Fall Quarter 2012
Sept. 5	Wed.	Convocation @ 10:00 a.m.
Sept. 5-7	Wed.-Fri.	Orientation for new students
Sept. 6	Thu.	English Test (Afternoon)
Sept. 7	Fri.	Faculty interview of new students/ Registration
Sept. 10	Mon.	First day of Fall Quarter classes
Sep. 14	Fri.	Last day to add or drop classes with 75% refund
Oct. 19	Fri.	ITS Cultural Night
Oct. 24	Wed.	Bible Knowledge Test
Oct. 31-Nov.2	Wed.-Fri.	Registration for Winter Interim and Winter Quarter
Nov. 16	Fri.	Last day of Fall Quarter classes
Nov.19-21	Mon. –Wed.	Final Examinations
Nov. 26	Mon.	Last day to submit all class assignments /Submission of Proposal for Th. M & D. Min. students
Nov. 27-30	Tue. – Fri.	Faculty Reading Week
Dec. 3	Mon.	Last day for faculty to submit grades
Winter Interim
Dec. 3-14	Mon. – Fri.	Winter Interim Session
Dec. 10	Mon.	Fall Quarter Grade Report
Dec. 12-14	Wed. – Fri.	Senior Students Academic Evaluation
Dec. 21	Fri.	Last day to submit class assignments
Dec. 22-Jan. 1	Sat.-Tue.	ITS Winter break (Library is closed)
Winter Quarter 2013
Jan.7	Mon.	First day of Winter Quarter classes
Jan. 11	Fri.	Last day to add or drop classes with 75% refund
Feb. 25-27	Mon. -Wed.	Registration for Spring Quarter
Mar. 1	Fri.	Last day to submit Graduation Request Form
Mar. 15	Fri.	Last day of Winter Quarter
Mar. 18-22	Mon. – Fri.	Final Examination
Mar. 22	Fri.	Last day to submit class assignments/Submit Final draft of Thesis
Mar. 23-31	Sat. – Sun	ITS Spring Break
Mar.25-28	Mon. – Thu.	Faculty Reading Week
Mar. 29	Fri.	Good Friday
Apr. 1	Mon.	Last day for faculty to submit grades
Spring Quarter 2013
Apr. 1	Mon.	First day of Spring Quarter classes
Apr. 8	Mon.	Last day to add/drop classes with 75% refund
Apr. 8	Mon.	Winter Interim & Winter Quarter Grade Report
Apr. 15-26	Mon. – Fri.	Oral Defense of Th. M. and D. Min. Students
May 1	Wed.	Bible Knowledge Examinations (First year and Graduating Students)
May 22-24	Wed. -Fri.	Registration for summer courses
May 27	Mon.	Memorial Day (No classes)
May 31	Fri.	Submit Final draft of Future Ministry Plan (M.A. & M. Div. Graduating Students only)
May 31	Fri.	Submission of Dissertation/Thesis for binding
June 7	Fri.	Last day of Spring Quarter classes
June 8	Sat.	COMMENCEMENT
June 10-14	Mon. – Fri	Final Examinations
June 14	Fri.	Last day to submit class assignments
June 17-21	Mon. – Fri.	Faculty Reading Week
June 21	Fri.	Last day for faculty to submit grades
July 1	Mon.	Spring Quarter Grade Report
Summer Sessions 2013
June 17-June 21	Mon. – Fri.	Session I
June 24-July 5	Mon. – Fri.	Session II
July 4	Wed	Independence Day (No Classes)
July 8-12	Mon. – Fri.	Session III
Jul. 26	Fri.	Last day to submit class assignments
Aug. 2	Fri.	Last day to submit grades
Aug. 12-23	Sat. –Sun.	ITS Summer Break (Library is closed)
Aug. 26	Mon	Summer Sessions Grade Report

Full-time Study

The minimum fulltime study load for the four degree programs of ITS is as follows:

M. A.          12 units per quarter
M. Div.       12 units per quarter
Th. M.        9-12 units per quarter
D. Min.       10 units per quarter

Student with F-l visa is allowed to carry less than the minimum units in the last quarter of the last year of study ONLY. The seminary, however, recommends the following study load in order for a student to complete his/her program within a normal length of study period:

