Official Policies and Procedures for Individual Courses

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to change any financial charges or regulations listed below.

Registration

Eligibility for Elective Courses

The Graduate School elective courses are open to adult students. Students enrolling in these elective courses do not have to be admitted to a degree program at Bethel. NOTE: These courses are not open to degree-seeking students currently enrolled in the traditional programs at Bethel University.

Students registering for graduate courses must provide verification of graduate student status by submitting an official transcript documenting their highest earned degree. Students registering for nursing graduate courses must submit an official transcript documenting their baccalaureate degree in nursing.

Bethel admits qualified students regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, or disability.

Registration Confirmation

Students will receive a confirmation of registration in the mail within two weeks. An orientation letter will be sent prior to the course start date and will include a campus map, classroom number, information on the purchase of textbook(s)/course materials, and other pertinent information.

Cancellation Policy

Bethel University reserves the right to cancel any course if minimum enrollment has not been met.

Payment

Tuition

Full payment of the tuition or audit fee must accompany the registration form.

Method of Payment

Payment in full may be made by check/money order (payable to Bethel University), VISA, or MasterCard. Students who are participating in employer-sponsored reimbursement plans must pay tuition in full when registering for a course and then seek reimbursement from their employers.

Books and Materials

Books and materials must be purchased prior to the start of each course. The orientation letter mailed prior to the start of the course will provide information about when and where to purchase books. Payment for textbook(s)/materials will be due in full when they are picked up.

Refunds

Students withdrawing registration less than 10 business days prior to the course start date will be refunded only 50% of tuition.

Refunds for Course Cancellation

Tuition will be refunded in full if Bethel cancels a course. If deemed necessary, courses will be canceled 10 days prior to the first class session.

Refunds for Textbooks

Textbook payment will be refunded in full if books are returned in new condition according to the terms stated on the book delivery slip.

Withdrawal

For instructions on how to withdraw from a class already in session, call the director of academic services at 651-635-8033. Courses in progress will be refunded on a prorated basis to be determined by the last date of attendance. Tuition refunds are based on the date of official withdrawal. No refund is issued after the midway point of the course. Students who leave without officially notifying the Graduate School director of academic services in writing will receive no refund in tuition unless mandated by the federal or state refund policy.

Academic Policies

Attendance

Due to the concentrated, accelerated nature of the courses and emphasis on participatory learning, all students are expected to be in attendance at every scheduled class session. Students must contact the instructor in the event of absence due to illness or other emergency. Students are responsible for the content and activities of the class session, even if they were not in attendance. Under extreme circumstances, up to 20 percent of class time may be excused when arranged with the instructor. Make-up work may be assigned by the instructor in the event of an absence. Individual instructors will determine to what degree absence and tardiness affect the class grade. If more than 20 percent of class time is missed, the student and the instructor must meet to discuss whether continuing in the course is viable. In most circumstances the course must be retaken if more than 20 percent of class time is missed.

The registrar requires a written request to release each transcript, in accordance with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. No information will be released over the telephone. Do not request an official transcript until you have received the unofficial copy in the mail. No transcript or grade will be released unless all financial obligations to Bethel have been met. Submit requests for transcripts to: Registrar, Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112-6999.

Audit

Auditors are required to meet the attendance requirements set by the instructor. Auditors who do not meet the attendance requirements will be graded W (withdraw). Participation for auditors beyond attendance in class activities is at the instructor's option.

Course Assignments

In addition to course attendance, assignments are required of all students. Auditors must fulfill the instructors' requirements, which may include course assignments.

Course Numbers

All undergraduate courses are numbered 499 and under. Graduate courses are numbered 500-699. Graduate courses numbered 600-699 may be master's degree applicable.

Credit

All courses are assigned semester credit hours.

Grading System

All courses are graded A-F unless the course description identifies the course as graded on an S/U basis. Grades are normally mailed out within three weeks following the last class session. All grades except I (Incomplete) are considered final and are not subject to change except for errors in calculation or as a result of a formal grade appeal process. Contact the director of academic services at 651-635-8033 for the procedure.

The grade of I is given when students are unable to complete the course requirements in the regular time due to causes that are beyond their control and when approved by the instructor (contact the director of academic services to receive a Contract for Grade of Incomplete form). Remaining work must be of the kind that can be done largely through the independent effort of a student. Unless the grade of I is removed by the deadline stated in the contract, the student will be graded for the course according to the terms of the contract. The maximum deadline the instructor may assign for the removal of the I grade is six weeks.

Transcripts

Transcripts showing all academic work done to date at Bethel are available from the Office of the Registrar. An unofficial transcript is sent to the student after each course. Additional transcripts may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar at the cost of $1.00 per transcript.

Facilities Information

Library

Students in individual courses will be given computer access and library privileges, if the professor has requested it for the course. Macintosh computers are available in the library for word processing and research.

Parking

Parking is free in well-lit, on-campus parking lots within close proximity to the campus buildings. A security officer is on duty at the west entrance of the campus beginning at sunset. Students can be escorted to their cars after dark upon request.

Bethel Community Expectations

Adult students are asked to honor Bethel's community expectations by abstaining from the use of tobacco, alcohol, and profane language on the campus.

About Bethel University

Bethel University, an educational community committed to the integration of faith and learning, is a private Christian liberal arts college shaped by a 125-year heritage. The campus is located on 231 acres of wooded hillsides in Arden Hills, a suburb of St. Paul.

In addition to the 2,456 students in traditional day programs, Bethel served 1,069 adult students in graduate and undergraduate evening programs during the 2001-02 school year.

Bethel University is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, 1.800.621.7440.