Expectations and Consequences

The College's charter being the training of well-educated, responsible and dedicated clergy, teachers, and other church leaders, as such academic performance cannot be separated from spiritual effort and both are regarded as an essential aspect of active sharing in the life of the Church. Each student is also a Church member and, as such, is subject to the ecclesiastical regulations, moral standards and modes of behavior traditionally expected by the Coptic Orthodox Church from those who prepare themselves for church ministry. Thus the word “discipline” here means the totality of academic requirements, moral norms, and observance of regulations to which every student subscribes by the very fact of his application to the College. Any breach of the Code of Conduct may lead, upon action by the College Council, to disciplinary probation (probation for reasons of conduct) or, if serious enough, to immediate dismissal.

The Chancellor and/or Dean (or his delegate) are responsible for discipline within the College. He may, if circumstances warrant, provisionally dismiss a student or place him/her on disciplinary probation until the matter can be brought before the College Council.

Student Support

The College is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for study, work and quiet reflection time for all of its students as well as for faculty and staff. Specific information concerning College security measures, safety, vehicle parking and emergency procedures will be provided by the College Council for staff and students.

A student contesting a grade, evaluation or disciplinary decision is encouraged to speak first with the responsible lecturer or official. If the issue cannot be resolved in this way, the student may address an appeal to the Registrar of the College, who will then bring the matter before the College Council for its final determination.

The College will attempt to support students who are having difficulties with any aspect of the College’s Code of conduct. It is also expected that students will make every effort to meet the College’s requirements and appreciate the rights of every member of the College’s Community.

Other Matters

Graduation Degrees
Degrees are awarded at the completion of all requirements. After a final review and vote of recommendation by the College Council, the candidates are sent an official correspondence outlining their achievements and arrangements for conferring of degrees.

Diplomas
After considering the final reports of the examiners and the results of the coursework undertaken by the candidate, the Board of Studies shall recommend to the College Council whether or not the Diploma in Theology should be awarded.

No diploma/degree will be awarded or issued unless all financial obligations to the college, library and bookstore have been satisfied.

Confidentiality
Recognizing the need for confidentiality of student records, the College has made provisions for this. Accordingly, only authorized officers of the institution and the student may have access to a student's record, and no copy of a student's transcript, test scores or other evaluation will be supplied to another person or agency without the student's express written consent.

At the same time, the College recognizes that appropriate ecclesiastical authorities (diocesan bishop, confession father) have a legitimate interest in their students' work and behavior. Students are therefore asked, at their initial registration to give a written consent that copies of their grades and standing will be sent at regular intervals to the appropriate ecclesiastical authority.

Current or former students may inspect his/her records, by filling out the appropriate application, which is then submitted to the Registrar.

Transcripts
Students and graduates may receive unofficial copies of their academic transcript or have official transcripts sent to them upon written request made to the Registrar’s Office and prepayment of a $5.00 fee. Official transcripts, bearing the College seal and the Registrar's signature, are not issued to individuals but are sent upon the student's written request to other institutions or agencies as confidential information. All transcripts must include the entire academic record that is available to date; no partial or incomplete statements of record will be issued as transcripts. Official transcripts will not be issued until the student has met all outstanding financial obligations to the College

Graduate Study Fellowship
The graduate study fellowship program is intended to encourage graduate theological study in appropriate programs, at higher levels, by College graduates showing potential for scholarly achievement and church ministry.

Graduate study fellows are selected by the College Council from among the graduating class. While high grades are not the only criterion for selection, normally only those students who are likely to graduate with honors will be considered. Students interested in further graduate study should contact the College Council in writing by the middle of the semester preceding their graduation.

College Charter
The College Charter is available from the College Library.