Academic Information

Academic Calendars

The college operates on a semester system. The first semester concludes prior to Christmas and the second semester concludes in the early weeks of May.

The college also conducts a winterim in January and several sessions of summer school following the May graduation exercises. Winterim and summer school are optional for students.

Fall 2018 Semester

Winterim 2019

January 2-11, classes meet daily 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

Spring 2019 Semester

Summer 2019

Summer session begins on Monday, May 13, starting and ending on various dates throughout the summer. No class on Memorial Day, May 27. Please refer to the summer brochure for specific days and times.

Academic Load

In order to be considered as a full-time student, one must register for 12 or more credits. Approval from the faculty advisor is required for a student to take more than 18 credits.

Academic Classification

In determining a student's classification, all credits that have been successfully completed are counted. The classifications are:

Class Attendance

Excused absences are granted for illnesses, emergencies, and for college sponsored activities, e.g., music, sports, and field trips. Policies for other absences such as over-cutting, lateness, and regarding probation students are formulated by the individual professors. These policies will be contained in the syllabus and explained in class. Attendance is required at 80 percent of the sessions of a course in order to pass that course. The maximum allowable excused and unexcused absences (20 percent) are:

3 if the course meets once a week

6 if the course meets twice a week

9 if the course meets three times a week

If students miss more than 20 percent, they may appeal to the Undergraduate Student Appeals Committee if they believe extenuating circumstances were present.

Undergraduate Leave of Absence Policy

Occasionally, circumstances make it necessary for a student take time off from continuous term-to-term enrollment. Students should discuss all plans for non-continuous enrollment with their academic and financial aid advisors to determine how a leave would affect their time to graduation and Financial Aid processing.*

If a student plans to take time off for one semester, a Planned Return Form must be completed and submitted to the assigned Academic Advisor and Registrar for approval. By signing the Planned Return Form, the student communicates to Lancaster Bible College the reason for the leave and commits to a planned return date. Failure to either submit a Planned Return Form prior to a missed term or failure to return to classes in the following term will result in automatic withdrawal.

While on an approved leave the student's status will be considered a Planned Return and his or her credentials will be kept active for access to email, Schoology, and MyLBC.

A Planned Return absence may not exceed one semester. Absences greater than one semester will be considered a program withdrawal and the student will be subject to all withdrawal policies. The student would be required to apply for readmission to return to LBC.

*For Financial Aid purposes, students on a Leave of Absence/Planned Return will be considered not enrolled and be subject to all Financial Aid rules and policies for non-enrollment.

Grading

The college follows the 4.0 grade point system and requires a 2.0 (C) average for graduation. The grades, grade points, and their interpretation are as follows:

Academic Probation

Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 (C average) will be placed on probation. Students on academic probation who have the following grade point average or above may participate in only one extracurricular activity at any one time:

Freshman (up to 29 hours) 1.70 GPA

Sophomore (30-59 hours) 1.80 GPA

Junior (60-89 hours) 1.90 GPA

Senior (90 or more hours) 2.00 GPA

Students below these minimum GPAs may not participate in any extracurricular activities. All probationary students must attend two weekly appointments with a tutor through Academic Mentoring Services (located in the Ally Center), the college's academic assistance program. In addition, they must sign-up for two weekly study halls. Study halls are offered throughout the day as well as the evening. Hours are chosen at the convenience of the student. The specific schedule for AMS is posted on campus at the beginning of each semester. The Veterans Administration will be notified if a student receiving VA benefits does not meet the academic progress requirements after serving a probationary period of two semesters.

Probation students who miss 20% or more of their required tutoring appointments and/or study halls in the Ally Center during any one term will receive notification of academic dismissal at the end of that term.

Academic Dismissal

Students will be academically dismissed at the conclusion of the academic year according to the following standard:

Students who are academically dismissed may appeal to the Undergraduate Student Appeals Committee if they believe extenuating circumstances were present. Appeal forms can be obtained in the Registrar's Office.

Course Withdrawals

A student may withdraw from a course during the first nine weeks of the semester. No financial adjustments will be made. Students can obtain course withdrawal forms from the Registrar's Office. Students must continue to attend class until they return the completed course withdrawal form to the Registrar's Office. Students who withdraw will receive a grade of "W" as assigned by the faculty member. After the nine-week period, if the faculty member believes extenuating circumstances are present and in consultation with the registrar, course withdrawal is permitted with a grade of "W".

Withdrawal from College

Any student who is contemplating withdrawing from the college should contact the Registrar's Office. The registrar's office will insure that all details are completed for an official withdrawal. Tuition refunds will be made according to the policies established by the college as listed in the Financial Policies section on College Withdrawal and Refunds in this catalog.

Student Rights Under FERPA

What is FERPA?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords you, the student, certain rights with respect to your educational record once you are admitted as a student to the College.

