Alvin Padilla
Academic Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Registrar and Office of Academic Affairs
Core Services: How Can We Help?
- Course schedules and descriptions page and 2017-18 Elective Courses.pdf
- Academic Calendar (scroll down page)
- Transcripts
- Canvas Course Management System Portal
- Enrollment Report 2016-2017
- Financial Aid
- Register for classes (admitted students only):
- Use the student portal or email the Registrar with your class preference (spot is not reserved until confirmed by the Registrar).
- International Students – Katy Sundararajan is the school’s designated school official for SEVIS. Contact Katy for all matters related to your I-20. You must allow 3 – 5 days for processing of I-20 items.
2016-17 Academic Calendar
| Th.M. Program Begins | August 15 |
| Canvas Online Training – all students | August 1-26 |
| DL Online Orientation begins | August 15 |
| Junior In Residence M.Div. Orientation | August 24-25 |
| Middler/Senior In Residence M.Div. Orientation | August 25 |
| Fall Semester Begins | August 29 |
| Labor Day – Seminary Closed | September 5 |
| Drop/Add Deadline Fall | September 6 |
| Spring Semester Registration Due | October 24 |
| First ½ IR Semester Ends | October 14 |
| Fall Break In Residence | October 17-21 |
| On Campus Intensives Distance Learning | October 17-21 |
| Distance Learning After Intensive Break | October 24-28 |
| Thanksgiving Recess | November 21-25 |
| Fall Semester Ends | December 16 |
| Christmas Break Begins IR & DL | December 17 |
| Fall Semester Grades Due | January 2, 2017 |
| J-Term
(those in Newbigin should check with NHS for on-site dates) |
January 2–20 |
| Drop/Add Deadline J-term | January 9 |
| Intercultural Immersion Trip | January 3-13 |
| Canvas Online Training (new students spring semester) | January 3-13 |
| DL Online Orientation Begins (new students spring semester) | January 9 |
| Orientation For IR students (new students spring semester) | January 20 |
| Spring Semester Begins | January 23 |
| Drop/Add Period Deadline Spring | January 31 |
| J-term Grades Due | February 2 |
| Distance Learning Winter Break | Feb 27 – March 3 |
| First ½ Semester In Residence Ends | March 10 |
| Cut Off For Submitting Financial Aid Apps for 2017-18 year
(returning M.Div/MA/GCUPM,GCDM,YL students) |
March 31 |
| Spring Break IR & DL | April 3-7 |
| Registration For Fall Semester Due | April 17 |
| Doctor of Ministry Program begins (continues to April 30, 2017) | May 1 |
| Senior Blessing Worship In Residence/Award Luncheon | May 4 |
| Spring Semester In Residence Ends | May 5 |
| Graduation | May 8 |
| Senior IR Grades Due | May 8 noon |
| Senior Blessing Worship Distance Learning | May 8 |
| Distance Learning Spring Semester Intensives | May 8-12 |
| Spring Semester Distance Learning Ends | May 12 |
| Doctor of Ministry Seminars | May 8-19 |
| Summer Term (Distance Learning) | May 17 – June 23 |
| Summer Term (In Residence) | May 15 – Aug 25 |
| Spring Semester Grades Due | May 19 |
| Summer Term Drop/Add Deadline | May 26 |
| Th.M. Program Ends | June 23 |
| Summer Term Grades Due (DL) | July 12 |
| Summer Term Grades Due (IR) | August 31 |
2017-18 Academic Calendar
| Th.M. Program Begins | August 14 |
| Canvas Online Training – all students | August 1-25 |
| DL Online Orientation begins | August 14 |
| Junior In Residence M.Div. Orientation | August 23-24 |
| Middler/Senior In Residence M.Div. Orientation | August 24 |
| Fall Semester Begins | August 28 |
| Labor Day – Seminary Closed | September 4 |
| Drop/Add Deadline Fall | September 5 |
| First ½ IR Semester Ends | October 13 |
| Spring Semester Registration Due | October 23 |
| Fall Break In Residence | October 16-20 |
| On Campus Intensives Distance Learning | October 16-20 |
| Distance Learning After Intensive Break | October 23-27 |
| Thanksgiving Recess | November 20-24 |
| Fall Semester Ends | December 15 |
| Christmas Break Begins IR & DL | December 16 |
| Fall Semester Grades Due | January 2, 2018 |
| J-Term | January 2–19 |
| Drop/Add Deadline J-term | January 8 |
| Intercultural Immersion Trip | January 2-12 |
| Canvas Online Training (new students spring semester) | January 2-12 |
| DL Online Orientation Begins (new students spring semester) | January 8 |
