4.3 PROGRAM POLICIES
4.3.1 Late Assignments and Academic Warnings
Late Assignments: Due to the nature of doctoral studies, late assignments are extremely problematic as a late assignment impacts your ability to complete the next assignments. Students may have an automatic, one-week extension on assignments which, at the professor’s discretion, will result in a 2 to 3 grade reduction (for example an A- will be reduced to B). You must notify the professor in writing that you are taking the extension on or before the assignment due date.
Academic Warnings and Academic Probation: If you submit course work late on a consistent basis, you will be placed on academic warning. Academic warnings are also given for work that is substandard or when a student fails a comprehensive exam or prospectus hearing. Two academic warnings result in academic probation. Any academic warning during or after academic probation results in automatic dismissal from the doctoral program.
4.3.2 Academic Integrity
Please refer to the Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy in the Academic Policies, Procedures & Processes section of the general Seminary and Graduate Student Handbook.
4.3.3 Audit Policy
Students are not allowed to audit doctoral seminars, but rather must take them for credit. Master’s degree students are not allowed to audit doctoral seminars or take them for credit.
4.3.4 Assessment of Progress
Although the screening of applicants is intended to discern their ability to complete doctoral studies successfully, some applicants will find their learning style and/or personal circumstances not amenable to the rigors of doctoral level study.
Applicants offered provisional admission due to a weak area in the admission profile are evaluated at the end of the first term of study to determine the feasibility of the student being able to complete the doctoral program successfully. This evaluation consists of a review of the grades earned in each seminar plus the self-directed learning skills demonstrated by the students. Students whose classroom performance indicates they are unlikely to complete the remaining program requirements successfully will not be allowed to continue in the program, and will be encouraged to explore other types of training as appropriate.
Capital faculty evaluate all doctoral students at the end of the second term of study to determine the feasibility of students being able to complete the doctoral program successfully. This evaluation consists of a review of the cumulative GPA plus the self-directed learning skills demonstrated by students. Students whose classroom performance indicates they are unlikely to complete the remaining program requirements successfully will not be allowed to continue in the program, and will be encouraged to explore other types of training as appropriate.
The comprehensive examinations are a natural certification evaluation point in the program of studies. Students who fail to complete the comprehensive examinations process successfully are automatically terminated from the program of studies.
The dissertation defense is another natural certification evaluation point in the program of studies. Students who fail to complete the dissertation process successfully are automatically terminated from the program of studies.
4.3.5 Grading and Academic Probation
A research seminar grade must be a “B” (GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or above to be acceptable for credit. This grade requirement also applies to pre-approved university study course work completed at other academic institutions.
Any course grade of “B-” or below results in loss of credit for that seminar, and the student is automatically placed on academic probation. At the discretion of the professor of the seminar and the Director of PhD in Leadership Studies, students who fail a seminar must either retake the course or accept additional “make-up” assignments to have credit restored for the course. In either case, the probationary status is noted in the personal records of the student. If the additional “make-up” assignment is the decision chosen by the professor, that professor will write a letter for the student’s personal file, acknowledging that additional successfully completed work, and the grade will be changed in the Registrar’s office to a “B”. However, another course grade of “B-” or below or any academic warning received will result in automatic dismissal from the doctoral program.
A student admitted provisionally or on academic probation must earn a minimum grade of “B” in every research seminar the first semester of study in order to remove the provision or probation status. However, a higher minimum GPA for the first semester of study may be stipulated at the time of admission. Any grade of “B-” or below will result in immediate termination from the program. (A student considering doctoral studies in Capital should be aware that an applicant must have a minimum cumulative GPA of “B” or above.)
4.3.6 Program Transfer
Doctoral studies from another academic institution are not normally transferable to the Capital research doctoral program. Exceptions will be determined by the Director of PhD in Leadership Studies.
4.3.7 Special Student Status
Students who are “Accepted with Deficiencies” must demonstrate acceptable academic quality by the end of the first term of study. Students “Accepted on Review Status” must also complete all initial admission requirements by the end of the first term of study.
4.3.8 Statute of Limitations
The Capital Seminary and Graduate School research doctorate program is designed to be completed in four years. The statute of limitations for this program is six years. However, at the recommendation of the First Reader of a student’s dissertation, the Program Director may extend the statute of limitations at his discretion.
4.3.9 Statute of Limitations and Continuation Fee
Students who have not completed their dissertation by August 31 following the established completion date of their program will be charged an administrative continuation fee for each term (fall and spring) until the dissertation is completed, or until the student withdraws from the program, or until the statute of limitations (six years) is reached. In cases where the statute of limitations has been extended beyond the six years, the schedule of administrative continuation fees will remain in force.
Completion of dissertation refers to the student’s dissertation having been successfully defended and accepted.
4.3.10 Visiting Student Status
Visiting student status is available for research doctoral level students at other accredited academic institutions who wish to take one or more research doctoral seminars in the campus-based research doctoral program of Capital.
A visiting student must be in good standing in his or her doctoral program in order to audit a doctoral seminar or take a doctoral seminar for credit at Capital. The prospective visiting student should contact the Director of PhD in Leadership Studies for details about admission procedures and requirements.
4.3.11 Withdrawal
Should students find themselves unable or unwilling to continue in the doctoral program, they must officially inform the Director of PhD Leadership Studies in writing of the intent to withdraw from the program. Official notification can be made via e-mail, fax or postal mail. Phone calls cannot be accepted as official notification.
The date of receipt of the official notification determines eligibility for and the amount of down payment and tuition reimbursement.
Withdrawal prior to the midpoint of a term results in a grade of “WP” (withdraw pass). Withdrawal after the midpoint of a term results in a grade of “WF” (withdraw fail).
Students who withdraw from the program and are readmitted at a later date must still complete all degree requirements within a total of six years of study. The six years of study includes terms attempted prior to withdrawal from the program.