M. A.	16 units per quarter to complete the program in two years
M. Div.	16 units per quarter to complete the program in three years
Th. M.	12 units per quarter to complete the course work and thesis in two years
D. Min.	15 units per quarter to complete the course work and dissertation in two years

Grading Policy

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Grade System

Letter grades are used with the following numerical values for the purpose of computing the grade point average:

Excellent	Good	Average	Poor	Failure
A+  4.00	B+  3.33	C+  2.33	D+  1.33	F    0.00
A    4.00	B    3.00	C    2.00	D    1.00
A-   3.67	B-   2.67	C-   1.67	D-   0.67

     A grade below C- is not counted toward a degree. Any core course with grade of C- is not counted towards the degree and should be repeated.

Policy on Incomplete Grades

A student, for reasons of documented illness or other hardship, may request an extension of the due date for course work. The professor, with the concurrence of the Academic Dean, may give an "I" grade for the course. This grade is temporary and the student will be given up to the end of the next quarter to complete the course requirements. If at the end of the agreed time frame, the "/" grade is not removed, it will automatically change to "F". The grade will appear as such on the permanent record.

     When a student receives an "F" grade, the course will have to be repeated if it is needed to fulfill course requirements or core course for a degree program. An "F" grade is counted in computing the current and cumulative GPA until a new grade is given for the course.
Withdrawal

     A student may withdraw from any course without penalty during the first week of the quarter. Withdrawal is possible without penalty thereafter only by special permission from the Academic Dean. If a student withdraws after the first week period, he/she will be charged tuition for the withdrawn course(s) according to the schedule for refunds listed earlier.

Transfer of Credit

Requests for transfer of credit will be reviewed only after a student has applied for admission into a degree program at ITS. The maximum credits to be transferred from another institution to ITS may be up to one-half of credits required for the same degree at ITS.

M. A (96 units)	up to 48 units transferable
M. Div. (144 units)	up to 72 units transferable
Th. M. (33 units, plus a thesis)	up to 16 units transferable
D. Min. (45 units, plus a dissertation)	up to 22 units transferable

     Courses to be considered for transfer must have been completed successfully at another institution with a grade C or above for the M. A and M. Div. programs and B- or above for the Th. M. and D. Min. programs. (See the Academic Dean for transfer of credits).

Auditing

Anyone who is not current enrolled student can take the courses offered at ITS through the required procedures. In order to audit a class, an auditor has to obtain the permission of the Academic Dean, complete the necessary registration, and pay a non-refundable fee ($100 per course) for each course. The fee is refundable only if the instructor does not approve the class attendance of the auditor.
An auditor who wants to take a course for credit is subject to the academic policy of the seminary, including tuition and class assignments.

     No fee may be charged when the members of the faculty, staff, and full-time students audit a course.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System – SEVIS

Introduction

This page was prepared to help you understand the kinds of information that International Theological Seminary, and all colleges and universities in the U.S., must maintain on international students and how this information is shared with the government in a manner prescribed by law. We hope you find this explanation helpful.

What is SEVIS?

SEVIS is an internet-based system that allows schools and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS, formerly known as INS) to exchange data on the visa status of international students. Accurate and current information is transmitted electronically throughout an F-1 student’s academic career in the United States. U.S. embassies and consulates also have access to SEVIS.

Is SEVIS new?

Yes. And no. The requirement that schools provide the federal government with information about each student’s status is not new. Most of the information that will be reported to SEVIS has been required by CIS for many years. But the existing paper-based system precluded widespread coordination amongst schools and governmental agencies. In 1996, Congress passed legislation directing CIS to move to an electronic data collection system. This program would come to be known as SEVIS—the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Technical challenges and lack of funding delayed the program for several years. However, in October 2001, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act that authorized additional SEVIS funding and required nationwide compliance by January 30, 2003.

How does SEVIS work?

After International Theological Seminary admits an international student, SEVIS is notified and CIS approves the school’s request to issue an I-20. The school transmits the new bar-coded I-20 form to the student.

