Belleville Catalog 2016-2017 > Introduction

Introduction

This catalog contains a description of all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by Lindenwood University-Belleville. All statements in this publication concerning policies, program requirements, fees and other matters are subject to change without notice. The statements in this catalog are for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as the basis of a contract between a student and the University.

Lindenwood University offers values-centered programs leading to the development of the whole person—an educated, responsible citizen of a global community. Lindenwood is committed to

• Providing an integrative liberal arts curriculum,
• Offering professional and pre-professional degree programs,
• Focusing on the talents, interests, and future of the student,
• Supporting academic freedom and the unrestricted search for truth,
• Affording cultural enrichment to the surrounding community,
• Promoting ethical lifestyles,
• Developing adaptive thinking and problem-solving skills,
• Furthering lifelong learning.

Lindenwood is an independent, public-serving liberal arts university that has a historical relationship with the Presbyterian Church and is firmly rooted in Judeo-Christian values. These values include belief in an ordered, purposeful universe, the dignity of work, the worth and integrity of the individual, the obligations and privileges of citizenship, and the primacy of the truth.

Lindenwood University was founded in 1827 by pioneering educators Mary Easton Sibley and George Sibley. The Sibleys sought to establish an institution that educated students across disciplinary fields, provided a solid core curriculum, and promoted the desire to serve the community. The Sibleys envisioned a college that would educate the “whole person” by encouraging students to pursue the liberal arts as well as focused studies. Their vision survives to this day.

Lindenwood University is a member of and/or accredited by the following organizations:

The Higher Learning Commission

230 South LaSalle St., Suite 7-500

Chicago, IL 60604-1411

phone: (800) 621-7440/(312) 263-0456

fax: (312) 263-7462

info@hlcommission.org

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs

11520 West 119th St.

Overland Park, KS 66213

phone: (913) 339-9356

fax: (913) 339-6226

www.acbsp.org

The Council on Social Work Education

1701 Duke St., Suite 200

Alexandria, VA 22314-3457

phone: (703) 683-8080

fax: (703) 683-8099

info@cswe.org

The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education

2201 Double Creek Drive

Suite 5006 Round Rock, TX 78664

phone: (512) 733-9700

fax: 512-733-9701

www.caate.net

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

PO Box 480

Jefferson City, MO 65102

phone: 573-751-4212

fax: 573-751-8613

http://dese.mo.gov

Lindenwood is fully endorsed by the following organization:

The Society for Human Resource Management

1800 Duke St.

Alexandria, VA 22314

phone: (800) 283-7476

www.shrm.org

Lindenwood is a member of the following organizations:

The Teacher Education Accreditation Council

One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 320

Washington, DC 20036

phone: (202) 466-7236

www.teac.org

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation

One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 510

Washington, DC 20036

phone: (202)-955-6126

fax: (202)-955-6129

chea@chea.org

The faculty, administration, and staff of Lindenwood University are dedicated to sustaining excellent educational programs and learning environments. Therefore, we are also committed to mission-based, comprehensive, and data-driven assessment for the purpose of continuous institutional improvement and effectiveness.

Given the above commitment, the Culture of Continuous Improvement statement below serves as a compass in guiding our assessment and continuous improvement efforts. The statement describes the type of institutional culture that is needed to live out that commitment.

A Culture of Continuous Improvement: Defining Characteristics

1. The institution publicly affirms its commitment to effectiveness and continuous improvement and, in so doing, recognizes the need for accountability to its stakeholders.
2. The institution values effectiveness and continuous improvement in all facets and levels of its operations (e.g., individual professional development, classroom teaching and learning, program review, measurement of graduate success, student and employee satisfaction, governance).
3. Comprehensive and integrative assessment is conducted for the purpose of continuous improvement.
4. The leadership of the institution understands, values, and provides strong support for efforts related to assessment and continuous improvement.
5. Assessment for learning and of learning are valued, supported, and recognized.
6. Efforts to improve teaching are valued, supported, and recognized.
7. All aspects of the assessment process are conducted with a spirit of collaboration among colleagues within all programs and departments. There is collective investment in the commitment to effective teaching and learning and to overall institutional effectiveness.
8. Both faculty and staff value inquiry and the important role of evidence in the decision-making processes associated with continuous improvement. Multiple forms of direct and indirect evidence are used to make decisions annually.
9. Assessment processes and results are integrated within the institution’s planning and budgeting processes – the institution commits the necessary resources to support its assessment program, and assessment results inform both planning and budgeting.
10. The institution understands the critical importance of sustainable and transparent assessment practices, including documenting and sharing intended outcomes and objectives, appropriate methods of assessment, the results of assessment, and initiatives to “close the loop” wherein the results are used for continuous improvement.

