Academic Policies

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Academic Advisement and Registration

All new and returning students are advised by their assigned faculty advisor before registering for classes. The students will be guided in the selection and sequencing of required and elective courses appropriate to each student’s career and life direction. Dates for registration are listed in the Academic Calendar in the front of the catalog. New students will be reminded by mail of the dates for registration.
Students must secure an appointment for advisement before registration. Their registration will be completed only upon full payment of tuition and fees, or upon securing approval for a deferred payment program from the Director of Business Affairs.
Students will receive credit only for those courses for which they are officially registered. Prerequisites listed for courses must be satisfied, unless waived by the Instructor of the course and the Advisor.
 

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Entrance Exams

All students in a degree program must take entrance exams in mathematics, English and Bible upon matriculating at SBC. Students who do not pass the English or mathematics exams with an acceptable score will be required to enroll in a preparatory course either at Shasta Bible College (when available) or at another approved institution. Students enrolling in the Degree Completion Program are exempted from the English and mathematics placement exams. The Bible exam will be used as a standard of measurement to be compared with an exit exam administered during the student’s senior year.

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Adding a Course

Students who desire to add a course to their program may do so prior to the beginning of the third week of classes with approval from their faculty advisor, provided the appropriate forms are completed and processed through the Registrar. Upon rare occasion, a student may add a class at a time past the beginning of the third week, provided permission has been received from the professor of the class.

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Withdrawal from a Course

To drop or withdraw from a course, a student must obtain from the Registrar, and complete, a Class Withdrawal form. Approval for the withdrawal must be obtained from the professor, the student’s advisor and the Dean, as indicated by their signatures on the form. The completed form must be submitted to the Registrar. Any refund is calculated from the day the completed form is submitted to the Registrar. Students failing to follow this procedure will not be recognized as withdrawn nor be entitled to a refund. Incomplete or failing grades will be recorded as an F if the student has not officially withdrawn.
Students who officially withdraw from a course prior to the beginning of the third week of classes will not have that class recorded on their transcripts. For courses on a non-standard schedule (e.g., 5-week schedule) withdrawals will not be recorded before the 3rd class session. After the beginning of the third week of the semester and prior to the last four weeks of the semester (see academic calendar for dates), students who officially withdraw from a course will receive a grade of WP or WF depending on the student’s grade average in the course. Students who officially withdraw from courses during the last four weeks of the semester will receive a grade of WF, even if a passing average has been maintained, unless evidence is presented to the Registrar indicating that the circumstances necessitating the withdrawal are beyond the control of the student. A grade of WF will count the same as an F in the calculation of the student’s Grade Point Average. For courses offered on a non-standard (i.e., less than 15 week) schedule; dates for withdrawal will be figured on a rate corresponding to the length of the course.
For non-traditional classes (i.e., those not scheduled according to a 15-week semester), the add/drop period is proportional to the scheduled length of the course.
 

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Credit to Audit

To change a course registration from credit to audit, a student must contact the Registrar’s office. Changes from credit to audit may be made without penalty prior to the beginning of the third week of classes. After the beginning of the third week of classes, and prior to the last four weeks of the semester (see academic calendar for dates), students who change from credit to audit will receive a grade of WP or WF depending on the student’s grade average in the course. During the last four weeks of the semester, changes from credit to audit cannot be made.

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Audit to Credit

To change a course registration from audit to credit, a student must obtain an Audit to Credit form from the Registrar’s office within two weeks after the last day of the class, submit the form to the professor and arrange with the business office to pay the balance in tuition costs. In such cases, the student must have submitted all required course work to the professor of the class according to the class schedule or syllabus.

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Withdrawal from College

To withdraw from the College, a student must obtain and complete the appropriate forms in the office. A student who officially withdraws from the College will receive a grade of WP for all courses in which he has a passing grade at the time of withdrawal; otherwise, a grade of WF will be given. An honorable dismissal will be granted a student provided he has met all his financial obligations to the College, has completed the necessary forms, and is in good standing at the time. Any refund due will be calculated according to the refund policies stated in the Financial Information section of the catalog.

