Student Catalog

1. Mission, Vision, and Values

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2. Accreditation and Licensure

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3. Tuition, Fees, and Refunds

College that won't break the bank

Tuition Freeze

A student's posted tuition does not go up for the three years of the degree.

Payment deadlines and payment plans

All applicable NewU student payments are due in full 30 (thirty) calendar days prior to the start of each semester. Enrolled students may request a 0% interest monthly payment plan. NewU reviews student-initiated installment plan requests and approves or denies them at its sole discretion, based on the circumstances of each request, NewU's financial position at the time, and other factors as determined by NewU.

Late payments

Payments not received by the due date are subject to a late fee of 1.5% (one and a half percent) per calendar month, applied to the base (principal) amount only. NewU applies partial payments to late fee balances first. NewU may unenroll students who are more than 30 days overdue at its sole discretion.

Student accounts that are past due are subject to financial encumbrance. If an account is financially encumbered, there is a hold that restricts future registration privileges and NewU services until the account is settled.

Three-day cancellation

A student who cancels the NewU Student Contract in writing within three (3) business days of signing it receives a full refund of all tuition and fees paid. The Enrollment Intent Deposit is non-refundable.

Refunds

If an enrolled student, i.e. a student who signed a NewU Student Contract, formally withdraws from NewU at least 30 days prior to the start of a semester, NewU will refund 100% of any tuition and student fees the student paid for that upcoming semester. To formally withdraw, both the student and a NewU authorized representative must sign the Withdrawal form, available on request from the university. A withdrawal takes effect on the date a NewU authorized representative signs it, and requires the student to have both signed the withdrawal and completed the exit interview.

Deposits, late fees, payments for prior billing periods, and payments for past services rendered or goods already received are non-refundable, except as required by 34 CFR § 668.22 for Title IV recipients. Refunds carry no interest.

For any student who receives federal Title IV aid, the Return of Title IV Funds calculation under 34 CFR § 668.22 governs the federal aid portion of the student's account when the student withdraws. The institutional refund schedule above governs any portion paid from other sources, including out-of-pocket payments, scholarships, and private loans. The Return of Title IV Funds Policy contains the full procedures.

Veterans Affairs refunds

Pursuant to 38 CFR § 21.4255, if a Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiary withdraws from NewU, a refund will be issued per this policy, with the exception that the amount charged for tuition, fees, and other charges for a portion of the class does not vary more than 10% from the exact pro rata portion of such tuition, fees, and other charges that the length of the completed portion of the class bears to its total length. The exact proration will be determined on the ratio of the number of days of instruction completed by the student to the total number of instructional days in the class. An established registration fee not to exceed $10 need not be subject to proration. Where the registration fee is more than $10, the amount in excess of $10 will be subject to proration.

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4. Financial Aid and VA Benefits

Federal financial aid

NewU University is accredited by MSCHE but does not yet participate in federal student aid (Title IV) programs and is not yet listed on the FAFSA. Until NewU participates in federal aid, NewU matches the Pell Grant a student qualifies for with a NewU grant, and matches or exceeds other federal grants or assistance through NewU institutional scholarships. Students who would qualify for federal loans can use NewU's 0% interest monthly payment plan instead.

Financial aid application

NewU tuition and fees are already priced to be extremely affordable relative to others. Our bachelor's degree program is only 3 years long, instead of 4, further reducing the total cost of a NewU education. Still, NewU recognizes that some of our students may require financial aid to enroll in our programs or to complete their studies.

To apply, students send ONE of the following through the streamlined form on the Financial Aid page: a FAFSA Submission Summary, or the family's IRS Form 1040 for the prior year. Students without either document can apply through the College Board CSS Profile (NewU school code 1491), which offers a document-free option. NewU issues a financial aid offer letter within a week.

NewU accepts financial aid applications from admitted applicants no later than 30 (thirty) days prior to the start of their studies. NewU awards scholarships on a rolling basis and observes three priority deadlines each year: December 1, March 1, and June 1. After these dates, NewU awards remaining aid on a first-come, first-served basis as seats fill.

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5. Program Curriculum

NewU is a teaching institution. Our faculty are here to do a great job at one thing: teaching. We also expect our faculty to spend a good amount of their time advising and helping you with whatever you need to be a successful student. NewU does not require faculty to conduct academic research or public service so that you, the student, can benefit the most from the individualized attention, focus, and guidance from each professor.

NewU's program offerings are aligned and consistent with the Mission and Vision of the institution. We start with a multidisciplinary, wider foundation of knowledge in our core curriculum, and build up to practical, real-world knowledge and skills we nurture within our students through NewU's required classes for each major, while providing opportunities for an expanded view of the world through various electives.

