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The seminary expects students to give themselves seriously to conscientious study,
research and evaluation. This same academic diligence must also extend beyond the
classroom environment to the policies and procedures that support learning at Gordon-Conwell.
In the section that follows, policies and procedures are outlined and special situations
have been anticipated. Most of these matters are administered in the Registration
Office and questions regarding them can generally be answered there.
The policies posted here are not comprehensive. Please consult the current Student Handbook as well as individual offices for complete details on any specific policy.
ACADEMIC COMMUNICATIONS
On-campus mailboxes will be used as the primary address for seminary communications
with students. Students are expected to check their mailboxes on a regular basis and
are responsible for all communications placed in their boxes. Furthermore, students
are obligated to provide the Registration Office with their most current mailing address(es).
(Address Change Form)
The Friday a.m. is a weekly publication that provides important administrative
notices and information. It is distributed to all campus mailboxes and may be accessed
via the seminary web site.
Students are also encouraged to pay particular attention to office bulletin boards
for important updates.
ADVISORS
A faculty advisor is assigned to each student. The advisor is available for counsel
in academic, vocational and spiritual matters. However, each student is responsible
for his or her own program of study and for correct registration. Advisor assignments
are given during New Student Orientation.
APPLICATION OF POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND DEGREE PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS
The policies stated herein are not intended to be comprehensive. Please consult the
Registration Office for further details on any policy. The policies and procedures
stated in this handbook apply to all students regardless of the beginning date of
their degree program at Gordon-Conwell. However, a student is bound by the degree
program requirements listed in the handbook in effect when the student begins coursework.
When a student changes degree programs, the handbook that is in effect at the time
the student is admitted into the new program will govern his or her degree program
requirements. When a new handbook reveals a change in degree program requirements,
students may petition the Registration Office during that academic year in order to
be governed by the new handbook. Students may not petition to be governed by degree
program requirements of a previous handbook.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Each professor sets class attendance policies, announced at the beginning of the course
or included in the course syllabus.
AUDITING COURSES
The seminary offers two different types of audit: Courtesy Audit and Official Audit.
All auditors are restricted to non-participating member status in classes. In other
words, auditors may not participate in class discussion (except as authorized by the
instructor according to the terms included in the course syllabus), nor submit written
work, nor sit for exams for the purpose of receiving an evaluation. Limited courses
are not available to auditors except by written permission from the professor and
the Registration Office. (See Limited Courses)
Some courses may not be audited. Please see Registration Office.
Courtesy Audit
The seminary extends to each current student, staff, faculty and their respective
spouse, one courtesy audit per semester at no charge. In addition, alumni and local,
full-time pastors are eligible to register as courtesy auditors. All interested parties
must submit paperwork (Courtesy Audit Form)
through the Registration Office prior to attending class. Courtesy auditing privileges
are only available to students during the semester in which the student enrolls for
credit. Courtesy audits will not be recorded on a transcript.
Official Audit
Current students may officially audit courses by paying the current audit fee and
receiving approval from the Registration Office. Individuals not enrolled in a degree
program and wishing to enroll as official auditors must complete a formal application
with the Admissions Office. Official audits
will be recorded on transcripts. (Registration Form)
BIBLE COMPETENCY EXAMS
Since proper use of the Bible is central to all types of Christian ministry, Gordon-Conwell
requires every student to become proficient in the knowledge and use of the Bible.
The seminary offers survey courses (OT 500: Old Testament Survey and NT 501: New Testament
Survey) for the purpose of providing systematic and integrative overview of the content
of the Bible.
All candidates for the M.A. and M.Div. degrees are required to 1) demonstrate their
Bible competency through the appropriate examination(s), or 2) enroll for and satisfactorily
complete the Old and New Testament Survey courses. Those who opt to demonstrate their
Bible competency must sit for and pass the scheduled exam(s) during the first year
of their program; students are ineligible to take advantage of the Bible exams after
their first year of study. These exams are offered each fall and spring during new
student orientation. An individual who passes the exam(s) does not need to enroll
for the respective survey course(s). Students with low but passing scores are encouraged
to complete the survey courses. OT 500 and NT 501 count as elective credit. (Exam
Seat Reservation Form)
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BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
The seminary is deeply concerned with educating students who can preach and teach
confidently from the Scriptures. We consider knowledge of the original biblical languages
to be invaluable for this task. The student who is limited in exegetical study to
the English text is deprived of the full benefit of a wealth of critical aids. It
is our judgment that competence in biblical study will be markedly enhanced by an
acquaintance with Hebrew and Greek.
M.Div. students are expected to perform exegetical work from the original languages,
and the biblical languages are studied to that end. Students are encouraged to study
as much of either Greek or Hebrew as they can prior to enrolling at Gordon-Conwell.
A knowledge of these languages is not necessary for admission to the seminary, but
such knowledge will increase both the range of course selection and depth of study
available to a first-year student.
For those who have already begun their study of either of these languages, competency
tests are given twice a year, in order to verify students' knowledge. Students who
wish to be waived from Greek and Hebrew, or receive transfer credit for these languages,
are required to take these exams. (See Language Competency
Exams)
Fall matriculants may take Greek or Hebrew at Gordon-Conwell during the summer months
just prior to entrance. Full seminary credit is given for these summer courses. The
languages are also offered during the regular academic year. The summer courses, which
represent a year of language study during the regular academic year, are completed
in two consecutive months.
Special arrangements to complete Greek or Hebrew on a different schedule may be made
for students who have a diagnosed learning disability relating to language acquisition.
Written certification of the disability must be provided by the student from a person
trained in diagnosing learning disabilities. See the directors of the Greek and Hebrew
programs for further information.
BOSTON THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE
Gordon-Conwell students may register for selected courses at other Boston
Theological Institute member schools. BTI cross-registration is arranged through
the Gordon-Conwell Registration Office and such courses must be completed within the
time limits as stated for each course. (Please note that earlier deadlines must be
established for graduating seniors.) The student must carefully observe all registration
rules at both schools. BTI courses generally fulfill elective credits only. To fulfill
degree core requirements and concentration requirements, permission for waiver must
be granted. (See Waivers) At least half of a student's
course load in any given semester must be taken at Gordon-Conwell, and BTI cross-registration
privileges do not extend to summer sessions at any school. Students may only register
for those courses listed in the BTI
Catalog. Students in the Master of Theology program are limited to taking no more
than two courses through the BTI; all other students are limited to taking no more
than eight courses through the BTI. Contact the Registration Office for more details
on registration instructions and deadlines.
