Withdrawal from the University

To withdraw from the University, the same rules apply as for withdrawal from a course. Students forced by illness or other hardship to withdraw from the University after the deadline may petition for a grade of “WP” from the Provost.

See the Financial Information section of the catalog for the Refund Policy. Students who drop out of college for more than eighteen months, not including summer school, must fulfill the requirements of the catalog in effect when they re-enter.

Accommodations for Students who have Disabilities

The Office for Accessibility at Limestone University is dedicated to opening doors of equal opportunity to individuals with disabilities. We assist students who self-identify with documented disabilities by determining their eligibility for services through an interactive, collaborative process between the student and Accessibility staff, and then working together to determine reasonable accommodations and services. Students who have a disability which may impact academic performance should register with the Accessibility Office prior to the beginning of each semester to ensure accommodations are in place when classes begin. Documentation should be sent directly to the Accessibility Office, Limestone University, 1115 College Drive, Gaffney, SC, 29340. For more information or to discuss documentation requirements, please contact Accessibility at (864) 488-8377 or limestone.edu/equity-and-inclusion/accessible-education-services. There is never a fee for accommodations.

Exam Proctor Information

Proctoring software and testing centers are used to ensure testing security and integrity. Below is information about proctoring for Day Students and Online Program students.

DAY STUDENT PROCTOR INFORMATION

In general, Day students who may need to have tests proctored are to be tested by the Limestone University Testing Center staff. Arrangements for such tests are made directly by the course professor with Testing Center staff. However, on occasion, due to extenuating circumstances, such as a disability, tests may be proctored by an approved, properly qualified individual other than the professor or the Testing Center staff. Approval may be sought from the office of accessibility and/or academic affairs.

ONLINE STUDENT PROCTOR INFORMATION

For Online courses, remote proctoring software is used to monitor students while taking an exam. This program requires the use of a webcam and microphone (internal or external).  The software will record audio and video during the exam, so students should make sure to follow the guidelines set by their instructors while testing. Students should select a quiet, private space for testing. When accessibility issues or extenuating circumstances arise, the student may work through the office of accessibility and/or academic affairs for a different proctoring solution.

Attendance Policy

Day/Hybrid Classes

Students are expected to attend all classes.  For unexcused absences, the student’s grade may be penalized as specified in the course syllabus. A student will only be excused from class to fulfill military duty, for verified health reasons, for university-sanctioned events, and/or for death of an immediate family member or close friend as defined below. Course instructors will determine what constitutes a reasonable time to make up the assignments, tests, or examinations missed. If a student is going to miss a graded assignment, they must make arrangements with the professor prior to missing class and/or assignment.

Online Campus

Students are expected to communicate with the professor frequently. In the

Online Program, students are required to participate in Canvas at least once a week; the mode of contact is determined by the instructor.

  • Modes of contact for online classes include but are not limited to email, online submission of an assignment, online discussion, or virtual face-to-face discussion.
  • If after two consecutive weeks a student fails to have any activity in a course, the student may be assigned a grade of “F” at the end of the course.

Categories of Excused Absences: [Note: Student documentation for excused absences must be submitted to the Office of the Provost for verification and validation.]  

  1. Military Duties.

Limestone University will excuse military students from attending classes or engaging in other mandatory activities, including tests or examinations, in order for students to fulfill their military obligations. This applies to any student required to attend or participate in military service, duty, training, or disaster relief efforts, and applies without distinction to a student's status as a member of the active component, reserve component, or National Guard.

  • Course instructors will determine what constitutes a reasonable time to make up the assignments, tests, or examinations missed by reason of military service on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the individual student's military obligations and academic responsibilities.
  1. Health Reasons.

A written statement is required from a qualified health professional, on their letterhead, dated and signed. Confidential medical information should not be included. The statement should state the health professional’s recommendation for absence from class, with a beginning date and anticipated end date. This may be coordinated with the Limestone Health Center or directly with the Office of the Provost.

  • If accommodations cannot be made, and there is a sufficient reason for a student to withdraw for a semester for health reasons, they may consider doing so in keeping with the Withdrawal – Medical/Emergency Policy in the Student Handbook.
  1. University Sanctioned Events.