Every NewU major is offered on campus, online, or hybrid (see Section 6). At NewU we designed our academic program with one goal in mind: to enable us to graduate "educated persons." This warrants some additional explanation.

Academic programs

NewU created a truly innovative academic experience. It is only 3 years long, not 4. Students still earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree. We can do that because the program incorporates the traditional 120 credit hours into fewer but slightly longer semesters.

Each semester runs 18 weeks. A typical class meets twice a week for 90 minutes and carries 4 credits. Students take 5 classes per semester for 20 credits, and earn 120 credits in six semesters over three years, with no summer or weekend classes.

NewU defines one credit hour as 50 minutes of direct faculty instruction per week plus 120 minutes of student work outside class per week over a 15-week semester, consistent with the Federal Student Aid Handbook (Academic Credit Hour Policy and Procedures). NewU's longer semesters and class sessions keep the same total amount of instruction and homework time while reducing the number of semesters. The Chief Academic Officer or a designee reviews and approves every syllabus before each semester for credit hour compliance.

Core classes

Prior to specialization, all NewU students complete a set of required core classes, which lay the foundation for subsequent academic and professional career success. These classes are all scheduled during the first year of study, and NewU automatically enrolls each new student.

We made your first year of college even easier by pre-selecting the most interesting, useful, and expertly designed classes for you, so you don't even have to worry about class registrations, withdrawals, swaps, and other complexities.

Majors

After your first year at NewU, we offer 5 distinctive program specializations (majors). You don't have to declare your major until the end of your first year.

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Human Behavior
• Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurship
• Bachelor of Arts in Creativity and Innovation Leadership (a modern business administration major)
• Bachelor of Science in Sustainability (STEM)
• Bachelor of Science in Computer and Data Science (STEM)

Each is designed to give you an edge into the world of tomorrow, and to challenge and delight you as students and future successful graduates of NewU.

How NewU evaluates and improves its programs

NewU assesses student learning in every class and program using the same learning outcomes, rubrics, and assessment instruments in every modality. Each term, NewU reviews class completion, retention, satisfactory academic progress, grade distributions, and learning outcome attainment, compares results across modalities, and uses the findings to improve class design, faculty training, and student support.

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6. On Campus, Online, or Hybrid

Students can complete every NewU bachelor's degree in one of three ways:

Minimum technology requirements for online classes

• Computer. A laptop or desktop computer running Windows, Mac, or Chromebook, with the current version of the Google Chrome browser. A phone or tablet is not enough: some class tools do not work properly on phones or tablets, and written work and screen sharing are difficult on a small screen.
• Camera and microphone. A working webcam and microphone; built into the computer is fine. Headphones or earbuds are strongly recommended to prevent echo.
• Internet. At least 5 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload, tested at speedtest.net from the spot where the student will actually work. A wired connection is more reliable than Wi-Fi.
• Workspace. A quiet place with a desk or table, where the student can speak up in class, with light on the face from the front rather than a bright window behind.
• NewU account. NewU creates a Google account for each student at enrollment. The account is used for Google Meet, class materials, and Populi, where assignments, grades, and attendance live.

What to expect in an online class

Online students attend the same live class meetings as on-campus students through Google Meet, in NewU classrooms equipped to connect students online with students in the room. Your camera must be on for the full class session; NewU records attendance on the basis of live video presence, and marks absent any student who is not visible on camera. Students submit coursework electronically through Populi, and take examinations electronically through Populi with Proctorio remote proctoring. Identity verification carries no additional charge.

Orientation and navigation training

Every new student completes NewU's required four-day orientation before the first semester. Orientation covers platform access (Google Workspace and Populi), expectations, academic integrity, support contacts, study skills, and team building. Online and hybrid students attend separate sessions on the first day that cover online logistics. On-campus and hybrid students learn to use Library of Congress resources during in-person orientation at the Library of Congress; online students receive the same instructions virtually.

Interaction with faculty and support

• Live, scheduled class sessions Monday through Thursday, with direct instruction and discussion.
• Weekly faculty office hours at published times, and responses to student email within one business day.
• A one-on-one meeting with a success coach at least once a month (by video for online students).
• Learning teams that meet after classes at times the team sets.
• The same access to advising, registration, tutoring, library resources, financial aid, career development, disability accommodations, and the grievance process as on-campus students.
• Technical support with live help during class hours. Email [email protected] or text 202.968.1005, ideally before class day.

