General Academic Information

Accreditation and Academic Recognition

Crown College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission—a member of the North Central Association (NCA, 30 No. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60602). Due to this excellent accreditation status, credits and degrees earned at Crown are transferable and recognized by public and private colleges and universities throughout the world.

The College has been a member of the North Central Association since 1980. Candidate status with NCA was granted in July of 1974. Veterans attending Crown College are eligible to use their veterans’ education benefits. The College is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students.

Crown College is also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education at the undergraduate level (One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington, D.C. 20036-1120 phone: 202.887.6791). In addition, the College is chartered by the Minnesota Department of Education as a degree-granting institution. Undergraduate teacher preparation programs leading to licensure for early childhood education, elementary education, middle school, and secondary teaching are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching.

Crown College is registered as a private institution with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions; transfer credits are determined by the receiving institution.

Professional Organizations

Crown College holds membership in a number of professional organizations of which the following are representative: American Association for Employment in Education, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Association of Christian Schools International, Association of Christians in Student Development, Association of Governing Boards, Christian Adult Higher Education Association, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Council for Independent Colleges, Minnesota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Minnesota College and University Career Services Association, Minnesota College and University Professional Association, National Association for College Admission Counselors, National Association of College and University Business Officers, National Association of Colleges and Employers, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals, Upper Midwest Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

Academic Advisors

The academic advising program consists of professional advising by an academic advisor. Each student is assigned to an academic advisor based on his/her degree. Students are responsible for their education and the outcome thereof, but the academic advisor serves as an advocate for students, provides appropriate tools to navigate the educational journey, and guides students towards becoming academically successful students reaching the goal of earning a degree.

Orientation

Students will complete a self-paced online orientations in Blackboard Learn, the Learning Management system.

Registration

Students will be notified via Crown Microsoft email regarding upcoming registration dates and must register during the designated time. Students may be able to arrange their registration at other times if necessary. Students are encouraged to register at least two weeks prior to class beginning to allow time for obtaining textbooks and accessing course syllabi to complete pre-class assignments. Undergraduate students who wish to register for more than 18 credits must contact their academic advisor and petition to do so. Graduate students wishing to take more than 15 credits must also contact their academic advisor and petition to do so.

All students register online.

Athletics

To be eligible to represent Crown College in intercollegiate athletics competition, a student athlete shall be enrolled full-time in a program of study, be in good academic standing, and maintain satisfactory progress toward a baccalaureate or equivalent degree. Enrollment in a full-time program of study requires students to take a minimum of twelve (12) hours of credit per semester. In keeping with the institutional policies of Crown College and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA ) Division III, students involved in intercollegiate athletics must meet the following eligibility requirements to be in good academic standing:

Co-Curricular eligibility including athletic eligibility for incoming students will be determined by their admissions status to the Crown College School of Arts & Sciences and Crown Graduate Schools. Students with a standard acceptance are eligible for co-curricular activities including intercollegiate athletics. Students with a modified acceptance may be eligible for co-curricular activities including intercollegiate athletics unless notified otherwise by the Admissions Council. Students with a conditional acceptance are not eligible for co-curricular activities. Current Crown College students are in good academic standing if the following guidelines are satisfied:

Transfer students should contact the Department of Athletics for transfer guidelines related to intercollegiate athletics. All students in good academic standing are deemed to be making satisfactory progress toward a baccalaureate or equivalent degree.

Changes in Registration

The close of online registration is one week before the first class begins (see Academic Calendar  for the specific dates). Any changes made after that must be made through the student’s academic advisor.

Classes dropped after classes begin are subject to the refund policies listed in the Finance section. The last day to withdraw from a class is the last day of the class.

Educational Plan

Students will receive an educational plan upon acceptance to the program. This plan will demonstrate the transfer credits that apply to the program as well as the credits needed to graduate with the desired degree. Students will review their educational plan continually with their academic advisor for registration and graduation process. Students must earn a “C” or higher in their core courses; any core class with a “C-” or below must be retaken.

Catalog Requirements

Students are responsible for the academic program as stated in the School of Online Studies and Graduate School Catalog that is current at the time of their matriculation at the College. Students, in consultation with their academic advisor, may choose to follow the major requirements of a subsequent catalog. The major requirements of one catalog must be followed in its entirety.

Students who discontinue studies and subsequently return to the College are responsible for the academic program as stated in the School of Online Studies and Graduate School Catalog that is current at the time of their re-enrollment to the College.

Transfer Credit

Undergraduate

Undergraduate students who have completed courses at accredited colleges, either regional or national (as approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation), may be eligible to receive transfer credit. The number of credits, the courses to be accepted, and the method of evaluation will be determined by the nature of the courses, grade received (C or higher for undergraduate work), and the type of institution. An undergraduate applicant who has attended any college or university after graduation from high school must have an official transcript sent to Crown College from each institution. Evaluations are under the supervision of the Registrar.

