Faculty Services

Recording of grades does not flow perfectly every time, so it may become valuable to request a change of grade. Sometimes this is because the grade was recorded incorrectly in the first place. Occasionally it is because the grade was not calculated correctly. Most often this latter phenomenon is caused by the fact that the student used an alternate method to submit an assignment (e.g., using email rather than Canvas). Completed Incomplete (IN) Grade will also require a grade change. Most often the student will alert the faculty member of the incorrect grade record. It is then the responsibility of the faculty member to enter the grade change request into the system. Grade changes can be submitted online using a digital Grade Change form available on My Account under the Faculty Profile page.

Please note that the grade change request should not replace the Incomplete (IN) Grade system. If a student needs more time to complete a course due to unpredictable and extreme circumstances, the student should request an Incomplete (IN) Grade. The Office of the Associate Provost deals with such situations in a compassionate and understanding manner.

If students want more time for the course assignments because they are busy or they made poor time-management decisions during the term — or other circumstances that are common to many students — this is distressing but not good reason to allow them to turn in late assignments for a grade change. This practice feels gracious and benign, but it is unfair to all the students who did the work in the allotted time. It also distorts the meaning of the course grade, which indicates how well the student learned the course content in the designated time.

Tamara Anderson, the associate provost, will help faculty change a grade and correct a student’s record to make it as accurate as possible. She also provides consultation and input should a faculty member question the appropriateness of a grade change in a particular case.

The IRB – Institutional Review Board reviews research only by researchers internal to Biola. 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 Biola community (students, faculty, staff) through Biola 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 are managed by Dr. Cherry McCabe. Please contact Jordan Tao with any questions.

Biola 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 Biola’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 Biola.

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 Study Tour Policies and Procedures (PDF).

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.

Summer Session is managed by Dr. Cherry McCabe. Please contact Jordan Tao with any questions.

The associate provost also serves as the director of summer session. Therefore, questions about course offerings, contracting for summer, scheduling, policies, pay scales and various other facets related to teaching courses during the summer can be addressed to the associate provost. Comments and suggestions for making the systems work well for the faculty and the students are also welcome.

However, please be aware that academic courses are offered by the school that houses the course. The associate provost only serves as an administrative convenience for the deans by centralizing the administrative logistics. The courses offered and faculty assignments for teaching them are determined by the school deans.

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.