UTS recognizes and also aligns with one of the general approach to credit hour policy outlined by the United States Department of Education, i.e., that one credit hour “reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester” and “equivalent amount of work” for “other academic activities as established by the institution” which, in the case of UTS might include “internships, practica” and “other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours.” 1

1 “34 CFR § 600.2 – Definitions,” Electronic Code of Federal Regulations Title 34 Education, Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute, accessed on September 20, 2022, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/34/600.2.

A student may request transfer of a limited number of credits for courses taken in graduate programs at other institutions accredited by an agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education, or in the case of international institutions, by an agency that is recognized by its national government or equivalent. The maximum number of transfer credits that can be accepted are:

• For the M.Div. Program: 24
• For the M.R.E. Program: 15
• For the M.A. in Religious Studies Program: 12
• For the D.Min. Program: 9

Credit from academic courses will be accepted for the Master programs if:

• The course covered the same material as a course offered at the Seminary; and
• The student has earned a minimum grade of C with full credit.
• The maximum number of credits for a course transferred is the number of credits UTS awards for the corresponding course.

Credits will be accepted for the Doctoral program if:

• The course was given on the doctoral-level;
• The student has earned a minimum grade of B with full credit; and
• The credits must have been earned within the last ten years of admittance to the D.Min. program at UTS.

Transfer credits normally apply to credit earned prior to attending UTS. Students enrolled at UTS who interrupt their studies to attend another school may not transfer those credits without prior approval from the Provost. Transfer credits should be considered upon entry into a degree program. Transfer credit request forms and additional information are available from the Registrar.

A. Withdrawal from courses

Withdrawal from a course after the add drop period requires the approval of the instructor and the Academic Advisor. Course withdrawals are permitted up to but not including the last week of the term. Failure to withdraw from a course results in a grade of F for the course.

Students will be considered to have withdrawn from a course if they miss 4 weeks of classes during the first 7 weeks without giving written notification.

Students officially withdrawing from courses up until the end of the first week of classes are entitled to a complete refund of tuition. Those withdrawing from the second week through the end of the seventh week of the term may receive a 50 percent refund of tuition. No refund will be given to students who withdraw after the end of the seventh week of the term. A student is responsible to pay whatever balance remains after withdrawing.

All fees are non refundable.

B. Withdrawal from the Institution

A student withdrawing from UTS is asked to notify in writing the Director of Student Life and the Registrar. Students may be asked to consult with the Provost in person. If a student extends his/her leave of absence for more than 2 terms, it is considered to be a withdrawal from the Seminary.

A. Grading

Grading is a professor's attempt to evaluate objectively a student's achievement in relation to the stated aim of a course. Evaluation is based on papers, examinations, class participation, and completion of other stated assignments or course objectives. Grades are recorded by letter, and are understood as follows:

A = Excellent

B = Good

C = Acceptable

D = Acceptable, but below expectations

F = Failure

In computing the cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) the following quality point scale is used:

A = 4.00 A 3.67 B+ 3.33

B = 3.00 B 2.67 C+ 2.33

C = 2.00 C 1.67 D+ 1.33

D = 1.00 D 0.67 F 0.00

F’s assigned to pass/fail courses do not compute into the G.P.A.

Other symbols used on the transcript are:

W = Withdrawal

I = Incomplete. Not computed into the G.P.A.

IP = In Progress

P = Pass. Assigned only in selected courses (e.g. Field Education). A “P” denotes a grade of “C” or better. Instructors may, at their discretion, grade Independent Study on a pass/fail basis. Not computed into the G.P.A.

R = Repeat

Prog = Progressing, only for Continuing Dissertation Enrollment

Non-Prog = Non-Progressing, only for Continuing Dissertation Enrollment

The Master of Arts Thesis is graded Pass/Fail. An exceptional thesis may receive Honors.

The Doctor of Ministry Dissertation is graded Pass/Fail based on the Dissertation Defense.

B. Incompletes

Faculty will assign grades at the end of the semester according to the work completed. Incompletes are given only when there are compelling medical or personal reasons. Students who fail to turn in assignments will be awarded an appropriate grade.

Students who receive an Incomplete have one term to make up the course work regardless of whether they take a leave of absence. At the end of the following term, if the Incomplete has not been resolved, the student is assigned a grade, either a contingency grade or an “F,” which is irrevocable. If the course is a core requirement, the student will then be required to retake the course. Students with more than 12 credits of incompletes cannot register for another term.

