Welcome to FAM Institute!

We are pleased that you have been led to study with us.  We are committed to the preparation of ministry practitioners for leadership and influence in the body of Christ worldwide. This is achieved through rigorous academic programs that prepare our students with knowledge, relational skills, and practical skills to effectively minister the gospel.

 We look forward to the opportunity to serve you during your time as a student at FAM. It is our prayer that you will be enhanced in your knowledge and ministry skills during your time with us. Our ultimate goal for your FAM experience is that you develop a deeper walk with Christ.

 

Mission of FAM Institute: As a higher education ministry, we exist to equip people with the truth of God’s Word to be maturing followers of Christ who are making disciples around the world.

 

Core Values: To live by the authority of the Word of God, Know our worth as Individuals in the body of Christ, Understand the Priority of Servanthood, practice integrity, embrace the responsibility of stewardship and the call of evangelism.

FAM Student Responsibility: The FAM Student Handbook has been compiled to aid you in your time as a student. The FAM Student Handbook supplements the FAM Catalog with additional information concerning student policies, community life, campus services and other information of value to the FAM student. It is intended to be a practical guidebook and will hopefully answer most of the questions that arise. For program and course information, please consult the FAM Catalog. The FAM Student Handbook is an official document of Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute that is essential and binding on all students. It contains information that governs the life of the FAM family. Each student is responsible for the information contained in this FAM Student Handbook. As a FAM student you agree to read and to abide by the policies of the FAM Institute contained in this FAM Student Handbook and Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute Catalog. 

 It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with faculty and staff regarding any circumstances which may affect your education. Please contact 708.271.5866 if you experience any life circumstances which may adversely affect your ability to be successful in your studies. 

 Our Commitment to Helping You:  FAM Institute Bible College & Seminary is committed to assisting you in every possible way to achieve your educational goals. We provide exceptional services and resources to help you grow academically as well as spiritually. Our staff encourage students to ensure success by actively working with all students. 

FAM is committed to the enhancement of your academic knowledge regarding the Scriptures, acquiring the competencies of professional ministry, and the transformation of your life as a believer in Christ. 

 

 

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Faculty and Staff

Dr. Jeannyne Staten – Dean of School                                    

Dr. Felecia Autrey – Enrollment Facilitator                              Dr. Sandra Ellis – Director of Finance              

Dr. Monique Brown – Student Service Technology

 

Instructors

Dr. Alyceann Crump                                                                    Dr. Kay Robinson   

Dr. Frances Person                                                                      Dr. Regina Whitelow

Dr. Andrew Wamble                                                                    Dr. Dorothy Borders

Dr. Kasman Latchman                                                                 

Ambassador, Dr. Heidi Ellis – CEO/Founder

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Dr. Christopher Ellis – Chancellor

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Community Values and Expectations A Philosophy of Christian Life

 The goal of Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute is that each facet of the students’ academic experience contributes to the development of Christian maturity and Christ likeness. Christian maturity involves a commitment to the truth of God’s Word and adherence to explicit statements, which govern behavior. The Bible contains both prohibitions (e.g., the Ten Commandments; warnings against drunkenness, sexual immorality, materialism, and an impure thought life) and prescriptions (e.g., to love one another, to assemble for worship, and to be helpful to the needy). A mark of spiritual growth is an increasing conformity to all biblical commands.

 

We draw special attention to the following practices which we believe expressly violate scriptural absolutes: The use or possession of morally degrading literature or media, Improper sexual behavior, Dishonesty in any form such as plagiarism, Abusive or destructive behavior such as alcoholism, substance abuse, addiction, or violence, Theft or destruction of property.

 Yet, Christian maturity involves more than adherence to explicit scriptural statements of right and wrong. It involves a total commitment to the lordship of Christ, a life of dynamic discipleship, and a renunciation of self-centeredness. The mature Christian recognizes scriptural principles that govern conduct and applies these principles to attitude, conviction, and behavior.

 The following biblical principles represent FAM’s emphasis on Christian maturity:

A personal responsibility to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, doing all for His glory (Rom. 14: 4-12; Phil. 1:20-27; Col. 3:23; 1 Cor. 10:31).

A personal desire to abstain from every form of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).  Because of the value placed on persons as those created in God’s image (Gen. 1: 26-27; Col. 3:10; Matt. 22:39; Rom. 13:8-10; 1 John 3:13-18), a controlling principle of Christian love demands the following: A genuine desire to please our neighbor for his good and for his edification (Rom. 15:1-3)

A thoughtful consideration of others lest, in the exercise of Christian liberty, a brother is caused to stumble. A willingness to avoid that which is inexpedient or imprudent because of its damaging consequences, even though it may not be wrong in itself (Rom. 14:13-23; I Cor. 8:7-13; 10:23-33; I Tim. 2:9).

A discriminating concern for our influence on the whole body of Christ that we serve, as well as the city and a larger society of which we are a part. A willingness to avoid that which is needlessly divisive or offensive to significant segments of the evangelical community at large (I Cor. 10:32-33; 9:22).

A humble recognition that others in the Body of Christ may sincerely hold convictions in areas of social behavior that differs. A willingness to accept the convictions of others in a non-judgmental manner (Rom. 14:3-6).

A willing submission to authority for the Lord’s sake. This includes obedience to all governmental regulations to which a Christian can conform in good conscience (Rom. 13:1-7; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 2:13-17).

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An intelligent concern for the care and use of our bodies and our minds (I Cor. 6:19,20; Rom 12:1-2; Phil 4:8; 2 Cor. 10:5)

A high standard of ethics in the area of separation from the ungodly system of the world (2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:3-12; James 1:27; 4:4; I Th. 2:15-18).

Awareness that conformity to man-made regulations, which appear religious, does not guarantee spiritual maturity in and of themselves (Col. 2:20-23).

 Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute (FAM) appreciates the diverse array of individuals interacting within the teaching and learning environment and within the broader educational system at the FAM Bible Institute. The diverse perspectives represented by FAM students, faculty, and staff enrich the educational context as men and women come together to better understand God’s word and how to live as faithful followers of Christ. 

