Registration Policies

Official transcripts are issued by the Office of Registration and Records and bear the University seal and registrar’s signature. Full transcripts will be issued if all financial obligations to the University are cleared. Partial transcripts may be released for individuals with unpaid balances according to Federal guidelines. The charge for transcripts is listed on the website where the order is requested. To order official transcripts, visit https://www.arbor.edu/resources/offices/registration-and-records/request-a-transcript/.

Transfer Policies

Regardless of the number of credit hours transferred, all SAU requirements must be satisfied for a degree to be conferred, including all General Education, program, and graduation requirements. Credit transferred to SAU counts as attempted and earned credit for financial aid purposes, but reflects only as earned credit on the SAU transcript.

Spring Arbor University considers coursework for transfer credit upon receipt of an official transcript from the sending institution. An unofficial transfer evaluation may take place using unofficial transcripts, but no credit will be transferred. A transcript is official only as designated by the sending institution and sent directly from that sending institution to SAU. Hand-delivered transcripts will not be accepted as official. For international school transfer credit, see International Student Admissions. 

SAU defines transfer credit as college-level coursework earned from degree-granting colleges or universities holding regional accreditation or candidacy status or accredited by organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the Department of Education. Courses must be comparable to the quality and nature of courses offered at SAU. Courses that do not meet transfer criteria may be considered on a case-by-case basis only when written evidence is provided that the coursework meets standards related to length of course, appropriate credentialed faculty, course content, learning outcomes, and other factors normally found at accredited institutions. The registrar’s office, in consultation with the University’s academic departments, determine transfer credit.

Credit accepted for transfer will be recorded as semester credit hours on the student’s Spring Arbor University transcript. Quarter hours are converted to semester hours by multiplying by 2 and dividing by 3 and rounded to the nearest whole number. Trimester hours are converted by multiplying by .83 and rounding to the nearest whole number. Clock hours will be converted from 37.5 to 1 credit hour. Clock hours below 37.5 may not be transferred. Transfer GPA is not calculated into SAU cumulative GPA, but it may be used to determine certain academic eligibility, such as scholarships.

Current SAU students considering taking coursework elsewhere with the intent on transferring the credit back to SAU should obtain transfer authorization from the SAU Office of Registration and Records prior to taking the course. Students who fail to obtain transfer authorization before enrolling at another institution run the risk of credits not applying to SAU requirements as intended.

Up to 80 credit hours can be transferred in combination from community colleges and non-accredited, ACE-recommended courses and military learning. Up to 40 technical credit (such as auto mechanics) may be transferred to apply toward electives only. A maximum of 90 credits can be transferred from a four-year institution. Only courses that apply to the SAU degree program will be transferred, including elective courses.

Up to 30 credit hours from any higher education institution may be transferred for associate’s degrees. Other types of transfer credit may be combined with the allowed 30 transfer credit hours within the established limits for the types of credit. 

Military experience can accepted if the student’s Joint Services Transcript is received from the DODED. If for some reason transcripts are not available, the Office of Registration and Records may evaluate a DD214. A maximum of two MOS’s (Military Occupational Specialty) are used in generating military credit, and each must have been held for at least one year. The DD214 should have a complete summary of activity while serving, or copies of certificates verifying course completion will be accepted. ACE recommendations are used in awarding credit for military experience.

Courses with grades below “C” (2.0) will not be accepted for transfer. Courses graded with letters other than the standard letters “A”-“C” such as “P” or “S” will transfer only if the sending institution’s transcript key states that the grade is equivalent to at least a 2.0. (Special consideration will be given to grades issued in Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 due to the higher education industry-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic.) Courses below college level will not transfer, even if they are counted for credit at the sending institution.