Graduate

Graduate degree-seeking students who have completed courses at a regionally or ABHE accredited college may transfer twelve to eighteen credit hours to Crown College. Graduate level credits over ten years old will not be eligible for transfer. The number of credits, the courses to be accepted, and the method of evaluation will be determined by the nature of the courses, and grade received (B or higher for graduate work). Evaluations are under the supervision of the Registrar.

Guided Study

Students who cannot take a required course at the regularly scheduled time may request that course be taught as a guided study. However, a guided study is a privilege the College is under no obligation to provide. Students for whom guided studies are approved must register for such courses during open registration, unless a course is canceled during the term. Students must be regularly enrolled in other courses at Crown College. All policies pertaining to regularly scheduled classes, except attendance requirements, pertain to guided studies, including those governing refunds, course abandonment, and grades of Incomplete.

A per credit surcharge fee will be assessed for each guided study in addition to tuition unless the guided study is required as a result of administrative action.

The procedure below will be followed to obtain approval for guided studies or independent studies:

1. Discuss the Guided Study option with the academic advisor.
2. Obtain the appropriate form from the academic advisor and return to the academic advisor completed.
3. The paperwork must be submitted by the module before the guided study is to start. Exceptions can be made for canceled courses only.
4. Upon approval and registration, the guided study must be completed within 14 weeks (two modules) for undergraduate and graduate courses. The course must be started within two weeks of the designated time-frame listed above. If the course is not started, it will automatically be dropped from the students schedule and the surcharge fee will not be refunded. ALL guided studies must be completed within a single semester time-frame (in other words, a guided study may not begin in the third module of a semester and carry over to the first module of the next semester).

Proficiency Credit by Exam and PLA

Matriculated students at Crown College may earn up to 30 semester credits toward program requirements by taking standardized exams or completing a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) portfolio. Testing includes Advanced Placement, CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and DANTES. Brief details of these options are listed below. These programs cannot be used to fulfill the Crown College residency requirement of 30 credits (see Residency Requirements).

Credits earned by examination or Prior Learning Assessment may not be used to raise a grade or remove a failing grade in courses already taken at Crown College. Students cannot receive proficiency credit for subjects that duplicate credit previously earned.

Students should consult with their academic advisor to determine which options would work best. These options must be completed before the final 12 credits of the program. Proficiency Credit by Examination and PLA are available for students in the School of Online Studies. However, up to twelve credits may be earned toward prerequisite requirements for the Graduate School.

1. Advanced Placement Examinations of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) with a grade of three or better may be applied depending on the program requirements. An official transcript from Advanced Placement must be sent to Crown College. The list of approved AP exams and needed scores are listed in Appendix A .
2. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject examinations are recommended for students with extensive preparation and advanced knowledge in subject fields. The list of approved CLEP exams and needed scores are listed in Appendix B . Please request that an official transcript be sent from CLEP to Crown College.
3. DSST provides opportunity for people to earn college credit for what they have learned outside the traditional classroom. Accepted or administered at more than1,900 colleges and universities nationwide and approved by ACE (American Council on Education), the DSST program enables people to use their knowledge acquired outside the classroom to accomplish their educational and professional goals.
4. International Baccalaureate (IB)– International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit Policy - Eligible tests include those, which are similar to courses offered at Crown. A minimum score of 4 is required. Official transcripts from IB must be submitted. The list of approved IB exams and needed scores are listed in Appendix C .
5. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)– In some situations, students may receive college credit for life experiences and other non-academic experiences. The guidelines and processes for pursuing this option are different for each program. Credits can be acquired from a number of different sources, including workshops, seminars, self-study, non-credit classes, training programs, and/or work experiences. If the training has been evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE), a copy of the certificate of completion is needed and credits can be awarded based off the ACE recommendations.  If they do not fall into this category, the prior learning from these sources must be documented through a portfolio and evaluated by a faculty member in the relevant field in order for the credit to be awarded. A PLA informational packet can be obtained from the School of Online Studies.

Classification of Students

Course Numbering

Students may register for no more than one level beyond their classification unless they obtain the written consent of their advisor.

Grade Point Scale

*This indicates that the course has been repeated during a later term. The last grade earned for the course is the only grade used for GPA calculation. This is only applicable for courses retaken at Crown College.

Grading

A student’s grade point average (GPA) is calculated by dividing the total grade points earned by the total credit hours attempted in graded courses. Courses that are assigned a Satisfactory (S) grade are not computed in the grade point average. Grades of transfer courses are not included in GPA calculation. At the end of each course, grades will be available to view online. Paper copies will be available upon request.

