Public Affairs & Community Service College of Public Affairs & Community Service

Description

Dean: John Bartle, Ph.D.

Associate Dean: Scott Tarry, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean: Samantha Clinkinbeard, Ph.D. [primary contact on UNL campus]

The College of Public Affairs and Community Services (CPACS) offers academic and professional programs on both the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) campuses. We also have a variety of fully online programs. Although our Lincoln programs are administered by UNO, students never have to leave the UNL campus to complete them. That said, our Lincoln students can access additional classes, faculty, and professional development opportunities in Omaha if they choose to do so. CPACS on the Lincoln campus offers all undergraduate coursework required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. CPACS also offers minors in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Gerontology, and Victimology and Victim Services. A Gerontology undergraduate certificate is also available.

Mission

The College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) was established in 1973 to ensure university responsiveness to the critical social needs of the community and state. The college was charged with the mission of providing educational programs of the highest caliber to prepare students for leadership in public service and reaching out to the community to help solve public problems.

Empowering Future Leaders, Fostering Inclusive Communities, Creating Innovative Solutions

The College of Public Affairs and Community Service promotes the scholarship of engagement by:

Fostering an environment where all learners can access high-quality educational offerings designed to promote skill development and civic engagement that prepares students for career pursuit and advancement.
Conducting socially responsive research that advances scientific knowledge.
Engaging in service that advances the university’s mission through partnerships with community and professional organizations.

CONTACT

For additional information or questions, contact:

Samantha Clinkinbeard, Assistant Dean

sclinkinbeard2@unl.edu

402-472-2842

Admission

College Admission

The entrance requirements for the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, including any of the majors or minors offered through the college, are the same as the University of Nebraska–Lincoln General Admission Requirements. Students who have been admitted to the University may apply for entrance to the College of Public Affairs and Community Service during initial registration by indicating their preference in the appropriate place on the University Application for Admission form.

Students who wish to readmit or transfer into the College from another institution or another program within the University should refer to the individual school/department requirements to declare their intended major.

Admission Deficiencies

Students with high school admission deficiencies that have been admitted to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln may enter the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. A college course may fulfill a high school deficiency and may also apply toward a degree in the College.

Advising

Academic Advising

Students are responsible for knowing and completing all requirements of their chosen degree program. The aim and purpose of academic advising are to assist students in career planning, meeting the requirements of the degree program, and interpreting College policy regarding academic requirements.

Students should see an advisor whenever questions arise concerning their academic programs. Students are encouraged to seek advisement with their assigned academic advisor at least two times per year, particularly when registering for the senior year.

Advising Staff in CPACS

Karen Fulton, Director of Advising, School of Criminology & Criminal Justice (Lincoln Campus)

Advises for Criminology & Criminal Justice Major, Criminology & Criminal Justice Minor, Victimology & Victim Services Minor
Contact: kfulton2@unl.edu

Amber Christianson, Academic Advisor, School of Criminology & Criminal Justice (Lincoln Campus)

Advises for Criminology & Criminal Justice Major, Criminology & Criminal Justice Minor, Victimology & Victim Services Minor
Contact: achristianson3@unl.edu

Spencer Thompson, Academic Advisor and Recruitment Lead, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Lincoln Campus)

Advises for Criminology & Criminal Justice Major, Criminology & Criminal Justice Minor, Victimology & Victim Services Minor
Contact: spencerthompson@unl.edu

Bede Bolin, Lecturer and Advisor, Department of Gerontology

Advises for Gerontology Minor, Gerontology Certificate
Contact: bbolin2@unl.edu

Academic Programs & Policies

Course Exclusions and Restrictions

Credit earned in courses below the 100 level may not be applied toward the degree offered by the College of Public Affairs and Community Service.

UNL offers some courses that overlap in content (called Antirequisites) and students may not earn credit for both courses. For more information and a listing of Antirequisites, visit https://catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies-other-units/procedures/.

Credit Rules

Credit by Examination

The student should refer all questions concerning the acceptability of credits earned in programs such as Cooperative Education and Credit by Examination to the department in which enrolled.

Dual Degrees

A student who wishes to meet the requirements for two baccalaureate degrees may complete 30 additional semester hours at the University beyond the first degree in order to be awarded a second degree.

Student Recognition

Dean’s List

Students enrolled in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service who maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or better while carrying 12 graded hours or more will earn the distinction of being placed on the Dean’s Honor List at the end of each semester.

Degrees with Honors

The baccalaureate degrees with honors are awarded as follows:

With Distinction (cum laude): To all graduates whose scholastic average for their entire university career and at NU is 3.51 or above, but below 3.63.
With High Distinction (magna cum laude): To all graduates whose scholastic average for their entire university career and at NU is 3.63 or above, but below 3.87.
With Highest Distinction (summa cum laude): To all graduates whose scholastic average for their entire university career and at NU is 3.87 or above.

To qualify for honors, a student must have earned at least 60 semester hours within the University of Nebraska system, 30 hours of which must be completed at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and/or the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and in which letter grades of A, B, C, or D are received. Grades awarded in all courses taken at all colleges and universities attended are included in computing the grade point average (GPA) for determining eligibility for honors. It should be noted that the GPA included in the student grade reports issued by the Registrar’s Office reflects only courses taken at UNO, UNL, UNMC, and UNK.

Degree Audit and Application for Graduation

Graduation Requirements

Students are expected to develop a clear understanding of degree requirements and to plan their course of study with a College advisor. Students requiring clarification of outstanding degree requirements should visit with a College advisor promptly.

Students should access their Degree Audit via MyRED at least once each term to review degree requirements and progress toward graduation. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure their Degree Audit accurately reflects their current College and program of study.

