Policies and General Information - Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

Academic Information - Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

Admission and Registration - Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

Indiana Wesleyan University welcomes applications for admission from any academically qualified person whose motivation is in keeping with the university's purposes. Admission is based on the careful review of all credentials presented by an applicant, but in no case is admission denied due to race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Students are admitted in one of the following categories:

1. Regular - Students who satisfactorily meet all requirements will be granted standard admission with no restrictions.
2. Probation - Students whose entering grade point average (GPA) falls below the minimum required by the program may be accepted on probation. Probationary status will be removed after the student has completed the first three courses of the core with a satisfactory GPA (3.00). In case of extended probation, the number of courses to be completed in order to change status will be determined by the Dean of the Seminary. Any student failing to remove the probationary status will be academically suspended from the program.
3. Provisional - Students whose files are incomplete may be accepted provisionally at the discretion of the Associate Vice President for Student Services if it appears from the available documentation that eligibility for the program has been met. The student is given until the end of the first course to submit the required materials. Failure to meet the required deadline will result in the student being dropped from the roster and not allowed to continue.
4. Unclassified - Students not pursuing a university degree who want to take certain courses for special reasons may be accepted for a maximum of 12 hours. Students receiving an unclassified status must reapply for regular admission if they desire later to pursue a degree program. Unclassified students are not eligible for financial aid.

International/Non-English Speaking Students

A student who is living in the United States but is not a United States citizen must submit a copy of a visa or permanent resident status during the process of application. Students who do not speak English as their first and primary language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admission to the university. A score of at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (Internet-based) is required for regular academic admission. Student visas (I-20's) are not issued for students wanting to enter the United States to enroll in programs offered for adult and graduate students.

Transfer of Credit Policy - Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

The university may allow a maximum of nine credits in transfer to the Master of Arts programs and a maximum of 27 hours into the Master of Divinity program. Transfer of credit will be determined by the Dean of Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Credit is granted for work with a satisfactory grade ("C" or above) taken at an approved college or university accredited at the same level, provided the courses are applicable to the curriculum the student wishes to pursue at Indiana Wesleyan University. An "approved college or university" generally refers to those institutions that are accredited by a regional accrediting body or the Association for Biblical Higher Education.

The University Registrar is responsible for approving the transferability of all credits. Credit hours accepted in transfer are recorded, but quality points and grades are omitted and used only for the determination of graduating with honors. All credits are accepted as semester credits. Quarter credits are converted to semester credits using the two-thirds conversion ratio.

Transcripts from foreign institutions - are sent to an outside agency for evaluation and determination of transferable credits, degrees, and GPA. Students are responsible for the initiation of this evaluation and for any fees incurred during the process. Applications for this service are available to the student through the university.

Academic Calendar

Courses in adult and graduate programs are offered under the semester hour system but in a non-traditional academic calendar. Each program consists of specific courses that are taught in a modular format and taken sequentially. Onsite core groups meet on the same day for the duration of the program. Online core groups meet in an asynchronous environment through Blackboard. Certain programs require students to complete project team assignments.

Registration

Registration occurs at the beginning of the student's core program. At this point, students are registered for all courses within the major. Therefore, if a student needs to miss an individual course, official withdrawal must be made through the Office of Student Services. Staff will work with the student to make arrangements to retake this class with another core group at a time that will minimize the impact on the student's financial aid. Students need to be aware that temporary withdrawals could impact their eligibility to receive financial aid based on the standards outlined in IWU's Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Students in programs that require additional credits outside the major are responsible to meet with their advisor to facilitate registration in these courses.

A student who has failed to make arrangements for the payment of tuition for a course will have registration in that course cancelled.

Audit of Courses

A student who has been accepted into an Indiana Wesleyan University degree program or as an unclassified student may choose to audit specified courses within a core program or electives as follows:

1. Audit registration is allowed on a space available basis.
2. The current audit fee per credit hour must accompany the registration.
3. Auditing a course gives one the right to attend the course. No credit or letter grade is given. The course will be indicated as an "AU" on the student's IWU transcript.
4. The student auditing the course is not expected to participate in classroom or study group assignments, or to complete homework, quizzes, or tests.
5. The facilitator is under no obligation to grade any work an auditing student chooses to submit or to give feedback on progress.
6. The materials required for the course are optional for auditing students. If one wishes to purchase materials, the fees must accompany the registration.
7. The student must meet course pre-requisites or be approved by the appropriate administrator of the specific college/school.
8. No change may be made from audit to credit, or credit to audit, after registration closes.

