2020-2021 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 
    
    Dec 07, 2024  
2020-2021 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Undergraduate Catalog 2020-2021 | Accreditation & Compliance



Accreditation

Our Lady of the Lake University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Our Lady of the Lake University that fall under one of these areas: (1) to learn about the accreditation status of the institution, (2) to file a third-party comment at the time of the institution’s decennial review, or (3) to file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement.

For other concern or complaints, please contact the Vice President for Student Life (campus life, student activities, etc.), Chief Academic Officer (academic issues), or Director of Human Resources (employee issues).

Finalized December 1, 2015

University Non-discrimination Policy

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is an equal opportunity institution and is committed to fostering a diverse environment that is free from discrimination. The school fully subscribes to all federal and state laws banning discrimination in institutions of higher education. Our Lady of the Lake University will not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student in our educational programs or activities or applicant for admission on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, age, marital status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran or military status (including disabled veterans, Vietnam-era veterans or recently separated veterans), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state and federal laws, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any allegation process on campus or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies. These types of discrimination are prohibited by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable laws as well as University policies.

To read the full University Nondiscrimination Policy, visit https://www.ollusa.edu/consumer-information/policies/nondiscrimination.html.

University Title IX Policy

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is a Catholic institution, sponsored by the Congregation of Divine Providence. The staff and faculty at Our Lady of the Lake University place a high commitment to the core values of community, integrity, trust, and service, and it is our policy to provide an educational experience and workplace free of sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, as well as gender based discrimination. Sexual misconduct is not tolerated at OLLU, and we have a responsibility to address sexual misconduct in accordance with several federal laws including, but not limited to, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Clery Act and the Campus Save Act.

To read the full University Title IX Policy, visit https://www.ollusa.edu/consumer-information/policies/title-ix/index.html.

Privacy (FERPA) Information

Student records at Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio are subject to provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (PL 93-380) (FERPA), as amended, and to regulations interpreting the act.

This act provides that students shall have access to their official “education record” and shall have the opportunity to challenge such records if they deem them inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of their privacy or other rights. Except for directory information, the University may not release personally identifiable data from student records to other than a specified list of exceptions without the written consent of the student. Even a release of information to parents or spouse requires the student’s written consent.

Available upon request from the Registrar’s Office are copies of the act, a list of types of records maintained, names and titles of responsible officials and of personnel having access, procedures for reviewing or challenging records and forms for requesting copies, releasing restricted information or prohibiting release of directory information. Policies and procedures governing student records are also published in the Student Handbook.

Our Lady of the Lake University hereby designates the following as public or directory information:

  • Name, address (local and permanent), telephone listing
  • Email address
  • Major field of study
  • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
  • Weight and height of members of athletic teams
  • Dates of attendance (“from” and “to” dates of enrollment)
  • Degrees and awards received
  • The most recent previous educational agency or institution attended
  • Photograph

The institution may disclose such information for any purpose, at its discretion.

Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of directory information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. To withhold disclosure of directory information, written notification must be received in the Office of the Registrar, 411 S.W. 24th Street, San Antonio, Texas 78207-4689, within the first 12 days of the fall or spring semester, the first four days of a summer session or the first weekend of class (for students in the non-traditional scheduling format). Forms requesting the withholding of directory information are available in the Office of the Registrar on the San Antonio campus, the Administrative Offices on the Houston campus and Rio Grande Valley (La Feria) campus, or the Registrar’s Office Website. Our Lady of the Lake University assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request the withholding of directory information indicates individual approval for disclosure.

OLLU is required to provide an annual FERPA notice to eligible students and parents. For more information about FERPA, and to view the OLLU FERPA Annual Notice visit https://www.ollusa.edu/registrars-office/ferpa/index.html

Cooperative Arrangements

In the interests of total service to the San Antonio region, the Board of Trustees of Our Lady of the Lake University in 1970 joined with the governing boards of the Oblate School of Theology, St. Mary’s University and the University of the Incarnate Word to create a multipurpose consortium, the United Colleges of San Antonio (UCSA).

Through cross registration, faculty exchange, and other cooperative initiatives, this enterprise permits students at these institutions to have the advantage of a much wider range of programs, course offerings, faculty, library resources and educational services than any single institution could provide. The UCSA institutions have closely coordinated calendars and staggered course schedules to facilitate student cross registration. In addition to effecting student exchange, the consortium helps the member institutions in the development of academic and administrative cooperation and jointly sponsored proposals, programs and projects.

The University also participates in several other cooperative endeavors, including the Council of Research and Academic Libraries (CORAL), a cooperative arrangement facilitating inter library use, cooperative purchasing and union lists of the major area research libraries and special libraries, and the Higher Education Council of San Antonio, a consortium of all local colleges and universities.

Memberships

The University memberships include the American Council on Education, the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, the Texas Independent College Fund, the Higher Education Council of San Antonio, the United Colleges of San Antonio, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and the Council on Independent Colleges, Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Southern Regional Colleague Users Group.

Educational Commitment

Our Lady of the Lake University expresses its commitment to the complete educational development of the individual: intellectual, moral, social and spiritual. It attempts, moreover, to create a person-centered learning environment in which both academic and co-curricular programs and services provide creative alternatives responsive to the needs of individual students. Flowing from its purpose as well as its commitment to comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-226), Our Lady of the Lake University promotes an environment to prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees. Our Lady of the Lake University’s student and personnel policies clearly prohibit the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by employees and students on University property or as part of any of the University’s activities.