Residency Requirements

In order to graduate from Crown College with a bachelor’s or associate degree, students must successfully complete at least 30 semester credit hours from Crown including a minimum of 50 percent of the core. Credits earned by examination or Prior Learning Assessment may not be used to fulfill the residency requirement. Students earning a master’s degree or Bible certificate must earn a minimum of 24 credits from the College.

Minor Residency Requirement

The requirements of the various minors are listed in the School of Online Studies section. Fifty percent of the minor must be taken at Crown.

Graduation Honors

Students graduating with a baccalaureate degree who meet certain criteria may be eligible for graduation honors. Graduation honors are based on the following cumulative grade point averages:

Baccalaureate degree students who have completed a minimum of 60 Crown College credits are eligible for the above graduation honors. Students who have earned 30-59 Crown College credits with a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or higher are recognized as graduating “with distinction.”

Honors are awarded on the basis of the policy that is in effect at the time the final graduation requirement is completed.

Incomplete Grades

Students are responsible for all coursework, in keeping with posted deadlines. In most cases, assignments are due by the course end date. A student may request a seven-day extension from the professor; this request is made in writing before the course ends. If the extension is granted, work not submitted within seven days will be graded as “zero” and the final grade calculated accordingly. Students facing extenuating circumstances (e.g., medical issues) may request an incomplete. If an incomplete is granted, the completion plan includes a firm deadline, generally 14 days after the course end date. 

Change of Grade

Changes of grade can be made on the basis of work done after the final grade has been submitted if the instructor and student agreed to an extension. The grade earned at the end of class should be originally submitted unless an incomplete was approved.

If instructors discover errors in grades they have reported, they may complete a Change of Grade Form to have the incorrect grade rectified.

Grades of F resulting from lapse of the time period for completion of work may not be changed except for instructor error.

All grade changes are to be reviewed and approved by the Registrar.

Double Majors and Double Degrees

When a student pursues a double major and the same course is required, the requirement for both majors is fulfilled by completing the course once (i.e., no additional credits or course substitute requirements are necessary). Similarly, when the same course is required in a major and a minor, the requirement is fulfilled for both by taking the course once.

The institutional minimum number of credits required to earn a baccalaureate degree is 125 semester credits. Double majors may be earned when the student meets all the requirements for both majors. Double baccalaureate degrees may be earned when the student meets all the requirements for both majors and earns a minimum of 155 semester credits (e.g., completing the residency requirement a second time).

The institutional minimum number of credits required to earn a Master of Arts degree is 36 semester credits. Double majors may be earned when the student meets all the requirements for both majors.

Double Master of Arts degrees may be earned when the student meets all the requirements for both majors and earns a minimum of 60 semester credits (36 credits for the first degree and an additional 24 credits to complete the residency requirement a second time.)

Double degrees cannot be earned for more than one Leadership degree (Organizational Leadership, International Leadership Studies, and Ministry Leadership) because of the overlap in coursework.

Bachelor of Science in Christian Ministry 4+1 Program

 This program is offered to qualified students in our Bachelor of Science Christian Ministry (BSCM) program. This program will allow students to complete their undergraduate degree in four years and their Master of Arts in Christian Studies (MACS) degree in one additional year, instead of the typical two years.

Crown’s BSCM/MACS 4+1 is a tightly structured program in which you take six graduate courses during your undergraduate degree program. At the end of four years, you graduate with a BSCM degree. You then transfer your six graduate courses into the MACS degree program and then complete that degree by taking six additional courses during your additional year.

In order to apply for the 4+1 program, you must be a junior in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.0 on all previous undergraduate work. Students will apply to enroll into the program through the Christian Ministry department. The graduate application will be included as a part of this process. Any graduate work taken in the 4+1 program must be completed with at least a B grade in order for the course to transfer to the MACS program. Students must complete the BSCM degree before starting the final year of the MACS degree.

Changes in Curriculum

The curriculum at Crown College is being studied and revised continuously. Therefore, this catalog may not always reflect the current features of every program. Changes in requirements, course offerings, and class schedules may occur subsequent to the printing of this catalog.

General Education: Humanities, Global Awareness, Fine Arts and Social Science Courses

The General Education Curriculum is designed to assist students at a foundational level to become clear and effective communicators, informed global thinkers, critical thinkers and practical problem solvers, self-directed life-long learners and teachers, and integrators of faith and learning.

Select Humanities Electives from: communication [COM], English [ENG], fine arts [FAR], and history [HIS].

Fine Arts courses include music, art, drama, and dance. Select Fine Arts Elective from: 

Crown online requires one Global Awareness class.  Select Global Awareness Elective from: 

Select Social Science Electives from: economics [ECO], history [HIS], psychology [PSY], and sociology [SOC].

While HIS courses can fulfill either a humanities or a social science elective, it can only satisfy one of those requirements, not both.

Fine arts [FAR] courses can satisfy humanities electives, but humanities credits do not satisfy fine arts requirements.

