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ACADEMIC POLICIES
Current and detailed information concerning academic policies is provided by the student handbook. Further information is provided by special handbooks prepared for students in the School of Psychology, the School of Intercultural Studies, the Center for Advanced Theological Studies, the Doctor of Ministry Program, and the Extended Education Program. Changes are effected from time to time in the general regulations and academic policies. There are established procedures for making changes and for making such changes known to the students of the seminary. A curriculum or graduation requirement, when altered, is not made retroactive unless the alteration is to the student’s advantage and can be accommodated within the span of years normally required for graduation. Each student is responsible for knowing and understanding current academic policies. Ignorance of a policy which appears in a student handbook or in the catalog is not a valid reason for granting an exception to any policy.
Residence Requirements and Transfer Credit Residence requirements vary by degree program and are described in the appropriate sections of this catalog and in the student handbooks of the three schools. Subject to these limitations, Fuller normally accepts appropriate transfer credit from graduate institutions accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, or regional or recognized international accrediting associations. The Theology Academic Advising Office is responsible for all transfer credit granted in the School of Theology. Students in the School of Intercultural Studies and the School of Psychology should consult their academic advisor concerning transfer credit.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Satisfactory academic progress is defined as "reasonable progress toward completion of an educational goal." The guidelines which follow (see especially Academic Standing and Academic Probation) have been established to define the minimum standards for satisfactory academic progress at Fuller Theological Seminary. Individual schools or programs may impose additional or more stringent standards. Details may be found in the various student or program handbooks.
Enrollment Status Student enrollment status is defined on a quarterly basis in most of the programs of the seminary. One unit of credit is defined as an academic designation denoting a minimum of 25-30 hours of classroom experience, academic preparation and research. In addition to the following definitions, special guidelines for enrollment certification pertain to certain classes and programs. Contact the Registrar’s Office for details. It is important to note that work continued under a grade of Incomplete or Hold does not constitute enrollment beyond the quarter of registration. In all cases described below, all courses, in any of the three schools, on the Pasadena campus, at Extended Education sites, and in any other way that Fuller offers courses, are counted toward the both the minimum and maximum load. Full-time Study. For master’s level programs, both degree and nondegree, the minimum full-time study load is twelve (12) master’s-level units per quarter. The maximum study load is twenty (20) units in any quarter. In either case, field education courses (internships) in the School of Theology are valued as four (4) units, regardless of the number of units earned (even zero). In the PhD programs in the Schools of Theology and Intercultural Studies and the DMiss program, eight (8) units per quarter of doctoral-level work is considered a full-time study load. For Doctor of Ministry students, twelve (12) units in any given quarter constitutes full-time enrollment for that quarter and the following quarter. The maximum study load is twenty-four (24) units in any twelve-month period. For doctoral students in the School of Psychology, the minimum full-time study load is twelve (12) units per quarter. For Clinical Psychology students, the maximum academic load is sixteen (16) units in any given quarter (including the Summer Quarter). The maximum load for doctoral students in Marriage and Family is 20 units. Half-Time Study. Six to eleven (6-11) units per quarter constitutes half-time status at the master’s level, and in the doctoral programs in the School of Psychology. Half-time status for other PhD programs, the DMiss program, and the Theology ThM program is defined as four to seven (4-7) doctoral-level units per quarter. In the DMin program, four to eight (4-8) units in any given quarter constitute half-time enrollment for that quarter and the following quarter. Three Quarter-Time Study. For students receiving veteran’s benefits, eight (8) master’s-level units per quarter constitutes three quarter-time study status. The same is true of psychology doctoral classes. Three quarter-time status for other PhD programs and the DMiss program is defined as six 700- or 800-level units per quarter.
International Students International students are required to maintain valid immigration status throughout their stay at Fuller in order to remain in good standing with the seminary. In most cases, this requires that the student be enrolled full-time for three consecutive quarters out of every year. A person whose immigration status is not valid is not considered a current student, and cannot register for classes, participate in seminary activities, or apply for readmission or admission to other degree programs.