• FERPA Letter to Parents and Students
• LBC FERPA Permission to Release Information Form

What are my rights under FERPA?

As a college student you have four rights under FERPA: (Forms to exercise rights #1-3 are available in the registrar's office)

1. To inspect and review your educational record within 45 days of your request.
2. To request amendment of your educational record.
3. To have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your educational record, except in the areas that FERPA authorizes disclosure without student consent.
4. To file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

What documents are included in my educational record?

Student educational records are specifically defined as all paper and computer records, files, documents, and other materials that contain information directly related to you, the student, and maintained by LBC or someone acting for the College according to policy. Excluded from student educational records are records of instructional, supervisory, and administrative personnel in the sole possession of the maker and that are not accessible or revealed to any other person, except a substitute. Additionally, notes of a professor or staff member intended for his/her own use are not part of the educational record, nor are campus security records, parents' financial statements, application records of students not admitted to the College, alumni records, or records of physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, or other recognized professionals.

Educational records are maintained by, but are not limited to the following offices, departments, and/or individuals: Registrar's Office, Financial Aid Office, Business Office, Student Services Office, placement office, and academic advisors.

What is Directory Information?

Some information about students is considered "Directory Information." Directory information may be publicly shared by the institution without student consent unless the student has taken formal action to restrict its release. "Directory Information" at LBC includes: name, address (current, local, home, and electronic mail), telephone number (current, local, and home), date of birth, parent/spouse contact information (address and phone number), photo, major/program, weight and height (athletic teams), date(s) of attendance, enrollment status (full-time, part-time, not enrolled), date(s) of graduation, degrees and awards received, and participation in officially recognized activities and sports.

Can I control the release of Directory Information?

Yes, you can restrict the public release of directory information by completing a form available in the registrar's office. You should carefully consider imposing a restriction on the Directory Information. The limits of the College's student information system make it an all or nothing option. For example, your friends would not be able to obtain your directory information nor would the College be able to use it in graduation programs and news releases. This restriction should be reserved for extreme circumstances or on the advice of a legal or medical professional.

Who and under what circumstances can someone access my educational record?

According to FERPA regulations, no one has access to your educational record (other than directory information) without your written permission, except: (1) a school official (defined as: administrators, faculty, professional staff, staff, student workers, and students serving on official College committees) who has a legitimate education interest (defined as: the information or records requested are relevant and necessary to the accomplishment of some task or determination related to the inquirer's employment responsibilities/committee responsibilities or are acting within the course and scope of their employment and/or authority). (2) a parent or guardian who presents a certified copy of the most recent federal income tax form that reports you as a dependent. Other, less common individuals who may access your educational record without your consent include: (3) authorized representatives of accrediting agencies, as well as federal, state, and local government offices, persons or organizations providing financial aid to a student, (4) persons in compliance with a judicial order or subpoena, (5) persons in an emergency if the protected information is needed to protect the safety of the student or other persons, (6) parents regarding the student's violation of any federal, state, or local law, or any college policy or rule governing the use of alcohol or a controlled substance as long as the institution has determined that there has been a violation and the student is under the age of 21 at the time of disclosure, (7) the victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense (limited to the final results of the disciplinary proceeding conducted by the College), and (8) the public in relation to a determined crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense that violates College policy or rule (disclosure limited to the student's name, the violation, and any sanctions imposed by the institution against the student).

Am I required to use my social security number as a personal identifier?

A Federal court ruling upheld the use of the social security number as a personal identifier for administrative purposes in higher education. We protect the privacy of the social security number as required by FERPA. However, you may request (form available in the Registrar's Office) the assignment of an alternate identification number. Effective January 2002, any new students admitted to LBC will no longer have a social security number as a personal identifier for administrative LBC purposes.

Which College Officer is responsible for administering the FERPA guidelines?

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for the institutional compliance with the FERPA guidelines and maintenance and release of the educational record. Questions, interpretations, further explanations, or concerns about FERPA and the College's FERPA policy are to be directed to the registrar.

How do I file a complaint with the US Department of Education?

Complaints are to be filed with the:

Family Policy Compliance Office

US Department of Education

600 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-4605

Transfer Policy

Lancaster Bible College accepts credit from accredited institutions of higher education and from other institutions of higher education which have academic standards comparable to LBC. Transfer credit is limited to those courses which are applicable to the program in which the student is enrolled and to those courses in which a grade of "C-" or higher was earned. Only the credit is transferred; the grade and grade points are not figured in the student's grade point average. It is recommended that all transfer students to degree programs at Lancaster Bible College satisfactorily complete at least one course from Bible & theology, arts & sciences, and a professional department of the college.

Transcript Requests

Students desiring a transcript should use the Transcript Request Form located bottom right on the footer of every page on the LBC website and in the Student Portal. If there are any questions related to transcript requests, please contact the Registrar's Office.