Academic Probation and Suspension

Undergraduate Policy

Undergraduate students whose cumulative grade point average (including transfer credits) falls within the range listed below will be placed on academic probation:

Students on academic probation:

1. Will have limitations on their academic load.
2. Must retake all required courses in which they have a grade of “F” in the first available term.
3. Will develop and follow an academic improvement plan with their academic advisor.

Students will have one term to raise their cumulative grade point average to an appropriate level. Students taking a minimum of 9 credits who earn “F” grades in all of their graded classes in a semester will be academically suspended. 

Students who have been suspended for academic reasons may appeal the suspension if they have earned an average of at least 2.00 for the term immediately preceding the possibility of suspension. The appeal should be addressed to the non-traditional Academic Affairs Committee.

If the appeal is not successful, students will need to withdraw from the classes for which they are registered. Academic suspension means that students are not permitted to enroll for the next term. Students wishing to return at a later time must re-apply for admissions  . Applications of academically suspended students must be reviewed and approved by the Admissions Council.

Graduate Policy

Students failing to attain and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 will be placed on Academic Probation. Students will have one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.0. At the end of the semester on Academic Probation, students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.0 will be placed on Academic Suspension. In addition, students who take a minimum of 9 credits in one semester and earn “F’s” for all 9 credits will be academically suspended.

Students are ultimately responsible for their own success or failure during their probation semester, although their academic advisor will work with them to create a success plan.

Suspended students are not allowed to take classes for one semester before reapplying to come back. Part of the reapplication process requires a letter of appeal to the Admissions Council including a plan of how to raise their GPA. Part of the plan to raise their GPA is that students will be required to retake classes with a grade below a C in the first available semester. If re-accepted, students must earn a 3.0 term GPA in order to continue. Keep in mind that a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.

Veterans

Crown College is approved for veterans education training by the Minnesota State Approving Agency. Applicants who are veterans should check with the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding their eligibility for benefits before requesting the Registrar’s Office to process the necessary papers for payment benefits. Veterans who have completed Basic Military Training will be granted credit for the physical education requirement upon receipt of the DD214 or military transcript. Additional information is available on the registrar’s web site at http://www.crown.edu/academics/office-of-the-registrar/veterans/.

Military Deployment

Students called to active service during the course of a semester must submit a copy of their orders and choose one of the following options before departing for active service:

Any student called to active service during the course of a semester may elect to withdraw from the current class and drop the future classes. A full refund of tuition will be granted for the current and future classes. Under this circumstance, no course credit and no course grades will be awarded for the current class.

Any student called to active service at least half way through the class may elect to take the grade of “Incomplete” in the course. The time period allowed to satisfy the Incomplete would not, under this circumstance, begin until the date of release from active service. At that time, a deployment/activation of four weeks or more is allowed a six week grace period to complete the work; an active duty period of less than four weeks allows the student a two week grace period. At any point within this time-frame the student may elect to withdraw from the class in which he/she was called to active service. Students who elect this alternative are not eligible for the refund of academic tuition.  If no withdrawn is taken and the work is never completed, the grade will turn to an F.

Any questions regarding the above process should be directed to the School of Online Studies Registrar.

Transcripts

The Registrar keeps on file the permanent record of all credits earned by each student. No transcript will be issued unless all financial obligations owed by the student to the College have been fulfilled. Transcript requests should be submitted electronically at www.crown.edu/transcripts and include the student’s full name, maiden name, current address, dates of attendance, student ID or social security number, birth date and address where transcript is to be sent. A signature form must be submitted the first time a transcript is requested electronically. The cost for transcripts is $3 for electronic copies and $5 for paper copies. Requests for transcripts submitted by any other method incur additional processing charges. Typical processing time is three to five business days. An additional $15 fee will be assessed for rush requests. At least two weeks should be allowed after the close of a term for issuance of an up-to-date transcript.

Faculty

Crown faculty are committed Christians who seek to integrate faith into their instruction. Every faculty member holds the required level of academic degree for their particular fields of expertise. The faculty bring years of work-related experience enabling them to integrate first-hand knowledge from their specific disciplines into the curriculum.

Class Attendance

Online courses require weekday student participation through the Internet weekly.

Course Participation (“Educational Activity”)

Guidelines and policies issued by the U.S. Department of Education stipulate that any participation in a course is considered “educational activity” in the course. For the purposes of online classes, “participation” is defined as one of the following:

• Attendance at a virtual meeting of the course.
• Discussion with the course instructor regarding course content or course requirements.
• Any activity in the Blackboard shell for the course. This includes logging into the course after submitting the learning contract. Blackboard records logins automatically; it is this record that will be used to make the official determination of whether a student has logged into the course or not.

