Academic Excellence

The New School of Biblical Theology (NSBT) is committed to your success as a student.

At this level, it is essential that each student take responsibility for her or his learning. At the master’s level, NSBT wants to help you not only learn the curriculum of your enrolled program, but to provide you the opportunity to become a life-long learner. We like to say that, “we will not teach you everything you need to know,” but “we will teach you how to learn everything you need to know.” Educational excellence is not only about gaining the contents of a certain degree program, but is an open door of opportunity to enter the arena of learning for yourself, for others in your ministerial care, but also to show yourself approved to the One who has called you to follow Him in ministry.

Satisfactory academic progress

The New School of Biblical Theology (NSBT) requires graduate degree students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) throughout their enrollment. SAP status is reviewed by the Office of Student Services at the conclusion of each eight-week session. NSBT runs five eight-week sessions each academic year, so students are informed of their SAP standing and any resultant academic disciplinary measures five times per year through the Populi student information system and institutional email.

Graduate degree students must meet the following SAP criteria on an ongoing basis:

• Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA): Graduate degree students must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.0 (a “B” grade average).
• Minimum Progress Pace: Graduate degree students must complete at least 67 percent of all courses attempted.

Academic probation

Students who do not meet either minimum SAP requirement (the minimum CGPA or the minimum Progress Pace) at any evaluation point (the conclusion of each session) are placed on Academic Probation. Students on Academic Probation have two sessions to regain minimum SAP standing. During that time, the student’s assigned academic advisor, under the supervision of the Academic Dean, will work with the student to develop a support plan. NSBT reserves the right to require students to participate in additional advising or academic tutoring and to complete specific courses to maximize potential CGPA improvement.

If the student regains minimum SAP standing during the Academic Probation period, they are restored to standard academic standing.

Academic dismissal

Students who fail to regain minimum SAP standing by the end of the second Academic Probation session are subject to academic dismissal.

Dismissal appeal

Students who wish to appeal an academic dismissal must do so in writing to the Office of Student Services at studentservices@nsbt.org, marked for the Academic Dean. The written appeal must be submitted within fourteen calendar days of dismissal and must clearly explain how the student’s circumstances have changed in a way that will support SAP improvement. If an appeal is approved, the student is placed on an Academic Improvement Plan that defines the SAP minimums that must be met each session to continue enrollment and to progress toward regaining standard SAP minimums prior to graduation. If at any point the student’s performance makes it statistically impossible to reach a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 prior to program completion, the student is academically dismissed without the opportunity to appeal. A student who can still reach a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher by program completion remains eligible to complete the program and to be brought to full faculty review for degree approval.

Assessment and academic performance

Assessments are integral to all aspects of learning at NSBT. The school employs outcomes-based learning methods that emphasize measurable indicators for assessing performance, based upon the learning outcomes that have been articulated for classes and the school as a whole.

Students can expect in each class to find a set of rubrics in the syllabus that will guide the instructor or instructors in providing a direct assessment of student work when assigning grades. Students will also be asked to participate in several indirect assessment methods including class evaluations and discussions with academic advisors concerning their work.

Instructors assign grades for all courses taken for credit. The definition of grades is provided below. A numerical grade point average (GPA) for each student is created following the chart below, ranging from an “A” being 4.0 to an “F” being 0. Students who fail to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (“B”) are placed on Academic Probation, as described in the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Failure to regain the minimum during the probation period may result in academic dismissal.

To graduate in good standing, a master’s candidate must hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (“B”). A candidate whose cumulative grade point average is between 2.75 and 2.99 is eligible for full faculty review for degree approval. A candidate whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.75 is not eligible to graduate.

Latin honors are awarded at graduation on the following cumulative grade point average scale. Cum Laude is awarded for a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 to 3.79. Magna Cum Laude is awarded for a cumulative grade point average of 3.80 to 3.99. Summa Cum Laude is awarded for a cumulative grade point average of 4.00.

Late assignment policy

NSBT expects students to submit all assignments, discussions, projects, essays, and assessments by the established due dates listed in the course syllabus and Populi course calendar. Timely submission of assignments supports academic discipline, student engagement, and successful participation in the learning community.

Students who experience unforeseen circumstances that may impact assignment completion should communicate with the course instructor prior to the assignment due date whenever possible. Faculty may grant extensions at their discretion based on documented circumstances, student communication, and academic progress.

Unless otherwise stated in the course syllabus:

• Assignments submitted up to three days late may receive a grade reduction of up to 10%.
• Assignments submitted four to seven days late may receive a grade reduction of up to 20%.
• Assignments submitted more than seven days late may not be accepted unless prior approval has been granted by the instructor.
• Discussion board assignments and participation activities generally may not be made up after the discussion period closes due to the interactive nature of course engagement.

Repeated late submissions may impact student participation evaluations, academic standing, and satisfactory academic progress. Faculty maintain discretion regarding assignment acceptance and grading adjustments consistent with institutional policy and course expectations.

Discussion forum requirements

Discussion forums are an important component of the NSBT online learning experience and are designed to promote theological reflection, academic engagement, critical thinking, ministry application, and collaborative learning. Students are expected to participate actively, respectfully, and consistently in all required course discussions.

