Division of Business

Divisional Undergraduate Policies and Expectations

Grading Scale. Percentage scores are converted into letter grades according to the scale below. Semester averages are not rounded. Curves or other adjustments to grade distributions are subject to instructor discretion.

Percentage	Grade	Percentage	Grade	Percentage	Grade
93 - 100	A	80 - 82.99	B-	67 - 69.99	D+
90 - 92.99	A-	77 - 79.99	C+	60 - 66.99	D
87 - 89.99	B+	73 - 76.99	C	0 - 59.99	F
83 - 86.99	B	70 - 72.99	C-

Grades and Instructor Discretion. Grades are awarded by the instructor and are based on what a student achieves. Grades are not simply a reward for effort. Faculty will discuss and clarify grades and will recommend strategies for improving performance, but individual grades will not be negotiated.

Absenteeism. Excessive absenteeism will result in a grade penalty which will not exceed 25% of the total grade. If absences exceed 50% of scheduled classes, for any reason, a failing grade is mandated by the JBU catalog. An absence is considered excused in cases of:

• death or serious illness in the immediate family
• required class field trips or educational club trips
• participation in intercollegiate and club athletic events
• University business trips
• trips required by Armed Services of the Veterans Administration
• local emergencies
• other compelling reasons acceptable to the instructor (generally situations that are out of the student's control or involve the student's safety)

Tardiness, early departures from class, sleeping in class, or failure to comply with the attendance system may all be regarded as unexcused absences at the instructor's discretion. An "applications for excused absence" must be completed in advance (when possible) for each absence and under no circumstances will be accepted after the student's return to class. Excusing absences is an instructor prerogative. Attendance penalties will be applied according to the following schedule.
 

Class Sequence	Penalty	Effective After
Mon - Wed - Fri	2% per absence	3 unexcused absences
Tues - Thur	3% per absence	2 unexcused absences
Once per week	6% per absence	1 unexcused absence

Make-Up Work. Any major exam which is not taken at the scheduled time must be made up within one scheduled class session after the student returns to class, regardless of the reason. Exams missed for excused reasons may be made up during this time for full credit, but if the absence on the exam date is unexcused, twenty percentage points will be deducted from the student's score on the make-up exam. If the exam is not made up by the deadline, the student will receive a score of zero and may not make up the exam. Extended excused absences will receive special consideration. Policies regarding quizzes, daily assignments, and other deadlines are individually determined by each instructor for each course. It is the student's responsibility to schedule make-up work.

Services for Students with Disabilities. It is the student's responsibility to initiate any action regarding a disability with the JBU Advocate for Disabilities (ASD). Students with documented disabilities should request any needed accommodations from the instructor as soon as possible, and such accommodations will be granted as directed by the ASD. Students who experience specific difficulties but, for whatever reason, do not currently have a documented disability are encouraged to dialog with the ASD concerning their difficulties and their intentions and efforts to find causes and solutions. In such cases where students are actively seeking to determine the nature of their difficulty, the faculty of the Division of Business will provide accommodations upon the recommendation of the ASD.

The Right to Make Changes. The syllabus is a guideline, not a contract, and is subject to change at the instructor's discretion as circumstances warrant. Changes will be announced in class and possibly by other means. Unless otherwise announced, students should expect that the syllabus will be carefully followed. Similarly, the University catalog is a guideline, not a contract, and is subject to change at the faculty's discretion as circumstances warrant. Changes will be announced publicly. Unless otherwise announced, students should expect that catalog expectations will be applied specifically.

Final Examinations. Final exam times and dates are published at the beginning of each semester under the authority of the Provost. Students must sit for the final exam at the specified time. The only exceptions are (1) death or serious illness of a member of the student's immediate family, or (2) illness of the student as certified by the University nurse or other responsible person. This policy will be rigidly enforced without exception.

Honesty. Honesty is a scriptural imperative and an absolute expectation. It does not exist in degrees, and situations never justify being dishonest. Trust is built over time, lost in a moment, and regained with great difficulty. The faculty expect absolute honesty in all student interactions and in all course work. Academic dishonesty includes any intentional misrepresentation of truth, presenting another's work as one's own, using another's work in the completion of one's own assignments, or assisting others in such behavior. An act of dishonesty is unacceptable. Any student who, in the instructor's judgment, is involved in dishonesty will receive no credit for related work. In addition, the incident will be reported to the office of the Provost for appropriate action.

Our Commitment. Our primary commitment is to the corporate welfare of the JBU community. Faculty welcome opportunities to interact with students, to provide assistance with course work, to give academic advisement, to counsel in personal and spiritual matters, and to develop individual relationships, but decisions and actions must consider the equity and wellbeing of the community over individual privilege. We seek to demonstrate our Christian faith to students, and to the best of our ability we desire to be people who are honest, respectful, courteous, and committed to giving our best efforts. We ask and expect these things in return from our students. We ask that students respect the methods and approaches that the faculty have developed from years of experience in teaching and practice, yet we welcome constructive feedback.