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University complies with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other legislation, as amended, including the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other legislation that prohibits discrimination in employment and access to educational programs because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or physical handicap.

Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational and work environment. Any kind of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation is unacceptable. For the purpose of this policy, discrimination, harassment, and intimidation may be defined as any attempt on the part of individuals, groups, or recognized campus organizations to deny an individual or group those rights, freedoms, or opportunities available to all members of the University community. The University is committed to meeting the full intent and spirit of the anti-discrimination laws, not merely the minimum letter of the law. Inquiries concerning the application of Lindenwood University’s policy on nondiscrimination should be directed to the University’s Vice President for Human Resources.

Lindenwood University complies with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-226) as amended; the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Public Law 101-690); the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Acts of 1990 (final regulations published 1995, as revised 1999); and the Campus Securities Disclosures Section 485 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 (final regulations published 1994, with technical corrections published 1995, as revised 1999); the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, as revised in the Amendments of 1998); and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (the Buckley Amendment), as amended, including Section 507 of the Patriot Act of 2001 and seeks to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for students and employees.

Lindenwood University is proud of its diverse population, which includes faculty and staff from all corners of the world and students from six continents and nearly 100 countries. We believe that our diversity and commitment to valuing diversity, both in and out of the classroom, places us on the cutting edge of scholastic and pedagogical innovations, preparing our students to be educated, responsible citizens of a global community. Intentionally, we design our policies in such a manner that all stakeholders (whether students, employees, or visitors) will be treated with respect, dignity, fairness, equality, and inclusiveness in the pursuit and achievement of the objectives of their relationship with the University.

Additionally, we strive to ensure that the opportunities afforded by the University for learning, personal advancement, and employment are offered to all without discrimination and that we always provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for all students, employees, and visitors. Upholding a culture of diversity, equality, and inclusion means that we fully understand and accept the fact that people of different cultures, races, colors, genders, ages, qualifications, skills, experiences, religions, orientations, affiliations, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, abilities, disabilities, or countries of origin are simply fellow human beings who are different and have the right to be different without being mistreated or discriminated against on the basis of their differences. Therefore, all Lindenwood policies, facilities, resources, activities, and privileges, irrespective of individual differences, are made available and accessible to everyone in our community.

At Lindenwood University, we will strive to

• Offer collaborative and integrated academic and sporting programs that provide mutually beneficial experiences (locally and internationally) to our diverse body of students.
• Pursue and promote mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among our teaching and non-teaching staff, contractors, suppliers, and visitors to our community who represent the aforementioned differences.
• Respect the knowledge, skills, and experiences that every person in our community brings to the University.
• Design and operate flexible and easily accessible services, facilities, and activities whose procedures appropriately recognize the needs of both the able and disabled.
• Make every effort to ensure that no discrimination occurs among individuals or groups in the daily discharge of the University’s work.
• Protect every member of our community against all forms of discrimination.
• Encourage and promote the empowerment and advancement of ethnic and gender minority groups within our community through academic and social activities, offering activities of special interest to them, and affording them equal-opportunity integration within our community.
• Make every effort to ensure that our current and future contractual agreements and obligations fully reflect and embrace our commitment to the philosophy and culture of diversity, equality, and inclusion as delineated in this statement.
• Encourage all faculty and staff members to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion in all locations within our community.

The St. Charles, Mo., campus, located at 209 South Kingshighway in the heart of St. Charles, is a 500-acre site and is the original campus founded by George and Mary Sibley in 1827. Historic buildings grace the tree-lined walks and house classrooms, administrative offices, and student residences.

The Belleville, Ill., campus of the Lindenwood University System is a full-service campus offering a wide range of traditional undergraduate degrees, as well as evening undergraduate and graduate programs. Located at 2600 West Main St., within 15 miles of downtown St. Louis, Lindenwood University-Belleville offers on-campus housing, intercollegiate athletics, campus dining, student activities, as well as modern educational facilities. Complete information on all academic programs at LU-Belleville may be found at www.belleville.lindenwood.edu/.

Initially an extension site of the University, Lindenwood University-Belleville was founded in 2003 on the historic site of the former Belleville Township High School, and traditional daytime semester program was started in 2009. Lindenwood University-Belleville is a blend of tradition and innovation, echoing the educational values of its founders and adapting to meet the needs of its growing student body.