Spring Arbor University is a signatory member in the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) as a receiving institution. The intent of the MTA is to ensure that a student who completes an associate’s degree at a sending institution will have satisfied the basic General Education requirements at a receiving institution. “MTA Agreement Satisfied” must be stamped on the sending institution’s transcript, verifying the student has met the terms of the agreement. ENG 104 College Writing is required to be taken at SAU if the equivalent is not taken at the sending institution. Transcripts before 2019 stamped “MACRAO” will be considered the same as the MTA. A student who has not met the MTA Agreement requirements upon transfer is subject to all current Spring Arbor University academic requirements at the time of matriculation. A student may inquire with the sending MTA institution to determine if reverse transfer from SAU for the MTA to be issued is possible. If the sending institution approves, the student must complete the MTA within two semesters after initial matriculation to SAU.

The MTA may apply to out-of-state students with an earned Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree if requirements of the MTA have been met in their degree program as determined by the SAU Office of Registration and Records.

Extra-institutional Credit

Spring Arbor University accepts credit from a variety of extra-institutional sources: credit by exam, American Council on Education (ACE) recommended courses, and prior learning assessment through life learning or professional training. Up to 60 credit hours of bachelor’s degrees and up to 30 credit hours of associate’s degrees may be satisfied by a combination of extra-institutional credits. Other credit hour limitations are specified in each method of extra-institutional learning listed below. Up to 60 extra-institutional credits hours can be combined with community college transfer credit up to 80 credit hours total for bachelor’s degrees, and up to 30 credit hours for associate’s degrees. 

Credit by Examination

Spring Arbor University accepts credit from the examinations listed below and/or that are recommended by ACE or NCCRS. Exams must be taken prior to enrolling in a higher-level course in that discipline. Students will not be given credit for an exam for a course in which they are currently enrolled or have previously taken at college level. Students must request official scores be sent from the testing agency to the SAU Office of Registration and Records. Up to 33% of total credit hours comprising an academic degree or program may be earned through credit-by-exam. 

• College Board Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)
• College Board’s College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• DSST by Prometric (DSST)
• International Baccalaureate (IB); grade score of 5 at HL level

The list of AP, CLEP, and DSST tests with corresponding ACE recommended scores required for acceptance at SAU can be found at this link: https://www.arbor.edu/academics/ap-clep-and-dsst-credit-transfers/.

ACE Recommended Courses

Courses taken through non-accredited delivery methods must have been recommended by ACE at the time the course was completed. Students must have ACE transcripts sent directly to the Office of Registration and Records at SAU. Grades must reflect a grade of “C” or better for the credit to transfer. Up to 33% of total credit hours comprising an academic degree or program may be earned through ACE recommended courses.

Prior Learning Assessment for Life Learning and Professional Training

Students may be granted credit for significant life learning and/or professional training not sponsored by a college or university through a process called prior learning assessment. Prior learning assessment requires extensive preparation and is primarily beneficial to the more mature student who is returning to college after having had significant life experiences and work outside of a college. However, prior learning assessment is open to all SAU students who can demonstrate college-level learning through post-secondary life and work experiences. Personnel in the Office of Registration and Records oversee prior learning assessment processes and workshops. Faculty evaluators determine credits awarded for prior learning.

Some training experiences and professional learning may be eligible to meet General Education or elective requirements. Generally, a training experience or group of related training experiences must contain at least 30 training hours to be evaluated. Training courses are considered related if they are in the same academic discipline.

Prior learning credit awarded is based on demonstrated college-level learning with consideration given to contact hours, subject matter content, and mastery of pertinent materials. Credit is not awarded for experience or professional work alone. Prior learning assessment credit cannot be used to meet the requirements of a certificate program. The credit earned may be upper or lower level. A limit of 30 credit hours can be granted for prior learning for bachelor’s degrees and 15 for associate’s degrees. Prior learning assessment credit is not available for certificate programs. There is a prior learning assessment fee which is based on the number of credit hours for which a student requests to be assessed, not the credit hours issued by the faculty evaluator.