 All those who study and work at FAM are members of the body of Christ. As such, all individuals, whether students, faculty, or staff, are deserving of love and respect. As diverse opinions are shared and discussed, disagreement is inevitable—disrespect is not. FAM is committed to the development of an educational culture in which disagreements may occur without disrespect. FAM values the expression of diverse opinions and affirms the value of all those who follow Christ. At the same time, Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute fully recognizes that individual struggles and the negotiation of individual identities can inform one’s understanding of God or hinder one from following Him more faithfully. As a school dedicated to the formation of God’s people for service, FAM is committed to equipping both individuals and the FAM community as a whole to interact with others in a manner that demonstrates the love of Christ. Such interactions may involve disagreement and discussion as the learning community seeks to know and understand God more fully.

 FAM believes that the teaching and learning community should be concerned with both truth and love characterized by a deep desire to know God, to know others, and to be known. As such, FAM promotes the virtues of charity, honesty, openness, and attentiveness. Student, faculty, and staff alike are called to address one another in a manner appropriate for those who proclaim Jesus as Lord.

 FAM Code of Conduct

All students pursuing degrees through FAM are expected to conduct themselves in a manner commensurate with the values and beliefs of the FAM Bible Institute exemplifying strong Christian character in their dealings with other students, faculty, and staff at FAM, as well as those with whom the students interact on a daily basis. The following code of conduct describes the fundamental attitudes and behaviors expected of those pursuing a program or degree via FAM.

 

The code of conduct is intended to provide students with appropriate guidance as to their interactions with fellow students, faculty, and staff. By virtue of membership in the FAM academic community, students accept the obligation to abide by the Student Code of Conduct. Conduct, either in or out of class, not meeting these standards will be subject to disciplinary action. It is further intended to assist in the development of a collegial community of learners, as well as ensuring that those studying at the Institute represent Christ to the outside world.

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 FAM reserves the right to require the withdrawal of student whose behavior is in conflict with these standards. Individuals who do not fit in with the objectives and ideals of FAM may be asked to withdraw whenever the general welfare demands it, even though there may be no specific breach of contract.

Code of Conduct

1. Support and exhibit Christian character with Institute students, faculty, and staff

2. Respect and embrace diverse perspectives and opinions  Interact thoughtfully, critically, and graciously with the perspectives of fellow students, faculty, and staff

3. Participate in classroom activities with diligence and integrity

4. Accept personal responsibility and accountability for interactions including, but not necessarily limited to, written or oral communications with fellow students, faculty, and staff

5. Maintain confidentiality for personal information communicated in the classroom or in other settings in which students, faculty, and staff share such information

6. Admit inappropriate behavior, repent, and seek forgiveness from offended parties

7. Conform to FAM’s policies regarding academic honesty

8. Honor FAM’s standards, rules, policies, and procedures

It is crucial to maintain an environment free of harassment, stalking, threats, abuse, insults, or humiliation to the instructor and members of the class. This includes, but is not limited to, demeaning written or oral comments of an ethnic, religious, sexist, or racist nature or the unwanted sexual advances or intimidations by email, on discussion boards, or on other postings in courses

 

Code of Conduct Violations

The following section offers a sample of behaviors that would be considered violations of FAM’s code of conduct. The section is not intended to offer an exhaustive list of behaviors that would be considered as violations, but to provide representative examples of the sorts of behaviors for which a student would be subjected to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from FAM.

 Using inappropriate or abusive language in communications in any medium (e.g. text messages, emails, discussion boards, submitted assignments, face to-face interactions, phone calls) with any individual or group, whether or not such individuals or groups are affiliated with FAM

Participating in behaviors that undermine or disrupt the classroom environment or which create a hostile or offensive situation for fellow students, faculty, and staff

Falsifying or otherwise falsely claiming one’s identity including, but not limited to, utilizing another student’s password to access courses or Institute systems, or providing one’s own password so that another individual may access courses or Institute systems.

Utilizing Institute systems, networks, or other technology resources to distribute or share copyrighted materials including, but not limited to, music, video, written compositions, or other copyrighted material without appropriate consent from the copyright. 

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Refusing to comply with any reasonable instruction from a faculty member or Institute official  Allowing unauthorized persons to access one’s classroom without obtaining proper approval from

Institute officials  Threatening behavior that may be interpreted as physical assault or abuse, or behaving in such a way that implies the potential for violence as interpreted by the consensus of appropriate Institute personnel.

 1st Violation: Warning to Probation

2nd Violation: Probation to Dismissal

3rd Violation: Dismissal

 

 Code of Conduct Processes

 Information regarding code of conduct violations may come from any number of sources including, but not limited to, fellow students, faculty, staff, and individuals outside of FAM who interact with students on a day to day basis. Reported violations may be communicated to students for comment and explanation.

 

 Harassment

FAM is committed to providing a learning environment that respects the worth and dignity of each member of its community and that is pleasant, healthful, comfortable, and free from all forms of harassment. Accordingly, it is the policy of FAM that no student shall be the object of harassment, and FAM reserves the right to take actions that are consistent with its policies and procedures to deal with students found to have engaged in harassment. 

 

Except for sexual harassment as defined in FAM’s Title IX Policy, harassment is unwelcome conduct and is prohibited where (1) enduring the offensive conduct becomes a term or condition of one’s academic or living environment, or (2) the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create an academic or living environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive. Minor or isolated incidents (unless sufficiently severe) generally will not rise to the level of prohibited conduct. 

 

Depending on specific circumstances and impact on the academic environment, examples of harassment in violation of this policy include, but are not limited to, verbal abuse, offensive innuendo, derogatory comments, or the open display of offensive objects or pictures. 

 For FAM’s policies and procedures for disciplining harassment that is not sexual harassment as defined in FAM’s Title IX Policy, see the Code of Conduct section of this Student Handbook. 

