STUDENT REGULATIONS/POLICIES

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

Academic Integrity

Written materials submitted must be the original work of the student. 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.

Add A Course (See Changes in Registration)

Advisors

Each degree program student is assigned an advisor for the period of the student’s studies at Urbana Theological 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 into appropriate classes.

Appeals Process for Academic Matters

If students believe they have a justifiable concern about any matter of academic procedure, they should first confer with the instructor about the problem. If a satisfactory solution is not reached, an appeal may be made to the Academic Dean. 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 the Academic Dean. If the student desires to make a final appeal, this may 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 Theological 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 Theological 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/her assessment portfolio on a periodic basis to be reminded of progress and future needs.

Attendance in Class

Students are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions. Students excessively absent may have their grades lowered. Absence from class due to illness or other emergency must be cleared with or communicated to the class instructor, and arrangements for any required make-up assignments must be made with the instructor.

Auditing Courses

Seminary classes may be audited 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. Others desiring to audit classes must complete on-line registration and pay the non-credit student tuition for each course. Students who audit a course and then wish to receive credit at a later date must register again for the course. In no case will a student be allowed to change an audit to a credit after the end of the Add/Drop period.

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.
• Engaging in dishonest activities such as cheating, plagiarism or unauthorized multiple submissions of course work.
• Flagrant inconsistency in Christian lifestyle, including circumstances such as conviction of crime, and addiction to alcohol or drugs.

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

Change in Degree Program

Students are admitted into the degree program for which they apply. Should the student’s vocational interests change and he or she desires to enroll in another degree program, the student must make formal written application to Admissions 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 should be followed: (1) An appointment should be scheduled with the professor as soon as possible after receipt of the official grade report. (2) Consultation with the professor regarding the grade should be held within thirty days of the issuance of the official grade. (3) If the consultation with the professor results in change of the previously assigned grade, the student should provide the professor with the form for Change of Grade 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. Should students feel they need further assistance with this matter, please see appeals (above).

Changes in Registration (Add/Drop Period)

Add

A student may add classes through the second week of class. During this time, a student may add a course without penalty by registering for the class online. Courses may not be added after the end of the Add/Drop period.

Change from Credit to Audit or Audit to Credit

A student may change status in a class or classes through the second week of class. During this time, a student may change status in a course without penalty by filling out a change of registration form and returning it to the Seminary office. Courses may not be change from audit to credit or vise versa after the end of the Add/Drop period.

Drop

A student may drop a class through the second week of classes. During this time, a student may drop a course without penalty by filling out a change of registration form and returning it to the Seminary office. Absence from class sessions does not constitute withdrawal from a class for which the student is registered.

Students wanting to drop their courses after the close of the Add/Drop period, but before the close of the ninth week of class, must fill out a change of registration form and secure the approval of the professor involved before returning the form to the Seminary office. If a student chooses to drop a class after the end of the Add/Drop period, any liable tuition will be based on a pro-rated scale. For more information see Refund Deadlines. Students who drop a course through the ninth week of 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, the grade of F will be assigned.

Dropping a Course Due to Health Reasons

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.

Changes in Status in Summer and Weekend Courses

There is one exception to this policy of change in status. All summer and modular are subject to specific add/drop regulations posted for each individual summer semester or modular session.

Dismissal for Academic Reasons

In the event that a student should fail to raise the cumulative grade-point average to the required level for the degree program by the end of two semesters on probation, the student will be academically dismissed from the Seminary. After academic dismissal from Urbana Theological Seminary, a student must wait one full semester before reapplying. Applications for readmission will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Drop a Course (See Changes in Registration)

Extensions (See Incomplete Course Work)

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 90-100
• B 80-89
• C 70-79
• D 60-69
• F Below 60

Other evaluations that can be assigned include:

• W Withdrawal, no credit assigned
• WH Withdrawal, health reasons (Must retake course to receive credit.)
• 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 the prescribed time 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 a formal syllabus, students will be informed of all grading procedures for each course at the beginning of that specific course.

A grade point average (GPA) will be calculated based 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 Requirements

Students are responsible for meeting the graduation requirements set forth in the catalogue at the time of their matriculation. These requirements include:

1. Completion of the required hours of study for the appropriate degree as outlined in the catalogue. No more than twenty percent of the total hours for a degree may be fulfilled through guided research or independent study. A minimum grade-point average on a 4.0 scale must be maintained in order to complete the appropriate degree program, as follows:

   M.Div.	minimum GPA of 2.75
   M.A.R.	minimum GPA of 2.50
   Certificate	minimum GPA of 2.50

2. Completion of Field Education/practicum/clinical requirements that are specified for the degree.
3. Completion of any language requirements, research requirements, or comprehensive examinations that are specified for the degree.
4. Completion of all assessment requirements for the particular program of the Seminary as outlined in the Student Assessment Handbook. This includes the completion of a Student Portfolio.
5. The final twelve hours for any program must be taken as a resident student through Urbana Theological Seminary course work. For all programs fifty percent of the course credits applied toward the degree must be satisfied through Urbana Theological Seminary course work. Any additional residency requirements under each program must be fulfilled.
6. All financial obligations to Urbana Theological Seminary must have been settled with the school by the expected graduation date.
7. Attendance at the graduation ceremony when the degree is granted is expected. In rare circumstances, requests to graduate in absentia may be granted when submitted in writing to the Seminary office.

Graduation with Honors

The following criteria are established for the determination of graduation honors for students in the Masters degree programs. Those 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 set by the course instructors 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 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 six 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 instructor and submit a request in writing to the Seminary office. If the work is not completed by the specified date, then the incomplete grade will become an F. The grade I (Incomplete) is temporary and 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. They should 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 obtain from the Seminary office an Independent Study Proposal form and submit the completed form to the professor who will work with them. All proposals must be approved by the professor and the Academic Dean. 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% of the total hours for a degree may be fulfilled through independent study courses.