The Office of the Provost and faculty are notified of expected absences for student participation. This may be coordinated directly with the Office of the Provost.

  • Excused absences do not alleviate the student from completing and submitting work within defined timelines established by the instructor.
  • If accommodations cannot be made, and there is a sufficient reason for a student to withdraw for a semester, they may consider doing so in keeping with the Withdrawal – Medical/Emergency Policy in the Student Handbook.
  1. Death of an Immediate Family Member or Close Friend.

Please visit the Student Bereavement Policy in the university catalog. Documentation may be requested. This may be coordinated directly with the Office of the Provost.

  • If accommodations cannot be made, and there is a sufficient reason for a student to withdraw for a semester, they may consider doing so in keeping with the Withdrawal – Medical/Emergency Policy in the Student Handbook.

Unexcused Absences.

Unexcused absences include but are not limited to the following:

  • Late arrival to campus at the beginning of a semester, or early departure from campus before exams are completed.
    • All dates are clearly stated on the website and transportation arrangements should be made accordingly.

Academic Conduct Policy

1. Statements of Beliefs

Honesty in personal and academic matters is a cornerstone of life at Limestone University. Students are expected to achieve on their own merits and abilities, to exercise integrity in all their affairs, and to refrain absolutely from lying, cheating, and stealing.

2. Responsibility

The responsibility for maintaining honesty in academic life is shared by students, faculty members, and University administrator

A. Student responsibilities:

  • Students are responsible for conducting their own academic affairs in an honest manner.
  • Students are responsible for the behavior of fellow students to the following extent:
    • A student who is aware of dishonest behavior on the part of a fellow student(s) in an academic setting should make a report of academic misconduct;

B. Faculty responsibilities:

  • Faculty members have a responsibility to communicate to students both their own beliefs, policies, and procedures relating to academic misconduct and those of the University. This communication must be presented to students in writing and included in a course syllabus.
  • Faculty members have a responsibility to be aware of the potential for academic misconduct, to take reasonable precautions to discourage it, and to respond promptly and consistently to reports and accusations of academic misconduct when they occur.
  • a. Any third party—faculty, staff, or student—who is aware of dishonest behavior on the part of a student(s) in an academic setting should make a report of academic misconduct;
    • a third party who makes a report of academic misconduct is not obligated to be involved in the matter in any way after making the report. The identity of the party making a report of academic misconduct shall be protected;
    • a report of academic misconduct by a third party may be made in conversation or in writing, to the faculty member responsible for the class;
      • The intent of the report of academic misconduct is to alert the faculty member that academic misconduct may have occurred.
      • The faculty member shall investigate a student report of academic misconduct and, if he/she finds evidence of academic misconduct, charge the student(s) as appropriate, and report the case to the University Ombudsman for further review.
  • A faculty member has a responsibility to report cases deemed egregious enough to warrant a report of academic misconduct to the University Ombudsman for review.
    • Prior to reporting to the Academic Ombudsman, the faculty member is responsible for investigating the allegation of misconduct, advising the student of the allegation, and conveying the intended consequence for their actions (assuming the consequence rests with the faculty member in keeping with this policy).
    • A faculty member is solely responsible for their decision to charge a student with an act of academic misconduct and should not defer to the University Ombudsman or any other university official in lieu of confronting the student themselves.

C. Administration Responsibilities:

  • University administrators have a responsibility to respond to reports, accusations, and appeals of academic misconduct consistently and promptly.
  • University administrators have a responsibility to uphold the policies and procedures of the University with regard to academic misconduct.
  • The responsibility of the University Administration shall be vested in the role of the University Ombudsman.
    • The University Ombudsman serves to ensure a balance of academic integrity with necessary corrective and learning opportunities in matters of academic misconduct.
    • The University Ombudsman acts on behalf of the institution and is neither an advocate for the faculty brining forth an accusation, nor the accused student.