 For FAM’s policies and procedures, including discipline, related to sexual harassment, see FAM’s Title IX Policy available at https://www.FAM.edu/about/reports-andpolicies/title-ix/. 

 

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 Liability for Harassment

 A student who harasses another student is personally liable for such actions and their consequences. FAM accepts no liability for harassment of one student by another student. FAM will not provide legal, financial or any other assistance to any student accused of harassment.

 

 

Sexual-Based Misconduct

FAM’s Title IX Policy and Complaint Procedure provides an avenue for those who have been the target of or who witness Sex-Based Misconduct (as defined by FAM’s Title IX Policy) to report such Sex-Based Misconduct, without fear of Retaliation (as defined by FAM’s Title IX Policy). Please refer to FAM’s Title IX Policy at https://www.FAM.edu/about/reports-and-policies/title-ix/ for policies and procedures specific to Sex-Based Misconduct. 

 

Human Sexuality

 Our foundation for understanding human sexuality is rooted in our commitment to the Bible as the only authoritative guide for faith and practice. The first two chapters of Genesis constitute the paradigm and prerequisite of God’s enduring creative intent for human personhood, gender and sexual identity, and sexual intimacy in marriage.

1. FAM Bible Institute believes that humanity came from the hand of God with only two sexual distinctions—male and female—both in the image of God and emerging from one flesh with the unique physical capacity to reunite as one flesh in complementarity within a marriage. God’s creation design and intent for marriage as expressed in Genesis is therefore exclusively between one man and one woman. Marriage alludes to the love of Christ for His Bride, the Church.

2. Within this monogamous context, intended to be lifelong, sexual intimacy is a glorious blessing from God. We affirm the worth and relevance of human gender and sexuality, and of sexual intimacy as a distinctive of marriage based on Scripture.

3. Non-marital sex, homosexual sex, same sex romantic relationships, and gender identification incongruent with one’s birth-sex all violate God’s generous intention for human relationships. Such practices misrepresent the nature of God Himself, and therefore are sinful under any circumstance. In God’s standards, we find merciful restraint on our fallenness. Concerns about sexuality and gender may be difficult to disclose, but suffering in silence is a far greater challenge. FAM Bible Institute believes that people are best supported if we are able to share our questions, struggles, or our self-understanding with trusted others. 

God’s love and concern for all of humanity compelled Him to offer His Son as a ransom for our lives and we consider His biblically recorded and specifically defined guidelines for sexual practice to be enduring expressions of His love and protection of our human identity.4 We therefore willingly submit ourselves to these biblical mandates in light of our call to holiness and to self-surrender. Members of our community will neither practice nor propagate positions or activities at variance with FAM’s position. 1 Genesis 1:27, 2:24; cf. Matthew 19:4–5 2 Ephesians 5:22–33; Revelation 19:7–9 3 Leviticus 18; 1 Corinthians 5-6 4 Matthew 19:5–9; Ephesians 4:11–13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8

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 Student Complaint Policies

 Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute is committed to preparing students for effective and global ministry through quality and experienced instruction, relevant and engaging content, and helpful and meaningful services that enhance and enrich their FAM experience.

 

Consistent with the mission of recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual, FAM welcomes your opinions and feedback about our policies, programs, and services in order to make changes that contribute to your success, development, and goal attainment. We also are committed to ensuring that students have access to appropriate procedures for articulating concerns and issues regarding their education. These concerns and issues are usually the result of behavior that the student feels is unjust, inequitable, or creates an unnecessary hardship.

 Informal Complaint Whenever possible, students are encouraged to seek an informal resolution of the matter directly with the faculty or individual(s) involved. The majority of complaints can be resolved in this way. If after communicating directly with the faculty or individual(s) involved, you cannot reach a resolution, the next contact will be the supervisor, faculty chair, or appropriate dean to investigate the complaint and provide a resolution.

 Formal Complaint If a student has followed the Informal Complaint process and has not received a satisfactory explanation of the decision, the student may file a formal complaint to the Assistant Dean of Student Experience, who will disseminate to the appropriate faculty, administration, or committee for processing and review. Students must complete the Formal Complaint Form found in the FAM Students tab of the my.FAM.edu student portal. Incomplete forms will be rejected. Completed forms will be reviewed and investigated with a decision being given and communicated in an appropriate time given the nature of the complaint. Failure to comply with this policy may result in no action being taken with respect to the subject matter of the complaint. Where such failure also causes a violation of rules and policies regarding student conduct, disciplinary action may result in accordance with the applicable rules and policies.

 Out-of-State Student Complaint Process Students taking online classes through FAM who are out of state should attempt to resolve any academic issues or complaints by following the Student Complaint process as listed above.

Course Expectations and Information Academic Programs

Undergraduate Certificate Programs Certificate of Biblical Studies (26 credits)

Certificate of Biblical Leadership (24 credits)

Certificate of Ministry to Women (22 credits) 

Associate Degree

Associate of Biblical Studies (60 credits)

 Bachelor of Science Degrees

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Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies (121 credits)

Bachelor of Science in Integrated Ministry Studies (120 credits)

Bachelor of Science in Ministry Leadership (120 credits);

Master of Arts Degree  Master of Arts in Biblical Preaching (36 credits)  Master of Arts in Global Ministry Design (30 credits)  Master of Arts in Ministry Studies (36 credits)

 Undergraduate and Graduate Venue Options

 Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute primarily offers distance learning venues for those considered rooted learners: online courses and self-paced courses. Flexible and convenient online courses allow students to study at FAM Bible Institute, joining thousands of others around the globe seeking a trusted Bible education within a diverse biblical community. Self-paced courses allow students to take courses on their own time and at their own pace online. These venues allow students in various locales around the United States to be better equipped to advance the cause of Christ.

