Preparation for Study

Philosophy
Advanced study in Christian ethics and systematic theology require that students be familiar with the concepts of classical philosophy. Therefore, M.A., M.Div., and M.T.S. students are required to have taken an undergraduate introductory philosophy course. The Admissions Office will notify you if you have not met this requirement, and you must do so by the time you have completed 30 hours of coursework. To meet the requirement, you may take an introductory course at an accredited undergraduate institution; or you may take a Master's level philosophy course at Wesley, through the Consortium, or at an ATS accredited institution. Courses taken at the undergraduate level will fulfill the requirement but do not transfer. Courses taken at the Master's level will fulfill the requirement and can be considered for elective credit.

Writing
An important part of a Seminary education is developing the ability to write clearly and precisely on a theological level. Seminary students should be able to show proficiency in writing at a college level. If your written work reveals a deficiency, you may be required work with the Writing Center to strengthen your writing skills.

Any student who needs assistance with writing skills should take advantage of The Writing Center.

Speech
A Speech Proficiency assessment is administered to M.Div. candidates on an individual basis each semester. Based on that assessment, you may be directed to register for course PW-201, The Lively Word. You may also be directed toward other help if this seems advisable in the light of test results.

Academic Planning and Advising

Overview
The purpose of the advising program at Wesley Theological Seminary is to assist you with academic planning. Through a series of meetings and checkpoints, explained below and in the Seminary catalog, each student works with a faculty advisor to develop and maintain a plan of study.

The following points outline the STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY in the academic planning process:

• Attend New Student Academic Planning and New Student Orientation.
• Meet with advisor during the first semester to develop an academic plan. Suggested plans may be found in the Student Handbook. Submit copy of plan to Registrar's Office.
• M.Div. and M.A. students must complete the "First 30 Hours" requirements for their degree program. At the 30-hour point, the Dean and the Registrar will review your progress. Students who have successfully completed these requirements will be presented to the faculty for Advancement to Candidacy.
• Meet with advisor when two-thirds of the program is completed to revise the academic plan and project a graduation date. Submit a copy of the revised plan to the Registrar's Office.
• Keep track of progress to see that all requirements for graduation are met and make sure that any deviations from the normal program are approved by the respective degree committee in a timely fashion.
• Apply for graduation by October 15 of the fall semester prior to graduation. At that time, the Registrar's Office will provide you with an official degree audit.

Advancement to Candidacy
After you have completed 30 hours in the M.Div. or M.A. degree program, your record will be reviewed for eligibility to be advanced to degree candidacy. Advancement to candidacy will be granted provided that you have shown definite effort to achieve the objectives of the curriculum and no problems have arisen to cast serious doubt on potential for ministry. The following categories and criteria will be considered:

Satisfactory Progress
• completed speech and writing assessments and any work required on the basis of those assessments
• satisfaction of philosophy requirement
• completion of the following foundational requirements: Introduction to Hebrew Bible I and II, Introduction to New Testament: Gospels and Epistles, The Church in History I and II, Covenant Discipleship, and Introduction to Worship
• completion of a long-range plan with a faculty advisor.
Satisfactory Academic Status
• no academic probation
• a cumulative GPA above 2.3
• no outstanding grades or extensions.

Satisfactory Formation Development
• a signed Covenant of Professional Ethics and Behavior
• no unresolved personal development issues that have come to the attention of the Seminary.

Failure to advance to candidacy will require you to develop a plan, in consultation with the Dean, the Associate Dean of Community Life, and an advisor to address the issues that prohibited advancement. In most cases, such a plan must be carried out within the next 15 hours of work toward the degree. Failure to fulfill the plan may result in separation from the Seminary.

Students are encouraged to meet with their advisors on a yearly basis to review their academic plans. Once they have completed two-thirds of their degree (45 hours for M.A. and M.T.S.; 60 hours for M.Div.), students must meet with their advisors to revise their academic plans and project a graduation date. A copy of the revised plan is submitted to the Registrar's Office.

