Classification of Students
A student's classification is determined as follows:
- Freshman--fewer than 27 earned semester hours
- Sophomore--27 to 59 earned semester hours
- Junior--60 to 89 earned semester hours
- Senior--90 earned semester hours or more
Continuation as a Student
Continuation as a student at Oral Roberts University is not automatic. Basic academic, spiritual and physical requirements must be satisfied. Additionally, all prior balances must be paid in full.
Students admitted on probation must earn sufficient credit and meet academic grade-point average standards based on their classification within the first academic year to be removed from probation. Failure to be removed from probation may result in suspension.
Students consult with their program advisor prior to each enrollment period. Progress for students is monitored by the advisor and the students, based on the appropriate degree plan sheet.
The university may request the withdrawal of students at any time if they fail to comply with the standards and regulations of the institution or are not compatible with its philosophy. It is imperative for students to understand that attending and receiving a degree from ORU is a privilege, not a right.
Course Load
Undergraduate
The typical course load consists of 16 hours each semester; however, in some disciplines the load may be heavier. Undergraduate students wanting to take more than 18.5 hours in a given semester must get permission of their major department chair and Student Accounts. Students may not take more than 24 hours in a given semester.
Full-Time Status Requirement
Fall and Spring terms
Full-time student status for undergraduate students in the fall or spring semester is defined as being enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours. Recorded course withdrawal does not change full-time status unless the student withdraws from all courses, which indicates withdrawal from the university. Online courses contribute toward the fulfillment of the 12-hour requirement; however, it may affect full-time financial aid.
Summer terms
Undergraduate full-time student status during a summer session is defined as being enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours for a three-week session. A student may enroll in a maximum of five credit hours in a three-week summer session.
Summer Online Courses
A student may enroll in a maximum of eight credit hours of online courses during a summer session.
Summer and Summer Online Combined
A student may enroll in a combination of online courses and residential courses during the summer. A maximum of 16 combined hours (residential and online) is permitted during the summer.
Grading System
Grade points are assigned to each grade: four grade points are awarded for each semester hour of "A," three for "B," two for "C," one for "D," and zero for "F," and "FA." No grade below "C" may apply toward the major or professional education courses. Normally a grade of "C" is required for courses in concentration. Generally, a course in which a "D" is earned may apply toward general education, minor, cognate, and general elective degree requirements. Some departments may have more rigorous requirements.
Incompletes
On rare occasions, the grade of "I" may be given for work that is incomplete at the time grades are given. It is given only after the instructor and the department chair or college dean approve a petition submitted by the student that his or her work is incomplete for good cause. Good cause typically consists of a catastrophic event in which the student is prevented from completing the course requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the petition, make up any incomplete work and ask the instructor to submit a grade change to the registrar. If the work is not completed by the end of the subsequent semester, the incomplete will automatically convert to an "F." For graduating seniors, the degree will be awarded in the term that the student completes his or her course work, not the final term of enrollment.
Extension of Incomplete
On rare occasions, the grade of "E" may be given for work that remains incomplete longer than the one semester allowed to make up incomplete work. It is given only after the student establishes with the instructor and the department chair or college dean, by written permission, that his or her work remains incomplete for good cause. Good cause typically consists of a catastrophic event in which the student is prevented from completing the course requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the petition, make up any incomplete work and ask the instructor to submit a grade change to the registrar. If the work is not completed by the end of the second semester following enrollment in the course, the extended incomplete will automatically convert to an "F." For graduating seniors, the degree will be awarded in the term that the student completes his or her course work, not in the final term of enrollment.
Course Withdrawal
If a student withdraws from a course in the fall or spring semester after the add/drop date, a "W" is recorded. If the reason for withdrawal is being called for military duty, then the student can request a "WM". To request withdrawal the student must submit a petition to withdrawal. All petitions will be accepted prior to the end of the 13th week of a semester-long course or an equivalent period of time for course offerings of differing length. No petition to withdraw will be accepted following the 13th week of a semester or the equivalent date for course offerings of differing length.
Course Repeat
A course may be repeated at ORU. The course appears on the transcript with all grades given and a repeat flag, but only the highest grade of a repeated course counts in the GPA. Courses may be repeated outside ORU with departmental approval; however, grade point averages earned at ORU remain on the transcript and are not affected by grades earned elsewhere. Double credit is not awarded for repeated classes. Some seminars, internships, music lessons, dance classes, ensembles, and HPE activity courses may be taken more than once for credit.
Pass/No-Pass Option
Students choosing the pass/no-pass option receive a standard grade from the instructor, but this grade is converted to a “P” or “NP” grade on the grade report and transcript. Grades of “A,” “B,” or “C” are converted to a pass grade; grades of “D” or “F” are converted to the no-pass grade. Credits taken under the pass/no-pass option are not counted in the GPA. The pass/no-pass option may not be chosen to fulfill general education requirements or requirements for a major, minor, concentration, or cognate.
Audit
Normally, regular class attendance as outlined in the syllabus is required to receive an audit on the transcript. A student who withdraws from an audit course by requesting that the instructor send a memo to the Registrar’s Office before the last day of class shall have that course deleted from the transcript. If a student does not withdraw and does not meet audit requirements as determined by the instructor for the course, a “no pass” grade is recorded on the transcript.
Honors
President's List and Provost's List
Honor rolls are available to undergraduate students who are enrolled full-time. Honor rolls for residential students are based on full-time enrollment in each fall and spring semester, and are not given for summer school. Honor rolls are available to online students who are enrolled in full-time hours for any 7-week Fall A and/or B, or Spring A and/or B online terms.
- The Provost’s honor roll recognizes undergraduate students who are enrolled in full-time hours per the above policy, exclusive of pass/no-pass courses, and who attain a grade point average of 3.50 or higher with no grade below “C.”