Privacy, identity, and academic integrity online

Students sign in with NewU-managed accounts protected by multi-factor authentication. Live video participation in class sessions and faculty-observed assessments, including capstone presentations, verify that the registered student is the student who participates in and completes the class. The Code of Academic Integrity applies to all classes and examinations, on campus and online. NewU stores class recordings in its Google Workspace for Education environment with restricted access, and handles proctored examination data as an education record. The Confidentiality of Student Records Policy (FERPA) and the Protection of Minors Policy govern the privacy and safety of all student information exchanged online.

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7. Core Classes

These classes are required of all NewU students, and NewU automatically enrolls every first-year student. The core curriculum totals 40 credits.

After the successful completion of their first year at NewU, students select from classes in their major, as well as other elective classes. NewU advises each student on how best to choose a major and meet the requirements for graduation.

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8. Majors and Learning Outcomes

All NewU students who wish to graduate with a degree in one or more of the NewU majors must successfully complete all 10 classes required for their chosen major, at least 4 classes from the electives toward their major, and 6 cross-major elective classes (24 credits) from the other majors. Cross-major electives come at no extra cost as part of the NewU program, as long as the class is below capacity and not oversubscribed by other students who need the class to graduate. Once a NewU student has taken classes totaling 120 credits (required for a bachelor's degree), NewU may charge extra fees for any additional credits the student wishes to take.

Every class carries 4 credits unless noted. Codes with several prefixes (for example, PHB/SCC 380) are cross-listed in more than one major.

Cross-major electives

Students choose their 6 cross-major electives from the required classes and electives of the other majors, including the new classes in artificial intelligence, information technology, and executive presence: CDS 410 Agentic AI and Robotic Process Automation, CDS 420 Large Language Models for Business, CDS 430 No-Code Platform Integration, CDS 440 Cybersecurity Foundations for Data-Driven Organizations, CDS 450 Data Structures and Database Systems, and CIL 390 Executive Presence: Speaking, Influence, and Leadership.

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9. Class Descriptions and Index

Classes appear in alphabetical order with their code and credits. Year-long core classes carry 8 credits, earned as 4 credits in each semester.

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10. Degree Completion and Credit Transfer

Degree completion

In order to complete a degree, students must earn a minimum of 120 credits (or credit hours). Credit is earned by completing a class with at least the minimum passing grade. At least 25% of the credit hours required to complete a degree at NewU should be earned in residence. Only credits and grades received prior to the graduation date are included in assessing graduation eligibility and calculating student cumulative GPA.

All students must satisfy the specific graduation requirements for their registered major. Our majors require each student to complete the NewU General Education curriculum (40 credit hours), all required classes for the chosen major (40 credit hours), a minimum of 16 credit hours of major-specific electives, and a minimum of 24 credit hours of cross-major elective classes.

Students must pay all their bills and return all university property before their graduation date. NewU holds Commencement once a year, at the end of the spring semester.

Internship credit

Students who find an internship can get academic credit for it by enrolling in their major's Internship / Practicum / Capstone Project class for 4 credits. In order to get the credit, the student submits an evaluation from their internship supervisor that is at least satisfactory, i.e. the equivalent of a passing grade. The internship must be in the area of the student's program and utilize the skills and knowledge they are gaining. In addition, the internship must be at least two months long to qualify for academic credit.

Credit transfer into NewU

NewU may, at its sole discretion and after evaluating the applicable official transcript, class syllabus, and the student grade earned, agree to transfer credits from another institution. NewU may also evaluate and decide at its sole discretion whether to transfer credits from any AP or IB high school classes a student wishes to submit to NewU for transfer credit evaluation. NewU may, in certain situations and at its sole discretion, transfer partial credit for classes which partially overlap with NewU classes. NewU does not award academic credit for prior non-academic learning, life or work experience, or based on results of competency-based assessments.

Transfer students may bring up to 90 credits toward the 120-credit degree. At least 25% of the credit hours required to complete a degree at NewU must be earned in residence. NewU sends every transfer applicant a free transfer credit analysis within 7 days, with no obligation to enroll.

Credit transfer from NewU

NewU strives for academic and operational excellence. Students, however, are advised that academic credits earned at NewU are transferable to other institutions at the sole discretion of the receiving institution. NewU supports students who wish to transfer to another institution with advice; standard documents such as transcripts, class syllabi, and enrollment verification; and communications with the receiving institution, as described in the Credit Transfer Policy.

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11. Admissions Requirements

Many universities make it unnecessarily expensive, time-consuming, anxiety-inducing, and just plain hard to apply to college. The traditional process is also inherently unfair. We changed all that.