Records of degree students are reviewed for a final time when they apply for graduation in the fall of the year they intend to graduate.

Special (Non-degree) students who wish to talk with an advisor about academic planning or other advising matters may meet with the Director of Admissions. The D.Min. Director serves as advisor to all D.Min. students.

Work Load
To be considered full-time, a student must carry at least 11 hours of coursework. A student who is well prepared for theological studies and who has little or no responsibility for work outside of school may regard 15 or 16 credit hours per semester as a normal load. To carry more than 17 hours in one semester or more than eight hours in the summer term requires permission of the Dean. Course assignments usually require two hours of study per week outside of class for each semester-hour credit.

Students are advised not to undertake more than ten hours of compensated work per week in church assignments or otherwise during the first year, unless for imperative financial reasons. If you must work more than 10 hours per week in order to support yourself or your family, you should reduce your course load accordingly and plan for a Seminary course of study that lasts more than three years.

You should also arrange to do church work with maximum educational benefit, under supervision. After the first year, experience will enable you and your advisor to plan more wisely for the other years. Bear in mind that 15 hours of coursework and 15 hours of work per week in a church equals a work week of 60 hours or more, not counting travel time. Realistic planning may avoid disappointment and inferior preparation for a lifetime of ministry.

Degree Transfer
Students desiring to transfer from one degree program to another may complete a degree transfer request form available in the Registrar's Office. Your file will then be reviewed by the Admissions Office. The Admissions Office will contact you if additional information is needed to process admission into the new program.

All courses satisfactorily completed in one Master's program usually will be credited toward the total hours of the new Master's program. You must, however, meet all requirements of the new degree in effect at the time the transfer is approved; even if this results in a total of more than 90 hours for the M.Div. or more than 60 hours for the M.A. or M.T.S.

All changes in degree objective become effective with the first semester's registration following approval of the change.

Suggested Degree Plans
Suggested degree plans for the M.Div., M.A., and M.T.S. degree programs are in the Student Handbook. While there is flexibility in the sequencing of courses, these plans include prerequisites and the foundational courses to be taken in the first 30 hours. Deviation from these suggested patterns may result in additional years to complete requirements for graduation. Any questions about academic planning may be discussed with an academic advisor.

Registration

Overview
Before each semester, there is a four-week registration period. Dates for registration are listed in the Academic Calendar. All continuing master's degree students are expected to register using the on-line registration system during these periods. Registration is a contract with Wesley Theological Seminary to attend and pay for the course listed. After the registration period, you must pay a Late Registration Fee. Any changes in registration after the beginning classes must be submitted on a registration form and must be submitted in writing. Students may preregister for limited-enrollment courses; those who are closest to graduation are given priority for these courses.

Doctor of Ministry students register for January and May intensives on-line. Dates for D.Min. registration are listed in the Academic Calendar. After the registration period, you must pay a Late Registration Fee. Any changes in registration must be submitted in writing.

Continuing Enrollment
All degree candidates are required to be continuously enrolled each semester from the initial registration until all degree requirements are completed and graduation has occurred. In the event that you cannot register for at least one course in any semester, you must register for Continuing Enrollment during the regular registration period. The fee for Continuing Enrollment is listed in the Fees section of this catalog. If you have been granted permission to take courses at another institution during a regular fall or spring semester, you must concurrently register for Continuing Enrollment at Wesley. Further, students who have completed all degree requirements but have not yet graduated from Wesley must also register for Continuing Enrollment.

If you register for more than two consecutive semesters in Continuing Enrollment your status will be reviewed by the appropriate degree committee to determine the likelihood of your degree completion within the time limits permitted for that degree program.

A degree candidate who does not register either for courses or for Continuing Enrollment by the end of the add period in any semester will automatically be registered for Continuing Enrollment and charged a late registration fee. Those who fail to register for two consecutive semesters will be withdrawn from the Seminary and must reapply for admission if they wish to continue in a degree program.