3. Defining academic misconduct

Academic misconduct may include but is not limited to the following:

  • plagiarism, or the failure to properly credit the work of another person, thereby allowing others to assume that the work is original;
  • copying another student’s work;
  • collaborating by allowing another student to copy work which has been created by the collaborating student himself/herself;
  • purchasing a paper from services or from other students and submitting it as one’s own work;
  • submitting work as the student’s own which has been created, in part or wholly, by another individual;
  • submitting work as the student’s own which has been created, in part or wholly, through use of any online or technology-based service such as, but not limited to an artificial intelligence (AI);
  • doing work for someone else and submitting the work under a name other than your own;
  • submitting the same paper for multiple classes without the approval from each instructor;
  • cheating in any other manner, such as but not limited to,
    • copying from the paper of another student;
    • allowing other students to copy from work that is not their own or aiding them in doing so;
    • referring to any materials that the instructor has not specially authorized for use during a test or assignment;
    • inappropriately obtaining the contents of an examination.

4. Procedures for accusations of academic misconduct

  • An accusation of academic misconduct may be made by a faculty member based on his/her own observation and evidence or the report of a student, other faculty, or staff member. An accusation identifies a specific student(s) by name and accuses the student(s) of a specific act(s) of misconduct.
  • If the faculty member finds sufficient evidence of guilt, an accusation of misconduct must be reported by that faculty member to the student and the University Ombudsman within 7 calendar days of the detection of the alleged incident of misconduct.
  • An accusation of academic misconduct must be addressed by the University Ombudsman, in consultation with the faculty member, within 7 calendar days of the receipt of the accusation.
  • If a faculty or staff member receives a report of academic misconduct, he/she shall inform the faculty member teaching the course in which the offense occurred of the report. If the teaching faculty member finds sufficient evidence of guilt, an accusation of misconduct must be made to the student and then the University Ombudsman within 7 calendar days of their confirmation of the alleged incident of misconduct.
  • In all accusations of academic misconduct, the faculty member bringing forth the accusation is encouraged to discuss the incident with their Department Chair before accusing the student and reporting the matter to the Academic Ombudsman.
  • In the matter of any reported incident of academic misconduct, the University Ombudsman will communicate all findings and processes of the accusation to the student by letter delivered to their address of record and via University email; as well as to the faculty member, the student’s advisor, the University Registrar, the Provost, and the Limestone University Director of Community Values office by letter sent via University email.
    • The University Ombudsman will first notify the student by the same means of communication noted above of their concurrence or otherwise of the accusation as well as any manner of appeals relative to their offense.
    • Once the appeals timeline has expired or an appeal has been fully adjudicated, the University Ombudsman will notify all parties through the means of communication noted above of the final decision and the imposed penalty. In addition to the findings and relative penalties, this letter will also advise the student of the ramifications of future acts of academic misconduct.
    • Except in keeping with expungements noted in in section 5 below, all letters and records shall remain a part of the student’s permanent academic record unless directed otherwise by the Provost.
    • Any details of this policy or its delineated protocols omitted—intentionally or otherwise—from letters or emails disseminated in keeping with this policy, and not resulting in contradiction of this policy, shall not constitute grounds for abandonment of this policy. This policy is the ultimate authority to its relative processes and all parties are obligated to make themselves familiar with the related obligations regardless of verbiage contained in the letters or emails required by this policy.

5. Penalties for academic misconduct

Penalties for academic misconduct shall be at the discretion of the faculty member bringing forth the accusation for the first offense known to the University but in keeping with the guidance of this policy.

Subsequent offenses shall result in increased penalties only as outlined in this policy

