive undergraduate credit for basic training and other educational learning experience gained while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Military active duty, guard, reserve, and veterans must request an official Joint Services Transcript (JST), Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript, or other documentation of their experience to be sent to CCU to receive credit.

• Technical Credit: College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT) at the American Council on Education (ACE) evaluate workplace and non-traditional learning with colleges and employers by helping adults gain access to academic credit for training courses and certifications taken outside traditional degree programs. Technical credit is defined as vocational and occupational. Examples of technical credit are electronics, cosmetology, dental assisting, auto body repair, ammunition, welding, and paraprofessional health care. A student may transfer in a maximum of 30 hours of technical credit towards a bachelor’s degree. Nursing students are not eligible to transfer any technical credit.

• Credit by Portfolio: Credit is awarded on the basis of careful evaluation of the extent of the student’s learning experience. Students can earn up to 34 semester hours of portfolio documented learning experience. CCU is guided by standards delineated by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and ACE.

University Grade Scale and Chart of Percentages with Honor Points (Letter)

 Nursing Grade Scale and Chart of Percentages 

For students enrolled in the nursing program, the Nursing Division grade scale replaces the University grade scale.

Grading System with No Honor Points (Letter)

Audit (AU)
Students auditing a course do not earn college credit for that course; however, audited courses do appear on their official transcripts. Students may audit adult undergraduate or graduate courses that do not have prerequisites. Students auditing a course are expected to purchase textbooks and materials, meet attendance requirements, and actively participate in course activities, but are exempt from submitting graded written assignments or exams. Auditing students who are participating in an online course are required to participate in the threaded discussion portion of course assignments. By arrangement with the student service advisor or Service Central, students may change from audit to credit, or credit to audit prior to the drop deadline for the course.

Incomplete (I)
Incomplete course grades are recorded as an (I) on a student’s Evaluation until the completed grade is posted. Failure on the part of the student to complete the required coursework in the allotted time will result in an automatic failure of the incomplete coursework, which may result in a failure of the course.

Course In Progress (CIP)
A final grade has not yet been posted. In the case of an extension, course grades are posted at the end of the extension, reflecting the work completed.

No Credit (NC)
Students who are auditing courses will receive a grade of NC for completing the course. No college credit is earned for grades of NC.

Pass (P) and Fail (F)
Certain courses are designated Pass/Fail. A “P” represents a grade of C or better, and awards credit but does not impact the student’s GPA. An “F” represents a grade of C- or lower, and does not award credit but does impact the student’s GPA.

Course Withdrawal (W)
After the drop deadline, but before the final week of a course, a student may officially request a course withdrawal. No refunds are given on course withdrawals and students must contact Service Central to determine the impact a course withdrawal has on their financial aid awards and/or VA benefits. No credit or quality points are assigned with a W. A student who was earning an F in a course, and withdraws from the course through proper procedure will not receive an F on their transcript; they will receive a W, which will not impact their GPA. The Course Withdrawal Form, must be submitted to the Student Service Advisor prior to the Monday of the final week of a course in order to be processed.

Withdrawal Failing (WF)
A WF is an unauthorized withdrawal and will be assigned to a student who has not participated in a course for fourteen consecutive days.Students who participate up to the last week of the class will not receive a WF; they will receive the letter grade they have earned for the course.

No Record (NR)
NR is assigned when no grade is submitted for a student. A grade of NR does not factor into the student’s cumulative GPA.

Continuing Education Courses
Continuing Education (CE) courses carry no academic credit and are non-graded. CE courses and for-credit courses are displayed on separate transcripts.

Course Repeat Privileges
Students may repeat any course in which a grade of B or lower was earned. When the course is repeated, both courses and their grades are shown on the transcript, but only the last grade received will be used in calculating the cumulative GPA. If the same grade is earned twice, only one grade will be used to calculate the GPA. Full tuition is charged for the repeated course. For information on financial aid eligibility for repeated courses, see the “Financial Aid Eligibility-Repeated Courses” section of the Financial Aid Handbook.

