Registration, Withdrawal, Probation, Suspensions
Upon acceptance, the student completes a class Registration Form. The student chooses the subject/s desired and returns the form to the Registrar with the required fees. Notes for the subject/s selected will be forwarded to the student promptly.
Registration procedures are complete only when students have paid the tuition in full. Any exceptions to this rule, such as special arrangements for the pay schedule, must be by prior approval from the Dean or Registrar.
Students who would like to drop a course should complete a form obtainable from the Dean or other administrative official.
Lapse of Candidacy:
To maintain admission status, students should be actively pursuing studies in at least one subject per quarter — i.e. two per year — unless approval is given to vary this requirement. Otherwise, a student’s candidature is deemed to have lapsed. A late fee may be charged where the one subject is not completed in one quarter and an incomplete grade requires completion in the following quarter.
Deferment:
On application, deferment for one or more quarter may be granted. However, the student should understand that requirements for a Master’s degree include a maximum of seven years’ candidacy unless, due to unusual circumstances, other arrangements are made. (Each student proceeds at his/her own pace, and may complete more than one course per quarter.)
Suspension:
Students may be suspended for willful violation of the school standards expressed in this catalog. An appeal to suspension must be in writing to the school administration. Removal of suspension shall be at the discretion of the administration.
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend classes when in session. Students who miss class for any reason are expected to make up that class with a DVD recording if available. Students who have missed a class should consult their professor about any make-up work and how to obtain a DVD for that class (at the expense of the student). Each professor shall set his own classroom standards with regard to attendance and how such attendance may affect course grades.
Probation:
Students may be put on academic suspension for the following reasons. (1) Students who have been allowed entrance to the Bachelor’s program without a high school diploma may be accepted for studies based upon a temporary probationary basis. Successful completion of nine credits of study with a minimum GPA of 2.0 will remove the student from this probationary status. Students who fail to maintain this minimum level of achievement may be removed from the program. (2) Students who have been allowed entrance to one of the Master’s programs based upon a Bachelor’s degree from a non-accredited Bachelor’s program will also be subject to a temporary probation status. Successful completion of nine credits of study with a minimum GPA of 2.0 will remove the student from this probationary status. Students who fail to maintain this minimum level of achievement may be removed from the program. (3) Non-probation students whose cumulative GPA falls below 1.0 will be placed on a probationary status for one year. Failure to complete nine credits of study with a minimum GPA of 2.0 may result in removal from the program.
Withdrawal:
Without administrative approval, students are not permitted to withdraw from courses after three weeks of instruction.
Withdrawals and Refunds
Refunds for tuition will be made on a pro-rata basis in 10% increments throughout the quarter, beginning with 100% before instruction begins.
Withdrawal after the above dates (or the published drop date) without mitigating or special circumstances will result in a failing grade (F) in those classes. Military activation is considered a special circumstance. Withdrawals may be accomplished by corresponding with the Registrar.
Non-discriminatory Policy
FRBI admits students of either gender, any race, any color, or any national or ethnic origin. In this regard FRBI will not discriminate with reference to any rights, privileges, programs or activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. FRBI does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national or ethnic origin of applicants in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies and programs. The exception to this standard rule is the policy FRBI holds about granting the M. Div. degree. Because this degree is designed for men pursuing pastoral ministry, FRBI will grant the M. Div. to men only, in accordance with the biblical teachings on male eldership and teaching roles.
Student Standards for Good Standing
Enthusiastic participation (asking and answering of relevant questions) is encouraged as part of the learning process (unless the professor asks students to refrain from or minimize the asking of questions).
When asking questions, students should not seek to publicly push their personal views in class if these views are in opposition to the views of the professor or the FRBI doctrinal statement. This standard is not for the purpose of ignoring legitimate questions and stifling interaction that can lead to student learning, rather it is to promote a learning environment that is positive and un-contentious. Sharp disagreements should be addressed privately with the professor.
Dress Codes
While there is no specific dress code, modesty and neatness are expected as the usual appearance of FRBI staff and students.
Examinations and Theses
Examinations:
Assessment is mainly by essays, and at times by other kinds of exams such as short answer, matching, multiple choice, etc. At least one supervised comprehensive examination may be required.
At the graduate level, a candidate normally would be expected to have a cumulative grade point average of C or higher. (This applies to the total program and not to individual courses.).
Theses:
The thesis must conform to recognized standards within the field selected. It will normally be 100-150 pages for a Master’s Degree according to standard Turabian style standards. However, these are guidelines only. Quality, not quantity, is the criterion. An advisor will be appointed to guide the student in both research and in the presentation of results.
