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Policies for Professors
The College of America faculty is made up of qualified and capable instructors who hold either a Masters or Doctoral degree from a school accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in a discipline closely related to the type of courses they are instructing.
Each faculty member is required to meet certain standards, affirm agreement with the College of America Statement of Faith as well as our Mission and Purpose, and be a member in good standing of a Bible-believing church.
College of America makes no distinctions and does not discriminate in regard to disability, race, color, class, or nationality in the appointment of instructors.
Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory Scholarship and Requirements for Graduation
A student must meet the following minimum standards of academic achievement and successful course completion while enrolled at College of America. It is required that all course requirements be successfully completed in order to graduate from a program of study. This is all spelled out in the Student Handbook given to each student; especially the student’s meeting all academic requirements and financial obligations.
Evaluation Points
The student’s progress will be evaluated at the end of 25% of the maximum program length, at the end of 50% of the maximum program length, and at the end of 75% of the maximum program length. Students who have not earned a cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0 at 25% of the program will be placed on probation for the next semester. If students do not have a 1.65 Grade Point Average at 50% of the program, they will be suspended for six months. If they do not have a 1.8 Grade Point Average at 75% of the program, they will be dismissed from the College. The student’s progress will also be evaluated at the end of each academic year and at the end of the maximum program length permitted for his/her program of study.
Minimum Academic Achievement
A student must achieve the minimum Grade Point Average (2.0) in order to remain enrolled as a regular student. Failure to achieve these minimum standards may result in the student being placed on probation, being dismissed, or removed from enrollment as a regular student.
Academic Probation
A student may be placed on probation if his or her Grade Point Average or successful course completion rate is below acceptable standards when evaluated at the indicated points. A student whose academic achievement is below acceptable minimum standards will be placed on Academic Probation.
All students placed on Probation will be required to attend counseling with the Dean and may be required to participate in a tutorial program. The student will be removed from Probation if he or she meets the criteria for Grade Point Average and percentage of coursework completed at the next evaluation point.
If a student fails to achieve the required Grade Point Average or percentage of course completion at the three evaluation points where dismissal for noncompliance is reviewed, the student may no longer continue at College of America as a regular student and the student may be permanently dismissed from College of America. However, the student may appeal his or her dismissal and if approved by the Academic Committee, the student may continue in an extended enrollment status for a period of time not greater than 15 semester hours. The student may retake/take courses to improve his or her Grade Point Average and required completion rate. During this period the student will be charged tuition and fees consistent with stated tuition and fees.
If a student demonstrates, after retaking/taking additional courses, that he or she is academically and motivationally prepared to continue in the program, the student may be reinstated as a regular student. The Academic Committee must approve reinstatement and the reinstatement will be based on evaluations made by instructors who are familiar with the work of the student and a review by the Dean of the student’s Grade Point Average and successful completion rate.
Course Semester Credit Hours - Contact Hour Instruction
The unit of credit is based on the semester class hour. A class hour is equivalent to 50 minutes of instruction. Each three-credit semester class hour course consists of thirty-seven and one-half clock hours, or ninety hours of laboratory experience, or 135 hours of external experience.
Transfer Credits
Non-Traditional Credit OpportunitiesOur transfer policy is to accept university, college and seminary-level credits earned from all licensed or accredited institutions within our educational associations and other institutions according to the following procedures: Credits obtained from other licensed and/or accredited institutions and schools, for which a grade of “C” or its equivalent was earned, may be transferred or applied toward degree credit requirements at the sole discretion of the administrative staff of the College. The maximum credit awarded for transfer credits is normally three semester credits per course. At least thirty credits must be earned in attendance at College of America. Students who wish to transfer courses taken or credits earned at College of America to another institution must understand that the decision to accept credits or courses in transfer is the sole decision of the receiving institution. Students who contemplate taking coursework at the College for transfer to another institution should check with the other institution to insure that credits or coursework will be accepted.
Credits obtained through any of the following non-traditional credit methods can only be applied for when the student is actively enrolled in College of America. These may only be up to 25% of total number of credits required for completion of a program.
- 1. Establishment of Credit By Examination
- 2. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- 3. Advanced Placement
Enrolled students with special qualifications or developed skills may earn credit by passing, with a minimum grade of “B,” proficiency exams for any course listed in the College catalog by taking the midterm and final exams for the course. A maximum of 15 credit hours may be earned through credit by examination. To apply, contact the Dean.
