GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK - Biola University

Confidentiality of Records
The School of Education operates in conformity with FERPA and the California Education Code in all
matters relating to student files and student information.
As a student, your name and address appears or will appear in various student lists (e.g., SOE class
schedules, etc.). You have a right, if you choose, not to have your name listed in any publication where
there is public access. Further, if you choose not to have your address, phone number and other
information designated as ―Directory Information‖ given out by the school, you may do so. The forms
used by a student to either restrict the release of directory information or to access his/her student files
are available in the Registrar‘s Office.
Danger to Others
Danger to the health or safety of others is defined as any act or planned act that places another student,
member of the faculty or staff, or any campus visit or at reasonable risk of bodily harm, exposure to
illness, loss of life, or destruction of property. Further, a student may be considered to pose a direct
threat to the health of others if current medical information indicates that the student's behavior and/or
medical condition could reasonably expose others to illness or disease. This exposure risk must exceed
that commonly found in community environments and would include a student's possession of a
presently contagious illness or disease and/or failure to maintain appropriate hygiene.
Danger to Self
Danger to self is defined as any direct act or planned act that places a person at reasonable risk of selfinduced
bodily harm or loss of life. This would include actual and/or planned acts of suicide, selfmutilation,
substance overdoses, consistent purging, unhealthy dietary restriction, etc. Additionally,
students posing danger to themselves through the use of weapons and/or substances may face other
sanctions as imposed by the University and/or by law enforcement agencies.
Day of Prayer
A day of prayer is scheduled for each semester. Special emphasis on prayer is given in the chapel
services and during classes.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and provisions of the California
Education Code set out requirements designed to govern the access to, and release of, educational
records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their records, and to provide guidelines
for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also
have the right to file complaints with the FERPA Office (U.S. Dept. of Education) concerning alleged
failures by Biola to comply with provisions of FERPA.
Biola University has adopted policies and procedures concerning implementation of FERPA on campus.
Copies of the policy are available in the Registrar's Office.
Graduate Student Course Load
A graduate student must carry nine (9) units or more to be considered a full-time student. Those carrying
less than nine units are considered part-time students. Students from foreign countries and those
receiving financial aid often need to have full-time status to be enrolled in the program or to receive
financial aid.
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