School of Ministry
Richmont students are expected to maintain the highest standards of scholarship. The minimum standard of performance is a grade of 3.0 (B). Any student who receives a term grade point average below 3.0 (B) during a given semester will receive a letter of academic warning from the Records Office and placed on SAP warning. Should the student receive a GPA of less than 3.0 in two consecutive semesters, he/she will be subject to dismissal. A student dismissed for failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA may reapply after one year and must meet full admission criteria for the master’s program at the time of re-application in addition to any requirements stipulated at the time of dismissal.
In addition to academic performance, social and interpersonal skills are essential to adequate performance in ministry and are actively evaluated while a student is in the School of Ministry by faculty and staff. In the absence of adequate progress, students who experience difficulty in these areas will be subject to dismissal from the Richmont program after warning from the student’s advisor.
Student Performance and Disposition Review SPDR
Formal evaluations may be initiated by faculty, the Records Office, the Assistant Dean of the School of Ministry, or the Dean of the School of Ministry. The results of such evaluations will generally point to one of three options: 1) affirmation of the student to continue in the course of study; 2) probationary status accompanied by appropriate remedial actions; or 3) dismissal from the degree program. Status reports for option 2 will be part of the remedial process. The status of probation for students must be removed by the end of the fifth semester in order for the student to graduate from the program.
Standards of Performance
By policy, students are expected to uphold standards of academic and moral excellence consistent with the highest standards of Christian faith and scholarship. Richmont students must demonstrate readiness to meet the level of professional behavior and service expected of graduate students in professional counseling, including but not limited to:
- Exhibiting conduct consistent with his or her profession of faith as a follower of Christ
- Maintaining a minimum term GPA of 3.0 (B)
- Abiding by the formal Statement of Community
- Exhibiting adequate social and interpersonal skills
- Exhibiting emotional balance and maturity, free from any impairment that might place self or another at risk
- Conducting herself or himself with honesty and academic integrity
- Relating respectfully and professionally to faculty, staff, fellow students, and others
- Responding constructively to supervision, class instruction, and other sources of constructive feedback
- Recognizing his or her limits of competency
- Translating academic preparation to ministry performance
Retention and Dismissal
Because the School of Ministry seeks to graduate women and men who qualify as Christian leaders, the faculty and administration will evaluate a student’s qualifications in terms of spiritual, moral, doctrinal, professional, and academic standards.