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A standard 4.00 grading system is used to measure academic performance. A 4.00 grade point average marks the highest level of attainable scholarship at the seminary. Grade point average is calculated by dividing the number of honor points earned by the number of credit hours attempted. Honor points are assigned to grades as follows:
| Letter Grade | Percent | Honor Points | Designation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 93-100% | 4.00 | Summa cum laude |
| A- | 90-92% | 3.75 | |
| B+ | 87-89% | 3.50 | Magna cum laude |
| B | 83-86% | 3.00 | Cum laude |
| B- | 80-82% | 2.75 | |
| C+ | 77-79% | 2.50 | |
| C | 73-76% | 2.00 | (1) Satisfactory Mastery |
| C- | 70-72% | 1.75 | Less than satisfactory Mastery |
| D+ | 67-69% | 1.50 | Poor Mastery |
| D | 63-66% | 1.00 | |
| D- | 60-62% | 0.75 | Very Poor Mastery (2) |
| F | 00-59% | 0.00 | Failure (3) |
| I | 0.00 | An Incomplete Grade (4) | |
| W | 0.00 | Honorable Withdrawal (5) | |
| P | 0.00 | Pass in a Pass/Fail Course (6) | |
| TR | 0.00 | Transfer Credit (7) | |
| AU | 0.00 | Audit (8) | |
| R | 0.00 | Repeated Course (9) | |
| Important Notes Regarding Grading Policies (1) A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 ("C") is required for graduation in all degree programs. (2) "D-" is the lowest acceptable grade for both the pre-theology and the theology cycle. (3) A grade of "F" indicates failure to meet the minimum objectives of the course. An "F" may be removed by re-examination or other suitable means, as determined by the instructor and the Chairperson of the Department. Re-examination must be completed by the fourteenth calendar day of the next semester. Otherwise, a failed course must be repeated. (4) A student is expected to complete all work within the term. The grade of "I" (Incomplete) may be issued only when a student has completed a substantial amount of the required work for the course (normally 80%), and the student's academic studies are interrupted for a medical emergency or some other just cause beyond the control of the student. An "Incomplete" may not be given simply for the reason of permitting additional time to complete assigned course work. The work needed to complete the course, as directed by the instructor, must be submitted on or before the fourteenth calendar day of the next semester. Failure to complete the required work as scheduled will result in a grade of "F" for the course, unless a just cause requires that a "W" be entered as a permanent record on the transcript. (5) A "W" designates an honorable withdrawal from a course after the end of the second week of class through the end of the tenth week of class. See the Academic Calendar for specific dates. (6) A grade of "Pass" indicates a student has met the requirements for the course and is not included in the student's grade point average. (7) The designation "TR" shows that credit for a given course was earned at another college, university, or seminary and accepted as "transfer" credit at St. John Vianney. While approved transfer credits count toward a degree at the seminary, grades earned elsewhere are not transferable and are not included in the calculation of grade point average at St. John Vianney. (8) With the approval of the Academic Dean, a student may choose to "Audit" a course. A student receives no grade or credit for an audited course. After the two weeks of class, a student's status may not be changed from audit to credit, or vice versa. (9) The designation "R" shows that a student has repeated a course. Only the more recent grade is calculated in the student's grade point average; the previous grade is replaced with the "R" designation and is not calculated into the cumulative grade point average. | |||
The seminary recognizes student academic achievement in two ways: at the end of each semester through a Dean's List, and at graduation by conferring special Academic Honors.
Students are placed on the Dean's List for a given semester if they attain a grade point average for that semester of at least 3.60, based on 12 academic hours of graded course work, and if they are in good standing with the Seminary.
Each year academic honors are awarded upon graduation to students who have demonstrated high academic achievement, measured by their cumulative grade point average. The Academic Dean, upon recommendation of the Academic Council, sets the cumulative grade point average requirements for graduation summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude. The cumulative grade point average for each of the honor designations is as follows:
A student must earn a minimum of 60 credit hours at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary to be eligible to graduate with academic honors. Grades are not transferred from other institutions and are not included when calculating the cumulative grade point average.
