Academic Life

Consult the LCU Catalog for all academic policy information including, but not limited to: academic probation, standards, suspension and suspension appeal procedure, class adds or drops, grade appeal, etc. For additional questions, students should contact their instructor, academic advisor, the registrar, or the appropriate academic dean.

All course textbooks can be purchased in the LCU Chap Store or online through our Virtual Bookstore. The Chap Store is located on campus in the Mabee Student Life Building (SUB). LCU student accounts may be used to purchase books and course materials. Book buy-back will occur the week of finals in the Chap Store. For further questions, please call the LCU Chap Store at 806.720.7526.

The Office of Student Professional Development (OSPD) is designed to help students navigate and prepare for the journey that comes after they complete their academic career and look toward their professional career. OSPD offers tools and advising necessary for students and alumni to succeed in their career endeavors. Services include one-on-one advising appointments, career resources, interview and resume preparation, assessment testing, and career development events that support students to dream, explore, and discover their career path.  OSPD is located in the Christa Dobbs School of Business building. 

The Center for Student Success (CSS) is committed to helping students be successful in the classroom. The CSS offers many services including Academic Testing, Accessibility Services, Tutoring, Peer Mentoring, and Mentoring.  The CSS is located in the Ling Center for Academic Achievement (CAA).  

The Academic Testing Office offers distance proctoring, end of course examination and several standardized assessments. Assessments administered include CLEP, ACT, DSST, THEA and the UNI2000/University Skills Assessment. Contact the Testing Coordinator at testing@LCU.edu or by going to Room 116 in the Center for Student Success for more information.

Lubbock Christian University provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students requesting accommodations must be registered in the Accessibility Services Office to receive services. Appropriate documentation of disability (usually from a licensed professional such as a doctor, school diagnostician, psychologist, etc.) must be made prior to registration. All information is kept confidential.

The Accessibility Services Coordinator will provide registered students with a Letter of Accommodation, listing the accommodations the student is eligible for based on documentation provided and prior accommodations. The Accessibility Services Coordinator will then electronically send the Letter of Accommodations to the student’s professors at which time they will acknowledge receipt of notice that these accommodations have been deemed reasonable and appropriate for that class. Accommodations are not retroactive, and a Letter of Accommodations must be requested each semester.

For physical disabilities, the student needs to notify the Accessibility Services Coordinator and/or the Registrar prior to registration if classroom arrangements are necessary. The university is not required to provide accommodations if the student fails to follow the steps mentioned above.

The Accessibility Services Office is located in the Center for Student Success, CAA Building, Room 117. Contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator at Accessibilityservices@LCU.edu for more information.

Service Animal Policy

Service animals will be allowed to accompany persons with disabilities in all areas of campus where the public is normally allowed. Students can register their service animals with Accessibility Services.

Emotional Support Animal Policy

Lubbock Christian University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Students who seek to bring an emotional support animal to campus housing, should contact the Accessibility Services Office in the Center for Student Success to discuss requests. This office will determine whether having the animal on campus is a reasonable accommodation for the student on an individual basis, based on documentation provided. Questions or concerns can be directed to the Accessibility Services Office, located in the CSS, Room 117.

Campus Mentors are available to provide academic support to all undergraduate students. Mentors help students identify their academic goals and develop academic skills needed to be successful. To connect with a mentor, email Mentor@LCU.edu  or stop by the Center for Student Success.

Tutoring Services are available to all undergraduate students in most courses. Peer tutoring takes place in the CSS in one-on-one or small group weekly sessions. The Tutoring Office is located in Room 118 in the Center for Student Success in the CAA. For more information or to sign up, email Tutor@LCU.edu. 

The University Writing Center is an interdisciplinary student resource that offers free, individualized help with writing for any LCU undergraduate or graduate student. You will work with trained student consultants to discuss any of the following: deciding on a topic; clarifying and organizing ideas; outlining, drafting and revising; improving grammar and punctuation; citing sources accurately.

Consultations are available by appointment or on a walk-in basis. You can make an appointment by calling 806.720.7624 or you can simply come to our location. Your session will begin as soon as you have completed a brief intake form and as soon as a consultant is available. Hours of operation are: Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Friday 9-10 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The University Writing Center is located in the corner of the back room of the first floor of the library.  

One of the advantages employees and students have at LCU is the family atmosphere created by the small size of the university community and the value placed on people. These values also make it necessary for the university to provide employees and students a comfortable, safe, and non-distracting work or study environment.

This policy is designed to be people-sensitive both in emergencies and in the day-to-day functioning of the university. Students should not bring children into the classroom. Occasional needs or emergency situations should be discussed with students’ instructors. Instructors may permit some latitude for very short periods of time to meet special needs or emergencies.