  • Undergraduate Students
    • If the incident is a first offense and is reported to the University Ombudsman, the faculty member will still impose their own penalty. Appropriate penalties might include but are not limited to
      1. a failing grade on the test, activity, or assignment,
      2. a failing grade for the course,
      3. a requirement that the test, activity, or assignment be retaken or resubmitted.
      4. and/or participation in learning modules assigned by the University Ombudsman in lieu of any formal penalty.
    • In the case of the first incident of plagiarism the University Ombudsman will assign an improvement plan that includes participation in learning modules, course work, or other necessary opportunities to ensure the student is aware of what constitutes appropriate academic conduct.
      1. In collaboration with the reporting faculty member, the University Ombudsman may opt to place the offending student in a probationary status allowing any permanent record of the offense to be removed from the student’s permanent record upon fulfilling the terms of the faculty member’s designated penalty and completion of learning modules assigned by the University Ombudsman.
      2. Should the University Ombudsman employ the use of the aforementioned probationary status, this penalty may only be used once in a student’s academic career.
    • If a student is guilty of a second offense of academic misconduct, the University Ombudsman will impose the penalty of a non-replaceable F for the course in which the violation occurred.
    • If a student is guilty of a third offense of academic misconduct, the student will receive a non-replaceable “F” for the course in which the violation occurred and will be permanently suspended from the University without the possibility of readmission.
      1. In the event a student is suspended for academic misconduct in accordance with this policy, they will be permitted to complete the academic term in which they are currently enrolled.
      2. They shall remain in good standing with the University until such time the appeals timeline has expired, or until an appeal has been fully adjudicated.
    • The letters detailing the outcomes and penalties of a student’s academic misconduct shall detail the ramifications of future and subsequent acts of academic misconduct. As these warnings will be made known beginning with the first offense, subsequent offenses need not be discovered and adjudicated sequentially to be considered for progressive and increased penalties.
  • Graduate Students
    • If the incident is a first offense of academic misconduct, the faculty member will impose his/her own penalty. Appropriate penalties might include but are not limited to
      1. a failing grade on the test, activity, or assignment,
      2. a failing grade for the course,
      3. or a requirement the test, activity, or assignment be retaken or resubmitted.
    • As it is expected that Graduate Students already recognize appropriate writing styles and academic conduct there will be no second opportunity for remediation.
      1. There will be no opportunities for improvement plans or probationary status offered by the University Ombudsman.
      2. The faculty member may recommend to the University Ombudsman the penalty of a non- replaceable F for the course in which the violation occurred. The University Ombudsman may approve or disapprove of the recommendation. If disapproved, the faculty member will assign a lesser penalty.
    • If a Graduate Student is guilty of a second offense of academic misconduct, the student will receive a non- replaceable "F" for the course in which the violation occurred and will be permanently suspended from the University without the possibility for readmission.
      1. In the event a student is suspended for academic misconduct in accordance with this policy, they will be permitted to complete the academic term in which they are currently enrolled.
      2. They shall remain in good standing with the University until such time the appeals timeline has expired, or until an appeal has been fully adjudicated.

6. Appeals

Both an accused student and the faculty member responsible for the course or activity in which the alleged incident occurred have the right to appeal the decision of the University Ombudsperson.