The seminary requires all students to perform at or above the 2.00 grade point level in all academic work. Students who perform below a 2.00 grade point average for the semester are placed on academic probation and informed of their status. A student who is placed on probation is interviewed by his academic advisor and the Academic Dean in order to determine the factors that may be contributing to his academic difficulties. The Academic Dean will consult with the student, the student's formation advisor, the Director of Formation, and the Rector to design a plan to improve performance. The diocesan bishop or religious superior of that student will be notified of the student's academic probation status and the plan for improvement. The student's progress will be monitored closely throughout the subsequent term. If a student is on academic probation for two consecutive semesters, the Academic Dean, after consultation with others, may reduce a student's academic load and require the student to participate in appropriate tutorials and study skills training. If the student continues to perform below the 2.00 grade point requirement, he may be advised to withdraw from the academic degree program. A student who has earned a grade point average of 1.00 or less at the end of an academic year may be dismissed from the academic degree program.
St. John Vianney Theological Seminary complies fully with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (also known as the Buckley Amendment). The seminary accords all the rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to students who are enrolled in a program of studies. No one shall have access to, nor does the seminary disclose any information from, students' education records without the written consent of students except to personnel within the institution with direct educational interest, to accrediting agenciescarrying out their accreditation function, to persons in compliance with a judicial order, and to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons. All these exceptions are permitted under the Act.
Within the seminary community, only those members, individually or collectively, acting in the students' direct educational interest are allowed access to student educational records. These members include formation personnel and academic personnel within the limitation of their "need to know" as determined by the Registrar. Non-directory information, notably grade records, are released to third parties only on written request of the student, or otherwise required by law (e.g., subpoena).
The Act provides students the right to inspect and review information contained in their education records, to challenge the contents of their education records, to have a hearing if the outcome of the challenge is unsatisfactory, and to submit explanatory statements for inclusion in their files if they feel the hearing panel's decisions are unacceptable. The Registrar's Office at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary has been designated by the Rector to coordinate the inspection and review of procedures for student education records, which include academic files. Students wishing to review their education records must give a written request to the Registrar listing the item or items of interest. Only records covered in the Act are made available within 45 days of the request. Education records do not include student health records, employment records, alumni records, or records of instructional, administrative and educational personnel that are the sole possession of the maker. Students may not inspect and review the following as outlined by the Act: confidential letters and recommendations associated with admissions, employment or job placement, or honors to which they have waived their rights of inspection and review; or education records containing information about more than one student, in which case the seminary permits access only to that part of the record which pertains to the inquiring student. (Adapted from: "A Guide to Postsecondary Institutions for Implementation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974," American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, 1990.)
Attendance and participation in class are vital to academic success, and students are expected to attend all classes required if they hope to receive academic credit for the course. Inevitably, extraordinary circumstances arise that make class attendance impossible. However, unexcused absences are not acceptable and may impact the final grade in the course. Unexcused absence for more than 20% of the total number of classes invalidates a course, and the student may not take the final examination in the course.
Prompt class attendance is the norm. Students are expected to arrive at class and be seated prior to the established starting time for the class. Excessive tardiness may affect the final grade in the course.
Seminary students are expected to follow a strict honor code in taking examinations and in preparing papers, reports, and class assignments. All work submitted by students in fulfillment of the requirements of a class or seminar must represent their original endeavors. Seminarians are expected to respect academic scholarship by giving proper credit to other people's work, while at the same time preparing themselves well for assigned materials and examinations, so that their academic integrity will never be questioned. Violation of the honor code is a serious offense, which can result in the loss of academic credit or dismissal from the seminary.
Tuition, room, and board for seminarians from outside the Archdiocese of Denver are $17,845 per annum. Students admitted under special circumstances for a particular course are charged $350.00 per credit hour (All changes are subject to change without prior notice).
Housing and meals are provided for seminarians of the Archdiocese of Denver and those assigned to the Seminary by their local Ordinary.
Health care insurance is provided for seminarians of the Archdiocese of Denver. Seminarians from other dioceses must make arrangements for health insurance coverage through their local Ordinary. All seminarians must purchase their books and personal items. Students are expected to assume responsibility for auto, fire, theft, and personal possession insurance.
A student in good standing may withdraw from the Seminary during a semester by submitting a completed "Request for Withdrawal" to the Academic Dean. Each student is responsible for settling all outstanding bills and returning all books to the library prior to leaving the seminary.
Students who withdraw from the seminary before the end of an academic semester will be charged for tuition, room, and board on a pro rata basis, according to the date of withdrawal. There is no refund for books.