NewU only requires applicants to submit an online application form and an electronic copy of their most recent high school transcript, high school diploma, GED certificate, HiSET certificate, or other state-recognized equivalent of a high school diploma. An unofficial transcript or a photo of it is fine to apply; NewU requires the official transcript before enrollment. Applicants who completed a homeschool program may submit documentation that the program complied with state homeschool law and resulted in a recognized secondary school completion credential. It costs $0 to apply, with no test scores, essays, or recommendation letters.

High school completion verification

NewU verifies the validity of each applicant's high school completion. For a high school diploma or transcript, NewU confirms that the issuing high school is recognized by the relevant state education agency or by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a GED or HiSET certificate, NewU confirms that a state-authorized testing entity issued it. If NewU has reason to believe a credential is not valid, NewU will request additional documentation and may decline to recognize the credential or rescind an admission offer.

Rolling admissions and application deadlines

NewU processes applications on a rolling basis for fall and spring entry. Students may apply as soon as they complete grade 11 of high school. NewU stops admitting students for an academic year 2 weeks into the start of the applicable school year.

NewU may stop admitting applicants for each relevant school year once all budgeted available seats have been filled with future students who have signed a NewU Student Contract and paid their deposits, allowing for an oversubscription of up to a reasonable percentage in anticipation of customary attrition.

Application fee

NewU sets an application fee of $150 (one hundred fifty US dollars) per application to cover the administrative and related costs of processing each application. NewU may waive the application fee for one, many, or all applicants at its sole discretion, and currently waives it for all applicants: $0 to apply.

Admissions decisions

NewU does not use waitlists. NewU admits or denies applicants based on their high school GPA rank relative to the rest of the applicant pool at the time of application.

NewU informs all applicants of its decision within 7 calendar days of receiving a fully completed application and any required accompanying documentation, by email and text message. Applicants may check the status of their application at any time by emailing [email protected].

Enrollment Intent Deposit

To secure a spot in the next NewU incoming class, all admitted applicants and transfer students must pay a non-refundable $300 Enrollment Intent Deposit. An offer of admission becomes null and void if the admitted applicant does not pay the Enrollment Intent Deposit in full and on time.

The Enrollment Intent Deposit is not an extra fee, as it is deducted from the first semester bill. It reserves the student's seat and holds the financial aid offer at the amount quoted. If NewU approves a deferral to a future semester, the Enrollment Intent Deposit will be applied towards that future semester bill. If the applicant later chooses not to enroll at NewU, the Enrollment Intent Deposit is forfeited in full and shall not be refunded.

Application methods

NewU accepts applications electronically through the NewU web-based application form on the Apply Now page, and through the Common App. Common App applicants pay the same $0 fee, submit no essays or test scores, and send their transcript later, before they enroll.

Direct admissions

NewU also utilizes Direct (also referred to as Reverse or Flipped) Admissions, where the university identifies college-ready students and may make an offer of admission without an application. Currently, students who are members of or currently enrolled in the following organizations and programs are pre-approved for admission:

• National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)
• Sage Scholars Tuition Rewards (SSTR)
• National Honor Society (NHS)

International applicants

NewU is not SEVP-certified and cannot issue I-20s, so it cannot sponsor F-1 student visas. International students may enroll online, or on campus if they already hold a visa status that allows study in the U.S. A NewU letter of admission is an invitation to complete the enrollment process; for an applicant who needs a visa to study in the U.S., the enrollment process does not complete.

Offer withdrawals and amendments

NewU may withdraw or amend an offer of admission, a financial aid offer, or a Student Contract for the reasons listed in the Admissions Policy, including material misrepresentation in an application or falsified documents.

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12. Dual Enrollment for High School Students

High school students take NewU college classes as dual enrollment students through partner institutions, including Dual Academy, NewU's affiliated high school. Dual Academy is a separate, Cognia-accredited private high school; admission to Dual Academy happens on dualacademy.org.

Dual enrollment students sit in the same class sections as NewU degree students, with the same NewU faculty, the same college-level content, and the same academic standards. They earn NewU college credit recorded on an official NewU transcript, which they may apply toward a NewU bachelor's degree or transfer to another institution at that institution's discretion.

NewU enrolls no student under the age of 15. The Protection of Minors Policy governs every NewU class, platform, and setting that includes a student under 18, and parents and legal guardians of minors receive it at enrollment.

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13. Enrollment and Entrance Requirements

To successfully enroll at NewU, each admitted applicant must provide required documents and make applicable payments.

Required documents and information for enrollment

To gain enrolled status, each admitted and deposited student must provide a high school diploma or equivalent certification (the official final high school transcript or diploma), sign the standard NewU Student Contract, and remit all payments due for the first semester. After receiving the Enrollment Intent Deposit, NewU emails the student a Student Contract to review and sign.