 Online Courses

Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute offers students the ability to earn any of its undergraduate and graduate credentials listed above by studying entirely in an online environment. Online learning is the freedom of studying without the constraints of a set class time yet retains interactivity with fellow learners and the instructors via the Internet. Students and instructors interact with each other through discussion boards, email, and other Internet tools to create a virtual community of learners from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Online courses are available in various formats. Undergraduate courses offered online are available in eight-week, 16-week, and self-paced formats, and graduate courses offered online are available in an eight week format. Students will progress through a structured series of course materials and learning experiences taught by FAM Bible Institute instructors. Assignments require students to engage in activities that are both academic and practical. Students may also choose to enroll in a single course or in several courses at once.

 The courses are designed to help you benefit from the learning community that surrounds you. Your commitments to family, church, ministry, and community become key components in your personal development in the courses. Online interaction with faculty and students of other backgrounds further enriches the experience.

 Self-paced courses include requirements for online postings, following a schedule so that you may complete the assignments at your convenience prior to the due date/time.

 The online connection for the courses is made through your Internet Service Provider (ISP), but the electronic classrooms are managed through FAM’s learning management system called TEAM. Students will be issued usernames and passwords in order to have access to the courses and services.

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How much time will I spend online? In a three credit hour course in the eight-week format, you should expect to spend an average of 9-12 hours per week on your course work. Depending on your speed of reading and the number of particular assignments for the course, you will be online approximately 4-5 hours a week. This time may be decreased if you download documents and read them offline and may be increased if you participate extensively in additional discussion board conversations.

 Do I have to be online at any specific time? The way our courses are set up, you do not need to be online at any particular time. However, the software we use for the online school is interactive. You will have a chance to communicate with the other students and the instructor. Communication is mostly through emails and discussion boards, so you can get online at the time most convenient for you.

 8-Week Courses Option Each 8-week course has a week-by-week schedule to follow that will consist of reading assignments, projects, and discussion board posts. You will be able to interact with other students in your course through the discussion board and also interact with the professor.

You will never have an exact time that you need to be in your course on Blackboard. The assignments go week-by-week. A “week” runs from Tuesday through the next Monday. By Monday night, the week’s class work must be completed. For example: for week one you might have to read a chapter of the assigned text, complete one discussion board post, and do an assigned project by Monday night at 11:59 PM Central Time.

Online Self-Paced Option Online self-paced courses FAM offers the flexibility of a 16-week time period with the convenience of an online format. Online self-paced courses are designed to achieve the same or equivalent learning outcomes as our current online courses using the same textbooks and materials (10 weeks for the summer session).

 All assignments, quizzes, and tests will be completed and turned in online using Blackboard. These courses are different than the 8-week courses because online self-paced courses do not require assignments to be completed on a weekly basis. Students taking an online self-paced course can complete assignments at any time within the 16-week or 10 week time frame.

 

Minimum System Requirements for Online Students Online courses are delivered over the Internet. Reliable Internet connectivity is essential for participating in an online course. Although a dial-up connection (56kbps) is sufficient for navigating and viewing online materials, a broadband connection is recommended. Any PC or Mac made in the past five years should contain the necessary hardware, software, and operating system to participate in FAM’s online courses. All work submitted for a course must be in Microsoft Office compatible formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or Portable Document Format (PDF). Not all documents will be available for viewing/editing from all mobile devices.

 If you have specific questions or would like more information, please contact Information Technology Services at www.faminstitute.com.

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Independent Studies Independent Studies courses allow students to take a course over a sixth month period, working at their own pace and schedule. A limited number of Independent Study courses are available via paper-based correspondence study in which lessons are submitted and returned via postal mail. Independent Study courses may still be taken by those without access to a computer or the Internet. Students may choose to enroll in a single course or in several courses at once.

Course Descriptions You can find course descriptions and sample syllabi for each course at www.undergraduate-courses for undergraduate students, and www.FAM.edu/online/graduate-courses for graduate students. Here you can see the course you are interested in, read the description, and download the sample syllabus.   Textbooks You can find all of the textbooks you will need for your courses at www.FAM.edu/books for undergraduate students, and www.FAM.edu/gradbooks for graduate students. There will be a list of all of the courses offered. Then click on the course you are interested in. Make sure you pay attention to the list of books required for each course, because this list may contain different books for different venues. Only purchase the books required for your venue.

 Tuition Appeal Process When you register for a course at FAM Bible Institute Distance or E-Learning, you are responsible for the costs associated with registering for the course. If circumstances beyond your control cause you to stop attending your classes or drop a course after the normal refund period, you may appeal for an exception to the FAM Distance Learning’s refund policy. Such circumstances may include but are not limited to the following: 

1. Death in the immediate family

1. Serious medical condition

1. Military deployment  Natural disaster, calamity 

 

The following examples do not qualify as extenuating circumstances; therefore, they do not relieve you of your financial responsibilities. Please do not submit an appeal form if the following circumstances apply: 

1. You exercised poor judgment and/or poor time management skills.

2.  You lacked knowledge of FAM’s policies and procedures regarding course drops and refunds.

3.  You were not aware of or you failed to utilize FAM’s available resources.

Important Notes Appeals must be made within four months from the final date of the course. Any appeal submitted after this time period will not be considered.

If you received Financial Aid for the term identified in this appeal, be aware that submission of a tuition appeal could:

impact your Financial Aid and result in money owed. It is recommended that you discuss these implications with the Financial Aid office before submitting an appeal.

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Appeal Process 1. You must officially drop the course(s) before submitting an appeal form (see Course Drops).  2. Complete each step of the online fillable form located under the MDL Student tab at my.FAM.edu.  3. Attach required supporting documentation to the appeals form or submit to mdlappeals@FAM.edu. Appeals submitted without supporting documentation will not be reviewed by the committee. 4. The MDL Appeals Investigator may request additional information from the student. 5. Completed appeals are sent to the Student Appeals Committee to review and make a final decision. 6. The student will be notified by email when a final decision is made.  7. If the appeal is approved, Student Accounts and/or Financial Aid will make adjustment to tuition/fees.

 Academic Information Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) sets forth requirements which govern the access to and release of educational records, and the right of students to inspect and review their records. FERPA allows institutions to release information from a student’s record without the written consent of the student to school officials who have “legitimate educational interest” and who need access to the information to fulfill their professional responsibility. A school official is a person employed by the Institute in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position, including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff.