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.

Life Experience

Credit will not be awarded to students for life experience.

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 Theological Seminary will strive for diversity across all levels of the student body, the staff, and the faculty.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is taking or passing off as one's own the words or ideas of someone else without providing the proper acknowledgement or documentation. Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Submitting as one's own material copied, borrowed, or purchased from some other source. This includes, but is not limited to, downloading term papers from the internet or copying parts of documents from the internet, reproducing parts or all of an article or book section or copying another student's paper.
• Copying verbatim or taking ideas from a source without providing any documentation (footnote or quotation marks).
• Copying verbatim or taking ideas from a source and providing false or misleading documentation.
• Paraphrasing material that is too close to the original, whether documented properly or not. A paraphrase is unacceptable if it merely changes a few words or transposes phrases or sentences in the original source, but retains the bulk of the text as it originally appeared.

This is a violation of Christian ethics. A student may be dismissed in the case of engaging in plagiarism.

Probationary Admission

A student may be admitted to Urbana Theological Seminary on academic probation for the following reasons:

1. A weak academic background as reflected in a cumulative undergraduate GPA that does not meet the stated minimum score, overall curriculum, or test scores if required within the specified degree program. Probationary status applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis pending on individual student circumstances as well.
2. Bachelor's degree from a non-accredited institution.

Probationary status may be removed after the completion of one (in the case of the Certificates and M.A.R. degree) or two (in the case of the M.Div. degrees) semesters of successful academic performance.

Probationary Status in a Degree Program: A student may be placed on academic probation in any semester in which his or her cumulative GPA falls below that which is required for the degree program. The student will remain on probation as long as the cumulative GPA remains below the required level.

In either case the probationary period will not exceed two semesters.

Probationary Status 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 which is required for the degree program. Following consultation with the student’s faculty 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. In either case the probationary period will not exceed two semesters.

Academic probation serves as a warning that the student’s work is not of sufficient quality to receive the desired degree. Students on academic probation may be advised to limit extracurricular activities or enroll in a restricted number of credit hours. Failure to achieve the minimum grade-point average for the appropriate program during the semester of academic probation will result in suspension from the school. A suspended student may appeal for reinstatement, but only after remaining out of school one semester.

Proficiency Examinations

In instances in which the 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. A transcript providing evidence of the prior coursework must be presented. If the seminary office requests, 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 fifty percent of the course credits applied toward the degree must be satisfied through Urbana Theological Seminary course work. The final twelve hours for any program must be taken as a resident student through Urbana Theological Seminary course work. Any additional residency requirements under each program must be fulfilled.

Second Master’s Degrees

If a graduate with a Master’s degree from Urbana Theological Seminary wishes to pursue a second Master’s degree from the Seminary, a minimum of twenty 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.

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 which lead to a negative academic or employment consequence if the student or employee does not submit, or which have the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's work or educational performance or create an intimidating, hostile or offensive work 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 co-worker, supervisor, or faculty member:

• deliberate assault
• demanding sexual favors accompanied by implied threats regarding the person's employment status or academic status and/or implied promise of preferential treatment
• unnecessary touching, patting, hugging
• degrading comments or jokes of a sexual nature

Sexual harassment is prohibited by law and will not be tolerated at Urbana Theological Seminary. Proper action will be taken against any individual that has sexually harassed another individual.

A 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 doesn't 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 Status

Each student is classified according to the following guidelines:

Full time status	Any student who is enrolled in 10 or more credit hours
Part time status	Any student who is enrolled in 1-9 credit hours
Program student	Any student who has been admitted to one of the academic programs of Urbana Theological Seminary (M.Div., M.A.R., Certificate)
Visiting student	Any student enrolled in coursework for credit who has not been admitted to one of the academic programs of the Seminary
Leave of Absence	Any program student who is not enrolled for coursework in the current semester and has been granted a leave of absence from the Seminary

Student's Rights of Privacy

Urbana Theological Seminary accords to all students the rights outlined under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended.

General information which the Seminary may give out at its discretion includes the student’s name, spouse’s name, address, telephone number, program, dates of attendance, citizenship and church affiliation. If the student wishes any of this information withheld, he/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 only for appropriate review by faculty advisors, the office of the Academic Dean, the office of the Seminary president, and personnel within the Administrative Dean’s office responsible for registration, admissions, and financial aid. 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 Theological Seminary has not designated a specific style guide as its official guide for writing papers. Specific information about options and expectations for writing are given in the mandatory Introduction to Graduate Research and Study.

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 seven years of the time of the student’s initial enrollment. Students in the Graduate Certificate program are 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 the Academic Dean for an extension of one or two years. The appeal letter should outline the student’s plan for completion, including progress being made and enrollment projections 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. If granted an extension, but the student has still not completed the degree requirements after this additional time period has elapsed, a letter of petition for a further extension should be sent to the office of the Academic Dean.

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 in no case 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 fifty 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. 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 catalogue of Urbana Theological Seminary.

Due to the historical circumstances that Urbana Theological Seminary grew out of the Christian Studies Center of Champaign/Urbana, course work done here under the Christian Studies Center programs will all be accepted into Urbana’s programs as credit. This is the only circumstance in which the school will accept more than the stated amount of transfer credit into our program. This provision will be in effect until December 31, 2008.

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 fail to do so will receive the grade to which their class work entitles them (often an F) and will forfeit any refund that might otherwise have been available to them.