St Vincent Seminary

Programs

General Academic Policies

Academic Advisors	Financial Aid
Academic Cooperation w/ St Vincent College	Grades
Academic Handbook	Grade Point Average
Add Drop Forms	Honors
Audit	Records Policy
Continuing Education	Registration
Credit Hours	Repetition of Courses
English as a Second Language	Student Government
	Withdrawal

Academic Advisors

The Seminary recognizes the value of faculty-student relationships and considers academic advising of students to be a critical element of education. We assign an academic advisor to students in the Master of Divinity and Priestly Formation Programs when they begin studies. In subsequent semesters, students who wish to change their academic advisors may contact the Academic Dean.
Master of Arts and Bachelor of Sacred Theology candidates request a faculty member to serve as academic advisor.

Academic Cooperation with Saint Vincent College

Sharing the same campus, the Seminary and the College take advantage of a mutually beneficial relationship. In some cases, students in the Seminary’s pre-theology formation program take prerequisite courses in the undergraduate departments of the College.
A cooperative arrangement with the Department of Religious Studies in the College features some courses available to both undergraduates and graduates. In turn, the Seminary admits a limited number of highly qualified undergraduates to certain graduate courses as special students with the recommendation of the Chairperson of the Theology Department and with the permission of the Academic Dean of the Seminary.

Academic Handbook

The Seminary’s Academic and Student Handbook describes in more detail the policies and procedures of the degree programs available through the Seminary. It also addresses the responsibilities and expectations of field education, community life, student government, and social outreach. Other important matters concern the evaluation of courses, services available through the college, and Seminary academic awards. The Seminary updates the Handbook yearly and gives students and faculty an updated one at the beginning of each academic year. The Handbook is located in the office of the Academic Dean should anyone need a copy.

Add/Drop Forms

Registered students who wish to add or drop a course must complete add/drop forms. There is no charge to process these forms on the first day of classes, as the Registrar anticipates such changes. However, beginning with the second day of classes there is a processing fee, unless the change is the result of an administrative error on the part of Seminary Administration.

Students may register to audit a course with the permission of the Academic Dean. Students do not earn credit or grade points for auditing a course. Auditors are not required to submit any class assignments or take any examinations for a grade. However, the professors generally expect auditors to participate in class discussions and evidence comprehension of assigned reading material. There is a reduced tuition for auditors.

Continuing Education

The Seminary welcomes students who take classes on a continuing education basis. Those enrolled as continuing education students normally possess a bachelor's degree and the necessary background for courses which they wish to take. Continuing education students are admitted to courses by the Academic Dean and pay the regular tuition rate unless they audit the course.

Credit Hours

The Registrar records all courses in terms of credits or semester hours. One lecture or class period of fifty minutes duration per week for one semester is equivalent to one credit. The Director of Pastoral Formation, in consultation with the Academic Dean, determines the number of credits for field education.

English as a Second Language

Students for whom English is a second language are required to submit scores from a recent TOEFL examination, unless they have completed an undergraduate degree with an English language faculty. The Seminary looks for a score of 550 on the paper examination, 213 on the computer examination, in terms of readiness for graduate level work. It may be necessary for the students to attend some tutorial classes prior to entrance into First Theology. The Seminary has staff onsite to assist students who need additional help with English. Students who find they are having difficulty should consult with the Academic Dean.

Financial Aid

The Scholarship Committee of the Seminary distributes all financial aid. The Committee must adhere to all stipulations as stated in the various trusts, funds, endowment funds, and scholarship bequests.

Grades are recorded by letter using a plus (+) and minus (-) system; grade points are used to compute averages.

Letter Grade Grade Points
(per credit hour) Number Grades

A 4.00 93-100 Exceptional performance

A- 3.70 90-92 Excellent work

B+ 3.30 87-89 Very good work

B 3.00 83-86 Good work

B- 2.70 80-82 Acceptable work

C+ 2.30 77-79 Below average for graduate work

C 2.00 73-76 Inferior work for a graduate degree

C- 1.70 70-72 Poor work for a graduate degree

D 1.00 60-69 Unacceptable work for a graduate degree

F 0.00 0-59 Failure

Note: The “D” grade does not count toward a degree or meet the requirements of the Seminary’s Priestly Formation Program. If a priesthood candidate earns a “D” grade, he will have to take the course again.

Other Grading Symbols

G - Incomplete. A student must complete the course within one month of the beginning of the following semester or the grade becomes an F. The Academic Dean and instructor may grant an extension of time under certain circumstances.
IP - Course in Progress
P - Pass. The student passed the course with at least the equivalent of a “C-” (1.7 or 70%) or better. Credit is given, but grade points are not.
T - Transfer course. The Seminary grants credit for transfer work from another, accredited institution. It does not transfer the grade points.
X - Audit. There is no credit or grade points earned for auditing a course.
W - Withdrawal
WF - Withdrew Failing. Withdrawal from courses is official only if done through the Academic Dean’s Office. The academic calendar gives the deadlines for withdrawals. Failure to withdraw from a course officially will result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. The date recorded on official withdrawal forms determines the amount of the refund. A “W” on the transcript has no effect on the grade point average, but a “WF” does.

Grade Point Average

The Registrar calculates grade point averages by dividing the total number of credits taken on a letter-grade basis into the grade points earned. Transcripts record grade point averages.

Effective with the 1999-2000 academic year, a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 constitutes honors, 3.75 constitutes high honors and 3.90 constitutes highest honors.

Records and Transcript Policy

The Seminary makes available a statement informing students of their rights under the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974” (The Buckley Amendment). The purpose of this act is to establish procedures that govern access to and release of student records kept by the Seminary. Students should direct all questions about the access to and release of student records to the Rector or the Academic Dean.
Upon written request from the student, the Registrar will issue an official transcript. The Registrar sends the transcripts directly to the institution named by the student. There is a fee for this service.
It is the policy of the Seminary to send official transcripts to sponsors of students at the end of each semester. Individual students who object to this practice should notify the Rector in writing no later than ten calendar days into the semester.

Registration

Each year the times and procedures for academic registration are announced by the Academic Dean. All students register for themselves. A student’s academic advisor indicates approval of the schedule by signing the registration form. Any student wishing to register for more than 18 credits in a semester must seek the approval of the Academic Dean.

Repetition of Courses

The student may repeat a course, in which case the last grade shall replace the first in computing the grade point average. The previous grade received remains on the transcript, but only the credits earned in the repeated course count towards graduation.

Student Government

Students are encouraged to participate in the Student Association of the Seminary. Each student registered in a degree and/or ordination program is a member of the Association. Students should consult the Academic and Student Handbook to learn about the Constitution of the Association and other items of interest to all students.

Withdrawal From the Seminary Program

Students who withdraw from the Seminary are required to contact the Academic Dean and complete an official withdrawal form. This is especially important if the withdrawal is during the period when the student is entitled to a refund. The date recorded on the official withdrawal form determines the refund due.