Seminary Policies

Each student is responsible for knowing the regulations, policies, and other program requirements of the Seminary. While administrative personnel and the student’s advisor may provide appropriate reminders of opportunities and obligations, the primary responsibility for knowing and fulfilling all policies rests with the individual student.

STUDENT LIFE

Urbana Theological Seminary Student Association
Urbana Theological Seminary Student Association seeks to promote a sense of Christian community in the student body. Enrollment as a student includes membership in the Student Association. Opportunities for our students to get together strengthen the sense of community that is part of the whole experience at Urbana Theological Seminary. A consistent small group experience is offered at the seminary to deepen fellowship and enhance personal spiritual growth. On other occasions the entire Seminary community assembles to celebrate what God is doing, to pray, or to enjoy fellowship. We provide regular social gatherings to foster connections among the program students. Each year students are invited to the Seminary Christmas party held at the President’s house. The Urbana Seminary Lecture Series offers an opportunity to bring together the whole community and friends to hear a scholar or Christian leader of note from outside the Seminary. Urbana Seminary further strives to welcome the students’ collective voice in the policies that govern them. The Student Representative, working with the Student Life Committee of the Board, provides an official voice regarding student matters before the administration.

STUDENT SERVICES

Career Placement Services
Placement services exist to assist students graduating from the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Religion programs in their search for ministry positions. Job openings are publicized to students through postings in the office. Urbana Seminary seeks to be a resource during the job hunting process in areas such as resume writing and interviewing. Help in this area will be provided in several required courses as well.

Medical Coverage
Presently, Urbana Seminary does not require students to be part of a specific health plan. More information regarding medical coverage is available at the Urbana Seminary office.

Nondiscriminatory Policy
Urbana Theological Seminary does not discriminate based on age, race, disability, gender, and national or ethnic origin in any circumstance. All programs and privileges will be equally accessible and offered to all people affiliated with the Seminary. Urbana Seminary will strive for diversity across all levels of the student body, the staff, and the faculty.

Registration
Registration for courses is done online through the Seminary website (www.UrbanaSeminary.org). If without Internet access, please contact the Urbana Seminary office.

Student Counseling Services
Students in need of professional counseling may contact the Urbana Seminary office for more information.

Student ID
Urbana Seminary issues a student ID to each student enrolled in a Seminary program. This ID will be used for accessing the library at Urbana Theological Seminary as well as for personal identification purposes. Contact the office for your Urbana Seminary Student ID.

Textbooks
Textbooks are available at TIS Bookstore on 6th Street between Green Street and John Street in Champaign, Illinois. Required Seminary texts are located on the second floor on the east wall of the store and are usually available two weeks before the start of classes.

STUDENT POLICIES

Leave Of Absence
Any student in a program of Urbana Theological Seminary who, for whatever personal reasons, will not enroll in coursework pursuing completion of the appropriate program during the Fall or Spring semester must request a leave of absence by submitting a request in writing to the Seminary office. A $50 leave of absence fee will be assessed each semester the student is in the program but not enrolled in classes.

Sexual Harassment Policy
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Harassment defined herein results in a negative academic consequence if the student does not submit, or can have the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning environment. Sexual harassment encompasses any unwanted sexual attention. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical behaviors. The following types of actions may constitute sexual harassment whether the harasser is a student, an employee, or a faculty member: deliberate assault, demanding sexual favors accompanied by implied threats regarding the person’s academic status or implied promise of preferential treatment, unnecessary touching, hugging, or degrading comments or jokes of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment is inconsistent with Christ’s call to purity in life and is against the law. It will not be tolerated at Urbana Theological Seminary. The administration will take proper action against any individual that has sexually harassed another individual. Any student who believes that he or she has experienced sexual harassment should report the harassment to the Dean of Administrative and Student Services. If after the experience is reported, the student does not feel he or she has achieved a satisfactory conclusion, the student may at that time report the incident to the Student Life Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Student Behavior Warranting Expulsion Or Dismissal
A student may be dismissed in the following cases:

• Behaviors in lifestyle incongruent with the mission and morality of Urbana Theological Seminary, or flagrant inconsistency in Christian lifestyle.
• Engaging in dishonest activities such as cheating, plagiarism, or unauthorized multiple submissions of course work.

Student warnings and dismissals are ultimately at the discretion of the administration of the Seminary, in consultation with the Board.

Student Status
Each student is classified according to the following guidelines:

Full Time Student
A student who is enrolled in 9 or more credit hours

Part Time Student
A student who is enrolled in 1-8 credit hours

Program Student
A student who has been admitted to one of the academic programs of Urbana Seminary (M.Div., M.A.R., Certificate)

Visiting Student
A student enrolled in coursework for credit who has not been admitted to one of the academic programs of the Seminary