ACE Doctoral Policies
Learning is a lifelong process which extends far beyond formal schooling. Adult education assists mature women and men realize their complementary potential for responsibility and control. Adults learn to act responsibly as citizens, workers, and family members. Today's adult educator must possess vision as well as tools, theory as well as practical skill, to promote active learning and reflection among adults who are increasingly asked to make socially responsible decisions that assist in solving local and global problems.
The Adult Education Doctoral program nurtures self-directed learning and fosters creative expression and demonstration of learning. In furthering this purpose, the ACE Doctoral Program has adopted the following policies. These policies are in addition to university-wide policies which are published in the Student Handbook, a copy of which can be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs.
Attendance
Attendance is important to the accomplishment of university curriculum objectives. The university has a no-cut attendance policy; therefore, students are expected to be present and in residence for all scheduled meeting of courses.
If a student has a major unexpected crisis, she may miss one of the four weekends in the fall or spring semesters. If a student anticipates a major crisis in the future, she may petition the faculty to be allowed to miss a session. If a student, for whatever reason, misses two of the four weekends she must take the course over again.
If a student has a major unexpected crisis, she may miss one of the days in any one summer institute. If a student anticipates a major crisis in the future, she may petition the faculty to be allowed to miss a session. If a student, for whatever reason, misses more than three of the fifteen days, she must take the session over again.
Evaluation of Student Progress
ACE Doctoral students will be given regular, qualitative critiques of their work, both in writing and orally. Coursework is ungraded, with a "pass" or "incomplete" being recorded on each student's academic record.
As students' written work is submitted it will be reviewed by faculty and returned with suggestions for revision. Students writings will be considered drafts in an ongoing dialogue with faculty and peers.
An "incomplete" grade would be awarded if the student did not submit the assignments required, or if the revisions to these assignments were not yet up to the level deemed appropriate to doctoral study.
Course Sequence and Pacing
Because the doctoral program is fast paced and intensive, students cannot survive unless they keep up with the progress of their cohort peers. Therefore, a student can be allowed only one incomplete at any point in the program, on the understanding that this incomplete must be removed by the end of the semester following the one in which the incomplete was originally awarded.
In all cases, courses must be taken in the sequence provided in the catalogue. Each course carries as prerequisite completion of the courses preceeding. However, this requirement is considered to have been met when a student is obliged to complete additional work for a course in the subsequent semester--as in the case of an incomplete.
If an incomplete for a course is not removed by the end of the subsequent semester, the student will be asked to stop out of the program. When the work for this incomplete is completed satisfactorily in the faculty's judgment, the student can apply for reentry into the program at the point at which she or he left. If a student accrues two incompletes at any point in her studies, she will be asked to stop out of the program. If the work for these incompletes is completed satisfactorily in the faculty's judgment, the student can apply for reentry into the program at the point at which she left.
The one exception to these provisions is the CEP proposal seminar. No student can enter the second year's coursework without satisfactorily completing a draft of the Critical Engagement Project proposal by the end of the second Summer Institute. A student who stops her program at this point will not be considered for reentry.
Degree Requirements
The university reserves the right to change the requirements for graduation at any time, and every candidate for a degree shall be held to compliance with changes, as far as the uncompleted portion of her or his course of study is affected.
- The student must have been formally admitted to full standing in the doctoral program.
- All the required courses indicated in the doctoral curriculum must have been completed with a "pass" recorded.
- Completion of the Critical Engagement Project (dissertation) has been documented and the approval of the student's committee and the Dean of the College recorded with the Registrar.
- Generally the student must fulfill all degree requirements within six years from the beginning of the first course taken at NLU.
Readmission
Students dropped from the program for academic reasons will not be considered for readmission.
If for some other reason an admitted student is unable to continue in the program with her or his cohort, that student may reapply for admission to join a subsequent cohort. A special form is available for reapplication. Readmission does not require resubmission of credentials or letters of reference. A narrative providing the rationale for readmission is required, however.
A previously admitted student requesting readmission will also be required to participate in a Weekend Seminar with the new cohort. In preparation, the applicant will also be required to prepare any written materials to be used during the Seminar, including the critical commentary mentioned above in the regular admissions process. An interview will be part of this reapplication process as well.
The admissions committee will make the final determination concerning the readmission of the candidate.