If a student has “participated” in the course, a “W” is recorded on his or her transcript. The only time a “drop before” will be made is when there has been absolutely no educational activity in the course. (see Financial Information  for refund policy)

Given this definition of participation, we strongly suggest that students view and download the course syllabus before the course begins.

Netiquette

Netiquette is etiquette on the Internet. Each participant of an online community needs to be cognizant of the perceptions of others. Whether the communication is in the form of an e-mail or discussion post, it is imperative that sensitivity and grace are used in all situations. Here are some tips that can help improve online communication:

• Be clear and do not abbreviate. Avoid the use of slang.
• Be polite and respectful. Avoid sarcasm and irony, which can be misinterpreted. Do not USE ALL UPPERCASE LETTERS or multiple punctuation marks!!!! When these are used the tone of the message is difficult to interpret.
• Emoticons can be used, :-( BUT be careful as some do not understand them.
• Ask for clarification when not understanding a message.
• Include all individuals in group messages.
• Spell check, revise and edit messages before sending them.

Student Conduct Code

POLICY STATEMENT
Crown College Online students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner guided by respect, collegiality, honesty, and ethical behavior as part of their academic development. Learner conduct that infringes on the quality of such an educational experience is not acceptable. This policy describes the types of conduct that are deemed prohibited and unacceptable. This policy also serves as Crown’s tool to fight impersonation, identity theft, text mining, and/or creation of fictitious identities in an effort to secure access to federal funds.
Prohibited learner conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following: complicity, dishonesty, disruptive conduct, disrespect, document forgery, illegal activity, impersonation, incarceration, text mining, and theft, as described in the definitions section of this policy.
 

RATIONALE
This policy sets a high standard of conduct for members of the college community that reflects Crown College’s values of human potential, achievement, decisive collaboration, innovation, and integrity. This policy also reflects Crown’s philosophy of resolving issues at the most direct level and in the most equitable way possible, and defines the appropriate terms and procedures required to meet these standards.
 

Student Rights
Crown College offers each student the freedom to learn and enjoy college life in an orderly and lawful manner. This freedom comes with obligations and responsibilities and in return, Crown College expects students to adhere to these policies. By voluntary enrollment, students assume the obligation and responsibility of conducting themselves in accordance with the reasonable and lawful requirements of Crown College in its educational functions and processes. Violations of these responsibilities may result in sanctions that can include expulsion from the institution.
 

Crown College students are expected to:

• Be aware of student conduct, policies, and procedures as stated in the Crown College Catalog.
• Exhibit proper behavior at all times. Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to, verbal abuse, profanity, public disturbance, fighting, destruction of property or interference with class, and computer misuse.
• Read course syllabi to find out attendance and grading policies.
• Present themselves in a manner that does not cause alarm for the health and safety of themselves or others.
• Complete academic work without committing plagiarism or cheating
• Follow Crown College drug and alcohol policy when on the Crown premises or while participating in Crown College events.

DEFINITIONS

Complicity is helping, procuring, encouraging, and/or cooperating with another person in the commission of a violation of the learner code of conduct.

Dishonesty is intentionally providing false information or forging, altering, or falsifying college documents. Learners may not misrepresent their academic record or status.

Disruptive conduct is engaging or participating in an activity that interferes with teaching, administration, and other college functions, whether in the online course environment or at a university-sponsored event (e.g., commencement). Examples of disruptive conduct include, but are not limited to:

1. Threatening or belligerent language, posturing, physical acts, or gestures
2. Vulgar or offensive language or gestures
3. Bullying or cyber-bullying
4. Disturbance of public peace
5. Lewd or indecent language or behavior
6. Inciting others to engage in disruptive conduct

This list of examples of disruptive conduct is not exhaustive, and Crown reserves the right to determine whether behavior constitutes disruptive conduct on a case-by-case basis.

Disrespect is harassing, threatening, or embarrassing others. Learners may not post, transmit, communicate, promote, or distribute content that is racially, religiously, or ethnically offensive or is harmful, abusive, vulgar, sexually explicit, or otherwise offensive or discriminatory. Learners are expected to behave in an appropriate manner and treat other learners and university faculty, staff, and administrators with respect at all times.

Forging documents is falsifying any document or evidence required for admission to the university, completion of a course or examination, or receipt of any other university-related privilege or benefit, whether in print or electronic form.

Illegal activity is any behavior that results in a criminal conviction.

Impersonation is assuming the identity of another.
 
Incarceration is jail time after a conviction of a crime/offense.
 
Prohibited conduct includes but is not limited to complicity, dishonesty, disruptive conduct, disrespect, document forgery, illegal activity, impersonation, incarceration, text mining, or theft.

A sanction is disciplinary action that may result from prohibited conduct. Disciplinary action may include one or more of the following: non-acceptance of work submitted; receiving a failing grade on an assignment; lowering a grade for a course; receiving a failing grade in a course; formal, written warning; suspension from the college; dismissal from the college; and cancellation of a previously-awarded academic credit or degree. This list of possible sanctions is not exhaustive, and Crown College reserves the right to assign sanctions on a case-by-case basis.
 