Advising and Academic Plans

A faculty and/or student success advisor will be assigned according to the student’s choice of academic program. Advisors assist students with creating and maintaining an academic plan to meet their educational goals throughout their academic career at SAU. While Spring Arbor University advisors aid in academic planning, students are responsible for the completion of a program and should be familiar with the program requirements listed in this catalog. Additionally, students must be aware of changes to course offerings that may impact their academic plan. Students should take the initiative to request academic advising assistance, and it is recommended that they do so each semester.

Main campus students may use the Academic Schedule Planner in the MySAU portal to create a plan for taking all the required program courses to complete their degree in a timely manner. Once the plan is approved by an academic advisor and registration is open, students register using the planner.

Additionally, a student success advisor (SSA) is assigned to main campus students to assist in college life by proactively engaging students in their academic progress and helping them with resources they might need to succeed, specifically as it related to academic success. SSAs usually act as the academic advisor for the freshman and sophomore year and for the first year for a transfer student.

Auditing a Course

No credit is received when a course is audited. Full-time students may audit 3 credit hours per semester on a space-available basis, and part-time students must pay the per-credit-hour fee. All students auditing a course must pay any applicable course fees. An audit student must meet the attendance policy of the course as required by the instructor for the course to be recorded on the transcript. Audited courses cannot be changed to credit. Assignments and exams are not required to be completed unless the instructor requires them to fulfill a certain departmental requirement or other requisite. The instructor is not obligated to grade assignments submitted by an audit student unless they are required by the instructor. Audited courses are not eligible for financial aid. Studio art courses and applied music lessons may not be audited.

Online Courses

Registration for available online courses closes two weeks prior to the course start date. Some exceptions to later registration may be granted by petition to the registrar’s office. Online courses may be canceled by the University at any time due to low enrollment. Students are responsible for obtaining books by the time the online class begins.

Students enrolled in main campus academic programs are limited to registering for one online course each fall and spring semester. Exceptions may be requested by petition to the Office of Registration and Records, but petitions are not a guarantee of approval. The registrar has final authority to grant or deny a petition for online course registration. Students will be registered manually for these additional online courses by the Office of Registration and Records and not through the registration system.

Financial aid may not be available for online courses scheduled outside the program’s financial aid calendar dates. For example, main campus program calendars do not include a summer term. Therefore, students in main campus programs may not be eligible to receive financial aid for courses taken during the summer.

Repeat Courses

Students may register to repeat a course at SAU if the student failed to earn the minimum grade required for the course or academic program or if the student wishes to improve their GPA. The highest grade of all attempts of the repeated course will be used in GPA calculations in the semester when the highest grade is earned. GPA for all other semesters will remain the same. Credit hours for only one attempt with a grade higher than “U” will be calculated into the earned credit hour count. All attempts remain on the transcript. Students may receive financial aid only once for a previously passed course.

Athletes should consult with their coach or the faculty athletic representative before registering to repeat a course with a grade above “F” due to a possible impact on athletic eligibility.

A course in which a student receives a grade of “F” may be repeated twice at SAU, which means it can be attempted a total of three times. The fourth attempt and beyond must be completed at another regionally accredited institution; however, the GPA will not be affected by transferring the course.

Courses Requiring Individualized Registration

The following types of courses require special forms for individualized registration. More information about these courses can be found in the Course Information section of the catalog.

Tutorial Course

A student may request to take a catalog course as tutorial if 1) a schedule conflict prevents registration in a regularly scheduled section during an academic career, or 2) a course required for program completion under the catalog of matriculation is discontinued and there is no suitable substitution course available. An additional fee may be charged for tutorial courses. A tutorial must be approved before work begins. Tutorial courses are intended to be used for courses required in a program and not elective courses.

Independent Study/Internship/Practicum/Field Experience Courses

See Course Information .

Adding/Dropping Classes

Any changes to registration may impact the student’s financial aid and student account. Students should consult Student Financial Services before deciding to make registration changes.