Students are responsible for material presented in or assigned for their courses, even when they are absent from class, and will be held accountable for such material in the determination of course grades. Faculty will not apply a more restrictive attendance policy than the one outlined below.

Students who miss three, six, or nine class meetings in courses meeting once, twice, or three times per week, respectively, may, at the discretion of the professor, be dropped from the course with a grade of F. Students participating in authorized school related functions who miss more than 25% of the class meetings, may, at the discretion of the professor, be dropped from the course with a grade of F. Students will work with coaches, directors, sponsors, and their professors to keep track of their attendance and may not miss more than the allotted class meetings. Students who enter the university after the starting date will accrue absences from the date the class began.

Students may be required to make up class work or assignments missed due to absences.  Students whose absences were caused by personal illness, a death in the immediate family, or authorized participation in official school functions must be given an opportunity to rectify, in a manner acceptable to the professor, any deficiencies which may have resulted from such absences. For other reasons, professors will determine whether students can rectify deficiencies.

It is the responsibility of each student to inform the professor of the reason for an absence. If possible, the student should do so prior to the absence, and if not, at the first attended class meeting.

Students do have the right to appeal dismissal using grade appeals processes outlined elsewhere in the LCU Catalog.

If students disrupt class, either by tardiness or by distracting noises or actions, they will be given an initial warning. Students may be dismissed from a class upon continuance of disruptive behavior, as determined by the instructor. Students have the right to appeal a class dismissal to their academic dean.

• General Student Access: Library, School of Business Commons, Talkington Lab, CSS Tutoring Center
• Classroom Labs: Digital Media Lab, SWCJ, Education, Dobbs 155

We want to take this opportunity to give you a brief summary of your rights under The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the federal law that governs the release of and access to student education records. These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review your education record within a reasonable time after the University receives a request for access. If you want to review your record, contact the university office that maintains the record to make appropriate arrangements.
2. The right to request an amendment of your education record if you believe it is inaccurate or misleading. If you feel there is an error in your record, you should submit a statement to the university official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the part of the record you want changed and why you believe it is inaccurate or misleading. That office will notify you of their decision and advise you regarding appropriate steps if you do not agree with the decision.
3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in your education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with “legitimate educational interests.” A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official has a “need to know” information from your education record in order to fulfill his or her official responsibilities. Examples of people who may have access, depending on their official duties, and only within the context of those duties, include: university faculty and staff, agents of the institution, students employed by the institution or who serve on official institutional committees, and representatives of agencies under contract with the University.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

   Family Policy Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC 20202-4605

Release of student record information is generally not done at Lubbock Christian University without the expressed written consent of the student. There are, however, some exceptions, including, but not limited to the release of directory information.

For example, directory information includes the following, and may be released without the student’s consent: name, local address, home address, email address, telephone number, college of enrollment, major, campus attended, status (including current enrollment, dates of attendance, full-time/part-time, withdrawn), honors received (e.g., Dean’s List recognition), participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and weight and height of members of athletic teams. Please note you have the right to withhold the release of directory information. To do so, you must select the "Data Block Indicator" on the Student Information form located in the Student Portal. 

Please note two important details regarding placing a “No Release” on your record:

1. The university receives many inquiries for directory information from a variety of sources outside the institution, including friends, parents, relatives, prospective employers, the news media and honor societies. Checking the Data Block Indicator option on the Student Information Form located on the Student Portal will preclude release of such information, even to those people. For more information please see Public Notification of Directory Information. 
2. The "Data Block Indicator" applies to all elements of directory information on your record. Lubbock Christian University does not apply the Data Block differentially to the various directory information data elements. A copy of the Act, more details about your rights, and any university policies related to the Act are available from the Registrar's Office.

FERPA establishes a variety of exceptions under which the university may release information.

Questions concerning FERPA should be referred to the Registrar's Office. Completed FERPA forms should be turned into the Registrar's Office.

The University Library contains more than 128,000 volumes and maintains a staff to assist students with research and other library needs. Checkout privileges apply to current registered students, and an LCU ID must be presented at time of checkout. Library materials include books, e-books, journal databases, periodicals, and videos. Books are checked out for a three-week period. Fines for overdue books are ten cents per day per book; however, fines are half price if paid the day the book is returned. Unpaid fines are doubled and charged to a student’s account. The charge for lost books is the cost of the book plus 10% inflation and a non-refundable processing fee. Book checkout privileges are forfeited until fines are paid. Individualized library instruction is available. Hours of operation are posted on the website and the front door. For more information on the library, visit LCU Library.