Exception: Education students are required to complete ECE/EDU/SED 414A Field II in proximity to ECE/EDU/SED 470A Student Teaching. For education students who are suspended or take a leave of absence, Field II may need to be repeated, regardless of the grade received, if it has been 5 or more semesters since Field II was completed. Students returning to complete a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (MACI) may also need to repeat coursework earned prior to 2010. Please see the MACI   program page for more information.

Cohorts

A cohort is defined as a group of students progressing together through their degree, certificate, or program, in sequential order to completion. Certain requirements must be met for a cohort to begin. Graduate students begin their cohort sequence immediately.

For further information regarding cohorts and FAQs visit the cohort section of the CAGS Student Orientation on Blackboard’s Student Resources tab.

Attendance

Attendance and promptness is essential for student learning; for personal and small-group relationships; and for the accomplishment of learning outcomes.  Additionally, attendance is essential to comply with government regulations for Federal Financial Aid, Veterans Administration (VA) benefits, accreditation standards, and other scholarships.

Attendance is defined as the physical presence in an in-seat class session or evidence of active participation in an online class session. For attendance procedures, please review the CAGS Student Handbook.

Block Starts
Start dates for all courses are defined as the beginning of the block, not the date of the first class. Check WebAdvisor or Student Planning for class meet dates and more details.

Leave of Absence
Students who find it necessary to take a temporary leave of absence from the University should complete the Leave of Absence Form. A leave of absence may be taken for up to three consecutive semesters. The form should be completed during the current active semester and prior to beginning the leave of absence. The leave of absence puts the student’s registration status on hold, allowing the University to schedule the reactivation of their account without the necessity of additional paperwork or procedures beyond completion of the form. After the leave of absence time period has expired, the readmission time line begins. The student has 366 days to enroll in a course at CCU without readmitting. Students who return within 366 days after the end of the Leave of Absence term may be allowed to stay on their existing catalog year.

Course Extension
Official start and end dates for each course are available in WebAdvisor or Student Planning. When a student encounters an extenuating circumstance during a course (Extenuating circumstances include death in the immediate family, extended hospitalization, extended hospitalization of a family member, unforeseen work-related relocation, or military deployment) and becomes unable to complete the course in the given time, a request for an extension can made using the Course Extension Form located on Blackboard’s Student Resources tab. See the CAGS Student Handbook for more information.

Academic Appeals Policy
Academic appeals provide a timely and equitable resolution of problems or complaints of an academic nature when reasonable and/or direct discussion between the parties have failed to do so. Please see the CAGS Student Handbook for details concerning the process of the Academic Appeals procedure.

University Withdrawal
Students withdrawing from the College of Adult and Graduate Studies should complete the University Withdrawal Form and ensure financial clearance with Service Central. A University withdrawal does not drop or withdraw a student from his or her individual courses. Additional required Course Add/Drop Forms must be filed separately.

Directed and Independent Study
Directed or Independent Studies may be available, with approval, upon student request or institutional need. Either the Independent Study or Directed Study form must be completed before the course is added to the student’s schedule and must be concluded within the normal block time frame.

An Independent Study is intended to provide the student with an opportunity to investigate an area of academic interest not available through the regular curriculum. The investigation may include a planned program of readings or may involve research in some aspect of science. Independent Studies are available to students whose cumulative GPA meets their program GPA requirements and must be approved by an instructor and the academic dean under whose department the course is offered.

A Directed Study is a regular course offered based on institutional need or to assist a student in maintaining adequate progress toward completion of their degree. Directed Studies are available to students whose cumulative GPA meets their program GPA requirements. Students must complete all objectives, readings, and assignments of the established course. Directed Studies are not available for students who do not remain with their initial cohort.