CANCELLATION OF CLASSES
Cancellation of Classes
In the event that classes are cancelled (e.g., due to inclement weather or a national
emergency), information will be made available through the following means:
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
(See Violations of Academic Integrity)
CHECKSHEETS
The Registration Office provides each student with a checksheet indicating courses
completed and courses required. The official copy is kept in the registration office
where it may be consulted upon request. Students who have completed ten or more courses
will typically receive an updated checksheet each year. It is the responsibility of
the student to see that all graduation requirements are met. Graduating seniors will
be issued a special graduation checksheet upon submission of a graduation application.
(Current Degree Program Checksheets)
COMPUTER USE DURING EXAMS
Computers are not allowed in the classroom while students are taking course examinations.
This decision was adopted for reasons of fairness to all students and to ensure the
security of the examination process.
COURSE CHANGES-ADD/DROP AND WITHDRAWAL
All course changes made at any time for any reason must be initiated through the
Registration Office on the Add, Drop, Withdrawal
Form provided and carry a small processing fee. There are deadlines for receiving
refunds for dropped/withdrawn courses. (See Academic
Calendar)
No course may be added after the announced deadlines. Courses dropped beyond the announced
deadline will be recorded with a grade of "W" (withdrawn) which carries
no negative academic connotation. Courses "dropped" without the official
approval of the Registration Office within the announced deadlines will result in
a grade of "F" on the permanent record. Failure to make course changes within
the allotted deadlines will result in a fee for improper registration (if the changes
are allowed).
COURSE CREDITS
The majority of courses at Gordon-Conwell are equivalent to three semester hours of
credit. In certain programs there may be exceptions to this general policy.
COURSE REPEATS
The only circumstance which justifies the repeat of a course is failure the first
time. Aside from failing grades, courses may not be retaken in order to improve students'
GPAs. A student may repeat a failed course or replace it with another course approved
by the Registration Office. Normally, substitution is only allowed for exegesis courses.
The original grade of "F" is superseded in the student's grade point average
by the grade earned in the repeated course, although the student's transcript will
show both grades. If a course has been attempted twice with resulting failing grades,
special permission will be required from the Registration Office before the student
registers for the same course a third time. When students have received permission
to register a third time for the same course, and that course is completed with a
passing grade, the final passing grade will replace both failed attempts in the GPA
and credit hour calculations although all grades will remain on the transcript.
DENOMINATIONAL STANDARDS
The seminary does not require students to take denominational standards courses.
However, a number of these courses are offered on a regular basis. Students should
be aware of denominational requirements and plan their programs accordingly. These
courses (with the exception of United Methodist Standards and Advent Christian Standards)
are mandatorily graded on a pass/fail basis.
Some denominations require their students to study for a portion of their degree at
a denominational school. (See Residency Requirements)
Also, students entering the Hamilton campus of Gordon-Conwell after July 1, 1998 will
not be eligible for ordination in the United Methodist Church.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION POLICY
The seminary is in compliance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities
Act. The following policy statement describes the procedures the seminary will follow
in accommodating persons with disabilities.
DISMISSAL
The seminary reserves the right to dismiss students whose academic progress is unsatisfactory,
whose public or private behavior violates the standards described in the Community
Life Statement, or whose development of professional skills is unsatisfactory.
(See also Probation, Student Discipline
and Cheating and Plagiarism). Questions regarding academic
probation may be addressed to the Registration Office. Questions regarding violations
of the Community Life Statement or professional
development may be addressed to the Dean of Students.
DUAL DEGREE
Students who have been admitted to two different Gordon-Conwell degree programs
may work toward the completion of both degrees simultaneously. Dual degree students
may be eligible for shared credit between their two degrees. Shared credit between
Gordon-Conwell degrees is treated like transfer credit. To understand how this works,
please see Transfer Credit. (See also Second
Degree)
DUPLICATION OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Papers or other written work prepared to meet requirements in one course may not be
submitted to meet requirements in another course, except by permission of the instructor.
Similarly, reading done to satisfy requirements in one course may not be counted to
satisfy reading requirements in another course, except by permission of the instructor.
See Violations of Academic Integrity for the full
process for allegations and appeals.
EXAMINATIONS (FINALS)
Final examinations must be taken at the time announced by the Registration Office.
(See Final Exams Schedule) Take-home final examinations
may be distributed at any point by a course professor and are due no later then the
last day for written work as designated in the Academic
Calendar.
Rescheduling exams before the last day for written work will be granted only for substantial
reasons and only with the concurrence of the course professor. Rescheduling exams
after the last day for written work must be done via formal extension petition to
the Registration Office. (See Extensions for Late Coursework)
EXTENSIONS FOR LATE COURSEWORK
Students who wish to submit coursework (including Mentored Ministry evaluations) after
the last day for written work must receive prior approval from the Registration Office
upon formal petition. Students must petition the Registration Office of their home
campus regardless of where the course is actually offered. Additional time, without
penalty, will be granted only to those students who are able to document a serious
illness or emergency. Additional time, with penalty, is available on a limited basis
in the form of "avoidable extensions." Students should consult the Extension
Petition, located outside of the Registration Office, for a detailed outline of
the extension policy and filing instructions. Petitions must be filed before the last
day for written work as specified in the Academic
Calendar.
GRADE APPEALS
If a student wishes to contest a grade, she or he has six months from the day the
grade is issued to do so. The student must first seek to resolve the matter by contacting
the professor who issued the grade. If he or she is unsatisfied with the professor's
response, the student has the right to appeal to the Judicial Committee for further
consideration. The Judicial Committee is a sub-committee of the Education Policy and
Planning Committee with representatives from the faculty of all three academic divisions.
The Judicial Committee is chaired by the Registrar of the Seminary. Requests for an
appeal after six months are normally not considered.
Appeals Process:
Reasonable deviations from these procedures will not invalidate a decision or proceeding unless significant prejudice to the student may result.
GRADING SCALE
Grade A is given for meeting with conspicuous excellence the demands which can fairly
be made in relation to the requirements of the course. These demands would normally
include unusual accuracy in fact, completeness in detail, perfection in form of work,
independence of method, grasp of the subject as a whole and constructive imagination.
Grade B is given for exceeding the minimum of satisfactory attainment and for meeting
certain aspects of the course with excellence.
Grade C is given for attaining satisfactory familiarity with the course and for demonstrating
at least some ability to use this knowledge in a satisfactory manner.
Grade D is a passing mark but indicates unsatisfactory control over the material.
Grade F declares that the course has been failed. See Course
Repeats for details.
The following numerical values are assigned to the letter grade evaluations for purposes of determining grade point average: 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. Grade point averages are never rounded off. No exceptions are granted to this method of computing a student's grade point average.