Main Campus Class Add/Drop

Course changes for semester-long courses (drops and adds) may be made during the authorized period at the beginning of each session as specified by the Office of Registration and Records and published on the academic calendar. After the authorized drop/add period, a student who wishes to drop or add a class must secure the signature of the instructor, the student’s advisor and the registrar. A late add fee is charged unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Modular and Online Class Add/Drop

Online or modular classes may be added up to two weeks prior to the class start date. Students may petition to add one of these types of classes after the allowed add period, but only extreme circumstances will be considered by the registrar. Students may voluntarily drop from an online course without financial penalty through the seventh day of the course (e.g., the course starts on Monday, so the seventh day is Sunday). A course dropped on or before the seventh calendar day will not appear on a student’s transcript. After that date, students have until 60% of the course to voluntarily withdrawal. A withdrawal results in a “W” on the academic record and may result in a partial refund on tuition. Withdrawing from a course after the designated withdrawal period deadline will result in a “WF” on the academic record.

Once a student is actively attending a course in a given semester and decides to drop or withdraw from a course, federal aid regulations require that a determination be made whether the student is withdrawing from a single course or from the entire program. Students will be considered withdrawn from their program unless they are attending another course at the time the course is dropped or they inform their advisor of their intent to continue in their degree program. Once students have been dropped or withdrawn from a class, reinstatement into that same class cannot occur unless it is within the add period.

For students in fully modular programs, when a course is dropped, the student must notify their advisor that they plan to take the remaining courses for which they are registered. The next course for which they are registered must start within 45 days of the last day of the last course that the student attended; otherwise, the student will still have to be treated as a student who has withdrawn.

Withdrawal from a Course

After the authorized drop/add period, a student may withdraw from a course with a grade of “W” through the 60% of the course. The last date to withdraw from semester-long classes is published on the academic calendar found in the MySAU portal/Academics. Students may petition to be withdrawn after the authorized withdrawal date for a grade of “W,” but petitions are granted by the registrar only in extreme circumstances.

Before or at 60% of the total days of the course, students who request a withdrawal or who are administratively withdrawn for nonparticipation will receive a grade of “W,” which is not calculated into the GPA. Withdrawals after 60% of the course will receive a grade of “WF,” which calculates as “F” in the GPA.

The withdrawal date is defined as the earliest date of one of the following:

1. The last date of the student’s recorded attendance or participation if the student is administratively withdrawn or is withdrawn for nonattendance.
2. The date the student officially withdraws in writing to the Office of Registration and Records.

Withdrawal from the University

Voluntary, Official Withdrawal

A student who wishes to withdraw voluntarily and officially from the University during a semester must submit an official request. Campus students should obtain a withdrawal form from student development, and after obtaining required signatures, submit the form to the Office of Registration and Records. Students in online or modular programs should work through their academic advisor. The student is responsible for all remaining financial obligations. Grades and refunds will follow the withdrawal date policy listed above.

Administrative Disciplinary Withdrawal

For students withdrawn by SAU for disciplinary reasons, grades of “W” will be recorded on the transcript for courses in which the student is enrolled at the time of dismissal. The regular refund policy applies.

Administrative Withdrawal for Nonparticipation

An instructor of semester-long, synchronous courses may request an administrative withdrawal of a student who misses more than six consecutive scheduled meetings without a valid excuse (illness, athletics, or other issues). For classes that meet less than a full semester may allow fewer absences. The policy is intended where there is evidence that a student has stopped attending but has not formally withdrawn. Similarly, students who stop attending all classes may be withdrawn from the University through administrative action. The University especially monitors attendance for students who are on academic probation, and non-class attendance may mean the termination of the probationary status and immediate dismissal. The registrar approves all administrative withdrawals for non-attendance. Return of tuition or other federal funds is based on the policy cited elsewhere in this catalog.

A student registered in an online or asynchronous course who ceases to actively participate for 14 consecutive days may be administratively withdrawn from the course. Any potential tuition refund will be based on the last date of attendance as determined by the Office of Registration and Records.

Students in synchronous, accelerated courses may be administratively withdrawn upon two absences in one course or upon five absences in the program, excluding courses that do not count toward the major.