Attendance Policy Academic credit for a course requires regular class attendance, whether or not this is stated in the syllabus, and is not just a matter of completing the assignments. Attendance means being present in the class for the entire scheduled class meeting, not just some part of it. In the event of absence for any reason, the student is responsible for any information or class content missed. The professor may require additional work to make up for an absence. If a student is absent from a significant portion of the course or is frequently late for class meetings, even due to extenuating circumstances, this may result in a lower grade or even a failing grade for the course.
Absences and Withdrawal Whenever possible, students are expected to notify their academic advisor if they plan to discontinue enrollment for an extended period. If a student does not register for a period of two years (eight consecutive quarters), it will be necessary to apply for reinstatement. In such cases, students must meet the degree requirements in effect at the time they resume course work. Students who expect to discontinue their work at Fuller are expected to complete withdrawal forms, which require exit interviews from a variety of offices.
Academic Standing To remain in good academic standing, students must have successfully completed 75% of the courses in which they enrolled prior to Fall Quarter 1993, and have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 for all course work. Grades which represent successful completion are A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, CR (Credit), P (Pass), or SA (Satisfactory). Grades which do not represent successful completion are I (Incomplete), H (Hold), F (Fail), NS (Not Satisfactory), andNC (No Credit). In some programs, especially doctoral programs, higher standards for good academic standing in the program may apply. These higher standards are detailed in the appropriate student handbooks, and take precedence over the above standards.
Academic Probation In the event that a student fails to meet the above standards for good academic standing, he or she will be placed on academic probation. Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 may be subject to academic dismissal. If a student receiving veteran’s benefits fails to meet the above standards within two consecutive terms of enrollment after being placed on probation, he or she will not be eligible for benefits until they have regained good academic standing
Appeal Process Students may request exceptions to this policy, as noted above, by presenting a written description of their extenuating circumstances and their plan for establishment of good academic standing to the appropriate academic affairs committee of their school or program for consideration. The student will be advised in writing of the decision after review by the committee.
Satisfactory Academic Progress and Financial Aid Students must meet Fuller Seminary’s minimum standards for satisfactory academic progress in order to qualify for financial aid. Student Status and Financial Aid. Special students are ineligible for federal financial aid . Students admitted as special students who are later granted regular acceptance into a degree program will then become eligible for all forms of financial aid. Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (FASAP). Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to measure the academic progress of federal student loan recipients on a quarterly basis. The definition of satisfactory academic progress for this purpose more detailed than the seminary's policy, and is described in the Financial Aid section of this catalog.
Time Limits for Completion of Degrees In order to ensure that a degree, when granted, represents education that is reasonably focused (not acquired a little at a time over an unreasonably long period of time) and current, requirements for a degree must normally represent credit earned within a certain period of time. This period includes any credit earned elsewhere and applied to the degree, as well as all credit earned at Fuller. For an MA or MDiv degree in the School of Theology this limit is set at ten years. The time limit for the ThM degree is five years, for the DMin degree seven years, and for the PhD degree eight years. There is a ten-year time limit for completion of degrees in the School of Intercultural Studies (master’s or doctoral level), except for the DMin in Global Ministries, which has a seven-year limit. The limit for the MS and MA degrees in the School of Psychology is seven years, and for all doctoral programs in that school the limit is ten years.
Examinations Final examinations are scheduled during regular class hours during the eleventh week of each quarter, or on the last day of an intensive session. Students are expected to take final exams at the scheduled hours. In the case of serious illness, emergency, or when a student has three exams scheduled on the same day, arrangements may be made with the professor to take an exam at another time. Postponement of a final examination in master’s-level classes beyond the last day of the quarter requires a valid Incomplete or Hold (see below for details).
Permanent Academic Record All grades recorded become a permanent part of the student’s academic history. If a student receives a failing grade, that grade will remain on the record. If such a course is retaken, the new registration and grade will also be recorded on the student’s permanent record. After a period of two years, it is presumed that both student and faculty member have had ample opportunity to be aware of the grade recorded and to see that any appropriate adjustment has been made. At this point any grade recorded becomes permanent and cannot be changed.