In cases where an admitted student is still a minor, NewU requires that both the admitted minor student and a parent or legal guardian sign the NewU Student Contract.

Orientation is mandatory for all first-year students and new transfer students.

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14. Building Location and Library

NewU offers on-campus classes at a single location in Washington, DC, so as to promote a spirit of collaboration and community among students, faculty, and staff. The campus, at 1400 16th Street NW, is located in the heart of Washington, DC, minutes away from the White House, free Smithsonian museums, restaurants, parks, and event venues.

Library

At NewU our students are in control of where and how they access our library resources. We offer various online and physical library options. NewU gives its students, faculty, and staff access to the vast resources of the Library of Congress, one of the best libraries in the world, and of the DC Public Library, whose central Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library sits a few blocks from campus, at zero cost. NewU has always been digital-first: faculty curate class materials and provide them to students directly, so students are not required to purchase textbooks. Whether you attend on campus or online, you can access a host of resources and conduct a number of activities remotely over the internet from any location: library resources, class registrations, advising sessions, and much more.

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15. Attendance and Leave of Absence

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory, on campus or live online. Missing 20% or more of any class results in an automatic failing grade.

Students are expected to regularly attend classes, seminars, workshops, and other sessions for which they have registered, regardless of whether or not they are attempting to earn credit hours for these classes or seminars. A minimum of 80% attendance in each class is required for its successful completion, given that the student satisfies all other criteria for passing the class. Students who fail to satisfy class attendance requirements will not receive full or partial credit for the given class.

Online students attend with their camera on for the full class session. NewU records attendance on the basis of live video presence, and marks absent any student who is not visible on camera.

NewU professors will consider in good faith and on a case-by-case basis whether a student will be allowed to make up work due to absences and on what terms.

Types of absences

NewU does not distinguish between types of absences. Each professor marks a student either "absent" or "present," based on the professor's judgment as to the type of absence or time of arrival or departure from class. There are no "tardy" or other categories of attendance, other than "present" and "absent."

NewU maintains attendance records for all students in Populi, NewU's student information system. Only authorized school administrators and the relevant student's professors have access to enter, modify, or view attendance records. A student may request a report on attendance records for any enrolled or past class.

Unenrollment for non-attendance

NewU may unenroll a student who fails to attend any class sessions for which the student is enrolled for any consecutive period of 30 calendar days, except a student on an approved leave of absence or with an exemption from an authorized university representative such as the Chief Student Journey Officer, the President, or a person designated by the President.

Withdrawal

Students wishing to withdraw without intending to return at a future time must formally give notice and receive NewU written approval. A student who has withdrawn is not eligible for reinstatement. Students who intend to withdraw from the university must submit a formal notification to the Chief Student Journey Officer, sign the appropriate form as directed, complete an exit interview, and receive an authorized signature from NewU finalizing the withdrawal.

Until an authorized NewU representative signs the Withdrawal form, students are still enrolled and expected to fulfill their academic and financial responsibilities. All accrued liabilities such as tuition, fees, or any other amounts payable to NewU continue to accrue and are due until the student has fully met all financial obligations through the end of the semester during which the withdrawal is approved.

Students must notify the Chief Student Journey Officer of their intent to withdraw at least 30 days before the start of a semester to avoid being charged for the upcoming semester. If the withdrawal process is initiated less than 30 days before the start of the semester, the student remains responsible for paying the full tuition and fees for the upcoming semester, even if they do not attend or participate in any classes during that time.

Leave of absence

A leave of absence allows students to interrupt their studies for a compelling reason. For example, a sustained medical or mental health condition that prevents attendance or a personal matter requiring absence from campus may qualify you for a leave of absence. Students must submit a written letter and supporting documentation to the Chief Student Journey Officer to make their case and outline why they need to interrupt their studies at that time.

Students may request to take a leave of absence during which they will not be expected to complete academic or other work at NewU or be present on campus; students will also not benefit from student status for the period of an approved leave of absence. The duration of a requested leave is one whole semester.

The Chief Student Journey Officer must approve leave of absence requests in advance of the requested semester, and decisions will not be applied retrospectively. Until students are informed by email that the leave has been processed, they are still registered and expected to fulfill their academic and/or financial responsibilities, including completing coursework.

A student who does not resume attendance when an approved leave ends is subject to the 30-day unenrollment rule above.

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16. Grading

NewU reports GPA (grade point average) on a 4.0 scale. The top grade is an A, which equals 4.0. Students calculate their overall GPA by averaging the scores of all their classes.