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Change of Academic Program

Although students are encouraged to select an academic program as early as possible, and to continue with it to graduation, it is possible to change from one academic program to another with the approval of the student’s advisor by completing the appropriate forms in the College Office.

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Academic Load

Although minimum full-time student status is 12 units in a semester, normal progress is considered to be 15-18 units a semester. Students are discouraged from taking more than 18 unites in a semester. (More than 18 units may be taken only by special permission of the Dean.) One semester credit (unit) represents the equivalent of one hour of class per week and assumes a corresponding 2 hours homework for each 1 hour of class for 15 weeks. For laboratory work, 2 hours of lab are assumed to be equivalent to one hour of class.

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Work-Study Ratio

Due to economic necessity, most students at Shasta Bible College work at least part time. When this responsibility is combined with the fact that many students are married with families, and that all full-time students are involved in intensive practical field training for ministry, it is obvious that many students live with demanding schedules and lifestyles.

In order to minimize the potential for overload and failure, it is important for students to plan wisely with the following facts in mind: (1) students should plan on spending an average of two hours in study outside the classroom for each hour spent in the classroom; and (2) students should plan on investing from three to six hours in field ministry each week.

A student registered for 15 units and working 20 hours a week should plan on the following time obligations:

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Attendance Policy

It is the policy of Shasta Bible College to take attendance. Students are allowed one absence for each class unit. Additional unexcused absences will result in the reduction of the student’s grade at the rate of .33 grade points per absence. Three tardies equal one absence. In the Degree Completion Program students are expected to attend each session. Absences require special permission from the teacher and are left to his discretion. Missing two evenings constitutes grounds for dismissal from the course.

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Grading System

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Incompletes

The request for an incomplete must be initiated by the student and is given only with the instructor’s permission. Forms are available in the registrar’s office and must be used. On the form the student indicates the nature of the incomplete and reasons for the request. The student must complete all unfinished course requirements within four (4) weeks of the end of the semester in which the course was taken. In extraordinary circumstances, such as family or medical emergency, the academic dean, in consultation with the faculty member, may extend the deadline as far as the end of the next semester. Failure to complete whatever is necessary within the time limit will automatically turn the incomplete to a failing grade.

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Grade Appeal

Students who question the appropriateness of the grade received for a course should contact the professor first. If, after contacting the professor, a student does not feel he has been treated fairly, he should contact the Dean. After his meeting with the student and the professor, the Dean will make a recommendation to the Academic Committee whose decision will be final.

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Repeating Courses to Raise Grades

A course may be repeated to raise a low grade but credit for the course does not accumulate. The last letter grade earned by repeating a course is used to compute the Grade-Point Average. Students in the Bachelor of Arts Degree programs must repeat any required course they fail.

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Challenge Examinations

In order to satisfy a course requirement where the student has proficiency based upon past studies or work experience, challenge examinations are given at the option of the College. In this case the student requests the examination in order to prove his proficiency in a required course. The procedure for a challenge examination begins with the Registrar and proceeds to the professor of the course. The student must register for the challenge exam and pay the $50 challenge exam fee before taking a comprehensive examination on the course and completing any other requirements. The student will receive a grade of PASS or FAIL for the course on his transcript. This will not be computed in the Grade Point Average. A student may receive no more than a total of 30 units credit by challenge exam, CLEP, AP, and Work Experience.

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Independent Study

Independent study is a learning experience which permits students to research one or more topics of importance under regular (but not constant) supervision by a faculty member. There are four courses listed in the catalog that are designed for independent research: BS 499, CE 499, CM 499, MUS 499, TS 499, and YM 499. These courses may be pursued for 1-3 units each. They involve counsel, assigned research, and submission of a paper on an approved topic as indicated in the course descriptions.

