Military & Accelerated Programs

• Prospective students
  Learn more about our military and Kansas City area accelerated programs.
• Video: programs for military personnel
• Transferring Credits
• Record of Progress
• Attendance Requirements
• Registration Requirements
• Alternate Methods of Instruction
• Campus Locations

Admission to Park's School of Arts & Sciences' Metro Park and Park's School for Extended Learning degree programs requires:

1. Completion of the application for Admission and Evaluation form and payment of the appropriate fees.

2. Evidence of high school graduation, which may include:

1.  a signed Application for Admission and Evaluation form with the appropriate box checked, indicating completion of high school or equivalent; OR

2. a copy of a high school transcript; OR

3. a GED certificate which reports the score earned on the GED exam; OR

4. an official college or university transcript with high school name and the date graduated; OR

5. AARTS (Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System) transcript; OR

6. SMART (Sailor-Marine/American Council on Education Registry Transcript)

7. DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); OR

8. a certified DD Form 295 (Application for the Evaluation of Educational ãïxperiences During Military Service); OR

9. a certified copy of one of the following:

1. DA Form 2-l (Personnel Qualification Record Part II)-United States Army;

2. AF Form 186 (Individual Record Education Services Program) United States Air Force;

3. Page 8 of Student Record Book-United States Marine Corps;

4. Page 4 of Navy Personnel Form 1070604-United States Navy.

3. Park University reserves the right to deny admission to any student whose level of academic performance at other educational institutions is below 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. In such cases, Park University officials may require submission of evidence that the student graduated in the upper 50 percent of the high school graduating class and has achieved a minimum ACT score of 20 or a SAT score of 840.

4. In those instances where students have attended college elsewhere without graduating from high school, a college transcript evidencing 48 or more earned credit hours can also be utilized as evidence of high school equivalency.

English and Mathematics Placement Tests

No testing is required for any student transferring in college credit with a grade of "C" or better for the "traditional freshman English composition" sequence, (Park University's EN 105 & EN 106) or College Algebra (Park University's MA 131).

Students who achieve an acceptable score on the English Placement Exam or equivalent test are exempt from PK 112 Effective Writing Skills and may enroll in EN 105 Writing Strategies and Concepts and subsequently in EN 106 Writing Purposes and Research. If an acceptable score is not achieved, the student must enroll in PK 112 Effective Writing Skills and subsequently in EN 105 and EN 106.

Students who achieve an acceptable score on the Mathematics Placement Test are exempt from PK 118 Contemporary Mathematics and will be placed in an appropriate higher level mathematics course. If an acceptable score is not achieved, the student must enroll in PK 118 Contemporary Mathematics and subsequently in MA 131 College Algebra.

NOTE: English 105, 106 and Mathematics 131 or their equivalences must be completed within the first five terms of enrollment at Park University, or enrollment in other courses may be restricted.

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Academic Policies and Regulations

Transfer Credits

Park University will accept transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions. A minimum of 60 hours will be accepted for an Associates degree (excluding AAS). A maximum of 75 hours from all two-year schools sources will be applied. Use the Registrar's web site for information about transferring credit.

The block method is now used in evaluating the general education component of transferring credit for students with a 2.0 cumulative GPA and with a "C" or better in each course used to meet the 24-26 hour General Education requirement at Park University. No transfer course with a grade less than "C" will be used to meet any Park University course requirement. This applies only to students transferring into Park University with a transferable and non-terminal associate degree, including a minimum of six hours in each of the Divisions of Humanities, Social and Administrative Sciences, and Natural Sciences.

Students who do not have a transferable and non-terminal degree will have their courses accepted on a course by course basis. No course with less than a "C" will be accepted.

1. Evaluation of Previous Education and Training

Students can request an evaluation by declaring the major in which they seek a degree and by submitting documentation of previously earned credit. All documents presented to Park University for evaluation become the property of Park University.

The student must do the following when requesting an evaluation:

1. Complete an Application for Admission and Evaluation and submit it to the Park University representative with the required fee.

2. Request that the following documentation be forwarded directly to the Park University representative:

• Official transcripts from previous colleges and universities (including Community College of the Air Force).

• Official test reports or transcripts from College Level Examination Program (CLEP), United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI), Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and/or American College Testing/Proficiency Examination Program (ACT/PEP).

3. For military personnel: A certified DD Form 295 (Application for the Evaluation of Educational Experiences During Military Service) or SMART transcript (Sailor-Marine/American Council on Education Registry Transcript) or AARTS transcript (Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript Systems) or DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active duty).

Once the completed Application for Admission and Evaluation form and all documentation for evaluation have been received by the Park University representative, the evaluation materials will be forwarded to the Registrar's Office.