GRADUATION
Gordon-Conwell has one commencement ceremony each year in May. This ceremony is for
students who complete their work the previous December and in May. Participation in
the baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies is required of all graduating students
except those living more than 250 miles from the seminary. Graduating seniors must
request permission, in writing, from the Registration Office to graduate in absentia.
Application for Graduation
It is the student's responsibility to apply for graduation. Both January and May candidates
are presented to the faculty for approval in December and April respectively. Graduation
applications are due at the beginning of, or prior to, the semester in which work
will be completed. Students should consult the current Academic
Calendar for specific application deadlines.
A graduation fee will be charged to all graduates at the beginning of the spring semester
of the year in which they are graduating. (See Special Fees) The graduation fee is
non-refundable once it has been billed. Students who do not satisfy graduation requirements
by the date of graduation will not be permitted to walk in the ceremony. Such students
must reapply for graduation the following year and will be charged a change of graduation
fee. (See Special Fees)
Eligibility for January Graduation
Students who have completed all of their coursework in December, and whose grades
have been received by the Registration Office by the last day of written work for
the fall semester, are eligible for January graduation. (See Academic
Calendar) January graduates will be confirmed at the January meeting of Gordon-Conwell
trustees. January graduates will have a January graduation date listed on their final
transcripts and diplomas. Diplomas will be issued in the May commencement ceremony.
Eligibility for May Graduation
To be eligible for May graduation, students must have met all academic and financial
requirements by the Monday prior to commencement exercises. The early submission of
coursework is sometimes required for May graduates so that grades are received by
the Registration Office no later than the Monday stated above. (See Academic
Calendar) Under no circumstances will a student be permitted to participate
in graduation exercises if he/she has not met all graduation requirements.
HONORS
The following standards for honors are maintained:
INCOMPLETES
(See Extensions for Late Course Work)
INTEGRATIVE PAPER OR PROJECT FOR THE MAR
The MAR integrative paper is similar to a one-semester thesis with regard to page
limitation, style guidelines, and submission for binding. (See Style
Guidelines for Papers and Theses and Thesis) The written portion of the MAR
project is subject to similar page limitations with considerations being made for
varying media. MAR Paper/Project Petitions may
be found outside the Registration Office and must be submitted during standard registration
periods.
LANGUAGE COMPETENCY EXAMS
Students with prior knowledge of Greek and/or Hebrew may be allowed to waive the
language requirement(s) or be granted transfer credit toward their degree programs
by successfully passing the language competency exam(s). Language competency exams
are offered twice annually, during new student orientation in September and January.
Exams are also scheduled on an "as needed" basis. Each test consists of
translation and parsing, and can be prepared for by reviewing an introductory grammar
(i.e. Basics of Biblical Hebrew by Gary Pratico or Basics of Biblical Greek by William
Mounce). Students who have taken Greek and/or Hebrew for credit at an accredited graduate
institution and have received grades of "C" or better can receive transfer
credit toward their programs upon passing the language competency exam(s). Since a
firm knowledge of the biblical language(s) is foundational for performing competent
exegesis required in many upper level courses, students must verify proficiency by
passing the exam(s) before transfer credit will be granted (See Transfer
Credit).
Students who are either self-taught or have taken the language(s) at an undergraduate
institution, can waive the required language(s) by passing the appropriate competency
exam(s). Credit hours are not earned for waivers. However, students may substitute
elective courses of their choice (within the Division of Biblical Studies) to meet
the total number of hours required for graduation. Students wishing to audit language
courses with the intention of refreshing their skills before attempting the exams
may do so with the permission of the instructor and Registration Office, assuming
enrollment space is available. The same applies for any student wishing to audit a
language course with the intention of waiving the language requirement via the competency
exam in order to take additional elective courses. (See Auditing
Courses)
In all cases, students must successfully pass the competency exam before they enroll
in or are given credit for courses with the language prerequisite. (Exam
Seat Reservation Form)
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
(See Withdrawn Students and Student
Status)
LIMITED COURSES
In an effort to service all students at Gordon-Conwell, most courses do not have limited
enrollment. However, there are certain courses whose pedagogical methods require a
smaller classroom environment. In light of this reality, current students are offered
priority registration periods based on the number of courses for which they have received
grades. Students who desire to be enrolled in a limited course should register early
(during their priority registration period) in order to obtain a seat. (See Academic
Calendar) Students who register after a course has been closed will be placed
on a waiting list based on the time of their registration.
If students drop a limited course before the last day to drop courses (See Academic
Calendar), or a given professor decides to open up his or her section to accommodate
more seats, students will be added to the course according to their position on the
waiting list. Students on a waiting list who require a course in order to graduate
that semester may petition the Registration Office for special exception. The Registration
Office will then consult with the relevant professor in order to accommodate the student,
and notify him or her when a decision has been made. Waitlisted students are encouraged
to attend classes during the add/drop week in hopes of their admission. In all cases,
students are encouraged to plan ahead and register as soon as they receive their registration
materials.
Limited courses are not available to auditors except by written permission from the
professor and the Registration Office.
LOAN DEFERMENTS AND VERIFICATIONS
Students seeking the deferment of a Perkins Loan must submit the appropriate form
to the Registration Office. Individuals needing Stafford Loan deferment are not required
to submit verification. The seminary reports enrollment data to a clearing house which
tracks Stafford Loan holders. Questions regarding deferment eligibility of loans or
Gordon-Conwell's policies governing student status should be directed to the Registration
Office. (See Student Loan Deferment Processing
Information)
OUT-OF-SEQUENCE COURSES
Out-of-sequence courses are offerings that appear in the catalog, have established
titles and course numbers, but are taken independently, outside of the classroom.
Whenever possible, students should take standard courses within the classroom setting.
Permission to register for a course out-of-sequence will be granted only when a student
can show adequate reason why the course cannot be taken during its regularly scheduled
time. Special students, visiting students, and auditors are ineligible for out-of-sequence
courses.
Out-of-sequence courses are subject to all the policies, deadlines and procedures
governing standard course offerings. They require approval of the directing professor
and the Registration Office before permission to register is granted. Out-of-Sequence
Course petitions should be submitted early. Requests most likely will not be approved
once the semester begins.
It is the student's responsibility to initiate the first meeting with their professor
which must take place within ten days of the first day of classes for that semester.
OVERLOAD
Sixteen and a half semester hours is the maximum a student may take in any major semester
without formal approval by the Academic Dean. Generally, students who have maintained
a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better will be granted permission to enroll
for an additional three semester hours. In January and summer sessions, students are
typically limited to one course per session; however, in unusual cases, students may
register for a maximum of two courses in a session without formal petition to the
Academic Dean.