Students who believe their Degree Audit has errors or omissions should visit with a College advisor promptly. It is important that you resolve these matters as soon as practicable to avoid a delay in graduation.

Each student with MyRED access must submit an online Application for Graduation via MyRED for each degree to be received, by:

The fourth Friday in January for May graduation
The second Friday in June for August graduation
The second Friday in September for December graduation

Students submitting an electronic Application for Graduation via MyRED will be billed a $25.00 per degree fee on their student account. Students without MyRED access may apply for graduation in person at Husker Hub, first floor of the Canfield Administration Building, or by mail. Applications for Graduation submitted in person or by mail must be accompanied by a check or money order in the amount of $25.00 payable to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Failure to submit a timely Application for Graduation may preclude the awarding of a degree in the intended term.

Your Application for Graduation and required $25.00 fee are good only for the term marked on your application. Neither your application nor your fee are transferrable to another term. If you submit an Application for Graduation and pay the $25.00 fee for a specified term but do not complete your degree requirements in that term, you will need to reapply to graduate in a future term and incur another $25.00 fee.

Commencement ceremony information including information about ordering cap and gown can be found at https://commencement.unl.edu. Each student who has applied for graduation must submit an online Commencement Attendance Form via MyRED, which will be available approximately one month before graduation.

Only those students who have applied for graduation, had the application accepted, and fulfilled all degree requirements as of the last day of the academic term may participate in the commencement ceremony for that term. Because the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has a commencement for each term, ceremony participation is allowed only in the term during which the student has properly and timely applied for graduation and fulfilled degree requirements.

Catalog to Use

Choice of Catalog Policy

A student registering in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service for the first time may, except for limitations described below, complete work for the degree according to one of these requirements:

The catalog in effect the year the student enters CPACS.
The catalog current at the time the student applies for the degree.

Students entering the College for the first time in the summer will be subject to the catalog for the academic year immediately following.

Students formerly in a CPACS program who dropped out of the College for one year complete requirements of the catalog current at the time of readmission.

Failure to complete the requirements for the degree within seven years after the date the student first enters the College will subject the student to graduation under the requirements of a later catalog to be approved by the Dean.

The College reserves the right to institute and make effective, after due notice and during the course of a student’s work toward a degree, any new ruling which may be necessary for the general good of the College and to substitute courses currently offered for those no longer offered.

College Degree Requirements

Achievement-Centered Education (ACE)

All students on the Lincoln campus must fulfill the Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) requirements. The 30-hour ACE requirement will include a minimum of 3 hours of approved coursework in each of the 10 designated Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) student learning outcome areas, which can be viewed at ace.unl.edu. Students will be provided a list of courses they can select from to meet each of the 10 ACE Student Learning Outcomes.

Experiential Learning Requirement

All undergraduates in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service must complete an Experiential Learning (EL) designated course. This may include 0-credit courses designed to document co-curricular activities recognized as Experiential Learning.

Foreign Languages/Language Requirement

Students in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service who have completed the University of Nebraska high school admission requirement of two years in the same language will not be required to complete additional language for their degree.

Minimum Hours Required for Graduation

Each candidate must present a total of at least 120 semester hours of college credit to meet graduation requirements.

Grade Rules

C- and D Grades

A minimum grade of at least C- must be earned in all required courses within the major, unless a higher grade is designated by the department/school. Completion of a course within the major with a grade below a C- will not be considered as having fulfilled prerequisite requirements for additional courses taken in the major field of study. A higher grade may be designated by the department/school.

Pass/No Pass

See individual school/department limitations regarding Pass/No Pass.

GPA Requirements

Each candidate for the degree must attain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. A minimum grade of at least C- must be earned in all required courses within the major, unless a higher grade is designated by the department/school. All grades reported by the faculty to the registrar become a part of the student’s permanent record and are included in the computation of the grade point average, even though some of these grades may be for work done in excess of the 120 hours required for graduation.

Transfer Credit Rules

The transfer of D grades in non-major courses are accepted only from within the University of Nebraska system. Students from other institutions must present a grade of C- or above for all coursework.

Generally, hours earned at an accredited college are accepted by the University; however, the college will evaluate all hours submitted for transfer to determine applicability toward the degree. A maximum of 64 hours may be transferred from a two-year college and a maximum of 90 hours from a four-year institution.

Course Level Requirements (Hour Requirement 300+)

Individual departments/schools should be consulted for the minimum number of upper-division hours required.

Residency

Thirty (30) of the last 36 hours required for the degree must be registered for and carried within the University of Nebraska system.

Independent Study and Internship Rules

Individual schools/departments should be consulted for rules regarding independent study and internship credit applicable to majors or minors.

Degrees & Majors

Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice (BSCCJ)

Although the bachelor of science in criminology and criminal justice degree can be earned entirely on the Lincoln campus, the degree is granted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Minors & Areas of Specializations Offered

Please visit the appropriate catalog pages for additional information.

Graduate Student Information

The College of Public Affairs and Community Service offers graduate programs in criminology and criminal justice, gerontology, social work, and public administration. Refer to the CPACS at the University of Nebraska at Omaha programs website for information on these graduate programs.

Other

Grade Appeals Procedure

Students who wish to appeal a grade that they feel was capriciously or prejudicially given shall first discuss the matter with the instructor within 30 days of the final course grade being posted. If the matter is not resolved, the student must meet with the department/school chairperson. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, the student must appeal, in writing, to the department/school curriculum committee. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, the student may submit a written appeal to the Office of the Dean within 20 working days of the exhaustion of the departmental procedures.

The Committee on Academic Standards and Curriculum for the College of Public Affairs and Community Service is the official body for handling the appeal.

In the event that the instructor is unavailable to handle a grade complaint, the student will meet with the Department Chair/School Director and the Dean to determine the most appropriate course of action agreeable to all parties.