Former Student Re-Enrollment

Students who have previously withdrawn from a program and have not attended classes for six months or more must complete an application for readmission from the Office of Student Services. Receipt of the signed application will initiate a review of the student's academic file to determine remaining requirements. A student who was academically suspended from an adult and graduate program may make application for readmission after six months. All students returning after six months or more will meet the graduation requirements as stated in the bulletin under which they resume enrollment.

Former Indiana Wesleyan University students from the traditional programs who wish to apply to a program must go through the regular adult program admission procedure. Students who were academically suspended from the traditional campus and wish to apply to an adult program must meet the following criteria:

1. All other program admission criteria met.
2. At least two years have passed since the suspension OR the student has successfully completed 12 hours elsewhere.
3. There are no other holds on the student's record.

Withdrawal/Change in Status

A student who finds it necessary to withdraw from the program or to take a temporary leave of absence is required to contact the Registration Change Counselor in the Office of Student Services to complete this process. Students must request the withdrawal from the Registration Change Counselor before the last class workshop. Failure to initiate an official withdrawal will result in a "No Credit" or an "F" grade for the student in those related courses. Students withdrawing from a class or transferring to another core group will be charged a $100 withdrawal fee.

A student who is temporarily withdrawing may request an individual leave of absence up to 180 days in a 12 month period. A student cannot request more than two leaves during a 12 month period, and the total number of days on leave may not exceed 180 days within a 12 month period. All leaves must be requested through the Office of Student Services.

If a student officially withdraws after a course has started, a grade of "W" will be assigned. An "F" will be assigned to a student who stops attending but does not officially withdraw. Students who never attend a class and do not withdraw will be administratively withdrawn from the course and from all subsequent courses. Students must then go through the normal readmittance process to return to class.

Students withdrawing from the first course of a core program must withdraw from the entire program and re-enter with another core group.

If, at a later time the student wishes to re-enter the program, a re-entry form must be submitted to the Office of Student Services. Students sitting out of a core program for more than 90 days are subject to a tuition increase upon returning. Students re-entering a core program after six months or more are subject to any changes in curriculum upon returning.

Any change in registration may have an impact on the student's financial aid. Students should always check with the financial aid office before initiating a registration change.

Leave of Absence Policy

Indiana Wesleyan University understands there are life events that may require a student to modify class enrollment and schedules. The leave of absence policy is designed to allow the student flexibility in their program enrollment to adjust to these life events. The leave of absence policy also extends to students the ability to make up any courses missed during the approved leave.

A student on an approved leave of absence will be considered enrolled at IWU and eligible for an in-school deferment for student aid loans. Federal financial aid and in-school deferment may be negatively impacted if a student fails to apply for the leave of absence or if the application is denied. This impacts students who receive Title IV federal financial aid (Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Grants, Federal Stafford Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Parent Loans) or who want to have a federal student loan deferred from payment while in school.

Students who will be out of attendance for a period of 29 days or more should request a leave of absence. Students out of class for less than 29 days are not eligible for a leave of absence, and a recalculation on current financial aid will be done. Students who are not on federal financial aid programs or who do not have a federal loan in deferment are not required to request a leave of absence. However, the approved leave of absence will result in the $100 registration change fee being waived.

Students needing to make a change in their schedule need to contact the Office of Student Services to process the registration change. At that time, the leave of absence request form will be mailed to the student. The form can also be downloaded from http://caps.indwes.edu/studentservices/, or can be requested by calling the Office of Student Services at 765-677-1231. Students must request the leave within 21 days of initiating the registration change. The request for a leave of absence should be made prior to the date the leave is to start. The start date of the leave is the first date of the class or, if the class has already started, the date the registration change is initiated.

An approved leave of absence must meet the following criteria: the request must be received within 21 days of the registration change; the request must be made prior to the start of the leave (first day of class); the reason for the request must be one approved by IWU's Leave of Absence Committee (military, medical, jury duty, loss of job, family emergency, employment emergency, transfer of coursework, passing pre-requisite requirement, transfer of core groups, changing programs, administrative cancellation of core classes, or other reasons as approved by the Leave of Absence Committee); appropriate documentation must be submitted if the request is submitted after the leave has started; the student must have an expected date of return; and, the leave of absence together with any additional leaves of absence must not exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period.