Generally, an administrative withdrawal will not be approved after the last day to withdraw from a course; however, if it is approved after the last day to withdraw, a “WF” will reflect on the student’s academic record, which calculates the same as a “F” in the GPA. Academic programs may have requirements beyond those outlined in this policy for which a student will be accountable.

Commencement Information

Students are eligible to participate in the scheduled Commencement ceremony immediately following the completion of all degree and graduation requirements. Requirements must be completed by the published deadlines of the institution and program. Students must be cleared for participation by the Office of Registration and Records.

If students are unable to participate the Commencement ceremony for which they are cleared, they may submit a written petition to the Office of Registration and Records no later than three weeks prior to the Commencement ceremony requesting participation in the next Commencement. Petitions must include documented evidence of the reason for the inability to participate in the approved ceremony. Petitions received after the deadline will not be considered, and students will not be permitted to participate in a subsequent ceremony.

If students experience dire emergencies after the three-week petition deadline, such as a serious illness or death of an immediate family member or grandparent, permission may be granted for participation in the next scheduled Commencement ceremony. The student must petition the Office of Registration and Records as early as possible and include documentation of the emergency. Petitions do not guarantee permission for participation in a subsequent ceremony.

Main Campus Student Commencement Information

Main campus undergraduate students may petition to participate in spring Commencement ceremony early if they are within 8 credit hours of completing all requirements by the end of the summer immediately following Commencement. Petition forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records and must be submitted by February 1. Documentation of summer registration or a plan for completing the 8 credit hours should be submitted with the petition. The granting of petitions is not guaranteed.

Main campus students who will complete graduation requirements at the end of fall semester may participate in the fall Commencement ceremony but are encouraged to wait until the subsequent spring ceremony so they may benefit from the ivy cutting ceremony and the baccalaureate service.

If students are cleared to participate or participate in Commencement early, for fall or spring ceremonies, and they fail to meet graduation and/or degree requirements subsequent to the ceremony for which they are cleared to participate, they are not eligible to participate in a future Commencement.

Degrees will not be conferred for students who are granted early Commencement participation until all degree and graduation requirements are completed, and those students will not receive a diploma until after the degree is conferred.

SAU Global Student Commencement Information

Early participation in Commencement is not permitted for students enrolled in programs identified by the University as Global programs, which are accelerated and offered in locations other than main SAU campus. Students in Global programs must complete all degree and graduation requirements prior to participation in Commencement.

Diploma Application

All candidates for a degree must file a diploma application with the Office of Registration and Records. To participate in Commencement, applications must be submitted by August 30 for fall Commencement or February 1 for spring Commencement of the academic year during which students plan to complete all program and graduation requirements.

Graduation Requirements

Students are subject to the curriculum requirements in the catalog effective at the time they matriculate in an academic program at Spring Arbor University. When a student is not enrolled for two consecutive semesters and is later readmitted, the student must meet current graduation requirements as listed in the effective catalog at the point of readmission. Students may petition the Office of Registration and Records to use requirements from a previous catalog, but approval of this request is not guaranteed. While students are subject to the requirements of the catalog under which they matriculated, the administration reserves the right to change academic policies and curriculum at any time without notice.

Associate’s Degree Graduation Requirements

Spring Arbor University confers upon students an associate degree upon completion of all academic program and graduation requirements. Program requirements are listed in the respective sections of this catalog. An associate’s degree may not be earned concurrently with a bachelor’s degree. To earn a bachelor’s degree later, students with an associate’s degree from Spring Arbor University must apply for readmission to the University. The following graduation requirements apply to all associate’s degree programs and must be met before a student graduates. For an associate’s degree to be conferred, students must meet the following requirements.

1. Complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours at Spring Arbor University. Regardless of the total number of hours taken at Spring Arbor University, at least 10 of the last 20 hours earned toward the degree must be taken at Spring Arbor University.
2. Earn a cumulative GPA of “C” (2.00) is required for graduation with an associate’s degree.
3. Students in an associate’s degree program are subject to all other academic policies as listed in this catalog, such as grading, class load, class attendance, academic probation, dismissal, etc.