Incompletes are also assigned if a course or project is expected to last longer than a semester. Students have a reasonable time to complete the work, however, the Incomplete grade will be changed administratively to an F either two years after registering for the course or after the student has been inactive for two semesters due to withdrawal, leave of absence or attending commencement.

C. In Progress Grades

In Progress grades are given for courses in which a student is enrolled, but the term has not yet ended and/or final grades have not yet been submitted.

A full course load in the Master programs in a given semester consists of 9 or more credits, an internship of at least 4 credits, CPE registration, thesis registration, or Continuing Thesis/ Project Enrollment (for one term only). Registration for more than 16 credits requires approval of the Provost.

A full course load in the Doctoral program in a given semester consists of 7 credits, dissertation registration or Dissertation Continuing Enrollment.

Doctoral students are allowed five years from starting doctoral level courses to complete all degree requirements. Courses taken for M.Div. do not count towards this time limit. A student may ask for an extension of up to one year by submitting a request to the Director of the Doctor of Ministry program.

Independent study is intended for students who wish to explore aspects of a program area that are not part of the current curriculum. Students who have completed 24 credits may register for Independent Study by submitting to the Registrar a written proposal approved by the instructor and the Provost. Students are expected to meet with the instructor at least four times during the Independent Study. Students may undertake one Independent Study per term and not more than two per year unless approved by the Academic Affairs Committee.

A course may be offered as Directed Study when there is insufficient enrollment for a class. Normally Directed Study is offered only for courses required to complete degree requirements or for ordination. Students are expected to follow the course syllabus and meet with the faculty member at least once a week. Due to reduced contact hours, a course taught as Directed Study may require more work outside the classroom than a normal course.

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 is required for satisfactory academic standing in the graduate degree programs. If a student's cumulative G.P.A. falls below the minimum after completing 6 credits, the Provost will place the student on academic warning. If the student fails to achieve a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.50 during the following term, he/she will be placed on academic probation.

For D.Min students, if a student’s cumulative G.P.A falls below the minimum after completing 7 credits, the student will be placed on academic warning. If the student is not able to achieve a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.50 during the following semester, he/she will be placed on academic probation.

In addition, if a student has a term G.P.A. below the minimum, he/she will be placed on academic warning. If a student has two terms with a G.P.A. below the minimum, he/she will be placed on academic probation.

Students who are on academic probation are not allowed to register unless they provide the Provost or the Director of the D.Min. program an acceptable plan to address their academic shortcoming. If students do not submit an acceptable plan to the Provost or the Director of the D.Min. program, they will be dismissed.

Email is an efficient and effective method of communication. Therefore, UTS provides an email address to each registered student. This UTS email address is the only address that the Seminary (i.e. faculty and staff) will use to communicate electronically with students. Students are held responsible for all information communicated from the Seminary by email.In turn, only communications by students with their UTS issued email addressed are officially confirmed as bona fide representations of a student.

Students are required to attend all class sessions for the courses they are registered. Students are considered to be present at an on-campus class in one of the following ways: (1) by being physically present in class, (2) by being present in class synchronously via Zoom, or (3) by presenting evidence of course engagement through a written document as defined by the instructor within one week of the class session as evidence of having viewed the class session asynchronously. For students registered in a Canvas online course, a student will be counted as present in class after presenting the required assignment to the instructor within one week of the class session. Whenever unusual circumstances make regular attendance impossible, special arrangements should be made with the instructor.

Students missing three or more weeks of class in a given semester may be subject to withdrawal at the discretion of the course instructor.

Students missing four out of the first seven weeks without giving a formal written notification of an emergency are given an automatic administrative withdrawal.

Each student’s work shall be the product of his or her own effort. Plagiarism and other acts of academic dishonesty are serious violations of academic integrity. The penalty for a violation of this nature is disciplinary probation, suspension or dismissal.

A. Continuing Thesis/Project Enrollment

Students who are working on completing their Religious Education Project or Master of Arts Thesis/Project and are not otherwise registered for courses are required to register for the “Continuing Thesis/Project Enrollment”. This course enables them to continue to use the Seminary resources and will be counted as full-time enrollment. “Continuing Project Enrollment” is limited to one semester.

B. Dissertation Continuing Enrollment

Students who are working on completing their dissertation project are required to register for the "Dissertation Continuing Enrollment" which will count as full-time enrollment.

The Academic Advisor will assist the student in proper course selection to meet degree requirements. Each student should keep in mind, however, that he or she alone is ultimately responsible for understanding and fulfilling all graduation requirements. Students are responsible for their own degree plans and for the completion of all requirements for the degrees that they seek. Any questions about graduation require¬ments should be brought to the Registrar.