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Grading
At the end of each term, a report of academic achievement is
sent to all seminarians and, with their permission, to their
respective bishops or religious superiors. The quality of work
done, as shown by classroom participation, papers, tests and
examinations, is recorded in letters having these official
interpretations and quality point values:
| A - Excellent |
|
(100-94) |
| B - Good |
|
(93-86) |
| C - Fair |
|
(85-78) |
| D - Poor |
|
(77-70) |
| F - Failure |
|
(69 or less) |
| Quality Points: |
| A (4.00) |
|
B+ (3.34) |
|
C+ (2.34) |
|
D+ (1.34) |
|
F (0.00) |
| A- (3.68) |
|
B (3.00) |
|
C (2.00) |
|
D (1.00) |
|
|
| |
|
B- (2.68) |
|
C- (1.68) |
|
D- (0.68) |
|
|
A student who receives an "F" earns no credit for the course and
must repeat the course if it is required (500 level). If a failed
course is repeated and a passing grade is earned, the "F" will show
on the transcript, but will not be computed in the cumulative grade
point average. A student who receives two "F"s in one semester will
be dismissed for poor scholarship.
I - Incomplete: An "I" is automatically changed
to an "F" if work is not completed within six weeks of the end of
the term in which the "I" was received. The exact date is stated in
the official calendar.
P - Passing: Credit hours are granted, but the
grade is not calculated in the cumulative grade point average.
W - Withdrew from course: A student may
withdraw from a course at any point before the established deadline
listed in the academic calendar. A "W" will appear on the student's
transcript and no credit hours will be granted for the course.
Under extraordinary circumstances a student may petition the dean
for permission to withdraw from a course after the deadline and
before final grades are due to the registrar.
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Credit Hours
In keeping with standard academic practice, instruction at Saint
Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is measured in terms of
credit hours. Each credit hour is equivalent to about 50 minutes of
formal instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per
week per semester (13 to 14 weeks). Alternative-format courses
(weekend courses, Web-hybrid courses, etc.) are designed to be
roughly equivalent to this standard.
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Transfer of
Credits
Credits earned at other accredited theological seminaries or
graduate schools of theology may be applied toward a Saint Meinrad
Seminary and School of Theology degree if the following conditions
are met:
- The student earned a grade of "B-" or above; and
- The course is comparable to one taught at Saint Meinrad.
As a general rule, transfer credits may not exceed one-third of
the credits required for either degree.
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Class
Attendance
Each instructor will determine the regulation for class
attendance. As a rule, students are expected to attend all classes.
Absences from class should be approved by the professor in advance.
It is the primary responsibility of the professor to grant the
permission.
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Audit
Students may audit any class with the permission of the
instructor and the Academic Dean. There is an official record made
of audits.
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Exemptions
A student may petition for exemption from any required course by
using forms available from the Office of the Registrar. When an
exemption is granted, only the course requirement is satisfied. No
credit hours are granted.
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Alternate
Courses
With the permission of the Academic Dean and the professor, a
student may substitute an approved alternate course for any
required course.
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Academic
Probation
A student is placed on academic probation for two reasons:
- A required course has been failed, and/or
- The student's grade point average falls below "C" (2.0).
A student is removed from academic probation when the required
course has been repeated and passed or when the cumulative grade
point average reaches 2.0 or above. An MDiv student who remains on
academic probation for three consecutive semesters will be
dismissed for poor scholarship.
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Independent
Study Courses
Master of Divinity students may take no more than two
independent study elective courses in pursuit of their degree.
Independent study courses must meet these requirements:
- Three types of courses are possible: tutorial, guided study and
project.
- The amount of time devoted to the independent study should be
at least the same as for an equivalent credit course.
- The student, in collaboration with the course instructor,
generates a syllabus that identifies the goal, the outcomes, the
practices and the assessment of the course.
- The student must attain signatures of approval from the faculty
member directing the study and the Academic Dean.
Forms for registering for independent study elective courses may
be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.
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Plagiarism
Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is committed to
creating an intellectual environment in which both faculty and
students participate in the free and honorable pursuit of
knowledge. Therefore, all work submitted by students is presumed to
be their own. Any violation of academic integrity - cheating,
plagiarism or collusion - is considered a serious offense.
View
Statement on Academic Integrity.
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Transcripts
Transcripts may be requested from the Office of
the Registrar. Requests must be signed by the former student. Phone
or email requests cannot be honored. Official transcripts must be
sent directly to the designated school or organization. A $5 fee is
charged for each transcript.
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Confidentiality and
Access to Student Records
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 record
within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the Registrar, Academic Dean or other
appropriate official written requests that identify the record(s)
they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements
for access and notify the student of the time and place where the
records may be inspected. If the school official to whom the
request was submitted does not maintain the records, 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 school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They
should write the school official responsible for the record,
clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and
specify why it is inaccurate. If the school decides not to amend
the record as requested by the student, the school 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. One
exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure
to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school
official is a person employed by Saint Meinrad Seminary and School
of Theology in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research,
or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel
and health staff); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a
student serving on an official committee such as 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 right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of
Education concerning alleged failures by the School to comply with
the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that
administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20202-4605.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requires that
Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, with certain
exceptions, obtain written consent prior to the disclosure of
personally identifiable information from a student's education
records. However, Saint Meinrad may disclose appropriately
designated "directory information" without written consent, unless
the school has been advised in writing in the registrar's office to
the contrary. A student may file a written restrainer with the
registrar requesting that disclosure of this information not be
made without written permission.
Directory information includes, but is not limited to, the
information in the Registry: name, address, telephone
number, email address, home parish, affiliation and class listing.
Date/place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance,
degrees, honors, parents' names and address, along with the
student's photograph, are also considered directory information
although they are not listed in the Registry.
Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology will always follow
ecclesiastical law as it relates to disclosure of information
regarding seminary students.
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