Registrar and Office of Academic Affairs
Core Services: How Can We Help?
- Course descriptions page and Electives (to be posted)
- Academic Calendar (scroll down page)
- Transcripts
- Canvas Course Management System Portal
- Enrollment Report 2020-21
- 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 – Alvin Padilla is the primary designated school official for SEVIS. Contact Alvin for all matters related to your I-20. You must allow 3 – 5 days for processing of I-20 items.
2020-21 Academic Calendar
| Fall Semester Book Orders/Copyrights/Reserves Due | July 10 |
| Online Orientation | August 10-21 |
| Faculty Assessment Team Meetings | August 17-18 |
| Community Retreat | August 19-20 |
| Th.M. Program Begins & Fall Courses Must Be Published in Canvas | August 24 |
| In Residence Orientation | August 27 |
| Fall Semester Begins | August 31 |
| Labor Day – Seminary Closed | September 7 |
| Drop/Add Deadline Fall | September 8 |
| Fall Break In Residence | October 19-23 |
| On Campus Intensives Distance Learning | October 19-23 |
| J-Term Book Orders/Copyrights/Reserves Due | October 30 |
| Distance Learning After Intensive Break October 26-30 | October 26-30 |
| Spring Semester Registration Due | November 6 |
| Spring Book Orders/Copyrights/Reserves Due | November 15 |
| Thanksgiving Recess | November 23-27 |
| Fall Semester Ends & Staff/Faculty Christmas Party | December 18 |
| Christmas Break Begins IR & DL | December 21 |
| Fall Semester Grades Due & J-Term Courses Must Be Published in Canvas | December 28 |
| J-Term | January 4-22 (2021) |
| Drop/Add Deadline J-term | January 11 |
| Intercultural Immersion Trip | January 4-16 |
| Online Orientation (new students spring semester) | January 4-15 |
| Spring Courses Must Be Published in Canvas | January 18 |
| Spring Semester Begins | January 25 |
| Drop/Add Period Deadline Spring | February 1 |
| J-term Grades Due | February 1 |
| Distance Learning Winter Break | March 1-5 |
| Summer Book Orders/Copyrights/Reserves Due | March 27 |
| Spring Break IR & DL | April 5-9 |
| Registration For Fall Semester Due | April 19 |
| Senior Blessing Worship In Residence/Award Luncheon | May 6 |
| Spring Semester In Residence Ends | May 7 |
| Graduation | May 10 |
| Distance Learning Spring Semester Intensives | May 10-14 |
| Summer Courses must be published in Canvas | May 12 |
| Registration for Fall Semester Due | May 14 |
| Spring Semester Distance Learning Ends | May 14 |
| Summer Term (Distance Learning) | May 19-June 25 |
| Summer Term (In Residence) | May 26 – August 13 |
| Spring Semester Grades Due | May 21 |
| Drop/Add Deadline for Summer Term | May 26 |
| Th.M. Program Ends | June 30 |
| Summer Term Grades Due (DL) | July 9 |
| Summer Term Grades Due (IR) | August 27 |
2021-2022 Academic Calendar
| Online Orientation – new students | August 9-20 |
| Th.M. Program Begins | August 23 |
| In Residence Student Orientation | August 26 |
| Fall Semester Begins | August 30 |
| Labor Day – Seminary Closed | September 6 |
| Drop/Add Deadline Fall | September 7 |
| Monday classes meet on Wednesday after Labor Day | September 8 |
| On Campus Intensives Distance Learning | October 18-22 |
| Reading Break In-Residence | October 20-24 |
| Distance Learning After Intensive Break | October 23-31 |
| Spring Semester Registration Due | November 5 |
| Thanksgiving Recess | November 20-28 |
| Fall Semester Ends | December 17 |
| Christmas Break Begins IR & DL | December 18 |
| Fall Semester Grades Due | December 27 |
| Online Orientation (new students spring semester) | January 4-15, 2022 |
| Spring Semester Begins | January 10 |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Seminary closed | January 17 |
| Drop/Add Period Deadline Spring | January 18 |
| Monday Classes meet | January 19 |
| On Campus Intensives Distance Learning | February 14-18 |
| Reading Break In-Residence | February 16-20 |
| Distance Learning After Intensive Break | February 19-27 |
| Spring Break IR & DL | March 26-April 3 |
| Registration For Fall Semester Due | April 4 |
| Senior Blessing Worship In Residence/Award Luncheon | April 29 |
| Spring Semester Ends | April 29 |
| Graduation | April 30 (tentative) |
| Summer Term (Distance Learning) – 7 weeks | May 9-June 24 |
| Summer Term Drop/Add Deadline | May 17 |
| Spring Semester Grades due | May 20 |
| Th.M. Program Ends (see handbook for details) | July 30 |
| Summer Term Grades Due | July 1 |
Catalogs in .pdf form
2020-21 Academic Catalog
2019-20 Academic Catalog
2018-19 Academic Catalog
2017-18 Academic Catalog
2016-17 Academic Catalog
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Office of Academic Affairs do?
The Academic Dean and her 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!
Kyle Wigboldy
Registrar and Financial Aid Administrator
Beth Smith
Associate Registrar and Administrative Assistant for Student Services
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
Kristen Deede Johnson
Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Professor of Theology and Christian Formation
Alvin Padilla
Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Director of Advanced Degrees, and Professor of New Testament
John Brogan
Associate Academic Dean, Professor of New Testament, Director of the M.Div. and M.A. Programs, Director of the GPCE
L.S. Carlos A. Thompson
Assistant Professor of Church and Community Theology, Director of the Friendship House, and Student Accessibility Coordinator
Kyle Wigboldy
Registrar and Financial Aid Administrator
Beth Smith
Associate Registrar and Administrative Assistant for Student Services
Alli VandenBosch
Financial Aid and Student Billing Coordinator
Johnny Vega
Student Support Coordinator and International Student Advisor
Theresa Hamm
Academic Office Associate and Assessment Coordinator
Katlyn DeVries
Writing Assistant and Girod Assistant
Kathy Ehmann
Educational Technology Specialist
Carol Ann Bailey
Educational Technology Specialist and Student Support Coordinator