Bachelor’s Degree Graduation Requirements

The University confers upon students a bachelor’s degree upon completion of all academic program and graduation requirements. Program requirements are listed in the respective sections of this catalog. The following graduation requirements apply to all bachelor’s degree programs and must be met before a student graduates. For a bachelor’s degree to be conferred, the following requirements must be satisfied.

1. Students must earn at least 120 college-level semester credit hours. Depending upon the choice of major, minor, concentration or endorsement, a student could accumulate more than 120 credit hours at the time of graduation.
2. Students must attain a final cumulative SAU GPA of “C” (2.00). Transfer GPA is not calculated into the SAU cumulative GPA.
3. Students must earn a 2.20 GPA average for courses that count toward the major, including transfer courses. A 2.00 average must be maintained in a minor, concentration or endorsement, including transfer courses. (See program sections for possible additional GPA requirements.)
4. Students must successfully complete 36 credit hours in upper-level courses (numbered 300 and above).
5. Students must complete at least 30 semester credit hours in courses at Spring Arbor University. Regardless of the total number of hours taken at Spring Arbor University, at least 15 of the last 30 hours earned toward the degree must be taken at Spring Arbor University.
6. Students must complete program requirements and minimum number of credit hours as specified by the catalog under which the student matriculated to SAU. Majors have a minimum of 30 credit hours, or 36 credit hours for group interdisciplinary majors. (See specific majors for number of hours required.) Students should consult the program section of the catalog and their academic advisor to determine whether a minor is required for their degree program. A minor has a minimum of 18 hours or 24 hours for a group (interdisciplinary) minor. A maximum of two courses may meet requirements for both a major and a minor or two minors. No courses may be duplicated in any major/minor areas for students who are certifying to teach. No courses in an institutional endorsement may overlap with another program. 
7. Students must take and complete 9 credit hours of graded courses at Spring Arbor University in the major, not including practicum, internships, and field experiences. See individual majors for additional requirements.
8. Students must complete the University’s specified General Education program.

Double Major Graduation Requirements

A double major consists of course requirements from two different academic programs that lead to the same degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts). Students desiring a double major must meet the following requirements.

1. Have a 2.5 cumulative GPA from high school or previous college work at the time of petition.
2. Meet with department chairs (or designees) from both major departments to determine which courses in their respective academic programs will best fit with the planned course rotation and the student’s future career goals. Most majors will require the completion of requirements for both programs.

In addition to graduation requirements listed under Bachelor’s Degrees above, students must complete 30 credit hours in both majors, 18 of which must be upper level (300 or above) in both majors. The minimum 30 credit hours may include required support courses and prerequisites. Overlapping courses may count as fulfilling credit hours in each major, but each department must approve overlapping courses. Each department chair is responsible for determining, on a case-by-case basis, the courses that will be included in the department’s major according to the preceding specifications.

A student may not graduate with one major and then seek a second major after a degree is conferred. Students may, however, seek a second degree (see “Second Bachelor’s Degree”). A student with a double major may graduate upon completion of all requirements for both majors. Both majors will be listed on the SAU transcript. Double majors will not receive two diplomas. If double major students decide to abandon one of the majors, they will need to complete a Declaration of Major form to remove the second major.

For financial aid purposes, the double major curriculum, including required support and General Education courses, should not total more than 180 credit hours (150% of a bachelor’s degree program at SAU).

Second Bachelor’s Degree Graduation Requirements

Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree must meet all admissions and graduation requirements of a first-time degree-seeking student. To be eligible for a second bachelor’s degree, students must meet the following requirements.

1. Completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university prior to application for admission for the second bachelor’s degree (official transcripts will be required as verification), or be working simultaneously on two degrees at SAU, which will be completed with no more than 180 credit hours (150% of the number of credit hours required for graduation with a bachelor’s degree from SAU). NOTE: the financial aid office should be consulted to determine eligibility for the second degree.
2. Choose a second bachelor’s degree program that has at least 30 non-overlapping and distinct credit hours from the first degree program, and 18 of the 30 credit hours must be upper level (300-400).

In addition to graduation requirements listed under Bachelor’s Degrees above, students must complete all required courses of both degree programs as listed in the catalog under which they matriculate to the respective programs. If students complete a bachelor’s degree before matriculating into second bachelor’s degree at SAU, they must complete any program prerequisites or required support courses that were not completed in the first degree program. Additionally, because biblical literacy is foundational to a Spring Arbor University education, COR 300  or COR 310  will be required unless one of these was completed in the first degree program. A survey Bible course taken at a Christian institution may substitute for COR 300  or COR 310  upon approval of the registrar. Students in a post-bachelor’s second bachelor’s degree program will not be required to take COR 400 or COR 410.

Individualized Major Graduation Requirements

A student may plan an academic major different from any current major in the catalog with the approval of the advisor, appropriate department chairs, and the registrar. Such programs could include a combination of on-campus and off-campus courses, independent studies, and work at other institutions within the established limits of each type of course. All individualized majors must clearly reflect specifically stated vocational objectives and should be developed with the help of instructors in the desired fields of study. A proposal submitted to the registrar for approval of an individualized major must include specific courses and a rationale for the combination of those courses. A minimum of 36 credit hours counting toward an individualized major is required, and a minimum of 16 credit hours in the major must be completed after the registrar’s approval.

Individualized Minor Graduation Requirements

See description of individualized major above with these differences: a minimum of 24 credit hours counting toward an individualized minor is required, and a minimum of 12 credit hours in the minor must be completed after the registrar’s approval.

Certificate Awarding and Policies

See description of a certificate in the Glossary of Academic Terminology section of this catalog. For a certificate to be awarded at SAU, the following requirements must be satisfied.

1. Students must be enrolled in a certificate program at SAU to be awarded a certificate credential. Dual enrollment in a certificate program and a degree program is not permitted.
2. Students must take the final course of the certificate program while enrolled in the certificate program.
3. Up to 50% of certificate credit hours may be transferred to SAU on a case-by-case review by the registrar’s office in consultation with program academic personnel. Programs may further limit the number of credit hours allowed to transfer. All transfer policies apply.
4. Credit earned through prior learning assessment is not eligible for certificate programs.
5. Courses taken as a part of a certificate program at SAU may satisfy requirements for a subsequent degree or certificate at SAU upon the approval of the academic program and the registrar. Similarly, courses taken in a degree program at SAU may satisfy requirements of a subsequent certificate program upon approval of the degree program and registrar.
6. The certificate credential will be awarded on the SAU transcript. No paper certificate will be issued by the registrar’s office. Program administrators have the latitude to determine other appropriate documentation of the certificate credential.
7. Certificate students do not participate in Commencement.
8. GPA and course grade requirements for certificate programs follow institutional policies for the college level of the certificate, but stricter policies may be set by program administrators.
9. All institutional policies apply to certificate students, including but not limited to academic status, student conduct, attendance policies, academic integrity, time limits, etc.
10. Certificate programs may have special admission requirements or other policies that are detailed in the program sections of this catalog.
11. Financial aid may not be available for certificate programs. Students interested in a certificate program should consult with the financial aid office to determine funding.

Graduation Honors

Graduation honors are awarded to students who have demonstrated excellence and outstanding academic performance at Spring Arbor University. Honors awarded at the Commencement ceremony and listed in the Commencement program are determined using the Spring Arbor University cumulative GPA to the truncated hundredth decimal place (not rounded up) as reflected on the official transcript and according to the rules below.