Library privileges at Wesley Seminary and other member schools of the Theological Consortium are available to students while continuing enrollment.

Courses Taken at Other Institutions
Students wishing to take courses at institutions falling outside the Wesley's agreements with the Consortium and The American University must receive the permission of the appropriate degree committee prior to registration if that coursework is to be counted toward fulfillment of a Wesley degree program. Students permitted to register for all courses at another institution during any given semester are required also to register for Continuing Enrollment at Wesley.

Candidates for the M.Div. degree must complete their final 45 hours of coursework at Wesley. M.A. and M.T.S. candidates must take at least the final 30 hours at Wesley.

Transfer Credit
Applicants who meet the requirements for admission and have completed courses at another theological school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) may be considered for transfer admission. If you wish to be considered for transfer or advanced standing, please notify the Admissions Office during the application process, and a written transfer assessment will be provided to you. All transferable credit can be applied to your permanent record after successful completion of 11 hours at Wesley. You request the transfer using a petition form available in the Office of the Registrar.

Previous academic credit will be considered for transfer if it meets the following criteria:
- The credit is from a graduate theological school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.
- The grade is "B-" or higher graded on a conventional grading scale. "Pass" grades are not considered for transfer.
- The course was completed no more than seven years prior the date of admission to Wesley.

Maximum Transfer Credits: No more than half of the credit hours of a degree program at Wesley can be fulfilled by transfer credits, and the final half of the degree program must be completed at Wesley. Every candidate for Wesley's degree programs must meet all degree requirements, including the Practice in Ministry and Mission placement: two years for M.Div. students or one year for M.A. students.

Advanced Standing for Previous Theological Degrees: Applicants who have previously earned a theologically oriented degree may be considered for advanced standing credit. Advanced standing credit transfer is limited to not more than thirty hours and not more than half of the credits required for the previous degree may be transferred.

Credit for Non-Theological Studies: Applicants who have earned graduate credit hours in a non-theological area may be considered for not more than fifteen hours of transfer credit, provided that the courses are related to studies at Wesley. Requests for such transfer should include a written explanation of how the courses relate to the degree pursued at Wesley.

Credit for Course of Study: In cooperation with the Division of Ordained Ministry of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church, Wesley administers the Course of Study School for local pastors of The United Methodist Church. Some Course of Study students may wish to transfer into the Seminary's M.Div. program. Provided their application is acceptable and they have earned a Bachelor's degree prior to beginning their Course of Study, one credit hour may be transferred for each course completed with a grade of "B" or better.

Clinical Pastoral Education
Students may receive up to 9 academic credits for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) taken during their studies at Wesley Theological Seminary. The CPE must be taken at an accredited facility. A directory of facilities accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) is available on the ACPE website (www.acpe.edu). Students register for the appropriate course number (PC-491 for 0.5 unit/3 credits or PC-493 for 1 unit/6 credits) and pay tuition to Wesley, which then pays fees to the other institution. If the CPE is at an institution that awards academic credit, students should register and pay fees directly with the institution. Once completed, such credit may be transferred. Academic credit is not granted for CPE taken prior to matriculation in a degree program. CPE is graded on a pass/fail basis only.

Directed Study
Qualified Master's degree students may choose to undertake directed study in a specialized area of a field represented in the curriculum. Directed studies may occur during either Fall or Spring semester. Students must receive permission from a supervising professor as well as the approval of the appropriate degree committee. Forms for this approval process are available in the Registrar's Office.
Restrictions:
• Special students are not permitted to undertake directed studies.
• To be eligible for a directed study, a student must hold satisfactory academic standing.
• A directed study may not duplicate any courses listed in the Catalog.
• Directed study is not available in the first semester of the M.Div. or M.A. programs.
• No more than 15 hours may be earned through directed study.
• The maximum credit allowed for a directed study course is two semester hours for M.Div., M.A., and M.T.S. students.