The College accepts credits earned through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) for up to 25% of the credit hours required by the degree program in which the student is enrolled. Information regarding tests accepted, scores and application for testing are available through the Dean’s Office.
High school students who take Advanced Placement (AP) coursework while in high school may receive college credit if the student scored an A3 or higher on the Advanced Placement exam. The student must request that official test scores be sent directly to the college for credit evaluation.
Academic Year Lengths and Graduation Date
The standard Academic Year consists of three semesters of classes, with holidays on New Year’s Eve beginning at 2:00 p.m. and New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve beginning at 2:00 p.m. and Christmas Day. Graduation ceremonies are held on the evening of the third Friday in December and a second smaller graduation on the evening of the second Friday in June.
Transcripts
Transcript requests must be submitted in writing (typed or printed) by the student, containing the following: student’s name, student number, social security number (if applicable), telephone number, date of enrollment, approximate date of last attendance, the name and address of the person and organization to whom transcripts are to be sent, date of request, and student’s signature. Requests must be accompanied by payment of the transcript fee listed in the Financial Information in this catalog (first transcript is free for College of America graduates).
Grading System
Grade Points per Credit Hour:
Grade Evaluation A Excellent B Above Average C Average D Below Average F Failure W Withdrawal WP Withdrawal without Penalty WP Withdrawal with Penalty I Incomplete (*) * = automatically changed to “F” if requirements are not met by end of next semester.
Calculation of Grade Point Average
The Grade Point Average of a student is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned per grading period by the number of credit hours attempted. If, for example, a student earned an “A” in one 3 credit hour class, the student would multiply 3 credit hours times 4 (the grade point total for an “A”). The grade points for that class would be 12. If the student earned a “C” for a second 3 credit hour class, the student would multiply 3 credit hours for a “C” (2) for a total of 6 grade points. Adding the total number of grade points, 12 and 6, the student would have 18 grade points. The student attempted 6 credits. The grade points of 18, divided by 6 credit hours attempted, would result in a Grade Point Average of 3. If there were intermediate points, (like 3.5) they would be calculated in the same way.
Graduation Requirements
In order to earn a degree from College of America, students must earn a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative Grade Point Average for classes that they have completed at the College.
Students must complete all credits to be earned through examination and transfer by the mid-point of the semester, at the conclusion of which they plan to graduate. All incomplete grades earned in the final semester of study must be cleared by the end of the second week of the following semester. Failure to complete all requirements for graduation may postpone a student's graduation date to the end of the next semester. All graduates must fulfill all financial obligations, including tuition charges, graduation fees and other expenses, before the degree or diploma is granted. Sixty credits are required for an associate’s degree and one hundred and twenty credits for a bachelor’s degree.
Graduation with Honors
Students enrolled in degree programs who have earned the requisite credits for graduation with the following Grade Point Averages are entitled to the appropriate honors: 3.50-3.75, cum laude; 3.76-3.89, magna cum laude; 3.9 and above, summa cum laude.
Repeating Courses
A student may repeat a failed course taken at College of America in order to improve his or her cumulative Grade Point Average. The credit is given for the last grade earned for repeating a course. Repeated courses will appear on the student’s transcript. The first attempt will also be shown, but the cumulative Grade Point Average will be recomputed to count the last attempt only. Students are charged tuition at the same rate as other courses in their program for repeated courses.
Course Numbering System
The first three letters of the Course Number explain the field which the course is related to: “BIB” is Bible, “BSA” is Business Administration, “BIO” is Biology, “CMP” is Computer, “ENG” is English, “HIS” is History, “LIT” is Literature, “MAT” is Mathematics, “PHI” is Philosophy, “PSY” is Psychology, “SOC” is Sociology, and “THY” is Theology.
The 1000 series are normally first year courses, the 2000 series are normally second year courses; the 3000 series are normally third year courses, and the 4000 series are normally fourth year courses.
General Education Program Required Courses mean that these are General Education Program Required Courses, normally taken in the same year series as the other courses.
Biblical Theological Education Required Courses mean that these are Biblical Theological Education Required Courses, normally taken in the same year series as the other courses.
Graduation and Placement Rates
These will be reported to students when computed and the latest figures placed in the Catalog.