ADMISSIONS INFO AND POLICIES
Welcome to our CHAMPS ALT CENTRE students! We value you all and seek to do all we can to help you define and reach your goals with us in your life in loving Service to our King Jesus Christ. This page will answer some of your questions about our Policies and we will make additions and changes here as needed so if you have a question about operations in general you should check this pagelink first. Another good link where you may find some answere is the link on the left Nav bar for Registrar / Admission / Fees- or also the more general info at the top left links. Please feel free to make enquiries also if you cannot find something- or if you have any constructive input or suggestions to offer us and you may then find out that we implement changes here and elsewhere. We grow and learn with our students here as well. You are a gift and a blessing to us and we value your opinions, ideas and concerns as long as they line up of course with God's Word in His whole Counsel- which is our final Word then also. We hope that your experience and time invested here is very rich and fruitful for your lives and the lives of all others that you touch as our future leaders. The world needs the Jesus in and through you!
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
* You may apply online now for application to all of our Programs at the bottom link at the left Nav bar.
* This is solely a distance education option and we will email your course materials to you once you are accepted by us for registration. You will need to first apply and wait for our response and any further instructions.
* We have 2 Program types at this time- free N.A.T.S. Affiliation and low-cost Tuition fee Specialty Major Leadership Programs especially designed by us. You can see the left links for details on both.
* At this time there is no charge to apply to our free degree N.A.T.S. Affiliates Programs.
* Due to limited resources there will be a limit of 15 students per year for this option. It will be for qualified applicants and on a first come, first served basis once the Admissions process is finalized with supporting documentation as requested by us.
* There is a non-refundable $35.00 charge to apply to our low-cost tuition fee Specialty Major Programs to recover our processing and Administration fees and to help grow CHAMPS ALT CENTRE. You must pay this fee once accepted when you pay for your other tuition fees before we process your application. Once your application is processed on a 'first come first served' basis- complete with documentation- then you may officially register in your courses in the upcoming term as availability permits- so apply early and submit your documents and outstanding fees as soon as possible.
* To apply just click on the last Nav bar link for the Application form for Admission and we will reply you shortly with further instructions and an assigned Faculty Advisor to serve you.
DEFINITIONS / HOW IT WORKS / PROGRAMS
Semester or Term-
* this is a 13- 14 week term and we have 3 terms at Champs- Fall, Winter and Spring ( May and June only- No Scheduled School Classes for July and August )
Course credit hours-
* All of our academic term courses are 3 credit hours per term which is the University or Seminary usual standard.
* We reserve the right to request References and possibly also background checks for students who are working closely with vulnerable populations in Ministry. If so, this will be detailed at that Specialty Major Program link.
Certificates-
* This is the academic equivalent of at least the first year of a degree Specialty Major Program with us.
*It is a total of 10 term courses- 30 credits or 1 full academic workload per year.
*Students may only take a maximum of 5 courses per term unless a student is an honours students with grades 3.5 or higher of a 4.0 grading scale here and then they may take six maximum per term.
* Note- This applies to ALL of our Programs here regarding courseloads. We don't want our students to burn out!
Specialty Major Diploma-
*Pre-Requisite required- Certificate completed as per above with us in that applied Program or equivalent University or College level transfer courses first assessed and approved by us for transfer credits ( See Transfer students below ).
*This is the academic equivalent of at least the first and second or higher years of a degree Specialty Major Program with us.
*It is a total of 20 term courses- 30 credits or 1 full academic workload per year.
*Students may only take a maximum of 5 courses per term unless a student is an honours students with grades 3.5 or higher of a 4.0 grading scale here and then they may take six maximum per term.
* Note- This applies to ALL of our Programs here. We don't want our students to burn out!
Bachelor degrees-
* Pre-requisite- a Specialty Major Diploma or 2 years- 60 academic earned credits- acceptable academic transfer undergraduate credits.
* are 120 credit hours or 4 years or 40 term courses;
* All Students- except those exempted by assessment with us for Advance Placement- must take Research Essay Writing course in their first term course.
* All students must also take a Thesis writing course in their final Senior year to graduate.
* All students must take 48 credits in their Specialty Major Diploma and another Minor Subject of 18 credits.
* All students must take all the courses in the Pastoral Ministry Diploma ( 60 CREDITS )+ a Specialty Major Diploma ( 60 CREDITS ) that they opt ( TOTAL OF 120 CREDIT HOURS FOR THIS DEGREE REQUIRED )- any courses that are duplicated the students may take as electives or for their minor credits.
* Students may take these two Diploma Programs in any order but must take one at a time as it is designed to completion before starting the other one.
* All students must have at least 66 credit hours ( over 2 years ) as Senior level and not Junior level courses in their final two years.
* There is a Residency requirement of all Bachelors students here of the final Year 3 and Year 4- transfer credits may then be applied accordingly to your Program with the assigned Faculty Advisor.( Also the final year of both our Masters and Doctoral Programs ).