Independent Study
Independent study is permitted only in the D.Min. program. It differs from directed study in that meetings with supervising faculty are required only at the beginning and end of the project. Forms for applying for independent study can be obtained from the D.Min. office.

Consortium Cross-Registration
Wesley degree students who have completed at least one semester of study on the Wesley campus are eligible to take courses through the Washington Theological Consortium. Each M.Div. student is required to complete at least one elective course (two semester hours minimum) in one of the other Consortium member institutions. (Basic degree requirements must be taken at Wesley.) In addition to any course at one of the other member seminaries, this requirement may be satisfied by courses offered by another Seminary on the Wesley campus or by courses offered directly through the Consortium (indicated by CO- as prefix to the course number). This requirement cannot be met by a Wesley course offered on the campus of one of the other member institutions.

Courses available for cross-registration may be found on the Consortium website (www.washtheocon.org). Students wishing to cross-register may do so by completing the online Consortium Cross-Registration Form available on Campus Web. Registrations are processed and added to the student's schedule within two working days. Tuition for Consortium courses follows the same rate schedule as Wesley courses.

The following rules have been adopted by the Consortium Executive Committee concerning multiple cross-registrations:
• Students may cross-register for one course in any or each school, in each semester, without question, within the rules of their home school.
• Students may cross-register for two courses in the same school each semester:
o if they have the approval of their Advisor that these courses will be of significant value and importance to their theological education or pastoral training
o if they set out in writing to the Dean of the host school the value and importance of the courses
o if the Dean of the home school indicates approval of the request by affixing a signature. (No permission is necessary from the Dean of the host school.)

Students may not register for more than two courses in the same semester in the same school without explicit written permission from the Dean of the host school. A student is to seek this permission in writing in a letter to the Dean of the host school, stating the reason for the request. The Dean of the home school, indicating approval, must also sign this letter of request. A written answer should be received from the Dean of the host school at least one week prior to the final date of late registration and schedule changes.

A.U. Cross-Registration
Degree students may cross-register for courses at American University by completing a cross-registration form available in the Registrar's Office. A.U. cross-registration requires permission of the Dean at Wesley and a departmental representative at A.U.

Changes and Withdrawals
Following the registration period, students may make changes in registration using the on-line registration system. Any registration changes made after the beginning of classes must be submitted on a Registration Form and are subject to a Change of Registration fee. Changes in registration are subject to the restrictions on the following add-drop schedule:
• End of first week: last day to add course without instructor's signature.
• End of second week: last day to add course with instructor's signature; last day to change course from credit to audit; last day to drop course without a "W"; last day to drop course with full refund.
• End of third week: last day to drop course with 75% refund.
• End of fourth week: last day to drop course with 50% refund.
• End of fifth week: last day to change from credit to P/F; last day to drop course with 25% refund.
• End of tenth week: last day to drop course without "F."

Complete withdrawal from the Seminary during the course of the semester for emergency reasons is allowed, provided notice of intention to withdraw is presented to the Dean in an exit interview.

The faculty may, at any time during a student's matriculation, advise withdrawal from the Seminary. The grounds for such advice may be academic, medical, or based on concerns about the student's perceived personal development. In all cases, the principle governing the decision is the rule of fitness for effective functioning in the highly responsible work of Christian ministry. If, after careful observation in the common life of the Seminary community, it appears that a student would be unhappy or unproductive as a Christian minister, the student may be advised by the faculty to withdraw from the Seminary. In such cases, the student's right to due process will be fully respected.

Evaluation and Grading

Overview
Faculty members are responsible for grading students in their classes. They take this responsibility seriously and strive to act in a fair and conscientious manner. There is no standard grading scale for the Seminary. Grading standards for each course shall be specified from the outset, and papers and examinations shall be returned within a reasonable time, accompanied by constructive comments and specific grades where appropriate. Changes may be made after a grade is reported to the Registrar's Office only if the faculty member involved certifies that a clerical error was made. The Faculty and the Dean have affirmed that the faculty is the final evaluator and grader of all class assignments.