  • If the incident is a first offense or a second offense, either party may appeal the decision within 10 working days by submitting the Application for Appeal of Academic Misconduct Charge and Decision.
    • These appeals will be considered by the University Ombudsman in collaboration with the faculty member bringing the accusation forward.
    • The matter will be facilitated by the University Ombudsman solely, without the convening of an Appeals Committee.
  • If the incident is a third offense, either party may appeal the decision within 10 working days by submitting the appeals Application for Appeal of Academic Misconduct Charge and Decision.
    • The University Ombudsman, upon receiving an appeal of a third offense, shall act as Chair and assemble an Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee shall meet within 10 working days of the receipt of an appeal.
    • No faculty member or academic administrator shall serve on an Appeals Committee if any have been involved in reviewing the case previously.
    • An Appeals Committee shall be chaired by the University Ombudsman and shall be comprised of 2 faculty members and 3 students. The 5 members shall have voting rights.
    • The Chair will preside over the hearing and facilitate the presentation of any evidence relevant to the panel, but shall recuse themselves from deliberations and any vote on the matter.
    • An Appeals Committee shall consider evidence that will be presented with the accused student having the opportunity to be in attendance.
      1. The accused student is expected to be in attendance for a convened Appeals Committee Hearing, but their attendance is not required and their absence will not be grounds to delay the hearing, but nor will it their absence be held against them. If the accused, having been properly notified of the date and time of the hearing, fails to attend the meeting or be present by conference call, the Appeal Committee will rule in their absence.
      2. An accused student may have a non-participating representative from the campus in the proceedings.
    • Evidence that may be presented at a hearing includes but is not limited to:
      1. testimony from the student, faculty accuser(s) or other individuals directly involved with the incident,
      2. physical evidence, such as notes or samples of student work.
      3. The Chair of the Appeals Committee shall rule on the relevance and admissibility of evidence.
    • After hearing the evidence, the Appeals Committee shall vote on the guilt or innocence of the accused student.
    • The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be communicated to the accused, the faculty member, and the Provost by the Chair of the Appeals Committee within 24 hours of the decision.
    • If either the accused student or the faculty member responsible for the course is unsatisfied with the findings of the Appeals Committee, they may make a final appeal to the Provost within 10 days of the Appeals Committee decision by submitting the Application to Provost for Appeal of Third Academic Misconduct Charge and Decision.
    • The Provost, upon receiving an appeal of an Appeals Committee decision, shall have the authority to act individually, to review written records, to interview involved parties, and to arrive at a resolution he/she deems appropriate.
      1. They will respond in writing within 10 working days of the receipt of an appeal. The decision of the Provost is final.
  • All appeals applications shall be based in, and state, a valid rationale for appeals before being considered.
    • Appropriate rationale for consideration is as follows:
      1. additional evidence not previously known to the Ombudsman in making their initial decision,
      2. evidence of biased decision-making on the part of the accusing faculty (note, applying a different standard to different scenarios does not constitute a bias towards the individual student),
      3. or inappropriate or inconsistent application of the policies noted herein.

All information and proceedings related to an accusation of academic misconduct, whether written/physical or verbally presented evidence, shall be confidential and all participants, including administrators, faculty members, and students should refrain from any discussion of that information.A written record of the Appeals Committee proceeding, including proceedings, evidence, and all other relevant materials shall be preserved as required by law.

7. Selection and appointment of the University Ombudsman

The University Ombudsman shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Provost. The only qualifications for the selection of the University Ombudsman shall be that they be a non-probationary, tenure-track faculty member in good standing with the University.

8. Selection of members of the Appeals Committee

Members of the Appeals Committee will be recruited and appointed as a pool of potential members by the Coordinating Committee and the Vice President of Student Success annually. The University Ombudsman may then select members from this pool to serve on any convened Appeals Committee in keeping with this policy.

 

  • The Coordinating Committee shall elect a pool of faculty members to serve as needed on the Appeals Committee for each academic year.
    • It is recommended this pool consist of no fewer than four (4) faculty members.
    • These members must be full-time faculty members in good standing with the University.
    • Theses members need not be non-probationary or tenure- track.
  • The Vice President of Student Success will select a pool of student members to serve as needed on the Appeals Committee for each academic year.
    • It is recommended this pool consist of no fewer than one student from each of the academic colleges of the University.
    • These members must be of a sophomore status or higher.
    • These members must be in good standing with the University.
  • A faculty member or a student may decline to serve on an Appeals Committee or may be disqualified by the Chair if they are involved in the case to be adjudicated, or found to be otherwise unqualified to serve.
  • Terms of office for faculty members on the Appeals Committee shall be one academic year. A faculty member may serve two consecutive terms at the discretion of the Coordinating Committee.
  • Terms of office for student members on the Appeals Committee shall be one academic year. A student member may serve three consecutive terms at the discretion of the Vice President of Student Success.
  • In the event that an Appeals Committee cannot be constituted due to deferrals and/or disqualification, the Provost shall have the authority to select special members, 2 faculty members, sand 2 students, and the committee thus selected shall be empowered to hear the case.
  • In the event that a full committee of four cannot be empaneled, a group of fewer than four may constitute an Appeals Committee. If no students are willing or able to serve, a committee comprised of faculty members only may be empowered by the Provost to hear the case.

Grade Release Policy

Grades are no longer mailed but are available on the JICS Portal (a secure website available from the Limestone.edu main website). Grades may be reviewed approximately one week after the class has ended. Grades will not be released to a student verbally or otherwise. Grades are never released over the telephone.