In accordance with the regulations of FERPA, FAM has adopted the following policy: Students have four primary rights under FERPA: (1) the right to inspect and review the student’s education records; (2) the right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA; (3) the right to provide written consent before the Institute discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent; and (4) the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the FAM Bible Institute to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

information may be listed as confidential through the Office of Academic Records or by the students themselves in their my.FAM.edu student portal, information designated as “Directory Information” may be disclosed without the consent or knowledge of the student. Directory information at FAM includes the following information:

 • Student’s name • Date of birth • Marital status • Photo  Any audio and/or visual recording, including, without limitation, video, film, audio recording, or digital image • Job history and/or other information posted to an FAM job board • Addresses • Telephone information • Email addresses • Dates of attendance • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports • Weight and height of members of athletic teams • Enrollment status • Classification • Academic program • Degree(s) and certificate(s) earned • Honor(s) and award(s) received • Graduation date

 Students who wish to release confidential academic or financial information to a parent, guardian, or other interested individual must complete a FERPA disclosure form which can be obtained from the Office of Academic Records, in addition to being located in the my.FAM.edu student portal. All forms must be authorized by the student and returned to the Office of Academic Records. Completed forms will last for the duration of the student’s enrollment at FAM unless the Office of Academic Records is otherwise notified by the student.

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A copy of The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), in addition to questions concerning additional student’s rights, can be obtained from the Office of Academic Records (academicrecords@FAM.edu.

Course Registration Students are responsible for course registration through their my.FAM.edu student portal. Holds on students’ accounts may prohibit them from enrolling in courses until the holds have been lifted. It is recommended that students follow the program plan, which is the suggested sequence of courses to fulfill their academic requirements. 

Open Enrollment Open enrollment occurs in the following sequence (see Academic Calendar for specific dates):

 Semester Open Enrollment Fall Registration begins in September, Spring Registration begins in January, Summer Registration begins in April.

 Registration Deadlines Registration closes one week prior to the start of 8-week online courses and three days after the start of 16-week online and 16week online self-paced courses. Students will be prohibited from attending, participating, or receiving credit for courses that are not on their official record. Students may check their my.FAM.edu student portal for additional registration information.

Academic Load Undergraduate The average academic load to complete an academic program according to its program plan is 12 to 14 credits for each fall and spring semester.

Credits Per Semester Academic Load 12+ Full time 9 Three-quarters time 6 Half time Less than 6 Less than half time

Graduate The average academic load to complete an academic program according to its program plan is 6 credits for each semester.

Credits Per Semester Academic Load 9+ Full time 6.75 Three-quarters time 4.50 Half time Less than 4.50 Less than half time

Grading System The student’s work for any semester in a given subject is evaluated by the teacher according to the following letter grades:

 Excellent: outstanding accomplishment in mastering the subject B Very good: better-than-average accomplishment in mastering the subject C Satisfactory: fulfills the requirements and has made acceptable progress towards mastering the subject D Passing: deficient in some respects but meets the minimum standards for obtaining credit in the subject Of Failure falls below the minimum standards of accomplishment and must be repeated to obtain credit

AU Audit AUW Audit withdrawal FN Unofficial withdrawal I   Incomplete P/NP Passed/Not Passed W Withdrawal WF Withdrawal failing WP Withdrawal passing WX Withdrawal failing course that was successfully repeated X Failed course (or equivalent) that was successfully repeated XN Unofficial withdrawal course that was successfully repeated.

 

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 Grade Points To provide a basis for averaging letter grades, the following grade point system is used (per credit):

A 4.00 A- 3.70

B+ 3.30 B 3.00 * B- 2.70

C+ 2.30 C 2.00 C- 1.70  

D+ 1.30* D 1.00* D- 0.70*

F 0.00 FN 0.00 WF 0.00 *Not applicable to graduate courses.

 Semester Grade Point Average A student’s semester GPA is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned in a semester by the total number of credits taken toward GPA in that semester within a student’s academic career.

Cumulative Grade Point Average A student’s cumulative GPA is determined by dividing the cumulative number of grade points earned by the cumulative number of credits taken toward GPA within a student’s academic career.

Scholastic Honors: Honors at graduation are based on a student’s cumulative GPA and evidence of Christian character. Honors are not automatically granted to graduates. Honors are granted by the faculty and may be withheld or modified, based on the processing of final grades. The following guidelines are used to determine academic honors:

 Undergraduate

Academic Honors Highest Honors 3.80–4.00

High Honors 3.60–3.79 Honors 3.30–3.59

 Graduate Academic Honors

Summa Cum Laude 3.90–4.00

Magna Cum Laude 3.80–3.89

Cum Laude 3.70–3.79

 Official Grades Official grades are required to be posted by the faculty member fourteen calendar days after the last day of the course. Students are able to view their official grades on the my.FAM.edu student portal. It is the responsibility of all students to check their official grades at the conclusion of each academic session to ensure that their posted grades are correct and accurate.

Academic Transcripts Past and present students may request a transcript of their FAM academic record through Parchment Exchange, which is an online academic credential exchange platform in partnership with the Office of Academic Records. Transcript requests may not be processed for students who have a hold on their account.

 

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The following fees are applied to transcript requests per transcript: 

$10.00 for transcript delivered electronically 

$10.00 for transcript picked up in person 

$15.00 for domestic paper delivery of transcript 

 $20.00 for international paper delivery of transcript 

$40.00 for U.S. domestic overnight shipping of transcript

 Academic Policies Academic Credit Policies (Undergraduate) Undergraduate academic credit includes credits earned at FAM, transfer credit, and test credit. Institutional credit contributes to the student’s grade point average, while transfer credit and test credit do not contribute to the student’s grade point average. Final approval of academic credits is under the authority of the registrar. Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute does not grant academic credit for non-academic prior experience.

A maximum of 75% of a program may be fulfilled through transfer credit or test credit. The FAMI total of all test credits cannot exceed 25% of a student’s program requirements. 