Grading System
At the time of initial registration, students in the M.Div., M.A., or M.T.S. degree programs may elect to be evaluated on either a letter-grade scale or on a Pass/Fail basis. A student is permitted to change status once after the initial choice. Such a change may occur only during a registration period.

M.Div., M.A., and M.T.S. students who have elected letter grading may register for a maximum of one course per semester on a Pass/Fail basis; that course must be an elective.

Grades assigned in the "conventional" system and compiled as quality points towards a GPA are:
A = 4.000
A- = 3.700
B+ = 3.300
B= 3.000
B- = 2.700
C+ = 2.300
C = 2.000
C- = 1.700
F = 0.000

Other symbols used are:
L = Audit (listener)
W = Withdrew after the second week of the semester
NR = Grade not reported at the time of posting
P = Pass (Quality of work no less than "C" on a conventional grading scale)

D.Min. and Special Students are graded only with "conventional" grades. The grade of "incomplete" is not given at Wesley (see Extension of Time). An incomplete in a Consortium school that permits them is recorded permanently as an "F" on the Wesley record, and an incomplete from any other school is not transferred at all. The grade "D" is not used at Wesley.

Academic Warning System
Master's programs: A cumulative grade average of "C+" (2.30) is required for graduation with the M.Div., M.A., or M.T.S. degree. Any grade below "C+" is a warning that a student is not showing promise of successfully completing degree work. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.3 will be placed on academic probation and monitored until the GPA is 2.3 or better. Any grade of "F" will result in an academic performance review. Based on the review, a student will either receive an academic warning or be placed on academic probation until demonstrating promise for successful completion of degree work. Any master's level or special student who accumulates as many as nine hours of "F" will be automatically separated from the Seminary. Students separated from the Seminary under these conditions may apply for readmission after one academic year has passed. Students placed on academic probation must take a minimum of six credit hours per semester until their status is changed.

D.Min. program: No credit is granted for courses with a final grade below "B-," and an overall average of "B" (3.00) or better must be maintained for graduation. No credit is granted for any D.Min. coursework if a student is absent for more than six contact hours. A grade of "F" in any course results in automatic dismissal from the program. D.Min. students unable to complete the program may be awarded a "Certificate of Course Completion in Postgraduate Theological Studies," provided they have completed at least 18 hours of coursework on a satisfactory basis.

No coursework may be taken during the Spring semester of the graduation year. All Projects are due on the date specified in the Seminary calendar.

Classroom Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes in their entirety. Faculty members have the authority to set attendance policies for particular courses and those policies will be included in the course syllabus. Deviation from the attendance policy may result in reduction of grade or loss of credit.

Application for Graduation and Attendance at Commencement
Students must apply for graduation in the Fall semester of the year in which they anticipate graduating. Note the deadline for Application in the Academic Calendar. At the time of application, your records will be reviewed and all who are eligible for graduation will be granted preliminary clearance. Graduating students are expected to be present at Commencement unless excused by the Dean for justifiable reasons, stated in a written petition.
Honors at Graduation
Graduation honors for the M.A, M.Div. and M.T.S. degrees are voted by the faculty, based on cumulative grade average. Graduates with a cumulative grade average of 3.7 or higher are eligible for honors.

To be considered for honors, M.Div. students must complete a minimum of 60 hours of coursework at Wesley on the conventional grading system. M.A. and M.T.S. students must complete a minimum of 40 hours at Wesley on the conventional grading system. Students who elect Pass/Fail grading are understood to have elected not to be considered for graduation honors.

Extension of Time for Written Work
Fall and Spring semester courses: All course papers and other projects are due no later than noon of the Friday preceding final examinations. Individual instructors may designate earlier due dates. Course papers for courses or seminars without final examinations may be due during final exam week. Extensions of time for required papers and projects may be granted by the appropriate degree committee in cases of genuine emergency, provided a petition has been submitted prior to the deadline.