OVERSEAS MISSIONS PRACTICUM
The Overseas Missions Practicum (OMP) seeks to challenge the student in the areas
of servanthood, team and cross-cultural ministry, spiritual formation and global vision
applied to the local church. These goals are addressed in WM 720 where lectures, discussion,
group participation and media presentations serve to stimulate interaction among all
participants.
These goals are then pursued in particular areas of ministry during the WM 721 course.
The field experience gives the theoretical its needed practical application. Here
the student learns from the team, local Christians, the wider society and by serving
others, which often results in lifelong lessons that are applicable to future ministries
at home or abroad.
With special permission, the OMP courses may be applied toward the M.Div. requirements
in missions. The student may receive credit for two units of Mentored Ministry in
addition to WM 721 course when they register for these units concurrently. This opportunity
is only available during the summer session projects.
For more information, contact the Director of Missions Programs.
PASS/FAIL POLICY
Students may elect pass/fail grading in courses according to the guidelines published
below. A total of four such courses are allowed in the M.Div. program, and two in
all other Gordon-Conwell degree programs (with the exception of the Th.M. program
which allows for no pass/fails). This number includes courses such as MC 550, Ministry
in a Rural Context, certain BTI courses and other offerings that are graded on a pass/fail
basis. This number does not include denominational standards courses. (See Denominational
Standards) Students are advised to plan ahead, as this limit, including such
courses, cannot be exceeded.
The maximum number of pass/fails allowed will be reduced for students who have received
more than fifteen hours of transfer, shared and/or advanced standing credits. Students
receiving sixteen to thirty-three hours of credit will lose one pass/fail, while those
receiving thirty-four hours or more will lose two. Furthermore, students who transfer
in courses that were graded on a pass/fail basis will lose one pass/fail for each
of these courses.
Student must request pass/fail grading in writing (Pass/Fail
Petition) at the Registration Office by the dates announced in the Academic
Calendar. The election of pass/fail grading is irrevocable after the stated
deadlines. Faculty members will submit the grade earned (A+ through F), and the Registration Office will convert grades of “D-” or better to “pass.” Pass/fail courses will not be computed in determining the cumulative grade point average except when failed. When more than one course is required in a given teaching area, no more than half of the course requirements (excluding GL 501 and 502 and OL 501 and 502) may be taken on a pass/fail basis.
PETITIONS
Petitions for directed courses, extensions, academic adjustments or other such matters
are adjudicated by the Assistant Directors of Enrollment Management, the Dean of Enrollment
Management/Registrar and/or the Judicial Committee. Petition forms
may be obtained outside the Registration Office, and should be completed and returned
as promptly as possible. Any student who believes that his or her case has been misunderstood
may re-petition without penalty. No petition relating to a course requirement can
be considered unless it bears the signature of the course instructor.
PROBATION
The Registration Office reviews academic records at the close of each major semester
and at the end of the summer sessions. The student whose cumulative grade point average
falls below the cumulative grade point average required to graduate from the student's
degree program is automatically placed on academic probation. The cumulative grade
point average requirement to graduate with the Master of Divinity, M.A. in Educational
Ministries, M.A. in World Missions and Evangelism, M.A. in Counseling (World Missions concentration), or the Master of Arts in Religion
degree is 2.0. The cumulative grade point average required to graduate with the Master
of Arts, M.A. in Counseling (Mental Health or Marriage and Family concentrations), or Master of Theology degree is 3.0. A student admitted
to the seminary on academic probation will be considered as being enrolled in their
first semester of academic probation. First semester academic probation normally requires
a reduction in the number of courses from the maximum allowed to three courses (or
nine credit hours) until the student is removed from academic probation. A student
placed on second semester academic probation, in addition to being limited in the
number of courses, will not be permitted to access financial aid. (See Satisfactory
Academic Progress)
A student is automatically removed from academic probation when his or her cumulative
grade point average reaches the level required for graduation from the respective
degree program. If a student removed from academic probation is again placed on academic
probation in a subsequent semester, the student will automatically be placed on second
semester probation.
If a student is on academic probation for two consecutive semesters, she or he is
normally required to withdraw from the seminary for a period of one year. After such
time the student may petition the Registrar, in writing, to be reinstated. Students
withdrawn for more than two years must reapply through the Admissions
Office. If a reinstated student is dismissed a second time for academic probation,
the student will not be permitted to return to the seminary.
PROJECT COURSES
The Division of Ministry makes available, as part of its offerings, project-based
courses which are directed by a member of the faculty. For example, EV 720: Project
in Evangelism and EM 720: Project in Educational Ministries. The student plans and
executes, under the professor's guidance, a project which he or she designs and which
is approved by the directing professor.
The courses are open to qualified students by petition to the Division of Ministry.
Prior agreement must be secured from the professor who is to direct the project. A
clear description of the project is required including a rationale for the project,
a description of the work to be undertaken, and the outcome anticipated. At the directing
professor's discretion, a prerequisite course or courses may be required.
Project courses are subject to all the policies, deadlines and procedures governing
standard course offerings. They require approval of the directing professor and the
Registration Office before permission to register is granted. Project
course petitions should be submitted early. Requests are normally not approved
once the semester begins.
READING AND RESEARCH COURSES
The divisions may make available as part of their offerings courses of independent
reading or research to be directed by a member of the faculty, e.g., OT 760: Reading
in Old Testament or OT 860: Research in Old Testament. A course in this regard is
treated in accord with usual academic, institutional and divisional criteria. A precise
course description, outline of study and bibliography are to be drawn up by the directing
instructor and student in the form of a mini-syllabus.
Ordinarily, first year students are ineligible to register for reading and research
courses. Special students, visiting students and auditors are also ineligible. The
Registration Office grants approval on the basis of reasonable petition, the formal
permission of the divisional chair and agreement by the faculty member involved. The
work will be evaluated by examination, a final paper or a series of reports submitted
within normal semester deadlines. (See Academic
Calendar)
Students should initiate paperwork (Reading
and Research Course Petition) no later than April 1 for a fall course and
November 1 for a spring course. Petitions submitted late or without proper documentation
may be rejected even when divisional and professorial permission has been obtained.
Extensions are granted for reading and research courses according to the standard
extension policy for all courses. (See Extensions for Late
Coursework)
Petitions must include a complete course outline, paper (or other requirement) outline,
and a detailed bibliography. Reading courses require between 2,500-3,000 pages of
reading and research courses require a paper no less than 20 pages in length. Students
must meet a minimum of four hours with their directing professor as part of their
course framework. Requests to have an instructor other than a Gordon-Conwell faculty
member must be made in writing to the Academic Dean and can accompany or precede the
course petition.
REGISTRATION
Priority registration is available for current students based on the number of courses
they have completed. For spring semester and January session, priority registration
is held in October. Fall and summer priority registration is in March. Students who
do not register during the early registration period lose seniority for limited courses.