Note: Full-time day students who are admitted at either Lindenwood University-St. Charles or Lindenwood University-Belleville may enroll in classes at the other campus. However, they must also be concurrently enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours at their home campus.

The Office of Student Services is located on the first floor of Old Main Hall. The Dean of Students, Director of Residential Services, Work and Learn Coordinator, Director of Student Life and Leadership, and Coordinator of Student Development are located in the Office of Student Services to aid and assist in all student development and planning.

Lindenwood University-Belleville offers several diverse housing options for students interested in living on campus. Students may choose to live in one of several houses owned and operated by the University that surround the campus. This residential type of living provides students with a familial atmosphere.  Other students prefer the convenience of staying in the Lynx Lodge, a former hotel converted into a dormitory and located just one block from the U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon Student Center. Female students may enjoy the newly constructed, state-of–the-art dorm located just across the street from the dining hall and classroom buildings. A 27-unit apartment building owned by Lindenwood University-Belleville offers students a more independent and private yet secure living environment while still enjoying the University food service. The Fred J. Kern Residence Hall, which opened in the fall of 2014, provides male students with another housing option just across the street from the dining hall and classroom buildings. Each room of both dorms includes phone service, cable, and access to LU Internet.

The Lindenwood University-Belleville library, located in the West Wing of Old Main Hall, is a member of the MOBIUS consortium. MOBIUS provides students access to over 14 million book titles throughout the state of Missouri. If an item is not available through MOBIUS, patrons may use the Lindenwood University-St. Charles Butler Library Inter-Library Loan service. The library’s dedicated staff is available to help patrons navigate the wealth of traditional print and electronic resources that it offers. The library staff has developed a series of workshops, class presentations, and study guides to assist users.

In addition, the Lindenwood University-Belleville librarians are available during all library hours to assist patrons with their research needs. Reference librarians may be contacted by calling (618) 239-6072 or emailing BellevilleLibrary@lindenwood.edu.

The mission of the Academic Success Center (ASC) is to help students achieve their educational goals while supporting their development toward being efficient, independent learners with a commitment to academic excellence. Located in the lower level of Old Main Hall  in rooms M110 and M111, the ASC offers a range of support for students seeking academic assistance of any nature. In the ASC, students can access a wide array of services, including personalized study skills mentoring, one-on-one peer tutoring, and a quiet and comfortable study space. Students may contact ASC staff by calling (618) 239-6077, emailing BellevilleAcademicSuccess@lindenwood.edu, or stopping by the center. 

The writing lab within the ASC has computers where students are encouraged to meet with a writing consultant while they work on an essay or paper. Writing tutors are prepared to help students with all stages of the writing process. The goal at the ASC is to help students become confident and effective writers. Common areas the tutors can address include starting the assignment, essay organization, sentence clarity, paragraph transitions, grammar, and word usage.  There are a number of resources for students to use in the center or to take with them. 

Peer tutoring is available in other subjects, including biology and math, depending on current needs. Each semester the tutoring schedule is posted and updates are sent to students through their lionmail accounts. In-person tutoring is available on a walk-in or appointment basis. Online tutoring is also offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all Lindenwood students through their student portals from the educational resource Smarthinking. 

The ASC Mentoring Program provides a holistic approach to academic student development through a network of comprehensive resources and services. Student participants of the mentoring program receive supportive services that help them transition into academically successful students; these sessions include academic workshops, skill-building sessions, and semester-long tracking of student progress. The highest priority of the ASC is meeting the educational needs of the Lindenwood University-Belleville students. The team includes three full-time staff members, graduate assistants, and students within the Work and Learn program. The Director of Academic Student Success and Retention oversees the ASC and its related programs and can be reached at (618) 239-6223.

While Lindenwood University-Belleville does not offer healthcare services, students may access two regional hospitals conveniently located just a short distance from campus when in need. For a list of services provided and insurance accepted, please visit the website of St. Elizabeth's Hospital at www.steliz.org or the website of Memorial Hospital at www.memhosp.com.

Combining academic, personal, and career counseling, the Student Counseling and Resource Center (SCRC) offers a holistic approach to counseling students in a host of interrelated fields. The SCRC provides free, confidential individual and group counseling services as well as exploration of personality type for career choice. Counseling is provided by graduate students in their final term of the Professional Counseling Program. Students may contact the SCRC office at (618) 239-6161 to make an appointment.

It is the guiding philosophy of Lindenwood University to make our facilities, programs, and classes as accessible to individuals with disabilities as practical. In instances where a room or building is not easily accessible, it may be necessary to bring the service or class to the student. It is the responsibility of the student to advise the campus ADA Coordinator. The ADA Coordinator will work in conjunction with the office of Academic Services to make reasonable accommodations for the student.