Suspension is a Crown-initiated temporary status during which a learner is denied access to the classroom and prohibited from engaging in university activities until stated conditions have been met.
 

Text mining is analyzing and then synthesizing information from electronic documents, email messages, and other free-form text written by others as a way to create summary content of written work that is presented as one’s own for the express purpose of seeking an advantage in completing one’s academic assignment and/or work.

Theft is taking property that is not one’s own, or posting, transmitting, promoting, or distributing content that violates copyright or other protected intellectual property rights. Unauthorized use of university property is prohibited. Theft and abuse of computer resources is prohibited.

A written warning may result from engaging in prohibited conduct; it describes certain conditions learners must meet to continue to have access to the classroom.
 

Procedures

• The purpose of this policy is to establish disciplinary procedures to guide the enforcement of the Learner Code of Conduct. These procedures are applicable to any student who is alleged with a violation of the Learner Code of Conduct.
• These disciplinary procedures are designed to allow for information-gathering and administrative decision-making in the framework of an educational community, and to encourage students to accept responsibility for actions, which resulted in the disciplinary actions with a desire to provide adequate procedural safeguards to protect the rights of the individual student(s) and the reasonable interests of Crown College
• Student records and information gathered during this process and/or associated with the process are subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Provisional:

1. If someone is to be suspected of violating Crown College’s learner code of conduct, the Director of Student Services is to be notified at which time, it will be determined if a Code of Conduct Complaint Form will need to be submitted.
2. Based on the alleged misconduct, a student may be suspended for an interim period, as determined by the Director of Student Services, which may include classroom, campus, or campus related events if the student’s presence poses a threat to the safety of others until further investigation and disciplinary proceedings are conducted.
3. The Dean of the School of Online Studies will communicate the interim suspension or restrictions in writing to the student and will go into immediate effect as the date stated on the letter.
4. The decision for suspension or restriction will remain in place until a final decision has been made by the Appeals Committee on the pending charges of violating the learner code of conduct or until the Dean of the School of Online Studies determines the situation that imposed the restrictions and/or suspension is no longer of necessity.

Review Process:
The Appeals Committee will review the alleged situation and determine if there is sufficient evidence to show violation of the learner code of conduct. The Director of Student Services may decide to interview the individual(s) and other witnesses or request additional information on the complaint.
The student(s) involved will be provided an opportunity to consult with the Appeals Committee to discuss the complaint brought forth. However, if a student chooses to not “attend” the meeting, the student then forfeits the right of complaint against the sanctions brought forth to the student.

1. During the meeting the student will be provided with the following documentation: Explanation of the charges, Summary of information gathered, Opportunity to respond, Explanation of sanctions taken against the student behavior, if any.
2. If a student chooses to not attend the meeting, the Director will provide the above in writing to the student within 7 business days of the last opportunity for the student to respond.
3. If the sanction includes expulsion or suspension, the student can request to meet in person within 20 days of the date on the notice. If a meeting is requested, the interim sanctions will remain in place until the meeting to request an appeal.

Appeal

1. A student can appeal the decision of the Appeals Committee; the appeal must be received within 7 school days of the decision. The appeal will need to be in writing and submitted to the Dean of the School of Online Studies and Graduate School.
2. The appeals will go to the Academic Affairs Committee: The committee will meet within 10 school days of receiving the appeal.
3. The Academic Affairs Committee will meet to review ALL documentation of the sanctions brought against the student:  Determine whether the decision reached regarding the student was based on substantial evidence; Determine if the sanction(s) brought against the student(s) were appropriate for the violation(s) the student(s) were found to have committed; Determine if there is new evidence or information not used that could alter the decision.
4. If the appeal is upheld, the Academic Affairs Committee has the right to reduce, not increase, the sanctions imposed on the student.
5. The final decision of the Academic Affairs Committee will be reviewed by the Dean of the School of Online Studies and will communicate the Committee’s decision to either uphold the appeal or deny the appeal to the student. If the appeal is upheld, the student will also be notified of any updated sanctions. The decision will be communicated in writing within 7 days of the Committee’s final decision.
6. A copy of the decision will be filed in the Student’s record.