Grade Appeal Process

If a student receives a final grade he/she believes is incorrect, and the student wishes to appeal the grade, he/she must proceed in the following manner:

  • Present and review the concern with the instructor and attempt to resolve the issues concerning the final grade. All concerns must be presented in writing.
  • If the concern is not resolved with the instructor, then the student should submit an appeal to the appropriate Academic College Dean using the online grade appeal form on the Limestone University website. Appeals must be submitted to the appropriate Academic College Dean within 30 calendar days of the grade being assigned.

Grade appeals will be considered for the following reasons:

  • The final grade assigned was miscalculated according to the grading scale established for the course.
  • Grades were not assigned in accordance with the assignments, examinations, etc. as outlined in the course syllabus.
  • Students were not treated equally in terms of the manner in which grades were calculated for the course.

A decision concerning the grade appeal will be made as soon as possible, normally within 30 calendar days of submission to the appropriate Academic College Dean.

Graduate Program Grading System

The semester credit hour is the basic unit used by Limestone University to measure student work. The academic standing of a student in the various courses is indicated as follows:

     
Graduate Program Grading Scale    
Passing Grades Percentage Grade Value
A 90% and above 4.0
  B+ 87-89% 3.5
B 80-86% 3.0
  C+ 77-79% 2.5
C 70-76% 2.0
     
Non-Passing Grades (No Credit Awarded)  
F 0 Failing  
WP N/A withdrew passing  
WF 0 withdrew failing  
I N/A incomplete

 

 

I Grade

"I" - A mark of "I" is requested by the student and approved by the instructor and the Dean, when due to extenuating circumstances such as illness, a student is unable to complete the work assigned in a course. It is understood that to receive a mark of "I", all completed work (minimum of 75%) in the course must collectively be at the passing level or above. The mark of “I” must be removed within 30 days from the end of term. Failure to complete required work will result in a grade of “F”. An incomplete must be requested at least one week before the class end date. Students cannot withdraw from a class after an "I" has been issued. In determining the Grade Point Average the mark of “I” (Incomplete) will not be considered.

Any admitted student receiving a grade of F in a graduate course will be automatically placed on academic probation and will be required to repeat the course. Only the higher grade will be counted in computing the grade point average (GPA), although the lower grade will remain on the official transcript. No more than two (2) F’s may be repeated. If a student earns three F’s in the program, he/she will be dismissed from the program.

GPA

A student must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher after completing 6 credit hours at Limestone University to maintain good academic standing in the program. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. After being placed on academic probation, the student must achieve a minimum average GPA of 3.0 over the next 6 credit hours to make satisfactory progress toward good academic standing or achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Probation is automatically removed once the student achieves good academic standing. If a student fails to make progress toward good academic standing, the student will be suspended from the program. Note: See Graduate Graduation Requirements – to graduate with a master’s degree from Limestone, a student must successfully complete the requisite degree program credit hours with a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average.

Academic Suspension and Appeals

If a student fails to make progress toward good academic standing, the student will be suspended from the program. Once suspended, the student may appeal the suspension if there are mitigating circumstances. To appeal a suspension. the student must write to The Admissions/Appeals Committee for the respective academic program. The letter should be a very well written, typed letter. In the body of the letter, the student should explain why his/her Grade Point Average has fallen below the minimums, what he/she will do to ensure that the Grade Point Average will improve to meet the minimum standards, and request to be reinstated to the academic program and to receive Federal Title IV aid. A student must also complete an "Appeal of Financial Aid Consequence of Unsatisfactory Progress" and return it to the Director of Financial Aid. If a student’s appeal is denied, the student may reapply to the program after one year. The program’s admission committee makes the decision on whether to readmit the student to the program.

A student who is readmitted to the program after suspension will be on academic probation until he/she has taken 6 semester credit hours. The student must achieve a minimum average GPA of 3.0 over the next 6 credit hours to make progress toward good academic standing. If the student’s average GPA is below 3.0 for the 6 credit hours, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Withdrawing from a Class

In the Graduate Program, students wishing to withdraw from a course must contact the professor and the Director of Graduate Program's office to submit a withdrawal form to the Registrar's office. Failure to do so will result in a grade of F. The request must be submitted prior to the course end date.