2. Credit Awards

1. A maximum of 60 credit hours is awarded for a Registered Nurse's license.

2. Credit for formal military service schools is awarded based on the recommendations of the American Council on Education's Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services (ACE Guide). The credit will be awarded where it is applicable to a student's degree program and in keeping with the basic educational philosophy of Park.

3. Credit for military service: 4 credit hours are awarded to students who have successfully completed basic military training. Enlisted personnel may receive additional credit based on their military occupational specialty/skill level. Commissioned personnel may be awarded up to a maximum of 20 credit hours.

4. Credit for Validated Learning Equivalency may be awarded for educational experiences based on documentation submitted by the student and with the recommendation of the appropriate Program Coordinator. A student may petition for a maximum of 24 credit hours. No more than 24 hours will be awarded for validated learning experience. Petitions for Validated Learning Equivalency credit must be submitted within two terms of being enrolled, and a student can petition for credit only one time. Review of Validated Learning Equivalency Petitions will normally take six to eight weeks depending upon the number of courses in the petition. Petitions submitted between April 1 and September 1 may take considerably longer.  Park University will also accept validated learning from experience that is assessed and transcripted under the auspices of selected regionally accredited colleges or universities and also agrees to accept the credit assessment recommendations of specific interinstitutional assessment teams that follow the basic guidelines of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and when Park University requirements are met. There is a $25 application fee for this service, and if any credit is awarded, there is a $30 per semester credit hour awarded charge. The per credit hour fees must be paid within 30 days of notification of credit award.

5. The following credit is awarded for satisfactory completion of the CLEP General Examinations based on the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE):

     *The minimum acceptable score if taken prior to October 1, 1978 is 457; if taken between October 1, 1978 and May 1, 1986 the minimum score is 557.

A maximum of 27/30 credit hours from the General Examinations will be accepted toward a bachelor's degree. No credit is awarded for separate subtest scores.

6. Credit is awarded for satisfactory completion of the CLEP/DANTES/USAFI/PEP Subject Examinations based on the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE). Credit can be applied to major core requirements.

• A maximum of 30 credit hours from the Subject Examinations will be accepted toward a bachelor's degree.

• A maximum of 57/60 credit hours from the General and Subject Examinations combined will be accepted toward a bachelor's degree.

• A maximum of 27/30 credit hours from the General and Subject Examinations combined will be accepted toward an associate's degree.

7. Where duplication among college courses, credit for prior learning and tests exists, credit will be allowed for only one. Credits awarded from CLEP General Examinations and CLEP/USAFI/DANTES/PEP Subject Examinations will not be substituted at a later date.

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3. Record of Progress (Degree Audit)

After the transfer credit has been evaluated, a degree audit is prepared which itemizes the student's degree completion requirements. The student must complete the degree requirements in effect at the time of the initial evaluation. The requirements are not affected if Park University changes the degree program in future catalogs. In each degree program there are additional electives required to complete the degree. However, the number of hours shown on an individual student's degree audit may vary from that in the catalog depending on the individual record of each student.

The degree audit is an advisement tool and does not constitute an agreement or a contract. A final review is made prior to graduation to insure the completion of all degree requirements. The audit will be corrected if an error is found.

The initial audit will serve as a record of admission to Park University for purposes of financial aid and Veterans Administration eligibility.

4. Academic Records

The Registrar's Office maintains for each enrolled student an academic record and a degree audit. All official academic transactions are recorded.

At the conclusion of each term, the Registrar's Office issues to each student an official grade report. A degree audit reflecting all completed courses will be available on request. A student may request one FREE official transcript at the end of each term of enrollment. Any student may obtain extra copies of a transcript by filing an official request along with the per copy fee. No transcripts will be issued unless at least one graded Park course appears on the transcript. No outstanding balance may show on the student's account.

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Attendance

Instructors are required to keep attendance records and report absences.

1. Absences for cogent reasons may be excused by the instructor, but missed work must be made up within the term of enrollment.

2. Work missed through unexcused absences must also be made up within the term of enrollment; but unexcused absences may carry further penalties.

3. In the event of two consecutive weeks of unexcused absences in a term of enrollment, the student will be administratively withdrawn, resulting in a grade of "F".

4. An Incomplete will not be issued to a student who has unexcused or excessive absences recorded for the course.

5. Students receiving Military Tuition Assistance or Veterans Administration educational benefits must not exceed three unexcused absences in the term of enrollment. Excessive absences will be reported to the appropriate agency and may result in a monetary penalty to the student.

6. Reports of F grades (attendance or academic) resulting from excessive unexcused absences for students receiving financial assistance from agencies not mentioned in item 5 above will be reported to the appropriate agency.

