Program Requirements
Transfer Credit Policy
Students may transfer up to nine hours of post-master's credit from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body or the Association for Biblical Higher Education provided a grade of "B" or higher was earned in a post-masters course meeting the following criteria of the transcript audit:
- The course is clearly comparable to one of the Ph.D. program course offerings.
- The course is at the 600 or higher numbering system and was not part of the master’s degree requirements.
- The course has been completed within the past five years.
- The course reflects current knowledge-base and best practice.
- The course reflects higher order thinking, study, assessment requirements of the scholarship of discovery.
Advanced Degree Appeals for Transferring Additional Hours
Students who have obtained a professional graduate degree requiring 60 credit hours or more may petition to have appropriate coursework transferred into the doctoral program.
Graduate students having earned a doctoral degree or a professional degree requiring 90 or more credit hours (e.g., Educational Administration, Counseling, Psychology, and so forth) may appeal in writing, to the Chair, Division of Graduate Studies in Leadership, for a transcript audit to transfer up to nine additional hours (18 maximum). The letter of appeal, requesting more than nine hours of transfer credit, should clearly explain and justify the request. The letter of appeal should be supported with a dossier showing clear and convincing alignment with the course of studies and having met the criteria set forth in the policy and items one through five above.
Attendance Policy
All doctoral courses are a blend of live and interactive online discussions. Students are expected to attend all live sessions and substantively engage in all interactive online discussions, tests, quizzes, and prescribed learning activities.
- Synchronous Class Sessions - Synchronous classes are held on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and meet on the first, fourth, and eighth Saturdays of the September, January, and April terms. Students are expected to be in attendance when class begins, and remain the entire session. A student may be allowed one absence per course. These are only to be used when absolutely necessary and require approval from the faculty member teaching the course. (Work, family emergencies, and illness are the primary reason for which students should reserve their option of missing one synchronous class sessions per term.) Students need to contact the faculty member regarding make-up work. The criteria for full participation attendance points will be determined by the faculty member.
- Online Attendance - Attendance is determined by participating in weekly discussions. Failure to participate in each weekly discussion forum will constitute an absence for that workshop. Participating in discussion does not guarantee full participation attendance points. The criteria for full participation attendance points will be determined by the course professor. A student may be allowed one participation absence per course. Students need to contact the faculty member regarding make-up work.
- Excessive Absences - If a student exceeds the allowed absences and does not contact the Office of Student Services to officially withdraw before the last class session, the professor is directed to issue the grade of "F."
- Students are expected to take courses in the predetermined sequence. Students who are unable to participate in a course due to unavoidable circumstances must arrange for a temporary leave of absence with the Office of Student Services prior to the beginning of the course. Students needing to withdraw while in a course may do so with permission of the Division Chair and by arrangement with the Office of Student Services prior to the end of the course, but the regular refund and academic withdrawal policies apply.
Residency
Residency for the doctoral program is satisfied by living on campus during three Summer Residency Institutes. These institutes begin on a Sunday and go through the following Friday. Students are expected to be in attendance every day of each institute and are not allowed an absence from required workshops, events, or class sessions that are scheduled during the Institute. The Summer Residency Institutes are normally attended during three consecutive years. However, in unusual circumstances a student may be given permission by the Division Chair to skip a year and attend the Institute another year. In no circumstances will a student be allowed more than four years to complete their residency. Students are expected to follow the community lifestyle statement of the university while living on campus. This includes refraining from the use of alcohol and tobacco.
Withdrawal from a Course
A student that withdraws from a course will need to get permission from the Department Chair to continue in the program and will need to follow the plan of study prescribed by the Department Chair.
Students needing to officially withdraw from a course will be required to contact the Office of Student Services. Tuition will be reimbursed according to the following schedule:
- 100% of the tuition fee if withdrawing within the first seven days of attending the first live class session of the course,
- 90% of the tuition fee if withdrawing between the 8th and by the 14th day of the course,
- 50% of the tuition fee if withdrawing between the 15th and by the 21st day of the course, and
- No refund after the 21st day from the start date of the course.
Student withdrawing from the summer residency will be assessed a fee to cover the costs of room and meals.
Academic Standing
Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program are regarded as members of the academic community of Indiana Wesleyan University and are held responsible for conducting themselves in conformity with the standards of conduct for adult learners. Continued enrollment in the program is at all times subject to review of the student’s academic record and of the student’s actions with regard to observance of university rules and regulations.
Academic Probation - Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program will be placed on probation if their cumulative GPA at any time falls below the required 3.25 GPA for graduation
Students are given six months to satisfactorily raise their GPA. The GPA is reviewed after the six month probationary period, and if it has been successfully raised, the probationary status is removed. Academic suspension will result if the student’s GPA is not successfully raised.
Academic Suspension - Academic suspension of six months will result if:
- A student fails to clear the academic probationary status within the six month probationary period.
- A student has taken a course twice and failed to achieve a satisfactory grade.
In all cases, the suspension will occur once the grades have been recorded in the Registrar’s Office. Students will be notified of the academic suspension in writing. A student will be eligible to reapply for admission on a provisional basis after six months, but only upon the recommendation of the Division Chair and with the approval of the Dean of the School of Service and Leadership.
Academic Dismissal - Upon a second academic suspension in the Ph.D. program, a student is not eligible to reapply to Indiana Wesleyan University.
Students who do not follow the courses in the designated sequence, or who withdraw from a course, must undergo advising before being allowed to register for another course. The student’s advisor will submit the reenrollment form to the Dean of the School of Service and Leadership for approval. The student may then be registered for another course by Student Services.
Comprehensive Exam
At the end of coursework, a comprehensive examination will be administered to each student in the Ph.D. program. This exam will be designed to:
- Determine the student’s grasp of leadership understanding across the curriculum;
- Assess the student’s ability to adapt and integrate leadership theory and current best practice across the curriculum, including the integration of faith and practice;
- Give the student the opportunity to demonstrate higher order thinking with reference to Organizational Leadership theory and practice.
The exam will be constructed to cover the major domains of the program and will be administered by a committee of full-time faculty in the Division of Graduate Studies in Leadership. The Comprehensive Examination Policy Guide is published annually before Comprehensive Examinations. All policies and guidelines published annually in the Guide become official academic policy of the Division and take precedent over any policies published in the catalog.