Internships, Student Teaching, Field Experience, Practicum, Theses
Internships, student teaching, field experience, practicum, and theses are used to fulfill specific requirements of degree programs. Field experience and student teaching generally do not extend beyond a regular semester. A thesis or internship may extend beyond a regular semester provided a formal course extension has been approved. Internships are graded Pass/Fail (except for required Internships in the Master of Arts in Counseling program), and are available to students with the approval of the academic dean. A field experience, student teaching, practicum, or thesis is graded on the standard A-F grading scale. Requirements for these courses are outlined in the course syllabus and students are supervised by University faculty.

CAGS has established standards for academic standing. Course completion and grade point average (GPA) standards identify progress toward a specific degree program. In order to earn an academic standing status, students must complete a minimum of 6 total credits.

GPAs for matriculating CCU students

Regular
A student who has earned six or more total credit hours and maintained minimum program GPA requirements will be in regular standing.

Probation & Continued Probation
In the event that a student’s GPA falls below the above stated regular standards, they will receive a probationary status. Students are ultimately responsible for their own success or failure during academic probation.

• Undergraduate students on academic probation are limited to a maximum of nine (9) non-concurrent semester credits while graduate students are limited to a maximum of six (6) non-concurrent semester credits.
• Students on probation are not eligible to register for classes until they have consulted with their student service advisor and completed the Academic Performance Assessment form.
• Financial Aid may be affected by a probationary status. Contact Service Central/VA for individual advice.
• In the event a probationary student’s grades do not meet the stated requirements to return to regular standing, they are notified of progressive action via the Academic Standing Change Request form, to include continued probation or suspension.
• Students may be placed on continued probation if their term GPA meets or is above the program requirement but their cumulative GPA is still below the requirement.

Suspension

• Any student not meeting the cumulative and term GPA requirements at the end of a semester on probation is suspended.
• Any student not meeting the cumulative GPA requirements at the end of a semester on continued probation is suspended.
• Financial Aid and Veterans benefits may be affected by a suspension status. Contact Service Central/VA for individual advice.

Suspension Appeal

• A suspended student (with the exception of students in the nursing programs) has the right to appeal in writing to the CAGS dean of student services within one week following the suspension. Please see the CAGS Student Handbook for more detail on this procedure.
•  If the student’s appeal is received prior to the one week deadline, as stated in the handbook, it will be reviewed by the CAGS dean of student services and he/she may: 

1. Approve the appeal.
2. Deny the appeal.

• If the student’s appeal is not received within the week deadline, the student will remain suspended for one calendar year (365 days) with no right to appeal.
• A student who is reinstated from suspension will remain on a suspension contract for one semester and will be reviewed at the end of that semester. Students who withdraw from the University while on suspension contract nullify their contracts and will be placed back on suspension.
• Students are limited to two suspension appeals during their academic career at CCU.

Readmission
Students who have not completed a course at CCU for more than 365 days (from the end of the last class of enrollment) must reapply for admission.  See the Admission Information: Readmission section  for details.

Readmission after Suspension
Any student who applies to Colorado Christian University after an academic standing period of suspension has concluded, is required to submit a Suspension Appeal Form to the CAGS dean of student services before being considered for readmission to the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. If approved for readmission in CAGS by the dean of student services, the student may be considered for the program for which they are requesting according to the guidelines established by the division’s dean to which this program is assigned. Readmission to the original program is not guaranteed and will be based on the program admission requirements established at the time that the student seeks readmission to the program. Readmission after academic suspension does not guarantee financial aid eligibility. Students must confirm financial aid eligibility or verified payment arrangements before registration is permitted.

Conditionally Admitted Students
Students admitted on a Conditional Admit (CAD) Agreement are required to meet specific performance standards, as stated on the CAD Agreement Form, their first term at CCU. Failure to meet the CAD Agreement standards may result in suspension following the student’s first term. See the CAD Agreement for specific requirements.

Prerequisites
Prerequisites are intended to prepare students for successful completion of advanced courses. Failure to complete a prerequisite will prevent a student from continuing in a predetermined sequence.

College of Undergraduate Studies
Students enrolled in CAGS programs may be approved to take no more than six credits from the College of Undergraduate Studies during their time at CCU.