(See Limited Courses)
After registration, schedule changes can be made using the add/drop
form found outside the Registration Office. (See Course
Changes - Add/Drop and Withdrawal) Students who submit paperwork that is accepted
after the last day to register will be charged a late registration fee. (See Academic
Calendar) Students are not allowed to register retroactively for work completed
in a previous semester.
Course selections are binding, and tuition charges will be applied for the number
of courses selected. Withdrawal from seminary after October and March registration
periods must be done through the Registration Office so students are not charged for
courses that have not yet begun.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
A student is considered "in residence" when she or he first enrolls in an
on-campus Gordon-Conwell course. For any degree program, a student must complete at
least half of his or her coursework in residence at Gordon-Conwell. In addition, the
final four courses must normally be completed at Gordon-Conwell rather than by transfer
credit. Students who wish to complete their last courses away from Gordon-Conwell
must obtain permission from the Registration Office to do so.
Some denominations require their students to spend a year in residence in one of their
seminaries. It is normally expected that this would be done in the middle year and
that courses taken would be transferred to the student's program at Gordon-Conwell.
However, if the student can demonstrate that the denomination or judicatory makes
strong insistence that it is the final year which should be spent in a denominational
school, Gordon-Conwell may allow the student to graduate with its degree if all other
requirements are met.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
A student's eligibility for federal and institutional financial aid is determined
on a semester basis and annually. In order to be eligible for federal and institutional
financial aid a student must meet both the grade point average requirement and the
credit completion requirement as defined below.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A student must be meeting the minimum stated cumulative GPA for his or her declared
degree program. A student not meeting this minimum will be placed on academic probation.
(See Probation)
Students who have been denied federal financial aid due to a lack of satisfactory academic progress may re-establish progress by meeting both the GPA requirement and annual course credit requirement (defined below) in coursework taken at Gordon-Conwell at their own expense.
Credit Completion Requirement
The maximum allotted time to complete a degree to maintain eligibility for federal
financial aid is as follows (note that these limits are cumulative, not contiguous):
Periods of leave of absence or withdrawal are not counted when calculating Satisfactory Academic Progress. For a student enrolled in the Semlink program or a partnership program, the Registrar will calculate Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Federal financial aid funds will cover only those courses for which a student pays tuition and will cover only the number of courses required by a student's degree program (30 courses for Master of Divinity students, 20 courses for Master of Arts students, and 8 courses for Master of Theology students). Although a student is permitted the opportunity to repeat a failed course once, such repeated courses do not count toward meeting the requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress and will result in a student exceeding the course limits for federal financial aid (listed above). Once this limit is surpassed, federal financial aid funds will not be available for the remainder of a student's educational expenses for that degree.
Appeal Process
Students who are deemed ineligible for federal or institutional financial aid are
entitled to an appeal if extenuating circumstances have affected their academic progress.
Appeals must be in writing and addressed to the Financial Appeals Committee. Appeals
must be received within two weeks of the date the student received the notification
of ineligibility. The Financial Appeals Committee will consider the appeal and render
a decision within two weeks of receipt of the appeal. The Registrar will inform the
student of the decision, in writing, immediately thereafter.
SECOND DEGREE
Students who have already completed one Gordon-Conwell degree and are admitted to
a second degree program may be eligible for shared credit between the two degrees.
Shared credit between Gordon-Conwell degrees is treated like Transfer
Credit. To understand how this works, please see Transfer Credit. (See
also Dual Degree)
SEMLINK
Semlink is
Gordon-Conwell's distance learning program. Both residential and non-residential students
are encouraged to take advantage of the Semlink
program. Students are given six months to complete a Semlink
course. Although Semlink
courses may be started at any time, they are only registered under three semesters:
Fall, Spring, and Full-Summer. If a Semlink
course has a start date on or before the last day to add courses for one of these
three semesters (See Academic Calendar
for actual dates), then the course will be registered under that semester. If
the start date is after the last day to add courses for one of these three semesters,
the course will be registered under the next semester. For example, a start date of
May 1 would be registered as a Full-Summer course while a start date of June 1 would
be a Fall course. When considering a student's enrollment status (full-time, half-time,
etc.), a Semlink
course will only contribute to a student's enrollment status for the dates of the
semester under which the course is registered. Please note that this will be different
from the actual start date and final due date of the course.
A Semlink course must be dropped within 15 days of its start date in order to receive a full tuition refund and to avoid receiving a "W" (withdrawn) on the transcript. If a Semlink course is dropped between 16 and 30 days from its start date, the student will receive a 50% tuition refund. Fees for course materials will only be refunded if the materials are returned to the Semlink Office unopened. Please note that any Semlink dropped more than 15 days after the start date will receive a "W" (withdrawn) on the transcript. Students may not withdraw from Semlink courses after all of the coursework (excluding the interactivity requirements) has been completed. Otherwise, the last day to withdraw from a Semlink is the final due date of the course.
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS (GRAHAM, TRUSTEE, JONATHAN
EDWARDS, PIERCE, AND PARTNERSHIP)
The Seminary offers a variety of Special Scholarships to select students. The
Special Scholarship programs include the Graham Scholarship, the Trustee Grant, the
Jonathan Edwards Scholarship, the Pierce Scholarship, and the Partnership Program.
Although each of these programs has its own special features, they all handle enrollment
and billing in a similar manner. In order to remain on one of these scholarships,
a student must be registered for at least 7.5 credit hours each Fall and Spring semester.
Scholarship recipients are billed twice each year: once in the Fall and once in the
Spring. Each billing period, scholarship recipients will be billed based on the current
cost of five courses (regardless of the total number of courses actually registered)
and then the proper amount of financial aid will be applied based on the students'
particular Special Scholarship programs. The Fall billing covers all courses registered
under the Summer III, Fall, and January sessions; the Spring billing covers all courses
registered under the Spring, Summer I, and Summer II sessions. New residential students
who begin their studies in Summer II will have courses registered under that session
covered by their Fall billing. This exception will only be made for new scholarship
recipients who are new students and is not available to new scholarship recipients
who are returning students. No other exceptions will be made to the durations of these
billing periods, so students must plan their schedules accordingly. All Special Scholarships
terminate upon the completion of a student's degree program requirements (as determined
by the Registration Office), even if the student has future semesters remaining under
the current billing period.
The policies discussed above are only a small part of those that govern the Special
Scholarship programs. A comprehensive list of the policies for which Special Scholarship
recipients will held responsible is sent to recipients each year and can be obtained
at anytime from the Special Scholarship Coordinator.