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Registration

1. Registration periods will begin approximately one month prior to the beginning of each term. Specific dates are publicized. Students cannot be given credit for a course for which they have not registered.

2. The forms required to accomplish enrollment are:

a. Enrollment Data Sheet accurately completed and signed by the student.

b. Completed and processed forms to award Veterans Administration educational benefits, Pell Grant, Stafford Student Loan, Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS), Military Tuition Assistance and tuition assistance from any other agency. Proper approval signatures must be obtained by the student.

c. Check, money order, MasterCard, Discover or Visa to pay for all fees and costs.

3. Students who are not funded by Military Tuition Assistance must pay for all tuition and fees at the time of registration. VA Vocational Rehabilitation students are exempt from this policy. If, for any reason, the assistance, benefits, or payment cannot be collected by the college, the student assumes the obligation to pay in full all outstanding tuition/fees.

Missed Final Exams

Only extraordinary circumstances warrant a student's being allowed to make up a missed final examination. It is the student's responsibility to contact the faculty member before the scheduled exam or by the end of the first working day after the day of the missed exam to request permission to take a makeup exam. In the process of determining whether a makeup exam should be allowed, the burden of proof is on the student. The faculty member has the right to request verification of any excuse offered by the student.

A student who is denied permission to take a makeup exam may appeal immediately to the Academic Director or Resident Center Administrator. The appeal must be made in writing by the end of the first working day after the day of the denial. The appeal will be forwarded immediately to the appropriate Vice President whose decision will be final.

Student Conduct

Faculty members are expected to dismiss from their classrooms students whose behavior is detrimental to good order in the classroom. Such behavior includes, but is not limited to, the use of abusive or obscene language, attending the class under influence of drugs or alcohol, etc. Students who are dismissed from class may be given failing grades, suspension, or expulsion from Park University. Students whose behavior, either verbal or written, is detrimental to the good order of Park University may be subject to disciplinary action ranging from suspension to expulsion from Park University. Students who exhibit abusive or obscene language or behavior toward administrative personnel or support staff are also subject to suspension or expulsion from Park University.

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Alternative Methods of Instruction

Individualized Instruction

Individualized Instruction is a method by which a course offered in this catalog may be completed in a tutorial mode. A student is allowed a maximum of nine credit hours of Individualized Instruction during the Park University career if the conditions listed below are met:

To qualify for an Individualized Instruction course, a student must:

1. Be evaluated as a degree-seeking student at Park University;

2. Be in residence in a Park University program;

3. Be within nine (9) semester hours of completing a degree.

Approval for an Individualized Instruction course also requires the following:

1. That a substitute course cannot be determined that would reduce degree requirements;

2. That the course was not available in the immediately prior term, and

3. That the course is not scheduled to be available in the next term.

If qualified, the student must request an Individualized Instruction Agreement through the Park University Administrator. The Agreement must include the faculty member's name, specific course requirements, meeting times (minimum of 11/2 hours per week), and evaluation requirements and must be submitted to the School for Extended Learning or Kansas City Accelerated Offices four weeks prior to the beginning of the term. Final approval of the Individualized Instruction is made by the Vice President for Distance Learning or MetroPark Director, as appropriate, after a total review of the student's record.

Independent Study

Independent Study is a method for completion of courses in this catalog that do not require special equipment, instruments, machines and are deemed suitable to be taught as an Independent Study. The course consists of a prescribed program of study with provision for interaction between a student and a Park University faculty member.

To qualify for an Independent Study course, the student must:

1. Have been evaluated as a degree-seeking student at Park;

2. Have no access to classes in any Park University program;

3. Have completed no less than 9 of the 15 residency hours for an Associate's degree; OR

4. Have completed no less than 24 of the 30 residency hours for a Bachelor of Science degree. OR

5. Have completed no less than 18 of the 24 residency hours for a Bachelor of Arts degree.

If qualified, the student must request an Independent Study Agreement from the Registrar.

A student is allowed a maximum of six credit hours through Independent Study to complete the residency requirements. Each three hour course carries a maximum completion time of six months. Final approval of all Independent Study courses is made by the Registrar.

All charges, regardless of funding, must be paid in full by check or money order when the Independent Study is approved.

Courses Offered Online Through Internet

Courses are offered Online from the current Park University catalog and taught in an accelerated format 5 terms per year. Students may register for courses during their Park University career any term the courses are offered. Contact with the instructor must be made on a weekly basis. Syllabi on the Internet indicate required homework and tests. A conference room is set up where students and instructor communicate or a student may contact the instructor privately.

The student must have his or her own access to the Internet.   The online courses will apply as residency toward a degree.