Classification of Students
Students are classified according to their objective, level, progress, and load.

Objective: A regular student is working toward a degree or certification and must meet all standard requirements for admission. A non-degree seeking student is not working toward a degree or certification; please see section below.

Level: Students working toward an associate or bachelor’s degree are classified as undergraduate level students. Students working toward a master’s degree are classified as graduate level students. Students seeking certificates or professional licensure may be classified as either undergraduate or graduate level students.

Progress: Student progress is reflected in the number of semester hours completed.

Load: Course load varies depending on program of study and personal choice.  

Course Load Limits:

Undergraduate

1. New CAGS undergraduate students admitted in good standing may enroll in no more than 15 semester credits their first semester at CCU.
2. Continuing undergraduate students may not exceed 18 semester credits without override approval from the dean of their respective program.
3. Students may not exceed nine credit hours concurrently in any block.
4. CAGS academic standing policy imposes a maximum of nine semester credits for students on probation. Courses cannot be taken concurrently. 

Graduate

1. Graduate students in good standing may not exceed 12 semester credits in any given semester without override approval from the dean of their respective program.
2. Students may not exceed 6 credit hours concurrently in any block.
3. CAGS academic standing policy imposes a maximum of six semester credits for students on probation. Courses cannot be taken concurrently. 

Adding Courses
Students may add/register for a course, up to the first meeting session of that course, according to WebAdvisor or Student Planning. Regardless of registration date, students must be prepared to complete course requirements as presented in the course shell. Failure to obtain course materials, such as textbooks, or to complete assignments does not qualify for a due date or course extension.

Students who are not registered for a course will not be permitted to attend classes or participate in academic coursework.

Dropping Courses
Courses may be dropped/unenrolled using WebAdvisor or Student Planning. Online requests are processed in real-time and students are responsible for confirming that their request has been accepted.

The drop deadline for any undergraduate or graduate course is seven days after the block start.  For semester long courses, the drop deadline is 21 days after the start of the block.  Courses must be dropped before the drop deadline in order to receive a full reversal of tuition and fees.  Students are financially and academically responsible for any course(s) not dropped by the drop deadline. Reference the Course Withdrawal policy for withdrawing from a course after the drop deadline has past.

To earn a Colorado Christian University degree, the following must be earned through CCU:

1. Certificate and Endorsement
    75% of the program requirements.

2. Associate of Arts/Science Degree 
    25% of the program requirements.
    50% of any major credit requirements.

3. Bachelor Degrees 
    25% of the program requirements.

Within a major
At least 50% of the course requirements in the major field.
At least 50% of major coursework must be upper division (300-400 level).

Within a minor
At least 80% of the course requirements in the minor field.

4. Post-Baccalaureate Licensure Programs 
     A minimum of 30 semester credits.

5. Graduate Degrees
     MABS: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 9 transfer credits allowed).
     MAC: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 12 transfer credits allowed).
     MACI: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 6 transfer credits allowed).
     MATS: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 9 transfer credits allowed).
     MBA: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 9 transfer credits allowed).
     MEd in Educational Leadership: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 6 transfer credits allowed).
     MEd in Special Education: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 8-12 transfer credits allowed).
     MOL: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 6 transfer credits allowed).
     MPA: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 6 transfer credits allowed).
     MSCJ: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 6 transfer credits allowed).
     MSN: A minimum of 30 semester credits (maximum of 9 transfer credits allowed).

Advanced Placement (AP), Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI), Prior Learning Credit (PLC), and CLEP/DSST credits earned are considered transfer credit, and therefore do not apply towards CCU’s residency requirements.

Students are not required to be enrolled in order to graduate, but must submit final transfer credit to fulfill degree requirements within one year of their enrollment at CCU.  