Documentation is required if the request for the leave of absence is made after the beginning date of the leave of absence, and needs to address the nature of the reason for the request. Documentation for each circumstance will vary; the student is required to provide whatever paperwork from a third party will attest to the circumstance outlined on the application form. Examples would include physicians' statements, letters from employers, letters from pastors or counselors, court documents, etc. Documentation is also required if a request is submitted after the 21 day deadline, and needs to address the reason for the delay in the submission of the request.

The leave of absence together with any additional leaves of absence must not exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period. Time in excess of 180 days will not be approved. A student may request an extension to a leave providing the request is made before the end of the leave, there are unforeseen circumstances which prevent the return from the leave, and the total number of days of approved leave do not exceed 180 in a 12-month period. A maximum of two leaves of absence are allowed during a 12-month period.

Failure to return from an approved leave of absence nullifies the approved leave and may have an impact on student loan repayment terms as well as the grace period. The first day of the leave will be reported as the beginning of the grace period for loan deferment. Students may return early from an approved leave of absence prior to the leave end date. The leave will be shortened according to the student's return date.

Students will not receive disbursements of Title IV student loan financial aid funds during the leave. Students are not deferred from making regularly scheduled payments to the Accounting Office for normal fees incurred. Any change in registration can impact current financial aid regardless of approval or denial of the leave of absence request. Questions about impact on current financial aid should be directed to the Financial Aid Office at 800-621-8667 ext. 2516. Students on an approved leave of absence will be reported as such and will be eligible for in-school deferment of previous loans. Students whose request for a leave of absence is denied will be reported as withdrawn and the grace period for loan repayment will go into effect.

Degree Programs Offered - Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University offers the following degrees:

1. Master of Arts (M.A.) with a major in Ministry.
2. Master of Divinity (MDIV).

Catalog Governing Graduation

Students must meet the graduation requirements as stated in the university catalog under which they enrolled. Students who maintain continuous enrollment, who make normal progress toward a degree, and who earn their degree within a maximum of six years from the date of enrollment may meet the graduation requirements as stated in the catalog under which they enrolled. Students who withdraw from Indiana Wesleyan University for more than six months will meet the graduation requirements as stated in the catalog under which they resume enrollment. Students changing majors or programs must meet requirements as stated in the catalog that is current at the time they make such changes. The same holds true for students moving between schools and colleges.

Core Requirements

The integrity of the adult and graduate programs requires that the core courses be met at Indiana Wesleyan University. Due to the nature of the programs, students can only be enrolled in one program at a time. Students are required to complete the first course of the core program with a passing grade in order to maintain enrollment with their cohort. In general, no waivers are allowed for courses taken at other colleges/universities. Certain graduate programs allow transfer credits.

Final class dates as established by the calendar will be the final date for completion of the core curriculum. No compressing or doubling of core work is permitted to accommodate earlier completion or graduation schedules.

Grading and Evaluation

A letter grade is used in evaluating the work for a course. For the purpose of determining scholastic standing and awarding honors, grade points are granted according to the letter grades and semester hours of credit. The grade point average (GPA) is the number of quality points earned at IWU divided by the number of credit hours attempted at IWU.

Repeated Courses - A student may repeat once any course in which a grade below "C" ("C-," "D+," "D," or "F") was previously earned. Some specific graduate level courses are identified as repeatable and can be repeated if a student earns a grade higher than "C" but below the level required for that specific course. The course may be repeated once.

Whenever a course is repeated, the last grade and credits earned replace the previous grade in computing the student's grade point average (GPA). All entries, however, remain a part of the student's permanent academic record. Duplicate credit hours are not given for two or more passing efforts. A course taken in a classroom format may not be repeated for a grade through independent learning.

Since a course may be repeated once, failure to achieve a satisfactory grade in a course after two attempts will result in academic suspension and ineligibility to complete the major in which the course was repeated.

Incomplete Grades - Students are expected to complete the course requirements by the last class session. There may be instances when crisis circumstances or events prevent the student from completing the course requirements in a timely manner. However, the issuance of an incomplete cannot be given if the student fails to meet the attendance requirements. In these rare situations, a grade of "I" (incomplete) may be issued but only after completing the following process:

1. The student must request an "I" from the instructor.
2. The instructor must obtain approval from the appropriate Regional Dean/Program Director/Program Chair.