The grade of “WP” will have no effect on the student’s Grade Point Average. The grade of “WF” will have the same effect as the grade of “F”. The grade of “W” will not affect a student’s GPA. The grade will be awarded to students who withdraw from a course from the 4th day of class through the Friday after midterms or for graduate courses through the 4th week of class at 5:00 pm. After that, a grade of “WP” or “WF” will be awarded through the last day of class.

Academic Dismissal

A student may receive no more than one suspension and have the opportunity to be readmitted. A second suspension results in academic dismissal from the program.

Repeating Courses

Students earning an F in a course may repeat it one time; however, if a student repeats a course in which he/she earned a grade other than an F, financial aid may not cover the tuition.

Overload Policy

Graduate Program

Maximum of two courses may be taken in each term. Overloads to this policy will only be approved in extraordinary circumstances and will need approval from the Director of the program, the College Dean, and Provost.

Graduate Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a master’s degree from Limestone University, a student must successfully complete the requisite degree program credit hours with a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Any undergraduate course required to begin the program will not count toward the respective graduate program's minimum credit hours or the GPA. Limestone University may credit toward a graduate degree up to 20% of the program from another accredited graduate institution upon approval of the appropriate Program Director and/or Academic Dean. Only courses for which the student received a grade of B or higher may be transferred. Additionally, all transfer credits must meet the same program term limits as graduate credits earned at Limestone University.

Graduation with honors
To be eligible for honors at graduation a student must:

  1. Complete 30 semester hours at Limestone University toward a master’s degree.
  2. Attain the following Grade Point Average on all Limestone University work.
  • Summa Cum Laude 3.95 to 4.0
  • Magna Cum Laude 3.75 to 3.94
  • Cum Laude 3.50-3.74

Limestone University Graduation Process
Limestone University holds graduation ceremonies in May and December. A student may apply for graduation up to a year in advance.

The Application for Degree
It is the responsibility of each student to complete the Application for Degree form. The Application for Degree form must be completed by February 15 for May graduation and by October 1 for December graduation.

The graduation form can be found on the LC Portal. The order form for the cap and gown is also included and must be completed as well. Once the graduation form is submitted, the registrar will review all course requirements for that student. After the review, the registrar will issue a degree audit that will contain any missing required coursework. The letter will also show the graduation day that the student has been assigned.

A graduation fee of $150, which includes application, cap/gown/graduate hood, tassel, diploma with cover and one official transcript, will be assessed to all students who have applied for the upcoming graduation. The deadline for May graduation is February 15th; for December, it is October 1st. Applications will be accepted after these dates, up to one month prior to graduation, but late applications will incur a $100 non-refundable late fee, for a total fee of $225.

If for any reason, a student does not complete his or her requirements for the assigned graduation, the application may be transferred to the next ceremony without additional fees. A student's application may be transferred only one time. After that, the student must reapply and pay a $35 fee to cover the cost of an updated diploma.

Fulfillment of Degree Requirements
Limestone University's awarding of a degree is conditional upon completed coursework with appropriate GPA, the satisfaction of all financial obligations, and compliance with university policies.

Student Responsibilities: All universities establish certain requirements which must be met before a degree is granted. These regulations concern such matters as curricula and courses, majors, and campus residence requirements. Faculty and advisors will make every effort to inform students concerning these requirements, but students themselves are ultimately responsible for being acquainted with regulations and procedures as stated in this Catalog, Student Handbook, and other official publications of the university. For these reasons, it is important for students to be familiar with these publications and remain informed throughout their university careers.

Graduate Course Levels and Numbering System

All courses authorized for graduate degree credit must be numbered according to the guidelines established by the University.  Graduate level courses will follow the below established guidelines:

500 - 599     Graduate courses.  Open to well-qualified seniors with program approval (i.e. 4+1 students).

600 - 699     Graduate courses.  Not open to undergraduate students.