Academic Accountability
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While we recognize that it is very difficult to guard against all forms of student fraud while enrolled in an online course, the ultimate goal of EMU is to verify that the online student who is registered for a particular course is, in fact, the same student who is performing the work. To meet that goal, we will do the following:
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In light of the fact that Seminary culture increasingly includes video conferencing, we need to have in place policies that will guide how video conferencing is used. Our goal is to both make it easier for students’ students to take courses and also make the instructor’s experience work as smoothly as possible.
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The seminary maintains both qualitative and quantitative requirements. Daily classwork, tests, examinations, attendance and attitude all enter into the determination of standing and credit. Since seminary students are working at the graduate level, it is expected that many will earn A ’s and B ’s. Grade C is minimally acceptable in that it reflects some deficiency. Therefore, consistent work at C level is inadequate for graduation. A grade point average of 2.50 is the minimum requirement for graduation from a degree program. This means that the average student will perform at the level of 2.50 GPA or above.
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The seminary faculty will work with students in a number of ways to evaluate their competency for ministry. The students will have the opportunity to do self-evaluation as well as to receive formative evaluation from faculty advisors. There are a variety of questionnaires and interviews faculty use to gather information which can be helpful to the student and the seminary for assessing both the students’ competency in ministry formation and the seminary’s role in that process.
Degree Candidacy
Normally when nearing the completion of 20 semester hours of work, the formative process leads to a decision on degree candidacy. For transfer students, degree candidacy isn’t granted based on transfer credit. Degree candidacy represents a significant point of accountability in which the faculty together decide whether or not the student appears qualified to successfully complete a given degree program. The decision will be in the form of approval, approval with qualifications, or denial of degree candidacy. The decision is made in a regular faculty meeting.
Summative Evaluation
In the students’ final year, the faculty also do a summative ministry competency evaluation or competency in their chosen field of study for students preparing to graduate and make a recommendation indicating readiness for ministry in a faculty meeting where SCC student representatives are also present. The recommendation is placed in a student's ministry file.
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Normally degree candidacy is discerned when seminary students have successfully completed 20 sh 20sh of course work. The general theological certificate student, in consultation with their adviser, may pursue degree candidacy at 20 sh 20sh through a letter of request to the seminary associate dean. Assuming faculty approval of degree candidacy, the certificate will be awarded when the requisite number of courses are successfully completed.
A student admitted into an EMU AA degree program may ultimately pursue a pathway to the MACL. This is done by enrolling in the GTC upon completion of the AA, and in consultation with the adviser, pursuing degree candidacy as noted above. Up to 9 credits of seminary coursework (Formation in Spiritual Practices, Formation in Narrative Identity, and a seminary intercultural course) may be part of the AA for students intending to pursue the MACL.
The General Theological Certificate is not an endorsed educational path for United Methodist ministry credentialing.
A student admitted into the Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies (Certificate Program) may transfer all successfully completed courses toward a master's degree if requested within two years of the completion of the certificate. The student will proceed through degree candidacy at 20 sh 20sh (Degree Candidacy).
Participation Audit
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Inclusive Language
Statement of Commitment
We recognize that all human beings are persons of infinite worth created equally in the image of God. Accordingly, we recognize that the language which we use to speak about each other is no negligible matter but one of crucial importance. The words by which we name and address each other are no less than the means by which we can recognize each other mutually as persons created in God’s image, and the means by which we can empower each other mutually to live out the potential God has given each of us.
Eastern Mennonite Seminary is an institution dedicated to the task of “equipping persons for ministries in the service of the kingdom of God.” As teaching faculty, we recognize the centrality of language to our task. We are equipping persons to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ to the churched and unchurched alike in our communities and around the world. And because our task is that of equipping communicators, we recognize the crucial importance of language, the words which we use, to proclaim the Good News which we wish to communicate.
We therefore commit ourselves:
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