Within certain CAGS degrees, some courses may serve dual purposes within the general education required core and the major core requirements. However, in order to not compromise the integrity of our programs, this option is limited to 15 credit hours total. Examples of courses that can be used in both the general education section and the foundation/major areas are: HUM 425A, BUS 101A, MKT 202A, ECO 215A, and select psychology courses. If a student elects to utilize these courses in both areas, they must ensure that they have completed sufficient electives to maintain the full 120 credits for degree completion. Examples where this option does not work: major/core courses from the Organizational Management: Christian Leadership degree cannot be used to fulfill Biblical Study requirements, nor can major/core courses from the Informational Systems Management or Computer Information Technology degree be used to fulfill the computer science general education requirement. 

Undergraduate education students may complete a maximum of six (6) credits of 500 level education courses in their major for a bachelor’s degree and use the same credits to fulfill requirements in the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Education graduate degree. EDU 500 level courses completed in an undergraduate education degree may be applied to the graduate degree if they have been completed within 5 years.

To earn a second major, the student must complete all course requirements of the major including any foundational courses. Within the second major, there must be a minimum of 24 non-duplicated credits. Students may utilize the courses of the second major to fulfill the elective requirements of the first major. If the double majors are the same degree (i.e. bachelor of arts or bachelor of science), a student receives one Bachelor degree with two separate disciplines. Majors completed in two different degrees (BA and BS) will be awarded both degrees.

Students can add a minor to any CAGS bachelor’s degree. When students declare a minor, they must complete the full 18 credits required by the minor and fulfill CCU’s residency requirement as stated above. In addition, students must complete any required prerequisites of the minor. None of the courses in the minor can be a duplicate of major course requirements. For psychology minors, students may not utilize those same courses towards general education requirements.

Non-degree seeking students are students who are not working toward a degree or certification, but who select courses to meet personal interests.  Non-degree seeking students are limited by the number of hours they can complete prior to admission as a degree seeking student. A maximum of twelve (12) CCU undergraduate credit hours earned prior to admission to an undergraduate degree program may be applied to a degree program. Graduate students may apply a maximum of nine (9) graduate credit hours earned prior to admission toward a graduate degree. Non-degree seeking students, other than certificate students, wanting to take graduate level courses must gain approval from the appropriate academic dean. Permission to enroll in graduate courses as a non-degree seeking student does not guarantee admission to a graduate degree program.

Graduation Requirements

1. Complete all course and credit requirements of the respective degree or licensure program.
2. Attain a minimum cumulative GPA for the respective degree or licensure program (above).
3. Meet minimum letter grade requirements for all CCU courses. Additional letter grade requirements for major core courses may apply.
4. Meet minimum score requirements for standardized exams as required by certain degree programs.
5. Additional degree requirements may apply. Please check degree program catalog page for complete list of degree requirements.
6. Meet the CCU residency requirement.
7. Submit a Graduation Application prior to registering for the semester in which the student plans to graduate.
8. Have no outstanding financial obligation to the University.
9. Procedure to receive transcripts and/or a letter of completion can be found in the student handbook or on line at www.ccu.edu/transcript.

Commencement Participation

The University holds commencement in May of each year. Students are expected to complete all requirements toward fulfillment of their degree prior to participating in commencement. Because there is only one commencement ceremony per year, CCU will make an exception to this policy provided an undergraduate or graduate student has no more than six credits of work outstanding or no more than student teaching remaining and is completing those credits in the upcoming summer or fall semester. 

Students are expected to have all financial obligations owed to the University paid in full prior to participating in commencement. Commencement participation is reserved for students who are earning an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree. Commencement participation is not extended to students who have earned a license, endorsement, or certificate without earning an accompanying degree. For more information, visit the Commencement Team Site on the My CCU portal. The site is updated and made available each spring.

Students who anticipate earning required credits by taking CLEP or DSST exams must complete these tests and have the test transcripts submitted prior to the end of the Fall semester in order to have the test results count toward fulfillment of their degree requirements and participate in commencement.

Latin Laude Honors
Because spring semester grades are due after the commencement ceremony, for the purposes of the May commencement ceremony all honors and awards will be based on the calculations of the previous Fall term records. Final honors and awards will be posted on students’ transcripts at the time they complete their degree requirements and will be based on the final cumulative grade point average.