Transfer Credit Undergraduate courses being considered for transfer credit must meet the following criteria:  The course must be taken at an institution of higher learning that is regionally accredited, accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), or accredited by the European Evangelical Accrediting Association.

The course must be equivalent in content and credit hours (i.e. 4.5 quarter hours = 3 semester credit hours).  The student must earn a grade of C or better for the transfer of undergraduate courses completed within the past fifteen years or the student must earn a grade of B or better for the transfer of undergraduate courses completed within the past thirty years. A course graded on a pass/fail basis will not transfer.  Credits that exceed thirty years from the date of completion are not transferable toward current academic program requirements.  The course fulfills one of the student’s academic program requirements.  Official transcripts must be submitted prior to the start of a student’s final semester.  International transcripts will be required to have a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (wes.org or (212) 966-6311) or Education Credential Evaluators (ece.org or (414) 289-3400), or any current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. A list of members may be found at naces.org/members.html.

 Test Credit Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute accepts Advanced Placement (AP) Examination, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and other test credit recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE). Official test scores must be submitted prior to the start of a student’s final semester. For test credit guidelines contact the Office of Academic Records.

Earned Degree Credit Credits used to fulfill the requirements of a degree program will not apply toward the completion of a second, equivalent level degree at FAM.

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Bachelor of Science in Integrated Ministry Studies Undergraduate courses and test credits being considered for transfer to the Bachelor of Science in Integrated Ministry Studies are not subject to the 10- and 30-year transfer credit time limits, provided a grade of C or better was earned. This program is also exempt from the 75% transfer credit limit and the 25% test credit limit. All other academic credit policies still apply.

Statute of Limitations Undergraduate academic credits that exceed thirty years from the date of admission are not applicable to current academic program requirements. The Bachelor of Science in Integrated Ministry Studies is not subject to this Statute of Limitations policy.

Transferability of Credit Earned at FAM The transferability of credits earned at FAM is at the discretion of the receiving college, university, or other educational institution. Students considering transferring to any institution should not assume that credits earned in any academic program at FAM will be accepted by the receiving institution. Similarly, the ability of a certificate or degree earned at FAM to satisfy an admission requirement of another institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Accreditation does not guarantee certificates, degrees, or credits earned at FAM will be accepted by or transferred to another institution. To minimize the risk of having to repeat coursework, students should contact the receiving institution in advance for evaluation and determination of transferability of credits and acceptability of certificates or degrees earned.

Academic Credit Policies (Graduate) Academic credit includes credits earned at FAM, transfer credit, advanced standing credit, and validation examination credit. Institutional credit contributes to the student’s grade point average, while transfer credit, advanced standing credit, and validation examination credit do not contribute to the student’s grade point average. Students admitted without a bachelor’s degree will not be eligible to receive transfer credit and advanced standing credit toward their program. Final approval of academic credits is under the authority of the registrar. Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute does not grant academic credit for non-academic prior experience. A maximum of 50% of a program may be fulfilled through transfer credit, advanced standing credit, and validation examination credit.

Transfer Credit Courses being considered for transfer credit must meet the following criteria:  The course must be taken at a regionally or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accredited institution. The institution must have been accredited at the time the courses were completed.  The course must be equivalent in content and credit hours (i.e. 4.5 quarter hours = 3 semester credit hours).  The student must earn a grade of B- or better. A course graded on a pass/fail basis will not transfer.  Credits that exceed ten years from the date of completion are not transferable toward current program requirements.  The combined total of all transfer credits cannot exceed 50% of a student’s program requirements.  The course fulfills one of the student’s academic program requirements.  Records must be submitted on official transcripts within the first semester of enrollment.  Students submitting international transcripts will be required to have a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (wes.org or (212) 966-6311),

 

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Education Credential Evaluators (ece.org or (414) 2893400), or any current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. A list of members may be found at naces.org/members.html.

Once admitted to an academic program, a student must take all courses at FAM Bible Institute Distance Learning.

 Advanced Standing Credit Advanced standing credit is based on a student’s undergraduate coursework and reduces the total number of credits needed to complete a program. Up to 25% of an academic program can be fulfilled with advanced standing. Advanced standing credit and validation examination credit cannot exceed 25% of a program (see Academic Credit Limits). In order to receive advanced standing credit, the following criteria must be met:  The course must be taken at a regionally or Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) accredited institution.  The course must be upper-level (300–400 level).  The course must be equivalent in content.  The student must earn a grade of B- or better. A course graded on a pass/fail basis will not transfer.  Credits that exceed ten years from the date of completion are not eligible for advanced standing.  Records must be submitted on official transcripts within the first semester of enrollment.

Validation Examination Credit Fresh Anointing Ministries Institute offers validation examinations to students with extensive personal study or other nontransferable learning who desire to earn graduate credit. Up to 25% of an academic program can be fulfilled with validation examination credit. Advanced standing credit and validation examination credit combined cannot exceed 25% of a program (see Academic Credit Limits). A fee is charged for each examination. For validation examination information, please contact FAM Bible Institute Distance Learning. Students must complete validation examinations within their first two semesters (fall and spring).

 Academic Credit Limits The maximum of transfer, advanced standing, and validation examination credit allowed in each academic program are as follows:

 

Academic Program

 Required Credits

Advanced Standing & Validation Exam Credit

 *Transfer credit, advanced standing credit, and validation examination credit cannot exceed 50% of a program.

Earned Degree Credit Credits used to fulfill the requirements of a degree program will not apply toward the completion of a second, equivalent level degree at FAM.

Statute of Limitations Graduate academic credits that exceed ten years from the date of admission are not applicable to current academic program requirements.

 

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Transferability of Credit Earned at FAM The transferability of credits earned at FAM is at the discretion of the receiving college, university, or other educational institution. Students considering transferring to any institution should not assume that credits earned in any academic program at FAM will be accepted by the receiving institution. Similarly, the ability of a certificate or degree earned at FAM to satisfy an admission requirement of another institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Accreditation does not guarantee certificates, degrees, or credits earned at FAM will be accepted by or transferred to another institution. To minimize the risk of having to repeat coursework, students should contact the receiving institution in advance for evaluation and determination of transferability of credits and acceptability of certificates or degrees earned.

