Faculty Services
Student Academic Appeals
Student academic appeals requests are managed by Dr. Tamara Anderson. Please contact Patti Colombo with any questions.
If a student objects to an academic decision, the Student Handbook provides procedures whereby the student may appeal the decision. The procedures differ somewhat depending on whether the student is in a graduate program or in an undergraduate program. Faculty, who serve as academic advisors to students should hold an awareness of what the procedures are and where to find them. Learn more about the undergraduate appeal procedure. Learn more about the graduate appeal procedure.
The Student Handbook configures as something of a contract between the student and the institution. Therefore the appeal procedures should be considered to have legal ramifications and should be taken seriously. If a faculty member is engaged in an appeal process with a student, it is highly advisable to look up the procedures, no matter how well one thinks one knows them, and follow them closely.
If an academic appeal pertinent to a faculty member comes all the way through the process to the associate provost, she will (a) inform the faculty member and the relevant dean, (b) request relevant documentation about any prior steps of the appeal as well as the original situation, and (c) request a meeting to get the faculty member’s opinion and other input regarding the case. Often the faculty member, the dean, and the associate provost meet together to discuss the situation and its potential resolution. On occasion, other relevant personnel will be included in the consultation. The associate provost also meets in person with the student, unless the student chooses not to meet.
The associate provost is available to consult with faculty (or with department chairs or deans) should they have questions about the procedures, about how university policies and practices pertain to the specific case, or about potential alternative actions that might be possible in the specific case.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
The IRB – Institutional Review Board reviews research only by researchers internal to 51. Internal parties who would like more information on the research approval process should contact the IRB at irb@biola.edu.
External research proposals to run in the 51 community (students, faculty, staff) through 51 communication channels must first seek approval from the Senior Associate Provost. Submit proposals to the Senior Associate Provost Office for review at associateprovostacademicadmin@biola.edu.
View more details about the Institutional Review Board on the IRB website.
Study Tours
Study Tours are managed by Dr. Melissa Johnson. Please contact Andrea Chang (associateprovost.undergradeducation@biola.edu) with any questions.
51 encourages faculty to take advantage of the summer term to lead academic study tours, engaging students in a learning experience away from their usual daily activities as well as away from 51’s campus. There are policies and procedures to help to make unique aspects of study tours mesh as well as possible with the regular academic and financial systems of 51.
Information about current study tours may be found in the “Short Term Programs” section of the Study Abroad Programs website.
Faculty led study tours must be academically sound and financially feasible for both the University and the student. The study tours policies document articulates a number of policies and practices that have developed over several decades of experience by multiple faculty and staff who have worked on the myriad of details that arise related to study tours. The current policies were developed by a joint committee of faculty and staff. View .
Once a faculty member has reviewed the Policies related to Study Tours, there is an application, the submission of which will begin the review and approval process. The deadline date for application submission is September 9. The associate provost welcomes the opportunity to meet with the faculty member who wants to develop a study tour even before the application form is completed.
Consultation
The senior associate provost is available to consult with faculty about academic issues. For the most part, it is understood that a primary input of consultation, support, guidance, and advice will come to faculty and their department chairs from the dean. However, if an additional perspective might be valuable, the senior associate provost is pleased to be of service. To schedule an appointment with the senior associate provost, please e-mail seniorassociateprovostoffice@biola.edu or call (562) 903-5307.