• The student visits the U.S. consulate abroad, and the consulate confirms through SEVIS that the I-20 the student is carrying is a valid document. If everything is in order, the consulate issues the visa.
• A CIS officer at the airport reports to SEVIS the student’s entry into the U.S.
• When the student arrives on campus, he/she reports to the Admissions Office (AO), who then confirms through SEVIS the student’s enrollment. The school continues to provide regular electronic reports to CIS throughout the student’s academic career.
• Finally, SEVIS records the student’s departure from the United States.

What data does SEVIS collect?

ITS must report:

• Whether the student has enrolled at the school, or failed to enroll.
• A change of the student or dependent’s legal name or address.
• Any student who graduates prior to the end date listed on the I-20.
• Academic or disciplinary actions taken due to criminal conviction.
• Whether the student drops below a full course of study without prior authorization from the DSO (Immigration regulations refer to international student advisers and admissions evaluators as “designated school officials”—DSO’s).
• Termination date and reason for termination.
• Other data generated by standard procedures such as program extensions, school transfers, changes in level of study, employment authorizations, and reinstatement.
• Any student who fails to maintain status or complete his or her program.

What does “fail to maintain status” mean?

Some examples of failure to maintain status include dropping from full-time to part-time enrollment without prior approval, attending a school other than the one a student is authorized to attend, failure to apply for a timely transfer or I-20 extension or change in level of study, unauthorized employment, and failure to report a change of address.

What are the consequences if a student fails to maintain status?

The student’s record will be updated with SEVIS every quarter. Students who fail to maintain status lose the privileges of their student visa and become subject to deportation. Specific consequences may include denial of re-entry to the U.S., denial of requests for Practical Training, denial of requests to change visa status, and possible denial of all future visa applications.

Can a student who is “out of status” regain legal status?

If a student drops below a full course of study without prior approval from the DSO, that “event” would be reported to CIS, via SEVIS, and he or she would be out of status. The student may apply to CIS for reinstatement if the violation resulted from circumstances beyond his or her control. Reinstatement is intended to be a rare benefit for exceptional cases. The student may not apply for reinstatement under any circumstances if he or she is out of status longer than five months. If CIS does not reinstate the student, he or she may not appeal that decision.

How will ITS help students comply with the immigration laws?

The school is committed to assist students in ways that prevent status violations from ever occurring. Accordingly, effective Winter Quarter 2003, three Registration changes will take effect.

1. F-1 students new to ITS must physically check in with the Admissions Office (AO) prior to registering for classes. The AO will review the student’s visa documents, confirm to SEVIS that the student has arrived on campus, and then release the restriction on the student’s registration.
2. All F-1 students who register for less than a full course of study (other than Summer Quarter) without a waiver of the full-time requirement will be warned within the first two weeks of classes that they are in danger of falling out of status with CIS.
3. International students will not be able to drop below a full course of study after the 7th calendar day of the quarter without prior authorization from the Admissions Office.

“Full-time” means 12 credits per quarter. Acceptable reasons for reduced credit load include:

• Students who experience academic difficulties (for example, unfamiliarity with American teaching methods) may take a reduced credit load.
• Students in their final term of study with authorization from the Admissions Office need only the credits required to complete the degree.
• Students who have a medical problem can reduce their credit load or take the quarter off.

Remember, only the Admissions Office has authority to authorize a reduced credit load!

What happens if ITS fails to comply with the SEVIS regulations?

CIS is required to audit the school’s compliance with these new requirements every two years. Failure to comply with the federal regulations could result in the loss of the school’s ability to accept international students.

What should students do to prepare for SEVIS?

• Understand the immigration regulations and learn how to maintain lawful status in the U.S., and refer any questions or problems immediately to the Admissions Office.
• Students should plan their course schedules carefully so that they maintain full-time enrollment. Make travel arrangements early, and anticipate delays at consulates and border crossings. Keep all documents up-to-date—changes in degree level, extensions, and travel validations must be done in a timely manner and on SEVIS documents. Allow time for processing new forms.
• Visit the Admissions Office for assistance.

Are there other resources about SEVIS?

To access further information about SEVIS, immigration regulations, forms and instructions, please view the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website: http://uscis.gov