Academic Integrity and Penalties for Academic Misconduct Academic integrity requires students to be responsible and honest in the fulfillment of all of their academic work. Assignments, examinations, and other educational requirements are intended to foster student learning. Students are expected to submit original work, to use appropriate citations, giving credit to the ideas or words of another person, and to refrain from cheating of any kind. 

Cheating: Cheating is any act (whether successful or attempted) in which a student is dishonest or seeks to gain an unfair advantage on an assignment, quiz, paper, examination, class, etc. Some common forms of cheating include, but are not necessarily limited to:  Using unauthorized material during an examination or other assignments  Submitting the same assignment in more than one class  Lying to an instructor in order to obtain an excused absence, extension on an assignment, makeup examination, admission to a class or program, etc.   Inappropriate collaboration on classroom assignments  Assisting others in academic misconduct

Plagiarism is taking the ideas or words of another person and presenting them as one’s own whether intentional or unintentional. Intentional plagiarism is unethical and constitutes a serious infraction of academic policy. When the words or ideas of others are used, proper credit must be given, either in a footnote or in the text. 

Penalties for Academic Misconduct First Offense Automatic failure of any and all assignments, quizzes, examinations, or class requirements in which academic misconduct occurred. The instructor of the course will notify the Academic Standards Committee via the registrar with an explanation of the situation. Discretion is given to the Academic Standards Committee and the Academic Dean to impose more strenuous penalties. The violation will remain on record and information concerning the incident will be communicated to all instructors. 

Second Offense Automatic failure of any and all assignments, quizzes, examinations, or class requirements in which academic misconduct occurred. The instructor of the course will notify the Academic Standards Committee via the registrar. Discretion is given to the Academic Standards Committee and the Academic Dean to determine an appropriate penalty with a minimum penalty of failure of a course and a maximum penalty of suspension or dismissal. A record of the violation goes into the student’s file. The Academic Dean will notify faculty of the results of this process.

 

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Academic Probation and Dismissal Students admitted to FAM are assumed to have the preparation, desire, and ability to make satisfactory progress toward the completion of their academic program. Therefore, FAM has established Satisfactory Academic Progress standards that students are required to meet in order to receive financial aid and remain in good academic standing. SAP is evaluated on a payment period basis (generally this will be at the end of fall, spring, and summer semesters) after grades are posted. The SAP standards are outlined below.

Quantitative Measure (Pace of Progress) Students must successfully complete at least two-thirds of all credits attempted to remain in good academic standing and retain eligibility for financial aid, which include pass/fail, repeated, and incomplete courses as well as courses dropped after the last day to drop a course without penalty (i.e., W, WP, or WF grades). 

Qualitative Measure (Cumulative GPA) Students are required to meet SAP standards in order to remain in good academic standing and retain eligibility for financial aid. The qualitative measurement requires a certain

cumulative GPA based on the number of credits earned according to the chart below.

Undergraduate Certificates and associate degree Credits Earned Minimum Cumulative GPA < 15 1.800 15 + 2.000   bachelor’s degrees Credits Earned Minimum Cumulative GPA < 30 1.800 30 to 60 1.900 > 60 2.000   Master of Arts Degrees Credits Earned Minimum Cumulative GPA < 15 2.300 15 + 2.500

 

Maximum Time Frame The maximum time frame for receipt of financial aid must be no longer than 150% of the published length of an academic program. At FAM, many Bachelor degrees require students to earn 120 credits; therefore, students enrolled in a 120 credit Bachelor degree are allowed up to 180 attempted credits (including all transfer credits accepted toward completion of a student's program) to be considered for financial aid. The maximum time limits include all credits attempted regardless of whether or not financial aid was received.

Probationary Semester If students are not meeting SAP at the end of a semester, they will be placed on academic probation for one semester. While on academic probation, students must maintain continual enrollment for each fall and spring semester of probation. Failure to maintain continual enrollment or to make academic progress while on probation will result in immediate dismissal. Students not meeting SAP by the end of the probationary semester will be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee. The committee will choose one of the following:  Permit the student to continue for a final semester of probation, which is subject to dismissal.  Have the student agree to an Academic Plan for Improvement prepared by the Office of Academic Records for additional semesters of probation.  Academically dismiss the student (see Academic Dismissal).

 

If the committee determines that a student can meet SAP standards by the end of one semester, then the student may return for a final semester of probation. If the committee determines that the student needs additional semesters to meet SAP standards, then the student must agree to an Academic Plan for Improvement. 

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Academic Dismissal Academically dismissed students are no longer active students, will not be permitted to enroll in courses in any venue, and will not have access to their student account. Students are academically dismissed from FAM when they are no longer meeting the above SAP standards and the Academic Standards Committee determines that academic improvement cannot be made with additional semesters of probation. Students who voluntarily discontinue or are not enrolled in courses will be academically dismissed if they are not meeting the above SAP standards. Students may appeal their academic dismissal status to the committee within thirty days. The committee will review the requested appeal and the final decision will be communicated to the student.

Academic Program Time Limits Active students are required to meet all academic requirements within their academic program time limit as listed below: Program       Maximum Years to         Complete Program Undergraduate Certificate     5 Years Associate of Biblical Studies Degree    7 Years Bachelor of Science Degree    10 Years Master of Arts Degree     5 Years Students who need additional time to complete their certificate or degree program must submit the Program Extension Appeal prior to the final semester of their program time limit. Failure to do so will result in program dismissal. If dismissed, students will have the option to reapply to current academic programs. Not all previous credits may apply.

 Change of Program Undergraduate students may request a change of program or concentration using the form available from the Office of Academic Records. If approved, a student’s program requirements will change to the requirements documented in the most current academic catalog, and not all credits may apply.

Program changes will be effective for the semester in which the change was approved.

