Academic Standards

Rockbridge Seminary upholds a high standard of academic excellence. Faculty members hold academic credentials appropriate to the field and level of teaching—an earned doctorate for teaching at the master’s level and a master’s degree for teaching at the diploma level. All faculty members serve in local church ministry.

Learner Responsibility

Rockbridge Seminary’s standard course design is learner-focused, meaning that the learner bears greater responsibility for the management of learning than in a traditional classroom setting. Each course is eight weeks long. Due to the intensity of the study, you may take no more than two Rockbridge courses per term. A professor assigned to the course provides almost daily learning support. Weekly course expectations may include learning community discussion, group projects, and other learning processes. Failure to participate fully in the online learning process will prevent a learner from completing a course satisfactorily. Rockbridge Seminary expects learners to log on to their courses a minimum of five days each week while class is in session. Learners in the same class are not expected to log-on at the same time on any given day, but can log-on according to the learner’s individual schedule.

Active Student Status

In order to maintain “active student” status, a learner must enroll in at least one course every six months. Otherwise, re-application is required. Before inactive students can reactivate their studies, they must update their personal information and supply a statement about why they were unable to take courses and what has enabled them to begin courses again. Returning students will also be expected to update the seminary on any life issues relevant to their academic performance.

Student Advisor

A Student Advisor is available for assistance throughout the learner’s program of study. Learners have the responsibility of tracking courses related to their learning objectives with the support and assistance of a Student Advisor. Rockbridge Seminary provides Academic Program Guides that help a learner track progress.

Mentors & Identity Verification

Learners must select a ministry mentor for each course. The mentor’s role is to help a student apply what is learned in the course to the student’s ministry context. At the end of each course, the mentor assesses the student’s fulfillment of course learning outcomes and provides identify verification.

Graduation

A learner graduates from an academic program when courses fulfilling the requirements of that program are completed satisfactorily.

No Spam Policy

Rockbridge Seminary supports a “No Spam” policy. Please do not add fellow students or Rockbridge Seminary personnel to your broadcast e-mail lists.

Withdrawal from Class

A learner may request to drop any class. The seminary’s published refund policy applies.

Grading

Professors provide final grades for courses through a personal grade book provided as a part of the virtual classroom. Grades may include:

• “E” – Exceeds Learning Expectations
• “M” – Meets Learning Expectations
• “U” – Unsatisfactory
• “Dropped” – Dropped course

A professor may declare a student’s work “incomplete” if coursework is not completed by the end of a term due to serious illness or the death of a family member. If the learner fails to satisfy course requirements by the end of the third week following the course’s completion date, the final course grade automatically becomes Unsatisfactory.

Resolving Conflicts

If a learner wishes to resolve a conflict with a professor over a grade or any other matter, the learner must first consult with the professor. If not satisfied with the outcome, the learner may submit a statement of appeal to the Academic Council. Action rendered by the Academic Council is final.

Repetition of Courses

If a learner repeats a course, the latest attempt is the permanent grade for the course. Any previous grades will remain on the transcript, but Rockbridge Seminary will count only the last attempt toward fulfilling academic program requirements.

Academic Probation

The purpose of Rockbridge Seminary’s Academic Probation Policy is to identify and alert students as early as possible who are not demonstrating satisfactory academic progress. A determination that a student is not demonstrating satisfactory academic progress is made by the Academic Council and may be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to a student’s academic performance and/or input from a student advisor, professor, or staff member.

The policy has two levels – academic warning and academic probation. An academic warning is considered an early intervention in behalf of a student and requires that a student meet with a Student Advisor by phone to discuss strategies for academic improvement. Academic probation is considered a more serious step after improvement strategies have not been successful. At the end of two terms, academic probation is either lifted based on academic improvement or the student is dismissed from the seminary.

Disciplinary Action & Grievance Process

Actions of the Academic Council may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Reprimand and disciplinary probation
• Reprimand, disciplinary probation and loss of credit in course or courses where dishonest work was done
• Temporary suspension with time and terms of readmission indicated
• Indefinite suspension with time and terms of readmission not indicated
• Permanent dismissal
• RS reserves the right to note any of the above actions on a learner’s transcript.
• A learner may request a review by the president of RS. The president’s decision is final with no further review or appeal.

Learner Records

Learner records are housed primarily in digital form on secure web servers maintained by Comcourse Inc. Digital back-up copies of learner records, paper documents such as learner transcripts, printed copies of digital records (when required), and other learner records are maintained by the seminary. Learner records include, but are not limited to, documents and files related to academics, admissions, advising, discipline, payment, credit, and placement.Rockbridge Seminary utilizes security measures to prevent information abuse.

Original documents and digital files submitted to the seminary may become a permanent part of the learner’s file and will not be returned to the learner or sent elsewhere. The seminary adheres to the privacy of learner records as required by the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). For more information about these rights, contact RS. Learners may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Rockbridge Seminary to comply with the requirements of FERPA (Family Policy Compliance Office; U.S. Department of Education; 600 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, D.C. 20202-4605).

Transfer Credit Policy

Rockbridge Seminary considers student requests to transfer previously earned transcripted course credits into a degree program using these guidelines: (Go to Transcript Evaluation Request Form):

• All transfer credit requests will be seriously considered.  Generally courses from an accredited institution that is accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies will be considered for transfer credit.  Course descriptions will need to be similar to Rockbridge Seminary course descriptions.  Only courses with a grade of “C” or better will be considered for transfer credit.
• The transfer of course credit from non-accredited institutions will be based on the evaluation of the quality and reputation of the institution that has awarded the course credit.
• A student may only transfer credits into a Rockbridge Seminary program that have been transcripted at the same level.  The seminary does not allow a student to transfer credit into a program that has previously been transcripted on a different level degree program.
• Students may not transfer to a Rockbridge Seminary degree more than half of the requirements for the selected degree program.
• Students who have completed a degree of the same level at Rockbridge Seminary or another institution will not be allowed to transfer credit hours that would be more than half of the new selected degree program.

Students considering enrolling in a course from another seminary with the intent of transferring the credits from that course into their Rockbridge Seminary academic program should ask for a course review first before enrolling in the course.

Transcript of Credits

The transcript of seminary credits is an official copy of the learner’s permanent record, bearing the school seal and the signature of an authorized seminary representative. Rockbridge Seminary will mail one transcript of seminary credits without charge following the learner’s completion of an academic program. Learners may make written request for additional transcript copies at $5.00 each (send the letter of request and check to RS, 2733 E Battlefield St. #110, Springfield, MO 65804).Rockbridge Seminary will release transcripts only if the learner’s financial accounts, academic standing, and ethical conduct are in order.

Transfer of Rockbridge Seminary Credits

The acceptance for transfer of academic credits earned as a student of Rockbridge Seminary is determined by the receiving institution.