At its discretion, Lubbock Christian University may provide “directory information” in accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Directory information is defined as that information which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. “Directory information” includes student’s name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, candidacy for graduation, the most recent previous educational institution attended, hometown, citizenship, photograph, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and weight and height of members of athletic teams. Students may choose to withhold directory information updating the Student Information form int eh Student Portal by selecting the Data Block Indicator. Selecting the Data Block Indidcator wil result in the unversity's refusal to disclose student directory information. LCU will honor your request to withhold directory information but cannot assume responsibility to contact you for subsequent permission to release this information. Regardless of the effect upon you, the university assumes no liability as a result of honoring your instructions that such information be withheld.

Although the initial request may be filed at any time, requests for non-disclosure will be honored by the university until removed by the student.

If a student or prospective student has exhausted all avenues for resolution without satisfaction a written complaint may be initiated. This policy and procedure outlines how the University will address any written complaints and how records of submitted complaints will be maintained. Complaints must be processed without unlawful discrimination, and complainants must not be subject to retaliation.

Policy

Current and prospective students may initiate a written complaint by completing a complaint form, which is accessible on the Student Right-To-Know web page. Academic appeals, grade appeals, appeals of academic integrity sanctions, medical appeals, traffic ticket appeals, and student discipline appeals, are not considered complaints. Appeal procedures are published in the student handbook and/or university catalog.

1. Written Complaints:
   • Written complaints must be submitted to Office of the President through the form located on the Student Right-To-Know web page. Personnel from the Office of the President will forward the complaint to the appropriate Vice-President or administrator for action.
   • Administrators shall investigate the complaint, and shall, as necessary, meet with the student and the person who is the source of the complaint.
   • Administrators must provide a written response to the source of complaint within four business weeks of receiving the written complaint.
2. Appeal:
   • Complainants desiring to appeal a decision may, within two business weeks, submit a signed statement to the President requesting a final review of the decision.
   • The President, or designee, will review the appeal and may choose to meet with the student, and/or other parties as a part of this review.
   • The Office of the President will respond in writing within two business weeks of receiving the request for final review.

The Office of the President maintains a log of written complaints, including dates complaints were received and resolved. A record of the written complaint will be compiled upon receipt in a complaint file. Complaint files must include the original complaint form and any attachments, any other documents submitted by the complainant, and the written response to the complaint. If a response is appealed, the complaint file must also include, the written appeal, any documents submitted by the complainant, and the written response to the appeal. Complaint files are maintained in the Office of the President for three years.

After exhausting each procedural step of the student complaint procedure, complainants not satisfied with the outcome may file a complaint with the appropriate agency:

1.  For campus programs, see the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board complaint website/form at: www.thecb.state.tx.us (search student complaints). Forms must be delivered by email to StudentComplaints@thecb.state.tx  or by mail to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Office of General Counsel, PO Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711-2788.
2.  For complaints related to advertising or recruiting practices, review the consumer protection complaint process outlined online at: www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection.
3.  For complaints related to Title IX or other types of discrimination: Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan St., Suite 2600, Dallas, TX 75201.
4. For complaints related to accreditation standards: President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097; 404-679-4500; www.sacscoc.org.
5.  For complaints related to Title IV Federal Financial Aid: https://studentaid.gov/feedback-center 
6. For complaints related to the university Educator Preparation Program, see the Texas Education Agency complaint website/form.

This policy and procedure supersede all previous policy and procedure statements on this subject.

Authorization

This policy is consistent with:

• SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation (2018) Standard 12.4
• SACSCOC, Policy Statement: Complaints against SACSCOC or its Accredited Institutions
• Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Section 1.116(b)

Scope 

This policy applies to all LCU students and prospective students.

Office Responsible for This Policy

Office of the President

Related Documents, Policies, and Procedures

• LCU Student Handbook: Student Complaint Procedure
• LCU Student Right to Know: Complaints
• LCU Catalog: Grade Appeals
• LCU University Complaint Form

Policy History

• Review: Campus Leaders Council, 01/04/2023
• Approvals: Executive Leadership Team (01/04/2023), President (01/04/2023)
• Implemented: Upon publication in LCU Policies and Procedures on the Employee Portal
• Prior revisions: 11/03/2016

Students desiring to drop all of their courses must complete a withdrawal form. Withdrawal forms are available from the Registrar's Office. Official withdrawal results in a W recorded on the transcript for courses in session on the date of withdrawal. In cases where a course was completed before a withdrawal, the earned grade is recorded. If a student wants to withdraw after the last day to drop with a W, they must have extenuating circumstances, such as military call up or deployment, or a personal medical emergency.