SPECIAL STUDENTS
Qualified students not wishing to enter a specific degree program may be permitted
to enroll for classes. Application for permission to enroll as a special student should
be made to the Admissions Office. Credit
is earned and standard tuition costs prevail. (See Auditing Courses)
Special students are not eligible to enroll in specialized courses, such as Mentored
Ministry, directed studies and projects without written permission from the Registration
Office. The number of applicable credit hours earned as a special student shall not
exceed one-third of any given degree program. In other words, no more than 30 credit
hours as a special student can be applied to the M.Div. program, and no more than
18 credit hours towards any of the M.A. programs.
Special students may later apply for degree candidate status through the Admissions
Office.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
The seminary takes seriously its responsibility to the church and to society to review
and evaluate both the academic progress of its students as well as their personal
and professional development. The institution, therefore, reserves the right to require
a student to withdraw from school for a period of time to address particular concerns,
with readmission possible upon satisfactory resolution, or to dismiss a student if
the circumstances warrant dismissal with no readmission possible.
Grounds for disciplinary action include a breach of academic integrity (such as cheating
on examinations or plagiarism in written work), a violation of the standards of the
Community Life Statement, or inadequate development of professional skills. Disciplinary
action shall include either an admonition (an oral or written statement that an institutional
standard has been violated), a warning (an oral or written notice that continued action
of a specific nature will result in required withdrawal or dismissal), required withdrawal,
or dismissal.
In cases involving alleged breach of academic integrity, notice shall be made to the Judicial Committee, which shall determine the facts of the case and make a final decision on a penalty or course of action. The Registrar shall notify the student of the decision of the committee. The student retains the right of appeal to the Academic Dean, who has authority to uphold or change the committee's decision. Further appeal may be made to the President if the student disagrees with the decision of the Academic Dean. (See Cheating and Plagiarism)
The Guidance Committee and the Dean of Students process matters other than those of academic integrity and take action deemed appropriate. The student retains the right to appeal the decision.
STUDENT GRIEVANCE AGAINST A FACULTY MEMBER
For information regarding the contest of a course grade, students should refer to
Grade Appeals above. For situations involving a student's
personal grievance against a faculty member, the student should first seek to resolve
the matter in private discussion with the relevant faculty member. If resolution fails,
the matter should be referred in writing to the Academic Dean. Without written details,
no action will be taken. The Dean will then inform the Provost of the nature of the
grievance and refer the matter either to the Faculty Personnel Policies Committee
or the Educational Policies and Planning Committee or both, depending on the nature
of the grievance. In principle, academic matters are referred to the EPPC and personnel
matters to the FPPC. Either committee may enlist the work of a subcommittee-e.g. Judicial
Committee or an ad hoc committee-to investigate the particulars and recommend action.
The full committee where referral is made shall act on the grievance, with written
conclusion given both to the faculty member and the student (with a copy to the Academic
Dean). Should the grievance fail to be resolved through the efforts of the committee,
any one of the principals may require a hearing before the full faculty. The judgment
of the faculty, having listened to the matter in a regular or specially called business
session, shall be final. Parties to the conflict may be present for the hearing at
the discretion of the faculty but shall not be present during the deliberation for
decision. The findings and decisions of the full faculty shall be reported to the
President and the principals for any necessary action.
STUDENTS' RIGHTS OF PRIVACY AND ACCESS TO RECORDS
Gordon-Conwell 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 or she may write to the Registration Office and the request will be honored
within the academic year the letter is received.
Other information from the student's educational record is considered confidential
and available only for appropriate review in the event of an emergency to protect
the health or safety of the student or others. In these cases, information may be
reviewed by personnel within the Office of the President, Registration, Admissions,
Financial Aid, and Student Life Offices. (See also Family Education Rights and
Privacy Act)
STUDENT SERVICES FEE
Students will be charged a Student Services Fee for each semester in which they enroll.
(See Financial Information for the exact amounts of the fees.) These fees are charged
only once for each semester a student is enrolled regardless of how many courses are
taken. These fees will not be refunded for students who withdraw from all courses
after the 100% tuition/fee refund deadline. (See Academic
Calendar)
STUDENT STATUS
Current Student
To be a current student at the seminary, an individual must have been accepted through
the regular admissions process and be enrolled in at least one course during a current
semester or session.
A student who is completing an extension (or extensions) from a semester or session that has come to a close is not considered a student unless she or he also meets the above criteria.
Full-time Status
A student must take at least seven and a half semester hours to qualify as a full-time
student. Neither summer school nor January session courses are included in calculating
full-time status.
Part-time Students
The seminary welcomes part-time students. Degree candidates at the campus should plan
to meet requirements by means of regularly scheduled courses, most of which meet several
hours per week during the daylight hours. In order to be considered "half-time"
a student must be registered for at least four and a half semester hours.
Non-Current Student
A student who does not register for classes in a given semester and does not officially
withdraw will be considered a non-current student. This includes a student who is
completing coursework from a previous semester or session and does not register for
the current semester. A non-current student will be permitted to register during the
stated registration period but will not have priority over current students for limited
courses.
STYLE GUIDELINES FOR PAPERS AND THESES
Gordon-Conwell Thesis Guidelines are
attached to the thesis course petition available outside the Registration Office.
These guidelines are required of every student who writes a thesis, except as noted
below. The approved style manuals for Gordon-Conwell papers and theses are the latest
edition of A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, by Kate
L. Turabian, the latest edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers,
and Form and Style: Theses, Reports, Term Papers by William Giles Campbell, Stephen
Vaughan Ballou, and Carole Slade. One should be chosen by the student and followed
consistently.
Turabian or MLA may be supplemented by the latest edition of The Chicago Manual of
Style. The SBL Handbook of Style for Ancient, Near Eastern, Biblical, and Early Christian
Studies shall be the required guide for all theses in the areas of Bible and theology,
and is the recommended guide for papers in Bible and theology classes.
For papers and theses in the field of counseling and psychology, an approved alternative
to Turabian and MLA is the latest edition of the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association.
When a different style manual is more appropriate to the discipline of a thesis, the thesis committee may authorize an exception. The format of a thesis is expected to follow the Gordon-Conwell Thesis Guidelines which may have slight variations from the format recommended in an approved style manual. These guidelines are attached to the Thesis Course Petition found outside the Registration Office or available from the M.A. Program Director.
SUMMARATIVE EVALUATION FOR MA STUDENTS
For students in the academic M.A. programs (OT, NT, CH, TH and BL), a summative evaluation
is required and may take one of the following forms.
Students will not be able to graduate or participate in graduation ceremonies until all summative evaluation requirements have been completed.
SUMMER LANGUAGE PROGRAM
The Summer Language Program offers students the opportunity to learn biblical Greek
and Hebrew in preparation for doing exegesis in the New and Old Testaments. Beginning
and intermediate Greek and beginning Hebrew are offered every summer.