No coursework will be assigned a grade of "Incomplete." If coursework is not completed by the due date, and a student is not granted an extension, the course grade will automatically be "F."

D.Min. Intensive Courses: Written work for a D.Min. class is due in the D.Min. Office four weeks after the last day of class. An extension of time may be granted by permission of the instructor, using the form available on the website at www.wesleyseminary.edu/dmin or by request from the D.Min. Office. Failure to request an extension or to submit written work within two weeks from the due date for the assignment will result in a failing grade.

Academic Records

Transcript Requests
In compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, all transcript requests must be made in writing with the signature of the inquiring student. Please print, complete and mail the Transcript Request Form or send a letter with the following information to the attention of Office of the Registrar:
• Full name at time of attendance
• Social Security Number
• Dates of attendance or year of graduation
• Degree program
• Home address and telephone
• Address where transcript should be sent.

Transcript requests received by 4 p.m. on Mondays will be sent out the same week. Additional time may be required during registration, grading periods, and holidays. Transcript requests are not accepted via fax or e-mail due to the authenticity of signatures and the possibility of fraud.

Up to two official transcripts per week may be requested for free. Additional transcripts are $10.00 each. All rush requests are an additional $10.00 per transcript. Payment may be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only).

Failure to provide complete information and signature may result in a processing delay. Transcripts will only be issued for students who are in good standing with the Business Office. Official transcripts are enclosed in signed, sealed envelopes.

Please mail your request to:
Office of the Registrar
4500 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20016-5790

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the Seminary receives a request for access.

Students should submit to the Registrar written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Seminary official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes is inaccurate.

Students may ask the Seminary to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the Seminary official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. This request should be delivered to the Registrar, who will forward it to the appropriate Seminary official.

If the official responsible for the record decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the Seminary will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

An exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the Seminary in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the Seminary has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

The Seminary may also release the following directory information without prior consent:
• Name of student
• Photograph of student
• Mailing address
• Home telephone number
• Work telephone number
• Campus box number
• Email address
• Dates of attendance
• Graduation date
• Degree program.

Denominational affiliation is not considered directory information. Students may sign a release waiver that allows the Seminary to release denominational affiliation information to official representatives of the declared denomination.

Students may submit a request in writing to the Registrar's Office to prohibit the release of directory information without consent.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Wesley Theological Seminary to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901

Academic Standards and Disciplinary Actions

Academic Standards
Students are expected to comply with all academic regulations and requirements, both of the Seminary and of the classes in which they are enrolled. Academic honesty is expected and required. Plagiarism is regarded as a serious offense and will result in substantial penalties, including the possibility of academic dismissal.
The Faculty regards the following as forms of plagiarism or dishonesty:
• copying from another student's paper
• giving or receiving unauthorized assistance to or from another student during an examination
• using unauthorized material during an examination
• borrowing and presenting as one's own (i.e., without proper attribution) the composition or ideas of another.
The mutilation, defacement, or stealing of library materials are examples of academic dishonesty and/or professional misconduct and are also subject to disciplinary action.

Disciplinary Actions
In cases of academic dishonesty or personal or professional misconduct, it may prove necessary to dismiss the student from the Seminary or to delay completion of his/her degree program until satisfactory progress can be made in dealing with academic, professional, or personal problems. The Seminary protects the interests of the student by adhering to the following procedures.

