Academic Policies

Academic Calendar

The main campus follows a two-semester academic calendar with the fall semester concluding before Christmas break, a three-week interim in January, and a spring semester concluding in May. A limited number of undergraduate classes may be offered in summer months. Most degree completion and graduate programs follow a two six-month semester academic calendar: fall starting in June or July, and spring starting in January. Courses in these non-traditional programs are typically accelerated, modular formats that run shorter than a full semester and are designed to be taken one-at-a-time.

Academic Integrity

The Spring Arbor University Concept - the heart of this institution - is based on the common commitment to Jesus Christ as the perspective for learning. This means that the Spring Arbor University community seeks to live in close adherence to the example and teaching of Jesus Christ in all personal and scholarly pursuits and live a life of highest integrity in these areas. Additionally, any community of teachers and scholars recognizes that truth and honesty are essential in academic work. The expectation at Spring Arbor University is that these principles will be rigorously followed in all academic endeavors. This expectation assumes that all work is completed by the person who purports to do the work, without unauthorized aides. With the purpose of encouraging responsible conduct, this policy flows from the Concept and assumes these important community expectations:

• Everyone who is part of the Spring Arbor University community will seek to live a life of highest integrity, both personally and academically.
• Full truthfulness is essential from all those in the SAU Community.
• Faculty and students will carefully and diligently guard themselves from stealing either material or intellectual property - whether physical or electronic in nature.
• Silence about others’ disregard for these standards devalues and violates the principles and spirit of our faith, the Concept, and this policy. With prayerful introspection and loving confrontation, we should strive to hold one another accountable to the standard of our faith.

Acknowledging the call in the principle above, the Spring Arbor University community is challenged to maintain integrity in all academic pursuits. There shall be no cheating, misrepresentation, or plagiarism (borrowing ideas, images, facts, stylistic phrasing, or quoted materials without credit) on assignments, tests, lectures, handouts, or any other written materials.

Violations of this policy will carry disciplinary consequences. A zero on the assignment or test can be expected, but failure of the course or suspension may also occur. Students, faculty, or staff may also be subject to dismissal from the University for failure to adhere to his policy. Some actions, such as altering official University documents or records without proper approval or authority, may be further subject to criminal penalties. While any breach of this policy affects the entire community, only incidents of cheating or plagiarism must be reported immediately to the appropriate professor, department chair, dean, or other University employee. Students are encouraged to report in writing, and employees are expected to report situations in writing to the academic affairs office. Confidentiality will be honored unless specific written permission to disclose sources is obtained. No one will be disciplined solely on the testimony of one report without further substantiation. It will be presumed that every student, faculty, and staff member of the University community is familiar with this policy. Details for handling academic integrity concerns may be found in the Spring Arbor University Academic Integrity Policy Disciplines Process and Procedures.

Grading System

Coursework will be assigned a grade that carries scholastic points according to the following scale, where plus and minus grades are intended to reflect more accurately the student’s performance in the classroom.

Grade Changes

Changing of a final grade after its submission to the registrar is permissible in instances in which fairness might justify a final grade change. This might be the case, for example, when there is demonstrable evidence of a mathematical error in the calculation of a grade, or where there has been an egregious error in grading, such as the failure to incorporate an assignment that was turned in on time. Grade changes are not intended for make-up or additional work submitted after the conclusion of the course except in cases where a grade of “I” or “GP” has been granted.

Requests for final grade changes must be submitted in a timely manner so that the student may have time to appeal the grade. Grade change requests should be submitted to the registrar with documentation to support the request. The registrar will have final approval.

Grade Appeals

Only final course grades may be appealed through the formal Grade Appeal process. A formal grade appeal related to a final course grade should be resolved between the student and the instructor of the course. The grade appeal must be submitted to the instructor no later than 30 days after the grade is issued. After 30 days, the grade issued by the instructor is considered permanent. If an academic department has additional levels of final course grade review (e.g., programs with clinical courses, student teaching, practicum courses), the initial grade appeal should be reviewed by the instructor and the department (i.e., chair, program director). After the grade appeal review, based on the evidence considered during the review process, the instructor may raise, lower, or leave the grade unchanged.

If a student and instructor are unable to resolve the grade appeal to the student’s satisfaction, or the student can show at least two unsuccessful attempts to connect with the instructor within one week of time, the student may appeal to the dean, in writing. If the student and dean are unable to resolve the grade appeal, the student may send a final appeal, in writing, to the academic affairs office within seven business days of the decision from the dean. The review by academic affairs is considered final.

If a grade appeal is decided in the student’s favor by the school dean or academic affairs, the course grade may be changed to “S” (Satisfactory), signifying a minimum grade of “C,” which will remove the course from the GPA calculations. For “S”/”U” graded courses, all criteria for passing the course must be evidenced for a grade appeal to result in a grade change from “U” (Unsatisfactory) to “S” (Satisfactory). At all times, the burden of proof is on the student.

