Amridge University Academic Catalog  

2008-2009 Academic Year (Version 1.3, Effective 9.23.2008)



Table of Contents

 

Message from the interim President_ 11

Section 1:  Student Services and Other Important Information for All Students  13

HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY. 14

INSTITUTIONAL MISSION STATEMENT. 19

INSTITUTIONAL PURPOSE. 19

INSTITUTIONAL GOALS. 23

A POSITIVE BIBLICAL FAITH. 24

ACCREDITATION AND AUTHORIZATIONS. 26

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. 27

SMOKE FREE CAMPUS. 30

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY. 30

SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. 31

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. 34

ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT. 37

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT. 37

CODE OF CONDUCT. 38

APPEALS/GRIEVANCE PROCESS. 50

AFFILIATION. 53

MEMBERSHIPS. 54

STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 55

STUDENT PROBLEMS COMMITTEE. 55

BOOKSTORE. 56

LOCATION. 57

CAMPUS FACILITIES. 58

HOW TO CONTACT Amridge University. 58

Section 2:  Admissions_ 61

ADMISSIONS POLICY. 62

CANCELLATION OF ENROLMENT AGREEMENT FOR RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA   68

REQUIREMENTS FOR A COMPLETED APPLICATION AND RELEASE OF OFFICIAL Amridge University TRANSCRIPTS. 68

Equal Opportunity Statement. 70

REGIONAL ACCREDITING ORGANIZATIONS. 70

APPLICATION PROCESS. 71

UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS. 71

AUDIT STUDENTS. 74

CONCURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS. 75

TRANSFER STUDENTS. 75

TRANSIENT STUDENTS. 80

ENROLLMENT STATUS CLASSIFICATION. 81

COMPREHENSIVE WITHDRAWAL/DROP POLICY. 81

Section 3:  Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid_ 85

DEFINITION OF FINANCIAL AID. 86

CATEGORIES OF AID. 86

TYPES OF AID. 86

Course Load Requirements. 87

TUITION AND FEES. 87

PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES. 91

CHECKS. 91

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID. 92

FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS. 94

INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. 99

ACADEMIC PROGRESS STANDARDS FOR FINANCIAL AID. 106

COMPREHENSIVE WITHDRAWAL/DROP POLICY. 108

HOW FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID AWARDS ARE DETERMINED. 112

POLICY FOR DISBURSING PELL GRANTS (FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID) TO STUDENTS. 112

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID DISBURSEMENT. 113

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID OVER-AWARDS. 114

THE VERIFICATION PROCESS. 115

DEPENDENCY OVERRIDE POLICY. 116

ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION. 117

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH FINANCIAL AID. 118

EDUCATIONAL TAX CREDIT – TAX FORMS 1098-T. 119

STUDENT APPEALS PROCESS RELATED TO FINANCIAL AID. 119

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS. 119

OTHER TYPES OF ASSISTANCE THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED VETERANS. 124

Section 4:  Amridge University Distance Learning Program_ 126

STATE-OF-THE-ART DISTANCE LEARNING SYSTEM AND THE RELATIONSHIP TO QUALITY PROGRAMMING  127

A DISTANCE LEARNING DELIVERY SYSTEM.. 130

THE DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM IS NOT A CORRESPONDENCE COURSE PROGRAM.. 133

CHARACTERISTICS OF Amridge University DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES. 133

STATEMENT ON COPYING AMRIDGE UNIVERSITY CLASS SESSIONS. 134

STREAMING AND INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES USED. 134

COMPUTER LITERACY FOR DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENTS. 137

STUDENT DEGREE REQUIREMENTS COMPLETION OPTIONS COURSE DELIVERY METHODS COURSE DELIVERY FORMATS. 137

INTERNET ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY. 140

INTERNET SPEED TESTS. 142

EMAIL ACCOUNTS. 143

CHECKING EMAIL DAILY. 143

CAUTIONS FOR STUDENTS USING SPAM FILTERS AND SYSTEMS. 143

CODE OF CONDUCT. 145

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD. 157

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS. 157

HARDWARE FOR SUMITPOINT2. 158

REQUIRED COMPUTER SOFTWARE. 159

KEEPING YOUR COMPUTER IN TOP WORKING ORDER AND OBTAINING AND INSTALLING VENDOR SOFTWARE UPDATES. 160

Section 5:  Academic Regulations_ 161

REGISTRATION. 162

ADDING A COURSE. 162

COMPREHENSIVE WITHDRAWAL/DROP POLICY. 163

REFUNDS. 166

VETERANS. 166

COURSE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM.. 167

ACADEMIC LEVELS OF COURSES. 167

GRADING SYSTEM FOR ASSOCIATE, BACHELOR, MASTER, AND DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEGREES  168

GRADING SYSTEM FOR DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREES. 172

STUDENT GUIDELINES FOR MILITARY DEPLOYMENT. 175

GRADE REPORTING. 178

COURSE LOAD. 178

DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC YEAR. 179

STANDARDS FOR ACADEMIC PROGRESS. 179

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS. 181

ACADEMIC DEGREE STUDENT ACADEMIC EVALUATION. 181

ON-CAMPUS ATTENDANCE POLICY. 182

CURRICULUM CHANGE. 183

COURSE PAPERS. 183

SPECIAL AWARDS AT GRADUATION. 183

GRADUATION HONORS. 186

OTHER ACADEMIC RECOGNITION. 187

NOTIFICATION TO STUDENTS OF RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) 187

STATEMENT ON SAFEGUARDING STUDENT RECORDS. 200

FEES FOR COPIES OF RECORDS. 201

GRADUATION RATES. 201

COURSE CANCELLATION. 201

TRANSFERRING CREDIT. 201

CONFORMANCE TO RULES AND REGULATIONS