Academic Discipline
In questions of academic dishonesty (including cheating on exams or papers and plagiarism), the professor will report the circumstances of the case to the Dean. In first instances of proven plagiarism or dishonesty, the student will receive a "Fail" grade for the course. Second instances will result in automatic separation from the Seminary. In all instances, the procedures outlined below will be followed:
1. The Dean shall notify the student of the nature of the evidence in the hands of the Seminary and requesting the student to meet with the Dean, the Associate Dean for Community Life and the respective Faculty.
2. The student will meet with the Deans and Faculty member. Following this meeting, the Dean will make a decision concerning the resolution of the charges.
3. The Dean may refer serious cases to the Personal Development for Ministries (PDM) Committee in consultation with the Associate Dean for Community Life. Students may also appeal to the PDM Committee.
4. In cases of referral or appeal, the student will be requested to meet with the PDM Committee and may be accompanied by his or her Faculty Advisor. The Committee will investigate the situation and will ratify, modify, or vacate the Dean's decision. Recommendations for dismissal shall be forwarded to the Faculty for final approval.
5. Should the PDM Committee refer the student to the Faculty for dismissal, a letter will be sent from the PDM Committee to the Faculty through the Dean and to the student ten days before a faculty meeting. Such a letter shall include designation of the nature of disciplinary or other action to be taken. The student shall be given the opportunity to send comments or objections by letter to the Faculty through the Dean at this time. The Faculty upon motion duly made shall take action by ratifying, modifying, or vacating the recommendations of the Committee. The Dean shall notify the student in writing of the Faculty's decision.

Personal/Professional Discipline
Whenever the Seminary is presented with a problem of inappropriate conduct, personal immaturity, or evidence of emotional or mental instability that could lead to disciplinary action, or when a student demonstrates behavior that brings into question fitness for ministry, the following procedure will be followed:
1. A written complaint regarding the student must be made to the Associate Dean for Community Life by the injured party or his/her representative. The complaint may be sent through regular mail or e-mail.
2. There shall be a preliminary hearing between the student whose character or conduct has been questioned and the Associate Dean for Community Life for the purpose of ascertaining the facts of the case. In that preliminary hearing, the student shall be informed of the information in the Seminary's possession and the student shall be invited to respond. The possibility shall be explored that the charges are untrue or do not justify disciplinary action or that by some voluntary cooperation on the part of the student the matter may be brought to a just result without the necessity of formal action. The Associate Dean for Community Life shall then make a decision concerning resolution of the charges or referral to the Personal Development for Ministry (PDM) Committee. Decisions of the Associate Dean for Community Life may be appealed to the PDM Committee; decisions of the PDM Committee may be appealed to the Faculty.
3. If the matter is referred to the PDM Committee, the Associate Dean for Community Life shall write a letter to the student stating the nature of the evidence in the hands of the Seminary, and in what respects the evidence may indicate that the student lacks one or more of the characteristics of a degree candidate. The letter will request that the student meet with the PDM Committee, the Dean, and the Associate Dean for Community Life no later than ten days after receipt of the letter, at a time and place designated.
4. The student will meet with the PDM Committee, the Dean, and the Associate Dean for Community Life. The student's Faculty Advisor shall be invited to attend. Following this meeting, the PDM Committee shall make a decision concerning the resolution of the charges or referral to Faculty, in cases of dismissal.
5. Should the PDM Committee refer the student to the Faculty for dismissal, a letter will be sent from the PDM Committee to the Faculty through the Dean and to the student ten days before a faculty meeting. Such a letter shall include designation of the nature of disciplinary or other action to be taken. The student shall be given the opportunity to send comments or objections by letter to the Faculty through the Dean at this time. The Faculty upon motion duly made shall take action by ratifying, modifying, or vacating the recommendations of the Committee. The Dean shall notify the student in writing of the Faculty's decision.
6. Students who are withdrawn from matriculation for such reasons may be considered for readmission by the Admissions Committee following appropriate assessment, consultation with the Associate Dean for Community Life, and a determination that the condition requiring withdrawal has been remedied.
Other Academic Regulations and Information
More detailed academic regulations and procedures are outlined in the Student Handbook given to each new student during Orientation.

It is each student's responsibility to meet all requirements for graduation and for ecclesiastical ordination, and to ensure that any deviations from the normal program are pre-approved by the appropriate degree committee.