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Academic Information

Rose of Sharon Bible Institute courses are based on the semester hour system. All courses carry three (3) hours of credit unless otherwise indicated in the catalogue.

External students may enroll in the Distance Education Program at anytime during the year.

GRADING SYSTEM
Work at Rose of Sharon Bible Institute is assigned letter grades based on percentage points and assigned quality points as outlined below.

GRADE
    A
    B
    C
    D
    F
    I
    W
    WF
    AU
    R

PERCENTAGE
    (93-100)
    (86-92)
    (77-85)
    (70-76)
    (69 and below)

EXPLANATION
    Excellent
    Above Average
    Average
    Below average
    Failure
    Incomplete
    Withdrew
    Withdrew Failing
    Audit
    Course Repeat

QUALITY POINTS PER-SEMESTER HOUR
    4
    3
    2
    1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0

A student must repeat any course in which he/she received a grade of 69 or below. Students enrolled in the Distance Education Program work at their own rate. It is suggested; however, that each individual course be completed within a twelve week period in order to keep the student motivated in his/her education pursuits. Additional time may be granted by the Dean of Academic Affairs in extreme circumstances. The grading system for students in the Distance Education Program is the same as resident students.

The grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the quality points earned by the semester hours completed. GPA is calculated only on credit hours earned at Rose of Sharon Bible Institute.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF STUDENT RECORDS
Rose of Sharon Bible Institute, in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, will maintain all records in accordance with the provisions of the act as amended. A student's file will be open to him/her, but not to another person without his/her written consent, with the exception of the official faculty and staff members of the Institute who have a professional right to this material.

SCHOLASTIC STANDING
Students in the undergraduate program who have GPA's below 2.0 in any twelve hours of work will be placed on academic probation. Any graduate students who have a GPA below 3.0 in any twelve hours of work will be placed on academic probation. The student will be given a twenty four week period for the raising of his/her GPA to the required figure. Each student may receive academic and personal counseling through the Student Mentor Program to ensure the maximum opportunity for academic success during this period of time. A student who fails to improve his/her GPA within this period will be academically dismissed from Rose of Sharon Bible Institute for twelve weeks. The student may reapply for admission and, if accepted will be on probation for the first twelve weeks after readmission. If, during the twelve weeks, the student fails to maintain his GPA of 2.0, 3.0, or 3.2, he/she shall be permanently dismissed from Rose of Sharon Bible Institute.

STUDENT CLASSIFICATION
Freshman: A student who has earned up to 30 semester hours.
Sophomore: A student who has earned 31-60 semester hours.
Junior: A student who has earned 61-90 semester hours.
Senior: A student who has earned 91-120 semester hours.
Graduate: A student who has been accepted into the Master's Program
Post Graduate: A student who has been accepted into the Doctoral Program or above.

STUDENT MENTOR PROGRAM
Each student enrolled in a program at Rose of Sharon Bible Institute will have available someone to advise them when the need arises. The student, along with a member of the administration, will select a program of study that is outlined in the catalogue.

TRANSCRIPTS
One unofficial transcript will be given to the student. One official transcript will be sent at his/her request to another institution without charge. Any further transcripts requested will be assessed a fee of $3.00. No transcripts will be issued to, or for a student who has failed to meet all financial obligations.

PERSONALIZED STUDY PLAN
It is the policy of Rose of Sharon Bible Institute to assist in the selection of an individual plan of study for each student. Our faculty believes that each individual is a creation of God designed for a specific purpose, and to best fulfill that purpose they need studies designed to meet their goals and needs. For this reason students at the Institute are treated in a different manner than at most schools. Through a program of testing, life experience, resume, portfolio and academic review, the student's program of study is selected. The student's program of study may be modified at specific points (as per the student's academic contract) to accommodate possible changes of goals and needs. For information concerning specific programs of study please contact the Office of Dean of Academic Affairs.

ACADEMIC REVIEW BOARD
This is a board of qualified faculty members and outside specialists in several fields of study. Their main purpose is to assist in the selection of curriculum that will be used by each student throughout their program of study.

LIFE CREDIT
The faculty of Rose of Sharon Bible Institute recognizes that Life Experience is important to the applying students. RSBI will issue credit for applicable, documented work experience. Such credits are awarded by the Academic Review Board, and may not exceed 25% of the requirements of a program of study. These credits will be applicable only to programs at the Associate and Bachelor level. All Life Experience credits are determined via the Academic Portfolio process.

DIPLOMA PROGRAMS
It is the policy of Rose of Sharon Bible Institute to offer a diploma for the completion of each program of study. The faculty has designated all of our programs as: "Theological Diploma Programs".

DECLARED MAJORS
All programs of studies at Rose of Sharon Bible Institute are in religious fields of study. Majors in these fields of study include Biblical Studies, Ministry, Theology, and Religious Education.

To properly facilitate the program of study "all majors must be declared at the time of enrollment". Should a student desire to make a change at a later date this may be facilitated with the approval of the Dean of Academic Affairs.

ACADEMIC FEES
The policy of Rose of Sharon Bible Institute is to set its tuition rate at affordable levels whenever possible. All tuition rates and fees are found at the back of the catalogue on the pullout sheet. Fees are subject to change.