Many students find the intensive month-long language classes a good way to immerse
themselves in the language in order to learn the language without distraction from
other classes or responsibilities. For such students, the Summer Language Program
is ideal. Other students learn languages better by spreading out the study over a
whole semester. These students are encouraged to take languages during the main semesters.
Students may seek the counsel of the language faculty when determining whether or
not to study a language over the summer.
The language program uses experienced teachers whose scholarly and ministerial work
shows how biblical languages are used in academic and church ministries. It also utilizes
the best and most innovative forms of electronic tutelage to ease and enhance the
pleasure of learning a language in a short period of time.
Visiting students from other schools are welcome to enroll in Gordon-Conwell's Summer Language Program after formal admission via the Admissions Office.
SUMMER SESSIONS
The seminary offers a variety of summer courses in three four-week sessions in which
students normally take one course per session. Also, a few courses are scheduled to
run throughout the summer, making it possible for a student to take more than three
courses during the summer, if desired. Some courses are scheduled to meet in intensive
sessions during the first week or two of a scheduled session, with the remaining weeks
available to the student for completing reading and written work.
While every effort is made to schedule courses that will meet requirements for students,
some elective courses are also offered. Students should note, however, that it is
not possible to complete degree requirements with summer study only. Nevertheless,
it is a good way for students to progress in completing their degrees with year-round
study opportunities.
Current students, or students admitted for study in the following academic year, are
automatically eligible for summer courses. Others must formally apply through the
Admissions Office. Summer courses carry full
academic credit except where noted. A complete schedule of summer school courses is
available from the Registration Office.
SWITCHING DEGREE PROGRAMS
(See Transfer Between Degree Programs)
THESIS COURSES
M.A. (NT/OT/CH/TH) and Th.M. students have the option to write a thesis upon invitation
by the respective academic division. Students who are interested in writing a thesis
should see their respective program director for deadlines and instructions on preparing
a thesis proposal for consideration. The following sections outline particular requirements
for those who have been invited to write.
Thesis (MA Level)
M.A. students may choose to write a one or two semester thesis. Students writing two-semester
theses must register for the two parts of their theses concurrently or back-to-back.
A one-semester thesis is limited to 40 to 50 pages, receiving one course (three hours)
worth of credit. The two-semester thesis is limited to 80 to 100 pages, receiving
two courses (six hours) worth of credit. Page limits may only be exceeded by special
exemption. (See M.A. Thesis Petition)
Failure to sustain a passing grade on the thesis, including the required oral defense, will result in a rewriting of the thesis, or a portion thereof, for re-submission as specified by the first and second readers, and may also include a rescheduled oral thesis defense.
Once the thesis is completed, students are required to deposit two finished copies (see Style Guidelines) with the Registration Office: one unbound finished copy and one electronic copy on diskette or CDROM. The Registration Office will pass them on to the Program Director for final approval before binding. In addition, they must sign Gordon-Conwell's Copyright Release Form for Deposited Student Works, copyright release forms for selected vendors (i.e. TREN), and pay the appropriate binding fee. (See Special Fees) Guidelines for thesis preparation are attached to the Thesis Course Petition found outside the Registration Office or available from the M.A. Program Director.
Students intending to graduate in May must submit their completed thesis to the advisor and reader by November 1 or April 1 of the semester of expected graduation. Two completed, fully corrected copies (see above) must be submitted to the Registration Office by the date specified in the Academic Calendar.
Thesis (Th.M.)
The Th.M. thesis fulfills two courses (6 credits) out of the five required in the
student's concentration. The two parts of a Th.M. thesis must be registered concurrently
or bck-to-back. The thesis is limited to 80 to 100 pages, except by special exemption.
(See Th.M. Thesis Petition)
Failure to sustain a passing grade on the thesis, including the required oral defense, will result in a rewriting of the thesis, or a portion thereof, for re-submission as specified by the first and second readers, and may also include a rescheduled oral thesis defense.
Once the thesis is completed, students are required to deposit two finished copies (see Style Guidelines) with the Registration Office: one unbound finished copy and one electronic copy on diskette or CDROM. The Registration Office will pass them on to the Program Director for final approval before binding. In addition, they must sign Gordon-Conwell's Copyright Release Form for Deposited Student Works, copyright release forms for selected vendors (i.e. TREN), and pay the appropriate binding fee. (See Special Fees) Guidelines for thesis preparation are attached to the Thesis Course Petition found outside the Registration Office or available from the Th.M. Program Director.
Students intending to graduate in May must submit their completed thesis to the advisor and reader by November 1 or April 1 of the semester of expected graduation. Two completed, fully corrected copies (see above) must be submitted to the Registration Office by the date specified in the Academic Calendar.
TIME LIMITS
A limit of ten years from date of initial entry into a degree program is placed on
the time for securing the M.Div. degree. A limit of seven years from date of initial
entry is in effect for all other Master's programs, excepting the Th.M which has a
limit of four years. Please see Satisfactory Academic Progress
for time limits on completion of degree programs to maintain eligibility for federal
financial aid.
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TRANSCRIPTS
Transcript Requests
All requests for academic transcripts must be made in writing to the Registration
Office and require written authorization by the student. Official transcripts bearing
the seal of the school will be forwarded directly to the appropriate institution(s)
or issued to the student in a sealed envelope. Unofficial transcripts will be faxed
or issued directly to the student. Standard requests, requiring 5-10 business days
processing time, are free of charge up to a limit of five per week. Any standard requests
exceeding this limit (5) will be charged at $5 per transcript. A $5 pre-paid processing
fee will be assessed for each transcript which is faxed or given rush (one-two business
day) handling. (Transcript Request Form)
Transcripts will not be released to/for currently enrolled or former students who have outstanding account balances with the seminary.
Transcript Records
In keeping with the accepted standards and practices of institutions of higher education
in the United States, it is the policy of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary not
to alter the recording of any course on a transcript once the course has been completed.
Further, the seminary will not alter a grade recorded on a transcript unless requested
to do so by the relevant faculty member or Academic Dean upon approval of an appeal
of the grade by the student. Students who are concerned about their academic progress
in a given course should consider dropping the course. If a student withdraws from
a course after the drop/add deadline occurs, the course will appear on the transcript
as a withdraw (W). Courses dropped after the add/drop deadline are subject to the
usual refund policy stated in the catalog. (See Academic
Calendar)
TRANSFER BETWEEN DEGREE PROGRAMS
Students wishing to transfer between degree programs must do so through the Admissions
Office, from which complete instructions and required forms may be obtained. Such
an internal application requires the following: an internal application questionnaire;
a written recommendation from a Gordon-Conwell faculty member (a second recommendation
from the applicant's pastor is required if the application is for admission to the
M.Div. or professional Master of Arts programs); and a personal statement of 350-500
words indicating the reasons why a change in status is desired.