- The President’s honor roll recognizes undergraduate students who are enrolled in full-time hours per the above policy, exclusive of pass/no-pass courses, and who attain a grade point average of 4.00.
Graduating with Honors
Honors are determined for the commencement program and ceremony, for both graduate and undergraduate students, based on the cumulative GPA at the conclusion of the fall semester prior to commencement. Honors on the diploma include the final semester of coursework for the degree, the grade earned on the senior paper or project.
Undergraduate
Students who fulfill the degree requirements with cumulative grade point averages (GPAs) of at least 3.80 and earn grades of “A” or “B” on the senior paper/project receive the distinction summa cum laude. Students with cumulative GPAs between 3.60 and 3.79 who earn grades of “A” or “B” on the senior paper/project receive the distinction magna cum laude. Students with a cumulative GPA between 3.40 and 3.59 who earn a grade of “A” or “B” on the senior paper/project receive the distinction cum laude.
Graduate
Graduate students completing a master’s program or education specialist program with 4.00 GPA’s receive the distinction “with high honors.” Those with GPA’s between 3.80 and 3.99 receive the distinction “with honors.” Doctoral programs do not have honors distinctions.
Academic Probation and Suspension
All students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward a degree or other approved objective to be eligible to continue enrolling in the university. Credit is not awarded for grades of "F," “FA,” "I," or "W." Likewise, credit is not awarded for non-credit or audited courses. Students must also maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average based on their overall attempted credit hours. These requirements are specified below:
| Overall Total Hours Attempted | ORU GPA Required |
| 1-26 | 1.50 |
| 27-59 | 1.75 |
| More than 60 | 2.00 |
Graduate students should reference their respective section of this catalog for academic
standards within their program. Certain undergraduate departments (business, education,
engineering, nursing and social work) require higher cumulative grade-point averages.
Students pursuing these programs should reference the respective department's section
of this catalog for academic standards.
Good Standing
A student who meets the University's retention standards is in good academic standing.
Academic Probation
Initial academic progress evaluation will occur at the end of a Fall or Spring semester for a degree seeking student who has attempted a minimum of 12 ORU hours. Upon this initial evaluation of academic progress if the student has not met the minimum cumulative grade-point average based on their overall attempted credit hours they will be placed on Academic Probation and probationary standing will be recorded on the transcript. Academic progress will be evaluated at the end of each subsequent semester for continued probation or removal from probation either of which will be updated on the transcript. The Department of Veteran Affairs will be notified of any students using educational benefits who are placed on academic probation.
Academic Suspension
When a student who has been on a full year of academic probation fails to meet the applicable retention standard set by the university they will be placed on pending suspension status. Summer enrollment will be permitted with a minimum of 6 hours that will be limited to core academic courses that meet general education or degree requirements. To continue in the fall semester these students must make at least a 2.00 summer GPA in their summer courses. Students who achieve a 2.0 summer GPA, but do not raise their cumulative GPA to retention standards in the summer will be enrolled on probation in the fall semester. Students who fail to achieve a 2.00 or higher summer GPA in the summer sessions or to raise their cumulative GPA to retention standards will be placed on academic suspension and may not be reinstated until after one regular semester. Students accepted into ORU on probationary status will be suspended at the end of the spring semester if they are not meeting academic standards. Academic Suspension will be notated on the transcript. The Department of Veteran Affairs will be notified of any students using educational benefits who are placed on academic suspension. This may result in the repayment of disbursed funds.
Administrative Probation or Suspension
Upon recommendation of the college dean and approval of the Provost or Provost appointed Academic Appeals Committee, a student will be put on probation or will be suspended at any time for severely inadequate academic work.
Academic Suspension Appeals and Re-admission
A student who has been academically suspended from the University may appeal the suspension and apply for immediate reinstatement by submitting a Removal from Academic Suspension petition on the petitions.oru.edu webpage. Students who may appeal a suspension and apply for immediate reinstatement with the understanding the reinstatement does not remove the record of suspension. Appeals of academic suspension due to "extraordinary personal circumstances" will be considered by the Academic Appeals Committee as approved and appointed by the Provost. Students reinstated on this basis will be readmitted on probation and must maintain a 2.00 GPA each semester or summer session while on probation or raise their cumulative GPA to the retention standard established by the university.
Health and Physical Education Standards
Every student is required to make satisfactory progress toward physical fitness. ORU wants its graduates to pursue spiritual integrity, personal resilience, intellectual pursuit, global engagement, and a bold vision. For this reason, all undergraduate students taking a minimum of 12 hours are required to enroll in and successfully complete an HPE activity course each semester. To successfully complete HPE activity courses, students must earn a grade of D or better. The Health, Leisure and Sport Sciences section in this catalog provides a list of activity offerings. Students may enroll in any one HPE activity course only twice for credit towards their degree program (the exceptions are HPE 080, 092, 101, 102, 155, and 400). Undergraduate students enrolled full-time are not permitted to withdraw from their health fitness courses. Study Abroad students are not required to participate in an HPE activity course during their study abroad semester(s). Graduate students, students in online and lifelong learning programs, and students 45 years of age or older are not required to take the swimming proficiency test. Student progress is evaluated each semester. Students not fulfilling ORU’s physical fitness requirements during the previous semester are considered HPE deficient. A student may be considered HPE deficient for failing to successfully complete an HPE activity course or for failing to enroll in an activity class or classes. Students who are HPE deficient must enroll in two HPE courses the following semester. Deficiencies may also be made up by enrolling in summer school. Students may also petition to transfer activity courses from regionally accredited colleges and universities to make up their deficiency. Students who are HPE deficient are not eligible to graduate from the University.