The University provides reasonable accommodations to students with aural, visual, and other impairments that might hamper a student’s reaching his or her potential achievement level. Students who need assistance or accommodations regarding certified disabilities should contact the ADA Coordinator at (618) 239-6095.

It is every student’s responsibility to check his/her Lindenwood Lionmail email account. Important messages including academic standing and financial aid reminders are sent via Lionmail. Students will be held accountable for any information or due dates sent via the campus email system. Lionmail accounts are provided for all students and may be activated by contacting the Computer Services Department at (636) 949-5100.

Students are entitled to print an allotted number of pages from any on-campus computer at no cost per term. Resident students may print up to 500 pages per term; commuter students may print up to 300 pages per term. Once the total number of allotted pages has been reached, students may opt to purchase additional printing capabilities through the student portal at a rate of $3 per hundred pages.

Lindenwood University-Belleville offers academic programs leading to Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees at the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, the University offers coursework leading to Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Science in Administration (MSA), and Education Specialist (EdS) degrees. The major areas of study and the format in which each degree is offered are listed under “Academic Programs” in this catalog.

Lindenwood University-Belleville strives to make quality higher education accessible to traditional and nontraditional students. Undergraduate and graduate academic programs are offered in two distinct formats: the semester and quarter term formats.

Semester Schedule

The undergraduate semester schedule programs are considered “traditional,” with classes being offered during the day. 

Note: Graduate degrees in education and counseling are also held on a semester basis, but with most classes meeting in the evenings.

Quarter Term Schedule

Lindenwood University-Belleville also offers graduate and undergraduate degrees for the “nontraditional” student. Accelerated programs geared toward these students are offered in the evenings on a quarter-term schedule through the University’s School of Accelerated Degree Programs.

Lindenwood University-Belleville espouses the importance of co-curricular involvement in activities as a vital supplement to academic learning and part of the total educational experience. The Department of Student Development serves as a coordination hub on campus, working closely with student organizations in creating, facilitating, and promoting activities and programs. Various student-organized programs and events are scheduled throughout the year. Lindenwood University-Belleville Student Government Association and other student organizations are supported by the Department of Student Development.

Student organizations and activities are an important part of campus life, providing opportunities for students to design and implement activities, programs, and events that support and grow the goals of the Lindenwood University-Belleville mission. Students may complement their educational experiences by becoming involved with approximately 27 student clubs and organizations which, along with the Student Activities Office, are the major scheduling source for lectures, movies, dances, entertainers, and a wide variety of events and activities designed to satisfy the eclectic needs and interests of the student community. Each organization is required to register and seek approval from the Dean of Students each year and provide the name of a faculty or staff advisor, a current mission statement, and a current list of officers and members.

Organizations on the Lindenwood-Belleville campus include Accounting and Finance Club, Arcane Gaming, Association of Sport Business & Entrepreneurship, Bible Study - Sojourn, Biology Club, Black Student Leadership Union – BSU, Campus Activities Board – CAB, Chess Club, Criminal Justice Club, Enactus, Entrepreneurial Ventures, Fellowship of Christian Athletes - FCA, Future Educators of America - FEA, Fusion, Hyperlynx, International Student Organization, Lindenwood Student Government Association - LBSGA, LU Gentlemen's Academy, LU-Belleville Athletic Training Association – LUBATA, Lynx Pack, Lynx Tale Student Newspaper and Momentum Yearbook Committee, Photography Club, Powerlifting Club, Psi Chi, Psychology Club, Red Cross Club, and Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity.

All students at Lindenwood-Belleville, full-time and part-time, undergraduate or graduate are encouraged to participate in the Lindenwood Student Government Association (LBSGA). The LBSGA works to promote structure for student expression and self-government. Members of the LBSGA play a strong role in the academic and administrative decision-making process of the University through representation in various planning governance committees. For more information about LBSGA, visit the LBSGA office on the bottom floor of the U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon Student Center. Students may also access the LBSGA website, http://belleville.lindenwood.edu/studentdevelopment/LBSGA/index.html, or email questions to LSGAPresident_Belleville@lindenwood.edu.

Intercollegiate, intramural, and recreational sports are an important part of out-of-classroom life. Intramural sports offer exercise and healthy competition to all students in the community. Intercollegiate baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country track, football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, spirit squads, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, field hockey, rugby, and wrestling are offered for full-time students. Lindenwood University-Belleville is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the American Midwest Conference of NAIA.