Students who are granted a change of degree status will then fall under the requirements
as stipulated by the Handbook in effect at the time of program change.
TRANSFER CREDIT
A student can receive credit toward graduation by transfer of academic work taken
at other accredited graduate schools. No more than 50% of a student's Gordon-Conwell
program can be fulfilled by transfer credit, shared credit, advanced standing and/or
Semlink courses. If a degree was completed at another school accredited by the Association
of Theological Schools, up to half of the credits of the completed degree or Gordon-Conwell
degree (whichever is smaller) may be applied to a Gordon-Conwell degree as transfer
credit. Unaccredited graduate work is occasionally accepted at partial value, although
the general rule is no more than nine elective hours will be given for such work.
Transfer evaluations are completed by the Registration Office upon receipt of written request by the student (Transfer Evaluation Request Form). To be considered for either transfer credit or advanced standing, a grade of "C" or better is required. Transfer courses graded on a pass/fail basis may be accepted as long as the student still has some pass/fails remaining in his/her Gordon-Conwell degree program. Such transfer courses will reduce the number of pass/fails the student has available at Gordon-Conwell. (See Pass/Fail Policy) Transferred grades will not be used in the computation of the GPA. Normally, transfer credit is not granted for work completed more than ten years prior to matriculation at Gordon-Conwell.
VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATION BENEFIT
Gordon-Conwell cooperates with the federal government in supporting veterans (active
duty and selected reserve) and their dependents eligible for education benefits under
the Montgomery GI Bill. Applications and information regarding enrollment for benefits
may be found at www.gibill.va.gov.
For further information regarding enrollment certification see the Registration Office.
VIOLATIONS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The Seminary considers all breaches of personal and academic integrity to be serious offenses. As such, the seminary has a zero tolerance for such behaviors.
Cheating involves, but is not necessarily limited to, the use of unauthorized sources of information during an examination. Duplication of course requirements involves the submission of the same (or substantially same) work for credit in two or more courses without the knowledge and consent of the instructors. (See Duplication of Course Requirements) Plagiarism involves the use of another person's distinctive ideas or words, whether published or unpublished, and representing them as one's own instead of giving proper credit to the source.
[Please note that further clarification on exactly what constitutes plagiarism is anticipated from the EPPC in the future.]
All allegations of cheating and plagiarism are referred to the Judicial Committee. The Judicial Committee is a sub-committee of the Education Policy and Planning Committee with representatives from the faculty of all three academic divisions. The Judicial Committee is chaired by the Registrar of the Seminary.
Allegations and Appeals Process:
Reasonable deviations from these procedures will not invalidate a decision or proceeding unless significant prejudice to the student may result.
Students who plan to attend the Seminary for the sole purpose of transferring credits to another school may be admitted as visiting students. Visiting students are classified as nondegree-seeking students and are ineligible to register for Reading and Research Courses, Out-of-Sequence Courses, and other types of directed studies. It is entirely the responsibility of the student to check with his/her home school to ensure that their school will accept the course(s) taken at Gordon-Conwell as transfer credit. Since many schools have special policies governing the transfer of distance education credits, students planning to transfer Semlink courses should be especially careful to make sure that their home schools understand that these are distance education courses.
VOTER REGISTRATION
State law requires educational institutions to make available to students mail-in
affidavits for voter registration. Forms for out-of-state students wishing to vote
in Massachusetts are available in the Registration Office.
For out-of-state students wishing to vote in a state other than Massachusetts, the
federal mail-in affidavit of voter registration or a mail-in registration form supplied
by that state may be used. The student can contact the appropriate state election
official to receive the state form or call/write the Massachusetts Elections Division.
WAIVERS
Waivers allow a student to substitute a different course within the curriculum for
one specifically required in the student's program. The substituted course must normally
be within the same department as the original requirement. (For example, waiver of
the required course EM 502 would allow the student to take another course within the
area of "Educational Ministries" but not one in the area of "Pastoral
Counseling.")
Typically, waivers are granted to students who have done similar work at other institutions,
either at the graduate or undergraduate level. When meeting with the appropriate professor,
the student should be prepared to discuss content that was covered in the previous
coursework, either by producing syllabi, course descriptions or transcripts showing
completed work.
Occasionally, a student will be granted permission to waive a requirement with another
course similar in design but varying in focus without having completed previous coursework
at another school. In such cases, approval will be granted only when the student canshow
adequate reason why the "substitute" course would be more appropriate for
the student's intended vocational goals.
Waivers will not be granted for reasons such as convenience to a student's schedule,
lack of proper planning on the part of the student, change of degree program late
in the student's academic career, or because of previous experience gained outside
of a classroom setting.
Waiver petitions are available from the Registration
Office. Waiver requests require approval of the appropriate division and/or professor
as well as the Registration Office.
WAIVERS FOR M.Div. WOMEN AND RACIAL MINORITY STUDENTS
Gordon-Conwell recognizes that women and racial minority students in the Master of
Divinity program may desire courses that focus on learning and/or ministry in gender-
and/or culturally-specific contexts. In light of this, and the variety of specialized
courses available through the Boston
Theological Institute (BTI), the seminary has established a policy to allow for
the waiving of some M.Div. courses in certain instances. Women and racial minority
M.Div. students may take via the offerings of the Boston Theological Institute one
of their divisional requirements in each of the following areas: OT, NT, TH, CH, SE/ET;
and from the offerings of the Division of Ministry a total of two courses, but not
more than one in a given area.
In order to waive a required course, the student must follow the standard procedure
for waiver of a course. (See Waivers) Such waivers are
granted only for BTI courses which appropriately correspond to the parallel Gordon-Conwell
course and fulfill the special needs of the student seeking the waiver.
WITHDRAWN STUDENT/LEAVE OF ABSENCE
A student who does not enroll at the seminary for one semester or more must officially
withdraw. Such a student will be considered as taking a leave of absence unless the
student indicates that he or she is permanently withdrawing. A student withdrawing
from the seminary must secure the proper Withdrawal Form
from the Registration Office and complete the instructions therein. If an officially
withdrawn student desires to return within two years from the date of last enrollment,
reinstatement may be requested by sending a letter to the Registration Office. In
some instances, the Registrar may request an interview. Upon reinstatement, the student
will be permitted to register for courses retaining the seniority they had upon official
withdrawal. A student remaining withdrawn for a period extending beyond two years
from the date of withdrawal must seek re-admission through the Admissions Office.
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