Grading Grades have been assigned the following numerical values for the purpose of computing the grade point average:
All other grades, including P (Pass), SA (Satisfactory), NS (Not Satisfactory), I (Incomplete), H (Hold), IE (Incomplete Extended), HE (Hold Extended), IP (In Progress), and RD (Report Delayed) are not computed in the student’s grade point average. The grades CR (Credit) and NC (No Credit), which were used until Fall 1993, also are not computed in the grade point average. Incompletes. A student whose work in a master’s-level course is not completed at the end of the quarter may request a grade of Incomplete by returning a Request for Incomplete, signed by the professor, to the Registrar’s Office by the end of the last day of the quarter. Each faculty member decides whether the nature and amount of the work not finished at the end of the quarter warrants an incomplete grade for the course, a reduction in grade, or a grade of F. The policy for the course is to be stated clearly in the course syllabus. Incompletes may be granted only when the student’s work in the course has not been completed due to extenuating circumstances, such as personal illness of more than a brief duration; illness in the family that has required the student’s attention; death in the family; personal or family crisis of a traumatic nature; or unexpected increase in job responsibilities. If the Incomplete grade is granted, the completed course work is due to the professor by the end of the last day of the following quarter. Grade penalties for work completed during this period may be assessed if such a policy has been clearly described in the syllabus for the course. If the work is not completed within this time, the faculty member determines whether a reduced grade or a grade of F is warranted, based on the policy published in the course syllabus. The Incomplete must be resolved to a regular grade (A through C- or F) at this time; the grade of Incomplete cannot remain on the record. Further extensions of time are normally not granted. When the grade has been recorded, the student’s transcript indicates that the grade has been changed from an Incomplete. Holds. A student enrolled in 700-level or 800-level classes whose work is not completed at the end of the quarter of registration, may request a "Hold" grade from the professor. This allows one additional quarter to complete the work (except for DMin courses and certain clinical psychology courses, which allow up to one year). Unless an extension is granted (by the academic affairs committee of the school or program), the completed work must be submitted to the professor no later than the last day of the second quarter, and a grade must be submitted; the Hold grade cannot remain.
Pass/Fail Option Students in MA and MDiv programs may choose to take up to one-fourth of the degree program on a pass/fail basis. Transfer credit is considered part of this pass/fail allotment, since it is transferred without grades. However, for School of Theology no more than 12 units may be in any one of the following four areas: Biblical languages, biblical studies, theology/church history, and ministry). Also, no more than 8 units may be taken Pass/Fail in any one department in the last three areas. Psychology doctoral students may exercise this option in their regular MA or MDiv courses. In all School of Psychology programs, only certain of the marriage and family or clinical psychology course work (courses designated as only Pass/Fail, such as the internship and dissertation) may be taken Pass/Fail. Students not enrolled in a degree program may exercise the Pass/Fail option at a rate of one course in four. Courses offered only on a Pass/Fail basis are considered a part of any of these limits. The professor submits a grade for courses in which the Pass/Fail option is selected, but the student’s transcript is marked with either a P (pass) or F for the course. For students seeking to be removed from academic probation, the actual grades submitted will be taken into account in determining good academic standing. Students who select the Pass/Fail option may request, on an appointment basis, to be informed of their actual grade in a course, but that grade can never be recorded on the transcript or reported in any way outside the seminary. The exercising of the Pass/Fail option is normally indicated at registration time on the class request card. Changes in status may be made through the end of the day Tuesday of the second week of classes for ten-week courses, through the end of the first Tuesday in one- and two-week intensive sessions, through Wednesday of the first week of five-week sessions and before the second class period in Extension classes. Changes must be made through the Registrar’s Office (or local Extended Education office).
Formal Statements of Community Standards Fuller Theological Seminary expects all members of its community to live in accord with standards of wholesome Christian character. In order to clarify their understanding of Christian standards in areas of special concern, the Fuller Seminary faculty and Board of Trustees may adopt formal statements of community standards. These statements and other seminary policy statements may be found in the Appendices of this catalog. Registration for any course (for credit or audit) represents a student’s agreement to comply with these statements and policies.