Students are considered in good academic standing if they maintain a cumulative GPA above 2.0. NewU aims to promptly identify and support students in need. If the semester GPA or cumulative GPA of a student falls below 2.0, NewU offers the student additional academic advising until the student's cumulative GPA reaches 2.0 at minimum. Special academic advising may be continued for a period of one more semester after this threshold has been passed in order to guarantee continued improvement in the student's individual academic performance.

NewU considers any grade other than an "F" or an "I" a passing grade. If the student has earned a passing grade for all required classes towards any NewU program, the student is deemed to have successfully completed that program.

In order to earn a NewU degree, students must earn a minimum of 120 credits. Credit is earned by completing a class with at least the minimum passing grade. At least 25% of the credit hours required to complete a degree at NewU should be earned in residence.

Incomplete grades

Faculty may use a grade of "I" (Incomplete) at their own discretion when a student has not submitted all required deliverables for the class, or is experiencing extenuating circumstances such as a family emergency, a personal medical or mental health event, or another reason which the faculty member, using sound judgment and acting in good will, deems warrants an opportunity to earn a passing grade or improve the grade. A student who receives an "I" has between 1 (one) and 4 (four) calendar weeks to complete the work reasonably required by the class faculty. Faculty promptly update the final grade after the student submits the required deliverables, or at the expiration of the extension, whichever comes first.

When students receive grades

NewU students receive their grades for each class within a reasonable time upon submitting tests, assignments, or other deliverables as determined by their instructor, in Populi. Students receive their semester grades no later than two weeks after the end of each semester. Students also receive a mid-semester progress report once per class per semester.

Transcripts

In keeping with the spirit of learning and cooperation at NewU, NewU student transcripts shall only display a Pass/Fail designation where normally a numeric grade would be listed. Exceptions are made when the information is required to qualify for financial aid, admission to graduate school, or job placement. See the Grade Non-Disclosure Policy for details. Students who receive federal financial aid must also meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Federal Financial Aid Policy. Students' rights, privileges, and responsibilities are fully described in NewU's student policies, available on the Policies page.

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17. Student Support Services and Student Life

NewU offers a wide range of support services designed to promote academic, personal, and professional success, available to students in every modality.

Student organizations

NewU encourages students to engage with campus life through student organizations that foster leadership, collaboration, and community. The Student Journey office and Student Government engage online students and host events for all students.

• Student Government Association (SGA): representing student interests and helping shape university policies.
• Interest Clubs: opportunities to connect with others who share academic, social, or hobby-related interests.
• NewU Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (NICE): a hub for students interested in entrepreneurship, providing resources and mentorship for launching new ventures.

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18. Probation, Dismissal, and Readmission

Academic advising

NewU places a strong emphasis on providing academic support and guidance to each individual student throughout the duration of their studies.

Each faculty member holds weekly office hours for students to receive class-related and other academic assistance. Faculty may also schedule individual meetings and consultations with students outside of class time and office hours.

Each student will be assigned a Student Success Manager (success coach). Students are required to meet with their Student Success Manager one-on-one at least once a month. These sessions cover academic, career, and resilience building topics and activities. NewU offers career development resources and placement support to all students and monitors progress toward academic degree completion and career development regularly.

Tutoring programs will be organized to support student learning. Tutoring may include faculty-led sessions and peer support as assigned by faculty where appropriate. Tutoring may be offered in some or all classes offered at NewU and may also be organized to support skills the NewU curriculum aims to develop, e.g. academic and/or creative writing and emotional intelligence development. Tutoring sessions may be optional or required toward a NewU class but will not count for additional academic credit outside of official class descriptions.

Special academic advising (probation)

Students will be subject to mandatory academic advising programs should their academic performance indicate the need for such an intervention or if there is a proven and documented instance of plagiarism. Special advising may include individual progress checks and/or additional workshops devised to support student learning and personal development. Please see Academic Standing for details.

Academic standing

Students are considered in good academic standing if they maintain a cumulative GPA above 2.0. NewU aims to promptly identify and support students in need. If the semester GPA or cumulative GPA of a student falls below 1.5, the student will be offered additional mandatory academic advising until the cumulative GPA reaches 1.75 at minimum. Special academic advising may be continued for a period of one more semester after this threshold has been passed in order to guarantee continued improvement in the student's individual academic performance.

Academic and disciplinary suspension

Academic or disciplinary suspension is a corrective action to signal an inadmissible level of academic performance or student behavior while enrolled at NewU.

A proven and documented instance of plagiarism may lead to academic probation for the following semester. Plagiarism in senior theses or capstone projects will result in cancellation of this final work, non-recognition of credits attempted for this particular work, and/or academic probation.

