Accelerated Pace Policy
ACCELERATED PACE POLICY
06-22-17
A student may take our college courses at almost any pace that they deem appropriate for them. However, we feel that it is not conducive to proper learning to move at an extremely rapid pace through the coursework. Therefore, we have developed this policy to help caution students from moving too fast.
If we perceive that a student is at a pace that involves them completing more than 3 exams in any 7 day period (i.e. which averages out to more than 30 hours of video lecture time per week), we will contact them and recommend that they slow down. The concern is that they might not be able to remember the information appropriately at this pace; they might not be viewing the videos in their entirety; they might be avoiding the videos altogether and are just reading the ‘testable’ materials (red font text).
If we have cautioned the student to slow down, and they continue at too rapid of pace, we will do one of the following:
1. Only grade 3 exams per week, and delete any exams beyond that amount in a 7 day period.
2. Hold all exam grading until it can be determined whether or not the student is learning the information properly.
3. Disenroll the student if we determine that they are employing unethical methods in association with our college.
If you feel the need to move at a pace that is accelerated, we can consider waving the restrictions if the following
are met:
1. A letter is sent to us from your Pastor stating the need for the accelerated pace.
2. All your exams will need to be proctored by your Pastor’s appointee.
3. A signed statement will need to be sent to us stating that you are watching the videos in their entirety and reading the
lecture notes fully; this will need to be signed by both you and your Pastor.
If you are pastoring a church, we can wave the restriction. We will need proof of your being a pastor.
A Bachelor Degree will not be awarded any sooner than 2 years from a student’s enrollment date, regardless of any ‘pace’ waivers that are granted. This is designed to be a 4 year course; there are about 120 exams for all 4 years; if one completed 3 exams per week, they could be done with all 4 years in less than 1 year. Thus, moving at a rapid pace does not necessarily allow you to receive your diploma any sooner than following the ‘acceptable pace’ limit.
If you have been awarded ‘transferred credits’ from us, then we will employ the following formula:
(40 – number of courses receiving credit transfer) x 0.05 = minimum number of years before a degree can be awarded.
For example: if we awarded 6 courses for transfer, you would need to wait until at least 20.4 months have transpired from your enrollment date before being awarded a diploma [ (40-6) x 0.05 = 1.7 years; 1.7 years x 12mo./yr = 20.4 mo]
(note: there are about 40 total courses that one will typically take in our 4 year Bachelor program)
The Master’s College Program will operate in a similar pattern. The earliest that a student can receive a Master’s degree is 1 year from enrolling in the 2 year program. There are no credit transfers awarded for the Master’s Program.
It is not allowable for a student to be taking both Undergraduate courses and Master’s college courses at the same time.
The student must first satisfy the undergraduate course requirements and then, once those are met, they will be officially enrolled in the Master’s program.
This updated policy is to be applied to all students, whether newly enrolled or those having been with us for 3 years or more.