Academic Regulations

Academic Integrity
All students must submit original work. Academic dishonesty constitutes a serious violation of scholastic standards and can result in denial of credit and possible dismissal from school. Any act that involves misrepresentation regarding the student’s academic work is forbidden. Academic dishonesty includes cheating on assignments or exams, plagiarism, and submission of the same paper in more than one course without prior consent of all instructors concerned. Students charged with academic dishonesty have the right to appeal any disciplining action through the regular appeal process of the Seminary.

Advisors
Each degree program student is assigned an advisor for the period of the student’s enrollment at Urbana Seminary. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisors prior to registration for each semester or summer term. The advisors will review with students their academic goals, vocational goals, and personal needs in order to provide guidance for registration in the appropriate classes.

Appeals Process for Academic Matters
If a student believes there is a justifiable concern about any matter of academic procedure, he or she should first confer with the instructor about the problem. If a satisfactory solution is not reached, an appeal may be made to Academic Affairs. This appeal must be submitted by the student in writing within six months of the date the problem arose. The student will be advised in writing of the decision of Academic Affairs. If the student desires to make a final appeal, this must be made in writing to the President of the Seminary, whose decision is final.

Assessment
As an institution conscious of the highest standards in graduate education, Urbana Seminary seeks to provide the strongest possible means by which the institution and the student can measure the student’s own progress in the educational process. Urbana Seminary has outlined its assessment program and requirements in its Student Assessment Handbook. Each student, therefore, is required to provide those necessary papers for the assessment portfolio in a timely fashion. The student is invited to review his or her assessment portfolio on a periodic basis to ascertain progress and future needs. All degree seeking students are required to take GN 700 Integrative Senior Seminar, as part of which they will be required to complete the assembling of materials for their assessment portfolio.

Attendance in Class
Students are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions. Students with excessive absences may experience lowered grades. Absence from class due to illness or other emergency must be communicated to the class instructor. The student, with the instructor’s approval, must arrange for any required make-up assignments.

Auditing Courses
Students may audit Seminary classes without credit. Students in programs of the Seminary are permitted to audit additional courses (usually no more than one each semester) by scheduling such courses during the normal registration process and paying the non-credit student tuition. Others desiring to audit classes must complete registration and pay the non-credit student tuition for each course. Auditors are expected to attend the course sessions, but are not expected to take tests or write papers. Students who audit a course and then wish to receive credit must register again for the course within the Add/Drop period. In no case will a student be allowed to change an audit to a credit after the Add/Drop period deadline.

Change in Degree Program
Students are admitted into the degree program for which they apply. If a student’s vocational interests change, and he or she desires to enroll in a different degree program, the student must make formal written application to the Admissions Committee and complete the application process for the program requested. Students who make changes must meet the requirements in effect at the time of change to the new program.

Change of Grade
If a student feels that he or she has been assigned an incorrect grade for a course, the following procedure will be followed: (1) Schedule an appointment with the instructor within 30 days after receipt of the official grade report. (2) If the consultation with the professor results in change of the previously assigned grade, the student must provide the professor with the Change of Grade form available from the Seminary office and secure the professor’s signature on the form. The professor will then return the completed form to the Seminary office.

Changes in Registration
The Add/Drop period extends through the second week of classes. During this time, a student may add or drop a course without penalty by filling out a Change in Registration form and returning it to the Seminary office. Absence from class sessions alone will not constitute withdrawal from a class for which a student is registered. Courses may not be added, or changed from audit to credit, after the end of the Add/Drop period. Students desiring to drop courses after the close of the Add/Drop period, but before the end of the ninth week of class, must fill out a Change in Registration form and secure the approval of the professor involved before returning the form to the Seminary office. Students who drop a course through the ninth week of the class will receive a W on the semester grade report and transcript. If a student drops a course after the ninth week of the semester for reasons other than health and emergency (see below), the grade of F will be assigned. If a student chooses to drop a class after the end of the Add/Drop period, any refund will be based on a pro-rated scale. (For information on refunds, see the guide in the section on Finances.) Students may receive a WH when they make written request to withdraw from a course after the ninth week of the semester due to health reasons. The student is responsible for providing documentation of the circumstances to be included in the student file. The student must retake the course to receive a grade and credit.