Dismissal and unenrollment

NewU may unenroll any student:

• who has repeated proven and documented instances of plagiarism; or
• who is in material or repeated breach of the Code of Student Conduct or other university policies; or
• whose latest semester GPA is below 1.0; or
• who is in material or repeated breach of financial obligations to the university; or
• who fails to attend any class sessions for which the student is enrolled for any consecutive period of 30 calendar days, except students on an approved leave of absence or with an exemption from an authorized university representative.

Readmission

NewU may, but is not obligated to, readmit a student at any time who has previously withdrawn from the university; who has fully paid and cleared all accrued and outstanding financial obligations to NewU, including tuition, fees, and other amounts due and any late fees or penalties; or who has demonstrated to the satisfaction of NewU, acting at its sole discretion, that the original cause of dismissal or unenrollment is no longer applicable.

For any readmission to take effect, the student must submit a readmission request in writing; the university must issue a decision of readmission in writing; and the student must re-certify by signing or renewing signatures on all prerequisite documents required of first-time and/or returning students, such as waivers, acknowledgements, and the Student Contract.

Appeals process

Any NewU student who is dissatisfied with a decision relating to a particular case of application of an academic or other policy may submit an appeal in writing to the NewU Chief Student Journey Officer. The Chief Student Journey Officer must receive the appeal within 10 (ten) calendar days after the incident. Appeals may be sent via email from the student's university email address (or registered personal email address in case the university email address has been suspended), by regular mail or courier postmarked accordingly, or delivered in person by the appellant.

The Chief Student Journey Officer reviews and answers appeals in writing within 10 (ten) calendar days. The Chief Student Journey Officer may also initiate an inquiry if needed, or meet the involved parties in order to receive clarifications or attempt to achieve an appeal resolution satisfactory to all parties involved. In case the complexity of an appeal does not allow a response within the allotted time, the Chief Student Journey Officer may justify an extension of up to 30 (thirty) additional calendar days in writing to the appellant. In the case of force majeure, the Chief Student Journey Officer will also notify the appellant and inform the appellant in writing about the expected (estimated) duration of the delay. If the force majeure prevents the Chief Student Journey Officer from performing official duties, the deadline for response is extended by the duration of the force majeure or its immediate effects, or until another university official formally takes over the duties of the Chief Student Journey Officer.

In the absence of the Chief Student Journey Officer for a period longer than 10 (ten) calendar days, the Chief Student Journey Officer will authorize another senior representative of the university to perform the duties related to appeal review and resolution only for the period of the absence.

If the Chief Student Journey Officer's resolution is not satisfactory to the appellant, the student may appeal to the President, who will render a final resolution on behalf of NewU within 30 (thirty) calendar days of receiving the appeal.

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19. Student Records

NewU utilizes industry-leading database and cloud storage solutions: Populi, NewU's student information system, for registration, attendance, grades, billing, and advising; the Salesforce Education Data Architecture (EDA) platform for admissions, financial aid, and student communications; and Google for Education. These platforms provide security, storage, and redundancy for student records. Those records include, but are not limited to, student name, contact information, demographic information, parent/guardian information, student academic performance, student attendance, student class and program enrollment, student advising, student billing and financial aid, student customer support, and other student records for the purposes of NewU, the Higher Education Licensure Commission, accreditors, and other government and regulatory parties.

NewU maintains student records in perpetuity, even after the student is no longer enrolled. NewU annually evaluates the data security and storage policies and procedures related to student records to ensure data integrity, archival, and preservation.

Only authorized NewU personnel record, store, and retrieve student records, for legitimate operating purposes and to comply with applicable law. All student data is encrypted while on the Salesforce EDA platform. Access to student records on every platform is role-based, protected by two-factor authentication, and limited to authorized personnel with credentials issued by NewU.

NewU students may obtain a copy of their academic and financial records at any time by sending an email request to the Office of Student Journey ([email protected]) for academic records and to the Finance Office ([email protected]) for financial records. NewU strives to provide a truly student-centric service and support, and fulfills all requests for such student records within 3 (three) business days.

NewU complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), so NewU will not release a student's academic record or transcript and/or financial history to parents or other unauthorized parties where the eligible student has not provided written consent to NewU for such records to be released.