Masters degrees-
* Pre-requisites- Bachelors degree deemed academic and acceptable to us with GPA 2.5 or else the student will be admitted as a 'qualifying student' for one year and must then meet this GPA standard to register with us as a 'regular graduate student'
* Other-All Masters degrees are 60 credit hours or 2 years or 20 Senior level graduate term courses, most with thesis ( Major Research book Manuscript 35,000 or approx. 150 pages, words ) and non-thesis routes ( Project instead ) options available for most.
* Students may request some personal/ tailormade with their assigned Faculty Advisor.
Doctorate degrees-
* Masters degree- Pre-requisite deemed academic and acceptable to us.
* Masters degree deemed academic and acceptable to us required with a minimum GPA 2.75 + or else the student will be admitted as a 'qualifying student' for one year and must then meet this GPA standard to register with us as a 'regular graduate student'. See classification for students below.
* Other-All Doctorates are 60 credit hours or 2 years or 20 Senior graduate level term beyond the Masters degrees, thesis ( Major Research book Manuscript 50,000 words or approx. 300 pages) and non-thesis routes ( Project instead ) options available for most.
* Students may request some personal/ tailormade options for approval- See Faculty Advisor.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF STUDENTS
Audit-
A Student who takes a course for a lower fee but does not receive credits for it with us. If a student wants to receive course credits they must pay the course fees like any other 'regular' student first and request this. This Policy may change so that we do not mark audit students work and so they will need to repeat the course if they want credits- as it is like this elsewhere. But for now- it is as it is.
'Regular'-
* These students are those who are taking the courses and Programs as prescribed whether for free or for the Tuition fee Specialty Major Diplomas.
'Transfer'-
* These are the students we assess for transfer of previously earned academic credits work done elsewhere for credit transfer to here.
*Specialty Major Program Students-
* These are students who are taking our own designed Christian Leadership low-cost Tuition fee Programs here at the various academic levels.
*N.A.T.S. Free Program students-
* These are those students who are taking the free degree Programs we fully honour and offer at this time through North American Theological Society.
* Please see their course link for more information on them and for their Website link if you want to take their Programs over there instead of through here.
* Note- We value all of our students here regardless of which Program they are taking and make this distinction for our own Statistical and Strategic Planning purposes.
* We highly recommend this Program but for those who do not agree with their doctrinal position ( Calvinist or Reformed Theology ) you must be able to qualify, quantify and defend your own position in your work- but you certainly do not have to agree with it! We welcome and encourage constructive critical thought here in our students.
REGISTRATION
* Once the Admissions Application is completely processed students may then register for their approved Programs or courses. Some rare exceptions may be made at the Registrars discretion as warranted.
* Admissions is considered complete and processed on a 'first come, first serve' basis at this time by the date that we receive all outstanding supporting required documents and fees for that Program or course.
* All courses must meet the pre-requisites as posted. Pre-requisites for courses and course descriptions will be detailed on the Course Offerings page link here at the left Nav bar as available which is currently underway.
* Registration for the fall term 2008 is planned for the first week of September following the Labour Day weekend. Registration will normally be held in the first week per term. Students may advance register for the next term once approved for their Programs. See Calendar or here for more information.
* Students may apply online at the Applications for Admission link on the form anytime all year round Sept-June. July and August will be time off for all so we will accept but not process late applications during those months. Students must receive approval first before they will be cleared to register.
* All outstanding fees must be paid before a student can register for the next term.
* Students must pay their fees and send all supporting documents before we will finalize the application in order to register with us.
* It may seem like alot of Rules but it will keep us organized from the start to the finish. We ourselves will also be subject to our own Policies and Rules here.
ADDING, DROPPING AND WITHDRAWAL OF TERM COURSES
* Semester Courses may be added or dropped with no notation on their transcript such as a 'W' to a students schedule up to 5 per term as above- until the third week of classes. After that the student cannot register or drop a course in that term. They cannot register for another such course until the next available term it is offered.
* Course Withdrawals- Courses may be dropped with full Refunds up until the end of the first 4 weeks of classes. After this students will be discounted 25% of the fees per week until the end of week 8 in that course. At the end of Week 8 the Student will no longer receive a discount but may still 'Withdraw' ( not 'drop' - 'W' marked on transcript ) from the course without penalty and receive a 'W' grade on their transcript which does not factor in nor effect their GPA grading- but it is noted. If a students fails to Withdraw by the final date then this will become an 'X' grade for absense with a 0 weight which is computed in for the GPA for the course. Please See also Grades below for more information.
* Course Withdrawal is not allowed past the 12th week of any course here. If a student drops a course later than 12 weeks it will be computed in to their grade as a 'N' with a 0 value and computed in to their their GPA and student records as such. ( A Student may get rid of an 'N' or 'F' or 'W' grade by repeating and succeeding in the course and then we will delete the former grade and re-compute the GPA and Student Records ).
