Course Design and Assessments

The NXU learning design model promotes scaffolding, or building durable intellectual structure, through the introduction of new competencies, reinforcement of prior knowledge learned through integration of competencies, metacognitive reflection, and real world applications. Each course contains six modules, culminating in an authentic summative assessment evaluated by expert faculty.

Nexford programs and associated courses immerse learners in real-world learning contexts. Every course is built around a fictional workplace with a specific set of challenges. From the outset, learners are situated in these workplace environments and guided through personal learning paths towards mastering a number of applicable competencies. These competency assessments require learners to draw on all the skills and knowledge they have acquired throughout the course. For example, learners will create business plans, develop digital marketing campaigns, or do investor presentations through various types of formative and summative assessments. This way, the context-based learning featured in NXU programs is highly engaging and relevant, reinforcing learner’s retention of content knowledge and their successful acquisition of transferable workplace skills.

NXU courses and academic programs focus on different kinds of workplace contexts (for example, startups, non-governmental organizations, nonprofits, or transnational corporations), on developing different skills (marketing, sales, strategy, and so on), and on different scenarios. NXU’s context-based, scenario-driven approach to teaching and reinforcing competencies and skills acquisition, in combination with the rigorous assessment strategy it deploys and the frequent feedback learners receive, clarify to learners how every step of their education ties to their job and career goals. It also ensures, that upon completion of their programs, learners can immediately step into the workplace and feel confident about their abilities to perform.

Grade Change and Appeals

The purpose of the grade appeal process is to recognize faculty authority in the grading process while protecting students from possibly erroneous, prejudiced, arbitrary, or capricious academic evaluation. All attempts to resolve final course grade disputes must originate between the learner and the faculty. If a learner believes that a final course grade does not accurately reflect their coursework, they must first contact the faculty for possible resolution. If the learner and the faculty are unable to resolve the learner’s concern, the learner may pursue a formal final course grade appeal process. This includes:

• Pursuing a formal final course grade appeal after all attempts to resolve the learner’s concern with faculty have been unsuccessful.
• Filing a formal final course grade by submitting the Final Course Appeal form, within 5 days of the course end date, and all relevant documentation to the University Review Committee (URC) after all avenues with working with faculty have been exhausted.
• The URC will review the learner’s request and supporting documentation and will respond to the learner within 5 business days.
• If the learner is not satisfied with the URC’s outcome, the learner may follow the Grievance Policy outlined in the catalog within 3 days of received the response from the URC.

Grading Scale: Grade Point Average (GPA)

Nexford University calculates GPAs on a four-point scale, with grades of A ( = 4.0), B (=3.0), C (=2.0), and F (0.0). Nexford does not grant D grades. Nexford transcripts note final course grades as well as term and cumulative grade point average (GPA) calculations.

Course Extension

Nexford courses are designed to be completed within approximately eight weeks (51 days). If learners believe they will not be able meet the deadline for completing course, they may request an extension from the course Professor by submitting an Course Extension Request via email at the beginning of the eighth week. A course extension will provide learners an additional two weeks to finish the course – yielding a total course completion time of 10 weeks (70 days).

To be eligible to receive an course extension, learners in degree programs must:

• Have completed the first three modules of the course
• Must be passing the course
• Submit their request during the module 5 ‘window’ (day 32-38). Requests are subject to faculty review/approval

If a learner’s Course Extension Request is denied, they may appeal to the Program Director. In such cases, the Program Director’s decision is final. Learners who receive course extension and fail to complete the course by the end of the extended period will fail the course. If they wishes to appeal for reconsideration (with reference to new information), he or she may contact the University Review Committee at urc@nexford.org. In such cases, the Committee’s decision is final. Learners with a pending course extension may not enroll in additional course(s) until it is resolved.

Repeating a Course

Learners in all Nexford degree and non-degree programs — including learners enrolled in single courses — can repeat any course they have failed for a maximum of two takings combined. The grades for both takings of a repeated course appear on the learner’s transcripts; the higher of the two grades factors into the learner’s overall and term grade point average (GPA).

Note: Assignments submitted for repeated courses should reflect new approaches and insights into that topic. Learners may not merely copy and paste substantial sections from a previous assignment to be submitted again. Accepting previous (submitted) work is at the discretion of the instructor and requires prior approval.

The following additional program-specific stipulations apply ONLY to the following degree programs:

a. Undergraduate (AAS/BBA) — learners must complete the program-initial Roadmap to Success course with a minimum grade of C. If they fail to achieve a minimum grade of C, they will be dismissed from the university and will be eligible to re-apply.

b. Graduate (MBA) — learners who did not complete a Bachelor’s degree in business or business-related field, who are admitted into the MBA program, are admitted provisionally, contingent upon successfully completing pre-requisite foundation courses designed to provide learners with foundational knowledge of business management. Learners who fail one or more foundation courses must repeat the course. If they fail to pass the course (by not receiving a minimum of a B grade) on the second attempt, they will be dismissed from the university and will be eligible to re-apply.

c. Learners who fail any course, i.e., earn a grade below a B for graduate programs or a C for undergraduate programs, will be placed on scholastic warning, but only if the lower than B grade for Graduate Programs and a C grade for Undergraduate Programs, combined with the CGPA is lower than the stipulated 3.0 or 2.5, respectively.