Dismissal for Academic Reasons
If a student on probation fails to raise the cumulative grade point average to the required level for the degree programs (a 2.5 average, see “Minimum GPA for Graduation”) by the end of two semesters, the student will be academically dismissed from the Seminary. After academic dismissal from Urbana Seminary, a student must wait one full semester before reapplying. Applications for readmission are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Grading Policy
When percentage equivalents are used as a basis for assigning letter grades, the following equivalents will be the standard of the Seminary:
A 92.5 – 100
A- 89.5 – 92.4
B+ 86.5 – 89.4
B 82.5 – 86.4
B- 79.5 – 82.4
C+ 76.5 – 79.4
C 72.5 – 76.4
C- 69.5 – 72.4
D+ 66.5 – 69.4
D 62.5 – 66.4
D- 59.5 – 62.4
F 0.0 – 59.4

Other evaluations that can be assigned include:
W Withdrawal, no credit assigned
I Incomplete

A grade of I (Incomplete) indicates that the required work for the semester has not been completed due to circumstances beyond the student’s control. If the work is not submitted within eight weeks after the end of the semester, the grade will be changed to F. Specific grading policies, however, will ultimately be at the discretion of the instructor. Through formal syllabi distributed at the beginning of each course, students will be informed of all grading procedures for specific courses.

Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated on the following scale:
A+ 4.0
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D+ 1.3
D 1.0
D- 0.7
F 0.0

Graduation with Honors
The following criteria are established for the determination of graduation honors for students in the master’s degree programs. Students who achieve a 3.50 final cumulative grade point average will be graduated cum laude; those who achieve a 3.75 final cumulative GPA will be graduated magna cum laude; and those who achieve a 3.90 final cumulative GPA will be graduated summa cum laude.

Incomplete Course Work
Students are expected to submit all work by the dates course instructors set and complete all course requirements on or before the last day of the term. Request for an extension at the end of a semester must be made on the official request form with the approval of the instructor in the class and the Academic Dean and be submitted to the Seminary office. When extensions are approved, the date for completion of the work will be arranged with the instructor, but the maximum extension is not to exceed a period of eight weeks after the final day of classes for that semester. If more time is needed in cases of extreme extenuating circumstances, the student must first confer with the faculty advisor and submit a request in writing to Academic Affairs. The granting of such an extension is not automatic. The decisions of Academic Affairs in this matter are binding. If the work is not completed by the specified date, then the incomplete grade will become an F. The grade I (Incomplete) is temporary, will be granted only in unusual circumstances (such as serious illness or critical emergencies), and will not be considered for the student who is simply behind in completing the assignments.

Independent Study
Students may earn a limited amount of credit through independent study. These studies must be equivalent to regular Seminary courses. Study will include reading, writing, and research projects and must be done under the direction of one of the Seminary approved faculty members. Students desiring independent study should submit a written proposal to the professor who will work with them. The professor and Academic Affairs must approve all proposals. A copy of the proposal and the final report on the study will become a part of the student’s permanent file. Students should register for an independent study course during the regular registration process. No more than 20 percent of the total hours for a degree may be fulfilled through the independent study process.

Life Experience
Students will not receive credit for life experience.

Minimum GPA for Graduation
A minimum grade point average of a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale must be attained in order to graduate with a Master of Divinity, a Master of Arts in Religion, or a Graduate Certificate.

Probation for Enrolled Students
A student may be placed on academic probation in any semester in which his or her cumulative GPA falls below the minimum, 2.5, that is required for graduation in the appropriate degree program (after the second semester of a program has been completed). Academic probation serves as a warning that the student’s work is not of sufficient quality to receive the desired degree. Following consultation with the student’s academic advisor, a student will be permitted to enroll for classes during the semester of academic probation. The student will remain on probation as long as the cumulative GPA remains below the required level, but the probationary period will not exceed two semesters. If a student on probation fails to raise the cumulative grade-point average to the required level (a 2.5 average) by the end of two semesters, the student will be academically dismissed from the Seminary.