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS AND DISCIPLINE
We expect to both give and receive mutual respect. Students please feel free to voice any concerns or complaints about anyone to our Advisors or our Chancellor here if you are unable to resolve the issue amicably to your satisfaction mutually and you have tried. We are always here for you and we will not tolerate any form of abuse or questionable behaviour that violates another students human rights to respect, liberty of thought and expression and dignity regardless of race, gender, age, socioeconomic position, denomination etc. Let us become people inclined to serve and lead by example - serving and preferring one another- 'against such there is no law' as it says in Galatians. Any voiced concerns to us that you may have about Students or Staff here will be taken seriously and dealt with promptly and effectively. We want our Students and Staff to be valued and respected here in both word and deed! This is our expectation for everyone here as this is a two-way street.
As far as discipline is concerned it will be measured according to the seriousness of the infraction. It is hoped foremost of course that all conflicts can be resolved. We do not expect this to become a big issue but there are exceptions and so we must address this here. Any violation of human rights or Plagiarism- or academic dishonesty such as cheating are grounds for an 'F' grade in that course at best and instant expulsion from here at the worst. Let's just say it will be zero tolerance for abuses like this as far as we are concerned. We want this to be a Kingdom of God milieu!
For most of us this will not be an issue but please do know that we are here for you if there is any concerns that you have of this nature and do not hesitate to report it.
STUDENT COUNSELLING
We are available for students as a Christ-Centered Counselling resource in order to help them succeed in their studies or to help them with referrals or resources that will address their problems to do so. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need this service at the contact links provided posted here and at the Nav bar left link at the bottom. We have a strict Confidentiality Policy here as well unless we think there is danger or harm to self or others and no other recourse to take but to contact the authorities for help.
TRANSFER CREDIT STUDENTS AND ADVANCE PLACEMENT
* All academic earned courses equivalent to College level work will be assessed and approved by us for transfer credits to be applied and also for advance placement. We will do all we can to help you succeed in your Program. You can then plan your studies with your Faculty Advisor. The initial assessment fee for transfer credits is $25.00 and students must submit supporting documents once their initial application form is approved. If a student needs an additional assessment test for English skills to determine level of readiness or placement it is an additional $25.00.
* We will transfer acceptable College level coursework from other Institutions or Bible Schools as long as the mark is 2.0 or higher of a 4.0 GPA Scale for that course.
* Students with an overall GPA lower than 2.0 will be assessed for possible Admission as a 'probationary period or qualifying student' in order to give the student a year chance to try and make the minimum standard with us.
* Note- GPA Entrance requirements are stricter for our Masters and Doctorates but we also offer this option for approved 'qualifying students' for one year to make the required GPA so they can then register as 'regular' graduate students. See notes above posted on this already under our specific Programs. Students must maintain this minimum GPA with us as posted there in order to continue in the Program- or take remedial courses and try again later.
* Note- There is a minimum specified Residency requirement with us for every Specialty Major Program- See Posted above under Programs.
GRADES AND GRADING
* We operate on a standard 4.0 GPA Grading system.
* Please note that students need a 60% average for our courses in order to pass with the minimum 2.0 .
* Internships and Practicums- are graded as Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory. A Student passes it only if they pass as Satisfactory. These usually comprise 50% of the total course mark with the remainder being for assigned readings and assignments.
* At this time our grading system for all of our academic courses offered here is as follows:
GRADING
Grading System
Letter Grade Percentage Points
A 96-100 4.0
A- 90-95 3.7
B+ 85-89 3.3
B 80-84 3.0
B- 74-79- 2.7
C+ 65-73 2.3
C 60-64 2.0
C- 59- 55 1.7
D+ 54-50 1.7
D 45-49 1.0
D- 40-44 0.7
F 0-39 0.0
AU
Audited Course N/A
X Incomplete 0.0
IF Incomplete N/A ( must apply with supporting evidense )
WP Withdrawal Pass N/A ( See Withdrawals in our Academic Policies page link- Note Withdrawal date deadlines )
WF Withdrawal Fail 0.0 "
S / U- Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory for Internships and Practicums ( worth only 50% of total course marks )
A student's academic standing is negotiated by dividing the total number of quality points by the net hours taken. A minimum overall standing (GPA) of 2.00 is required for graduation.Please Note that our graduate Programs have higher GPA Entrance requirements than this if you want to pursue studies with us further.
GRADUATION HONOURS- MARKED ' WITH DISTINCTION' ON DOCUMENTS AS FOLLOWS FOR OVERALL GRADUATION GPA:
Graduating seniors may earn the following academic distinctions based on their grade point average.
SUMA CUM LAUDE 3.85 AND ABOVE
MAGNA CUM LAUDE 3.60 - 3.84
CUM LAUDE 3.30 - 3.59
DEAN'S LIST - WE WILL RECORD AND DISPLAY THIS ONLINE / PUBLICLY FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE WITH US WITH THE ABOVE NOTED HONOURS.
ALUMNI
All of our graduates will be added to our permanent CHAMPS ALT CENTRE Alumni group.
We currently have Networks already open for all Students to join and any Perspective students are also welcome... all may join us. Just click on the Network badges either at our Site blog here or else at our Home page to join. We welome your participation and friendship as members!
We are currently brand new so we will add many updates and news to all of our Page links here at this Site so check back often.