| Orientation For IR students (new students spring semester) | January 19 |
| Spring Semester Begins | January 22 |
| Drop/Add Period Deadline Spring | January 30 |
| J-term Grades Due | February 1 |
| Distance Learning Winter Break | Feb 26 – March 2 |
| First ½ Semester In Residence Ends | March 9 |
| Cut Off For Submitting Financial Aid Apps for 2017-18 year
(returning M.Div/MA/GCUPM,GCDM,YL students) |
March 30 |
| Spring Break IR & DL | April 2-6 |
| Registration For Fall Semester Due | April 16 |
| Doctor of Ministry Program begins (continues to April 30, 2019) | May 1 |
| Senior Blessing Worship In Residence/Award Luncheon | May 3 |
| Spring Semester In Residence Ends | May 4 |
| Graduation | May 7 |
| Senior IR Grades Due | May 7 noon |
| Senior Blessing Worship Distance Learning | May 7 |
| Distance Learning Spring Semester Intensives | May 7-11 |
| Spring Semester Distance Learning Ends | May 11 |
| Doctor of Ministry Seminars | May 7-18 |
| Summer Term (Distance Learning) | May 16 – June 22 |
| Summer Term (In Residence) | May 14 – Aug 24 |
| Spring Semester Grades Due | May 18 |
| Summer Term Drop/Add Deadline | May 25 |
| Th.M. Program Ends | June 22 |
| Summer Term Grades Due (DL) | July 11 |
| Summer Term Grades Due (IR) | August 31 |
Catalogs in .pdf form
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Office of Academic Affairs do?
The Academic Dean and his team encourage and oversee the degree programs, the courses, the faculty, and the students at Western Seminary.
I haven’t applied yet. What are the deadlines for admission?
You may see the deadlines for admission here. After you are accepted and we receive your confirmation fee of $250, you will be able to register for classes and will be sent a financial aid application.
How do I drop or add a course?
You may drop or add courses before the second week of an academic semester and the tuition will be refunded. Send an email to the professor of the course and the registrar indicating your desire to drop or add.
How do I withdraw from a course after the drop deadline?
You may withdraw from a course after the drop/add deadline by sending an email to the professor and the registrar. You will be responsible for a pro-rated amount of the tuition for a class if you withdraw after the drop/add deadline. A grade of WP or WF will be entered on your permanent record.
Where do I find my grades?
Grades are accessed through the student portal.
What information is available through the student portal?
Class registration, grades, and advisor assignments.
How do I withdraw from the seminary?
You must complete a withdrawal form (located on Canvas). It must be signed by the VP of Finance and the director of the library and then submitted to the Academic Dean.
Transfer Students / Transferred Credits
For Transfer Students and Admitted students taking courses elsewhere:
- WTS accepts credits earned at other graduate institutions accredited by the ATS. Courses with grades lower than B- are ineligible for transfer. WTS will accept up to 6 credits in which the student earned a “pass” instead of a grade. An academic assessment will identify class status and determine the steps toward completing the degree program at Western Theological Seminary. Transfer students must earn at least 30 semester credits at WTS to earn the M.Div. and at least 24 credits at WTS to earn the MA.
Writing Studio
The Writing Studio is offered to students who would like to improve their writing skills. Tutors are equipped to help students learn how to conceive, develop, organize and clarify their writing efforts. The Writing Studio is a free service for enrolled students
Here to help!
Tiffany Nordé
Registrar
616.392.8555 x120
The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to provide a variety of services to all members of the WTS community. For information on any services not listed here contact the Registrar directly (616-392-8555 x120).
Office of Academic Affairs
John Brogan
Associate Academic Dean
Laurie Baron
Writing Studio Director
Tiffany Nordé
Registrar and Financial Aid Administrator
Theresa Hamm
Academic Office Associate and Assessment Coordinator
James Vlisides
Educational Technologist
Kathy Ehmann
Educational Technology Specialist
Carol Ann Bailey
Educational Technology Specialist and Student Support Coordinator