Unless otherwise specified in the course syllabus, discussion forum requirements include:

• Submission of an initial discussion response addressing the assigned prompt by the designated deadline
• Meaningful responses to classmates that contribute thoughtfully to academic and theological dialogue
• Demonstration of critical engagement with course readings, Scripture, lectures, and ministry application
• Use of respectful, professional, and Christ-centered communication
• Adherence to academic integrity and citation expectations when referencing sources

Discussion responses should demonstrate graduate-level writing, thoughtful reflection, and substantive interaction rather than brief or unsupported comments. Faculty evaluate discussion participation based on quality, engagement, responsiveness, and integration of course concepts.

Because discussions contribute to collaborative learning, late discussion submissions may not receive full credit once the discussion period has closed.

Definition of a grade

The following definitions of a grade (rubrics) guide the NSBT faculty when assessing student work:

The following numerical value both in percentage terms, and in terms of GPA, are used:

Grades of B-, C+, C, and C- earn credit but fall below the minimum graduate standard. Only a grade of F fails a course.

Incompletes

A graduate degree student who experiences a documented hardship may request a course extension or an incomplete grade. Documented hardship is limited to hospitalization, a death in the immediate family, or a natural disaster. The student submits a written request to the instructor, the instructor must agree in writing, and the Academic Dean must approve in writing. An approved extension or incomplete carries a fixed window of thirty days from the close of the session in which the course concludes. If the work is not completed within that window, the incomplete converts to the grade earned, which may be an F. When the instructor of the course is also the Academic Dean, the dean-level approval passes to the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Programs and Director of Field Education, and the Executive Vice President serves as the final authority.

A posted grade of F is replaced only by retaking the course under the Grade Replacement Policy or by an incomplete grade granted before the grade is finalized. Coursework submitted after a grade has been finalized does not change the posted grade.

Grade replacement

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor or the Academic Dean’s office before pursuing a grade replacement.

Graduate students may retake and replace grades for graduate courses that receive a grade of F. The student must formally register and pay tuition for the repeated course. This re-registration is made with Academic Dean approval and satisfies the registration requirements that apply after a failed course. Grade replacement may be pursued once per course and only for a total of two courses. Both grades will appear on the student’s transcript, but the original grade will be clearly marked as “Repeated” or “Excluded from GPA.” The higher of the two course grades will be used to calculate the student’s grade point average (GPA).

Only a grade of F is eligible for grade replacement.

Field Education, Independent Study, and the Capstone are ineligible for grade replacement.

No grade may be replaced after a graduate degree has been awarded.

A course in which an academic integrity violation has been officially reported may not be repeated for grade replacement.

Academic honesty

Academic integrity and academic honesty represent a fundamental component of learning and teaching. Academic integrity stands as a core value of NSBT. It is also a core value of ministry insofar as those who exercise leadership must acquire the gifts of intellectual discernment and evaluate information critically and constructively. Effective ministry requires the ability to investigate the ideas of others, organize them for one’s own purposes, and communicate ideas effectively.

The most common violation of academic integrity is plagiarism. Plagiarism involves presenting work for evaluation that is not the student’s own. Plagiarism includes copying or closely paraphrasing portions of published or unpublished works without proper citation, taking distinctive ideas directly from an outside source without attribution, or submitting work generated by another person or tool without disclosure. This applies to material from any source, including the internet, library resources, video presentations, other students, and artificial intelligence tools. All such material must receive proper citation (e.g., footnotes, endnotes, or in-text citations). Plagiarism damages both the student’s reputation and the reputation of NSBT.

NSBT expects all students to uphold the standards of academic integrity. When a faculty member identifies a potential integrity violation, whether in a written assignment, an online discussion forum, or any other assessed work, the faculty member reports the matter to the Academic Dean immediately. The Academic Dean reviews the evidence and determines the appropriate response, which may include:

• An opportunity to correct the instance and resubmit the work
• A grade reduction on the assignment
• A failing grade for the assignment or the course
• Suspension
• Dismissal from the institution

The reporting faculty member provides supporting evidence to the Academic Dean with each referral. A student may dispute the charge. In such cases, the Academic Dean provides the student an opportunity to review and respond to the evidence. When the faculty member who identifies the violation is the Academic Dean, the matter passes to the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Programs and Director of Field Education, and the Executive Vice President serves as the final authority.

Excellence in writing

As part of its affirmation of academic excellence, NSBT encourages and expects students to demonstrate excellence in writing. This means that students are expected in their written work to formulate questions, collect information from credible sources, develop critical arguments, and draw relevant conclusions. A key component of academic writing is the ability to recognize and correctly represent different positions on any particular issue, even if one ultimately disagrees with them. Claims that are made in papers need to be supported with careful arguments, and not simply assertions of opinion. All sources that have been consulted are to be fully and correctly cited in footnotes, endnotes, or intext citations.

There are a number of systems of citation recognized globally in the academic world today. The dominant one for humanities (in which theology is lodged) is referred to as “Chicago Style,” so-called because of the Chicago Manual of Style that continues to be used by many universities around the world. Many schools of social science use a different style. NSBT requires all students in its graduate program to use “Chicago Style.”

What citation format does NSBT use? NSBT requires students to use the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), 18th edition, for citations, footnotes, and bibliographies unless otherwise instructed by the faculty member.