Worship and Fellowship
Chapel gathering is held regularly on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 a.m. These experiences of worship are central to community life and students are expected to attend chapel on the days they are on campus.
Occasionally a fellowship lunch is scheduled after chapel. A dean’s forum is scheduled during a lunch period after chapel, once each semester.
Campus Worship, a Christian worship service to nurture faith and spiritual growth, is held every other Wednesday from 10:10-11 a.m. in Lehman Auditorium. Convocation takes place at the same time and place the opposite week. Seminary students are welcome to attend; a schedule is posted on the seminary worship board.
Computer Resources
Web: http://www.emu.edu/is/ Phone: (540) 432-HELP (4357)
Computers are available to seminary students in the computer room (#121) on the first floor of the seminary building. EMU general purpose computer labs are open to students. For more detailed information on EMU computing resources, see the “Computing for Students” section in the Graduate Student Handbook.
Video Conferencing Policies
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 to take courses and also make the instructor’s experience work as smoothly as possible.
- If any student has a legitimate reason why they must be absent from a particular class session and notifies the instructor in advance, video conferencing software may be used in place of in-person attendance.
- With agreement from the instructor prior to the start of the course, students who are not local (e.g., Lancaster, Kansas, Roanoke) may connect to the class sessions via video conferencing on an ongoing basis. Students need to keep in mind that connecting via video conferencing for 50% or more of class sessions will mean that the course does not count toward residency for their degree program.
- Students using video conferencing are responsible to have appropriate technology and setting to connect by video and audio to class sessions without foreseeable interruption.
- Faculty are encouraged to develop pedagogy that allows for video conferencing in each of their courses, and, as necessary, to set appropriate limits to the number of students per course connecting in this way and/or to the number of sessions students may attend via video conferencing.
Student Identification for Online Courses
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 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:
1. All online courses are required to have one synchronous video session at the beginning of the course.
2. Hybrid students are required to get a picture ID while on campus.
Counseling Services
Web: http://www.emu.edu/studentlife/counseling/ Phone: (540) 432-4317
In addition to academic advising, the seminary provides counseling in the areas of personal crisis and career planning. The seminary campus pastor is available for counseling on spiritual and personal matters. She/he can assist the student in referral to university counseling services (see “Counseling Services” section in the Graduate Student Handbook) or other professional counseling if the need arises. Counseling on campus is confidential unless a student is a safety risk to self or others.
Facilities
Seminary Building
The seminary building is located on Smith Avenue on the southwest corner of the EMU campus. Located on the first floor are administrative offices, faculty offices, student mailboxes, a large lecture room, classrooms, the study/reference room, prayer room and the computer lab. On the second floor are classrooms, faculty offices, the kitchen, Koinonia Commons, Martin Chapel, fellowship area and a prayer room.
Study Room
The study room on the first floor of the seminary is available for use by seminary students, and other students as space allows. Please request a copy of the Study Room Guidelines from the seminary office coordinator. A copy is also available in the Seminary Community Council folder in Moodle.
Activities Fee
Included in the tuition charges, the student activities fee of $30 per semester for full-time students and $3 per credit hour for part-time students provides special services for the benefit of seminary students. These include lectures for colloquiums, and Seminary Community Council activities.
Information Flow
All seminary students have mailboxes in the seminary building. Official messages as well as personal mail and messages are placed in the boxes. Incoming mail is delivered to the seminary building once a day around 10:00a.m. Outgoing mail is taken at the same time.
Bulletin boards are located on first and second floors. Acquaint yourself with their location and content. Students should form the habit of reading the boards to keep abreast of announcements and general information. Most seminary and graduate school information is communicated via e-mail.
Seminary Community Council
Representing students, administration and faculty, the Seminary Community Council (SCC) assists in structuring a community life of Christian sharing and caring. It operates from the understanding that a dynamic community life is vital to the academic process. Since Christian community requires committed individuals, every student, faculty and staff person is expected to use his or her gifts and influence for the enrichment of community life.
Committees or activities functioning under SCC:
Fellowship Committee
•plans major social functions
•stays alert to student financial needs and plans for assistance where possible
Forum Organizing
• In collaboration with a faculty adviser, the SCC works at addressing seminary issues and concerns through organizing a variety of events, such as town hall meetings, round table discussions and forums, presentations by professors or guest speakers.
Snack and Food Service
Vending machines and coffee are located in the kitchen area on second floor. Hot drinks are available to seminary and counseling students only, since the cost is covered by their activity fees. Microwave ovens are available in the kitchen. Lunch and snacks may be eaten in the gathering or fellowship areas. Other campus facilities such as the dining hall and Royal’s Den snack shop are shared with the University and are available to seminary students according to the stated policies.
Whom to See
Faculty Advisor
- for academic program planning, course scheduling, registration changes, graduation requirements
- for formative advising/mentoring, including degree candidacy and readiness for ministry
Associate Dean of the Seminary, Nancy Heisey
- in relation to special requests upon referral by the academic advisor
- when considering a change of curriculum
- for exploration of an independent study
- for evaluation of transfer credit
Seminary Registrar, Beth H. Brunk
- for information on degree requirements and course scheduling
- for processing drop and add requests
Admissions Director and Director of Placement,Veva Zimmerman Mumaw
- when persons you know are interested in receiving information on seminary programs, courses and admission applications (contact by letter, visit, or phone – 540-432-4257, email: veva.mumaw@emu.edu )
- for post-graduation placement in ministry
Office of Academic Access http://www.emu.edu/academics/access/ Phone: (540) 432-4233 or (540) 432-4254
- for persons with disabilities needing accommodations
- to learn about community resources and services
Instructors
- for any matters related to their respective courses
Director of Mentored Ministry, Penny Driediger
- on matters related to Formation in Ministry internships
- on placement for Mentored Ministry
- to discuss matters related to Mentored Ministry
Director of Career Services at EMU, Kimberly Phillips
- for general career counseling
Campus Pastor, Kevin Clark, in cooperation with Campus Ministries Team
- for spiritual support and pastoral counseling
- for guidance regarding spiritual direction
- for referral to professional counseling
- for counsel on vocational direction
EMU Registrar’s Office
- on requests for transfer of credit
- on request for official transcripts
Financial Assistance Office
- on matters related to grants, loans, scholarships and other aid
- upon changing from full-time to part-time status or from part-time to less than part-time (if you are receiving any type of financial assistance)
Cashier in Business Office, Judy Lehman
- to make payments on your account (the preferred method is through CASHNet online)
Student Accounts Office
- to ask questions regarding your student account (ext.4112)
- to discuss options for payment
International Student Director, Micah Shristi
- on any matters pertaining to alien status and Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations regarding work or length of stay in the U.S (See International Student Handbook)
- on changes in course load, program, address or telephone number
Title IX Coordinator, Rachel Roth Sawatzky
- If you have experienced or witnessed sexual assault, harassment or discrimination based on gender