Q: How do I start my courses?
A: When you receive your enrollment agreement for the trimester you will be given your choice of two different Friday start and end dates for your courses. After you indicate your selection of dates and return the agreement to CNU administration, your professors will be notified of your start date.
For courses in the online environment, you will receive e-mail notification of your user codes for access to your courses online. For courses not yet in the online environment, you will receive a student packet via U.S. mail or e-mail
Q: What do I do if I run into difficulties with a course?
A: Students, Faculty and Administration are communicating on a regular basis via e-mail, fax and phone etc., so any problems which may arise can be resolved as quickly as possible. If circumstances require a delay in completion of the course, a Course Extension Request may be filed. If circumstances occur which prevent continuous enrollment, a Leave of Absence is provided to accommodate the situation.
Q: How do I take my exams?
A: California National University for Advanced Studies requires that at least one exam, typically the Final Exam, be taken under the supervision of a Proctor for each course. For approval, the student is expected to submit to the University, the name of a Proctor, their address, and means of contact by completing a required Proctor Information Form.
The site for taking any exam is to be approved by the professor. However, the exam cannot be taken or administered at the student's home.
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A proctor should be a citizen of the student’s community that holds a position of integrity, such as a
workplace supervisor, a librarian, teacher, minister, rabbi, law enforcement officer, etc. A Proctor cannot be a friend, family member, or anyone related to the student by marriage. The Proctor will be notified by the professor of the time and date of an exam and will be sent the exam with instructions to return it to the professor upon completion. Students are never required to travel to a central location in order to take an exam.
Some exams are taken online through the course site located in the CNU Online Campus
Q: What about graduation?
A: A degree is granted by CNU when in the judgment of the Deans and Faculty you have completed all designated requirements. You have six years to complete the program according to the requirements in effect at the time of your enrollment. If you do not complete your program within the six-year period, you may be obligated to fulfill any new requirements in place at the time of your next enrollment to graduate. Prospective graduates must file an Application for Graduation no later than 15 weeks prior to the expected date of
graduation. Final determination of eligibility is dependent on a Degree Check for Advancement to
Candidacy, approval of the supervising Faculty and the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student may graduate with honors signifying achievement of scholastic excellence. The diploma will bear one of the following inscriptions:
Summa Cum Laude (minimum of 3.8 GPA) Magna Cum Laude (minimum of 3.6 GPA) Cum Laude (minimum of 3.3 GPA)
The Administration and Faculty wish to recognize the academic achievements of CNU Outstanding Graduates who have pursued their degrees through distance learning. Students who have graduated with honors are invited to join the Beta Chapter of the Delta Epsilon Tau International Honor Society
Q: What is California National University for Advanced Studies’ attendance policy?
A: Day-to-day attendance is not taken by the professor. However, the expectation is that the student is working independently to meet the 15-week course deadline.
Q: How can I get credit for prior experiential learning?
A: Students seeking credit for related academic experience that directly relates to specific California National University for Advanced Studies courses may seek credit by applying for a Challenge Examination for each course they are seeking credit.
Students are encouraged to give careful consideration before beginning the Challenge Examination Process. Some courses that are project oriented may not be appropriate for challenge by exam. Students should
understand that what they believe is applicable background for successfully passing a Challenge Examination may not be adequate or complete enough to meet the criteria for the CNU course in question. Note that a successful course challenge will require the student to provide documentation of prior learning, pass a proctored examination, and may require additional assignments as determined by the instructor of the course being challenged. Students may only take one Challenge Examination at a time and also must be currently enrolled in a regular CNU course. Challenge Examinations are limited to no more than 15 units of the first 60 units and 15 units of the second 60 units of a Bachelor’s degree program. Master’s students may take up to 9 units of Challenge Examinations in a 36-unit program. A student must successfully pass the Challenge Examination in order to receive credit for the course. Students are required to complete a Petition for
Challenge Examination for the CNU course they are seeking credit. The fee is 2/3 of the standard unit charge per course. Students must supply any documentation, which can their petition. Indicate Examples may be the
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following: Seminars/Professional Training Courses, Licenses, Certificates of Completion Publications, Patents, Blueprints, Systems (designs, analysis, programs, documentation, Management Reports of Proposals. Upon receipt of the Petition for Challenge Examination, the CNU Registrar will send to the student for review, the Course Overview for the course being petitioned for credit.