Sacred Heart Major Seminary Official Web Site

Academic Policies

Absence
Attendance
Bulletin Requirements
Course Numbering
Credit Load Status
Dean's List
English Language Competency
Examinations
Federal Compliance Policy
GPA and Quality Points
Grades
Grade Reports
Media in the Classroom
Post Mater Audit
Probation
Required Statistics
Semester Hours
Transcripts
Written Assignments
Outcome Assessments

Absence
In the case of a foreseen absence, each student is required to inform the professor at least 24 hours in advance. This will allow the professor to attempt to notify other students 20 hours in advance of a cancellation of the class should there be a number of such absences on a given occasion.

Attendance
No one who is not duly registered is admitted to class.

Undergraduate norms: Attendance at classes is mandatory. If a student misses a class, he/she must see the instructor prior to the next class. If the unexcused absences are excessive in the judgment of the instructor, the instructor may direct the student to discontinue the course. A failing grade and loss of credit will result. Should a seminarian miss a number of classes, this will be brought up in discussion regarding the student's personality and maturity. The student will also bear the academic loss involved.
Graduate norm: Class attendance is regulated by the course syllabus.

Bulletin Requirements
Students must meet the requirements of the SHMS Bulletin in effect at the term for which they are formally matriculated or re-matriculated into a program of study. In the event that a student changes their major or program during their course of study, the student is expected to meet the requirements for that major or program from the bulletin in effect at the date of the change.

Course Numbering

Courses with numbers from 100 to 299 are lower division courses intended primarily for freshman and sophomores.
Courses with numbers from 300 to 499 are upper division courses intended primarily for juniors and seniors.
Courses with numbers 500 and above are graduate courses.
Courses with numbers 900 and above are STL program courses.
Courses with numbers below 100 are learning experiences for which no college credit is given.

Credit Load Status
Within each school students are accorded full time status on the basis of their credit load in that semester. Undergraduate full time status is 12 credits or more. Graduate full time status is 9 credits or more. For M.A. students who are registered for thesis credits (IS 899) or continuing thesis guidance (IS 8991), full time status is determined in consultation with the advisor/thesis director and the dean of studies.

Dean's List
At the undergraduate level, students must earn a GPA of 3.59 or better in a given term to qualify for the dean's list. On the graduate level, students must earn a GPA of 3.79 or better in a given term to qualify.

English Language Competency
All students must have a practical understanding of spoken and written English to participate in the curricula of SHMS. English language testing is required of all students entering the A.B., A.A.M. and undergraduate diploma courses of study. If students are residents of the United States, but their abilities in the English language are in doubt, they are required to demonstrate competency through evaluation at the University of Detroit Mercy American Language and Cultural Program or an equivalent program.

Examinations
Instructors by means of discussion, written assignments, and adequate testing in each semester, assess student capabilities and progress. Oral or written quizzes may be held from time to time with or without previous notice to students.

Graduate norm: Special note and importance should be given in M.Div. courses to examinations, which can take the form of a homily or a catechetical instruction.
Undergraduate norm: Mid-term grades must be submitted for all students enrolled in undergraduate courses during the fall and winter terms. However, administration of a mid-term examination is at the discretion of the instructor.

Federal Compliance Policy
SHMS complies with federally mandated policies as these are promulgated.

GPA and Quality Points
The quality points for a course are computed by multiplying the grade value by the number of credits for that course. To compute the Grade Point Average, divide the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credits attempted (excluding P and W). The Grade Point Average is computed only for courses registered through SHMS, including Consortium courses.

Grades
Each course receives one grade, by which the instructor estimates the quality of the work done by the student in that course. Should a student have to repeat a course, only the new credits and the new grade will be calculated in the GPA. The original mark is left on the transcript but not counted. The registrar records permanent grades at the end of each semester.

Grade Reports
Grade reports are issued to all students at the end of each semester. In addition to the final grade report, undergraduate students receive a mid-term grade report.

Media in the Classroom
It is the prerogative of the individual instructor to exclude the use of various media (tape recorders, computers, videos, etc.) in the classroom, except where a handicap requires such usage. Any restriction will be indicated in the syllabus.

Post Master Audit
SHMS encourages graduates to maintain a commitment to lifelong theological and pastoral education. To that end, SHMS offers a post-master audit rate to alumni from the School of Theology of SHMS or St. John Provincial Seminary. Qualifying alumni may audit one course per term for $100.00, plus applicable fees. This includes library privileges. Post master audit status and the applicable tuition rate should be clearly marked on the registration form.

Probation

M.Div., M.A.P.S. and Graduate Diploma: Anyone having a GPA under 2.5 for a given semester is on probation.
M.A.: Anyone having a GPA under 2.7 for a given semester is on probation.
Undergraduate: Anyone having a cumulative GPA under 2.0 is automatically on probation. A student who has a cumulative GPA of 1.5 or less is automatically suspended and can only return to the College of Liberal Arts through the action of the faculty.

Required Statistics
SHMS maintains required statistics on graduation, completion, retention rates and campus crime as required by federal law. These statistics are available in the Registrar's office and the Library.

Semester Hours
Instruction is reported in semester hours. A semester hour is defined as one class period (55 minutes) per week in a semester of following weeks. Although the seminary's academic regulations are framed in terms of a semester of this length, in cases when the semester is shortened the regulations are applied proportionately (e.g., minutes of class instruction per credit per week, length of Add/Drop period). A course is defined as any series or combination learning experiences designed to meet specific objectives, which flow from the goals, and objectives of the curriculum.

Transcripts
The permanent, official record of a student's academic progress is maintained by the Registrar's office. Requests for an official and/or student copy of a transcript must be made in writing. A fee is required for this service.

Written Assignments
Students are required to follow the norms of style for written work contained in the latest edition of Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press), unless another style sheet is required in a given syllabus.

Outcomes Assessment
SHMS has established institutional, student learning and program goals that flow from its institutional mission. In order to assure that SHMS is meeting its goals and continually improving programs and services, SHMS is engaged in ongoing outcomes assessment. The program of assessment and the tools employed are outlined in the SHMS Outcomes Assessment Plan, overseen by the Dean of Studies office. This document is available for review in the Dean of Studies office. For assessment purposes the seminary employs not only its own instruments but also standardized measurements. These latter instruments especially permit a comparison with comparable institutions of higher education.