Final Exams

The last three days of the fall and spring semesters for main campus programs are reserved for final exams. All classes meet at a specially designated final exam time for a final evaluation or summative presentation or activity, and students are required to attend. Any student having three or more final exams on the same day may request that one be rescheduled. Instructors may be contacted for such schedule adjustments.

Learning Environment Behavioral Expectations

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is appropriate for creating an uninhibited and uninterrupted learning environment for instructors and other students. Disruptive behavior in the learning environment is both disrespectful and unChristian and can affect the offending student’s status and grade in a course. For students to mature to be competent professionals, they are encouraged to behave in ways that are consistent with this goal. This includes being attentive and fully engaged in class activities without distracting instructors and other students. Instructors have the right to manage disruptive students in several ways including asking them to remove themselves from class and to not return until they have signed a statement of behavior conduct with the Office of Student Development.

Attendance and Participation

Class participation is important for academic success at Spring Arbor University, no matter the method of course delivery. While the University does not have an institutional policy for attendance or participation, programs and instructors may establish policies that are expected to be published in course syllabi and communicated to students in the class. Legitimate circumstances may cause students to miss class, such as illness, emergency, or participation in University-sponsored, co-curricular activities, such as athletic competition or music group travel or performances. When these absences occur, students are expected to contact instructors in advance, if possible, to try to work out reasonable arrangements to ensure that class requirements are met. Students are responsible to make up any missed assignments as directed by the instructor. Students should be careful to not become overinvolved in co-curricular activities so that their academic performance suffers. The following are general attendance expectations.

Synchronous Class Attendance

Synchronous classes are those in which the instructor and students come together at regularly scheduled meeting dates and times. Students are required to attend all synchronous class meetings for the classes for which they are registered including final exam days. Absences for starting the class late, extending breaks, or missing exams are not excused. Academic calendars and final exam schedules are available on the SAU portal prior to semester start dates and should be referenced before making travel plans.

Blended Class Attendance

A blended class consists of partial and/or alternate meetings in synchronous and asynchronous delivery mechanisms, where at least 50% of the course is synchronous. Attendance is based upon physical or virtual attendance in the synchronous meetings and upon electronic records of student participation in the class. A student who is absent from a synchronous meeting of the class will be considered absent, and a student who logs into the course but does not submit asynchronous coursework or participate in class activities is not actively attending. To be eligible for financial aid, students must actively attend a course. If the course is dropped by the student or if the student is dropped from the course by the institution for lack of attendance or participation, recalculation of financial aid eligibility may be necessary.

Online Class Attendance

Attendance in an online course is based upon electronic records of student presence. A student who logs into the course but does not submit coursework is not actively participating. To be eligible for financial aid, students must actively participate in the course. If the course is dropped by the student or if the student is dropped from the course by the institution, recalculation of financial aid eligibility may be necessary.

Credit Hour Load

A full-time undergraduate student is one who carries a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. Students will typically register for 12-16 credit hours during fall and spring semesters, and students in main campus programs will typically register for up to 4 credit hours during the January interim.

Main campus students are automatically approved to register for more than 16 credit hours per semester based on SAU cumulative GPA as reflected below. It is recommended that freshmen take no more than 16 credit hours in either semester of their first year.

Students who receive veteran benefits must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester and at least 3 credit hours during interim to receive full benefits.

Classification of Students

Students are classified based on the number of credit hours earned as follows:

Academic Honors

The academic honors listed in this section are awarded to recognize high academic achievement and scholarship. Graduation honors are listed in the Commencement and Graduation section of this catalog.

Alpha Kappa Sigma

Alpha Kappa Sigma is an honor society among Free Methodist Institutions of higher education. A select number of campus seniors are awarded membership in the organization for recognition of excellence in scholarship, character and leadership. Election is by University faculty.

Dean’s List

The dean’s list includes all students in traditional main campus programs who have passed a minimum of 12 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.70 in the most recent culminating semester. Only letter grades that are computed into the GPA will be considered for the dean’s list.

Departmental Honors

Departmental honors may be awarded to outstanding senior students in campus programs. The selection is made by the faculty of that department.

Academic Status

Spring Arbor University encourages students to be academically successful. To help identify students who may need additional academic assistance, each student is classified with an academic status. At the end of each semester, each student’s academic progress is reviewed by an academic guidance committee comprised of staff, faculty, and administration. Students designated with an academic standing other than Good Standing will be notified in writing by the Office of Registration and Records. Students with incomplete or in progress grades at the time academic status is determined may be eligible to be removed from a particular academic status if the final grades for those courses elevate the GPA to above the designated status criteria. In those cases, the student should notify the Office of Registration and Records to request an academic status change.

Academic Status is different than Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid eligibility. To understand financial aid eligibility, students should refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress section of this catalog.

Good Standing Status

The following step scale indicates the cumulative GPA necessary to remain in good standing at SAU based upon earned credit hours (including transfer) according to the SAU transcript. (Students receiving veteran’s benefits, see Veteran Information.)

Step Scale for Good Standing