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Directed Study

Directed study is reserved for regular courses in the curriculum and involves the student in a close working relationship with the professor. This procedure is reserved for students who have scheduling difficulties that otherwise would delay their graduation. Courses pursued by directed study are provided at the same level of difficulty as the regular in-class course. The professor’s course syllabus for a directed study must be approved by the Department Head.

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Distance Education

Distance education courses are designed to be taken by students off campus and do not normally involve traditional classroom attendance. Interaction between student and professor may be facilitated through a variety of means (e.g., Internet, FAX, telephone, mail). Courses pursued by distance education are provided at the same academic level as the regular in-class course.

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Scholastic Honors

Undergraduate students earning a Grade Point Average of 3.0 to 3.49 each semester will be listed on the Honor Roll for that semester provided they complete 12 or more semester units of credit. Students earning a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher each semester will be listed on the Dean’s List for that semester provided they are registered for 12 or more semester units of credit. Students earning a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher each semester will be listed on the President’s List for that semester provided they are registered for 12 or more semester units of credit.

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Academic Probation

Students at Shasta Bible College are expected to make satisfactory academic progress. If a student’s cumulative Grade Point Average falls below 2.00, or if his semester Grade Point Average is below 1.00, he will be placed on Academic Probation. Students placed on Academic Probation will be allowed to register for a maximum of 10 units in the following semester and will be assigned to a faculty member who will provide special academic guidance and supervision. Unless otherwise required, “cumulative” is defined as “credits earned at Shasta Bible College.” Transfer credits, non-credit remedial courses, withdrawals (unless withdrawal/F), and incompletes are not calculated in the cumulative G.P.A.
A student wishing to appeal placement on academic probation must submit a written request through the financial aid office to the academic committee as to why the student should not be placed on academic probation. The decision of the academic committee to the student’s appeal is final.
VETERAN POLICY STATEMENT: A veteran or eligible person placed on probation for unsatisfactory progress shall be terminated if his or her cumulative grade point average remains below graduation requirements (2.0) after two semesters. If the veteran or eligible person is allowed to remain on probation beyond this period, he or she will have all veterans benefits terminated.
 

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Academic Dismissal

Students may be disqualified from attending Shasta Bible College through Academic Dismissal. If, after two semesters of being on Academic Probation, a student has not earned a semester Grade Point Average of at least 2.00, he will be subject to Academic Dismissal.

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Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate from Shasta Bible College, students must complete all academic and nonacademic requirements stated for their program in the catalog that was in effect at the time they matriculated. In the event of changes in catalog requirements, students have the option of continuing with the catalog requirements under which they originally enrolled or of changing to the new catalog requirements. Announcement of intent to follow new catalog requirements must be entered into the student’s academic file in the form of a brief letter to the Student’s Advisor. However, students must choose one option or the other and not some combination of the two. Once the choice is made, it is irrevocable. Courses completed at other colleges or universities and substitutes for specific course requirements, will be transferred and accepted as approved by the Dean of Admissions and Records. Other courses may be substituted for required courses only if approved by the Dean of Admissions and Records. In order to be eligible for graduation in the spring, students must complete all academic and nonacademic requirements. Furthermore, they must:

1. Have a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.00 on all courses submitted to meet graduation requirements.
2. Satisfactorily complete all requirements by the end of the spring semester when they are to graduate.
3. Pay all debts to the College, including the graduation fee.
4. Pass any comprehensive examinations for their major field.
5. Make formal application for graduation by obtaining from the registrar’s office, completing and returning the graduation application by one of the following dates: March 1, August 1, or November 1.
6. Be approved by the faculty as demonstrating Christian character qualities.
7. Complete a minimum of 32 units in residence, including at least 12 units in the student’s major.

Note: Upon occasion, at the discretion of the Registrar and the Dean, a student may participate in the graduation ceremony without receiving a diploma, if a limited number of units is to be completed over the summer term.
Undergraduate students with Grade Point Averages of at least 3.40 will graduate with honors according to the following categories: