Academics

Culver is committed to graduating young people of imagination, integrity, and vision. In order to achieve this goal, academic departments work in concert with other constituencies within the school community, e.g. Student Life, the Center for Leadership, Spiritual Life, and Athletics, to provide students with a
coherent picture of intellectual and moral excellence.

Culver recognizes that a diverse student body will include students of differing intellectual abilities and academic backgrounds, and seeks to provide a curriculum that is simultaneously challenging and supportive. From a rich menu of Advanced Placement courses and Honors Seminars to opportunities for individual tutoring and study skills development, the Culver curriculum is designed to meet a wide variety of needs and to support a broad spectrum of interests.

Academic Honors

Culver offers the Honors Program as a means for students to go beyond the normal course of study in a particular academic field. A primary purpose of the program is to allow capable students the intellectual stimulation of exploring a chosen subject in greater depth than they would in a regular course. The experience offers the pleasure and appreciation of a creative independent project guided by a faculty mentor and provides the student with an insight into the depth and intensity of work at the college level.

If a student is interested in pursuing Honors in a discipline named below, he or she should contact their Academic Advisor to learn the requirements sufficiently early to complete the work and courses. The awarding of Academic Honors is announced at the Graduation Ceremony at the end of the school year. Academic Honors can be earned in the following disciplines:

Academic Standards

Grade point average Is calculated by multiplying the points per letter grade times the number of class meetings. The total points are divided by the number of meetings. For example, if you had a B+ in Intermediate Algebra, a B in Honors Spanish 2 and an A- in Thinking & Teaming, your GPA would be (3.4*5)+3*5+3.7*2)/11 = 3.28.

Culver calculates a weighted GPA that adds 1 point to the point value for grades earned in Advances, AP or Honors classes. Weighted GPA's can be accessed through EaglePath.

Academic Standing

To be in good standing during the school year, you must be taking three solids (solid classes meet 5 days per week) or the equivalent of three solids per term (two solids and two non-solids that combine to meet four days per week), with a grade of C- (or better) in all subjects (all subjects for 12th graders), and maintain at least the following grade point average. Students in grade 9 and 10 must maintain a GPA of 2.40. Students in grades 11 and 12 must maintain a GPA of 2.70.

Eligibility

Eligibility rules apply to all activities in which students represent the school, such as athletics, leadership, or performing groups.

A member of an athletic team or performing group who has failed a course at the end of a Grading Period or Term is ineligible to participate in competitions and performances until passing grades are earned in all classes. Students’ academic progress in all courses is reviewed at the end of each Grading Period and Term.

To be eligible for IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) sanctioned contests, a participant must have passed at least three academic solids or the equivalent (as deemed by the Academic Affairs staff) in the previous term and be enrolled in three academic solids or the equivalent during the “in season” term(s).

At the end of each Grading Period and Term, the Academic Affairs Office publishes a list of all students who have not met Culver’s academic standards, indicating those who are ineligible for competition or performance.

More specific standards and details regarding leadership eligibility can be found in the leadership section of this handbook.

Graduation Requirements

Culver’s academic program is based on the notion that college preparation is best achieved through a curriculum that is comprehensive as well as challenging. To this end, graduates must successfully complete the following requirements: Forty-two and half credits must be earned overall, as outlined below.

Supplemental Instruction or Summer Courses

Any student considering enrollment in a summer course must have the prior approval of the Director of Academic Advising and the Department Chair if the course is to be awarded elective credit towards graduation. Length of the course of study and level of difficulty are key issues. Courses that meet graduation requirements can not be fulfilled through a summer program. In order to support our students’ success and full engagement during their Culver experience, students will not be excused from Culver programming or obligations to participate in outside course work, tutoring, etc.

Schedule Changes

Students complete course registration in the spring for the subsequent academic year. By the time classes begin, students, advisors, teachers, and parents have all had input into the requested courses. Students are encouraged to discuss their requests with adults at Culver and at home. The Master Schedule is created based on these student requests. The number of sections of each class, teaching assignments, meeting times and rooms are all driven by this concern to meet student needs. For these reasons, we discourage any requests for schedule changes after the published deadline including dropping a class.

Students may request a schedule change after deadline published above for the following reasons:

• The student wants to continue in a discipline that you studied in the first half of the year.
• The student has four solids in one term, and the load is too heavy.

Students must talk with their Counselor, Instructor, and the Director of Academic Advising before a schedule change is considered.Seniors/1st Classmen are required to discuss a schedule change with their Advisor and the Director of Academic Advising before a schedule might be changed. The Director of Academic Advising will have the final authority to approve all schedule changes.

Class Absence Policy

Valuable instructional time is lost when a student misses class for any reason. However, we understand some class absences may be unavoidable.

Students may miss a maximum of three classes per course each term, regardless of the reason for the absence (illness, school trip, leave). Culver will likely not approve any absence if a student has accrued three missed classes in a single term.

Class Absence due to Illness or Emergency

A student may be required to spend supplemental time with the instructor in addition to completing the work
that was missed during the absence. Counselors will communicate via email with the Registrar, Dean of Girls/ Commandant of Cadets and Teachers when a student misses two or more consecutive days of classes due to illness. Medical leaves must be approved through the Health Center, who in turn will notify the Academic Affairs Office.

Class Absence due to School Sponsored Activities

Students are responsible to notify their instructors of a class absence at least three calendar days in advance. A student may be required to spend supplemental time with the instructor in addition to completing the work that was missed during the absence.

Unexcused Class Absences

Absence from class without excuse due to leave, illness being treated by the Health Center, or other Culver sponsored event will result in corrective action as well, with the first incident resulting in a Saturday Disciplinary Confinement, the second incident incurring one week of Full Restrictions, and the third incident resulting in a meeting with the Assistant Dean of Girls or Assistant Commandant of Cadets to receive two weeks of Full Restrictions.

Medical Withdrawal

A student is granted a Medical Withdrawal when he or she has been, or is expected to be, away from school for the equivalent of at least one grading period due to medical or mental health issues. Readmission will be based on review of the treatment received and aftercare recommendations by Health Center professionals. And they, along with the Academic Affairs and Student Life offices, will determine whether the Academies can meet the needs of the student in question. No return should be anticipated until this review is completed.

Study Conditions

Study conditions are times when the living unit is conducive to quiet study. These conditions prevail during the academic day and from 7:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. on evenings preceding classes. When Study Conditions are in effect, music may not be played without headphones and lounge TVs must be turned off.

Grade Reporting

Report Card comments celebrate student achievement and provide concrete and specific recommendations for improvement toward realizing the course performance and process goals. At the end of the term, please briefly contextualize the grade of B- or below with a comment so that all audiences understand where there is room for improvement as a learner and which course goals were not realized. Parents are the primary audience of a report card comments but the feedback is also valuable to counselors, academic & college advisors, and of course, the student.

• All comments written in size 12 in Times New Roman

• Behavioral issues should be addressed with the student on the day they occur and through an EPR

• Make sure student identification information is unique (check pronouns and student names)

Assigning an Incomplete

Incompletes should be assigned in rare circumstances. Sometimes, an Incomplete is unavoidable due to a specific student situation. However, faculty must discuss each situation with their Department Chair to determine if a grade can be assigned instead of an Incomplete. If an Incomplete must be assigned, please notify Karen Rudd and Melissa Alexander after discussing with your Department Chair.