Sanctions

1. The following sanctions can be imposed upon a student(s) who has violated the Learner Code of Conduct: a) WARNING: A written notice to the student stating the student is currently violating or has violated Crown College Learner Code of Conduct.  b) PROBATION: A written reprimand for violation of specific regulations. This is designated for a specific period of time.  c) LOSS OF PRIVILEGES: Denial of specific privileges for a specific amount of time.  d) ACADEMIC CREDIT LOSS: Receiving a failing grade due to academic dishonesty.   e) RESTITUTION: Compensation for loss, damage, or injury.  f) SUSPENSION: Separation of student and college for a specific amount of time, after which the student will be eligible to apply for review by the Admissions Council.  g) EXPULSION: Permanent separation from the college.  h) WITHHOLDING OF DEGREE: College reserves the right to hold degree until sanctions, if any, have been completed.
2. Incarceration will lead to a suspension of a minimum of one year after all legal obligations are concluded.
3. All sanctions listed above, expect for Suspension, Expulsion, and Withholding a degree, will not become a part of the student(s) permanent record, but will be placed in the student’s disciplinary record.

Academic Integrity
This policy applies to all students who are seeking academic credit: (courses, internships, and projects).
Each student is responsible for his or her own work and is expected to remain honest in all academic activity. Scholastic dishonesty is a serious violation of both academic standards and Biblical teaching.

1. Academic dishonesty includes: a) Cheating on assignments and tests: using or attempting to use non-approved materials, information, aides, or other assistance to complete an assignment or test. Students may not take examinations or evaluations in place of another student.  b) Plagiarism: The student is responsible for knowing the legitimate use of source material in written papers (Direct quotes and paraphrased material must be properly cited; Information gained that is not common knowledge will need to be acknowledged and properly cited.)
2. Fabrication, Forgery and Obstruction: a) Any act which violates the rights of other students from completing their academic assignments (Deliberately withholding information; Willful harm to another students work). b) Submitting a fabricated or forged explanation of absence to a professor. c) Provide fabricated, forged, or obstructed information to college offices for student information or records.
3. Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same (or essentially the same) paper or project in more than one course without prior consent of the instructor.
4. Computer Misuse: a) Students are not allowed to use the institutional computers or software programs in disruptive, unethical, or illegal behaviors in completing of their academic program. b) Students may not monitor or tamper with a student, college personnel, or faculty electronic communications.

Professor Process of Handling Alleged Violations of the Learner Code of Conduct

1. The professor must contact the student to discuss the Academic Integrity Policy and its violation.
2. If it is believed a student has violated the Academic Integrity Policy, the professor will determine the student’s grade and status in the course: a) The professor can provide a written warning to the student. Faculty should provide a copy of this communication to the Academic Advisor also. b) The professor can request a revision of the work from the student. The determination of credit for the assignment is for the faculty to determine. c) Faculty have the right to fail the assignment and/or the course. d) If a student has multiple violations in previous courses or the current course, faculty will need to collaborate with the Advisor and/or Appeals Committee for further action.
3. When a sanction(s) is imposed on a student, the professor will communicate the sanction(s) via Crown College Student email and communicate the violation to the Appeals Committee.
4. The faculty’s decision can be appealed by the student to the Appeals Committee within 7 days of receiving the communication from the professor.

Appeal Process:

1. The student must submit the appeal to their Academic Advisor in writing within 7 days of receiving the notification of sanctions by the professor.
2. The Academic Advisor will submit the appeal to the Appeals Committee for review.
3. The Committee will review the information and determine to uphold or withdraw the sanctions imposed by the faculty.
4. The Committee will communicate their decision in writing to both the student and faculty within 7 days of their decision.

Textbooks

Students are responsible for purchasing their own textbooks. To determine the correct text and edition number, students should consult the Crown College Virtual Bookstore.

Computer Requirements

Electronic documents should be submitted in Microsoft Office format. The Information Technology (IT) department licenses Microsoft Office on behalf of all students. Students can install the software themselves by purchasing installation CDs for $25 or an online download for $15. The IT department recommends the following minimum system requirements for computers to be used at Crown College: Processor: 2 GHZ or higher

RAM (Memory): 512 MB or more

Display:1024 x 786 pixels

Operating System: Windows 7 or newer for PCs, Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or newer for Apple computers.

We recommend using Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome to access Crown’s web services. For browser compatibility with Blackboard Learn LMS, please go to: http://help.blackboard.com/en-us/Learn/9.1_2014_04/Instructor/015_Browser_Support.

Term Paper Style

Formatting, style, and documentation for term papers will follow the APA (American Psychological Association) sixth edition, second printing version’s guidelines. This will serve as the faculty’s reference for evaluation purposes. See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ for guidance.

Privacy Rights

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) sets out requirements designed to govern the access to and release of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with the FERPA Office (U.S. Department of Education) concerning alleged failures of Crown College to comply with provisions of FERPA.

Crown College has adopted policies and procedures concerning implementation of FERPA on campus. Copies of the entire policy are available from the Registrar’s Office, as well as the Registrar’s Office website.

Directory Information Policy

1. “Directory Information” can be released to an outside party without written consent of the student. Directory items include name, home address, campus address, email address, telephone numbers, dates of attendance, full-time/part-time status, classification, previous institutions(s) attended, major field(s) of study, awards, honors (e.g., Dean’s List), degree(s) conferred (e.g., B.S., A.A.), digital image or photograph, past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, and height and weight of athletic team members.
2. Students have the right to suppress their directory information by completing a request form in the Registrar’s Office. The request is valid for one semester.
3. Crown employees who have a legitimate educational interest are allowed to access student education records. Designated offices may also disclose education records or components thereof to persons or organizations providing the student with financial aid, to accrediting agencies carrying out their accrediting functions, and to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons. Other exceptions are listed in the official policy.
4. Confidential information may be released by phone only if positive identification of the student or appropriately designated representative may be made. Because of federal regulations, the student’s SSN or birth date is not used to ascertain identity.
5. Confidential information can be released directly to the student; however, it cannot be released directly to the student’s family members (e.g., parents, spouses, etc.) without the written consent of the student. Note, however, that when a student is a dependent of the parent as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954: Sec. 152, such information may be released to the parent without the written consent by of the student.

Name Change Policy

In an effort to maintain the integrity and accuracy of our records and to protect our students, alumni, and constituents, the following Name Change Policy is in effect.

The following offices are authorized to process name changes in the Crown College Administrative System:

• Current students—Registrar’s Office
• Alumni—Registrar’s and/or Advancement Office
• Donors/Friends of Crown College—Advancement Office

In order to process a name change, an individual must present legal documentation which includes, but is not limited to, one of the following: a copy of marriage certificate showing name change, a driver’s license, social security card, or other legal documents.

Grievance Policy

A grievance is a complaint of alleged unfair or discriminatory practice or decision by faculty, administration, or administrative staff. The central focus of a grievance is not a policy but rather the action of the one against whom the grievance is filed. A grievance must be supported by evidence that the unfavorable decision is in violation of institutional policy or practice, or that the person has been treated in a different way than other persons in similar circumstances have been treated.

Any student wishing to file a grievance may do so by using the following procedure:

1. The student shall submit the grievance on the Grievance form requesting reconsideration of an unfavorable decision to the faculty member or administrator in question. A written response must be mailed to the student no later than ten working days after receipt of the grievance petition.
2. If the student is not satisfied after step one, s/he may submit the original grievance petition to the immediate supervisor of the faculty member or administrator. The immediate supervisor must respond by mail no later than ten working days after receipt of the grievance letter.
3. If the student is not satisfied after step two and if the grievance petition has not yet involved the Academic Affairs Committee, s/he may file the original grievance petition with the Academic Affairs Committee. The Academic Affairs Committee must respond by mail no later than ten working days after receipt of the grievance petition. The decision of the Academic Affairs Committee shall be final.
4. The aggrieved student who receives no response within ten days at any level in the grievance process may appeal to the next higher level. Those hearing the grievance at the higher level shall secure the written opinion of those who failed to respond at the lower level.

Appeals Policy

An appeal is a request to waive a policy that has been or will be applied. The central focus of an appeal is the institutional policy and the considered merits of its waiver.

Appeals may concern academics, student life, financial affairs, policies and regulations, admission to and retention of students in academic programs, academic inequities, and forms of academic discipline. At each level of appeal, both the appeal and the decision must be in writing on the appropriate form. The investigation may include personal appearances by the parties involved in the appeal.

Assessment

Crown College values the needs and concerns of its students. As such, the online program is committed to the ongoing process of assessment through evaluating professors and course effectiveness. Students complete course evaluations near the end of each course. Academic personnel and other administrators are always available for further consultation.

Credit Hour Definition

 The underlying principle in determining the assignment of undergraduate credit is that there is a minimum of 50 minutes of direct instruction and 2 hours of out-of-class student work for 15 weeks per semester credit. Some courses may require more direct instruction and out-of-class student work per credit than the minimum based on specific requirements for the discipline. Contact the Registrar’s Office for the full policy as it pertains to specific categories of undergraduate level courses.

Campus Safety Report (Clery Act)

In compliance with the Clery Act (effective 1990), the latest Crown College Annual Safety Report may be accessed by going to www.crown.edu/press-room/campus-safety/security-report.html Printed copies of the report are also available through the Crown College Facility Management Services Office.

Consumer Information Disclosures

In compliance with Student Consumer Information Regulations, Crown College has developed a central guide to sources of consumer information. These disclosures which are available at www.crown.edu/consumerinfo provide specific information to comply with the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA). The disclosures provided at this website include (but are not limited to): specific student rights regarding education records and directory information under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); information about financial aid, educational programs, accreditation, copyright infringement policies and sanctions, student loan information, campus safety, annual campus safety security reports, federal requirements for return of funds, institutional statistics such as completion, graduation and transfer out rates. Individuals, upon request may obtain a paper copy of this list and information on any of the disclosures. Please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@crown.edu if you require this assistance.