1. For students who have completed all graduation requirements prior to Commencement, honors awarded at Commencement will be determined using the final SAU cumulative GPA. These honors will be official and printed on the diploma. The transcript reflects that the student graduated with honors.
2. For students with outstanding or incomplete grades or requirements at the time of Commencement, unofficial honors will be determined using the SAU cumulative GPA for the most recently completed semester/interim prior to Commencement. Unofficial Commencement honors may be adjusted on the diploma and final transcript to reflect the official honors awarded once all grades and requirements are completed. Corrections will not be made to the Commencement program or other documents issued before final honors awards are calculated. Honor stoles issued prior to the finalization of official graduation honors may be exchanged in person at the registrar’s office.

(NOTE: the MySAU unofficial transcript is not used for honors calculations because it rounds up calculations. Honors calculations from the official transcript are not rounded up or down.)

To be eligible for graduation honors at Commencement, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a bachelor’s degree candidate.
2. Complete or be registered to complete at least 50 credit hours that calculate to the GPA at Spring Arbor University. (Students who have not completed or are not registered to complete at least 50 SAU graded credit hours upon graduation may be eligible for honors if their SAU cumulative GPA meets the minimum honors GPA requirement and their combined GPA from all institutions meets the minimum honors GPA as listed below.)
3. Submit a diploma application by the established and publicized deadline.
4. At the time of graduation honors determination, meet the minimum GPA listed below for one of the three levels of honors:

Students who have attained a 3.70 SAU GPA but meet none of the other graduation honors eligibility criteria listed above will be recognized in the Commencement program for their academic success at SAU with the designation of Cum Dignitate (with dignity). Cords will be given to be worn at the ceremony, but no other certificate, award, or recognition will be given for this designation, and no notation will appear on the diploma or transcript.

Degree Conferral

Degrees are conferred on the official transcripts on the first day of the month following the completion of all program and graduation requirements. All documentation related to these requirements must be received by the Office of Registration and Records prior to degree conferral, including final grades, transfer transcripts, petitions for substitutions and/or waivers, test scores, prior learning assessment final evaluations, etc.

Diplomas

After a degree is conferred and posted to the transcript, diplomas are mailed to those graduates who have satisfied all financial obligations to SAU, including the return of textbook rentals and any fines applied after the semester concludes. The diploma notes the degree earned and the month and year the degree was conferred. In most cases, it does not denote the major or other credentials earned. Graduates should expect the diploma within eight weeks after the degree is posted to the transcript. The address listed on the diploma application will be the address used for mailing the diploma. Diplomas do not certify a degree has been conferred. Only official transcripts from the Spring Arbor University Office of Registration and Records certify a degree has been conferred.

Diploma covers will not be sent with the diploma. Only graduates who participate in Commencement ceremonies will receive a diploma cover. Graduates may request to purchase a diploma cover through the Office of Registration and Records ($20). 

Replacement Diplomas/Diploma Covers

Graduates may obtain a replacement diploma ($20) or diploma cover ($20) by submitting a written request and payment to the Office of Registration and Records. Payment must be received in advance of mailing. Proof of identification may be required.

Posthumous Degrees

A student who has passed away while a student at SAU may be eligible for a posthumous degree. SAU offers both posthumous degrees and honorary posthumous degrees.

Posthumous Degree Policy

A student may be nominated for a posthumous degree by his department when the student has completed 85% of the needed credit hours for graduation. To nominate someone, the department chair should write a paragraph or two describing why the student is deserving and send it to the appropriate dean for approval. The dean would then send it to the academic affairs office. Upon verification that the student is in good academic standing, the chief academic officer will decide on accepting the nomination and will inform the department and the registrar office of that decision.

Honorary Posthumous Degree

A student may be nominated for an honorary posthumous degree by the department when the student has at least 50% of the credit hours completed for the degree. To nominate someone, the department chair should submit the request in writing describing why the student is deserving and send it to the appropriate dean/division chair for approval. The dean/division chair would then send it to the academic affairs office. Upon verification that the student is in good academic standing, the chief academic officer will decide on accepting the nomination and will inform the department and the registrar office of that decision.