Graduation The prescribed course of study as outlined in the curriculum for each degree program must be satisfactorily completed. In order to graduate it is required that a student be in good academic standing as defined earlier in this section of the catalog. Some programs have higher standards which apply. These are described in the appropriate sections of this catalog and in the student handbooks for the three schools and the various degree programs. Students are responsible for meeting the graduation requirements set forth in the catalog published at the time of their matriculation for the degree which they are seeking. Students who change programs are responsible for meeting the graduation requirements in effect when they request the change. Students who do not register for a period of more than two years (eight quarters) must apply for reinstatement and are subject to the graduation requirements in effect at the time of their reinstatement. In addition to academic requirements for graduation, students must receive the endorsement of the faculty responsible for the degree program in which they are enrolled that they have acted responsibly in attempting to live in accord with standards of wholesome Christian character and with the general standards of the institution, as well as those of the particular program in which they are involved. It is also necessary for students to present a satisfactory clearance of accounts prior to graduation. Students who have not made satisfactory financial arrangements will not have access to any student services, including transcripts, degree checks, diploma, transfer, or enrollment for another degree program. Students anticipating graduation must complete an Application for Graduation. This should be done at the time of the advising appointment for registration for the quarter prior to the student’s final quarter (i.e. , two quarters before the intended graduation date). Applications must be submitted no later than March 1 in order to be included in that year’s Commencement activities in any way. Students who for any reason do not complete their degree requirements within the quarter for which they apply must reapply for graduation. In order to qualify for graduation in a given quarter, all work must be completed and all requirements met by the official graduation date for that quarter. Classes which do not end within the quarter do not qualify for graduation in that quarter. Work completed under Incompletes and Holds applies to graduation in the quarter in which it is actually completed, not the quarter in which the course was originally taken. Degrees are recorded quarterly. The last day of the quarter as indicated by the academic calendar is considered to be the official date of graduation. Commencement. Baccalaureate and Commencement exercises are held only in Pasadena and only at the end of the Spring Quarter. Students who have graduated in the most recent Summer, Fall or Winter quarters and have not already attended Commencement are invited to participate, as are those who apply for graduation in the current Spring Quarter. Graduates who were eligible for the previous year’s Commencement but did not attend are also invited. Students who expect to graduate at the end of the Summer Quarter, as well as students who have internships to complete after Summer quarter, may also participate, subject to certain limitations (see below). Participation in Commencement exercises is not equivalent to the conferral of the degree, which is official only when faculty approval has been given, the Registrar’s Office has determined that all academic requirements have been met, and satisfactory financial arrangements have been made. Special Commencement Participation Policies. A special policy permits master’s-level students who have no more than 20 units of course work (not to include theses or dissertations, qualifying exams, etc.) to complete during the Summer quarter to participate in the June Commencement exercises. The deadline for application is March 1. Special conditions apply. Copies of the policy may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office and academic advising offices. A further policy offers the same possibility of participation to students who will have completed all requirements by the end of Spring or Summer Quarter except for a three-quarter internship. The purpose of this policy is to encourage and facilitate doing a three-quarter internship following the completion of course work. Again, special conditions and limitations apply; copies of the policy may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office and academic advising offices.
Alternative Diplomas and Transcripts In some circumstances, a diploma or transcript from a theological seminary may cause significant difficulties in the places where our alumni/ae are working or seek to work. To resolve this problem, Fuller Theological Seminary has taken legal steps to allow it also to identify itself as Fuller Graduate Schools:
Fuller Theological Seminary remains the true legal name. Criteria. The right to receive an alternative diploma and/or transcripts with the heading Fuller Graduate Schools may be granted for the following reasons:
Petition Process. Any student may submit a petition to receive a diploma and transcripts with the Fuller Graduate Schools heading. On the petition, the student will indicate why he or she believes that the use of the alternative name would be appropriate for his or her situation. Petition forms are available in the following offices: School of Psychology: From the academic advisors in the Marriage and Family and Clinical Psychology departments School of Intercultural Studies: From the offices of the director of doctoral programs, the director of MA programs, and the director of Korean studies programs School of Theology: From the academic advising office, the CATS office, the DMin and Korean DMin offices, and the various Extended Education offices All petitions are subject to the review and approval of the faculty of the respective school. Services and Procedures. If the petition is approved, it allows the student to request transcripts with the Fuller Graduate Schools heading, and to request a diploma with that heading.
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