Student Handbook
The life of the Seminary community is fed by four streams: the classes, the Community of Faith groups, chapel worship, and Ministers' Week. All faculty and students are committed to a full participation in these ministries because the vision of theological education in forming our life together focuses on spiritual formation for a lifetime of ministry and learning rather than mere information or assimilation of facts.
CLASSES
The professors of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary are gifted by the Holy Spirit for the ministry of teaching. Classes are therefore carried on in an atmosphere of prayer and worship which is in no way antithetical to critical inquiry, careful research, and vigorous debate. Indeed, prayer is essential for these pursuits.
CHAPEL
The chapel worship services contribute to deepening and enriching the devotional life of the Seminary community. These services, held on Wednesdays of each week at 11:00 am, also provide an opportunity for student participation in the leading of corporate worship. Since chapel services are so integral to the spiritual and intellectual life of the Seminary, regular attendance is required of all degree-seeking students. Any exception to this policy must be cleared through the Student Services Office.
MINISTERS' WEEK
Ministers' Week is an opportunity for the Seminary community to join with representatives of leadership, various general departments, and other educational institutions of the Church. Minister's Week events consider vital aspects of contemporary ministry from an interdisciplinary perspective, using various educational methods to illustrate the integration of faith and practice which is the hallmark of the Seminary.
DEVOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE
The Pentecostal Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to the education and training of ministers. Consequently, the spiritual and ethical standard of life expected of students is that which is expected of the ministry in general.
Communion and the Washing of the Saints’ Feet are celebrated by the entire community. This special service is an occasion for drawing closer to God and to each other. Students of the Seminary are further encouraged to develop their own personal Bible study and daily devotions. Within the Cleveland community, some of the finest Church of God congregations offer students and their families opportunities to participate in worship and ministry. The Seminary strongly encourages each student to maintain close ties with a local church while enrolled at the Seminary.
ETHICAL COMMITMENT
Students should conduct themselves in an exemplary manner both on and off campus. Loyalty to one’s membership and ministerial vows is expected. Personal conduct in relation to employment, social life, entertainment and recreation must reflect mature spiritual judgment and responsibility. Seminary students commit to abide by the Church of God Practical Commitments. This includes among other things, prohibition of the use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, abuse or illegal use of drugs, and unscriptural sexual conduct (I Cor. 6:9-20, Rom. 1:16-32, Gal. 5:13-26). Intellectual honesty is an obligation of the Christian commitment; therefore, the Seminary requires complete integrity in its students in such matters as in the use of materials for research, in the submission of academic assignments, and in the taking of examinations. To this end, the following Student Intellectual Property policy was developed.
STUDENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY
Student intellectual property rights relate to faculty-produced course material and student-generated intellectual work. The Seminary recognizes the right of students who are dually enrolled in a course to take notes for personal study. Students do not have the right to take notes or disseminate them for commercial purposes without the written approval of the course instructor. Students shall not distribute or otherwise make notes taken in courses accessible on the Internet in any case unless approved by the instructor.
Students may not record electronically (audio or visual) faculty lectures except for personal study and then only with prior approval of the instructor. At the beginning of each course, faculty members shall notify students what lecture(s), if any, students may record. Student recordings of lectures shall not be distributed to others without prior written permission of the instructor. In the event of a perceived violation, and after conferencing with the offending student, faculty may file a grievance with the Vice President for Academics. The matter shall be handled according to the grievance policies as stated in the Faculty Handbook and Student Handbook. Student intellectual property is also protected. Students' own research and ideas presented in projects and papers may not be used by faculty, staff, or others in publications, presentations, or for commercial purposes without written approval of the student in question. In the event of a perceived violation, and after conferencing with the offending faculty or staff person, students may file a grievance with the Vice President for Academics. When a grievance cannot be resolved in consultation with the Vice President for Academics, the matter shall be handled according to the grievance policies as stated in the Faculty Handbook and Student Handbook.
STUDENT ID
Student Identification Cards are digital and are accessed via the Populi mobile app.
DRESS CODE
In keeping with the practical commitments of the Church of God, students should aspire at all times to Christian modesty. Inappropriate dress for classes, chapel, and official school functions includes the following: shorts, tank tops, halter tops, exercise clothing. Appropriate recreational clothing may be worn for outdoor events, such as picnics, sports, etc. Caps and men’s hats should not be worn indoors.
HOUSING
The Pentecostal Theological Seminary owns and operates Hamilton Court, a housing complex used for both national and international students. This building consists of eighteen apartments plus lobby, laundry, and maintenance storage space. Also, the Seminary owns several houses located on the main campus. Contact the Student Services Office for available housing opportunities.
PARKING
Adequate parking space is provided for all students and visitors . The responsibility for locating local parking space rests with the operator of the motor vehicle. Lack of space will not be considered a valid reason for violating parking regulations. The seminary and the Church of God shall have no responsibility for the loss or damage to any vehicle or its contents while operated or parked on the campus.
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
The Seminary encourages all students must have auto insurance before operating any motor vehicle as set forth by the State of Tennessee. During registration for each semester, all on-campus international students must show PROOF OF AUTO INSURANCE to the Director of Student Services. If a student fails to comply with the insurance requirement, his or her I-20 form will be cancelled and the change of status will be reported to immigration. The minimum requirement of auto insurance for all students should be:
Liability for property damage and bodily injuries
Medical payments
Uninsured motorists
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. On becoming a member of the seminary community a student assumes certain specific responsibilities. The following specific responsibilities are not meant to be exhaustive but representative:
It is the responsibility of each student to keep the Registrar's Office informed of his or her current residence, mailing address and telephone number. A student has the responsibility of understanding that his or her conduct and actions will be measured as a member of the seminary community and that he or she is responsible for the consequences of one's behavior. As such, illegal drugs, smoking, alcoholic beverages, and pornography are not permitted either in the buildings or anywhere on the Theological Seminary campus. Each student has the responsibility of upholding the high standards of the seminary--of giving allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord in all matters and obeying those whom God has placed in positions of responsibility over them (Hebrews 13:17). Students should be examples of love, holiness and service in the Christian community and in the world. The entire community is responsible to see that these principles are upheld and observed.
The Seminary reserves the right to dismiss from the seminary any student whose conduct is found to be unsatisfactory after proper hearing and due process according to procedures described below:
Immoral conduct, including cheating and/or plagiarizing of other student papers.
Flagrant violation of seminary rules.
Subversion to the purposes of the seminary.
Insubordination to the authority of the seminary.
Falsification of information on any official form
Failure to meet academic standards.
Graduate students must assume full responsibility for knowledge of rules and regulations of the Seminary and requirements for the chosen degree program. Any exceptions to the policies stated in this catalog must be approved by the Vice President for Academics.
To view the Seminary's Student Discipline Policies and Procedures, and to view the Grievance Policies including the State Authorization and Complaint Process, click here.
To view information about PTS' Student Government Association, click here.