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20. Student Conduct, Rights, and Responsibilities

The University is a community in which intellectual growth, learning from others, mutual tolerance, and respect for freedom of thought and expression are principles of paramount importance. In an environment that promotes the free interchange of ideas, cultural and intellectual diversity, and a wealth of social opportunities, NewU students take advantage of the academic and non-academic opportunities available to them, deepening their intellectual insights through formal instruction, and expanding their educational experience beyond their academic programs. Members of the NewU community participate actively in the greater District of Columbia, state, national, and international communities in which they reside. "Citizens" of the University community include students, faculty, staff, and those otherwise affiliated with the University.

Accepting membership into the University community as a student entails an obligation to promote its welfare by assuming the rights and responsibilities listed below. Each individual member of this community is responsible for his or her own actions and is expected to respect the rights of others.

Dress code

The dress code is casual. All students are expected to dress in a manner consistent with good hygiene, safety, and good taste, on campus and on camera. Please use common sense.

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21. Student Grievances

The Code of Student Conduct sets forth the responsibility of all students at the University to exhibit responsible behavior regardless of time or place. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, the obligation to comply with all provisions of the Code of Student Conduct; with all other policies and regulations of the University; and with local, state, and federal laws.

The University disciplinary process may involve the following stages:

• Bringing a Complaint to the Office of Student Journey
• Resolving a Complaint by Mediation
• Investigating a Complaint
• Resolving Charges by Voluntary Agreement to Sanctions
• Resolving Charges by Disciplinary Hearing
• Appealing the Decision of a Hearing Panel
• Imposing Sanctions on a Student
• Fulfilling Sanctions Imposed by the University

The Office of Student Journey (OSJ) is the central office responsible for resolving alleged violations of University policies by students. The duties of the OSJ include determining whether complaints warrant action by the OSJ, referring complaints for mediation or resolution by other University offices, investigating complaints, determining whether to charge a student with violations of University policies, resolving complaints by voluntary agreements to sanctions, bringing charges of violations to a disciplinary hearing, presenting evidence at hearings, monitoring and enforcing the fulfillment of sanctions imposed pursuant to voluntary agreements or after disciplinary hearings, maintaining records of all disciplinary matters, providing administrative support for all aspects of the disciplinary process (including hearings), and preparing reports and compiling statistics.

Students bring grievances, on campus or online, under the Student Grievance Policy and Procedure, available on the Policies page. No student will be subject to unfair action or treatment by any school official as a result of initiating a complaint.

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22. Ownership, Faculty, and Key School Staff

NewU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Like many of our nation's most prestigious universities, NewU is a private nonprofit institution. NewU Inc. is the nonprofit corporation which operates as NewU University. The organization is registered and based in Washington, DC, and is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit.

History

A team of education innovators founded NewU and incorporated it in 2019. HELC licensed NewU in 2021, and NewU started offering instruction and enrolled its first students in Fall 2022. NewU graduated its first class in June 2025 and its second in June 2026, each in three years. MSCHE granted accreditation on June 25, 2026, retroactive to March 12, 2025, and approved distance education for all majors on August 27, 2026.

NewU faculty

NewU faculty are practitioners and scholars who teach on campus and online and coach students one-on-one. The list of current faculty and their credentials is updated each semester and available on the NewU website at Faculty.

Key school staff

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23. Governance

Like all responsible nonprofits, NewU has a Board of Directors with the typical roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit governing body. NewU Bylaws are available upon request from the Office of the President.

NewU also has key Officers, per applicable nonprofit law, including President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The majority of NewU Board Members are independent Directors, i.e., they are not employed by or involved in the day-to-day operations of the institution.

The list of current Board Members is available on the NewU website at Board.

At NewU we believe in the principles of shared governance, and welcome input from all key stakeholders, especially students. Faculty and students elect their respective representatives annually, who then participate in NewU Board meetings. We welcome other students, faculty, and staff to attend Board meetings, which are typically open to the public.

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24. Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security

NewU started offering instruction and enrolled its first students in Fall 2022. NewU graduated its first classes in June 2025 and June 2026.

Although not required, NewU voluntarily reports data, including graduation data, to the Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). NewU also submits an annual data survey to the Washington, DC Higher Education Licensure Commission.

Student Right-to-Know and campus security information is available on request from the Office of Student Journey at [email protected]. NewU's Campus Violence Prevention Policy and Commitment to Safety are available on the Policies page.

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25. Student Policies

NewU's full policies are on the Policies page. The policies most relevant to students:

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26. Academic Calendar 2026-2027

NewU classes are held only Monday through Thursday, mostly from 10 am to 3 pm. All dates are in Eastern Time.

Add the calendar to Apple, Outlook, or Google Calendar from the Academic Calendar page.

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27. Contact, Hours, and Licensure

NewU University Student Catalog 2026-2027. Published October 2026. NewU publishes any update to this catalog on this page.

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