Proficiency Examinations
In those instances when a student has completed prior course work in or study of an area of the theological curriculum, the student may request an exemption from a required course. The student must present transcripts providing evidence of the prior coursework. If requested, a syllabus of the class must also be provided. The school reserves the right to decide whether to grant an exemption based on the prior credit or based on the administration of an examination in that area. The department is responsible for the creation of the tests and grading. If the student demonstrates proficiency in that area through prior credit or through successful completion of the test, no credit will be granted, but a more advanced course in that academic area may be substituted within the student’s degree requirements.

Residency Requirements
For all programs, 50 percent of the course credits applied toward the degree must be satisfied through Urbana Seminary course work. The final 12 hours for any program must be taken as a resident student through Urbana Seminary course work. Any additional residency requirements under each program must be fulfilled.

Retake a Course
Students are allowed to retake a course if an unsatisfactory grade has been earned. When a course is repeated, both grades will appear on the transcript. The hours are counted once and only the latter grade is computed in the grade point average.

Second Master’s Degrees
If a graduate with a master’s degree from Urbana Seminary wishes to pursue a second master’s degree from the Seminary, a minimum of 24 hours must be taken in the new program before obtaining the second master’s degree. Students must meet all specific requirements of the new degree before it will be awarded.

Student’s Rights of Privacy
Urbana Seminary accords to all students the rights outlined under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended. The Seminary respects the student’s privacy and chooses not to give out information on students on a regular basis. The school does have the right to release general information at its discretion, including the student’s name, e-mail address, street address, telephone number, program, and dates of attendance. If any student wishes this information withheld, he or she may write to the Seminary office and the request will be honored. Other information from the student’s educational record is considered confidential and available for review only by appropriate employees of the Seminary. Other information may be made available in the event of an emergency to protect the health and safety of the student and others. In such cases, only information considered pertinent will be released.

Style Guide
Urbana Seminary has not designated a specific style guide as its official guide for writing papers. Information about options and expectations for writing is given in the mandatory course Introduction to Graduate Research and Study. Students are encouraged to consult with individual professors about required or recommended style guides in particular courses.

Time Limits for Degrees
Requirements for the Master of Divinity degree must be met within eight years of the time of the student’s initial enrollment. All requirements for the Master of Arts in Religion degree are to be met within six years of the time of the student’s initial enrollment. Students in the Graduate Certificate program are encouraged to complete their work within five years. If a student has not finished the requirements for the degree within the prescribed time limits, the student may make a written appeal to Academic Affairs for an extension. The appeal letter should outline the student’s plan for completion, including progress being made and projections of courses to satisfy all degree requirements. The granting of such an extension is not automatic, and will be evaluated on the demonstration of extenuating circumstances and the viability of the student’s plan for completing requirements.

Transfer Of Credit
Students may be able to transfer credit for coursework taken at other institutions. The credit received must be on the graduate level and preferably from an accredited school. Transfer credit will not be granted for undergraduate work or for graduate course work applied to an undergraduate degree. If a student has completed a master’s degree at another institution, possible transfer credit will be limited to a maximum of 50 percent of the total credits associated with the shorter degree. Students who desire to apply for transfer credit should contact the Seminary office in writing and request an evaluation of possible transfer credit. Transfer of credit is not automatic and will be considered only when the student submits a written request and a copy of the official transcript is received. The transcript of the previous work must show satisfactory grades in the courses to be considered. Previous course work should parallel courses listed in the catalog of Urbana Seminary.

Withdrawal from the Seminary
Students withdrawing from the Seminary must confer with their faculty advisor and must secure the proper Withdrawal from Seminary form from the Seminary office and complete the form according to the instructions. Students who neglect this paperwork will receive the grade that their class work entitles them to receive and will forfeit any refund that might otherwise have been available to them.