For those involved in team sports and others interested in personal fitness, the University has a state-of-the-art fitness center with extensive weight training equipment located in the Fitness and Training Center. For any questions regarding the center, please call (618) 239-6078.

Lindenwood University enjoys a historical relationship with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The University fosters an ecumenical spirit that celebrates the wide range of religious traditions represented on a campus. Students wishing to worship can find religious services of all major faiths within the greater Belleville community.

When Lindenwood-Belleville students want to enjoy big-city amenities, they can ride the Metro Link light rail system to St. Louis and enjoy all that the city has to offer, including the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Fox Theatre, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, the St. Louis Symphony, and St. Louis Zoo. Lindenwood University-Belleville students find the city of Belleville to be diverse and welcoming. Belleville offers parks, cultural events, fall festivals, a farmer’s market, shopping, sporting events, and the second oldest philharmonic orchestra in the United States. Seasonal activities in Belleville include the Oktoberfest, Chili Cook-Off, Art-on-the Square Art Fair, and holiday parades for St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day, and Christmas.

Any student who gains unauthorized entrance to another student’s portal, makes changes to another student’s schedule via the student portal, or otherwise tampers with or compromises private or privileged communications will be expelled from Lindenwood University. Additionally, such actions will be brought to the attention of law enforcement officials and may be prosecuted through the legal system.

Only the President (or, in the President’s absence, the Provost or Associate Provost) has the authority to cancel classes in the event of severe weather. Should weather conditions create potentially hazardous conditions, Lindenwood University will evaluate the situation and take into consideration both the safety of faculty, staff, and students as well as the services that must be provided despite the inclement weather. After this careful evaluation and depending on the hazardous weather conditions (e.g., tornado, snow/ice, etc.), an alert will be sent to students, faculty, and staff via a Rave system text message and Lionmail message, as necessary. This alert will detail the appropriate action required of faculty, staff, and students and will also specify the essential services that must be provided despite the inclement weather. Instructors are expected to schedule a make-up class meeting when evening classes are cancelled due to inclement weather.

In the unlikely event that LU alters the normal work and/or class schedule, an announcement will be posted on the University’s homepage (http://lindenwood.edu and http://belleville.lindenwood.edu). An announcement will also be distributed via Lionmail and the Rave system. Separate announcements may be made regarding evening classes (those classes starting at or after 4 p.m.).

The University strives to maintain its teaching, research, and service activities in accordance with established schedules and operational demands. To this end, suspension or cancellation of classes due to inclement weather will be avoided whenever possible. Because certain essential functions of the University must be provided at all times, campus operations will not be suspended in the event of severe weather even though classes may be cancelled.

In accordance with the law of the State of Illinois, both smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco are prohibited on all campus property. This includes classrooms, laboratories, hallways, offices, restrooms, residence halls and lounges.

The University has established a number of appeal and grievance procedures (such as the process for appealing the suspension of financial aid).  Once the normal appeal and grievance procedures have been exhausted, students may submit formal written complaints concerning academic matters to the Provost and complaints concerning student services to the Vice President for Student Development.  All other formal written student complaints should be directed to the student ombudsman.

Lindenwood University shares information from students’ formal written complaints with the Higher Learning Commission as part of its normal accrediting process. This information is shared in such a manner as to shield all individual identities of complainants. No letters or documents revealing the identities of individual complaints will be shared without the express written permission of the complainants.

No person is permitted to carry firearms or other weapons, either concealed or visible, on Lindenwood property or to any Lindenwood class. The exception to this policy applies only to duly sworn, on-duty law enforcement officers. Off-duty police officers may carry concealed weapons to their Lindenwood classes only if authorized to do so by their employer and the states of Missouri or Illinois.

During classroom instruction and testing, the use of cameras, video, audio taping devices, or any other kinds of  electronic devices (including telephones, Google glasses, and Bluetooth devices) is allowed only after obtaining written permission from the instructor; otherwise, the use of such devices is prohibited.

Electronic devices used for prosthetic or accessibility purposes may be used only after the faculty member has received a signed accommodation letter from the ADA Coordinator.  Any recordings made during class may not be redistributed to anyone not a member of the class without the express written permission of the instructor and all student subjects of the recording.

Recorded video sessions of a class may be used within that class as long as the videos are password-protected. Recordings that involve students cannot be used in future classes. Video sessions of lectures recorded outside of the classroom by the instructor that do not involve students may be used by the instructor in future classes. Students may download electronic course materials for personal use only.