Because "incompletes" are granted only for extenuating circumstances, the student's grade will not be penalized.

A student who receives an "incomplete" has 10 weeks from the final meeting date of the course to complete course requirements and turn them in to the instructor. If, at the end of the 10-week extension, the student has failed to complete the course requirements, the "incomplete" will become an "F." A student with more than one incomplete on record is subject to academic suspension.

Grade Reports - At the end of each course, the instructor submits grades for each student. Grade reports are mailed from the Indiana Wesleyan University Records Office and indicate courses taken, credits received, and grades assigned.

Transcripts

The student's official transcript is prepared by the Indiana Wesleyan University Records Office and will show the course, grade, credit, and dates of instruction for each course. Requests for transcripts of coursework at Indiana Wesleyan University must conform with the Privacy Act of 1974, which requires that all transcript requests be submitted in writing and signed by the student, for protection of the student's confidentiality. A transcript is official only when it bears the university seal.

It is university policy not to release a transcript if the student owes anything to the university or if he or she is delinquent on any loan received through Indiana Wesleyan University. A $3 fee is charged for each transcript and must be enclosed, along with a complete address to which the transcript is to be mailed. Please provide a current address if request is to be sent to student's home. Students requesting a transcript should write to the Indiana Wesleyan University Records Office, 4201 South Washington Street, Marion, IN 46953. For more information, call 1-765-677-2966 or www.indwes.edu/records/transcripts.htm.

Academic Standing - Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

Academic Probation - Students enrolled in Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University will be placed on probation if their GPA falls below 3.0.

Students are given two consecutive courses to satisfactorily raise their GPA. If the GPA is successfully raised, the probationary status is removed. Academic suspension will result if the student's GPA is not successfully raised.

Academic Suspension - Academic suspension will result if:

1. A student fails to clear the academic probationary status within the probationary period of two consecutive courses.
2. A student has two grades of failure (F) at one time on an academic record in the same degree level.
3. A student has taken a course twice and failed to achieve a satisfactory grade. When this occurs, the student is ineligible to reapply for admission into the program in which the course was repeated.

In all cases, the suspension will occur once the grades have been recorded in the Records Office. Students will be notified of the academic suspension in writing. Application for readmission may be made after six months. The application must be made in writing to the Dean of Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Academic Dismissal - Upon a second academic suspension in the same program, a student is not eligible to reapply to Indiana Wesleyan University.

Attendance Policy - Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

Students are expected to attend all sessions of classes for which they are registered, except in cases of prearranged official assignments by the university and absences because of emergencies which may be considered excusable by the instructor. A student is responsible directly to his/her instructor for all classes missed and for all make-up work. Each instructor or program administrator determines the extent to which absences affect course grades and grades are assigned on the basis of work accomplished. Any absence from two or three consecutive lectures concerning which the teacher has no definite information should be reported to the Office of Student Services.

Students are expected to be present for onsite class sessions and participate in online activity.

Absences are allowed as follows: Under emergency circumstances, a student may be allowed up to one day of absence from a one week intensive, up to two days of absence for an eight week class, and up to four days of absence for a 16 week class. Absence beyond this point constitutes failure to complete the course. Students need to contact the faculty member regarding make up work.

If a student exceeds the allowed absences and does not contact the Office of Student Services to withdraw officially before the last class session, the instructor is directed to issue the grade of "F".

Students who must miss a course due to unavoidable circumstances must arrange for a temporary leave of absence with the Office of Student Services prior to the beginning of the course. Students needing to withdraw while in a course may do so by arrangement with the Office of Student Services prior to the end of the course, but the regular refund and academic withdrawal policies apply.

Faculty members reserve the right to factor lateness, early departures, and class attendance into a student's grade, as long as it is addressed in the syllabus.

Online attendance is determined by activity during a workshop, either through discussions or submission of assignments. A student is reported absent for a workshop if there is not at least one submission (or posting) of an assignment or in a discussion forum assigned during the designated dates for that workshop.

Students are expected to be present when class begins, and remain the entire session. To be counted present, a student must attend a total of three hours or more of a class that is four hours in length, four-and-a-half hours or more of classes that are six hours in length, and six hours for classes that are eight hours in length. Tardiness is recorded, and if a student accumulates two tardies during a course, it results in an absence on the student's attendance record.