Undergraduate students seeking a bachelor’s degree who have completed at least 60 semester hours of credit at Colorado Christian University may be eligible for Laude Honors. To participate in the Spring commencement with Laude Honors, students must achieve the following cumulative GPAs by the beginning of the Spring term:

• Cum Laude (with honor): 3.50 - 3.69
• Magna Cum Laude (with high honor): 3.70 - 3.89
• Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor): 3.90 - 4.00

University Honors: Undergraduate Honors
Undergraduate students seeking a bachelor’s degree who have completed fewer than 60 semester hours of credit at Colorado Christian University may be eligible for University Honors. To achieve University Honors at graduation, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better while attending CCU.

University Honors: Graduate Honors
Graduate students seeking their graduate degree who have completed 30 or more semester hours of credit at Colorado Christian University may be eligible for University Honors. To achieve University Honors (Graduate with High Distinction) at graduation, graduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or better while attending CCU.

Dean’s List
To encourage academic excellence and progress, undergraduate CAGS students who complete at least nine CCU credit hours in the semester, are recognized by placement on the Dean’s List for the corresponding semester if their GPA is 3.80 or better.

Alpha Sigma Lambda
To recognize undergraduate students who have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, servant leadership, and a promise for future community leadership, Colorado Christian University supports the Sigma Nu chapter of the Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL) National Honor Society. To qualify for consideration into ASL’s national chapter, these students must be matriculated in a degree-seeking bachelor’s program, have completed at least 24 credit hours at CCU out of a total of at least 90 successfully completed credit hours, and a minimum grade-point average of 3.20* on a 4.00 scale. Only the top ten percent of the students in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies program may receive this award. ASL membership is granted based on meeting all the criteria and not any one element alone.

*A 3.20 GPA is the minimum GPA requirement for induction eligibility by the ASL National Office. However, in recent years, the highest ten percent of students selected from CCU programs has caused a significant and impressive increase to the GPA requirement. For example 3.949 was recently the minimum GPA for inductees. This GPA requirement may vary from year to year.

Sigma Theta Tau

The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), is a global organization advancing world health and honoring nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership and service.  STTI membership is by invitation only and is extended to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship. Colorado Christian University is one of four institutions which comprise the Alpha Kappa Chapter at Large.

Chi Sigma Iota

Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) is an international honor society that values academic and professional excellence in counseling. CSI promotes a strong professional identity through its 100,000 members (professional counselors, counselor educators, and students) who contribute to the realization of a healthy society by fostering wellness and human dignity. Membership is by invitation only to those are recognized for their attainment of academic and clinical excellence in professional counseling.

Graduate-level courses are numbered 500 and 600. In some programs, up to nine (9) credit hours of courses at the 500-level are open to senior CAGS undergraduates who have a 2.50 (3.25 for the MACI degree) or better cumulative undergraduate grade-point average. If space in such a course is limited, preference will be given to students who are admitted to the graduate programs.

600-level courses are open only to students who have been admitted to a graduate program and to students who have met the prerequisites, if any, which are stated for each particular course. An undergraduate degree seeking student will not be eligible for financial aid to cover any graduate-level coursework, unless the graduate-level course is required in the student’s undergraduate degree program. Graduate-level tuition pricing is applicable.

Any credit available for transfer toward a graduate degree:

(1) must be from a regionally accredited institution
(2) must have earned a grade of A or B
(3) must meet program requirements at CCU

Students enrolled in a graduate program must maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average in the program. Students should become familiar with the CAGS academic standing policy for specifics related to satisfactory academic progress in the program.

Under-enrolled courses may be cancelled and need to be completed at another date, location or online. Notification to the student will be made by phone or e-mail. The responsibility for checking course schedules and maintaining progress toward graduation ultimately remains with the student.

Temporary and/or individual class cancellation due to inclement weather, power failure, or other emergencies will be publicized via local television or radio, e-mail, emergency RAVE text messages, phone, and/or the University’s website.