Grading
FRBI recognizes that grades do not give the complete picture of a person’s qualification for ministry. They do, however, measure one aspect of the stewardship of learning. Grades evaluate this stewardship and provide incentive for quality work. Grades measure the quality of the work and its preparation for ministry. The grading system is given below.
To distinguish various levels of achievement in the mastery of subject material, in effectiveness of research, in fulfillment of assignments and responsibilities, or in improvement in personal and ministry skills, as appropriate for each course, the seminary employs the following grading symbols:
A and A- = Exceptional achievement
B+,B,and B- = Above average achievement
C+,C,and C- = Fair or average achievement
D+,D,and D- = Below average, minimally acceptable achievement
F = Unacceptable achievement, failure
I = Incomplete work
W = Withdrawal during third through the sixth weeks of regular semesters
WP = Withdrawal while passing during the seventh through the twelfth weeks
WF = Withdrawal while failing during the seventh through the twelfth weeks, or any withdrawal after the twelfth week.
The following system for converting number grades or percentages to letter grades, where appropriate, is in general use:
| A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96–100 A- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94–95 B+. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92–93 B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88–91 B- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86–87 C+. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84–85 C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80–83 C- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78–79 D+. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76–77 D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72–75 D-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70–71 F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 and below |
Grade points are awarded according to the following scale:
| A = 4 A- = 3.7 B+ = 3.3 B = 3 B- = 2.7 C+ = 2.3 C = 2 C- = 1.7 D+ = 1.3 D = 1 D- = 0.7 F = 0 WF = 0 I = Not counted until changed |
The grading symbols W and WP do not affect grade point averages and the courses for which they are assigned do not count in computing credit hours attempted.
A failing grade (F or WF) is never removed from the student’s transcript. Any student who receives a grade of C or below may retake the course. However, when the course is repeated, the second grade is recorded in such a manner as to delete any negative effect of the failing grade (F or WF) when computing grade points.
Projects may at times be substituted for essays. Also, a supervised examination may at times be prescribed at the conclusion of each course in addition to a final comprehensive examination in the student’s own environment, provided an acceptable supervisor is available.
Students completing degrees at other institutions may apply as non-matriculated students and take FRBI courses pending completion of the degree from those other institutions.
Upon receipt of official transcripts and verification of graduation, the applicant may matriculate into a FRBI degree program and receive credit for all previous work completed as long as the courses meet FRBI academic standards. For transfer, the fields of study must be theological in nature and match the courses that are part of FRBI’s catalog.
Incomplete Policy Statement
FRBI makes allowances, as an exception, for students to take an incomplete grade in one quarter and complete that work at a later point. The policy of FRBI on this issue is as follows: At the discretion of, and with the approval of, the professor, a student may take an incomplete grade in a given quarter for a failure to complete course requirements. The balance of the class requirements must be completed by the end of the subsequent quarter. Failure to complete class requirements by the end of the subsequent will result in a fail grade if inadequate requirements are met. The student will need to retake that course and pay tuition costs a second time. A partial completion of outstanding requirements may result in a passing grade.
Academic Integrity
FRBI expects academic integrity from its faculty, staff and students. Plagiarism, falsifying information and dishonesty all mar the character and purpose of theological education.
Plagiarism is defined as taking and using “as one’s own the writings or ideas of another.” Plagiarism includes:
Failure to use quotation marks or other conventional markings around material quoted from another source;
Paraphrasing a specific passage from a source without indicating accurately that source;
Allowing another person to compose or rewrite a student’s written assignment.
False Information includes:
Submitting another’s work as one’s own;
Providing false or misleading documentation.
Dishonesty:
In the midst of an examination, academic dishonesty shall include referring to written information not specifically condoned by the instructor or syllabus. It shall further include receiving written or oral information from a fellow student or proctor.
Academic dishonesty shall include stealing, buying, selling, or transmitting a copy or any portion of any examination.
Any student proven to have committed any of the above will receive an “F” for the course and will receive an academic warning. If the student is proven to have been guilty a second time, he or she will be dismissed.
Transfer of Credits
Students requesting transfer of credits from previous academic work into FRBI degree programs must do so by having official transcripts sent to FRBI. The only courses that may be transferred are those that are biblical/theological in nature and which also match up with courses offered in the FRBI catalog. The final year of any degree course (30 credit hours) must be completed through FRBI except where special arrangements have been made with the Academic Dean.
Continuing Education Recognition through ACSI
Students who teach in Christian schools that work under ACSI may apply studies under FRBI toward continuing education requirements through ACSI.