Graduate students requesting a change to FAM Theological Seminary and Graduate School must apply through the Office of Admissions (see Admissions).

Course Attendance Policies Course attendance is essential to academic achievement and the successful completion of a course. Faculty members have the prerogative to establish their own attendance and participation policies in regard to academic requirements.

Course Audits Students are not eligible to audit online or independent study courses. 

Course Cancelation Policies FAM reserves the right to cancel a course due to lack of enrollment or extenuating circumstances. In the event that a course cancelation inhibits students from meeting their expected graduation date, FAM will provide an alternative to fulfill the course requirement. This may include a course substitution or the option to enroll in a directed study course. If the canceled course is an elective, the student will be presented with other elective options.

Course Drops Grades will be assigned based on the date a course is dropped, according to the schedule below from the first date of the session, which may be earlier than the first meeting day of the course (dates are subject to change). Specific dates for the course drop schedule may be found on the my.FAM.edu student portal.

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Students may drop a course through their my.FAM.edu student portal from the beginning of the session up to its halfway point. After the halfway point of the session, students must contact the Office of Academic Records for approval to drop a course. Courses dropped after the halfway point of the session will be assigned a withdrawal failing grade (WF), which will negatively affect GPA. Students dropping courses may be permitted refunds according to the refund policies (see Financial Information).

 

Course Exceptions

Any exception to the curriculum as stated in the academic catalog must be approved by the appropriate faculty member using the course exception form. Course exceptions are subject to the review and approval of the registrar.

 

Course Extensions Students unable to complete the requirements of a course by its end date, due to extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control, may request a course extension from their instructor. The reason for the extension needs to be valid and documented. Extension forms may be obtained from the Office of Academic Records and must be submitted two weeks prior to the end of the course. If an extension request is approved, the student will receive additional time according to the table below. All coursework must be completed by the end of the extension. Students who have received approved extensions are no longer permitted to drop the course. Students who do not complete and submit all final coursework to their instructor by the end of the extension will receive an official grade based on the coursework submitted. This may result in failure of the course.

Length of Course Length of Extension 26 Weeks 26 weeks 16 Weeks 5 weeks 10 Weeks 3 weeks 8 Weeks 3 weeks

 

Late Assignment Grading Policy All assignments are to be submitted/completed by the due date which, if not otherwise identified in the course, is Monday by 11:59pm Central Time (CT) each week. Instructors establish their own late assignment submission policy. Students should review the instructor's course announcements or contact their instructor for specifics on late assignment submissions. Students needing to hand work in after the final date of the course session must apply for a course extension prior to the end date of the course according to the Course Extension policy listed in the catalog.

 

IMPORTANT: Notify your instructor if there are circumstances which prevent you from submitting your work on time. Exceptions to this policy are at the discretion of each

individual instructor and will be based on extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student.

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Discussion Boards Late Discussion Board postings will receive NO credit if late since they are interaction between students during the course of a week (or however long the discussion board is planned) and once the time frame has expired, students have moved on to the next conversation.

 

Extra Credit Extra credit work is NOT permitted with any online course. Keep up with your discussion boards and assignments to receive maximum credit for the course.

 

Course Repeats Students may repeat a course in which they have previously received a failed grade (F), withdrawal failing grade (WF), or unofficial withdrawal grade (FN) as many times as needed to successfully pass the course. The previously attempted course will remain on the transcript with the respective replacement grade (i.e., X, WX, or XN), which will not affect a student’s GPA. Undergraduate students may repeat a course one time in which they have previously earned a D+ or lower, and graduate students may repeat a course one time in which they have previously earned a C+ or lower. Additional course repeats or repeats of higher earned grades must receive approval from the Office of Academic Records prior to enrollment.

When a course is repeated, the most current grade will be used to calculate the current and cumulative GPA. Each course attempt will remain on a student’s transcript. Repeated courses will be considered attempted credits and be included in a student’s SAP calculation (see Academic Probation and Dismissal). Students will be charged the current tuition rate for each credit repeated (see Financial Information).

Directed Study A directed study course is an option available to students who, due to extenuating circumstances, are not able to meet program or graduation requirements within the regularly scheduled courses. Directed studies may only be used to meet requirements for a student’s designated degree program. Students must request a directed study using the form available from the Office of Academic Records. Approved directed study forms must be submitted three weeks prior to the beginning of the 8-week session being requested. Directed study requests will not be granted after the beginning of the session in which they are requested. All coursework must be submitted within the 8-week session assigned to the course.

 

Length of Session

Drop Without Penalty

Drop with Penalty (W)

Drop With Greater Penalty (WF) 26 Weeks Day 1-12 Day 13-91 Day 92+ 16 Weeks Day 1-7 Day 8-56 Day 57+ 10 Weeks Day 1-5 Day 6-35 Day 36+ 8 Weeks Day 1-4 Day 5-28 Day 29+

 

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Discontinuation Students who fail to maintain continual enrollment for two consecutive fall and spring semesters will result in discontinuation (see Non-Enrollment). Discontinued students are no longer active students, will not be permitted to enroll in courses in any venue, and will not have access to their student account. Non-enrollment after a specified period of time will result in discontinuation (see Non-enrollment). Students not on probation may also voluntarily discontinue their studies at FAM by submitting the Discontinuation form to the Office of Academic Records. Students who desire to return to FAM must apply for readmission through the Office of Admissions.

Grade Appeals Students may appeal a grade if they believe that a grade has been miscalculated or graded unfairly. Appeals must be made within four months from the date a grade is issued. After four months, the grade will be considered final and may no longer be appealed. Students must follow the process as outlined below.

Step I The student contacts the instructor and attempts to resolve the issue. In the event the issue is not resolved, the student moves to Step II. Step II The student submits their appeal and supporting documentation through the online fillable form on my.FAM.edu. The appeal is reviewed by the FAM-DL Academic Standards Committee. The instructor also submits a written summary of the issue. The decision of the committee is final. A written response is emailed to the student as soon as a decision has been reached.

 

 

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